NCLA Polish

I have a new line to tell you about today - NCLA, which stands for Nail Couture Los Angeles.  They launched in February of this year with "Nail Wraps" (think Minx, Nail Rock, etc) but now they are launching a complete line of nail lacquers to include an all-in-one base/top coat.  You can find their Nail Wraps in most high end boutiques - Harvey Nichols, Kitson, Fred Segal etc.


NCLA is big 5 free (DBP, Toluene, Formaldehyde, Camphor and Formaldehyde Resin) and does not test on animals.


Here's their own little love letter about their line (I absolutely love about us pages!)

We love Fashion. We adore our nails. Our goal is to effortlessly combine both by creating true, high-end, luxury nail fashion products. For us the perfect outfit starts with your personal style and it ends at right the tip of your fingers. NCLA is born, bred and brewed to perfection in sunny California and fast becoming an LA icon.
What started as a line of exquisitely unique, fashion-inspired, super easy to apply nail wraps, quickly became a new industry standard. All designs are unparalleled, unique and influenced by the cosmopolitan diversity that is our city. Our one-of-a-kind products are sprinkled with a dash of LA style and available to Fashionistas around the world.
Following the success, we launched a luxurious collection of exclusive nail lacquers. And just as we like to - or at least try to - take care of the rest of our bodies, here is a guarantee: All our top of the line color formulas are 5 Free. No harmful carcinogens such as DBP, Toluene, Formaldehyde or Camphor. And nothing is tested on animals. Ever!
We offer the ultimate in nail fashion accessories. Whether you choose our amazingly easy to wear nail wraps or lavishly high-end nail lacquers, your style deserves an immaculate finish!
We want to share a little bit of LA love and sunshine with every woman - no matter where!
xoxo, NCLA Loves You!

Need a breakdown of their new "LA Collection" colors?  Here ya go!  (Please click to see a much higher res image!)

Hollywood and Vine Starlet
If you ever went out in Hollywood, you most likely know this intersection. And if you’ve ever been there, then you know exactly why we named this ultra rich black with silver glitter. Oh yeah, in case if you haven’t visited, you must come one day! Long live Hollywood!


Downtown Dollface
Tall buildings, big business, edgy fashion and one color that matches is all. Whether you’re having a rooftop lunch or aim to impress in the board-room, this easy to wear light grey crème color will go anywhere.


LAX Jet Setter
While looking up into the bright blue LA sky, we saw a sparkling, shimmering plane reflecting the sunlight while speeding through the open sky. This space metallic silver is definitely First Class!


Bel-Air Trophy Wife
A walk-in closet that you can get lost in, a crystal clear infinity pool to relax and a shiny new convertible in front of the well manicured lawn. And to top it all off, this brand new luxury color! A lush, bronze metallic gold. Without any question, life is grand!



Mulholland Maneater
There is something mysterious about Mullholland Drive. Sneaking its’ way along the spine of the Hills, you can see the never-ending ocean of city lights to both sides, huge gated mansions and a dangerously curvy road that bisects the mountains. Opulent, rich, dark purple, hitting the nail on the head!


Venice Beach Vixen
Full of eccentric energy, expressions of individuality, striving on non-conformity and floating in an ocean of blue. Welcome to Venice Beach. To stand out here, you need something with a little extra pop. Et voila: Our electric blue crème kicks ass!


Rodeo Drive Royalty
Shopping, lunches, spas and pampering. One thing is for sure: No work today! This lavish, dark cran-apple color not only fits right in, it will make heads spin.


Rush Hour
Only in LA. It drives you mad, it drives you crazy, it makes you want to scream! But in the end, the sun sets in a fiery red ball into the ocean, all is peaceful and you just can’t help but love it! Here is a luxuriously rich, loud, bright crimson red crème, what else?


West Hollywood It-Girl
Party, party and another party. Then a quick change of outfits and now this striking burgundy cherry glitter is really happening. On to the next one! It’s not your fault that you’re so popular!




Malibu Beach Babe
Well, driving along Pacific Coast Highway, breathing the fresh ocean air, watching the waves crash on one side and having lush mountains as a backdrop on the other, we kind of understand why people are living it up here. This ultra light and creamy turquoise sums the whole scenery up pretty well.


Beverly Hills Bunny
90210. The most famous zip code on the planet. A deep perfect hot pink, here is our take on the most popular nail color in history. Today, let’s paint the city pink!


Like…Totally Valley Girl
Spoiled like a princess, a no limit black card in your new IT-purse and High School just never ends! Yeah, don’t we all just want to be daddy’s little girl forever? Quintessentially California! Live the dream with this perfectly smooth pink crème. So cute!


Poolside Party, All Eyes On Me!
Summer is in the air. You can smell the heat, see people smile everywhere and you sooo can’t wait for Sunday afternoon. Whether it is a rooftop pool with all the movers and shakers, lounging with friends in the backyard or just strolling to watch the sun set, glorious summer is here. All year long! Lovely rich and bright peach crème, here you go!


Pick Me Up At Melrose Place
Hip stores, high-end restaurants and hot summer nights. A lot is happening around Melrose. And a lot more with the rich bright purple that screams just loud enough for the right kind of attention. 



Santa Monica Shore Thing
Bright white beaches, streaks of sun-bleached blond, brown tan bodies and a clear, cool ocean breeze. Yes please! Seriously, this minty green crème has the potential of a mild obsession in the making.


Hollywood Hills Hot Number
The big full moon, sparkling like a disco ball over the city that is wrapped in a warm and comfortable evening breeze. The night filled with excitement and anticipation. You are lighting up the room as soon as the door opens. Glasses drop. The champagne bottles pop. Here is a large flake multi color glitter that is special. Just like you!  Can also be worn over our nail wraps for some extra credit!


Miss Sunset Strip
Your little black dress: absolutely flawless. Your six inch heels: sharp enough to cut through the velvet rope. You don’t spread gossip. You’re it! Flaunt in the flashing lights with this thick large flake purple glitter.
Can also be worn over our nail wraps for an extra bang!


GLOSS IT!
Our superlative All-In-One Base/ Top Coat for that perfect high-gloss finish. It collaborates utterly well with our nail wraps or as an All-In-One with nail lacquer. Prepares nail surface for best possible adhesion and lacquer application. Plus it has the characteristics of a really high-shine top-coat.
Trust us, you will absolutely love this.


So now you know who they are and what they have - now where to find them?  They are launching today in top stores and department stores.  They retain for $16.00 each.  You can purchase their Nail Wraps from their website as well.  For more ways to connect, you can follow their Twitter, like them on Facebook, and even follow them on Tumblr!

Nicole by OPI It's Not Me, It's Blue

Jumping back to the "Something About Color" collection that was a Target exclusive, today I have It's Not Me, It's Blue from Nicole by OPI.  My nearest Target is over an hour north, so I miss sometimes seeing things like this.  I went to my local Wal-Mart (which is pretty much all we have in my town) to see the new Kardashian Kolors collection completely picked over.  So this color is a "pretty periwinkle, you had me at shimmer".  My first car was a Chevy Corsica in periwinkle blue but it was more creme than a shimmer.  This color reminds me more of new blue jeans, which I thought was awesome considering the Chanel/nubar new colors that came out this fall.


I used a base of OPI Natural Nail, 2 coats of polish and a top of OPI Top Coat.  The formula seemed to apply well but the brush is the "old style" and was not the new pro-wide that was introduced earlier this year.

You can imagine my shock when I got out into the light and saw nothing but nail beds and smile lines.  I was very shocked in the opacity of this color.

It's a little better in the shade, but still a bit thin.  I think this color would be best layered over another blue.

Indoors with the flash.  Not much else to say.


I'm not sure what's up with this color... most of my blogging friends loved it - thought it had hints of violet and grey - a very metallic looking shade.  I wasn't a fan at all, on the other hand.  Maybe blues just aren't really my thing?  Good thing, is that there was no staining of my nails or hands after removing this polish.


Nicole by OPI is available beginning at ULTA, Meijer, Harmon, HEB, Sears, Wal-Mart and more for around $8 a bottle.  For more information, visit their website, follow Nicole by OPI on Twitter or become a Facebook fan.



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

FingerPaints Fun-Fetti

FingerPaints is coming out with a limited edition glitter polish that is another in the deborah lippmann "Happy Birthday" dupes - tons of glitter in a clear base.  This polish will only be available online only at SallyBeauty.com from November 2011 (now) until January 2012.  If you love the explosion of glitter, what are you waiting for?  The online price is $4.99 but if you have a Beauty Club Card, it's only $4.49 for 0.5 oz.

Lynnderella Connect The Dots

So unless you're a blogger or a frequent blog reader, you may not have heard of Lynnderella before.  She hand mixes custom nail polish creations and when they are available, they are available then only.  This last time that she had a sale, it was $12 a bottle, with a minimum order of 5 bottles.  Gia from Bottles and Bottles of Polish was kind enough to place a large order and ship individually out to each person, so that is how I ended up with this gem - the only one that I knew I HAD TO HAVE.


Connect the Dots is from her Halloween 2010 collection but she brought it back for 2011.  It's a black and white hexagon, square and bar glitter with a slight sparkle in a clear base.


I used the previous day's manicure (China Glaze Rose Tea) and put 2 coats on my pinkie and ring finger, 1 coat on my middle and index finger.  Sealed both with Seche Vite.

I really like the look of just one coat - I tried 2 coats just to see.  On my nail polish stick, I have about 10 coats (I do that) and I just hate the way it looks... with this, less is more.

Shade picture - sometimes the bar glitter wouldn't sit right (as you can see) but you can just push it into place with your brush or a needle.

Finally indoors with the flash.  Very stunning and like Lynnderella has said - it's instant nail art!


For those wondering, this came straight from her blog: 

Lynnderella Lacquers contain cosmetic and other polyester glitters, as well as cosmetic-grade pigments, mica and synthetic mica. There may also be traces of non-B3-free nail polishes used to tint bases. The main ingredient is TKB Glamour Base. Blends may differ from month to month depending on new glitters and ingredients I find for you—they are always evolving and may vary from batch to batch. From the research I have done on glitter, minimum orders from manufacturers are ten pounds per colour and size. If we look at other multi-glitters being sold, it's easy to see that they are less complex than most of the blends offered here. I think that it's unlikely that nail polish manufacturers would be purchasing as many different glitters in ten-pound lots as I am purchasing in smaller amounts from various distributors. Complexity, beauty, colour saturation and luxury are some of the energy ingredients that makes their attitudes unique. Another ingredient is extensive experimentation and research over years. It has been a labour of love that required a significant investment of time and resources. I hope you will all feel that love—and enjoy and luxuriate in it. 


For some amazing Lynnderella swatches, please check out steffel's blog.


Lynnderella is only available through the etailer Llarowe.  Currently, you have to contact Llarowe at the email address lalas.lynn.network@gmail.com in order to get on a shipping list which is sorted in 4 ways, so if you'd like to find out how to order, email that above address.


Lynnderella is available for $15 a bottle.

Nicki Minaj by OPI

When I was listening to The Plastic Diaries' interview with Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Kimmi asked if Suzi had a "dream list" and at the time, Nicki Minaj didn't really come to mind, but after watching her in various music videos (thank you Fuse network), I can really see this collection's inspiration.  No more talking - get to the pictures, right?!  Please enjoy the following release from OPI!

Pink Everyday!

OPI Partners with Platinum Recording Artist Nicki Minaj to Launch Limited Edition Lacquers

             OPI announces the launch of six new limited edition shades inspired by hip hop sensation Nicki Minaj, including a purple Shatter!  Inspired by Minaj’s unique style, love of bright colors, and her debut album Pink Friday, the Nicki Minaj by OPI promotion will feature an array of bold hues, from neon lime green to pink.

 “OPI is so excited to work with Nicki in releasing these six new nail lacquers,” said Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “Nicki has taken the hip hop world by storm, but her music is only part of the equation. She’s also become a fashion inspiration, noted for her daring costumes and hair color both on and off the stage.”

Nicki’s eclectic look made including a new hue in OPI’s bestselling Shatter coat a must for this collaboration. The purple Super Bass Shatter (a record-setting purple that “shatters” before your eyes) is inspired by graffiti art and works when painted over any dry OPI hue. Adding top coat takes Super Bass Shatter from matte to glossy in seconds.

The line features five nail lacquers in addition to Super Bass Shatter, ranging from fantastic pink, rainbow confetti glitter and charcoal sparkle hues to two green shades in lime and teal:

Pink Friday
Kick off the weekend with this pop! of bubblegum pink.

 Metallic 4 Life

This charcoal sparkle flies with the stars in the skies.

Save Me

I drove for miles just to find this silver-rainbow glitter.

Fly
I came to win, to fight…and to wear this aqua.

 Did It On ‘Em 

A lusty little lacquer that loves the “lime”-light.

Nicki Minaj by OPI nail lacquers contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application. This limited edition promotion will be available beginning January 2012 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!