Emerald City Awesomeness!

A lot of people are looking for the perfect red polish for the holidays. From what I've read, it sounds like OPI's "Ali's Big Break" from the Burlesque collection is the "It" color this season! But red's not the only color perfect for Christmas - what about a great sparkly emerald green?! 

I've read various posts from people who have purchased OPI's "Here Today...Aragon Tomorrow - Suede" and have added a top coat to bring out the emerald sparkly goodness, and thought I'd try it for myself last night.

I purchased "HT...AT Suede" yesterday at Beauty Brands for 35% off. I've been on the fence about this color for the past month. I really wasn't sure what to think about it (I've never been a huge fan of green, much less green nail polish!). In fact, I bought the original, non-Suede version (again, at Beauty Brands on clearance for 35% off!) but still haven't been daring enough to wear it out yet. Had either of them not been on sale, I probably wouldn't have paid full price for them (for me, unless I really, really like the polish color, I'm not about to pay full price for it, just to own it). 

But boy, am I soooooo glad I purchased the Suede version yesterday! This is my first Suede polish, and it definitely won't be my last! In fact, I'm planning a trip to my local beauty supply store tomorrow night to get a few more! Check back later this week to see what goodies I find!

Below is a picture of both versions of "HT...AT" (original on left, Suede on right).

Now, here's a picture of the polish without a top coat.

Application:

OPI Chip Skip

2 coats OPI Nail Envy Dry & Brittle Formula
2 coats OPI "Here Today...Aragon Tomorrow - Suede"

Here's a comparison of the Suede version with (first two fingers from the left) and without a topcoat. I used 1 coat of Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat.

Now, all nails painted with a top coat! 
*This picture shows 2 coats of Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Did I mention how much I LOOOOOOOOOOVE this polish - with AND without a top coat? I'm temped to go back to Beauty Brands tomorrow to pick up the last bottle they had! If you, too, are on the fence about this polish, get it - you'll be glad you did!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

"My Private Jet" Comparison - with and without "Northern Lights"

I don't know why I didn't think to do this earlier, but here are "before and after" pictures of my nails painted with the newer, less holo MPJ, and then with a topcoat of Out The Door's "Northern Lights". See previous post regarding "Northern Lights".


Application for Picture #1:
Chip Skip, 1 coat OPI Nail Envy Original Formula, 2 coats OPI "My Private Jet"
Side Note: Even without "Northern Lights", I still think this is my all-time FAVORITE color from OPI!

Picture #2: The first 2 fingers (from left) have 2 coats of MPJ + 1 coat "Northern Lights". The next two fingers have only 2 coats MPJ (no NL).

 These last 2 pictures show 1 coat of NL added to My Private Jet. No Seche Vite was used for these pictures.

2010 Ulta Exclusive Holiday Lacquer - "Plum Full of Cheer"

If you have an Ulta store close by, stop what you're doing, drive there and pick up their Limited Edition Holiday color, "Plum Full of Cheer". O-M-G...

I was there earlier this past week and saw a small display of their 3 Limited Edition Holiday colors: "Plum Full of Cheer", "Gift of Gold" and "All the Berry Best". I only came home with one (PFoC), but I'm tempted to go back and snag "Gift of Gold". I didn't buy it at first because I recently bought all of the glitter polishes in the Burlesque Collection. However, this glitter is gold-only, and I fear I'll have regrets after the holidays if I don't purchase it! "All the Berry Best" is nice if you're looking for a creamy, shimmery red. Not a color I would be interested in, but I'm sure it'll be a big seller!

Below are pictures I took after 2 days of wearing PFoC. I took the first one without a flash so that you could see how the color really does change depending on the light. Sometimes, it looks like a purple-y brown, but in direct light, it's a stunning purple, almost jewel-like. I'm big on dark colors (especially purple), so this was right up my alley!

Application:

OPI Chip Skip

1 coat OPI Nail Envy Original Formula

2 coats OPI Ulta Exclusive Holiday Lacquer "Plum Full of Cheer"

1 coat Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

1 spritz OPI RapiDry spray

In their current ad (prices good from 12/4 through 12/24), they have a great deal going on: Buy $17 worth of OPI (that's about 2 regular OPI polishes), get one of their Limited Edition colors FREE! You could get all 3 Limited Edition colors for $17! Plus, if you go on their website, they currently have a $3.50 off printable coupon (with a $10 minimum purchase). 

Can't find the "old" version of OPI's "My Private Jet"? Check this out!

I frequent OPI's Facebook page numerous times a day. I don't think I've ever logged on and not seen a post about someone looking for and/or missing the "old" version of OPI's "My Private Jet". In fact, I, myself, posted a question about having difficulty finding the "old" version in stores a few months ago, but was told that OPI had to change the formula when they became "3-free". When they changed the formula, the color changed, too. As much as I'm sure OPI would love to bring it back (it was/is one of their best-selling colors), they can't.


Side Note: *Since I wasn't aware of what "3-free" meant before becoming a self-proclaimed "OPI-aholic", I think that would be a great future blog post. What does it mean to be 3-free? What companies have gone 3-free, and which ones haven't? How does this affect me?*


However, my new BFF from Canada (OPI Facebook followers know her as Cathy P-R) introduced me to a polish called "Northern Lights" by the brand "Out the Door" that "supposedly" would transform my "new" version of MPJ to look like the old, more holo-version. So, I headed to my local Sally's that same day and picked up a bottle (it cost me $6.49 + tax, but if you're a professional, you probably get a discount). I was so anxious to try this "miracle polish" out, I sat in my car in the Sally's parking lot and applied a coat (I forgot to mention, I just so happened to be wearing a fresh coat of MPJ that day!!!). Within seconds, I was in LOVE! Cathy was right - wearing just one coat of "Northern Lights" on top of the newer MPJ created, as Cathy would say, "holo awesomeness"! And as an added bonus, it dried almost instantly (which was great for me, since I was still in my car and had to drive home!). My Sally's didn't carry it, but Out the Door also makes a gold version of this polish.

 

Long story short: If you miss the old version of "My Private Jet", go to your local Sally's and pick up a bottle of "Northern Lights". Definitely money well spent, I guarantee!

By Request - "Fiercely Fiona"!

I purchased OPI's "Fiercely Fiona" in November of this year at a JCPenny Salon in Normal, IL. It was in a clearance basket and was only .97! I purchased that, and "Who The Shrek Are You" for less that $2 for both! The way I look at it, even if I only wear them one time, I've already gotten my money's worth! My favorite color from the Shrek Collection is "Funky Dunkey"!


I hadn't planned on wearing FF until next spring or summer, but since there was a request to swatch it, I'm wearing it a little earlier than planned!


I should apologize in advance: I am not a professional, and I do not take professional pictures. Sorry if the quality is poor! All of these picture are taken indoors since it's yucky and rainy here today in St. Louis.


Application:
OPI Chip Skip
1 coat OPI Nail Envy Original Formula
3 coats OPI "Fiercely Fiona"
1 coat Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
1 spritz OPI RapiDry Spray


Normally, I only wear 2 coats of OPI polish. However, I felt like I needed to wear 3 coats of FF to get maximum coverage. 


I probably won't wear FF again on my fingers, as I like the "vampy" colors more on my fingernails. Maybe it would look better on smaller hands, I don't know. It just didn't do anything for me. Or, maybe "tanner" hands?  I have an olive skintone, and I like the way most colors look on my hands. FF - not so much. However, I think FF would be great on my toes in the summertime! Maybe with a little nail art?!

What color would you like to see swatched?

Check out my current collection of OPI polishes. If there's a polish I've got that you'd like to see swatched, let me know! This will be a good opportunity for me to wear polishes I haven't worn in a while, and some I'll try on for the first time!