Polishes -OPI - The Grape Lakes
Maverick8 9/30/2005 5:54:00 PM
On me, the predominant color I (and everyone I've asked) sees is brown. It is a browned mauve/purple with a slight frost. I was hoping for a dusty purple without so much brown. It's neutral, and it certainly won't offend anyone. I don't hate it but I don't love it. I'm glad it's a mini because I don't see myself reaching for it much.
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Polishes -Zoya - Yasmeen
Maverick8 9/28/2005 7:33:00 PM
I've been on a quest for the perfect plum nail polish. Not too black, not too much blue tone. Well, I've FINALLY found it! Zoya Yasmeen is the darkest plum without looking black, that appears to be rich creme in normal light, but has a suble (Chanel-like) gold shimmer that emerges in bright light. It's remarkable, like it's back lit. Absolutely stunning! Sophisticated, rich, very very nice, not goth or too young. Usually heavily pigmented polishes are a bit gloppy and thick, and this one tends toward that too, but NO streaks, and a VERY forgiving application because it doesn't dry too fast. Wear is outstanding. Zoya doesn't contain the 3 chemicals that are contraversial in the np industry. In my quest, the 2nd place winner is Revlon's Perfectly Plum, but compared to Yasmeen it's a distant second. (I'm ppp to lll with neutral undertones.) It's the best $5 I've spent and is definitely my H.G. plum!
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Polishes -OPI - You Ottaware Purple
Maverick8 9/26/2005 1:26:00 PM
This is a very cool toned purple that applies sheer and needs 3-4 coats to get full coverage (I needed 4 coats). I am a ppp to lll with neutral undertones and I can usually get away with all but the coolest or warmest. You Ottaware Purple is pushing "the too cool for my liking" colortone. Plus having to apply 4 coats is a bit too much work for me. I will re-visit this review in the winter, when my very minimal tan has faded and see if it works better then. Fee Fi Fo Plum is a tad warmer and seems to be the better choice for me at this point. (I also had streaky application problems, but it may have been an old bottle or my base coat so I am not factoring this problem in.)
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Polishes -OPI - Fee Fi Fo Plum
Maverick8 9/23/2005 3:13:00 PM
A very nice purple crayon slightly frosted plum. The frostiness gives this color an amazing sheen. Application was incredibly smooth and even, for a frosty color. My nails are smooth and shine like glass. I think plums/purples can appear flat without some type of shimmer, and the subtle frost is what gives this color the edge. Not a terribly unique color, but it is nicely done.
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Polishes -Revlon - Plum Cherry Ltd Edition Fall 2005
Maverick8 9/21/2005 5:39:00 PM
I LOVE this color! It's a unique silvered dark pink-red with a bit of micro shimmer. The name describes the color, it's the color that would be created if a marachino cherry and a purple plum were combined. I have been very happy with the colors in the Revlon Perfectly Plum collection and this is my favorite as I have nothing like it in my rather large collection.
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Polishes -Revlon - Perfectly Plum - Ltd Edition Fall 05
Maverick8 9/19/2005 4:08:00 PM
Perfectly Plum is part of Revlon's Fall 2005 Perfectly Plum limited edition colors. And it is the perfect shade of plum. This is NOT a blackened plum that you so often see in the fall collections. It is a true purple plum with the most amazing sheen. The color would be so flat and boring if it weren't for this sheen which gives it dimension and shine. No shimmer or glitter it looks like the skin of a wet purple plum. Very nice and probably my favorite from this entire collection.
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Polishes -Revlon - Berry Jeweled - Ltd Edition Fall 05
Maverick8 9/19/2005 4:01:00 PM
This is part of Revlon's Perfectly Plum promotion for fall 2005. Berry Jeweled is a silvered cranberry with heavy micro-glitter. Even with the glitter, because of the darker pigment, it doesn't appear childish on the nail. It is sparkly and may not work for some for everyday, but it doesn't scream over-the-top either. I first used it on my tips, and I didn't feel flashy, although I wouldn't wear it in conservative situations. It will be a BEAUTIFUL look on toes, and great for holidays or when you want a little more pop. Revlon colors last 5 days without chips and this one didn't disappoint. Surprisingly easy to apply and forgiving, which I didn't expect with the glitter factor. A departure for me, but surprisingly wearable.
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Polishes -Stila - Pendant from Fall 2005 Collection
Maverick8 9/15/2005 6:05:00 PM
Pendant is one of 3 VERY metallic colors from Stila's fall 2005 line. Pendant is pink but with a heavy silver metallic which appears on the nails as pink leaning into light purple. (If you want more of a pink shade choose Brooch which looks peach in the bottle, but is pink to champagne on the nails). I really like the color and shine, my nails look like mirrors (I'm PPP to LLL with neutral undertones.) My concern is with the wear also. Most heavy metallic colors no matter what brand chip much sooner than regular polishes do, at least for me. This one lasted 3 days but without a base coat. With a base coat I was lucky to get through the day. Metallics in general dry much faster making application tricky and Stila's was no different. One neat thing is if you do get a chip, just apply another coat to the entire nail and it evens out and you can't tell it chipped at all. I was able to make this mani last a week by doing this. The colors make this metallic very wearable so if you want a trendy finish, but work in a conservative environment, I think this line would work because of the dusty muted colors.
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Polishes -Nicole - Swirl of Euphoria
Maverick8 9/6/2005 6:30:00 PM
Swirl of Euphoria is metallic champagne with a very slight pink undertone. I love to use it as a transitional color from winter into spring. It is a beautiful color with full coverage that suits my PPP to LLL with neutral to cool undertones so well. I think this would be great on all skin tones. It's just too bad that Nicole polishes are getting harder to find.
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Polishes -Essie - Magnifico
Maverick8 9/6/2005 6:14:00 PM
I agree with all of the other reviews. It is a bright sheer, and it is irridescent almost neon pink. WAY too pink for my nails so it's another for toe use only. I also found it very streaky during application, needing 3 coats to look even. I don't have alot of Essie colors so I hope it is not inherent of the brand. I am not ultra conservative and I enjoy wearing colors regardless of what others might think, and I feel that Magnifico is a color a ten year old girl would be comfortable wearing on her tips.
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Polishes -Orly - Sky Blue-Pink
Maverick8 9/6/2005 6:05:00 PM
This is from the French Revolution shades of French manicure colors. As you might expect it is a sheer, but a sheer with attitude. It is a shimmery (but not glittery) color that, depending on the light, flashes blue, pink and even gold. This is not a subtle flash either, you can see the colors well. But the blue IS subtle there won't be any "are you wearing BLUE nail polish" comments. I know my description sounds crazy, so you should try it out! I ADORE this color and I am a sheer nail polish FREAK. I am PPP to LLL with neutral to cool undertones. It lasts a week on my nails with a good base and top coat. I will be reaching for this ALOT! This is one of my unexpected pleasant surprise shades that has earned holy grail status.
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Top/Base Coats -Seche Vite - Dry Fast Top Coat
Maverick8 9/6/2005 5:45:00 PM
I LOVE this top coat! It is the ONLY one that when I run a finger over my nail it is as smooth as glass. It is formaldehyde, and nitrocellulose free so it doesn't yellow the nails. It dries your nails in 10 minutes to a super shiney glass-like finish. Mine hasn't "thickened" on me yet, and I've had it about 8 months. I do recap quickly and tightly after use. This is one of 3 top coats that I use regularly, this one because of the super shiney ultra smooth finish.
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Treatments -Creative Nail Design - Solar butter
Maverick8 9/6/2005 5:15:00 PM
I like Creative's Solar Oil, but much prefer a creamy base. I was so happy to find Creative's Solar Butter. I LOVE the almond scent, it's sweet and calming, but doesn't linger. My main use of this product is on my cuticles. I apply it to my cuticles several times a day and my nails are very happy! I don't use this as a hand cream on a regular basis (I use Solar Silk for that), maybe if they get rough in the winter I would. I use it on my elbows, heels or any other rought patches with great success. (Tip: I purchased a small 1/2oz sample size along with the full size tub. I refill the small one so I can carry it with me in my purse.)
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Top/Base Coats -Creative Nail Design - Stickey -Base Coat
Maverick8 9/6/2005 5:04:00 PM
Stickey Base Coat is a DREAM to work with as it has a very thin consistency and a great brush. It is formulated to really adhere to the nail and has a tacky texture that "sticks" to your nail color. The result is a longer lasting manicure. I REALLY like it, but took one lippie off because it contains some chemicals that are drying to the nail. This forces me to use a treatment base coat every second manicure that doesn't contain these chemicals to help avoid drying out my nails. If Creative could make this without formaldehyde, it would get 5 star!
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Polishes -OPI - Blue Moon Lagoon
Maverick8 9/6/2005 4:53:00 PM
A shimmery blue to very slight green. LOVE it on my toes! I tend to use it most in the summer because it has an incredible holographic effect that you can only see in very bright light. So outside in the sun it looks just beautiful. 3 coats builds the color up to full coverage. It's definitely a bolder color and so far I haven't had the courage to wear it on my tips.
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