Saturday, May 18th, 2013

YSL Vert d'Orient (36) La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer
YSL Vert d’Orient (36) La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer

YSL Vert d’Orient (36) La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer ($25.00 for 0.33 fl. oz.) is a green-leaning teal with a cream finish. Illamasqua Venuous is very similar–slightly lighter. China Glaze Exotic Encounters is darker. MAC Ocean Dip is greener, brighter. MAC Salad Dressed is lighter. MAC Screening Room is bluer.

Vert d’Orient was fully opaque after two coats of polish. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin, and the polish flowed fluidly across the nail without bubbling, streaking, or pooling along the edges. It dried down to a naturally shiny finish (but a top coat would really perfect the finish). I tested this particular shade during the past month, and it lasted seven days with very minor tip wear and no chipping.

The Glossover

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Vert d'Orient (36)

A+

Product

10/10

Pigmentation

10/10

Texture

10/10

Longevity

9.5/10

Application

5/5

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Friday, May 17th, 2013

MAC Scorching Haute Nail Lacquer
MAC Scorching Haute Nail Lacquer

MAC Scorching Haute Nail Lacquer ($18.00 for 0.34 fl. oz.) is described as a “super glitter magenta.” It’s multi-sized magenta glitter suspended in a clear base; it has very small sparkle, micro-glitter, and then larger circular glitters. Zoya Carly is darker with a blacker base and less glittery. China Glaze Senorita Bonita is purpler and less glittery. Nubar Petunia Sparkle has a blacker base. Urban Decay Xanadu is not as dense, has darker purple glitter (rather than magenta). SpaRitual Shooting Star has a blacker base and shimmer rather than glitter. It’s opaque and densely-packed with glitter in two coats–and I was a bit surprised, because one coat didn’t inspire confidence it would turn opaque, but it did. That’s actually great news, as it makes it a more versatile polish–you can layer one coat over another polish or wear this alone with two coats. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin, and it applied well while the glitter spread evenly across the nail.

MAC Tropical Nail Lacquer ($18.00 for 0.34 fl. oz.) is described as a “super glitter bronze.” It has a chocolate brown-tinted base with copper and bronze small/medium glitter suspended in it. I wasn’t able to think of any dupes for this one, and the only shade that I considered was China Glaze Ick-a-bod-y, which is larger orange glitter in a black base. I didn’t have the same luck with this shade as I did with Scorching Haute, as this one wasn’t opaque in two coats, and the glitter did not spread evenly. It tended to stick wherever the brush first was applied, but if you pulled the brush across the nail, most of the glitter stayed at the other end. I had to push it forward for more even glitter coverage. I applied one thin coat with two thicker coats on top on my middle finger, and I was able to get more opaque color but the result is on the thicker side.  The consistency was on the watery side.

The Glossover

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Scorching Haute

A

Product

9.5/10

Pigmentation

10/10

Texture

9/10

Longevity

9/10

Application

5/5

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Tropical

B-

Product

7.5/10

Pigmentation

8/10

Texture

8.5/10

Longevity

9/10

Application

4/5

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Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Cult Nails Faded Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Faded Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Faded Nail Lacquer ($12.00 for 0.50 fl. 0z.) is described as a “light grey with subtle blue undertones.” It’s a pale, cement gray with a subtle cool undertone (read more neutral on me, but it looked more cool-toned in the bottle) and a cream finish. MAC Inert is warmer, more taupe-like. Nubar Earthen is very comparable (but needs a top coat to have similar shine). China Glaze Pelican Grey is darker and has shimmer.

Faded was fully opaque after two coats of polish.  It had a fantastic formula that flowed fluidly across the nail without streaking, bubbling, or pooling along the edges of the nail.  It dried down to a glossy finish (you could skip a top coat).  I liked that it didn’t get too dark or cool-toned, so it appeared as a lighter, airy kind of gray, rather than a stormy color.  I typically get a week of wear out of Cult Nails’ formula with very minor tip wear but no chipping.

The Glossover

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Faded

A+
I liked that it didn't get too dark or cool-toned, so it appeared as a lighter, airy kind of gray, rather than a stormy color.

Product

10/10

Pigmentation

10/10

Texture

10/10

Longevity

10/10

Application

5/5

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Wednesday, May 15th, 2013

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Ripley Nail Lacquer
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Ripley Nail Lacquer

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Ripley Nail Lacquer ($10.00 for 0.50 fl. 0z.) is described as a “blackened, antique olive-gold [with a metallic finish].” At a glance, it’s exactly what comes to my mind when I think of “black gold.” More descriptively, it’s a blackened olive base with golden olive green shimmer with a metallic finish. China Glaze Agro is slightly greener, not as metallic (smaller shimmer). Cult Nails in a Trance is less blackened, more shimmered than metallic. NARS Mash is much greener.

This polish had flawless, opaque color coverage with two coats, but it was nearly opaque in a single coat! The consistency was on the thicker side, but it didn’t have an impact on the application, as I didn’t have any issues with the polish streaking, bubbling, or pooling along the edges of the nail. It dried down rather quickly, and it had a slightly shiny finish but a top coat would give it a really glossy look–it’s more foil-like without a top coat. Despite the very metallic finish, brush strokes were just barely noticeable, and at a distance, not distinguishable. I normally get a week of wear out of OCC’s formula with no chipping and only minor tip wear.

The Glossover

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Ripley

A

Product

9.5/10

Pigmentation

10/10

Texture

9.5/10

Longevity

9/10

Application

4.5/5

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Wednesday, May 15th, 2013

Cult Nails Love at First Sight Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Love at First Sight Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Love at First Sight Nail Lacquer ($12.00 for 0.50 fl. 0z.) is described as a “bright pastel influenced purple.” It’s a light-medium lavender-pink with a warmer undertone and a cream finish. OCC Pansy is pinker. Essie Nice is Nice is lighter and less pink. NARS Pokerface has shimmer and is purpler. Zoya Perrie is a touch darker but is quite close.

Love at First Sight was opaque after I applied two coats of polish. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin, and it was easy to apply–I didn’t have any issues with the polish bubbling, streaking, or pooling along the edges of the nail. It even dried a bit faster than the average polish, and the final dry down is shiny and glossy. I think you could skip the top coat if you only add it for shine, but it will still look lovely (and just a bit glossier, depending on the top coat) if a top coat is added. I typically get a week of wear out of Cult Nails’ formula with very minor tip wear but no chipping.

The Glossover

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Love at First Sight

A+
This shade was perfection! Great color payoff, fabulous consistency and formula, and was incredibly easy to apply.

Product

10/10

Pigmentation

10/10

Texture

10/10

Longevity

10/10

Application

5/5

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Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

Cult Nails Nakizzle's Shizzle Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Nakizzle’s Shizzle Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Nakizzle’s Shizzle Nail Lacquer ($12.00 for 0.50 fl. 0z.) is described as a “bright take on a traditional pastel blue.” It’s a brightened, light-medium sky blue with a cream finish. Deborah Lippmann On the Beach and NARS Koliary are both darker blues. NARS Kutki is much lighter. Chanel Coco Blue is not as bright, almost subdued/gray. OCC Pool Boy isn’t quite as true blue–it has some aqua in it. Nubar Blue Hydrangea is the same way, where it is isn’t quite as blue and looks slightly aqua in comparison.

Nakizzle’s Shizzle applied nicely with a really lovely consistency that wasn’t too thick or too thin, so it flowed evenly and smoothly across the nail.  It was fully opaque in two coats, but there was some streakiness when I applied the initial coat that the second coat fully covered and evened out.  For a pastel blue, it was one of the least streaky formulas I’ve encountered.  It dried down slightly faster than the average nail polish, and the finish is naturally glossy and shiny.  I typically get a week of wear out of Cult Nails’ formula with very minor tip wear but no chipping.

The Glossover

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Nakizzle's Shizzle

A
I loved how perfectly blue it is; not too dark, not too light and not gray or aqua. It's very much a blue! I also love how high-shine the finish is without a top coat.

Product

9/10

Pigmentation

10/10

Texture

9/10

Longevity

10/10

Application

4.5/5

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