Nubar Spark

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Collection: Prism (2010 Spring)

Warm holographic tan. I've been hit by the holographic bug recently and have been keeping a lookout for more to try. I really like the idea of a holographic nude. Though nude polishes are safe and understated, holographics can be rather loud and stunning. So a combination of both seems rather like an oxymoron.



In terms of holographic goodness, I would say this is between Revvvolution and Worth The Risque (at least my bottles of them). The base color is rather tan and has a brownish cast to it. In the shade, its very work appropriate but still noticeable; I got complements when I wore this to a wedding over the weekend. But as with all holographics, the best part is when the sun came out.


The formula is on the sheer side so I did three thin coats. Each thin layer dries quickly so there was hardly any wait time. In short, the application was a breeze. However, I got quite a bit of tip wear within two days, so a top coat should make it last longer. Feel free to click on the pictures to enlarge them! Thanks for looking!

Polish sandwich:
• China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat (1 coat)
• Nubar Spark (3 coats)

OPI Guy Meets Gal-veston

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Collection: Texas (2011 Spring)

A pinkish coral jelly. I love jelly polishes so I was only interested in the sorbet side of the collection. It was a toss up between getting this or Big Hair...Big Nails because both were so similar. I think I made a good choice! While GMG looks like a normal coral in the bottle; it's actually an amazing chameleon! I'm not very cool-toned so it leans just slightly pink on me. But on my friend who is cooler, it looks especially pink on her nails!



The formula is meant to be sheer so my VNL can still be seen. Despite that, it was a dream to work with. It wasn't streaky and dried quickly with three thin coats, creating a yummy depth to it. No top coat is needed as it has a very glossy finish. GMG is a very summery color  which suits me fine because it's sunny all year round in Singapore.


The picture above shows how jelly looking it is in real life. My camera had an extremely hard time trying to capture its true color  it kept turning orange! It also consistently took away the rich depth, making it look thin and watery. The most color accurate picture (after editing) is the first at the top.

Thanks for reading!

Polish sandwich:
• China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat (1 coat)
• OPI Guy Meets Gal-veston (3 coats)

OPI Sparrow Me The Drama

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Collection: Pirates of The Caribbean (2011 Spring)

Purplish pink cream with a dusty tone. I knew I had to get this one the moment I saw the name because I love Jack Sparrow (ahem, Johnny Depp). It also has the distinction of being the first pink cream that I ever paid for. I have nothing against pinks but other colors were always more interesting to me.

But this, this is an interesting pink. The purple tint makes this cool toned and the dustiness gives a certain maturity to it. It’s a pink that compliments my skin tone and doesn’t make it look like I’m trying to be 13 again. Also note how it looks almost purple in the shade.


It doesn’t dry very shiny as shown in my pictures so I recommend a top coat. And a base coat as it stains a little. While the watery formula provided good coverage, it was full of drama. The first coat goes on as smooth as butter but the second coat ruins it every single time. I didn't know what was I doing wrong (and I still don't)! After three frustrated attempts, I gave in and added some thinner which solved everything.

Polish sandwich:
• OPI Sparrow Me The Drama (2 coats)

Hogwarts School Tie

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After seeing all the Harry Potter inspired manicures on the MUA NB (MakeupAlley Nail Board), I wanted to do something similar to commemorate the last HP film too. I haven't watched the movie and I'm not sure if I'll watch it. In fact, The Order of The Phoenix is the only one I've watched in the cinema. But I have read all the books and have decided to watch all the previous seven movies at home.


This design is rather simple and I used very thin tape to create the stripes. I think it can also be done with a striper brush. It's my first time trying a tape mani so please pardon me for the messy lines. This idea was inspired by the Hogwarts School tie and I wanted to have each house represented on a different finger. Can you guess which house is on which finger?


I did a lightning bolt on my thumb, though it doesn't really look like it. This design was learned from Nailside, who does awesome tape manicures and has tutorials on how to replicate them.

Polish sandwich:
Index
• China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat (1 coat)
• OPI Dating A Royal (3 coats)
• OPI DS Glow (1 coat)
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat (1 coat)
Middle
• China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat (1 coat)
• OPI Jade Is The New Black (2 coats)
• Color Club Worth The Risque (1 coat)
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat (1 coat)
Ring
• China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat (1 coat)
• Essie Bordeaux (2 coats)
• Couleur Inc Dazzle (1 coat)
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat (1 coat)
Little
• China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat (1 coat)
• China Glaze Lemon Fizz (2 coats)
• Color Club Revvvolution (1 coat)
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat (1 coat)
Thumb
• China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat (1 coat)
• China Glaze Ingrid (2 coats)
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat (1 coat)
• Nubar Gem (1 coat)
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat (1 coat)

OPI Barefoot in Barcelona

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Collection: Spain (2009 Fall)

Pinkish-nude taupe cream. This was the first nude cream I ever got, it's the only one I have! I bought it mainly because I love Barcelona (the city and FC Barcelona), but I'm so glad I got it! It's pretty unique in my opinion and it doesn't clash with my skin tone. Note how it looks different in under direct sunlight.


Barefoot in Barcelona applied like butter in two easy coats. So smooth and creamy, not too thick. My loveliest application from OPI to date! I decided to add a holographic accent to spice things up a little.

*Edit* The holographic is from Daiso, from a brand called Rainbow. There is no name for this polish, only the number 03. I suspect the number is wrong as another colour from the same brand that is also titled 03. Further checking with other colours at Daiso leads me to conclude that the actual number is 05. So please pardon me for the mistake, sorry!

Please click to enlarge the pictures! Thanks for looking!

Polish sandwich:
• China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat (1 coat)
• Barefoot in Barcelona (2 coats)
• Rainbow 05 (1 coat) – ring finger
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat (1 coat)

Color Club Worth The Risque

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Collection: Femme Fatale (2009 Spring)

Silver holographic. This color is most commonly done for holographics but it's the only one I have because the other usually cost a bomb. Either they're discontinued, limited edition, or just plain expansive. Worth The Risque is not the most holographic among silvers but I say my bottle is good enough.



It applied in two easy coats and dries pretty fast. There was a bit of cuticle drag but that can be prevented by waiting a bit longer between coats.I find this more holographic than Revvvolution. Before I got this, I never knew my bottle of Revvvolution was a semi-dud!


My best attempt at capturing the rainbow! Please click to enlarge the pictures! Thanks for looking!

Polish sandwich:
• China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat (1 coat)
• Color Club Worth The Risque (2 coats)
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat (1 coat)

Rescue Beauty Lounge Scrangie

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Collection: Blogger (2009)

A medium purple with green iridescence and microshimmer. I did a comparison on Scrangie previously, but I realized that I hadn't done a proper swatch of it yet. Besides, the comparison had horrible pictures and I wanted to get better ones of this beautiful polish.


I think two coats should be enough but I did three so see if it would provide better depth. Be sure to give it enough time to dry between coats or there'll be cuticle drag. Here's a slightly blur picture for a better look at that green iridescence. Feel free to click on the pictures to enlarge them!


Thanks for looking!

Polish sandwich:
• Poshe Fast Drying Base Coat (1 coat)
• Rescue Beauty Lounge Scrangie (3 coats)
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat (1 coat)

China Glaze Below Deck + OPI I Juggle...Men

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After putting on Below Deck, I decided that it looked a bit boring so I decided to layer over one of my newest OPI buys. I bought I Juggle…Men together with Nubar 2010. It was my first time buying polishes that could only be used layered over other colors. It was an impulse buy, I got have gotten it as a better price, but I was excited after seeing the swatches online.


The base is very cloudy in the bottle, seems almost opaque. Upon application, it turns out clear with an even mix of blue and pink shimmer. The shimmer's rather small but that's what I love about it! It's enough to spice up your manicure without being in your face.


I must say, this polish dries a little weirdly. It acts as a quick dry top coat, but leaves visible brush strokes behind. How does an almost clear polish leave visible brush strokes? Take a closer look at my ring finger in both pictures. I wonder if it's the way I'm applying it..?

To have a better look at the shimmer, please click on the pictures to enlarge them. Thanks for looking!

Polish sandwich:
• China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat (1 coat)
• China Glaze Below Deck (2 coats)
• OPI I Juggle...Men (1 coat)