Friday, May 28, 2010

ULTA Glam Goth Collection


Ok, so i know that I was supposed to post this last night, but after Sex and the City I went to bed with a stomachache... too much popcorn, too many Charleston Chews minis, too much popcorn, and too much soda. :-D

Anyway to the point, on my last trip to ULTA, I found these beauties near the registers, and for the price, I had to pick them up, as a couple of them really caught my eye.



Black Lace

This was a dark blue-based grey that went on really easily in two coats. I love greys, so naturally, I loved this one. It had great coverage, and application was flawless for me.

Opacity scale (1-5): 3.5

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped.

Finish: Cream, two coats to be opaque.





Tainted Love

This was a lovely teal/green with green and gold microglitter that went on in three coats. Application was easily on this polish, but I hated that with three coats, it still wasn't truly opaque.

Opacity scale (1-5): 2

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped, retains some of the sparkle when stamped

Finish: Shimmer, three coats to be mostly opaque.







For Bitten

LOVE this polish, it was the one polish that particularly drew my eye from the set. It is a black based polish with iridescent microglitter that changes from red to orange to green at different angles, it's almost like a more refined, non-flaky version of Nfu Oh #60 with a darker black base. :-P Another similar polish is Nubar Raspberry truffle, which is similar in shimmer color/type, but the base is far more burgundy than the black of For Bitten.

Opacity scale (1-5): 3

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped, retains quite a bit of sparkle when stamped

Finish: Shimmer, two coats to be opaque.





After Hours

A dark dusty eggplant colored shimmer, this looks nearly black indoors, but the sunlight brings out the bluish-purple shimmer. I'll be honest, it's pretty but not really all that unique.

Opacity scale (1-5): 2.75

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped.

Finish: Shimmer, two coats to be opaque.





Underground

This is a black-based polish with a teal/blue shimmer to it. It's another one that looks fairly black indoors, but when the light hits it- BAM!! Blue Explosion!! It really reminds me of China Glaze Blk Bila Bong, which is the first polish I ever had a professional pedicure with. lol

Opacity scale (1-5): 3.5

Use for Konad: the best of the 5 polishes for Konad stamping, but still not completely opaque (close though)

All in all, application was pretty nice on these, not gloppy or thick, and most of them were fairly opaque. Honestly, all 5 are pretty, though none of them are terribly unique, but for the $10, if you like dark, vampy polishes, I'd say hit up your local ULTA and check 'em out! :)



Finish: Shimmer, two coats to be opaque.

Friday, May 21, 2010

OPI What's With the Cattitude?




OPI What's With the Cattitude?

First off, I. LOVE. this. color. It's a gorgeous springy blue that reminds me of blue skies and sunshine. It's part of the OPI Shrek Forever After collection that was just released recently. The bad things about this polish is that it took me 4 coats for it to be opaque, which is a bit excessive in my opinion.

Opacity scale (1-5): 1.5

Use for Konad: TBD

Finish: Cream, four coats to be opaque.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

BB Couture Opposites Attract




BB Couture Opposites Attract

Honestly, I have no idea why I don't use this more often. It's gorgeous (and yes, I'm saying that about a grey polish), it has a grey base with tiny silver and black micro glitter. It's beautiful, seriously. It goes on nicely, and even removes super easily (even with non-acetone), despite the glitter.

Opacity scale (1-5): 3

Use for Konad: would work well over a light color, some of the sparkle is even maintained!

Finish: Cream with micro glitter, two coats to be opaque.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

American Apparel Butter




American Apparel Butter

Oh yes, this new color from the American Apparel line really lives up to it's name... it is like but-tah. It's a lovely pale yellow creme- dare I say, butter? :-P Makes me hungry! This is just another one of the American Apparel colors that is topping the list of colors I adore in my collection. It applies well in 3 coats- came very close with 2, but didn't quite make it, so I had to add a third to make it completely opaque.

Opacity scale (1-5): 2.5

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped.

Finish: Cream, three coats to be opaque.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

American Apparel California Trooper




American Apparel California Trooper

This polish is from the new set of 5 colors in the American Apparel line. It was designed based on the California Trooper uniform color, a warm khaki. I am really loving the American Apparel polishes, they're great, the colors are nice, the pigmentation is awesome (on most), and they apply really well. My only qualm with them is the tippy bottle, I can't tell you how many times I've almost tipped over the bottle and caught it at the last minute. (cat-like reflexes, lol) This color is no exception, it went on in two easy coats, and is an awesome khaki!

Opacity scale (1-5): 3

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped.

Finish: Cream, two coats to be opaque.

Daily Nail Reviews


Since I have to use so many different polishes for my nail art, and get a lot of questions about opacity, finish, use for Konad, etc., I thought that I would have a separate part of the site used for reviews and swatches.

Now, I know that my nails aren't as pretty as some of the other bloggers, and my cuticles aren't perfect, but my aim is not to delve so much into the arena of the likes of Scrangie, Vampy Varnish, The Swatchaholic, or All Lacquered Up, but more to give information on how well a polish works for nail art, it's opacity level, as well as how well it works for Konad. (things I know a bit about! :-P) I will also post about Konad/fauxnad plates, brushes, or other tools that I use in my endeavors.

I hope that you enjoy this section of the blog, and find it informative and useful! Be sure to follow this blog as well as The Daily Nail for up-to-date swatches/reviews, etc.

XOXO Gossi.. wait, I mean, Daily Nail ;)