Blogs of Note

Happy Sunday!  I'm having to spend the day cleaning (rawr), but please enjoy these blogs that I follow!

First is Ginger Kitty Designs.  Tracy makes jewelry using nail polish suspended in - well, I guess that's her trade secret, because I don't know what it's made from but it's BEAUTIFUL.  I own 4 sets of earrings and get compliments all the time on them.  Seriously, check out her blog.

Next is Iceomatic's Nails.  Liz has been on a break ever since getting a new job, but check out her blog for loads of detailed and really awesome looking nail art on her medium length nails!

Finally today is Imperfectly Painted.  Steph has medium to long length nails and she features a LOT of different brands, colors and finishes.  This is kind of a great melting pot blog because it has so much and it's all really awesome.

Enjoy!

Zoya Dannii

Did you know that every bottle of Zoya Nail Polish is named using a woman's name?  They have talked about their "Wall of Names" a few times and even posted a picture before.

Photo from Zoya Nail Polish & Treatments's Facebook page

I had no idea who Dannii could have been until today when I saw a tweet about Australian singer Dannii Minogue, sister of Kylie Minogue.  Maybe she was the inspiration for Zoya Dannii from the Intimates Collection?  Dannii is listed as a sparkling, enchanted orchid metallic and it is definitely a beautiful purple.  I wouldn't originally have thought this was a metallic because it's such a soft color, but the finish is a mix of a foil, a metallic and a shimmer.  I used a base of Zoya Anchor, 2 coats of Dannii and a top of Zoya Armor.

It even looks a bit holographic here in the sun!  But no holos here - it's just the goldish shimmer reflecting on the nail.

See the pretty shimmer?

In the shade, this color looks more blue but it's still a light "orchid" purple with that foil-y, metallic finish.  A very lovely soft, spring color - a must have for me.


Zoya [official website] can be purchased on their website for $8/bottle.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Sally Hansen Flame

I had received a package from The Daily Nail awhile back that included this gem in it.  Sally Hansen Flame is currently discontinued (since they redid their entire line of products) but I did find a listing of 16 bottles on eBay for about $5 per bottle.  This is a very tomato red jelly polish.


I used a base of Seche Natural, 2 coats of Flame and a top of Seche Vite.  The formula was nice to work with.

Very nice color - it kind of looks like Jesse's Girl Wham Bam that I reviewed earlier this month - I may have to do a comparison soon.

Not much difference in the shade - just an overall poppy happy color.  ^_^  Thank you again Daily Nail!

OPI & Sorbet-Style

I got my first issue of NAILS magazine this month and the first ad is for OPI's new Texas Collection (also called "Deep In The Heart of Color").  I also saw OPI talk about this new "sorbet" style finish on their Twitter.  Now, it seems like "sorbet" may also be like the previously used "jelly" style of finish - where the polish is like water suspended in polish, but frankly I won't know until I see it in person.  Please enjoy the following press release from OPI about this new style.

Turn on the Heat with Icy Finishes!

OPI Introduces New Sorbet-Style

Lacquers for Spring/Summer 2011

From the company that brought revolutionary nail textures like matte, suede, and Black Shatter to women around the world, OPI announces a new special finish – semi-transparent sorbet shades. Featured first in the Texas Collection by OPI for Spring/Summer 2011, these lacquers give fingers and toes a lightly glossed appearance.

“These sorbet-style formulas for nails will be in full swing by 2012, but women can get a jump start on this trend with colors in the Texas Collection,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “Unlike thicker creams or light sheers, these twelve shades are slightly translucent – similar to the look of icy, water-based sorbet!” 

From sea blue and berry pink to tangerine and bright peach, the Texas Collection features classic American colors.  Designed to complement trends from the runway, these candy-coated lacquers accessorize the season’s must-have neutral pieces.

“To achieve the desired effect, an initial coat of Nail Lacquer should be applied to all ten fingers first – without doubling up coverage,” explains Suzi.  “Be sure to start from the pinky finger on one hand and paint through to the pinky on the other hand; then, after the first coat has dried, apply a second coat.”

OPI Nail Lacquer shades contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and each includes OPI’s exclusive ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application.

Texas Collection by OPI will be available February 2011, at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer. 

            For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!


UPDATE 2 February 2011

Six of the 12 Texas colors, including Guy Meets Gal-veston, Ya'll Come Back Ya Hear?, Too Hot Pink to Hold 'Em, Big Hair...Big Nails, Do You Think I'm Tex-y? and Houston We Have a Purple all have this new sorbet finish.

Jesse's Girl Wild Thing vs China Glaze Purple Panic

Today I have another comparison post using Jesse's Girl Wild Thing and China Glaze Purple Panic, both purple neons.  In the bottle, they sure look pretty close.


For both polishes I used a base coat of Seche Natural, and 2 coats of polish.  No top coat was added to show the matte finish.

In the sun, you can see that Purple Panic is a bit lighter than Wild Thing.  Sometimes, I like to use a base coat of white polish to make neons pop, but I've noticed that purples tend to pop regardless.

In the shade, you can tell that these are cousins but not dupes of each other.  Wild Thing has a darker purple base than Purple Panic.  Tada!


Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.