OPI Stranger Tides

The final color in the OPI Brights "Pirates" collection is Stranger Tides, a green based grey creme.  This is another one that in promo pictures, I kept thinking "Meh" but once again...


I used a base coat of OPI Natural Nail, 2 coats of polish and a top coat of OPI Top Coat.  The formula was smooth.

This color is only slightly darker than Skull & Glossbones and with a green tint to it.  It's almost like a nude but not?  Very unique in my group of polishes.

Look at those dry cuticles.  :|  I really do love this color in the shade as well.

Finally indoors with the flash shows off that green well.  I live off the Gulf of Mexico and sometimes the water looks murky ... not really THIS murky, but with the seaweed...  I ended up using this color as a base coat for another red OPI color for my pedicure and it REALLY made the red pop!  (I might blog about it later, but I'm still kinda feetphobic.)


OPI is available 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. Please visit their website for details [official website].  

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

CND Daily Nail 09.10.2011 Soy Milk Manicures at Monique Lhuillier

Please enjoy the following press release from CND!

The CND Daily Nail 9.10.11

Soy Milk Manicures at Monique Lhuillier

September 10, 2011 - CND is powering through their 15 year anniversary creating runway nails at New York Fashion Week! Today's manicure looks were light and sophisticated:


For Monique Lhuillier, Wanda Ruiz designed "Soy Milk" manicures on active, oval shaped nails using semi-sheer CND Colour in Cream Washed topped with CND Super Shiney Top Coat for a glossy finish. Pedicures were reminiscent of a cloudy night sky using custom blended blue (which can be duped at home using limited edition CND Violet Shimmer Effect layered on top of CND Colour in Midnight Sapphire). Sporty eveningwear pieces (ie: Anna Kournikova from gym to gala) in pops of cobalt, black and yellow were complemented by slicked back ponytails, and matching dreamy blue eyeliner and toes.

At Altuzarra, Candice Manacchio shaped "Second Skin" manicures using one coat of neutral, nude CND Colour in Putty layered with Super Matte Top Coat to juxtapose dramatic, black eyebrows and stick-straight hair. These nails perfectly accessorized a tropical sci-fi collection with leather, Hawaiian prints, and voluminous wide belts.

OPI Mermaid's Tears

Another from the OPI Brights Pirates collection is Mermaid's Tears, a light green mint creme.  It's definitely a weird color for me (and for OPI I feel) but I actually really love this color!  I used a base coat of OPI Natural Nail, 2 coats of polish, and a top of OPI Top Coat.  Formula was nice and smooth.

I absolutely love how this looked in the sun, all the way down to the tiny lens flare on my nails!  How cute is that?  Seriously, this color applies like I wish China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint would.

In the shade, this color looks equally amazing.  It's a bit dusty looking (like smokey) but is just so beautiful!

Finally indoors in the shade, you can see how creamy and opaque this color is.  I even got my index finger well polished this time.  :]  I think if you can find this color, you need to get it.  You won't regret it.

OPI is available 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. Please visit their website for details [official website].  

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

CND Daily Nail 09.09.2011 Lucite Lace Nails at Joy Cioci

Please enjoy the following press release from CND!

The CND Daily Nail 9.9.11

Lucite Lace Nails at Joy Cioci

September 9, 2011 - CND pioneered nails as runway accessories 30 seasons ago and were FIRST to collaborate with designers behind the scenes! Today's manicures were lace-inspired, had rockstar edge, and glowed from within:


At Joy Cioci, Candice Manacchio designed "Lucite Lace" manicures using clear tips with hand-detailed lattice work. These see-through nails provided energy and attitude when paired with a fiery orange lip and frantic, whimsical curls.

For Nicole Miller, Wanda Ruiz crafted glam rock checkered manicures using CND Colour in Raspberry parfait and a custom mixed blue comprised of CND Colours in Anchor Blue, Dark Ruby, Eclectic Purple and added blue pigment. Nails were finished with one layer of Ice Blue Shimmer Effect. Create this look at home by doing a vertical sweep of pink down your nail, and do the same with a sweep of blue so each half of the nail is covered with a color. Then go over with each color for the opposite corners. Top all nails with Ice Blue Shimmer for a dazzling finish.

At NAHM, Wanda Ruiz created three unique oval manicure styles to color coordinate with airy white sundresses, plum-punchy prints and burnt orange woven shifts. Cottony-white nails were crafted with two coats of CND Colour in Washed Down White. Faded Creamsicle-orange nails were comprised of CND Colour in Desert Suede topped with Copper Shimmer Effect, and precious ruby nails were done using CND Colour in Dark Ruby finished with Copper Pearl Effect. These luminescent styles complemented twisted unicorn top-knots and shimmery eye make-up.

OPI Planks A Lot

Back to the polish reviews!  This is OPI Planks a Lot from the OPI Brights Pirates collection.  It's a nice lilac creme that applied pretty well on me.  I used a base coat of OPI Natural Nail, 2 coats of polish and a top of OPI Top Coat.

I'm still having application issues on my index finger - I don't know what my deal is.  I think maybe I'm just getting lazy.  :P  I also need a manicure soon - you see I've torn up my cuticles and my nails need to be shaped.  Oy.

Shade picture!  It almost looks like it could be a dusky creme but it's not.  It's more like an Easter Egg lilac to me.

Finally indoors with the flash you can see my application issues which makes this color look like it's not opaque, but it most definitely is a great opaque creme.  I really need to take my own advice and do some more nail art.  I really commend those who are dedicated to it.  :]


OPI is available 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. Please visit their website for details [official website].  

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