Lip Treatments -Bath and Body Works - Superfill Extreme Lip Plumper
suggrr 7/14/2008 11:50:00 PM
I bought Superfill Extreme Lip Plumper at Bath and Body Works for US$12.50 for 8 mL/0.27 oz. The box has a number of entertaining boasts like: "A do-it-yourself alternative to collagen injections!” and “Amazingly: Superfill 10x Swelling Spheres can plump up to 10x their size, and results can last for up to 48 hours after application!” The cute box also has a great color scheme, with orange, pinks, black and white. I will say that the plumping I experienced from the clear formula was very minimal, and the effects didn't even last two hours, which is nowhere near 48 hours!
“How do Superfill 10x™ Swelling Spheres activate to plump up your lips? Swelling Sphere technology uses a combination of patented dehydrated microspheres that – on application – absorb moisture to create a plumper appearance and a minimization of visible wrinkles. Swelling Spheres are engineered to work topically to achieve a visual effect that is similar to the most popular medically applied facial fillers.” I wish my visible lip wrinkles had been minimized!
“Instructions for use: Apply a generous layer of Superfill Extreme Lip Plumper to clean, dry lips under or over lip color. Reapply as necessary. Note: Superfill Extreme Lip Plumper is a triple-action formulation that moisturizes while it plumps so can also be used as your everyday conditioning lip treatment balm.” It certainly didn't moisturize my lips, even when I wore it under lip products and by itself.
“Attention: SuperFill Extreme Lip Plumper: Max Formula contains an application-activated lip-enhancing molecule that -in some users- delivers a slightly electric sensation for 5-10 minutes after application, or until the plumper has been fully triggered.” It usually took about ten minutes for the "electric sensation" to kick in, and that sensation would last another ten to twenty minutes. And that's really all I liked about the product itself. Love the box, love the fizzy, carbonated sensation, and that's about it. I'll use this up, but I wouldn't repurchase it in clear or any other color.
Ingredients: Polybutene, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaeryythrityl Tetraisosterate, Silica, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Parfum (Fragrance), Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Mica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Saccharin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Chrondroitin Sulfate, Atelocollagen, Sodium Hyluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Methylparaben, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Aqua (Water), Lauryl Laurate, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Hydroxyethyl, Behenamodopropyl Dimonium Chloride, Menthyl Lactate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Lecithin.
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Cleansers -Clinique - Rinse-off foaming cleanser
suggrr 7/14/2008 11:37:00 PM
From Clinique.com: "Concentrated foamy cream-mousse cleanser for average skins. Removes lasting wear makeup quickly, gently, efficiently. ... Follow with 3-Step Skin Care System." Clinique's Rinse-off Foaming Cleanser (ROFC) is meant as a makeup remover; it is NOT a cleanser in the regular sense of the word. This product is meant to remove your makeup, and then you're supposed to use an actual facial cleanser after it.
After using up a GWP size of this, I can absolutely say that I prefer Clinique's Foaming Mousse Cleanser (FMC). ROFC is concentrated, but it feel heavier on the skin versus FMC, and I had to use less FMC to clean my face versus ROFC. ROFC also stings your eyes more if you accidentally get it in there (you're supposed to avoid your eye area with it so use a separate eye makeup remover), and it feels like it leaves a squeaky film on the skin. It doesn't feel like my face is squeaky clean, it just feels oddly filmy and slick. I wouldn't purchase ROFC, if I needed a Clinique product, but I would purchase FMC. FMC seems more geared towards regular makeup and dirt, while ROFC seems more for "lasting wear makeup." If you wear a foundation that takes a while to remove, this might be a product for you to look into. But I'll stick with FMC because I don't like the filmy feeling I get when using ROFC.
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Other -Bath and Body Works - Slatkin & Co. Scentportable (all)
suggrr 7/14/2008 10:54:00 PM
I bought three different Slatkin & Co. Scentportables at Bath and Body Works for US$5 each during the Semi-Annual Sale and I don't know that they're available at any other store. I've tried one so far- Pineapple Mango- but the other scents are Fresh Linen, Vanilla Coconut, and Cinnamon & Clove Buds. I didn't smell too much mango coming from this Scentportable, but there was plenty of sweet, fake, candy-like pineapple coming from it. It was especially strong the first week, even though the weather was very hot and humid. I open the windows for a few minutes after I start the car to get all the hot air out, and when I'd shut the windows, I could still smell the Scentportable. I'd say this really only lasted maybe three weeks, though. If you're having important guests in your car and need a scent, I'd start using this a week before they were going to be in your car because it can be strongly fragranced at first. And I'd find some place to clip it where your guests couldn't see it, because...
The first thing you need to know about these Scentportables is that they come in a hideous round white plastic container. The only thing that gives them step above the regular scent disks you peel and stick in stinky areas would be the quality of the plastic, the fact that the top is slightly open to you can see the gel, and the clip on the back. But it's still pretty unattractive. At least the clip isn't so strong that it left heavy lines on my car's visor. You could lay the Scentportable flat on the back of the clip and it won't move much, which is good if you're putting it in an area where you can't clip it to something.
To use a Scentportable, you pry off the top cover (not too difficult), peel off the seal on the gel scent disk, the put the cover back on. That's it. They aren't refillable, and you throw them away when you're done. They aren't very environmentally friendly. I still see some gel after the scent wore off, too, so don't expect that you'll need to pitch it only after the gel dries up. I wouldn't repurchase the Pineapple Mango scent, but I'm hoping Vanilla Coconut and Cinnamon & Clove Buds will smell better.
ETA: Cinnamon & Clove Buds is TERRIBLE! It smells like the residual cloud left over in the air after a bunch of Black Cat fireworks are set off. My husband didn't agree that it smells like gunpowder (he's the fireworks expert in this household) but he was also unimpressed with this Scentportable. Thankfully it didn't have much sillage, so you could barely smell it unless you sniffed close to the Scentportable itself, but this particular fragrance was a DEFINITE DUD. I wouldn't purchase it again because I can barely smell it, and because the scent itself is awful in my opinion.
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Other -Unlisted Brand - Philips Sonicare Toothbrush
suggrr 7/14/2008 9:45:00 PM
I've had a Sonicare Elite toothbrush for probably about four years now. It is incredibly impressive- it works very well, has two vibration strengths (99% of the time I use the more gentle one), and the heads are replaceable. The (on the small side but soft) heads even come with different colors on a ring around the neck of the brush so you can tell whose brush you're picking up. I try and make my brush head last as long as possible, but I have a chronic problem with pressing too hard when I brush. The Sonicare makes it a little more difficult to do that because it's vibrating while I'm brushing. When the bristles on the brush start to turn outward, I replace the head (mine screws off and the replacement screws on- it's that easy) instead of just waiting the six months that's recommended on the replacement head package. You might want to unscrew and check under the head every month or two in case there's toothpaste residue underneath it that needs to be cleaned up.
I like that my Sonicare audibly lets me know every thirty seconds to move to a different quarter of my mouth, and I like that it turns off after two minutes. This is a great tool to use to make sure you're brushing your teeth for long enough. You can tell how much power you have left with a bar (made up of smaller bars) on the side- when it's down to one small bar, or that one bar is blinking, it's about time to recharge the Sonicare. Recharging my Sonicare is easy. It comes with a small base that you just plug in, then put the Sonicare in the cradle. Green lights make their way up the little bars on the power bar, showing that it's recharging. When it's done, the bars will all be solid.
We bought our set of two Sonicare Elites at Costco for a good price, and they occasionally have a three-pack of replacement heads at a great price, too. If you don't see them one week, just wait a week or two and they'll be back. The big plus to buying a Sonicare or Sonicare set at any store with a good refund policy is that you can bring it back if it doesn't work for you. But you really should have a toothbrush, right? Just don't press too hard on your teeth and I can't imagine why someone wouldn't like this brush (though perhaps the vibrating might be a turn-off.) You do have to commit to brushing your teeth each night, but it doesn't have to be for two minutes. Just use it until your teeth feel clean, then shut it off if you want.
As far as cost goes, it may be a bit of an upfront big initial cost for a toothbrush. But this toothbrush will save you time, pain, and energy spent worrying at the dentist. If you hate spending time in a dentist's chair, enduring lots of tooth scraping and gum cleaning that turns bloody (sorry to get graphic), you need to get this toothbrush. I have incredibly awful gums to the point of having had a gum transplant. My Sonicare not only encourages me to brush with less force, but it also gets and keeps my teeth more clean. This means less poking and prodding at my gums and less of that hook, scraping away at my teeth. The upfront cost of this toothbrush paid for itself the first (much less painful) trip to the dentist I made. Even though I should floss more than once a month, I've actually gotten very positive comments from dentists and dental hygienists about the state of my mouth. It is not because I take meticulous care of my teeth, or because of the toothpaste I use- it is entirely 100% because I use a Sonicare toothbrush. I could not be happier with it. If this toothbrush ever dies on me, you can bet I'm running straight to Costco within the week to replace it with no second thoughts.
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Polishes -SpaRitual - Devil Inside
suggrr 7/14/2008 9:06:00 PM
SpaRitual's Devil Inside is part of their "dramatic high notes - intense reds and magentas" collection. The number on the bottom is 80017, but the numerology for Devil Inside is 8 (1+7) according to the SpaRitual website. And yes, I said numerology. The number 8 apparently means confidence and power; the achiever. Gee, I'd like to be all that- do I just wear the polish and automatically become a powerful, confident achiever? ;-) Well, that didn't happen. But I did love this color and want to show it off if that counts. While the SpaRitual website lists Devil Inside as a creme, it's not. It looks pinky-red and shimmery in the bottle, but it's more frosty (slight brushstrokes) and more blue-red berry on my toes. The brushstrokes didn't bother me since my feet spend so much time far enough from my eyes that I can only see the color anyway. All I saw was a shimmery blue red. And I really liked it! (The name is just as excellent as the color if you're an INXS fan.) Since I'm NW 15/PPP/Prescriptives Blue/Red, I really feel like this shade is very flattering on me, and would be flattering on other cool-toned folks as well.
I was surprised at how easily this polish flowed on; it was a little more runny than I had expected, but not overly runny or difficult to work with. I just had to adjust my technique a little and wipe off more polish before polishing my nails. The purple rubber-like (not sure if it is rubber) cap was easy to grip, and I like how the bulb-y glass bottom has three rows on the top that echo the ridges in the cap. I did get some minor tipwear and slight chips on my big toes, but I wear closed-toe shoes almost all the time, so that was to be expected. SpaRitual is a vegan company that uses natural colors, not synthetic dyes, and is dedicated to creating eco-friendly products. Frankly, I wasn't expecting a Big 3 free (meaning without formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate) smaller company environmentally-friendly nail polish to be this nice. This is just as elegant as your OPIs, folks, though the formula and brushes are a bit different.
Below the numerology for Devil Inside, it says, "Let it bleed. Some like it hot. Go out in a blaze. You aren't all bad... just enough." The website is a hoot, so if you're interested in SpaRitual polishes, I highly suggest checking their website out. Since their website isn't exactly accurate in descriptions of finishes OR color swatches, try doing a web search for the color you're looking for or a search on the nail board for it. SpaRituals can be found at some spas, some salons, some beauty supply stores, and online at various stores for about US$9 a polish. I would rebuy this color if I had to, and I'm looking forward to trying other SpaRitual colors.
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Polishes -Elizabeth Arden - Martinique Opal Blush F
suggrr 7/14/2008 8:28:00 PM
Elizabeth Arden's Martinique Opal Blush F (assumably F for French and not Frost) is a topcoat-like polish. The base color is pretty clear, but it has a pinky purple opalescence that you can see when the light hits it. In low light, you can't really see the sheen, but the more light you're in, the more you can see the opalescence. It's a nice effect, but not the kind of polish I personally find that I want to, or will, wear a lot. What also doesn't help is the gold microglitter, which is kind of cool when there's plenty of light. But when it's dark, I just don't super care for the gold speckled microglitter. MOB might be really cool on top of a pink polish, or another color even. This is a really pretty polish that wore very well on me (with China Glaze's Pop the Question on nail tips), but it's just not my thing. Since it looks like Elizabeth Arden has discontinued their polish line, if you're looking for this one, start looking now. I'll give it 3.5 lippies out of 5.
The non-pink reflective nails in this picture are what this polish looks like in low light, while it reflects opalescent pink in brighter light:
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Polishes -Essie - Secret Affair
suggrr 7/10/2008 4:04:00 AM
I actually liked Essie's Secret Affair on me, which surprised me. In the bottle, it doesn't look like much. Had I not received a mini of it with three other polishes from the Spring 2008 collection, I wouldn't have even bothered trying it. But I would have missed out on a very nice polish!
I don't feel like this is the usual nude color that gets released over and over again, but on the other hand, I'm not usually a nude polish gal. I find the color rather hard to describe- on me (NW 15/PPP), it's like a very light pink (that's barely pink but still pink enough that you can tell it's pink) with a touch of grayed beige. The finish of Secret Affair is pearly, so you will have to mind your brushstrokes just a little. Secret Affair's aqua and pink shimmer is embedded in the pearl, so it contributes to the pearliness of the polish without standing out or being blingy. I ended up going with three coats of polish, which covered up the moons on my nail bed nicely while still letting the white tips of my nails show (if you looked for them.) That's a pretty neat trick, since the moons of my nails are rather visible. Even with three coats, this polish wore incredibly well. And since it's not a loud or bright color, if it did chip, it wouldn't be noticeable to anyone but me (and someone who stares at my nails, looking for chips.)
Essie's Secret Affair could be a good color for when you don't know what polish would be appropriate for a situation, but you still want or need to have polish on your hands. And since it can be easily built to be opaque, it's a nice nude that can cover up nails that are stained or in less than perfect condition (both of which described my nails while I wore this.) If you don't want something sheer, but you don't want something loud, bright, or wild, take a look at Secret Affair. It doesn't look like much in the bottle, but it's quite nice on the nail.
Pictures of Essie's Secret Affair:
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Polishes -MAC - Neon 8
suggrr 6/29/2008 11:54:00 PM
MAC's Neon 8 nail lacquer is from the Neo Sci-fi collection. MAC describes it as "bright orange with matching pearl." I really didn't feel like this color was bright orange at all; I felt like it was more of a pink/red/coral-type color with some slight shimmer. I swatched N8 on one finger and left it on for almost two weeks. It was the first among the five different polishes I swatched to chip and show tipwear. I initially had trouble getting N8 to lay down properly on my nail. It's like it didn't want to adhere to my nail properly, or it was adhering too much. Even with three coats, I still wasn't satisfied with the coverage I got from N8.
Out of the three Neo Sci-fi polishes I tried, Neon 8 definitely gave me the most trouble when I was putting it on, it was the least interesting polish (only my opinion there!), and it wore the worst out of all five polishes I tried. It also stained my nails more than any of the other polishes, leaving my nail a dark yellow color. Not even the yellow Neo Sci-fi polish left my nail as yellow as Neon 8 did. I definitely suggest using a basecoat with this polish to prevent staining. It might help with getting N8 to adhere properly to the nail as well.
Here's what Neon 8 looked like the day I swatched it, in full sun:
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Polishes -MAC - Plasma Blu
suggrr 6/29/2008 11:40:00 PM
MAC describes this Neo Sci-fi collection nail polish as "turquoise blue with matching pearl" on it's website, and it is a turquoise blue with great pearly shimmer. It sure is pretty, but this really strikes me as a dupeable color (see pictures below) and not very unique. Still, it's nice for summer, so if you want to treat yourself to a bright blue summery MAC nail polish (and PB is still in stock at your local counter or store), this would fit the bill. It looked pretty good with my NW 15 skintone and didn't clash with it. Plasma Blu did tint my nail slightly because I didn't use basecoat underneath my swatch of it, so I definitely suggest using a basecoat with this polish. I did get a chip and some tipwear on the finger I swatched this polish on, but that's to be expected for a polish I had on for almost two weeks.
I personally wouldn't purchase Plasma Blu. That doesn't mean it's not a good polish- it just means that in my stash, I already have similar colors. I'd say that Sally Girl Dumped or Color Club Emerald Depths or even a thinned Sinful Aqua could sub in for Plasma Blu. They aren't exactly the same, but I like them just as much and there isn't a whole lot of difference between the four (plus most of the other swatches are very similar too.) I'd give Plasma Blu 3.5 lippies if I could, with that half lippie off of a full four lippies because it's just not super unique.
Some swatches:
When these swatches were new, in full sun:
Comparisons, flash and no flash (please excuse the chip on my nail):
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Polishes -MAC - Neo Sci-Fi Phosphor
suggrr 6/29/2008 11:18:00 PM
MAC does indeed describe this Neo Sci-fi collection nail polish as "bumble bee yellow" on it's website, though you could also call it "sold out yellow." A bright, cheerful yellow that is really great for summer (or anytime you want a yellow polish), Phosphor has good coverage in just two coats. It also has great shimmer, but it's not overly frosty (meaning obvious brushstrokes) or pearly. If you're looking for a shimmery bright yellow and your counter or store still has it available, this is a great choice. It wore well on my fingernails- I only had one chip on the finger I tried this on after about two weeks of wear- and it didn't clash with my NW 15 skintone. Phosphor did tint my nail yellow because I didn't use basecoat underneath it, so I definitely suggest using a basecoat with this polish. Oddly enough, MAC's Neon 8 tinted my nail an even more obvious darker yellow...
I wouldn't purchase this because it's relatively close to L'Oreal's B. Outrageous, plus I have a few other yellows in my stash. The L'Oreal was cheaper, but it's now discontinued, so I highly urge you to get Phosphor ASAP if you want a bright shimmery yellow. It really is a good choice if MAC nail polishes wear well on you.
Some swatches:
When these swatches were new, in full sun:
Comparisons, flash and no flash (please excuse the chip on my nail):
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Misc Beauty Tools -Paula Dorf - Brush Out Bath
suggrr 6/29/2008 10:25:00 PM
Paula Dorf has two different brush cleansers. One, called Brush Out, is a cleanser designed to be sprayed onto a paper towel. You then wipe your dirty brush back and forth until no more color comes off of the brush. The other product, Brush Out Bath, is more of a soap meant to be used with water. The ingredients in both products seem to be the same, but one product is a spray and the other is a Cetaphil-like gel. Unfortunately my Ulta seems to only carry Brush Out, and Sephora stopped carrying Paula Dorf products period, so I had to get my second bottle recently from Beauty and Main. It retails for US$14, but I think I paid a few dollars more (and it's worth it.) I really like Brush Out Bath and clearly would repurchase it.
Brush Out Bath is called a shampoo on Paula's website, and I agree with that description. I find it to be more gentle on my brushes than Johnson and Johnson's Baby Shampoo, though the latter gets foundation out more quickly than Brush Out Bath. Neither is particularly good with the removal of lip products, but I find that I have to use actual lip and eye makeup remover (or sometimes Dawn dishwashing detergent) on lip brushes to remove that residue. I really prefer using Brush Out Bath on my more expensive brushes, as well as those used for blush, eye shadow and other powder products. I will even use it as a second shampoo after using makeup remover on lip brushes. Brush Out Bath leaves my brushes soft without feeling oily or overly conditioned. And it doesn't leave a residue on on the brushes that causes me to break out.
This is how I use Brush Out Bath:
1) I thoroughly wet the brushes that need to be cleaned, then lay them down sideways.
2) I put a dollop of Brush Out Bath in the center of my palm, add a few drops of water, and then swirl the dirty tips of the brushes in the Brush Out Bath until no more makeup comes out. I lay each on its side after soaping it up.
3) Once my palm is covered in makeup, I wash the Brush Out Bath off while rinsing the soap out of the last brush I had been working on. I place that brush on its side on a towel after lightly rubbing the tips of the brush back and forth on another towel. I go backwards cleaning the other soapy brushes until all soapy brushes have been rinsed, dried/fluffed and placed on its side on a towel.
4) Repeat step two until all dirty brushes are clean.
Ingredients: Purified Water, Hexylene Glycol, Aloe Vera Gel, Camomile Extract, Sodium Pca, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Pvp, Imidizoudinyl Urea, Methyl Paraben, Sodium Borate.
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Lipstick -Clinique - Long last Lipstick - Bamboo Pink
suggrr 6/29/2008 9:31:00 PM
In the tube, Clinique's Bamboo Pink lipstick looks like a pinky brown mauve with plenty of pink and green/aqua shimmer (but not glitter.) However, on my low to medium-pigmented lips, the lipstick color is too iced coffee brown and not pink enough to be a nude or to be very flattering on my cool-toned NW 15 skintone. I often find myself trying nudes and pinky browns and they end up being too brown and not pink enough for me. This lipstick is no different. The shimmer is visible on the lip, as is a metallic sheen, which I personally don't like. If you eat something with this on, some of the shimmer will be left over on your lips after your meal.
The consistency of Bamboo Pink is nice- it's not sticky or too oily. It has enough slip to feel slick on your lips, but not enough to make you feel like it's going to slide right off of your lips. Bamboo Pink isn't going to moisturize your lips, but it's probably not going to dry them out either. If you keep trying pink browns and find them too brown, this may be too brown for you, too. I'm personally pretty "meh" about the color and finish. Bamboo Pink is nice, but it's just not "wow" or unique to me. It's worth trying if just for the nice consistency, though.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Sally Girl - Curfew
suggrr 6/29/2008 7:55:00 PM
Sally Girl's Curfew (812 116) is a dark pink (but not red) nail polish with loads of silver and muted hot pink shimmer. The shimmer is definitely evident on the nail (especially with a good shiny topcoat), giving Curfew a nice depth. It's not a unique color but I am enjoying it on my toes and may finish the bottle (especially since it's so small.) This is a nice spring to summer polish, or an anytime polish if you enjoy pinks. The only issue I had with Curfew is due to the design of the bottle. Polish can start to build up between the neck of the bottle and the stem that the brush is attached to, making the polish thick and goopy at that location. That might be helped either with nail polish thinner or by avoiding any air flow that could cause the polish to dry near the opening of the bottle. Curfew comes in a tiny 5.3 mL/0.18 fl. oz. bottle like the other Sally Girl polishes. These polishes can be found at Sally Beauty Supply, and I believe that they retail for US$0.99 without the Sally's card and US$0.89 with the card.
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Polishes -China Glaze - Red-Curl Grl
suggrr 6/29/2008 5:43:00 PM
China Glaze's Red-Curl-Grl (72039) was a limited edition color from the Surf collection of Summer 2007. China Glaze described it as red with red micro-flecked glass shimmer. In low light, the base of RCG does look to me like more of a true red- not too blue, not too yellow. The shimmer looks mainly dark hot pink to my eye. In full light is when you really get the full effect of the "glass shimmer." The shimmering of the glass flecks looks red and sometimes even hot pink and twinkles a little, too. It's not an in your face bling, but it's certainly not sedate and boring, either. The hot pink shimmer seems to shift this color slightly towards the more cool side of the spectrum on me, though I'm not sure if the base color gets more blue on me with more light. For the record, I'm cool-toned, NW 15 in MAC and B/R in Prescriptives.
The brush on RCG was lovely and very easy to handle, even when I used my left hand to paint my right (dominant) hand. This particular polish is free of dibutyl phthalate, but does contain toluene. It seemed neither gloppy or too liquid in consistency- it was easy to work with, just like the brush. When it dries, RCG does get slightly matte, so I suggest using a topcoat to bring out the shimmer. What I see in the bottle is a little more muted than what I see on my nails; the shimmer on my nails is a more red-toned, while the base is more rich and vibrant. So if you like how this polish looks in the bottle, chances are good that you'll like it on your nails. If you can't find this in person, I believe it's currently still available at 8ty8Beauty.com and Head2ToeBeauty.com online. I wouldn't suggest buying Red-Curl-Grl and expecting something incredibly unique and "wow," because it's neither, but it's a nice color that's easy to work with as long as you aren't looking for a Big 3 Free polish.
ETA: As the time went by, I became convinced that this does have a little blue in the red base, enough to make it very slightly cool-toned. But I think warm-toned folks will find this not too difficult to wear. It was a bit of a pain to remove, but not horrible. I would suggest keeping your topcoat nice and shiny while you have this on, as the more dull your topcoat turns, the less this sparkles.
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Polishes -Christian Dior - Golden Nugget
suggrr 6/12/2008 2:45:00 AM
Christian Dior's Golden Nugget nail polish is indeed part of the Dior 2008 summer collection. Sephora's website describes it as "a hue reminiscent of golden sun and gilded bronze skin. It's made in a silky-smooth formula for long-lasting, glossy nails." The formula is good, though I found that it didn't dry as quick as the other polishes I tried that day. I'd describe the color as a golden brown with a very slight touch of khaki. And don't even get me started on the shimmer! Even in low light, the shimmer is visible, and it gives the polish a more opulent, deep feel. Golden Nugget strikes me as a warm-toned color, and since I'm cool-toned, I think there are better choices for me. But I wouldn't say that this would be bad at all on any skintone.
And as for the wear... I think I've had 3 coats of it on for almost two weeks with no basecoat and a random Sephora topcoat, and all I got was a little tipwear. It was barely even noticeable tipwear, so the staying power of this polish has very much impressed me. I'm not even remotely easy on my nails!
Golden Nugget sets you back US$19 at Sephora, which is a whole dollar less than cost of a Chanel nail polish. And I've sadly never had a Chanel polish last this long. While I don't think this is the ideal color for me, I will definitely check out Dior polishes in the future and hope they wear as well on me as this one does!
When these swatches were brand spankin' new in full sun:
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