NOTD - China Glaze Sugar Plums

My nails were naked for a long, long time. I just didn't have time to do much with them. Not so now, though! I lusted after this polish the moment I saw swatches on Scrangie's blog, and knew I had to have. Unfortunately, I was on a no-buy when China Glaze's holiday 2010 collection was out in stores, so I couldn't buy it then. And, swapping for it always failed for me. So, when I had a bit of spare cash, I picked this beauty up on eBay for a nice price. Love it!

Shimmery mulberry/cranberry with red and holo glimmers (I can't call it glitter). I noticed this polish went on a little bumpy, though. Almost like there were bubbles that couldn't quite get it together to become true bubbles, so instead, they made the polish uneven? I don't know. And, although most China Glaze polishes play well with Diamont for me, I think Sugar Plums doesn't like it. Oh well. I'm almost out of it, anyway! If you like warm berry colors, this is a must have!

NOTD - NARS Pokerface

I'm a sucker for purple nail polishes. Especially those that have names based in current pop-culture references, like Pokerface. Although the term "pokerface" doesn't belong to Lady Gaga, she's certainly laid some claim to it. Anyway, NARS released this pretty lavendar with their holiday 2010 collection. For whatever reason, my camera decided to make this color pull periwinkle, but it's a neutral, light purple with a in-the-bottle-only shimmer, at least, on me.

Pokerface is one of 3 NARS polishes I've tried, and seems to be the best as far as application goes (Orgasm was super sheer, and MASH... I'm on the fence). Not super thick, not super thin, this polish was squarely in the middle. Two coats was needed, because the first coat was a bit streaky. This is after 2 days of wear, with 1 coat of Diamont on top.

NOTD: Chanel Black Pearl

I'll admit it. I am a sucker for Chanel's nail polishes. I know they're expensive ($25.00 - the first colors I purchased from this line were $19.00, and I couldn't believe I was willing to pay that price!), but I just love them. They wear decently on me, and I usually only get colors that are unique (with only 1 true exception - I own Black Satin, but it's my only cream black), so I don't actually own too many.

As soon as I had read that Chanel was releasing a color called "Black Pearl," I knew I had to have it. I didn't care if I had to sell all of my worldly possessions, I would own, and love it. I waited patiently for details, hoping this color would truly mimick the hues of natural black pearls, and I haven't been disappointed.

Black Pearl was released with Chanel's Spring 2011 line, and leave it to Chanel to buck the typical pastel pinks and lavendars every one else is releasing, and include a rich black with a green/blue pearl. Black isn't even the right word. In the worst case, this color appears as a gray with a hint (very subtle hint) of green. In sunlight you really see the duochrome black/green.

The formula on this was standard Chanel - not thick nor thin, perfectly in the middle. I couldn't get away with only 1 coat, though. For full color depth, I used 2. Two coats of Black Pearl topped with 1 coat of Nubar's Diamont stayed about 3 days with 0 chips or tipwear.

NOTD: China Glaze Afterglow + LA Splash Be Mine

I had been lusting after Afterglow from China Glaze for months before I finally decided it would be worth paying retail for. And I'm glad I did. Afterglow is a pretty neutral pink with a blue pearl - super pretty, but fairly sheer. I did 2 coats of Afterglow, and decided to add some sparkle and make this my first Valentine's mani. I had picked up LA Splash's Be Mine glitter top coat, which is a clear base, with light pink hearts, and small-sized golden glitter.


Afterglow applied like any other China Glaze, very smooth and easy. Be Mine, however, was a PITA. It was super, super thick, so it looks like I just glopped it on (I didn't! I swear!). I tried to smooth things over with a topcoat of Diamont, and it's lasted 4+ days. The glitter and hearts from Be Mine ended up being the same tone or shade as the pink in Afterglow, though. I was kind of hoping for some contrast, but, hey, live and learn! Plus,I still have visible nail line. Ugh. Oh well. I still love it!

NOTD: OPI Cuckoo for this Color

I love me some OPI nail polish. They wear so well on me, usually. Anyway, this was my NYE mani, and I like it. It reminds me a bit of MAC's Beyond Jealous, I think? A blackend teal with shimmer. Blackened colors that still look like something other than straigtup black are awesome. That little bit of silver shimmer in the bottle translates to tonal shimmer on the nail, though. You can see a bit of chipping on my pointer finger and a little tip wear on my middle finger, but still - after 4 days of clacking away at a keyboard at work, my nails still look pretty nice! This color is from the Swiss Collection of 2010.

Top coat: Nubar Diamont