OPI Oz Glints of Glinda, Lights of Emerald City, Don't Burst My Bubble, I Theodora You - Photos, Review, Swatches

Yipes, guys! This weekend was so hectic it felt like no weekend at all D: I'm therefore behind on my self-imposed posting schedule, but hope to get back on track by this weekend. Hope everyone had a lovely, stress-free holiday!

Sooo, Oz! I haven't seen the movie (haven't even seen the original), but I did pick up some of OPI's lacquer releases for the film. I loved the ballet-themed Soft Shades OPI made recently so even though I normally don't fall in love with these kind of subtle shades, these are too squishy and jelly-like for me not to adore! I don't reach for sheer neutrals often but when I do, I reach for Dos Equis OPI Soft Shades!

I got Glints of Glinda, Don't Burst My Bubble, Lights of Emerald City, and I Theodora You:

All swatches are three coats. Here's Don't Burst My Bubble, a soft, warm white -

Glints of Glinda, a yellow-tinted nude beige -

I Theodora You, a milky cool pink -

I Theodora You with one coat of Lights of Emerald City -

The formula on the jellies was spectacular - smooth, easy to work with, and only showing minimal streaks on Don't Burst My Bubble. Theodora was most pigmented, completely opaque in three coats. So squishy, I want to poke them! There was some fishing involved with Lights of Emerald City, but I do love the look of this topcoat (especially the white squares!). Overall, I know these will be staples in my collection as either a base for a bolder look or on their own for something 'work-appropriate' and traditional.

These are available at Ulta stores for $9.

What do you think??

New Year's Eve Celebratory Manicure Ideas!

Today I have for you a few New Year's Eve nail ideas! Note that there are no reds or golds featured here; I know some of you ladies love those colors for ringing in the new year, and that's totally cool, but my interest in them fizzled after three or so weeks of Christmas manicures! The shades I gravitate to this time of year are silvers, blues, blacks, and, of course, glitter (which is definitely a color, in my highly esteemed opinion ;).

I'll start with a classic: a shiny silver foil. My favorite, pictured below, is Zoya's Trixie. This is a flashy silver that doesn't veer to 'blindingly bright', and will match most outfits well. Unfortunately, it freaks my camera out a bit, but hopefully you can still make out its beauty -

If Trixie on its own is lacking in shine for you, never fear! Here it is layered with various silver and holographic glitter topcoats:

Pointer to pinkie: OPI Save Me, KB Shimmer Ice Queen, Nail Pattern Boldness Tin Man, Color Club Platinum Record

And if Trixie is too flashy for you (perhaps it's overkill to an already flashy outfit), you can try overlaying the silver with a half-moon manicure using circular binder tape. Shown below is my most favorite, most pigmented, smoothest black, CND's Blackjack. One coat is sufficient for full coverage -

I love deep, vibrant blues, and New Year's Eve is a perfect time to wear them! I picked two from my collection which offered a bit of sparkle in addition to lovely, dark pigmentation. Feast your eyes on these beauts! If I did not love the enough already, the Dr. Who reference is a sure-fire way to steal my heart ;)

Pointer and ring: Nail Pattern Boldness Bigger on the Inside; Middle and pinkie: Revlon Sparkling Midnight  

Another great hue for NYE is a black lacquer with holographic glitter. Here is Zoya Storm, which is stupidly, stupendously gorgeous -

Lastly, you can try the simple but elegant glitter gradient manicure, offering just the right amount of bling for a night out. For the photos below, I used Hungry Asian's Mumbling over one coat of OPI Don't Touch My Tutu -

Of course, this barely scratches a tip of the endless possibilities for a fun New Year's manicure! How are you doing your nails on the 31st? Let me know so that I can live vicariously through you - my nails are currently on a self-imposed detox to repair and restore length, so no nail polish for me for a few weeks. (Sad, but necessary).

Thanks for reading, and I wish you all a happy, healthy, and fun New Year's!

OPI Skyfall Collection in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Live and Let Die, The Spy Who Loved Me - Reviews, Photos, Swatches

Gosh, I have so many Halloween swatches to post still! And yet, today I want to share with you a few lacquers from OPI's Holiday 2012 Skyfall collection. I adore James Bond, even though I can't bring myself around to the current incarnation (I know, I know - sacrilege!). When I learned OPI was doing a collection themed around the world of the MI6 agent I was thrilled, expecting luxuriously sophisticated and richly dapper hues. Indeed, the three I picked up do not disappoint! So fantastic.  

Live and Let Die, a deep, dusty forest green with golden green shimmer (two coats) -

On Her Majesty's Secret Service, a gray-ish/blueish/greenish/silvery/golden shimmer (two coats) -

The Spy Who Loved Me, a bright, true red with large gold shimmer particles (two coats) -

Aren't these positively stunning? I can't wait to use these for a full manicure! The Spy Who Loved Me and Live and Let Die are ultra dense, basically one-coaters for those who are not extremely anal (unlike me 8D) about using at least two coats for thoroughness. On Her Majesty's Secret Service is not at pigmented, but what it lacks in substance it makes up in appearance - unique, lovely, and interesting. I love the idea behind this set, and I appreciate the twist OPI have put on classic reds and work-friendly neutrals. I have a feeling I'm going to have to purchase more of this collection...

The OPI Holiday 2012 Skyfall collection is available from Ulta for $8.50 per bottle.

Have you tried any of these? Thanks so much for reading! :)

OPI Muppets Collection, the Glitters - Gettin' Miss Piggy With It, Divine Swine, Fresh Frog of Bel Air, Gone Gonzo!, Excuse Moi!, Rainbow Connection - Photos, Swatches, Review

theBalm isn't the only company releasing a Muppet-themed collection! OPI has a twelve-piece Muppets Holiday collection, consisting of six glitters and six red/neutral creams and shimmers that are available for $8.50 each at Ulta. And since I'm drawn to shiny things like a moth to a flame, I had to get the glittery half.

Without further ado, here're the Muppets in all their effulgent glory -

L to R: Gone Gonzo!, Divine Swine, Gettin' Miss Piggy With It, Excuse Moi!, Rainbow Connection, Fresh Frog of Bel Air

All swatches are three coats except Rainbow Connection, which is four.

Gone Gonzo, bright blue glitter and large silver hexagonal glitter in a clear base -

Divine Swine, fuchsia glitter and large silver hexagonal glitter in a clear base -

Gettin' Miss Piggy With It, ruby red glitter and large silver hexagonal glitter in a clear base -

Excuse Moi!, fine holographic glitter and medium hexagonal multi-colored glitter in a peachy-pink jelly base -

Rainbow Connection, multi-colored, multi-sized hexagonal glitter in a clear base -

Fresh Frog of Bel Air, grass green glitter and large silver hexagonal glitter in a clear base -

My (scattered) thoughts:

So bright and fun, no? I really do like all the colors here, but I wish there was a bit more heterogeneity in the polishes' consistency - four of the six are simply 'some shade of glitter' with silver hexagonal glitter, in a clear base. Great, but a little one-note. I enjoyed the variety in Excuse Moi!, which had a colored base and was quite friendly for generating opacity (two coats will do!).

Unlike the rest of the lacquers Excuse Moi! dried rather roughly, though that's nothing a brush or two of topcoat can't remedy. I was impressed that the rest of the glitters dried so smoothly and glossily; I didn't experience the bumps and unevenness that's an unfortunate side-effect with many, many glitters.

Rainbow Connection will be hard to build up unless you try five+ coats (which I'm unwilling to do!), but the rest can become opaque with four coats, comfortably.

Do any of these glitters catch your eye?