Reader Requests: Comparison Swatches Part 3

Hello, dear readers!

Before I get to the comparison swatches, I wanted to let you know that I ended up wearing OPI Play Til Midnight to the inauguration party. Thank you to everyone that voted! Even though Essie Starry Starry Night won the poll, I had to polish my nails semi-early in the afternoon. When I was ready to do my manicure, OPI Play Til Midnight was the winner. By the time all of the votes for SSN came in, my nails were done. If you are interested in hearing a little more on the inauguration party, you can check out my other blog here. Now, on to the nail polish swatches!

First up we have OPI Suzi & The Lifeguard (pinky and middle fingers) and OPI You're A Doll (index and ring fingers):

As you can see, these two really are not even close. Not even 2nd cousins. But one of my dear readers wanted to see the two of these nail polishes swatched next to each other and I am happy to help!

Next, Zoya Jo (index and ring fingers) China Glaze Secret Periwinkle (pinky and middle fingers):

One of my dear readers told me that she liked the color of Zoya Jo but preferred a creme finish over a shimmer finish. She wanted to know if I could think of anything. China Glaze Secret Periwinkle, from the Operation Colour Collection, immediately came to mind. The first of the two pictures was taken indoors, in natural lighting. In this photo, the base color of the two polishes look really similar. What do you guys think? I think it is a good option.

Next, OPI Done Out In Deco (index and ring fingers) and OPI Parlez-Vous OPI? (pinky and middle fingers):

When I posted swatches of the new OPI South Beach Collection, readers immediately asked me if Done Out In Deco was similar or close to Parlez-Vous OPI. As you can see, they are not. Both of these colors are so fabulous! 

Finally, OPI Overexposed In South Beach (index and ring fingers) and OPI Louvre Me Louvre Me Not (middle and pinky fingers):

OPI Overexposed In South Beach is another fab color from the new OPI South Beach Collection. If you were one of those wondering if it is a dupe for OPI Louvre Me Louvre Me Not, it isn't.

That is all for today, dear readers! I'll see you back here again very soon. If I haven't thanked you lately for reading, THANK YOU! 

xoxo,

Katee

Reader Requests: Comparison Swatches Part 2

Happy Saturday!

I have more comparison swatches for you today. If you don't see your request here, do not worry, I still have more in the works.

First, OPI Miami Beet (pinky and middle fingers) and Zoya Moxie (ring and index fingers):

It was so sunny yesterday that photographing these colors was nearly impossible outside. The bright sun was really distorting the colors for me. So this pic was taken in my laundry room where I get really nice natural light from the huge window. As you can see, these two colors are extremely similar. OPI Miami Beet has a brighter appearance and Zoya Moxie is slightly dusty or muted. Both are great colors! Do you need both? That is your choice.

Essie Eternal Optimist (pinky and middle fingers) and OPI Tickle My France-Y (ring and index fingers):

Two totally different colors. The only thing they have in common is that they are nudeish shades with a creme finish. I personally prefer Tickle My France-Y but I also like Eternal Optimist and will definitely wear it. But if you already have Tickle My France-Y, and were wondering if it was a dupe for Eternal Optimist so that you did not have to buy it, well clearly it is not a dupe. Sorry ;) 

Sorry that I only have two comparisons for you today! Our weather here in the greater San Diego area has been freaking amazing for the last week or so. We have been having high temps in the low to mid 80's and it has been super sunny. When we get a streak of weather like this in January, as much as I like playing with my nail polish, I just can't bring myself to sit in the house and swatch. Our 2nd floor deck overlooks a lagoon and the ocean, and I just love to sit out there and catch some rays. My cats Cleo and Vincent usually join me outside and sit under the chairs for some shade. As I have mentioned before, we moved to California from Michigan back in July. I am not used to living in such a beautiful climate, especially in the dead of winter!

I'll have more comparison swatches soon in the next few days. Feel free to comment or email me if you have any special requests! I will also have more spring 2009 new releases to share with you.

Hope that all of you have a fab weekend and if you are in the mid-west or somewhere else chilly, stay warm! I know my fam back in MI has been getting some ugly weather. Junk.

xoxo,

Katee

Reader Requests: Comparison Swatches Part 1

Hi everyone!

Hope you all are having a wonderful day so far. My recent posting of spring collections from Zoya, Essie and OPI inspired many of you to write me and request comparison swatches. I am happy to oblige! If you do not see the swatches posted that you requested, do not fret. I will be bringing you more comparison swatches in the next week or so. As always, feel free to e-mail me (nailpolishfan@gmail.com) anytime or just leave a comment if you would like to see a comparison swatch. If I have it, I'll swatch it! If I don't, I'll let you know.

First up, we have OPI Feelin' Hot Hot Hot! and OPI Party In My Cabana, both from their new South Beach collection:

OPI Feelin' Hot Hot Hot! is on my pinky and middle fingers. OPI Party In My Cabana is on my ring and index fingers. As you can see, Feelin' Hot Hot Hot! is a bit lighter and brighter than OPI Party In My Cabana. PIMC is slightly darker and dustier than FHHH (excuse my abbreviations, I get tired of typing the long names over and over again). I prefer OPI Feelin' Hot Hot Hot! out of the two, but if you love pinks, of course they are different enough to justify purchasing both.

Next, we have China Glaze Pink Underground from the fall 2008 Operation Colour collection and Zoya Barbie from their latest collection, Twist:

China Glaze Pink Underground is on my middle and pinky fingers. Zoya Barbie is on my ring and index fingers. Both Pink Underground and Barbie are pinks with a similar magenta shimmer, only Pink Underground is darker. Personally, I prefer China Glaze Pink Underground. But again, if you love your pinks, go ahead and get Zoya Barbie even if you already have China Glaze Pink Underground.

Moving right along to Zoya Harley (spring 2009 Twist collection) and Sephora by OPI Run With It!:

Zoya Harley is on my pinky and middle fingers. Sephora by OPI Run With It! is on my ring and index fingers. Clearly you can see the difference between these too, Harley is a cool toned grey shimmer and RWI has a golden look to it. Funny, before swatching these two side by side, I always knew that RWI was a warmer grey, but I never thought of it as golden. I don't think I will ever think of Run With It as grey again.

Finally, Zoya Harley and OPI "Sheer" Your Toys!:

Zoya Harley is on my pinky and middle fingers. OPI "Sheer" Your Toys! is on my ring and middle fingers. Wow! I never thought that these two would look so similar! You can see that SYT has a bit of a more blue or steel tone to it. Both nail polishes have similar copper flecks, but the ones in Harley are finer and more of a shimmer. The copper flecks in "Sheer" Your Toys are larger, chunkier, and more noticeable. Click the picture to enlarge it so you can see what I am talking about. Again though, I am very surprised at how similar the two of these are. If you are on a low/no buy right now, I really don't think you need both of these. But if you are a grey lover, you'll probably still want both.

That wraps up this round of comparison swatches. I'll have more coming soon! 

Also, just wanted to remind all of you about my random giveaways. I am cleaning out my stash of nail polishe, the unopened ones, and you guys are going to benefit from it! Every now and then, when I am in a random mood, I am going to randomly pick an e-mail subscriber to win the unopened nail polish of my choice. If you are not an e-mail subscriber yet, you should definitely sign up. Just enter your e-mail address in the box below to subscribe.

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Ok, gotta run... talk to you all later! (it's 75 and sunny outside)

xoxo,

Katee

Laura Mercier Nail Polish: Review & Swatches

Good morning readers! I hope that everyone had a lovely weekend. 

Today I am sharing with you three Laura Mercier Nail Polishes that I just added to my collection: Champagne Wishes, Avant Garde and Caviar Dreams. Do you think that someone at Laura Mercier was watching "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" when they named these colors? I can hear Robin Leach right now saying "Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams"! LOL

First, Champagne Wishes, a pretty and shimmery white frost. Frost finish nail polishes are known to have application issues with brush stroke marks and cuticle drag and this one was no different for me. This nail color requires a very steady hand to apply perfectly. But that does not change that this is a very pretty and very wearable color. Light colors like this are not usually my thing but I will definitely reach for this color on occasions when a lighter polish color is more appropriate than a dark and vampy one. These swatches are two coats of polish and without a top coat. Just click the pictures to see them bigger if you like.

Laura Mercier Champagne Wishes Swatch (indoor artificial light):

Laura Mercier Champagne Wishes Swatch (outside sun):

Next, Avant Garde, a gorgeous and shimmery eggplant. I was surprised by the application on this one because it was also a bit uneven on me and this did not look like the kind of color that would be. It evened out for me perfectly though at three coats. I am not particularly bothered by this because I am a habitual three coater anyways when it comes to doing my own manicures. Something else that surprised me about this nail color is that Avant Garde is almost an exact dupe for OPI Lincoln Park at Midnight! Comparison swatches are also part of this review. The following swatches are three coats of Avant Garde and without a top coat.

Laura Mercier Avant Garde Swatch (indoor artificial light):

Laura Mercier Avant Garde Swatch (outside sun):

Another Avant Garde Swatch (outside sun):

Finally, I saved the best for last: Caviar Dreams, a charcoal based, green and purple shimmery duochrome. This nail color is an absolute stunner! The purple properties of this color are more visible indoors and the green properties of this color are more noticeable outside in the sun. It is so unique, I can honestly say that I have never seen anything like it before. Every fashionista should pick up this color, it is super trendy and it is fabulous for the fall and winter. I had no application issues with this nail color. The swatches are two coats of polish and without a top coat.

Laura Mercier Caviar Dreams Swatch (indoor artificial light):

Another indoor swatch:

Laura Mercier Caviar Dreams Swatch (outdoors sun):

Now that you have seen the swatches, just a pesky little issue I have with these polishes: the brush handle. Typically when you see a big, chunky handle like this, it comes off to reveal a smaller and more user friendly handle underneath (like Chanel). Well not this one; and it was not particularly easy for me to figure out how to hold it correctly. Of course I figured it out though. I will also say that I do like the Laura Mercier brush. It worked well for the size and shape of my nail beds.

Laura Mercier nail polish is available online at Laura Mercier and Sephora. They are .35 oz (smaller than OPI at .5 oz) and retail for $15 each (a little pricey for the size if you ask me). If Caviar Dreams is out of stock, do not despair, it WILL come back in stock! Do not go to eBay and pay the highway robbery, marked up prices!!

Comparison swatches of AG and LPAM:

When I said that LPAM was almost an exact dupe for AG I said 'almost' because indoors under artificial light you can see (barely) that the shimmer in AG is more silver toned than that of LPAM. You can see really see this when holding the two nail polish bottles together and it is also (barely) noticeable on the nail.

LPAM is on my index finger (screen left) and AG is on my middle finger (screen right). 

Indoors:

I can see in these first two swatches that the shimmer in Avant Garde is a little more on the silver side than that of Lincoln Park at Midnight.

Outside:

So what do you think, can you tell the difference between Avant Garde and Lincoln Park at Midnight?

Well that is all for today. Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you back here tomorrow on ELECTION DAY!! No matter which candidate you support, it is so important to vote. I look at voting as both a right, but also a privilege. So like I said, not matter which candidate you support, GET OUT THERE AND VOTE TOMORROW!!

TTFN