The Nail File

It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights…

This post has been a long time coming for two reasons. One, swatching glitter nail polish is a bitch. Some of these polishes are so hard to get off that you’re better off just cutting off your fingers and hoping new ones grow back. Two, I had been so excited about this collection, and built it up for so long, that I reluctantly admit I was mildly disappointed. I swatched 6 of the 12 polishes, and I’ll tell you what I think as we go (which is usually how blog posts work, no? Well done, me)

Designer De Better is a metallic champagne with flecks of bronze through it. Probably the most suitable for everyday wear, this paints on really well, two coats gives perfect coverage, and it’s nice and smooth. Dynamite.

Taken in sunlight

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The MAC Posh Paradise collection landed on counters a few weeks ago and it’s really gorgeous. There are only three types of products in the range – mattene lipsticks, pigment paint pots and nail polish. I wore one of the mattene lipsticks – Rare Exotic – out last week, and got loads of compliments (pic here), plus it has insane staying power. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up. But this isn’t about the lippy, it’s about the lacquer.

There are two polishes in this collection – Immortal Gold and Rain of Flowers. Immortal Gold is a brassy, yellow toned gold that can look a little greenish in some lights and against some skin tones.

Taken in natural light

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The Essie Spring 2011 French Affair Collection is lovely. Six retro pastels that are all opaque, Essie Weingarten designed them to be an unapologetic homage to 1960′s French Glamour. Tres chic.

Taken in natural light

Now I know it’s impolite to play favourites, but from the moment Eva Chen of Teen Vogue tweeted a sneak peak of this collection almost 12 months ago, I was in love with Coat Azure. While the other 5 colours in the collection are quite neutral, with pink, cream, beige, tan etc etc, this is a stunning French Riviera blue. I’ll post the rest of the collection next week, but this deserved its own post.
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Matte fluorescent polish. Definitely a trend polish and not entirely practical for everyday, but I couldn’t help myself when I spotted the 3-pack Mod Matte Sampler from Zoya at the recent Spa and Beauty Expo.

I tried all three polishes over the last fortnight and two of them were fab, while one was…err…less than fab.
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I know Alexa Chung news is, like, so two days ago, but it’s been a busy week, orright!

I was at the 30 Days of Fashion and Beauty media call on Wednesday morning, and apart from being tickled by how cute, likeable and self-depricating Alexa is (I know we would be besties if she ever answered her phone), I was drawn to her baby blue nails.

Image courtesy of SASSYBELLA.com

My first instinct was that someone was lucky enough to get a sneaky peek at the new Les Jeans de Chanel from Uncle Karl. Turns out it was baby blue and white nail art. She talked about how she goes to a salon in LA that does nail art and she spends ages going through the designs to pick what she wants on each finger – totally a girl after my own heart.

In honour of my newfound friendship with Alexa (reckon she will want to be one of my bridesmaids?) this weekend I will be rocking Australis Sky High and some bigRuby nail tattoos. Cheers, big ears!

Image courtesy of SASSYBELLA.com

Images courtesy of SASSYBELLA.com – for her full story, click here. She reported everything, while I was too busy staring like a lovestruck teenager.

Considering the amount of new nail polishes that slide across my desk every week, it takes a lot to surprise me. I’ll tell you what though, consider my tiara blown off by the Miss Universe collection from OPI. Three of these colours are in my top ten polishes of the year, for sure.

I showed you Crown Me Already! last week, which is an insane silver glitter with chunks in three different sizes. Total bitch to get off, but bitchin’ on. The other three colours are just as good, with equally amusing names…

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Blue jean baby queen!

We know that New York is the epicentre of the world, and Vogue is the epicentre of the fashion world, so when the two collide for Vogue’s annual Fashion Night Out on September 8, Chanel has to be involved. Last year they launched their ubercool and much imitated Les Khaki trio, and the year before was the cult favourite Jade. This year it’s another trio and I’m impressed – Les Jeans de Chanel. Three varying shades of blue, ranging from baby right through to denim.

They will be $39 each and available exclusively from the Chanel Makeup Studio in Myer Sydney City from September 8 (so technically, you can get your paws on it before Vogue’s FNO because of the time difference). Naturally, there’s a waiting list – call 1300 CHANEL to put your name down.

If you’re not cool with the waiting list or high price point, there are myriad of cheap dupes on shelves already – off the top of my head I would say a good dupe for Blue Rebel would be OPI Ski Teal We Drop or MAC Biker Blue from the Jeanius collection. You can dupe Blue Boy with OPI Suzi Says Feng Shui, and Coco Blue is a look alike for Kit Phase In, Mecca Ready-To-Wear or Australis Sky High. Search through all my old blue polish posts and see what tickles your fancy.

This post is part of the piCture pOlish Blog Fest!

Taken in artificial light

piCture pOlish sent out all of their polishes to bloggers around the country and we’re all reviewing their polish on the same day – kind of like a media takeover, but with shiny things and smiles.
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No matter how many polishes I get in my collection (it’s in the hundreds these days) I still go back to this old favourite. One of the most expensive polishes I own, this inky blue Uslu Airlines polish looks like glass on the nail and has the most incredible staying power. I always get at least a week out of this lacquer without so much as a scratch, which makes it worth the investment.

Let’s just enjoy how pretty it is.

Taken in artificial light

Uslu Airlines – GNB grenoble-isere
Price: $38.50 (+ shipping)
From: HoneyHoney
Three free? Yep

This product was originally reviewed on Stuff That I Bought, where it was offered for consideration

I don’t know about you, but I have just about reached Royal Wedding saturation point. If I read one more article speculating about dresses, hairstyles, guests lists or canapes, I might just poke some eyes out. That said, these beautiful polishes from Kit definitely sent my royal heart racing with their regal jewel tones.

Taken in natural light

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