Polishes -OPI - On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Audralee27 4/16/2013 9:29:00 PM
I debated to give this lacquer one less lippy because of the sheerness to the 1st coat I applied, but then went w/ 5 lippy's b/c this lacquer really is exquisite when the finished project has been achieved. This shade was quite a surprise & one of my absolute favorite's from this collection. I admit I like the name b/c it gives this lacquer an air of elegance & sophistication to it being called, On Her Majesty's Secret Service & since Opi has recently raised their prices, this bottle is a little piece of royalty. I've said this in my previous reviews, but I don't mind paying a higher price for something as long as it's a long lasting, beautiful, quality product & pound for pound Opi comes through majority of the time for me. Although this shade isn't typically considered unique, this lacquer's a must for all lacquer lovers & collectors out there like myself. This shade is versatile, modern, fashion forward & hip yet also being elegant, clean & sophisticated to make this one big lacquer in a little bottle. This is a gunmetal grey shade which I love & this lacquer's so popular & w/ great reason! This gorgeous gunmetal grey lacquer's loaded w/ microfine glitter & is so shimmery that it's breathtaking! The 1st coat I applied was a bit sheer for my liking, but after a total of 3 coats applied, plus 1 coat of Opi's Natural Nail Care Treatment later, I was loving the look on my nails! This lacquer's complexity is a work of art! The glitter isn't big, clunky or chunky so it's highly refined but it also has an edgy, sexy yet elegant & sophisticated appeal. This lacquer's color varies depending upon the light, artificial or natural, from gunmetal grey to foresty/greenish/grey to navy bluish/grey hues while microfine glitter shimmer intermingle in a perfect balance of purples, greens, blues, pinks & gold. Although this combination sounds busy & crowded w/ so many colors intermingled, it pulls together perfectly to be one of the most beautiful lacquers in this collection!
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Polishes -OPI - You're Such A Budapest
Audralee27 4/2/2013 9:57:00 PM
I've been loyal OPI lacquer owner/lover since the days before becoming 3 free & black label bottoms were the norm. I typically love OPI's collections they release throughout the yr & even the mini ones too either in conjunction w/ a movie, iconic char, etc. I'll go as far as saying that OPI puts out the best consecutively each yr over the other lacquer companies that are of OPI's equivalent. I base my opinion on 2 major contributing factors & that's 1: FORMULA: consistency in all lacquers in the coll must be of perfect consistency, meaning not too thin where I have to apply 4-5 coats for color to appear OR too thick where it applies gloopy/goopy! I loathe that 1 more than any as it always ends up 1 big mess of a nightmare! That's such a rarity w/ OPI that I can't even recall a specific incident. The 2nd contributing factor is 1 that even OPI had fallen under a few times over the yrs that's REDUNDANCY. I know it happens to the best of em, even OPI b/c there's only so many shades that can come out each yr that hasn't already been done in prev yrs w/ competing lacquer/cosmetic companies. I also know the cosmetics companies are always competing w/ the other cosmetics companies for the "it"/ trendy colors that hit the fashion runways so they have to stay relevant, hip/trendy & ahead of the other companies when it comes to creativity & being at the forefront of avant guard fashion. That being said, I've seen OPI really show their bold, vibrant & creative side these past few yrs in a variety of collections, but none other thus far than OPI's most recent coll that was released for the sp/su 2013 season & that's the gorgeous OPI EUROPEAN CENTRALE coll. What a stunning, shocking, surprise of an exquisite coll & one that's completely unexpected too! This coll has such bold & beautiful colors! I'm a highly particular gal when it comes to purchasing lacquers b/c I've been disapointed too many times after I came home from the store only to feel ripped off & out another $10! Hate that! That's why I started purchasing OPI in the 1st place b/c as much as I hate to admit it, I've found the cliche, you get what you pay for in life to apply for me. I know OPI's somewhat $$, esp if the collections or specific lacquer has become discont, the price goes even higher. Being both a buyer & seller on ebay, I saw how expensive lacquers can be, depending on the brand, color, coll, discont, etc. OPI is esp sought over & can be pricy esp if it's a black labeled bottom as they're a lot of lacquer lovers & collector's out there, including myself. I also switched to OPI b/c I noticed that everytime OPI released their collections (which is typically 12 lacquers in their normal collections that are released 2 times a yr & not their mini collections) I wanted more than half of them from their coll! That's an amazing feat as again, I'm highly particularly & for me to even want to purchase more than 1 or 2 from a coll is a rarity. Not w/ OPI collections asI want to own majority for my own coll. I wanted to purchase more than half of their lacquers each time they released a new coll so this wasn't a 1 time fluke incident. That's when I was completely sold on OPI & will forever be. In fact of all the lacquers that I sell on ebay, OPI is by far my most popular lacquer brand I sell. OPI's most recent coll for the Sp/Su is called European Centrale. The color pallette used to create this coll is derived from the colors & influences of central Europe. This coll is bursting w/ vibrancy. There's even a glitter bomb of a lacquer that's absolutely exquisite, lots of bold & beautiful creme shades & even the pastels aren't the usual ho hum, ZZZ, boring pastels...I want all the lacquers in this coll for my own coll which means it's another stand out winner! I've been obsessively searching for yrs for that perfect periwinkle shade. I've searched for so long that I didn't even care if it wasn't OPI, I just wanted a periwinkle lacquer. I thought this would've been simple enough, but it's proven to be an absolute downright impossible feat to accomplish! I know there are lots of lavender & lilac lacquer lovers out there & I have plenty of lacquers that color & love them, but I've always loved the color periwinkle. Periwinkle is an absolutely beautiful color that's so underrated in my opinion, but deserves much praise. The color is exquisite, spectacular & gorgeous w/out being overbearing in anyway. Periwinkle's fresh, vibrant, bold, modern, chic, hip & youthful, matches w/ so many other colors & looks beautiful on so many people. Periwinkle's a color that spans the cosmetic world to the fashion world & is seen yr in & yr out on the runways, yet it's still a difficult color to find for the average consumer & I love to shop. I shop both online, in department stores & boutiques. I also like the high end thrift shop & consignment stores. I'm fortunate b/c I live in CT; approx an hr from NYC so I have an excellent selection of merchandise to choose from & I still have a hard time finding the color periwinkle from eyeshadows, leggings/tights, sweaters to handbags, dresses & nail lacquers, etc. I know I'm not the only person to be in love w/ this color as I've come across many other periwinkle lovers over the yrs. OPI's YOU'RE SUCH A BUDAPEST has quelled my periwinkle obession! At least in the nail lacquer dept. Don;t get me wring, lavender & cornflower blue are beautiful colors, but they're just NOT periwinkle. Finally, A TRUE BLUE PERIWINKLE! You're such a Budapest is the periwinkle I've been longing for & finally it's here! If you're a loyal Periwinkle fan~ RUN, don't walk to buy this 1 b/c it's unique & special! It's the PERFECT PERIWINKLE! Opaque, perfect application! I achieved my personal perfect application after 2 coats, but I also apply OPI's Nat Nail Base Coat 1st, then YOU'RE SUCH A BUDAPEST & finish off my nails w/ OPI's Top Coat which gives it a smooth, glossy beautiful, long lasting finished look.
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Polishes -OPI - The Muppets Collection - Meep-Meep-Meep
Audralee27 8/1/2012 11:09:00 PM
Growing up a girl in the 80's; I was fortunate to be able to grow up when the Muppets were on television every week & was able to attend the movies when all the the Muppet movies came out. I was excited when I saw that OPI was going to release a collection of the Muppets b/c of the newest present day Muppets movie to hit the theaters. Well, I could care less about this latest movie b/c it doesn't even hold a candle to the old school Muppet movies, but that seems to be the general concensus these days when it comes to the cinema. I was so thrilled when this collecton came out b/c I was more than pleasantly surprised! I base a lot of reasons on what goes into being an incredible collection, but one contributing factor is if I end up purchasing more than half of the lacquers in this collection. That certainly was the case w/ this beloved collection! OPI'S Muppet Collection came out for the 2011 Holiday season & is one spectacular collecton! there are 12 lacquers to this collection; 6 being glitter/topcoat lacquers & the other 6 being cremes, shimmers, etc. Meep, Meep, Meep is my favorite from this collecton, w/ Wocka Wocka coming in second. What makes this shade so stunning & sophisticated is the deep, delicious richness in color. This lacquer is a dedication to the beloved Muppet character Beaker, but this lacquer is so stunning; that I don't even think about the character. Meep, Meep, Meep is deep & entrancng purple toned, raspberry red lacquer w/ tons of broken, uneven flakes of shimmer. These uneven & broken shimmer flakes are hghly shiny & sparkly. This lacquer is unique b/c it shifts shades from violet to pink to gold;making for a beautiful overall appearance & lacquer! I can't say enough about this lacquer! There are so many red & berry lacquers out there from cremes to metallics to shimmers, but I'm always on the hunt for that deep raspberry color. The shimmer in this bottle really sets it apart from all the other raspberry lacquers on the market. The pink, violet & gold glass flecks in a rich raspberry, deep fuchsia jelly like base reminds me of raspberry sorbet or gelatto! Anytime I can fnd a lacquer that's packed w/ sparkly glass flecks in a rich, jelly like base; I'm sold! This has become the polish that's my new yearly "go to" lacquer & I couldn't be happier about that! When I wear this shade; I feel an air of sophistication & elegance to it. Just a really stunning shade! If you're a raspberry lacquer lover & want to try a new lacquer that has a little extra specialness to it; OPI'S Meep, Meep, Meep is the lacquer for you! I feel special when I wear this shade whether I'm running into the grocery store, running errands or going out for a romantic evening w/ my husband, this is my all purpose, feel like a sexy, sassy, million bucks, go to lovely lacquer! A must for every girl's lacquer collection!
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Polishes -OPI - Nothin' Mousie 'Bout It
Audralee27 8/1/2012 9:59:00 PM
I really wanted to give this a rating of 4 1/2 lippies, but since you can't do that, I went w/ a 4 for Overall Rating. OPI'S Nothin' Mousie 'Bout It is one of four lacquers to have been relesed by OPI in late spring/early summer 2012 & the collection is OPI'S Vintage Minnie Mouse Collection. I have always been a fan of Minnie Mouse, although I'm not a crazy Disney fanatic. That being said; I do purchase all the Disney movies on blu-ray; more of the classics & there are some Disney merchandise, etc. that I'll purchase from time to time. I do love Minnie Mouse though, whether she's affiliated w/ Disney or not, she's won my heart since I was a young girl to woman in her 30's today. I also always loved her style & taste & that's what drew me to her in the first place as a child, esp. her fabulous heels & colorful hats & dresses that were usually the color or red, pink or fuchsia. The Minnie Mouse Vintage Collection has four beautiful lacquers that have the same colors that you'd expect Minnie; the style icon & fashionista to be wearing or seen in. This collection is really an exquisite collection; esp. If You Moust You Moust which is a light to med. opaque pink & my personal favorite, The Color Of Minnie, a beautiful red opaque creme w/ a hint of shimmer to it. Then there's I'm All Ears, my least favorite b/c it's a sheerier consistency, which is not my favorite although the color is beautiful being a bright pink shimmer. OPI'S Nothin' Mousie 'Bout It reminds me of Nicole by OPI'S, Love Your Life nail lacquer that came out a few seasons ago. It's veery similar so if you're looking for a close dupek this could be it. This lacquer is interesting, beautiful & versatile b/c it's a glitter topcoat bursting w/ orange & purple shimmer flecks & little pink heart glitter throughout the entire lacquer. I've read from some reviewers that the hearts were a bit of a pain to apply & I do agree, but feel that it's worth it b/c of the gorgeous color & uniqueness. I also like the versatility of this lacquer being able to be used alone or as a topcoat w/ another lacquer for another look. The possibilities are endless! I have found a way to minimize my frustration w/ the mini pink heart glitters that are a pain to apply. I know that time is of the essence these days & we barely have enough time for ourselves; let alone to be stuck fishing out little pink hearts out of a small lacquer bottle. I tried this when I had purchased Nicole's Love your Life & it also for Nothin' Mousie 'Bout It & it worked on both of them. 1. Make sure to have your tissues, cotton balls, q-tips, etc on hand. 2. Have Nail Polish Remover next to you. 3. Buy a cheap box of reg. natural wooden toothpicks at the store. 4. Apply the nail lacquer first & then use a wooden toothpick to fish out a heart or desired amount of hearts you want for your nails. 5. If you run into problems & it's sticky, gloppy, etc., you can apply nail polish remover to your toothpick to fix your hearts. That's how I apply the little pink glitter hearts in this lacquer. I think it's worth it for the color scheme alone b/c the orange & purple flecks of shimmer really tie this lacquer together perfectly; like a work of art. THE ONLY REASON I DIDN'T GIVE THIS GORGEOUS LACQUER THE FULL FIVE LIPPIES TO MAKE THIS A PERFECT LACQUER IS FOR ONE REASON & ONE REASON ONLY. I WAS DISAPPOINTED & EXPECTED THAT THIS TOPCOAT WOULD HAVE COME W/ LITTLE PINK MINNIE MOUSE GLITTER HEADS IN THE BOTTLE. :( Quel Dommage! Oh well...Although the pink glitter hearts are nice; they've been done already a past few seasons ago w/ OPI BY NICOLE'S LOVE YOUR LIFE LACQUER. This is stll a beautiful lacquer on all accounts & a must for any lacquer collector, but I refuse to give a perfect lippie score. If OPI is going to release a Vintage Minnie Mouse Collection & decides to have one topcoat in their collection; I would expect the glitter pieces to be little Mickey or Minnie Mouse shape heads that we've all grown up falling in love with! Everybody knows those iconic & highly coveted & famous mouse ears indicative to only Mickey & Minnie Mouse! That being said; I would still recommend purchasing this lacquer b/c of the color & beautiful effect it leaves on the nails as a glitter topcoat or layered over another lacquer! This lacquer & collection is a must for any girl's collection!
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Polishes -OPI - Vampsterdam
Audralee27 3/18/2012 9:31:00 PM
I've been purchasing & wearing OPI nail lacquers & products since the early 1990's, before OPI went 3 free & although I read alot of nail reviews online & then I always refer to this website lastly before I decide upon purchasing a particular lacquer, it always comes down to what my heart tells me at the end. As cliche & simplified as that sounds, it's helped me immensely in life w/ a plethora of issues from the small ones we all face in life to the large ones, this has always been my belief. Although I like to read reviews on nail lacquers online before purchasing, I always go w/ my heart at the end & well if I like it, I'll buy it, no questions asked, but I do like to read all the details & I'll buy a nail lacquer even if it doesn't get the best reviews. I like to know what people think & how a product's success is based on reviews b/c I'm the type of person that likes to know all about a product before purchasing it. That being said, I was shocked to see the low lippies & reviews OPI's Vampsterdam received. I was so shocked at this lacquer's low rating that I felt compelled to write a review. OPI'S Vampsterdam is one of the twelve latest shades to come out of their newest HOLLAND collection.I think this collection is really something as I base collections on many things, the biggest one being if I either want to or do own a majority of the lacquers in that particular collection. OPI'S HOLLAND collection ended up being a collection that I own more than half of the collection, eight to be exact so that's just one major & obvious reason why I give this collection high praises. On to VAMPSTERDAM: First off, OPI never disappoints w/ the creative names they give their lacquers & I love the name of this lacquer. In fact, there's a lot of catchy & creative names in this collection. The name Vampsterdam is catchy & this lacquer is really something, in fact it ended up being my favorite lacquer in the collection. I would best describe this shade as an iced plum/raisin shimmer, leaning more towards raisin than plum tones. There are subtle gold undertones throughout the lacquer to give this shade an elegant & sophisticated look. This shade reminds me of OPI'S YES...I CAN-CAN & LINCOLN PARK AT MIDNIGHT, but it has more gold undertones in it than the other two. Vampsterdam reminds me of the nail lacquer's that OPI produced & came out w/ in the 90's. I don't mean that this lacquer is outdated or unstylish by any fashion, but rather quite contrary. This lacquer's ultra stylish, mod, chic yet elegant & sophisticated all at the same time. This lacquer has a lot of depth to it. OPI used to produce a lot of these style shades in the 90's & OPI Vampsterdam is reminiscent of that time. Although this shade, like all shades, looks different on everyone, this shade is one that can be complimentary to many skin tones. I didn't find any problems when applying, but I always use OPI's Natural Base Coat first, then I apply two coats of Vampsterdam. I typically apply more than one coat w/ my nail lacquers & I found two coats to do the trick. The formula was fantastic & applied smoothly & flawlessly for me. I can see this shade looking exceptionally well on someone w/ gold undertones as the gold in this shade really "pops" for a magnificent look. I could also see this shade looking good w/ a tan due to the gold pigment in the lacquer. I know this is a shade that would be expected to be worn in the fall & more warm months, but again due to the gold undertones & this being a raisin/plum shimmer, this really could work w/ a tan in the summer. I had initially thought this shade should've gone w/ a collection that was set to come out in colder months, but I've recently changed my mind. The other shades in the Holland collection are definitely what you'd expect to be in a spring collection from OPI w/ lots of cremes & shimmers. The shimmer in Vampsterdam is not so evident indoors, but outside, whoa! This shade looks stunning! It also does inside, but the gold really pops in the sun! I'm looking forward to trying this shade in the summer w/ a tan as I have medium skin w/ gold undertones. Again, please don't be put off by the low reviews b/c I don't want any girl out there to miss out on a really exquisite shade that'll look beautiful on their nails. The other shades in this collection are worth looking at as there's alot of fabulous shades for the upcoming warmer months ahead. Vampsterdam gets 5 lippies from me! :) I would most definitely purchase this lacquer again & again! Love it! :) Beautiful nails girls! :)
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Polishes -OPI - Wocka Wocka!
Audralee27 1/12/2012 9:13:00 PM
I've always been a fan of the Muppets growing up in 80's. I would watch the famous television program with my sister & we would excitedly look forward to the upcoming celebrity guest star each week. When OPI recently came out w/ their OPI Muppets Collection of twelve nail lacquers; I must admit my interest was peaked. I don't know if was b/c of the bit of nostalgia tugging on my coat sleeve or due to sheer female curiousty but I knew that I had to catch a glimpse of this new collection upon its release date. I did find initially that the always creative names that OPI patents for each of their lacquers just makes me want to purchase their lacquers more! I do feel that each bottle of OPI that I own is like its own very special piece of art between its packaging, shade, each individual creative name & the entire embodiment of the lacquer that brings it together so beautifully & so masterfully. I wanted a new nail lacquer for the holidays, but I wanted something different this yr. I've always gone w/ the typical reds from OPI whether it was my usual cremes or if I went w/ a shimmer or metallic red that yr, but I've always typically went w/ red or French for the holiday season. I wanted something different this yr, but yet still had a very holiday feel to it still. I found that completely w/ OPI's WOCKA WOCKA!!! What a shade! What a lacquer! What a smooth application! It was a true dream! This shade can be worn all yr long, but it really is a beautiful holiday shade! I like a handful of OPI Muppet nail lacquers from their collection, but WOCKA WOCKA is BY FAR their stand out shade! This shade is really something! PLEASE DON'T let the name dissuade you from purchasing b/c you'll truly be missing out on one spectacular nail lacquer! This lacquer may have a kooky yet whimsical name that only Muppets fans understand as the words "WOCKA WOCKA" is the signature phrase of Fozzie Bear. I would consider this shade a Bright Pinkish/Red Shimmer w/ gold undertones. This shade is very opaque as it only took two coats for full opacity. I wish I had stayed w/ only two coats, but I applied a third one & ended up w/ more of a cranberry shimmer as opposed to the bright, deep pinky/red shade I had initially created w/ the two initial coats I applied. I always apply my OPI Natural Nail Base Coat before I apply any polish. The deep cranberry shimmer shade I created w/ the three coats I applied was beautiful, but I just preferred the two coat look. It's all depends on the user's preference. This color is one that every girl should own & have in their collection. Although OPI has an extensive array of red & pink shades, I've yet to find a shade that's as beautiful & stunning on when applied as WOCKA WOCKA looks. I was pleasantly surprised. This shade is a much lighter version of OPI's Bastille My Heart, but if you're looking for a reference using OPI shades; the only nail lacquer of OPI's that I feel is even pigmented along the same lines & could be in the same family, but a few cousins away is OPI's Bastille My Heart from their Collection de France. These two shades are NOT duplicates in any way, shape or form, but they are the closest to each other in the shade family. I love Bastille My Heart so much that I did a review on that shade as well. Although both shades are in the same family for similar pigmented shades, they're certainly different enough that they're both so beautiful that both should be a part of every girl's collection. I would purchase this shade again as I find this shade to be the perfect holiday, party, or anytime shade! Love, love, love it! WOCKA WOCKA = WINNER
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Gels/Soaps -Philosophy - Bubbly 3 in 1
Audralee27 1/5/2012 5:15:00 PM
I've been a Philosophy girl for quite sometime now. I've gone through the brands over the years from Bath & Body Works, The Body Shop, Victoria's Secret, etc., but Bath & Body Works & Philosophy brand are the two brands that I've worn the most over the yrs. In fact, I've been greatly disappointed with the overly blah & boring scents that Bath & Body Works have come out with these past few seasons that I've completely gone to Philosophy for my shower gel, lotion & spritzer needs. That's another review for another day...anyhow, Philosophy Bubbly...where to begin?! I was apprehensive because I hadn't actually smelled it before purchasing so I was taking a gamble. I read reviews, but there was very little info. on this scent. First, I believe this scent deserves more props than the rating this lovely scent gets. I say this because I was pleasantly surprised when I opened my online purchase & smelled the lovely scent when I squeezed the bottle ever so gently. (If you've ever done this before & added just a slightest extra pressure; you could end up with the shower gel on your nose, mouth, etc. as I've done this too many times!!! :) ) I know that I'm dating myself when I offer this example, but who cares! I love being a girl growing up in the 80's! The 80's rocked! :) This scent reminds me of the Bonnie Bell lip smacker 7-UP soda from then. If anybody remembers that popular lip balm from past days, then that's what this shower gel smells like to me. I really like the scent of this shower gel because it's not too heavy or overbearing. I can wear it with my Philosophy Pure Grace lotion & spritzer or my other perfumes & it intermingles well. Bubbly never overbears or overwhelms. I'm a citrus fanatic for many reasons & I can smell the light, clean & fresh scent of citrus oranges & lemons infused with champagne. The champagne scent is very light & neither scents overbear or compete with each other, but come together for one magnificent work of art; perhaps a Monet or Van Gogh. I liked this scent the first time I smelled it & then used it, but I notice that I've been reaching for this scent subconsciously in the shower in the morning which tells me that I must really love this scent as I have close to a dozen Philosophy shower gels in my shower. I also love the packaging on the cover of Philosophy's bottles with their lovely sentiments. The elegant, creative, artistic & sophisticated covers add an extra special look to my bathroom. Bubbly is a scent that is a must for all lovers of Philosophy showers gels & scents. I'm surprised that it didn't receive higher marks because Victoria's Secret's "Strawberries & Champagne" shower gel is too fake smelling (in my opinion) & overbearing & I always ended up with a headache each time I used it, but Philosophy's Bubbly is the complete opposite of that. I was happy that this one didn't give me a headache because I love the scent of champagne & have been looking for a shower gel that has this scent. Then add citrus & I'm sold!!! The champagne scent is really so light yet when mixed with the citrus; I found this shower gel to be invigorating! It's a unique scent that's highly feminine, clean, confident & most important it compliments any scent that intermingles with it! I also feel like a starlet when I shower or bath with this scent. I receive so many compliments when I wear this scent; especially fro my husband Anytime champagne is incorporated in something whether it's cuisine, desserts or cosmetics, I have to buy it as champagne is the Rolls Royce of alcoholic beverages & considered the beverage of royalty. I feel confident, happy & sophisticated when I wear this shower gel. The light citrus smell gently helps to wake you up in the morning. Don't miss out on this posh scent. I always look forward to the upcoming scents & bath collections that Philosophy comes out with seasonally! I hope this scent is here to stay! :)
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Polishes -OPI - An Affair in Red Square
Audralee27 12/29/2011 8:33:00 PM
Can I start off by saying YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally my go-to red!!! This gorgeous red shimmer shade from OPI's Russian Collection is absolutely amazing! This is what I was expecting OPI's "I'm Not Really A Waitress" & although I do love that shade & I'm wearing it now; it pales in comparison to An Affair in Red Square! I give 5 lippies for the creative name of this lacquer because I'm willing to admit that a kooky or intriguing name definitely gets me! OPI's amazing creative marketing & advertising team's creative minds comes up with fabulous names that really do get me to purchase at their classic & upcoming lacquers. AFIRS has a wonderful name, but doesn't need any name as this red is a real stand out! It's a red that's perfect all year, but really something for the holidays! I love how it has a metallic look to it & the shimmer is absolutely amazing! The blue undertones really brighten up my pale skintone, especially in the drab winter in new england! This red is a stand out without being over the top & bordering on loud & gaudy! Never! It reminds me of what Hollywood starlets would've worn from past days & present as this sophisticated, classy & elegant nail lacquer transcends time. A true classic & EXACTLY what I've been looking for in reds for a very long time! A true red shimmer with such character & such an alluring & intoxicating shade. I love red cremes, but when I saw this shade, I was hooed! I have noticed that this has been the shade that I reach most often for in my expansive collection. If you love INRAW & would love to try her elegant, more sexy, sultry & sophisticated cousin that has more depth & character in my opinion; this is the one! I can't stop staring at the bottle as I type this! This lacquer stays on a long time without chipping, if it's ever chipped! I've stuck with OPI over the years not only because of their fabulous collections, shades & high quality formulas, but because OPI never disappoints! I never mind paying the extra money if it's a quality item & OPI has passed with flying colors over the years & only gets better! The fact that I know my nails are going to last from the moment I apply to the moment I take the lacquer off myself & that can be up to 2 weeks sometimes in barefeet on the beaches in the summer & never a chip! Never! Amazing & worth every penny! Afterall, life is short & I want to spend my time doing other things!!! OPI allows my nails to look fabulous & flawless without a tremendous amount of upkeep; although it looks that way! Thanks OPI! Another winner & one I'll buy again! I would bypass INRAW & go straight to this beauty!!! The caviar of red shimmers!!! :)
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Polishes -OPI - Boris & Natasha
Audralee27 10/6/2011 11:39:00 AM
Boris & Natasha is the perfect shade for all you girls out there that love raisin/deep berry shades. I ended up liking this shade a lot more than expected. I love that it comes from the beloved Russian collection from OPI which I find to be one of their best collections. I consider a collection to be a great one if I end up wanting & purchasing more than half of the lacquers in their usual collection of 12. I bought 8 from this collection which speaks volumes b/c there's only 2 other collections that hold that title & the Russian collection is one of them. Boris & Natasha & OPI's MRS OLEARYS BBQ are what I'd consider cousins. I love MRS OLEARYS BBQ from the ever popular Chicago Collection. I would describe the difference in cousins this way; Boris & Natasha has browner undertones, but still comes off a deep rich berry plum. MOBBQ comes off a a shade more deep berry, w/ a pinker undertone. In the bottle the two can look very similar, although in the sunlight the bottles are a shade off of each other, one leaning toward brown; the other toward deep berry/plum. It really depends on my mood when chosing between these two shades, but again, if you're a raisin girl & love the raisin/deep berry family, then both of these shades are the ones to purchase b/c they're different enough to be worth the purchase, esp. if you're an OPI nail lacquer fanatic like myself. Although I thought I'd like MOLBBQ better b/c I like berry undertones, but I like Boris & Natasha a tad more. I think it looks perfect against my skintone & I don't say that often. I can wear this shade whether my skin is pale or tan from the summer. I know this & MOLBBQ are the perfect autumn shades, but I think these shades can be worn well & beautifully all yr long! I've found when I wear berry or raisin shade lacquers w/ a tan in the summer in new england, I receive so many compliments against my berry brown skin. I have fair skin tones for majority of the yr, w/ the exception of summer & vacations where I tan a golden shade. If you're a girl that has fairly pale skin, but can tan fairly well in the summer, w/ a tan that casts a golden glow on your skin like mine, then both of these nail lacquers by OPI are perfect for you! I'm also a girl that's highly particular about the polish that I put on my toes b/c I like my hands more than I like my feet. If I like a shade on my toes & it makes me think that my feet look pretty enough to walk around the house barefoot, then that's my true test. These shades both passed the finger & toe test! That's hard to do w/ me as it's usually one or the other, but typically not both! I know I'm quirky, but we all have our piccadillos....so on to Boris & Natasha. I only apply two coats after using OPI's natural base coat b/c three coats is too dark for my preference & loses the berry undertones. It also is a dream to apply as is the case w/ OPI lacquers majority of the time. I'm also sold on the catchy name, Boris & Natasha. I'm typically a tough sell when it comes to being persueded to buy something due to marketing & advertising, but OPI had me w/ the name too! It was a win/win for me as the shade was a standout in the collection along w/ Vodka & Caviar, but the name also had me. Well done OPI! I If I'm going to pay a fair amount of $$$ for a quality product, I want a product that has a creative, catchy, kooky name that's indicitive of that particular collection. OPI nailed it w/ Boris & Natasha. Soooooooooo, if you're a girl that not only likes the raisin/deep berry & plum color family & is also a lover of creme polishes then go no further! I know there's a lot of girls out there that find creme polishes to be blah & somewhat boring, but I find creme polishes to be quite the contrary. I look at creme polishes as the MERCEDES of nail lacquer finishes. Creme polishes have a very elegant & sophisticated look to me. I find that a creme polish really, pardon the play on words, but I can't find a better adjective, but really "polishes" or completes a woman's ensemble. It takes a woman's ensemble whether she's wearing jeans to an elegant cocktail dress & completes the outfit making it more polished, more elegant, more stylish. I use the word, woman when I explain creme polishes b/c I find creme polishes to be the chic, hip & sophisticated style in the nail lacquer world. Creme polishes have always reigned supreme in the fashion world & that's what decides what styles & trends that are going to take place every season. The expression, "Less is more" definitely applies to creme polishes. Creme polishes make a lasting impression w/out having to add glitter & glitz to be trendy & relevant. Creme polishes are a constant in a sea of ever changing world of fashion fads & fizzles. Creme polishes are here to stay b/c they're a timeless classic, like Marilyn Monroe, or those elegant Hollywood starlets that once adorned the screen. All the glamorous starlets wore creme polishes too & when I think of elegance, I think of old Hollywood, when Marilyn Monroe was larger than life in gorgeous gowns, heels, long elegant red creme polish nails wrapped around a martini or a gorgeous patent leather purse! All this being said, being a girl that does like change sometimes, depending on the day there are times I do like a really gorgeous shimmer, pearly, or glitter styled lacquer so I don't just wear creme polishes. I can appreciate all lacquer styles, but I just tend to always go back to my beloved cremes. I guess that's b/c I feel elegant, sophisticated & confident when I wear cremes & life's hard enough these days so why not have a little bit of Marilyn's elegance, beauty & grace in me daily?! Whatever makes you happy in life. I also feel Audrey Hepburnish when I wear creme polishes too esp. in the raisin family b/c Audrey was a fashion & beauty icon & wore creme shades that expanded past the typical red cremes. Although, there's times when there's nothing else that'll do then a red creme lacquer! That's another review!
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Vodka & Caviar
Audralee27 9/26/2011 1:00:00 AM
OPI is my favorite of all the salon brand nail lacquers of all time & I know that some reviewers feel that it's a bit on the pricy side, but I have to disagree. I'm a firm believer in the saying that you get what you pay for in life & OPI is definitely one of those instances when I have to agree. In fact, I find OPI to be fairly reasonable in price & excels way above in the quality, shades & collections department. The fact that OPI has been big three free since the mid 2000's has kept me sold on OPI for that reason alone. Most top salon brand nail lacquers are now B3F (Big 3 Free- free of the 3 major chemicals), but being a breast cancer survivor, my health is of the utmost priority, but I'm young & love cosmetics, fashion & nail lacquers. I'm just so overjoyed that OPI & other top brands have gone the health conscious route & now I'm 100% over the moon w/ OPI more than ever! Red is my favorite color & I like the fact that OPI has a plethora of reds because I feel red is a very important componant to making a nail lacquer brand the best & OPI reigns supreme in the red department whether you're looking for a gorgeous red creme, shimmer, frost or glitter, they have it! There can never be enough red lacquers in the world girls! :) OPI also reigns supreme in my opinion in the plums/purples & pinks department as well, but red holds a special place for me. I wear a lot of different shades from various OPI collections, but red is a shade that I'm always looking to purchase another bottle of, even though I own so many in my collection now. I believe a girl can never own too many red lacquers in their collections as there are so many reds that span the color spectrum. OPI has so many reds that have pinkish, bluish & orangish hues that even the most particular girl can find their "go to" red shade & every girl needs a red "go to" lacquer for those special times or perhaps for just a regular, ordinary day! That's what can turn the day extraordinary! Red is a shade that makes me feel beautiful & confident, but I don't want to ever wear a red that's brash & over the top. I like an elegant, sophisticated, classy red creme polish & that's what I've found w/ OPI's Vodka & Caviar! I used to think that I would never find my own "go to" red & it used to frustrate me b/c I believe there's nothing more gorgeous sometimes than an elegantly manicured hand w/ elegant red nails! What a showstopper! (That being said, I feel that way w/ a French mani. as well.) I was starting to lose my faith in my love of reds & finding the right one & now my hardest decision w/ OPI's collections of reds is what red I'm going to wear for each season! I'm now regularly rotating about 8 reg. reds on a yearly basis now, but it's always Vodka & Caviar that my hand always subconsciously reaches for. Vodka & Caviar is from OPI's coveted Russian collection & what a collection filled w/ deep, lush elegant shades in a variety of shades. I own a few lacquers in this special collection, but Vodka & Caviar is really a special red polish. It's a brilliant perfect creme based polish & one that's a true red in my opinion. I receive so many compliments everytime I wear this shade. I apply OPI's natural nail base coat & then 2 coats of V&C for my preferred look. It gets too crimson for my liking if I apply 3 coats, but every girl's skintone is different. This is a true red for girls who love the color red & perfect if you're a creme polish lover like myself. When I write my reviews I'm always wearing the shade that I write about in order to ensure the most honest & accurate opinion. I like to compare the shade aginst direct sunlight & aritficial inside light. V&C looks fabulous in both lights & always maintainsits jellylike, wet look the entire time I wear it. I've also never had a time when V&C ever chipped on me & that's amazing in itself! OPI is the only brand that stays chip resistent the entire time I wear it! I'm usually taking the color off completely b/c I want a change & each time I do, the polish is always 100% on! I can't make that bold statement about any other nail lacquer brand! OPI owns the market on cremes in my opinion. V&C is an excellent autumn red & can be worn in the winter or really all year round, but I wear this shade in fall & winter months only b/c there's just so many other beautiful reds from OPI! V&C is really a special red. When I see this shade whether it's on my hands or in the bottle, I always think of the Hollywood starlets from past days, particularly Marilyn Monroe who was an iconic beauty. Marilyn & other top starlets were always spotted jetsetting around old Hollywood in these shades & Marilyn seemed to set the mark for red polishes in my opinion. She always looks so elegant & sophisticated wearing her red polish whether she was wearing a gorgeous ballroom gown or in her everyday frocks, she wore red polish a lot & always made anything she wore instantly glamourous & stylish! I can picture her wearing this shade & everytime I see my V&C bottle, I think that. This shade definitely makes me feel sexy, smart, sassy & confident w/out feeling too over the top! V&C is a shade for girls who are sick of searching for their quintessential "go to" red only to apply the polish & it looks too pinkish, bluish or orangish! Yikes! This is simply red & the perfect addition to any girl's fall fashion wardrobe. Look no further for that perfect autumn red! Love it! I will always purchase it & hope it stays permanently!
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Bastille My Heart
Audralee27 8/31/2011 1:58:00 AM
Bastille My Heart is one of my all time favorite shades from one of my all time favorite collections, OPI's French Collection. I'm partial to this collection because I'm of french descent so I migrate towards this rich & elegant collection, but I think most girls would. The shades in this collection are so rich, elegant, sophisticated & yet so chic, hip with such a sense of style and refinement. Bastille My Heart is one of the stand outs in this fabulous collection! I'm a creme polish girl, but I do like a high quality looking shimmer and this one is it! I love the cranberry, plum & deep berry/raisin shades for fall & I love this shade spectrum so much that I try & sneak these shades in my wardrobe all year long. I would best describe this shade as a deep, complex plumish cranberry shimmer creme & if you have these two shades combined in one polish & I must purchase!!! I find cranberry polishes are hard to find & plum shades tend to take center stage these past seasons, but when I find a cranberry shade, I must purchase, but this one is in a catogory all its own. This cranberry/plumish shimmer has so much depth & complexity to it. It looks as beautiful in the bottle as it does on my fingers & that doesn't happen all the time. Bastille My Heart reminds me of OPI's Swiss Collection's, Diva Of Geneva, but Diva has gold undertones in it & is a half shade lighter going toward the plum side more while Bastille My Heart migrates toward the cranberry side. I find Bastille to be a richer, creamier, shimmery formula next to Diva. I love Diva as well, but Bastille makes me feel so feminine & sexy, but in a simple, clean understated way. The shade is dark, but not overwhelming. I receive so many compliments when I wear this shade & I subconsciously must really love it because I always tend to reach for it in colder months & it stays on longer than any shade I've ever purchased from OPI. This shade was the first dark shade that I ever purchased from OPI & I make sure I always have it my collection. It's a must! It never chips & that to me is worth every penny because that's one thing that I'm a stickler about when it comes to my nails! I'll obsess on the chip all day until I can get home & fix it, but never with this shade & seldom if ever with most OPI polishes. This shade is really so elegant & luxurious girls! You'll really feel like something special in this shade as it's so feminine, womanly & sophisticated. This is definitely a sexy, sultry shade & not a girly shade! This shade oozes confidence, inner & outer strength & beauty! All that in one little bottle! I'll take it! That's what different shades do for me! It brings out different feelings & emotions! Don't let this one pass you by or any from OPI's French Collection! :)
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Polishes -OPI - Opi Red
Audralee27 8/26/2011 10:46:00 PM
I've been an OPI girl since the early 90's & I can tell you that OPI is by far the best polish out there for quality, color, collections & price. I feel that OPI is not expensive considering that it lasts longer than any polish w/ out chipping & has been 3 free since 2006. I've tried all the polish brands from the inexpensive drugstore polishes to the salon brands & OPI has been hands down the brand that I always go back to. All I wear now is OPI as OPI never disappoints & the shades are so rich & elegant. OPI red is one of my 5 polishes that I rotate yearly & wear on a constant basis. Red is my favorite color & I'm so uber particular about the shade because I'm not a loud, brash, in your face red kind of gal, but yet I want to wear my favorite color! I like a sexy, sophisticated, elegant red that says, "I'm a confident, stong, smart & sexy woman" & that's exactly how I feel when I wear this one! I feel that way when I wear this red & this red is the only red shade by OPI that I've found can do that! I've searched for that perfect red for years & I can't thank OPI enough for this one! I wear this shade all year long & I haven't had any chipping problems, but I do apply typically 2 coats, sometimes 3, depending on time. This is a true red to me & I'm a red stickler about my reds, since it's my favorite color! Any polish that makes it into OPI's coveted Classic Collection is always a winner & a must for any OPI polish collector! :)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No