2013 Faves - Glitters

I can't believe that this series is almost over!  This and one more day and it is all over...until next year!  Tomorrow I will be getting back to the nail art!  I am part of a 30 day nail art challenge hosted by Gnarly Gnails, the Nail-Art-A-Go-Go.  I am really excited about it and can't wait for you to see all the nail art everyone is coming up with!  Let's get on to the purdies we have today!

Just a reminder.  I always paint to opacity and then add one more coat for the macro pics.  In other words, when it says I used 3 coats, you can usually achieve "in real life opacity" at 2 coats.  In no particular order:
  

With Flash

Artificial Light

CrowsToes Heart Shaped Box of Horse *!@#! - 2 coats over Revlon Autumn Spice
Is there any better name for a polish?  This beauty is from the 2013 Valencrows collection.  It is a clear base filled to busting with brown and copper glitter, plus a smattering of red holo glitters.  This is my kind of glitter!  I bet you could get full coverage with three splogged coats.  I am not particularly a glitter girl, but CrowsToes does it for me every time!  Must show more!

 

Look at all that glitter goodness!  *sigh*  Better than a box of chocolates!

CrowsToes Shoot the Butterfly - 3 coats
Speaking of CrowsToes perfectly composed (and named) glitters, here is another one.  Shoot the Butterfly is a black gellie filled with orange and white glitter.  These are Bria's delicate little tips.  Aren't they cute?  You can see the totally blingy butterfly we created HERE. 

Artificial Light

Artificial Light

Artificial Light

Julep Perry - 1 coat over Julep Michelle on ring - 2 coats on all others
This beauty combines two things I have a weakness for, muted colors and flakies.  These look like they have been sitting on someone's shelf for awhile, flakies that have developed a patina which has dulled its flash.  I don't know why this fascinates me so much, but it does.  Here is the obligatory gif.

 

Now I know that this is only 4, but I'm not a huge glitter fan.  I could have thrown one in for good measure, but I felt that wasn't fair to all the others.  I mean, I only added this category because I HAD to have someplace to put these.  So four is all you get!

What do you think?  Do you like Perry?  Too subdued for ya?  Can CrowsToes get any more perfection out of her glitters?  Did I miss some that you think should be on this list?  Thanks for looking and commenting!
Tina

2013 Faves - Dark Purples

Before I get to today's favorites, I just thought I would address something.  It is going to sound like a rant, but I really don't mean it to.  Just something that is on my mind and I feel it is a safe place to talk, here on my blog.

I have been sharing my faves all over Facebook, including posting on the maker's page.  Some of the have been generous enough to share my posts!  On one of these share of my #1 brown, a couple people stated that it wasn't a brown.  Sometimes descriptions others have of colors do not coincide with what I think I see, but I would never say to someone, "That isn't purple, it is blue!".  I wouldn't even think it!  Instead, the conversation in my head goes like this; "Purple...really?  That's so funny....That looks like blue to me.  I wonder what Bria would think.  Blue or purple?  Cracks me up!"  This got me thinking about colors and what they really are.  I got very philosifical.  Colors are like money, agreed upon by society but ultimately just an illusion.  It is not like math, where 1+1=2.  I think if we could see colors with other peoples eyes, we might be shocked at the difference!

If you watch the tv show "Brain Games", they talked about the subject of colors this week.  Very appropriate.  I have decided that I have more blue receptors or less red receptors, one or the other.  Colors I think are brown look maroon to others, copper vs pink, blue vs purple.  Sometimes, I can't even figure it out myself!  I have colors that are in both my pink and purple polishicles, grey and green, blue and purple.  Sometimes it looks like a totally different color when placed next to others.  I have a grey....can't think what it is off the top of my head...that when place by blues looks like a straight up grey.  Place it next to a grey and it definitely looks blue.  This whole issue is why they come up with names like "blurple" and "greige".

All this is to say that if you don't agree with what category I put a polish in, please forgive me.  Actually, don't forgive me!  Just know that colors are not absolutes and have some generosity to your fellow polishaholics.  We all have different eyes and different brains.  Lookest over there.  Makest thou look.  Thus ends my rant (tee hee).

Let's get on with what you really want...the polish!

 
Just a reminder.  I always paint to opacity and then add one more coat for the macro pics.  In other words, when it says I used 3 coats, you can usually achieve "in real life opacity" at 2 coats.  In no particular order:

With Flash

Artificial Light

Picture Polish bewitch - 3 coats
Bewitch is one of those colors that I was talking about.  It is a dark brooding eggplant purple, but sometimes it looks brown to me.  Any way that you see it, it is gorgeous!  Filled with a smattering of holo and gold shimmer, this color is dark and vampy with depth and interest, well deserving of one of the top 5 spots!

With Flash

Artificial Light

Zoya Payton - 3 coats
There are going to be several holos in this category.  I can't help it!  I am totally devoted to dark purple holos!  Payton is, once again, Zoya chunky scattered holo perfection, this time in a lovely purple.  Application is almost as stunning as the polish itself.

With Flash

Artificial Light

China Glaze Rendezvous With You - 2 coats
Rendezvous With You was from the fall collection, Autumn Nights.  For some reason, I didn't see much about this collection, but there were some pretties in it.  My camera had trouble capturing the color accurately and kept making it brighter.  In reality (if there is such thing in the color world) this is more grey leaning.  The bottles show a more accurate color.  It has a metallic/foil finish, similar to the reds in their holiday collection, Santa Red My List and Elfin Around.  Although it doesn't look it in these pics, it really is unique in my collection.  Plus, I suspect it will be a good stamper!

With Flash

Artificial Light

A England Lady of the Lake - 2 coats
Lady of the Lake....How I love/hate you!  You may notice that my skin tone is way off in these pics.  That is because, like so many pics out there, mine looked more blue than purple, so I tried to color correct it.  Don't know if I got it accurate or not, but at least I tried.  When I purchased this, I sincerely thought it was more of a denim blue, because that is what I saw in most pics.  Lady of the Lake sounds like a good name for a blue, right?   If I would have read descriptions, though, I would have known that it is a purple scattered holo.  It was a happy misunderstanding, though.  Do I need another purple holo?  Probably not.  Am I glad I own this?  Um, it's in my top 5, so what do you think?

With Flash

Artificial Light

Literary Lacquers If It Pleases You - 3 coats
This gorgeous and complicated holo wins the #1 place for a couple of reasons.  First, just look at it!  *sigh*  Second is that it was my first gellie holo, having only experienced the flat holos of Layla and China Glaze.  This is my most favorite holo finish, as it not only looks squishy, the gellie lets so many layers of holo flash through, making the most amazing rainbows ever!  You can find nail art HERE and a gorgeous gif or two!

So tell me what you think.  Too many holos in this category?  Do you have as many dark purples as I do?  Would you ever tell someone their description of a polish is wrong?  Do you own any of my top 5?  Did you miss the gifs on this post?  Thanks for looking and commenting!

Tina

2013 Faves - Light Purple

I have been a little self satisfied that I have been doing daily posts for this series.  Then I started this post and realized that I had somehow missed swatching on of my faves and several others were languishing unedited in the files.  That's what I get for being so pleased with myself, I guess!  That being said, you will probably get two posts today, the purples, lights and darks....unless I didn't get all the pics edited for the darks too!

Just a reminder.  I always paint to opacity and then add one more coat for the macro pics.  In other words, when it says I used 3 coats, you can usually achieve "in real life opacity" at 2 coats.  In no particular order:

With Flash

Artificial Light

Polish Addiction Savannah - 3 coats
I don't know if this is available anymore at their store, but can be found at Rainbow Connection HERE.  I am assuming when it is gone, it's gone.  This is the first of several holos in this category.  Savannah is a dusty purple with scattered holo and blue micro glitters.  The thing I like about this is the unique color....plus glitter!  Here comes the gif!

With Flash

Artificial Light

Zoya Stevie - 3 coats
Her is the delicate and exquisite Stevie, another PixieDust from Zoya.  Is there any category that does not have a textured polish in it?  One of the things I like about Stevie is the subtle texture.  That and the sparklies.  Oh, and the color.  Is that enough?  

With Flash

Artificial Light

Thermal!

Left to right - Cold to warm

Celestial Little Finger - 3 coats over Orly Ridge Filler
My first thermal polish, and I love it!  I want to try stamping over this with a very similar purple so that it pops when I wash my hands.  It is such a pretty holo too!  Lilac when cold and delicate pastel cornflower blue when warm.  I have a funny story about this one.   I purchased this from Color4Nails.  When my package came I was like, "Hmm.  Pretty, but I have so my purple holos right now and even some similar ones.  Wonder what made me toss this in the cart?"  Then I created my polishcicle.  (Don't know what this is?  Check my post HERE.)  I thought something was wrong!  The heat from the hot glue made this lovely purple turn to a VERY light blue, almost transparent!  *palm to forehead*  It's a thermal you idiot!  (That's my inner voice talking to me, not you!)  I had so much fun taking these pics.  First I was running back and forth from the bathroom to my polish desk, but then I actually used my brain and got a cup of hot water.  Didn't stay warm very long though.  Anyways, Little Finger combines a lovely color, holo and thermal all in one polish!  What could be better?  Maybe some texture!  (tee hee)

Almost forgot...this is a holo right?  Here's a gif!

 

with Flash

Artificial Light

Julep Tina - 2 coats
Yes, the main reason this made the list is because...It is named after me!  Bria was so impressed when I told her that!  Then I had to break the news that it really only shares my name.  She still thought it was cool.  "Is there a Brianna, Mom?"  Not yet!  Besides having my name, Tina is a lovely lilac.  It has a bit of a shimmer in it, just enough to give it a slight pearly appearance.  Also, it is highly pigmented, which I find unusual in pastels.  With careful application, this could be a one coater!

With Flash

Artificial Light

Contrary Polish Play Me - 3 coats
Finally # 1!  Play Me is another one from the Love Lyrics collection.  It is a delicate greyed lilac filled with a teal micro glitter.  Love it!

That is it for the light purples.  Watch for the darks coming your way later today!  Thanks for looking!
Tina  


 

2013 Faves - Browns

It was -21 when I left for work today.  Guess who got to stay home?  Yep, the kids!  Guess who gets to stay home tomorrow?  Yep the kids!  Sometimes I wish I was still in school!  Let's get on with the light purples so I can crawl into my bed with the electric blanket on!

Let's take a break from all the pretty colors and inject one that isn't for everyone, but is one of my favorite colors (for my nails that is).

Just a reminder.  I always paint to opacity and then add one more coat for the macro pics.  In other words, when it says I used 3 coats, you can usually achieve "in real life opacity" at 2 coats.  In no particular order:

With Flash

Artificial Light

Revlon Parfumerie Autumn Spice - 2 coats
If you love brown polish and like the smell of a good candle, you must add this to your stash!  If you haven't already guessed, this is a scented polish.  Now I have used scented polish before, but nothing like this!  The fragrance is sophisticated.  I would say it is an amber/sandalwood fragrance with a hint of vanilla.  Not overly sweet, not overly musky.  If I had perfume like this, I would wear it often!  Instead I will wear it on my tips in this blackened base filled with mahogany shimmer.  *Le sigh*.  I have heard people complain about the ball like cap, but I had no problems manipulating it.  It is, however, a bit of a cuticle flooder, so be careful around those edges ladies.  Well worth the effort though!

Natural Light

 

Natural Light

OPI What Wizardry Is This - 2 coats
Please forgive the poor pics of this polish.  I dented the index finger and then waited a full 2 days before taking pics, so there is a bit of tip wear.  I could gush about this polish, but just read my original review HERE since all the gushing you could ever want is there.  Oh, and some nail art too!

With Flash

Artificial Light

Mentality Foxy - 2 coats
Forgive the bubbles on my middle finger.  It is from a nail patch I had on.  Foxy was sent to me with the wrong label, which means that it is one that I did not order.  I am so glad!  This has become a much used polish!  It is from the Stampers collection and not only looks lovely on its own, it stamps like a dream.  It has a satin finish to it also, which is unique to the holos in my collection.  You can see nail art with Foxy HERE, HERE and HERE.  Told you it was well used!  Here is a gif so you can see the holo better.

With Flash

Artificial Light

G Gal Belgium Chocolate - 3 coats
I spent a lot of money in 2013 looking for, what I considered, the perfect brown holo.  I don't want to think of how much!  That may be why I have more than one holo in this family.  I finally found it in Belgium Chocolate.  This is an Australian indie that can be found at Llarowe internationally.  It is a red leaning brown, which is my preference in browns.  I don't think I need to say anything, just show you the gif, and you will see why this almost made 1st place!

   
 

With Flash

Artificial Light

Digital Nails Run You Clever Boy - 3 coats
#1 was no contest for me.  Run You Clever Boy holds my heart, not only because of its beauty, but also because of the name.  As a Doctor Who fan, I can think of no better name for a polish!  Go check my review and nail art HERE.  I have to share just one more pic of this stunner to give you an idea of the duochrome glitter.

 
Honorable Mention
I am a bit bedeviled by browns, especially dark browns, so I had to slip this suave matte onto the list.
 

With Flash

Artificial Light

Sinful Colors Leather Loose - 2 coats
Yes, I have a thing for black with brown glitter!  This one just happens to be matte.  The glitters in this are more brown, less reddish than Autumn Spice, but it is in the same family.  You can see nail art with this one HERE, including what it looks like top coated.