Review- Butter London Teddy Girl Nail Polish

I truly love pink nail polishes! Even more when the shade is the pretty sort of pink. Lately I've been seeing butter London nail lacquers everywhere and am really glad I had a chance to try their Teddy Girl shade, a powdery bumble-gum pink. It's my favorite color, light and soft, and reminds me of the understated, but classy and sophisticated look of a french-style manicure.  

On my first coating, it streaked just a little, maybe it was the lightness of the color, but by the second coating, the color's consistent form started to set and a solid finish was easy to achieve. It does dry evenly and rather quickly too and the overall look is soft and pretty with a light shininess. It's also nice to know that there's no formaldehyde, toluene or DBP in their formulas - just a lovely color in a straightforward and fashionable shade!

Review: Revlon's NEW Colorstay Nail Products(Spoiler: RAVE!)

 

 

"Gel-Like shine and up to 11 days of shatterproof color*.

*When worn with Colorstay™ base & top coats

Colorstay nail color formula is fortified with unique ingredients that provide high impact color and gel-like shine in fashion forward range of shades and finishes. This technology is based on a unique combination of resin and high molecular weight polymers designed to provide flexible, shatterproof color with excellent color retention and gloss."

Okay, I have to admit I was very skeptical about the claims of 11 day wear, but I'm now a firm believer!  I just removed my manicure after 10 days and it would have lasted even longer had I not gone to the beach yesterday.  Now, for a change, no one gave me this nail polish to review.  I spent my own cash on the base coat, top coat and colors of this polish that I own.  For me to rave about a product that I spent my own money on is really rare.  It has to be a super-performer, and this system definitely is.  Now I know that when you've seen it at the drugstore you've been reluctant to plop down $8.99 x 3 just to try this nail system (you really must have the base coat, the top coat and a color), but if you keep your eyes open, you'll find deals like I did such as the one at CVS two weeks ago, the entire line was buy one for $4.99 get $3 CVS bucks back (I'm unsure of the limit on the number of bottles on this sale).  So you can get away with owning this great system relatively cheap.  I currently own all of the colors I like and I brought two matching colors to get a manicure 10 days ago.  True, manicures seem to last longer when done by a professional, but come on!  10 days!  That's awesome.  And the best part, my nails are just as strong as when the polish went on, unlike when I get shellac mani's.  It comes of with ease to boot.  Search those Sunday circulars this week because I'll bet one of your local drug stores or chain stores will have a sale on these wonderful products.  P.S. Don't forget to apply two coats of each product, allowing drying time between coats or else it will not turn out correctly and it will bubble.

Review - Glamorous Cosmetics Party in a Bottle

Our perfect coverage formula creates a fast-drying, long-lasting coat. Free of toluene, phthalate and formaldehyde our Supreme Nail Polish line has soft bristles for a smooth even application.
If you wanna be with me
Baby there's a price to pay
I'm a party in a bottle
Got to apply me the right way

If you wanna be with me
I can make your wish come true
But you need about a million coats
To make the sparkles show through

With apologies to Xtina.

This nail polish is great IN THEORY but GURL. You have to put on so many coats to get those sparkle chunks (yeah, I said SPARKLE CHUNKS) out of that bottle! I think I put on like four and that was not nearly enough bling for my tastes. There are better glitter polishes than this one, so don't bother. But no better songs about being a genie in a bottle (except maybe this one).

Sultana says: This is a beautiful polish on the outside, but you definitely have to layer it on to show the sparkles. You end up with too much sparkle on one side of your nail and not enough on the other. So, no party here........super sad face!

Review- Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure

• Salon Manicure Made Simple!
• All 5 Steps of a Salon Manicure in 1 Bottle.
• Base Coat, Strengthener, Growth Treatment, Color, Top Coat.
• 9 out of 10 Salon Professionals Preferred Our Formula to the Leading Salon Brand.
• With Patented Vita-Care Technology for advanced wear, more shine, and nourishing care.
• 42 Salon-Inspired Shades.
• Toluene, DBP, and Formaldehyde free.

I love Sally Hansen polishes. They come in amazing colors, wear beautifully, and are free of those toxic chemicals that pop-up in many other nail polish brands. I tried Complete Salon Manicure in two shades; Fairy Teal, the quintessential teal hue, and Frutti Petutie, a summery pinky coral. The colors were beautiful and vibrant, but sadly this really isn't the "complete manicure" its cracked up to be. I tried using it as directed, just applying two coats and letting it dry, but my manicure lost is luster by the next day and was pretty much chipped off within two days. Also, the teal shade left a slight blue-green stain on my nails, so that may be something to watch out for with the darker colors.


The second time I used the polish, I stuck to my usual routine of base coat, two coats of color, then top coat, and when applied that way it wore beautifully all week, with no stains left when I removed it. My favorite thing is the super wide brush, it really allows you to paint most of your nail with just one stroke. So even though it didn't work well as an all-in-one manicure, I still love the easy to apply and quick drying formula, and will happily continue to use it.Sultana says: This is by far, the best nail polished I have ever had! I have the following colors:

Lagoon - which is the deepest teal color I have ever seen and I am absolutely in love with it!
Silver Lining - A very pale shimmery silvery-blue.
Ring My Shell - I gorgeous opalescent pink

Let me just say, all these colors are spectacular. However, if I had to pick a favorite it would be Lagoon. Its just so intense and pretty. I've gotten a lot of compliments wearing this color. Ring my Shell is my 2nd, the color is light but its still complimentary in its own way. My least favorite is Silver Lining. As pretty as the color was, it took too many coats to be noticeable. Then it took forever to dry because of all the layers.
This nail polish will last you a week chip free, at least. I type all day and its impossible for me to keep a manicure. With this product, I don't have to change my nail color every other day. Thanks Sally, really!

Deedlejuse Says: I have this nail polish in Beachy Keen, a lovely nude with a lot of brown to it. I do really like the color, just on my feet more than my hands. I don't know what exactly it is with me but the whole "beach nude" thing isn't rockin' my boat this year, i prefer the more pinkie or bare looks for my fingers, but my feet are a totally different story. The nail polish itself is wonderful. I'm not sure what happened to Malikah's batch, but the color i have is AMAZING. I literally could have left it at one coat and would have been happy! I did two coats (on my feet) and it has lasted beautifully for the last two weeks, and if I was super lazy I could probably leave it for a couple more weeks by the looks of things. The best part, as Sultana mentioned, is the brush. It is a fabulously wide and thin brush that all companies should rip off! (Just kidding of course, Sally get yourself a patent!) it took me all of maybe ten minutes to do the whole thing, with dry time included. I definitely suggest you go out and get a bunch of shades of Complete Salon Manicure! I love it!

Trish says: I definitely love the color - having tried it in a gorgeous, silver Pedal to the Metal 330 shade! The enamel is thick enough to look full and complete and shiny with minimal effort on my end. However, my one and only small complaint is that I strangely didn't really like the wide thick brush. Much of it is because I can be very clumsy when handling such a brush and soon found that I can make more of a mess than necessary! So all in all, I love the thick enamel and shiny silver shade - but handling the thick wide brush with a thick coat of paint took extra effort on my end. However, I'm super pleased with the color and feel that it turned out to be exactly what I wanted and very worth the effort and practice. I do highly recommend the silver shade - Pedal to the Metal #330!! Simply love it!

Movie Maven says: The color I tried was EEL SKIN. Sounds kind of gross, but is not at all gross and is KIND OF AMAZING. It's a stylish medium grey with just enough blue to agree with my cool skin tone. I agree with a couple of the girls above - the brush is kick-ass and makes the manicure super-easy. I will say that the "complete" moniker is probably an exaggeration, as mine was chipping after only a couple of days, but with a topcoat, I'm betting it would have held up a bit better. Honestly, though, the brush is so dope I'd use it just for that.

Melissa says: I tried Commander in Chic and Back to the Fuchsia and loved both of the colors. Like most of the ladies, I liked the thicker brush because it made it easier to apply and I also felt like I had greater control of the strokes. Two coats did the trick and although I was tempted to put on a top coat, I did without and my manicure lasted almost a week and I was happy with the results.

Review- NYC Expert Last Nail Polish

I'm a huge fan of New York Color nail polishes! They really are a true drugstore beauty find, deal, and steal in my opinion! I tried the NYC Expert Last Nail Polish (in a prett soft pink #175 Lingering Lingere) and love the high glossy shine, color, enamel and long wear - all for about $1 -$2 a bottle, you can't beat that! This particular line provides up to 7 days of wear and so far I'm on day 5 with no chipping in sight and the color still looks soft and pretty on. It was so easy to apply, and the fast-drying and rich enamel went on without being drippy or messy. I can easily see this as my go-to polish especially when I want to try a new nail color, or feel like experimenting with different shades, or even when I'm feeling in the need for a drugstore pick-me-up, I think I'll be picking this one up for sure! It's a definite drugstore buy and a real beauty deal!

Review - Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips

Sally Knows nails are the best accessory. Now, Sally makes it easy to get a salon effect anytime, any place. It wears like nail polish because it IS nail polish. No dry time, so you’re ready to go.

You guys.
I think I'm in love.
I saw these nail strips on some beauty blog and knew I must have them, immediately. I ran directly to the drugstore and found...that they were out of stock of ALL the prints. That was about a month ago, and between then and now I have found them in a few places, but almost every store I go to has been ransacked (again, just for the prints; the solids don't seem to move as fast). But check it: Ulta has them online! Finally, I got Kitty Kitty (the leopard-print one), which I have STILL NEVER FOUND in a drugstore.

So what these things are is like a thin strip of nail polish - sort of like a bandaid or a piece of tape, but made of nail polish - that you stick to your nail just like a sticker, then trim off. They look and feel like real polish because they are real polish. They are so, so easy to use and look SO good once you get them on. I had the houndstooth ones on last week and I literally had a conversation about them every single day, with friends, with strangers, etc. I actually found the glitter ones (I wore the gold) to be more durable than the prints (of which I tried the houndstooth, the zebra, and the fishnet), but all of them lasted far longer than my home manicures ever do. The gold looked amazing for a week and a half and I only finally took them off because my nails were growing out.

Tips for use:
- the package says to discard any unused strips in the little sealed packet (each box comes with two sealed packets). This is because the strips will dry out otherwise (which I learned the hard way). I've started keeping my extras in a little tupperware thing, so we shall see how they hold up.
- if your nails are short like mine, you can probably cut the strips in half and use one strip per two nails! Double fun!!
- the package suggests that you can "gently stretch" the strips to fit your nails. Don't bother with this. I would recommend picking a strip slightly larger than you need and trimming it, rather than attempting to stretch the things.
- although there is theoretically no wait time for them to dry, don't do anything super-strenuous to them for a couple hours after putting the strips on - I took a shower a couple hours later and one of them got chipped off a little.
- when I bought them the first time, the girl at Duane Reade was like, "ohhhhh I love these, but just put them on like one or two nails and then do the rest in black." I took that one step further and did zebra + hot pink and houndstooth + electric blue. Both were very well-received.

Yes, they are more expensive than regular nail polish, but they're about the same as a salon manicure, and they are fun and easy to use! Plus, most of the prints are too intense to wear on ALL your nails (all ten in houndstooth might be overkill), so you get plenty of uses out of one box. I love them. I even paid for them myself!

Review - Sally Hansen HD High Definition Nail Color

• 

The Color: Pure, vivid pigments with multi-dimensional color & vibrance.
The Technology: Patented formula with Real Liquid Crystals for multi-dimensional color and iridescent shine!
The Result: Dazzling, Lustrous High-Definition Color.
Available in 8 Luminous Shades! Toluene, DBP, and Formaldehyde free.

So I got this color in LCD, a hot pink sequined lovelieness that is a permanent part of my summer collection!! I absolutely love the color, unfortunately I couldn't find the color on the internet, but suffice it to say it should be!!! It is this brilliant hot pink shimmer that needs at least three coats to be as fabulous as it should be. The wear is incredible, at least three weeks without even a chip! I didn't even need to use a top coat or base coat. I have to say I would have loved it if it had taken less time to dry, but it was comparable to many other nail colors.

I love this nail color, because it is a wonderful hot pink that should without a doubt be in your Summer collection!

Malikah says: I didn't really understand the concept of "high-definition" as it applies to nail polish. I mean shouldn't they all have vibrant colors and a lustrous finish? So anyway, I tried this in Blue, a pearly sea blue shade that was really bold and fun for summer. It was so pale when I applied it that it took four coats to get the true shade. I did my nails one night and waited over an hour for them to dry before going to bed, but it was still all smudged in the morning. Overall I did like the color, the pearly finish, and it was pretty vibrant, but I'm not sure if I should chalk that up to the HD formula or the fact that I had to layer on four coats. I would say try this if you have the patience for the multiple coats and long drying time, but if you're lazy like me, stick to a quick drying, one-coat formula.

Sultana says: The color that I have which is "Laser" is the epitome of what I love. Shimmery, shiny and bold color! This color is a deep glittery blue with a hint of purple. I guess that is the HD aspect of this because it looks blue in some angles and purple in others.
As much as I love this color, the consistency of the nail polish itself makes it hard to dry. Even though the color is dark, it goes on lighter than it looks. So you need to put at least three coats to get it to look like the shade on the bottle. If you have a lot of time to dry, then it isn't so bad. I am usually in a rush when I do my nails so this didn't work out well for me. Sigh!

Melissa says: I also had LCD and was intrigued by the by the hot pink color with shimmery goodness inside. I like the luster of the polish on my feet which is almost like an opaque pink, but it is quite faint. This polish is good for a fun day at the beach, vacation or just a relaxed look. If you're wearing a polish to the office or an event, I'd recommend another Sally Hansen product. Regardless, this will be on my toes for several days!

Trish says: I tried it in a shiny watermelon-like Pink (called #11 Wavelength) and love the color! One thick coating was enough for me and the vibrant color truly stood out, complementing the summer weather beautifully! I agree some shades may take a few more coatings, but this one did just fine within one or for a more thorough manicure - two. The fun part is the shimmer and light sparkle - especially for adding that playful and flirty look for the season! Overall, I really like this polish as well as its bright pink shade and feel it's a nice go-to choice for this time year!

Review- Sally Hansen Continuous Treatment Base & Top Coat

Patented Vita-Release Technology™ Formula with encapsulated micro-tubes and Exclusive Formula with Marine Kelp continuously releases a nourishing vitamin complex.

• Base Coat: Exclusive Formula with Marine Kelp seals and smoothes nails while locking on color for up to 10 Days.
• Top Coat: Patented Time-Release Technology protects any nail color and delivers brilliant shine for up to 10 continuous days.

I'm all about streamlining my beauty regimen and getting the most out of the products I buy, and this base & top coat product makes a manicure super simple. Just brush on one coat as the base, top with the color of your choice, then finish with another coat on top. The directions say to let dry completely between coats, but this stuff dries almost instantly. It works just as well with other non Sally Hansen brand polishes, and keeps your nails stain free, even if you're using a super dark shade. It helped keep my manicure in great condition for a week, and no more juggling multiple bottles of base coat, treatment and top coat when I set down to do my nails!

Review- Shu Uemura Egerie Nail Enamel

Vivid colors inspired by a spectrum of stage light to go with rock n roll style. $18 a bottle

Looking down at my hands, I can't help but smile. I love doing the brooding inky black thing in our current 80 degree weather because it feels shocking and quasi-vampire-ish. Then there's the silver shimmer, so expertly folded into the nail color that it reads both futuristic and Studio 54 at the same time. That's no easy feat, people. In fact, it might only be possible if you are the incomparable Shu Uemura. I practically wept when I heard that the US division is not long for this Earth. Why the melodrama? Well because this company has added much to the makeup conversation over the years and their nail polish offerings are no exception. Case in point: I have had three of their old school colors for, seriously, ten years, and they are still as special, vibrant and usable as the day I purchased them. Also, in terms of the 'egerie' collection, (which has been reviewed quite favorably on this blog) the idea represents modern and fresh at its best. I mean, seriously, who uses 'spectrum of stage light' in their ad copy? (Did I mention that the two nail colors offered are pink and black which recalls many a girls' fantasy of being a prima ballerina?!) If you can get your hands on one of these bottles (the black one is called PA 010), do not hesitate.

Deedlejuse Says: I have this polish in the Bubble Gum Pink PG35. Shu Umera is famous for the notoriously difficult names, and amazingly wonderful pigments! This Nail Enamel is no exception at all! It is a mineral polish, apparently, which I don't know exactly what that means..... but it sounds good right?
Right! This polish is so opaque, two coats and it is seriously that bubble gum pink that everyone wants. I showed my hands to my co-workers the day after I'd painted them. First question? Who did your nails?!? I am not really a nail polish kind of person, though I have been getting more into it, so I'm not the best at doing my own nails. This Shu nail enamel made it easy to apply. Of course it did take FOREVER to dry. All in all it is stunning visually, easy to appy (even for dummies!) and wears very very well. I got almost a week out of it, which is to me absolutely amazing. I would say if you want a fabulous nail polish try either, I have tried both and I wouldn't give away either!

Trish says: I tried this in a really soft and lovely cotton-candy pink...a color you really can't go wrong with! I love the color and shine - it really seems to reflect light elegantly! My only complaint, sadly, is that the polish created streaks when I applied it on my nails and dried with little bubbles. Yikes! Maybe it was just this particular bottle though, because I like the nail polish so much I'm willing to give Shu another try. Such a lovely and bright color - I hope this is just an anomaly! It goes on so easily and dries rather nicely - I don't want to give up on the polish yet.

Review- Maybelline Express Finish Nail Polish 50 Second Nail Color

"Advanced Wear® anti-chip color gives tips a fresh, vivid look and lasts for days. Exclusive Control-flow™ brush dispenses the exact amount of color for a smooth, even application that resists chipping and peeling."



Oh, how I do love nail polish. But you guys have heard about my feelings on fast-dry stuff before. I'm not a huge fan. So I had fairly low expectations for this Maybelline Express Finish Nail Polish in Goody Plum Drop.* So when I was able to wear it for more than two days without so much as a chip, I was quite pleased.

First, the color: it is a delightful lavender. I don't know why "plum" is even in the name, other than that they are both shades of purple. It's slightly shimmery, and took two coats to look nice. But those two coats dried super-quick! This color is like spring in a bottle, as far as I'm concerned.

Second, the wear: I coated it with my favorite, Sally Hansen Mega Shine top coat, and it went a good four days or so with nary a chip. I was impressed; for a quick-dry, that pleased me. Overall, a fine store brand quick-dry polish!


*Me: "Goody Plum Drop"? That doesn't even mean anything. This color has nothing to do with plums, and it's not even a pun.
Roommate S: Um..."goody gum drop." Isn't it a play on that?
Me: Oh. Yes. Right.


Trish says: I love how quickly this nail polish dries, literally in less than a minute! Plus, not only does it dry easily, but the polish also lasted for almost a week for me. Pretty awesome if you're short on time, but also want a manicure that looks great and lasts! I tried it in a very Spring like pink from Maybelline's Sweet Thing collection and love the color! They have a bright assortment of blues, pinks, greens and lilac that are cheerful and fun. I would definitely repurchase this and stock up on a few of my favorite shades, as this nail polish is practical and functioning and looks great at the same time and is affordable!

Sultana says: Love it, love it & love it! Quick dry nail polishes are my thing. The only time I use regular nail polish is when I go to the salon which is rare. This literally dried as soon as I put it on. The color I have is Blushing Bride which is a very pastel pink. It looked kind of child-like on me. Not very flattering at all. However, I love this nail polish and I will buy more of them since there is a nice assortment to choose from. Another plus is that it didn't give me a hard time to come off.

Malikah says: Honestly when I saw the bottle proclaiming "50 Second Nail Color" my first thought was - yeah, sure, whatever. But really did dry almost instantly! I mean I didn't count to 50, but before I knew it my nails were perfectly dried to a shiny manicure. I tried it in a bold fuchsia shade that was gorgeous, and stayed chip free all week. You can get really get the look of a salon manicure for a fraction of the price and less than half the time with this product.

Hillary says: This polish was a pleasant surprise for me. Like my cohorts, I had all but lost faith in quick drying nail enamel. It just didn't seem like anyone had gotten it right. I now stand corrected. This polish from Maybelline stayed on for 2 days with only 1 chip before I realized I hadn't even applied a topcoat. How's that for staying power? Add to that the fact that the minty green color I got is a great dupe for Chanel's Jade polish and what more could a girl ask for? Before using this polish I had become so anti- fast drying that I was doing all of my manicures old school and waiting forever for each layer to dry, but Maybelline has restored my faith that you can have your cake and eat it too when it comes to polishes. I'm not saying that I'm going to go "all fast dry all the time", but it's really great to have the option in a pinch. Thanks Maybelline!

Review - Essie Spring Collection

Chic and modern, this dreamy coral is an artistic burst of color. $8

Essie's new Spring Collection is full of beautiful & artistic colors. These colors are exactly what Spring is about. I have the Tart deco. Its very similar to the shade of this font. It is a really pretty color that pops. Think coral mixed with pink. Its like your old pastel pink revamped. This looks great on my skin tone, but it might be one of those colors that look good on anyone's skin tone. Of course, my daughter had to try it & she loved it. I allow her to wear subtle polishes like this one & Essie makes so many of them. I love Essie because they always are coming out with new collections and keep things interesting.

Deedlejuse Says: I got the new Essie Spring Collection in "In Stitches" a bold beautiful pink that, while isn't my ideal shade for fingers in the winter looks awesome on my toesies! I have had it on now for two weeks and it is still going strong. I will say that the longevity will be quite less long on the fingers, but for me it works. I can't wait to look at all the rest of the beautiful shades. Off to my local salon to take a look!

Review- OPI Suede Nail Polish

OPI's Suede Collection brings you classic OPI shades with a trendy suede finish.

Everyone has been raving about the latest trends in nail polish, and OPI's Suede Collection lets you get two hot trends in one - the chicness of a matte finish with a slight edge from the subtle pattern. OPI's Suede collection nail polishes are definitely a high fashion look. I tried it in You Don't Know Jacques!, a silver that looks insanely shimmery in the bottle, but dries to a matte finish on your nails. It really isn't an easy look to maintain however. OPI does warn you that the polish is not long-wearing, and using top coats or hand lotion will shorten its lifespan. I have to say that this look isn't quite for me - I just can't get on the whole matte nails bandwagon, but for someone more trend focused this can be your go to Fall/Winter shade.

Hillary says: This is a great polish for those who don't mind painting their nails often (which I don't mind), however, in fairness, this nail polish comes with a little tag around it's neck telling you in advance that it will not last as long as a regular nail polish and you can't use a top coat with it (which I thought was very nice of OPI to do). That said, I am totally smitten with the matte nail polish thing. This one not only has the matte finish, it also has a "sandy" texture that makes it feel a little rough (but not rough enough to snag on things). I am not totally trendy, but I do love trying the next big thing in nail polish. The only thing that will hold this product back from becoming the new "it" polish is it's staying power. I see it popping up in fashion shoots and runways everywhere, but I don't see your average Jane being willing to fully re-paint her nails every 3 days. BTW, I tried to fill in the chips with a single coat and it chipped the same day, so that's not a viable option. I will totally be wearing this to go out on a weekend night or to a party or the like, but I can't see making it a staple color in my arsenal (as much as I love it) simply for practicality's sake. My color is a grey with silver shimmer particles called "Suzi Skis in the Pyrenees Suede". I adore it, but I only bust it out for special occasions. To sum up, if you don't mind putting in the extra effort, this stuff looks really cool, but for you low maintenance beauties, look elsewhere.

Deedlejuse says: I am as Hillary mentions above of the low maintenance variety, and I have to say I adore the look of this polish, but after having to re-apply three times in as many days I have to say I was not the biggest fan. I also love the texture and the look of the polish, as everyone above mentioned it is this cool looking suede finish which I soooo love, but the staying power is the killer for me. Oh, I forgot the other MAJOR plus for me is that it takes about 2.5 seconds to dry, for me I would definitely put up with having to reapply everyday if it took me a total of five minutes to finish the manicure!

Sultana says: I have this in Lincoln Park After Dark. Its a pretty purple with lots of shimmer. I wasn't too excited about the whole matte thing. It just didn't appeal to me. But when I put this polish on, I was blown away. I wanted it in every single color! Its so unique and shimmery (just like me). So the staying power isn't great, but hey they are honest and tell you right off the bat! You have got to love OPI! I would definitely try the other colors in the suede collection. If you like different, and out of the ordinary then give this a try.

Trish says: It's true, sadly this lovely suede-style polish doesn't last too long before it begins to chip. I'm on day three now and the tips are all pretty gone, but it's still a fun polish in a nice muted finish. I tried the rich purple shade (top left corner) and at first I didn't like the soft glitter in the polish, nor the matted finish (it looked like spray paint on my fingernails to me) but then the look really started to grow on me and now I'm pretty fond of this OPI nail polish after all! For a special night out, this is surely a nice polish for a unique and different look on the nails. However, for the short life-span be aware that the look doesn't last long, but is still a fun style to try, that is if you don't mind reapplying a couple times.

Movie Maven says: Echo, echo, echo! Yes, this nail polish doesn't last as long as other polishes. Yes, they tell you that up front. But it looks really cool, and as Deedlejuse pointed out, it dries in a FLASH. I started with a base coat, which I think maybe extended the wear by a little bit, since I haven't really had any chips, but the tips are definitely beginning to wear off. I have this in Russian Navy, which is actually an OPI color I'm familiar with, and I will mention this: the Suede version of this color is not really like the regular version of this color. The regular Russian Navy is navy with deep purple undertones; this is more of a navy/black/silver thing happening. Not to say that the color's not wonderful, it is, but if you're expecting Russian Navy with a matte finish, you might be disappointed.

Review- Pixi by Petra Nail Polish

Developed to provide a fantastic full spectrum of shades, that will withstand wear and tear. Formulated for high definition and high gloss nail colour whether it’s a natural French manicure or a sultry bright red or even a fashion forward purple!

Pixi Nail Polish in Number 17 is a tropical red, slightly opalescent hue, totally my type of nail polish. It was really inappropriate for this season, but will be super fun next summer. Not only was the shade gorgeous, but it dried super fast. Unfortunately it wasn't really durable - it started chipping the next day, and my mani was totally rugged by day 3. If you can live with having to touch up your polish every couple of days then great, but for me that was kind of a deal breaker.

Sultana says: I got this in # 10 which is Dusty Rose. I am a nail polish nut. I also like shimmery & glittery colors. This one is nice, its just not me. They call me Glitter Girl in my office for a reason! I did see that the website sells some shimmery colors. I wouldn't mind trying one of those, because aside from the color; the brand is OK. It lasted a few days and didn't chip too much.

Trish says: I'm wearing the clear and translucent pink shade - No. 2... I like that it goes on like a sheer polish but also has a light touch of color that is both soft and feminine. It's so light that even if the polish started to chip, I didn't really notice. I also used this translucent shade as a top coat - it turned my current pale pink polish into a prettier high shine and glossier finish. As the others have mentioned, the polish by itself is "okay", but with the right color and its versatility, I'm growing fond of this little bottle of pink polish.

Review- Borghese Nail Lacquer

Today's most desirable nail colors, a blend of classic with the latest fashion trends in a lavishly rich nail strengthening polish. Long-wearing hydrating stay-true color with exclusive Acqua di Vita® complex to help restore healthy moisture and Micronized Gemstones for brilliance. The innovative Duale Curve Tip brush hugs nail curves for a precision line, delivering a perfect application effortlessly. Free of Tolulene, DBP, Added Formaldehyde. Not tested on animals.

I tried this nail polish in a shimmery silver shade. It went on pretty clear with one coat, and just left a beautiful dust of silver shimmer across my nails. The polish is buildable, so you can layer it on for a full on silver effect. I also tried using it as a topcoat over another shade of polish, which was equally fabulous. The formula is amazing, it dries completely in just a few minutes and stayed chip-free for nearly a week! And the bottle is super cute and tiny, which makes it really travel friendly. This silvery shade will be go to hue for the holidays, and if you're not into glittery nails don't worry; Borghese polishes come in dozens of shades.

Sultana says: I have this in a beautiful black shade with silver glitter. I agree with Malikah, it does dry super quick. I used this on Halloween and it would work for a regular day, its just that pretty. The sparkle is high, but I am a sparkly kind of gal! It actually lasted longer than I expected. Even though it was black with glitter, it was no harder to take off than any other polishes I have. I am beginning to like Borghese!

Review- Nicole by OPI Nail Lacquer

Match any ensemble with these bright vibrant nail lacquers from Nicole, by OPI. Nicole lacquers are quick-drying and apply evenly in just one coat. DBP-Free. Toulene-Free. Formaldehyde-Free. .5 oz each.

When you think Nicole by OPI, think bold, unique colors that will wear beautifully. I tried this polish in Violet Vibe, an 80’s fabulous purple opalescent purple hue. It stayed chip-free for nearly a week, but I think the color is much more appropriate for hot summer nights than chilly autumn days. The formula is great and it comes in dozens of different shades, so have plenty of fun choosing your perfect hue!

Review - Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color

One-stroke application. One-coat coverage. Dries in 60 seconds! Perfectionist Brush™ delivers a fast, flawless application that dries to a shiny finish in 60 seconds. Available in 24 irresistible shades!

Sally Hansen, you saucy minx. You have so many items I love to put on my nails. So when I got this Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color in Jumpin' Jade, a deliciously deep bluey-emerald green, I was really excited. I saw the weirdly huge, flat brush, intended to allow you to paint your nails EVEN FASTER. I got even MORE excited. I saw the gorgeous one-coat color. I got EVEN MORE EXCITED. Then I remembered: I never use quick-dry polish. Why? Because it chips, chips, chips. And sadly, this was no exception. I used a topcoat, but apparently it wasn't enough, because my beautiful nails are chipped all to get-out after only a couple of days. Weep. I'll try again, with super-industrial topcoat, because the color and ease of application are wonderful, but the chipping makes me cry.

Review-Essie Nail Polish

Exceptional quality with a durable, chip-resistant formula has made Essie a favorite among top nail techs, models, editors and celebrities across the world. Contains No Formaldehyde, DBP or Toluene .5 oz $8.

Essie has always been my favorite polish brand. They have a shade in just about any color you can imagine, the pigments are beautiful, and it always gives my manicure a long shelf life. Essie just launched a new Summer 2009 collection with a soft palette of corals and nudes, and bright pinks and oranges to compliment the warm, fun-loving feeling of the season. I had stopped getting salon manicures done in an effort to save money, but with Essie nail polish my DIY manicure looks just like a professional one. I tried the new shade Lovie Dovie, which was kind of a flamingo pink, just a tad bit lighter. As with any Essie nail color, my manicure stayed chip-free for almost a week (until I ruined it scouring a pot with a Brillo pad). The color was really bold and shiny, but the shade of pink was just a little bit too sweet for my taste. If you love a super feminine pink hue, you'll go crazy for Lovie-Dovie, but I prefer a shade with a little bit of edge to it. Luckily I know that Essie has hundreds of amazing shades to choose from!

Deedlejuse Says: I do not know about the rest of you, but I love love Essie nail polish. I just adore all of their different shades; it says on the website they have over 200! I have a few different shades, and I love the way that each of them look. I think that it is one of the easiest lacquers to apply; I usually do two coats because otherwise it is quite transparent. I definitely notice more longevity with Essie than with some other types of nail polish. I usually get about one week out of a manicure.

Melissa Says: Getting a new Esssie polish makes me feel like a kid in a candy store. I love all of their colors and spunky names. Like the other ladies, I apply two coats for a longer stay, and yes, it does last longer than any other nail polishes I’ve tried. It also goes on smooth and gives a great shine. Plus, it dries fast too. I tried Chubby Cheeks, a coral mixed with a burnt orange/red color on my toes as I like neutrals on my hands and think that it pops nicely with my summer tan. Definitely a good choice for anyone with a darker skin tone.

Movie Maven Says: The best thing about Essie nail polish is their insane color spectrum. You would be hard-pressed not to find the exact color you're looking for when perusing their stock. I have a couple of colors (currently, I have Flirty Fuchsia on my fingers and Funky Limelight on my toes) that, with the right topcoat (I always use an acrylic one from Nailene), will last a good week with little to no chipping. The main complaint I have with Essie is that the neon colors - specifically, the neon yellow called Funky Limelight - tend to be difficult. The first time I wore it, it took three coats to even start looking ready to go, and I did four, just to be safe. The second time, I found that it does this weird bubbly thing - I think I maybe tried to do thicker coats and paid for it! But to be clear: I have only had this problem with the neon yellow, which I imagine is a difficult pigment to concoct. The other colors (all various pinks) have been delightful!

Amanda S. Says: Vote #88932473 for Essie Nail Polish! I really like this stuff. I give my nails a serious beat-down. Between doing art projects, fix-it stuff, typing away madly at work and generally putting my hands in situations of danger, my nails usually look pretty ratty and awful. Every time I use Essie, the polish doesn't chip. Seriously. We're talking, a week and a half later, no chips at all. And that's after major pounding of the keyboard etc. So I have to give the line a thumbs up for that. And on top of it all, they have some of the most innovative colors out there and a super fun selection at good prices.

Sultana says: Never judge a book by its cover!! I have this in "Not Just a Pretty Face". On the outside this color looks like a soft baby pink color. But beware, it packs a pink punch! I love Essie products. One coat will give you a nice perfect pink shade but if you want a bolder pink I would suggest two coats. I used two coats and I got a pretty shade that lasted about a week.
The great thing about Essie? Its available in nail salons everywhere but also in beauty supplies and pharmacies! What does that prove? That Essie is affordable but also salon grade. Now that's something to think about!

Trish says: I have to admit I'm an Essie newbie... I know, I know, where have I been, right?... So all I can say is that if you haven't tried this line of nail polish yet, stop reading this right now and go pick up a few bottles right away! I totally understand why it has received such well-deserved praises from my fellow team members. I tried the latest summer shade called "Cute As a Button" and let me say, it is such a fun, bright and lively coral pink that it looks amazing against any sun-kissed dark tan. Also, I really loved how easy it was to apply - no drippy messes or accidental misses outside the nails - everything goes on exactly where it should be and the strong, full enamel dries just as smoothly as well. As a result, I have a true salon looking manicure in one of my favorite bright shades. So, if you can not make it to the salon for a regular manicure, definitely stock up on a few of these bottles and you'll have a professional looking manicure anytime you need it and in pretty much any color you'd like!

Review- Nubar Nail Lacquer Three Pack

This new kit contains the popular Hieroglyphys Purple from the Cleopatra Collection, Foundation Base Coat, and Diamont Quick Dry Top Coat. Foundation Base Coat protects the nail from staining, is fortified with calcium to strengthen nails, and gives the maximum Nail Lacquer adhesion and protection. Diamont Seal & Shine Quick Dry Top Coat completely seals Nubar Nail Lacquers and nail art, thoroughly dries all layers of polish quickly, and protects your manicure for maximum wear. All Nubar nail lacquers are formulated without DBP, formaldehyde, and toluene. $19.95 for 3 0.5oz bottles.

This convenient 3-pack makes a DIY manicure super simple. The Foundation Base coat smooths the nail surface, ensuring the polish glides on easily. I was a little turned off by the rich purple shade, but turns out it was super flattering with my skin tone. I love that the hue was Cleopatra inspired (it made me feel so regal!) and the color looked absolutely perfect after just one coat. I gave it a second coat just for good measure, but it really wasn't necessary. The Diamont Quick Dry Top Coat sealed my gorgeous mani in minutes, and it stayed chip free for a week. I liked the color so much I polished my toes too, and the color is still perfect after 11 days! I did try the top coat with another brand's nail polish; the results were nice, but not as impressive as when I used it with the Nubar polish - I guess they really are formulated to work together. The Hieroglyphs Purple isn't the most summery shade, but I think it will be my go to polish for the Fall. And after hearing a lot of questionable info about the effects of formaldehyde and toulene, I also really like that this polish is free of those potentially harmful chemicals.

Review- Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer

Fast-drying nail polish colors and a quick drying top coat of the utmost speed unite to form the Dazzle Dry Quick Dry Nail System . The Dazzle Dry Quick Dry Nail System revolutionizes nail care by slicing the time it takes for a normal manicure to dry by more than half. $9 for 0.5oz bottle.

I can't live without quick drying polish. I'm notorious for doing a perfect manicure then totally ruining it because I just can't wait long enough for it to dry. Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer really got the job done. My manicure, in a bright, sunny yellow called Sahara, was completly dried within 10 minutes! The color was bold and shiny, and looked perfectly chic for summer on my short rounded nails. The only drawback was the polish didn't last too long. Within a day it started chipping, and three days later it was pretty much gone. The color was great, and it did exactly what it promised, but considering the short life span of my manicure and the $9 price tag, I would save my money.

Trish says: I tried the polish in Warm Affection pink and true to its name, I have fond feelings for this fun, bold, vibrant color! On the positive side, the nail polish does dry quickly before any real damage can be done to it. (What a proud moment of accomplishment to look at your perfectly manicured nails without any flaws!) However, sadly that moment didn't last long as Malika mentioned the nail polish does start to chip right away. I was a bit surprised at how quickly it chipped, but the color while short-lived, sure was fun while it lasted!

Review- Dazzle Dry Quick-Dry Nail Polish System Kit

"Fast-drying nail polish colors and a quick drying top coat of the utmost speed unite to form the Dazzle Dry Quick Dry Nail System - a full line of nail polish colors, a topcoat and a base coat for natural nails that deliver chic, beautiful nails in minutes." 6 piece kit- $54.00

That's right, this is a nail polish "system". But don't be alarmed. There is only 1 more step to this system than you would usually go through to give yourself a manicure and with the end product being what it is- it's worth it. Starting with bare nails, you swipe them with some "Nail Prep" on a cotton ball (note: a little goes a long way). After that, it's business as usual- at lightening speed. There is fast drying base coat, then fast drying color (you get to choose three for the kit), followed by (you guessed it) the fast drying top coat. When I'm saying "fast drying" you are probably picturing the usual quickie products that take about a minute or so to dry. This stuff dries in seconds! By the time you're doing your 10th nail, your first nail is dry. Dazzle Dry is a must-have product for night owls like myself. In the past, I would want to do my nails at midnight but I knew I would get sheet marks or smears. With this kit I can paint my nails 10 minutes before I go to bed and rest assured they'll be perfect in the morning. How well does it last you ask? Like all (and I mean all) quick dry nail products, it tends to chip quicker than traditional polish on your fingers. I had to retouch after about 3 days. But on my toes I'm on day 8 or 9 and I still don't have a single chip! That great convenience plus no chipping? My toes are singing it's praises. BTW, I might add that my nails were really weak when I painted them because I took off my Revlon False Nails in a hasty manner, so the condition of my nails may have hastened the chipping explaining the difference between my fingers and toes.

Amanda S. Says: I am every manicurists nightmare. I'm one of those jittery hyper people that never stops tapping their fingers or bouncing their foot around. I can't hold still. So when I get a manicure, the idea of not moving my hands or feet for 15 minutes to totally dry everything makes my skin crawl. I start to get antsy and inevitably, almost every time, I smudge the polish. OK, so I decided to try this jazzy little system, and WOW, it dried before I even stood up and went to get a glass of water!!?!?!? I've never had any polish dry this fast, ever. So if you're antsy like I am and hate waiting, this stuff is completely awesome.