All Lacquered Up

Sula Paint and Peel Polish Swatches and Review

2009-07-10T13:12:00.007-04:00

A number of you have inquired about Sula Beauty's Paint & Peel Nail Polish. I must admit I was hesitant because the idea of peeling anything off my nail beds seemed unhealthy but in the name of research I was willing to give it a go.

If you haven't seen this brand at your local ULTA yet, Sula is a water-based nail polish that you can remove by peeling. Being water based, it is safe for pregnant women and ideal for those fanatics who are looking for non-toxic nail color. Check out my swatches and full review after the jump!

I had the opportunity to test Sula's Modern Mauve nail color and Metallic Base/Top coat. Both are water based and non-toxic so it is recommended that if you do not use Sula's base/top coat, you wear the polish on naked nails.

I wore Modern Mauve for a week to give it a thorough trial run and when my friend Jewels spotted it on me, she of course asked about the brand. I told her it was a peel off polish and her response was, "like that old school Bonne Bell peel off polish?" Let's just call this is the grown up version of that.

Application: To say the polish applies streaky is an understatement. Without the chemicals that make traditional polish flow, you have to be very careful to keep the finish from being lumpy. Even after three coats, Modern Mauve was a bit uneven regardless of using their base coat. The bottle instructs you to avoid hot water for 3 hours after applying.

Tip: Wait time between coats is essential to avoid severe streaking. The polish dries with a rubberized finish and is completely dry and touchable in minutes.

Modern Mauve looks like a pale lilac in the bottle but on the nail it dries darker and more vivid. It's very eye catching. For me, it's dark enough to avoid my light purple "alien hand" syndrome.
The Metallic Base/Top Coat applies milky but dries perfectly clear and doesn't alter the polish hue in the slightest. It's not so much a metallic as a micro-glitter top coat. The particles are very small pieces of silver glitter that dry smooth. There's no gritty texture here.

I did a 5 day wear test with Metallic Base/Top on my index and ring fingers and just the polish on the middle and pinkie fingers. As you can see, my middle finger suffered the worst wear. The rubberized finish is mostly to blame. Similar to how Minx start to lift after a couple days, this polish's slightly tacky surface snags on things and will start lifting. Otherwise the wear was impressive. I expected it to look much worse after five days.
Removal: According to Sula, you can safely peel the polish off your nails. It takes a bit of picking to get the polish started but tears off in decent sized chunks. I'm sure my fidgety fanatics out there will revel in the removal process.

My experience: I had WAY too many people tell me how easy it was to remove Sula and how it wasn't AT ALL damaging to their nails. Though after testing Sula myself I wonder if those people wore the polish for any length of time or were just swatching it for fun. Because when I went to remove the polish after 5 days, I saw actual pieces of my nail bed rip off and I was left with severely dehydrated tissue. Halfway through removal I used acetone remover and saw no damage to my remaining nails.
Modern Mauve was one of Sula's original Paint & Peel shades but now they have 13 additional Trend Collection polishes to choose from.

Final Verdict: Sula is a unique product. It's not the first paint & peel polish on the market but it's more accessible than other brands I've heard of. It's great for fanatics who want fun nails but need a non-toxic polish. It's an ideal diversion for people that tend to pick at their cuticles as long as they don't leave it on too long. In terms of extended wear, I just HIGHLY recommend removing with a polish remover. I don't want to see any of you taking off layers of your nail.

Sula Paint and Peel Nail Polish retails for $9/ea and is available online at SulaBeauty.com and Anthropologie.com and in stores at ULTA.

Have any of you tried these polishes yet? What has your experience been? Have you tried other peel off polishes?

The Arsenal - Zoya Remove+ Polish Remover

2009-07-09T14:00:00.001-04:00

I get a lot of questions and comments regarding the tools and treatment products I use to keep my nails healthy and in tip top shape. Since my routine changes as I test new products, I've launched, The Arsenal, to share with you the items that are "must haves" in my nail kit.

If you were to take a peek at my polish room, one thing you'd notice is the numerous amount of polish remover bottles hanging out on just about every surface. I couldn't swatch colors without them. And even though I try a bunch of different brands, my staple and nail life line is Zoya Remove+. I'm never without a bulk 32oz bottle on hand to refill my Big Flipper. If, like me, you go through a lot of remover due to constant polish changes you should seriously consider switching to Remove+.

What so fab about it, you ask. Well, the fact that it's one of the only acetone based removers I've used that doesn't dry out my nail beds like they've been living in the Sahara. That's huge!! As you know, most fanatics prefer acetone because it quickly removes anything you throw at it. But acetone can be so drying and damaging. Thanks to the added Glycerine, my nails stay healthy through numerous swatching sessions.

When you're testing polish as often as I am, you need the gentlest yet most effective remover you can find and for me, it's Remove+. It has a pleasant lavender scent and a very simple ingredient list: 2-Propanone, Water, Glycerine, Fragrance, D&C Violet #2 (for color).

You can pick up Remove+ on the Zoya.com site. The Big Flipper retails for $9.99 and the 32oz refill bottle sells for $25.

Which nail polish remover is your favorite? Where are my fellow Remove+ fans?

The ALU Archives - China Glaze C-C-Courage

2009-07-09T11:36:00.006-04:00

The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash.

You asked for HTF's well you're gonna get them. Thank you to everyone who voted in the poll last week. An overwhelming majority of you want to see some of my favorite discontinued polishes pop up in the Archives. For those of you that weren't a fan of the idea, not to worry, you'll still get plenty of available shades to ogle.

I decided to kick off the DC'd Archives with China Glaze C-C-Courage. Check it out after the jump!

C-C-Courage was released as part of the Wizard of Ooh Ahz collection. With Wizard of Oz themed names and colors the collection also included Cowardly Lyin', Dorothy Who?, Good Witch?, The Ten Man and the lone core collection survivor Ruby Pumps. I owned Good Witch? at one point thanks to a special MUA friend but I decided she belonged with the queen of all things pink, NikkNack.

My WOOA shades (pictured above): C-c-courage, Cowardly Lyin' and Dorothy Who?

It's the multi-sized glitter in these polishes that make them special. C-C-Courage has tonal shimmer and silvery light purple glitter trapped in a semi-sheer grape hued base. Though don't let semi-sheer scare you off. This one is totally opaque in 2-3 coats. It does dry a bit flat and satiny so I am showing it with a glossy top coat.

Now because this collection was released prior to AII Beauty acquiring the brand, the formulas were lost. But I have it on good authority that China Glaze has been working on re-creating the colors so if you would like to see these beauties make a triumphant return, let them know. Leave a comment here or email them directly through the contact form on the China Glaze site.

Have any of you run across the Wizard of Ooh Ahz collection? Do you own any of the shades? What do you think of C-C-Courage.

Exciting Illamasqua News

2009-07-09T02:10:00.003-04:00

Guess what fanatics?? Illamasqua is coming to the USA!! That's right, the edgy UK brand that has been wowing bloggers with their insanely cool color palette and high quality products will now be available in the States.

As I read on the Sephora Blog, Illamasqua is launching on Sephora.com on July 21st and at their Times Square location on July 30th. By fall they'll roll out to Sephora stores across the country. How freakin amazing is that??

As Amazing As Polish - Urban Decay Pocket Rocket

2009-07-08T15:00:00.008-04:00

It's time for another installment of As Amazing As Polish, my opportunity to gush about the products that I feel truly are as AH-MAZING as nail polish.

Lip gloss junkies you must, MUST, get yourself a Pocket Rocket! OK that sounds dirty. I'm talking lip gloss here people! Get your minds out of the gutter (cuz you're crowding me out). One of my fave makeup brands Urban Decay introduced Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss last spring and I'm loving it! I seriously can't get enough of this stuff. See why after the jump!

What is truly genius about the Pocket Rocket is the packaging. It's clever, fun and totally unique. Each one features a hot guy on the cap who undresses down to his skivvies at the right angle AND the tube is flat to fit in your pocket with no unsightly bulge.

Now I don't know about you girls but when I go out I hate carrying a purse. I'm a lover of big purses and hauling one around on a night out is a PITA so I'm a strict M.I.L.K. (money, ID, lippie, keys) carrier. The shape of the Pocket Rocket is ideal for that. It's longer than most glosses but the flat design and smooth casing make it easy to stash in the front or back pocket of your jeans.

Even better than the exterior is the yummy gloss inside. I picked up David a few weeks back at my local ULTA and have been wearing it everyday since. If you're looking for a fab non-sticky gloss, you've found it! Smooth and silky, it glides on with ease.

Even though I was intimidated by the deep mauve color in the the tube, on my lips it's just sheer enough to not be overwhelming. It's just pretty and girly. Very much my ideal hue. Oh and the scent, I can't get over the scent. It smells like Golden Grahams, one of my fave cereals ever. Delish!
You can get your own Pocket Rocket for $19/ea online at UrbanDecay.com, Sephora.com and Beauty.com or in stores like ULTA and Sephora.

Who's a UD fan? Anyone else swooing over the Pocket Rocket? Sound off!

Best of Orly Spring & Summer 2009

2009-07-08T12:46:00.005-04:00

For Spring and Summer 2009, Orly hit us with three, count 'em THREE, colorful new collections; Prepster, Carnivale and Tiki Time.

While all three have some fun colors, none of them wowed me as a whole so I chose my favorites to show to you. Check out my Top 5 of the season after the jump!

One thing I noticed is that most of the bold creme shades are jelly-like in texture. They're semi-sheer but buildable and have that glossy, rubberized look that makes jellies so cool. I know the sheers in the Prepster collection are great for layering but they just weren't doing it for me.

Cashmere Cardigan is a stunning periwinkle blue creme. It's well pigmented but looks best with three coats. To me this shade looks a lot like Essie Huckle Buckle, minus the shimmer.
I knew I would love Mint Mojito before I even saw it. I'm all over this bright spring green. It also needs three coats but who cares. It's lovely. It's actually more vibrant in person but it's really hard to capture. Actually you should check out the manicure Brittany (aka Clumps of Mascara) did with Cashmere Cardigan and Mint Mojito. She did it herself and it's way gorg!
Festival Lights is a beautious melon tinged orange. Like a perfectly ripe canteloupe, it's vivid but not BRIGHT.
Country Club Khaki is the shade celebrity manicurist Jenna Hipp raved about when I interviewed her for WOYN? and it's no wonder. This is a great neutral mushroom hue. It's like the spring version of You Don't Know Jacques.
Finally the shade that made my heart skip, Calypso Breeze. I can't think of a blue in my stash that looks quite like this and I don't even know how to describe it. It makes me think of lake water, the sky before a storm and denim all mixed together.
All these polishes are limited edition but still available online at Head2ToeBeauty.com and TransDesign.com. Orly is also carried at Sally Beauty Supply but seasonal collections tend to sell out fast so availability will vary by location.

So what did you think of the Orly Spring/Summer collections? Which colors did you pick up?

Introducing Rescue Beauty Lounge Mismas

2009-07-07T15:30:00.003-04:00

Fanatics, I am beyond thrilled that I can finally reveal MISMAS, my signature nail polish from Rescue Beauty Lounge. Releasing as part of RBL's Fall 2009 collection, Mismas (pronounced miss-mass) is one of three shades that are part of Ji's "blogger dream nail polish color" concept.

For the upcoming Fall season, Rescue Beauty Lounge’s Ji Baek takes customization to a whole new level, with a limited collection of colors designed by nail polish bloggers and a transforming true matte topcoat.

The beauty rebels behind nail polish blogs are serious about their polish. They’re the ones who not only embrace the trends, but inspire them. So how do you reach them with something truly avant-garde?

If you’re Rescue Beauty Lounge’s Ji Baek, you let them share with you their very own dream nail polish color. “These women have literally hundreds of colors in their polish wardrobes,” said Baek. “I was interested in finding out exactly what color they are still searching for—what color are they missing?’

Ji really did create my missing color and I hope you'll love it as much as I do. Check it out after the jump!

When Ji approached me with her idea of creating my ultimate fantasy color I was shocked with disbelief. I mean what an opportunity. How did I get so lucky? Even now, looking at the bottle, it seems surreal.

Of course a million ideas ran through my head and it felt like such a daunting task to come up with one shade. One color that would represent me and fulfill a dream. Now I'm sure most of you expected a green from me but I wanted do go a different route. The way I see it, over the past couple years so many amazing greens, including RBL Recycle, have come out that I couldn't imagine competing.

So I looked at my polish stash and the RBL lineup and came up with a shade I felt was missing from both; a deep purple creme. Ji does cremes like no other so I knew I was playing into her strength. And while I have many purple shades I love, they're mostly shimmers/glitters. All of my cremes are either too sheer, too red, too blue, too bright or too "almost black" and so with that in mind, Mismas was born.

All I can say is Ji nailed it. Like seriously nailed it. I sent her a few pics as ideas for the color and she got the shade on the first try. It was just a little too pigmented. On round two we had perfection. It's utterly gorgeous and I am PROUD to put my name on it.

Ji also created a Matte Top Coat to accompany this collection.

Completing the collection is a Matte Topcoat. “The sea of neon brights and ‘80’s styles on the runways left me baffled. Then there was Lanvin, with its gorgeous play of textures in black-on-black.”

Baek set out to create a truly matte topcoat that not only protected your polish color, but would leave your nails with a rich flat finish, like bisque china. Of course it’s without Touluene, Formaldehyde, or DBP.

The collection launches in September. The polishes retail for $18 and can be purchased online at RescueBeauty.com.

Now head on over to Scrangie.com to check out her creation. A shade she describes as "sparkly, fascinating, beautiful and a bit unusual."

Steph from PolishAddict.com will hopefully be posting her color for us to see soon as I know she's been busy and on a blogging break. I hope to have the other blogger creations to show you soon.

What do you think? Will you be picking up a bottle of Mismas?

ALU Featured in Scratch Magazine

2009-07-06T17:59:00.006-04:00

Fanatics, I'm so excited to be featured in this month's Scratch Magazine.

First of all, I owe a HUGE thank you to reader and fellow blogger Lina-Elvira of Pretty Perfect Beauty for telling me about this article and allowing me to republish her scan of it.

Secondly, thanks to AII Beauty's Anne Moratto for her extremely flattering words about nail blogs and yours truly. It's a thrill to see nail blogging get some well deserved attention.

Click on the image to read see the article in full.

So Fresh and So Clean - The White Nail Trend

2009-07-06T13:32:00.009-04:00

This past weekend P. Diddy hosted his annual 4th of July fete, The White Party. It's always great for celeb watching as the Hollywood set gather to celebrate Independence Day and support a cause decked out in their finest white garb. This year Diddy co-hosted with Ashton Kutcher to benefit Malaria No More.

With a strict "white only" dress code I knew there would be some fab white nails on parade like the ones on my fave Kardashian sister Khloe. I just LOVE her. Khloe, as Chelsea Handler so eloquently put it, "you're a real bitch and I like it!"

But Khloe isn't the only celeb who's been sporting bright, white tips, the trend has been spreading like wildfire. Over the past couple weeks I've tested a whole mess of shades so if you're looking for suggestions on the best whites to buy for summer, read on.

Even style icon Gwen Stefani who's known for her retro chic makeup & hair has ditched her signature red nails in favor of white and I'm liking it. Like black, white goes with everything and it can accent a look by making it more mod, fresh, funky, etc. It's a statement color in spite of its neutrality.

Take Gwen and Lea Michele, star of my new fave fall show Glee. On Gwen white tips look rocker and edgy. On Lea the color adds a girly, upscale feel.

Though one thing plagues most white polishes... application. I've found that all white polishes I've tried have one of two major issues:

1. Thick, chalky and streaky
2. Thin, milky and semi-sheer

So you're either putting on three coats to get the thick lumpiness even or you're applying four coats to get the polish opaque. Even my all time favorite, China Glaze White Kwik Silvr (below), needs three coats and it's the BEST white I've ever used. Yellows have the same problems so I believe it's just a side effect of trying to make light colors opaque.

So what can you do to wear white tips with ease? My best suggestion is to wear a shimmery/glittery hues because they hide flaws better than cremes. White Kwik Silvr and Orly Gogo are hands down my favorites in the shimmer/glitter category. WKS brings on the bling so if you want to kept it subtle, opt for the Orly.

China Glaze White Kwik Silvr
Orly Gogo

If sparkle isn't your thing, look for a softer white. Yes, you need multiple coats to get it opaque but the formulas on these are easier to control and even with 3-4 coats they don't look thick. My faves are Essie Marshmallow and OPI Peace Baby!. Peace Baby! doesn't offer as much coverage but it's workable.

Essie Marshmallow

OPI Peace Baby!

If you're dead set on the stark, creamy look then go for it full-on. You need a Wite-Out shade that isn't overly chalky. It has to have major shine or else you may as well just paint your tips with correction fluid or, you know, OPI Alpine Snow Matte. Of all the truly opaque whites I tested these three are your best bets for decent application that won't make you want to throw the bottle against the wall.

China Glaze White Out

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear White On

Shades by Barielle Enduring
What do you think of this trend? Are you on board or jumping ship?

Do you have a favorite white that I didn't mention? Have you found one with perfect application that's still in production? I'd love to hear which ones tickle your fancy.

"What's On Your Nails?" with Carla from Product Girl

2009-07-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

What's On Your Nails? is a series focusing on my fellow beauty bloggers and industry insiders, their favorite nail polish and other hot nail topics.

Another week, another WOYN? and this week we've got Carla from Product Girl who is FINALLY sharing her NOTD with us (j/k Carla). Kids, this girl is a true "product girl" as her knowledge astounds me. Her love of makeup is deep and real and she can recall color names, collections, etc. like no one I've met. This girl has it down!

Since we chat regularly on IM I get to hear about her beauty hauls which makes me want to run to the mall and spend, spend, spend. That's the last thing the boyfriend wants to hear. I can't justify $45 for La Mer lip balm but hearing her rave about it is extremely enabling. For that reason alone I'm avoiding the La Mer counter.

Read on to learn more about "Product Girl", see her favorite red and learn which Sally Beauty find is her go-to top coat.

Introduce yourself to the ALU readers. Tell us a little about you and your blog.
I started Product Girl in September of 2005. I had a personal blog for years and I found myself talking about my beauty purchases more and more. Eventually I decided that those posts needed their own home because I really enjoyed talking about beauty products and that's how Product Girl was born.

What is your favorite nail polish?
I am absolutely in love with Chanel's Lotus Rouge nail polish. I'm a sucker for a red, especially blue reds and this red definitely has quite a bit of it. Unfortunately, I don't wear it as much as I would like to simply because I only have 1 bottle but you actually suggested some shades that help me make do. :) Plus reds make me feel good, they make me feel a little glamourous.

What is on your tips and toes right now?
Right now I have Essie's Geranium on my tips and my toes are bare. Geranium is an almost perfect duplicate of NARS Hunger, Hunger has a little more orange to it but you wouldn't pick up on that unless you compare them side by side.

Do you consider nail polish a beauty necessity or accessory? Why?
To me, it's an accessory... for now. I'm a reformed nail biter and for years I didn't really give much thought to what was on my nails. I also got the short end of the stick when it comes to nails. Everyone else in my family has these gorgeous broad, long nails and I have short, stubby, weak ones. I'm starting to work on them though and I definitely have started building a collection of polishes.

How many bottles of nail polish do you own?
I don't have an exact count on how many bottles I own, mainly because I have products scattered all over the place but I know I have at least 40 of them right now. For the most part, they are different hues of red, mauves, nudes and browns. I'm starting to expand into grays and some more adventurous colors.

How often do you change your nail polish?
Sadly, not as often as I should. It took me about a month to do my nails this time. It's one of those things that gets put on the to-do list but somehow never gets done until it's the wrong time. Like this time, I decided to do my nails right between loads of laundry.

Do you have a favorite nail treatment you think my readers should know about? Why is it so fab?
Right now I'm loving INM's Out the Door top coat. As I mentioned, I often decide to do my nails at the wrong time, like right before bed, and I'm very impatient when it comes to drying time so a speed dry top coat is a must for me. I tried using Seche Vite and didn't like its consistency so then I started using Poshe. That works like a charm for me but I saw Out the Door in a beauty supply store and picked it up on an impulse. This works even faster than Poshe.

What do you think will be the big nail trend for summer?
It always seems to go back to bright, vivid colors which is great but it seems like I'm seeing more pinks and oranges around this time it seems. I'm not really good at predicting trends though, I just know what I like and what works for me. :)

What nail trend do you wish would go away?
I do not understand why a person would get a French pedicure, that just seems ridiculous. Just because it looks nice on your fingertips, doesn't mean it belongs on your toes. Seems like a lose lose situation; either your nails are too long and have the white tip (which then can be uncomfortable) or your nails are too short for the white tip and that just doesn't look cute either... to me anyhow.

What is the biggest nail faux pas that women make?
Walking around with horribly chipped nail polish, so badly chipped that there's barely any color left. This is something I'm guilty of doing myself from time to time but at a certain point, your nails are just begging for the nail polish remover.

My thanks to Carla for letting me bully her into showing off her nails. Fanatics make sure you visit Product Girl and see if Carla can enable your next beauty purchase.

Web Snob Wrap Up 7-4-09

2009-07-04T23:59:00.003-04:00

Allie is Wired fashion face-off: Carrie Underwood vs. Whitney Port.

Bag Bliss Find: Summer clutches for under $90!

Bag Snob- Alexander McQueen Glove clutch is bizarrely cool.

Beauty Snob loves Motives Liquid to Powder foundation for flawless skin!

Coquette loves the modern dresses with tribal patterns and Ikat prints.

Daily Obsession has the first look at Posh and Beck's steamy new campaign for Emporio Armani.

eye4style reports on the new line from Beyoncé and Tina Knowles - is Sasha Fierce on your shopping list for fall?

Fashion Pulse Daily can't get enough of Phillip Lim's eco-conscious collection, Go Green Go

Looking for a personalized mom necklace? I'm Not Obsessed shows you a celebrity favorite.

The Jet Set Girls found three great Fouth of July outfits for under $160!

Second City Style discusses what's hot in accessories right now with eBay Style Director, Constance White.

Shopping and Info found the pink floral skirt worn by Vanessa Hudgens.

Stiletto Jungle plans out an inexpensive at home facial.

Stylehive is still not over Blake Lively's bright CFDA awards dress, and has found a few that might just do the trick.

The Beauty Stop explains how to get fast and easy hairstyles for summer.

The Shoe Goddess revisits the 80s with these fabulous Jimmy Choo studded leather boots!

My 4th of July Manicure - A Nail Art Extravaganza

2009-07-04T15:31:00.007-04:00

Happy 4th of July Fanatics!! I hope all my US based readers are enjoying their holiday weekend. We've been having a lazy day around the house; cooking out, relaxing, enjoying a few beers. We'll be heading out to see fireworks later as long as the weather holds up. The clouds are rolling in but I have hope that we'll get a reprieve from the rain.

In the meantime, I decided to give myself a little Independence Day manicure that evolved into a nail art experiment. See its evolution from simple to all out crazy after the jump!

Let me clarify that this is not necessarily a recommendation of how you should wear your nails but rather ideas you could try on their own.

What I used:
*Nubar Sexy Red
*Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear White On
*OPI Dating A Royal
*Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen in Blue
*Dotting Tool

So I started off very simple with a multi-colored manicure. It's got patriotic spirit and is very user friendly. You don't need nail art skills to make this happen yet it's festive.
Because Steph has been encouraging me to attempt polka dots, I finally took the plunge, adding some white ones using the dotting tool. Steph's application tip: Pour a bit of polish onto aluminum foil to let it thicken. Dip the dotting tool in the polish and gently tap onto the nail, holding the tool perpendicular.
Since I was so proud of my dots (this is truly my first effort), I added some to the red as well. Though I think that nail looks more like Toad from Super Mario Brothers than 4th of July.
Now what would a 4th of July mani be without stars? So I broke out the nail art pen and drew a hasty star at the base of my nail. Application tip: Make sure your polish is completely dry or use a quick dry top coat, like I did, before you start to draw or else you'll damage the color underneath.
That star looked lonely so I gave it a friend. Note: The bonus of using these nail art pens is that you can wipe off any mistakes with water and not ruin the polish below. So don't be afraid to experiment. Just be careful when you wipe to avoid skin contact because the color can stain.
Finally, I added stripes to go with my stars. Because the special paint in the nail art pen dries matte, I applied top coat to protect the design and add shine.
Now I realize this look is WAY over the top but we're talking about a holiday where people paint stars & stripes on their faces so who really cares. If you want something a little more tame, try adding just one of these elements to your manicure for a little 4th of July pizazz.

Have a FANTABULOUS 4th everyone!

Butter London Fashionista's Favourites

2009-07-03T15:12:00.007-04:00

Happy Friday Fanatics! I hope you're gearing up for a fun weekend and 4th of July celebration (for US readers). Today I have the butter London Spring/Summer Fashionista's Favourites to show you. It's a lineup of five new colors, four cremes and one metallic, created by high fashion manicurist and Creative Director Nonie Creme. Take a peek after the jump!

As I've come to expect from bL's 3 Free formula, the consistency is on the medium-to-thick side yet the polishes apply very smooth and even, with one noted exception (Muggins). The lacquer dries fast and glossy and even though pulling off the outer square cap can be a struggle, it does make application much easier using just the round inner cap.

You saw Artful Dodger on me when I discussed Miley Cyrus' nails. It's my favorite shade in the collection and it's been sitting on my desk for a few weeks now so I can stare at it while I work. It's just such a happy color, a shade I'd LOVE to see in the sky if these darn rainclouds would ever vacate the CLE. So I'll continue to stare at Artful Dodger and wait for some much needed sun.

The Old Bill is a warm old gold metallic. You know how I feel about the issues metallics bring to the party but guess what?? The Old Bill isn't plagued by them. There's no streaking, no monster brush strokes, no weird pooling or anything. It applies like a freakin' dream in two thin coats. LOVE IT!!

Muggins is my problem child of the bunch. I'm already leery of pale purples but this one applied terribly. After three streaky coats I gave up. I tried with this one but for a color I know won't work with my skin tone, it wasn't worth it. I even added top coat to try and even it out and it STILL looked lumpy. PASS!

Cheeky Chops is perfect for the whole yellow trend that's happening. It's a vibrant banana pudding type shade. Bright but not neon, buttery but not pastel. Pretty dead on perfect if you ask me.

Blowing Raspberries doesn't really blow my hair back, no pun intended. It's a rich berry red creme not overly unusual. Though what did impress me was the application and pigmentation. It's almost a one coater and so damn smooth. I'd call it a goof-proof red.
The butter London Fashionista's Favourites are currently on sale through butterLondon.com or Beauty.com. Individual polishes retail for $14 or you can buy the entire set for $45 (bl) or $50 (Beauty.com).

So what do we think fanatics? Who's got big plans for the 4th? Or just fun plans in general?

AND DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY CHANEL GIVEAWAY THAT ENDS TONIGHT!

Coming Soon - Misa I'm Only Human Collection

2009-07-02T16:35:00.003-04:00

If you've been wondering, like I have, what's next from Misa I've got the deets.

Knock me down, I’ll pick myself up. Ask me about my alluring, bedroom eyes, I’ll coyly wink but won’t give away my secret. Spoil me, today is my birthday—I deserve it! I am fabulous, flawed but most of all, intoxicatingly feminine—forgive me for I’m Only Human.

Introducing “I’m Only Human,” the new sexy and vibrant nail collection for Fall/Winter by Misa Cosmetics. This collection celebrates the power and ambition of women who recognize and embrace their own humanity. It offers a rich palette of colors that signify key elements of being human.

Check out the bottle pics and color descriptions after the jump!

Can’t Nobody Take Me Down: For centuries women have been praised for their mighty resolve in the face of adversity. Today’s modern woman can exude this same level of confidence and power by wearing this inspiring, brick brown colored hue designed to spice up any look year round.

Forgive, Forget, For Me I Will: Versatility, honesty and authenticity, describe the meaning behind this vibrant red-orange shade. Women possess the ability to relate to others in an honest, real way. This color celebrates the humanity and femininity of women.

That’s My Little Secret: A crush no one knows about, the black dress that accentuates just the right curves, a beauty product that seemingly produces magic results. Women love the thought of keeping those little treasures to themselves—however that last little secret? Apply this salacious cherry shade to accent your favorite little dress and your secret just might escape you!

Sorry, Just Can’t Help It: Okay, we admit it. There are certain things in life we just can’t help. Our chocolate addiction, our love of gossip, our fascination with window shopping. This rich violet purple color signifies those things which women love to apologize for.

Today is my Birthday!: Presents, party time and pizzazz! We may not like turning another year older but we love the attention…even when we say we don’t. Today is my Birthday. Cue the gorgeous pink hue and the celebration!

I’m Going to Love Myself: Brilliantly magenta, this color creates a luster that puts the world on notice, that as women we may devote much of our time to work, family and friends, but above all we are committed to loving ourselves for the fabulous, flawed, and ferociously feminine beings that we are—for after all, We Are Only Human.

The I'm Only Human collection will launch on August 1st. You can buy Misa polishes online at MisaCosmetics.com and our favorite polish e-tailers.

The ALU Archives - NYX Thunder

2009-07-02T11:34:00.005-04:00

The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash.

For this week's Archives I wanted to dig out a polish I've never used before. Because I'm an impulsive shopper, I have way too many untried colors in my collection. It's sad, I know. All those bottles sitting there, wanting to be loved. Well this week NYX Thunder is getting some attention.

I picked up Thunder at the Tulalip outlets north of Seattle when I was visiting friends over TWO years ago. I was so excited to see a NYX polish display in person, I could hardly contain myself. Check out this treasure after the jump! (Oh and make sure you vote in my Archives poll)

Thunder is a slightly muted sky blue shimmer. It's not bright, not soft but somewhere in the middle. It applied smooth and even and I love the wide flat brush. Their brush is thinner than OPI's so it makes applicaton easier for those with small nail beds. The only downside is the sheerness as it required three coats.
I purchased NYX Thunder at one of the fragrance stores at the Tulalip outlets but it's available online for $3.50 to $4 at NYXCosmetics.com and CherryCulture.com

OK so here's the deal. I try to only post available older shades for the Archives so that you can actually go out and purchase them. However, I have so so many discontinued and HTF colors that I'd love to share with you but it almost seems like a tease if they're not readily available. So my question to you is... do you want to see them anyway or just stick with what I've been doing?

I would continue to post available polishes but mix in some DC'd ones as well. I know there are a lot of "dusty hunters" and ebayers out there so if including some HTFs would be of interest to you, speak out!

Do You Want To See Discontinued/HTF Polishes in the Archives?(survey software)

AND DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY CHANEL GIVEAWAY THAT ENDS TOMORROW!

More Chanel Jade Nail Collection Info

2009-07-01T18:26:00.003-04:00

I've got some additional details on Chanel's Jade Nail collection and I know you can't get enough of it, right? My nails are dying to be lacquered in Jade. Be still my beating heart.

Debuting at the CHANEL Ready-to-Wear Autumn/Winter 2009-2010 fashion show, Peter Philips, Global Creative Director of CHANEL Makeup, created the JADE NAIL Collection with two exclusive, limited edition nail enamels in rare colours: “Jade” and “Jade Rose”.

These mineral-inspired shades transform the nails into genuine gems and recall the pink jade jewelry and the pink knit and pistachio tweed of the Autumn/Winter 2009-2010 Ready-to-Wear Collection.

“For the nails, Karl wanted a green shade to evoke the jade notes of the collection. So I worked with our laboratories to offer him a monochromatic palette of 10 green shades. We chose the colour that most resembled the green tweed skirt suit from the collection,” explains Peter Philips.

Suggested retail price: $25.00 Available for limited time starting October 2009. Available exclusively at CHANEL boutiques, CHANEL Makeup Studios and on CHANEL.com.

MAC Nail Trend FW09 by Jin Soon

2009-07-01T12:37:00.006-04:00

BACKSTAGE AND FRONT ROW, NAIL TREND HAS ARRIVED! More than a colour statement, an of-the-moment approach that dazzles with innovation and style.

I'm sure by now you've heard the rumors that MAC is releasing a collection of six creme nail lacquers created by renowned nail artist Jin Soon. I met Jin last fall at her UES spa and she hinted at a future brand collaboration but wasn't able to release details since it was still in the planning stages. Well, all I can say is BRAVO Jin!

As a leading nail artist in the fashion and beauty industry, Jin has worked with top fashion designers like Oscar de la Renta, Derek Lam and Doo.Ri, as well as famed photographers Steven Meisel, Irving Penn and Annie Leibovitz. She is a master at nail art (see March's Teen Vogue) and a lover of editorial nail colors. When we met we discussed our mutual love of green and wow did she bring it to this collection. There are two, count them TWO, gorgeous greens in Nail Trend. Check them out!

I got my first peek at the collection backstage at the Doo.Ri show during NY Fashion Week. Jin was applying Beyond Jealous, a blackened teal creme, to the models' nails. You know I flipped for it, right? If left alone too long, I may have been tempted to snag a bottle for myself.

The deep green was chosen by the designer to work with the romantic, gothic look that makeup artist Tom Pecheux created using a palette of white, black and gray MAC products.

When asked about the inspiration for the colors Jin said, "My husband is an architect, and I am constantly drawing inspiration and colour ideas from his creations. I also have tons of exposure to fashion trends through my work at the fashion shows and on magazine shoots. I wanted to create colours that were not only incredibly fashion-forward and edgy, with an editorial feel to them but also were totally wearable for the everyday women. I love all of the colours but am especially excited about the green hues: Dry Martini and Beyond Jealous. I think come Fall ‘09, green is going to be THE colour." We are so on the same wavelength because I couldn't agree more!

I had the opportunity to test a few of the colors prior to launch and while some MAC colors give me application issues, the three I tried were fab. I've always said that MAC does dark and shimmery shades best and these are no exception. All three are well pigmented and applied with no streaking. Only Dirty Martini required three coats.

Dirty Martini - is a deep olive that leans towards brown, like a dark army camouflage green. It's edgy and funky and a nice change from the more emerald/forest shades we've seen in seasons past. In case you're wondering, and I'm sure you are, it's much darker and more browned than last fall's RBL No More War.
Dance All Night's brick red hue reminds me of one of my all time fave OPI reds, That's An "EL" Of A Color, minus the golden shimmer. It's rich, warm and very fall.
For Fun is just that, a spunky, bright red-grape. It's a bit more red based looking in person but I just couldn't capture it dead on.

The entire Nail Trend lineup includes:
Cool Reserve - DIRTY GREY LAVENDER
For Fun - RICH CLEAN PURPLE
Dance All Night - BRICK RED
Dry Martini - KHAKI OLIVE GREEN
Rich, Dark, Delicious - RICH BLACKENED BROWN
Beyond Jealous - BLACKENED BLUE GREEN

The MAC Nail Trend collection by Jin Soon launches on August 27th and the polishes retail for $12/ea. You can buy them online at MACCosmetics.com and at MAC counters nationwide.

You know I'll be first in line to pick up bottles of the rest of these colors. I can't even think about Beyond Jealous and Cool Reserve not being in my life. Which ones will you be adding to your collection?

Celebrity Nail Watch - BET Awards

2009-06-30T14:32:00.007-04:00

I was still enjoying my weekend away when the BET Awards aired but now that I'm catching up on all that I missed, I couldn't resist a little celeb nail watchin'.

I'm hoping to catch a re-airing of the show or video clips online of the Michael Jackson tributes but for now let's focus on the tips. The biggest nail trend of the night... Minx! As I said when I reviewed Minx last December, they're great for special occasions and more and more celebrities seem to be embracing them for red carpet events.

Can you guess who wore Minx? I'm sure one name immediately comes to mind. Check out the nail winners and losers of the night, after the jump!

Monica, Letoya Luckett, Keri Hilson and Beyonce were all spotted with Silver Lightening nails and seeing Keri Hilson's pic with her BET Award makes me wonder if it was intended to match the trophy, should they win.

Monica

LeToya Luckett

Keri Hilson

Beyonce
Of course what would Beyonce be without some blinged out craziness. Bravo on not doing the matchy-matchy nail thing. Boo to the shoes!

As if the partially shaved head wasn't enough, Cassie has made her transformation to red carpet train wreck complete with this macrame nonsense. She topped it off with tips that are too long and too square for such a stark white. Such a pretty girl, such a shame.

Adrienne Bailon I give you credit for working the bright orange. I love an orange too. But I wish your dress had been a few shades darker or nude.
Did anyone catch the awards? Who's nails stood out to you? If you know of any links where I could watch recaps, please share in the comments!

"What's On Your Nails?" with Kia from Yummy411

2009-06-30T11:43:00.007-04:00

What's On Your Nails? is a series focusing on my fellow beauty bloggers and industry insiders, their favorite nail polish and other hot nail topics.

In this week's WOYN? we're talking to Kia from Yummy411. Kia is one of the first beauty bloggers I met online. We connected through the Specktra message boards and our love of polish and MAC. I finally got to meet Kia last summer at the Total Beauty summit and she's not only a beauty but a super cool chick to hang with. And even though I knew she had stunning eyes from seeing them on her blog, in person... they're traffic stopping.

If you aren't already a regular reader of Yummy411, you should definitely check it out. I love that Kia includes a mix of drugstore, department store and pro beauty products with her own beauty adventures.

Learn more about Kia, find out what nail look she calls a "summertime tragedy" and more, after the jump!

Introduce yourself to the ALU readers. Tell us a little about you and your blog.
I'm a makeup enthusiast. I love the transformational properties of makeup and because of all of this I'm now a beauty blogger (almost 3 years strong!) and a freelance makeup artist! A native Washingtonian (Washington, DC) I work full time in the government sector and a mom of one darling boy!

Why is OPI's Mod About You your favorite?
It has its own classic edgy-ness to it being an opaque, pastel color, but chic and subtle enough for the work place.

What is on your tips and toes right now?
On my nails, I have on MAC's Mercenary (pictured) that was released with this Summer's Style Warrior collection. I wanted to try the bronzed babe theme on my nails.

Do you consider nail polish a beauty necessity or accessory? Why?
An accessory. I think decorating your nails is another fun way to show off your personality and express yourself! Not necessary, but it totally compliments your style.

How many bottles of nail polish do you own?
I own 50+ bottles of polish.

How often do you change your nail polish?
I change my polish every 2 weeks only because I go to the salon to get them done. However, buying 6-10 polishes at a time, it's hard to wait that long anymore!

Do you have a favorite nail treatment you think my readers should know about? Why is it so fab?
Nail blog famous Seche Vite top coat and Gena Healthy Hoof Nail Protein Treatment Cream. The cream keeps the cuticles and heels soft!

What do you think will be the big nail trend for summer?
I think the summer nail trend will continue to be bright fun colors.

What nail trend do you wish would go away?
Only for the summer, I want to get rid of black polish. I sometimes think to myself, "That was sooo last fall!" LOL

What is the biggest nail faux pas that women make?
Summertime tragedy: acrylic on the big toes, ugh!

My thanks to Kia for participating in WOYN? and fanatics make sure you visit Yummy411 often!

Web Snob Wrap Up - 6-27-09

2009-06-27T10:00:00.001-04:00

7ll About the Pretty gives us what’s in her Beach Bag this week.

Allie is Wired has crazy celebrity teeth transformations.

Bag Bliss suggests a money-saving idea: How to Host Your Own Clothes Swap Party

Bag Snob exclusive: Speedy Sequin from Louis Vuitton, Snob or Slob?

Beauty Snob falls for Bobbi Brown Fall Nudes collection!

Coquette dishes on UK's vending machine flats from Rollasole to save your tired clubbing stiletto-wearing feet.

eye4style gets glossy at Dashing Diva..

Fashion Pulse Daily picks itscanvas favorites for June, ranging from hats to bags and shoes!

Check out Second City Style's recent 'He Said/She Said' about the recent ripped denim trend.

Shopping and Info loves the Chanel nautical stripe worn by Claudia Schiffer and Sienna Miller.

Stiletto Jungle found cream eyeshadow that really doesn't crease.

Going away for the weekend? Find out what to pack at StyleBakery.com

Stylehive has rounded up our favorite bright and colorful pairs of sunglasses, perfect for the brighter days ahead..

The Beauty Stop reports on the to-be-released Twilight Beauty Makeup from the makers of DuWop.

The Daily Obsession brings you the chicest finds under $50.

The Fashion Bomb compiles a fashion tribute to the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

The Jet Set Girls visit the Barbie Suite at the Palms Las Vegas.

The Shoe Goddess is completely enamored with these super hot Giuseppe Zanotti platform boots!

TheMakeupGirl visits the Ritz Carlton Spa in Marina Del Rey and has the best massage ever....

V-Style discovers an unexpected skin care product in extra virgin olive oil.

The I Love Fridays Chanel Giveaway - Cosmic Violine & Mica Rose

2009-06-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

TGIF Fanatics!!! It's a beautiful day here in the CLE. We're packed up and heading out for a long weekend with friends at our favorite summer locale, Put-In-Bay, so why NOT start it off with a giveaway? A great way to kick off the weekend, no?

Up for grabs, one bottle each of Chanel Le Vernis in Cosmic Violine and Mica Rose from the Celestial Lights collection. Just enter your info in the form below and tell me what kind of polish you'd like to see Chanel create and you could win!

This giveaway is open to all readers and ends on July 3rd, 2009 at 11:55pm EST. To get a peek at what you could win... CLICK HERE. Good luck and have a fabulous weekend!

The ALU Archives - Essie Cantaloupe

2009-06-25T15:09:00.006-04:00

The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash.

I find it funny that even though I'm not always jumping on Essie's bandwagon, as I sort though my polishes to pick each week's Archives shade, I keep coming across these great Essies that have been long forgotten. Back before we had access to all these outrageous greens, blues, greys, etc., I was way more into Essie due to the formula. So when I decided that I wanted to post a pretty summery melon, I turned to my old time staple, Essie Cantaloupe. Check it out!

Back when my collection was more manageable and I had time to repeat shades on the regular, I wore the shit out of Cantaloupe. You don't even know. It was my go-to shade in the summer because it always makes me look more tan. It's the polish I often recommend to anyone seeking a soft melon. Its creamy finish, flawless consistency and smooth, even coverage make it a winner in my book!
Essie Cantaloupe retails for around $4 on our favorite e-tailer sites (see sidebar) and for $8 on Essie.com. You can also find it locally at national salon chains like ULTA, Regis and Trade Secret.

So what's on your nails this week fanatics? Any Cantaloupe fans? Anyone planning to run out and buy it? Who's discovered a long lost polish treasure recently?

Oh and look for a fun new giveaway tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Coming Soon - CND Colour Effects

2009-06-25T14:32:00.004-04:00

Lookie what I found. The Nails Magazine Editor's Blog featured a story on the upcoming launch from CND. I know I've been asking for too long now, when is the next collection coming out? When do we see some new colors? Come on CND!!

Well the wait will soon be over. CND is launching a new perm line called Colour Effects; 50 creme Colours and 15 Effects that you can layer over top to create your own custom shade. The CND team hinted that the next big launch would be totally different and all about customization and knowing their reputation for creating custom colors for Fashion Week, I had a feeling we'd see something along these lines.

It sounds like a large scale, more budget friendly (I hope) version of Nailtini. Though us fanatics have been layering and frankening for years so I'm curious how this line will be embraced and if the mainstream consumer will be into it.

I am curious to see the new bottles as they've revamped the design to be more ergonomic with a rubberized cap. FYI, I'll be attending CosmoProf in Vegas in a few weeks so I'm hoping to see for myself and bring you a full report!

For now, check out the Nail's Blog for pics from the special launch party.

Joey McIntyre Rocks the Multi-Colored Nail Trend

2009-06-24T07:30:00.002-04:00

I'm not gonna lie, I love me some Joey McIntyre. As a teen, Joey and Donnie were my fave New Kids and somewhere in my basement I still have my Step By Step VHS concert tape. Wow I'm old! I even started watching Boston Public, when it was still on, just because my adorable Joey joined the cast. His crystal blue eyes and curly mop top still get me!

Anywho, I've been following Joey and the rest of the NKOTB on Twitter as they tour the country and tonight they made their way to the CLE. I couldn't make it to the show but I did check out Joey's pre-concert vlog on the Let's Get This foundation website where he revealed a set of multi-colored tips.

We've debated men wearing polish and we've discussed multi-colored nails but how do we feel about a combination of the two? I think it's fun and applaud his bold combo though he could use a proper filing and neater paint job. Fanatics?

Lancome Declaring Indigo - Indigo Paris Le Vernis

2009-06-23T10:53:00.020-04:00

Lancôme's fall collection, Declaring Indigo, includes three shades of their Le Vernis nail polish including a bold, electric blue. I got my first peek at the new colors backstage at the Chris Benz F/W 09 show during New York Fashion Week. Deborah Lippmann was working "undercover" tending to the models' nails alongside Lancôme makeup artist Daniel Martin and Redken lead stylist John Ruidant.

Get your first look at Indigo Paris and some insider scoop on Lancôme's Pout-à-Porter lipstick series after the jump!

The look at the show was that of a late 70s/early 80s uptown girl heading downtown to the clubs. The gorgeous hair creation is the brainchild of John Ruidant who is not only a genius but very 90s-Seattle-coffee-house chill every time I see him. Madness ensues all around and he's just working the hair, doing his thing all the while intricately describing his masterpiece. I can't even begin to go into what it took to create this style but it involved a 1 inch curling iron, Redken Fabricate and a whole mess of backcombing and pins. Definitely a do not try this at home type situation.

Daniel Martin referenced Danceteria circa 1982 in describing the makeup. The models' skin was given a blown out, overexposed matte finish using a foundation two shades lighter than their skintone. The lip was a flat beige giving the perfect set-up for a dramatic eye. Three colors, a cream eyeliner and black eyeshadow (both from Declaring Indigo) and Piha Black lipgloss went into creating the look. Daniel used his fingers to apply the gloss on the lid to give texture. Because the hair was so intricate, Chris wanted the makeup to be like fingerpaints, very DIY.

While talking to Daniel, he revealed for the first time (yay scoop!) that he is working with Chris to create the next shade in Lancôme's Pout-à-Porter series. Daniel and Chris were introduced through a mutual friend from their hometown of Seattle and formed a fast friendship and working relationship over the past four years that will now spawn a lipstick.

The expected launch is Spring 2010 so look for this new shade to pop up on the Spring runways come September. In asking for deets on the color Daniel stated, "[Chris's] whole theory is color and saturation so it will be a nice, fun lipstick." Based on his use of primary colors I'm expecting something bold.

Of course the ultimate treat of the day was when Lancôme VP of PR Kerry Diamond pulled me aside to introduce me to the one and only Deborah Lippmann! Talk about an unexpected thrill.

Deb said this was Chris's first time making a nail statement. That it was about finishing the look with the nails and she was so excited to see designers shying away from sheer pink and embracing color. She applied the three shades from the Declaring Indigo collection, a bright electric blue shimmer, a classic red creme and a metallic gold using her Ridge Filler base coat and Addicted To Speed top coat.

She also mentioned nail shapes getting a little longer for Fall. That they're Mad Men influenced, a little more almond shaped. That we no longer need to be strong women with a squared off nail, we need to be more feminine with a slight almond shape. A shape that elongates and flatters the hands.

So let's talk about this electric blue, shall we? Indigo Paris is a richly pigmented, shimmering jewel. The polish just flows on the nail and becomes perfectly opaque in two coats. The tonal shimmer gives it depth and brilliance like it's lit from within.
The color really comes alive in the sun, even more so in person.
Declaring Indigo launches in August and the Le Vernis lacquers retail for $18. You can buy them online at Lancome-USA.com or at Lancôme counters nationwide.

product image credit:British Beauty Blogger