Home / Tag: Spring 2010

Spring 2010

FEATURED - Saturday, January 2nd 2010

Chanel Spring 2010: Les Impressions De Chanel

Product: Les Impressions De Chanel Collection, Nail Lacquer .40 oz

Price: $23.00/ea

Steph's Rating:

Buy it: Chanel, Chanel Counters, Nordies

This Spring, the Les Impressions de Chanel collection brings us a palette of three neutral nail lacquers ranging from sheer pink and classic nude to a grayed out muddy brown.

Let's get to the swatches, shall we?

Tendresse is a soft pink that's your typical spring shade. Tendresse may not be completely sheer like most neutral pinks. You can get by with three coats for decent coverage and four coats for full coverage. 

Chanel describes Particuliere as a grey creme, which is a little misleading. It fits into the mushroom/taupe/brown category. All you need is two coats to get the job done - the pigmentation is fabulous. If you're into mushroom shades right now, this is definitely worth the splurge.

I have some bad news for your pocketbooks. Particuliere does not have an exact dupe. It falls somewhere between OPI's Over the Taupe and Avon's Nocturnal. OPI's leans towards a mauvey-brown and Avon's is much darker like You Don't Know Jacques.

Edit: I've had a lot of questions regarding Essie's Mink Muffs and Orly's Prince Charming as close dupes. Just to clarify, both colors are much darker than Chanel Particuliere. Check out another comparison of Mink Muffs. 

Inattendu is a classic nude-beige cream with peachy undertones. A nice Au Naturel with good coverage, but not for me.

Overall, a nice selection of neutrals for Spring. Particuliere is the standout color from Les Impressions. Inattendu and Tendresse are nice, but can easily be duped. if you're looking for flesh or mannequin type shades, Essie has a good variety to choose from.

Does Particuliere live up to your expectations? Are you picking up any shades from Les Impressions? Have a wonderful Saturday!  

FEATURED - Sunday, January 3rd 2010

Sneak Peek: Barielle A Bouquet for Ava

Collection: Barielle A Bouquet for Ava, Nail Lacquer .5 oz

Retail Price: $8.00/ea

Steph's Rating:

Buy it: Barielle - Available in February

Shades by Barielle blooms into Spring with six floral themed hues to the Wildflower Collection.  This release includes Blossom - an opaque peach, Snapdragon - a metallic sea foam green and Darling Dahlia - a deep fuchsia with a hint of silver metallic.

Three additional colors pay tribute to women close to Barielle who are still battling breast cancer. A Bouquet for Ava - a cool caribbean blue, June Bug - a teal with fuchsia glitter and Myrza's Meadow - a light lime green with silver glitter.  100% of the proceeds from A Bouquet for Ava, June Bug and Myrza's Meadow will be donated to The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund when purchased at ocrf.org.

Today I'm bringing you a sneak peek at the stunning, A Bouquet for Ava, created by Elle.

A Bouquet for Ava is a refreshing breath of caribbean air. It's a deep, cool blue that's perfect! This leans towards teal a bit, but not a dusty teal like Misa's Dirty, Sexy, Money. Spectacular and unique!

As far as dupes, Barielle's is darker and more teal compared to ChG Shower Together. 

And for the Polka Dot lover!  

Barielle's Blossom paired up with A Bouquet for Ava makes a great combination for Spring.

What do you think of A Bouquet for Ava? Are you excited about Barielle's upcoming Wildflower Collection?

Enough teasing, are you guys ready for some swatches?

Full Disclosure: The following product(s) was provided to Steph's Closet by the manufacture and/or PR company for consideration. 

FEATURED - Wednesday, January 6th 2010

Nubar Prisms Collection: Swatches, Review

Product: Nubar Prisms Collection, Nail Lacquer .5 oz

Price: $59.95/kit or $9.49/ea

Steph's Rating:

Buy it: ByNubar

Inspired by the colorful play of light through a prism, those bands of light and color are embodied in nubar’s new Prism Collection. Each shade is filled with holographic glitter reflecting every color of the rainbow.

Last Summer, Nubar made our Dreams come true with a collection of eco-friendly greens. For winter, they fulfilled our sweet cravings with decadent Chocolate Truffles. Now, it's Holo-ific for Spring - Yes, Double Yes!!

Nubar introduces eight holographic glitters ranging from subtle neutrals to vivid pink to pale blue. We have a couple different types of textures in the Prisms collection. Some are smooth and fine, while others have large and chunky glitter. Either way, all colors are non-gritty to the touch. 

Like most Nubar polishes, application and formula was pretty good. My average coats varied between two and three with the exception of Absolute.

Check out the swatches.     

Absolute is a semi sheer, baby blue with fine holographic glitter. Even though this is somewhat sheer, it's a great alternative to OPI's pale Blue Lagoon. Very nice!

Gem is very interesting...Is it Grey or is it Pink? Well, a little bit of both. Described as duochrome-like, mauvey grey with medium holo glitter.

Brillant is a light pink with fine holo glitter. Another semi sheer, three coats for good coverage.

Prize delivers a punch! Boom, right in your face holo-tastic. A ruby red-pink filled with massive chunky glitter.

 

Spark is a neutral tan beige with fine holo glitter.

 

A girl can never have to many purples! Treasure is a light purple with fine holographic glitter.  

 

Essence is a peachy pink with fine holo glitter. Nice, but nothing special...Moving on.

Jewel is one of my favorites from the collection. A little bit of charcoal, brown and taupe with chunkier holo glitter. Fabulous!

Will you be purchasing any of Nubar's Prisms Collection? What are some of your faves? Have a wonderful night!

Full Disclosure: The following product(s) was provided to Steph's Closet by the Manufacturer or PR company for consideration.

FEATURED - Saturday, January 9th 2010

Shades by Barielle: Wildflower Spring Collection

Product: Barielle Wildflower Collection, Nail Lacquer .5 oz

Price: $8,00/ea

Steph's Rating:

Buy it: Barielle starting in Feb, ocrf.org.

Happy Saturday Divas! After all this snow, I know I'm ready for Spring. And Shades by Barielle celebrates with six stylish colors to look forward to.

Last week you saw a sneak peek at the gorgeous, A Bouquet for Ava. Today I'm bringing you the remainder of The Wildflower Collection, starting with the shades that benefit The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund created by, Elle.

Celebrity Manicurist and Barielle's Creative Director Elle says, "It means so much to develop a collection that hits so close to home with women affected by ovarian cancer. Having my best friend pass away from the disease, I feel honored to be part of something that gives back."

Let's jump to the swatches, shall we?  

June Bug is a grayed-out blue with subtle shimmer and fuchsia glitter. The combination of pink glitter and blue shimmer is fab!. Two coats for full coverage; dries to a non gritty finish.

Myrza's Meadow  is a semi sheer, light lime green with silver holographic glitter. Even though the holographic effect is mild, it's a step in the right direction. I would love to see more holo's from Barielle.

A Bouquet for Ava is a cool, caribbean blue creme with a touch of teal. 

100% of proceeds from June Bug, Myrza's Meadow and A Bouquet for Ava will be donated to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund when purchased through ocrf.org. How incredibly cool is that? A 100%! If you're interested in these colors, I encourage everyone to call and order. The retail cost is $8.00 and phone number is (212) 268-1002. Free Shipping and it's for a great cause!

Having fun with A Bouquet for Ava and Blossom. 

Blossom is an opaque peachy creme. The color is pretty... very spring and summery. Since the formula was a bit on the thick side, I had application issues. Just be sure to apply in thin coats to avoid streaking.

Snap Dragon - is a frosty sea foam green metallic. Love the fresh green... but me and metallics never seem to get along.

Darling Dahlia - is a fuchsia with shimmer. The base is a jelly like berry with extremely subtle shimmer. Application was good with three coats.

Overall, Great Collection! A fun, refreshing mix of Spring colors that benefit a good cause. As always, Barielle's formula is Big 3 Free.

Do you like this collection? What are some of your favorite colors? Have a wonderful weekend.

Full Disclosure: The following product(s) was provided to Steph's Closet by the manufacturer or PR company for consideration.  

FEATURED - Friday, January 15th 2010

MAC in Lillyland Collection: Coconut Ice, Steamy

Product: MAC in Lillyland Collection, Nail Lacquer .40 oz

Price: $12.00/ea

Steph's Rating:

Buy it: MAC, Macy's, Nordies

"When MAC meets the lore and legend that is Lilly Pulitzer, you get a fabulous and funky fun new chapter: a bit of Mar-a-Lago, some well-to-do winky-wink, and a dash of retro-modern pop culture mayhem in prints and colours that make it hip to be in permanent happy land!

MAC Cosmetics newest collection, MAC in Lillyland launches with two fresh and colorful Nail Lacquers for Spring. Steamy, a permanent color, is a hot pink creme and Coconut Ice, limited edition, is a peachy sorbet treat.

Check out the swatches.

Coconut Ice is a yummy confectionary sweet made from coconut, sugar, eggs, and milk. Depending on the food coloring, it can range between a whitish/red or pink tint.

MAC represents Coconut Ice in the Lillyland collection as a bright peachy-pink creme perfect for Spring and Summer on those tootsies.

Do we really have to talk about the formula... because I'm so bummed with a capital B? Gorgeous shade, but the application was troublesome. No matter what method I tried, I couldn't get away from streak lines.

Check out some comparisons below. 

Coconut Ice is brightened, less pastel and more pink compared to MAC's Seasonal Peach. A good alternative is Barielle's Blossom, which leans towards peach.

Steamy is a MAC core line shade, described as a hot pink creme.

Are you feeling Coconut Ice? Did you pick up anything from MAC in Lillyland Collection? Have a wonderful Friday! TGIF!

FEATURED - Sunday, January 17th 2010

OPI Alice in Wonderland Collection for Spring

Product: OPI Alice in Wonderland Collection, Nail Lacquer .5 oz

Retail Price: $8.50/ea

Steph's Rating:

Buy it: TransDesign, Professional Salons

When January and February find you buried in a mountain of cupids and hearts, OPI and Disney will take you Underland to a world of wild imagination and color!

This Spring, OPI and Disney celebrates the remake of Alice in Wonderland, directed by Tim Burton, with a limited edition collection of four new nail lacquers. Absolutely Alice and Mad As A Hatter - magical glitters for your fun side, and Off With Her Red and Thanks So Muchiness - classy, powerful reds for your romantic side.

Glitter lovers, you are going flip for these glistening gems... They are fab! We all know fame comes with a price tag, and in this case it's the removal process. Let acetone be your friend. 

Check out the swatches!

Just looking at Absolutely Alice makes me smile. The blue glitter with flecks of gold sparkles to your little heart desires. She's intoxicating, breathtaking and just has that wow factor.   

Based on OPI's description I was expecting Mad As A Hatter to be more blackened. Even though the multi-colored glitter is in a clear base, the overall color leans towards silver.

Off With Her Red - is a reddish orange creme. I'm not a big fan or reds, but the orange undertones gave this one a kick. It falls along the lines of a harvest red. 

Thank You So Muchiness - is a red shimmer with subtle, pink glitter flakes. In my second swatch, you can slightly see the chunky flakies.

All in All, Great Collection! Absolutely Alice and Mad As A Hatter are the star attractions. The application and formula was decent with 2-3 coats for good coverage. If you're interested in any colors, make sure you grab them quickly - the glitters are more than likely to sell out.

Did you pick up anything from OPI's Alice in Wonderland Collection? Are you planning to check out the movie in March?

FEATURED - Thursday, January 21st 2010

Nina Ultra Pro: Crushed Velvet Collection

Product: Nina Crushed Velvet Collection, Limited Edition Nail Lacquer .5 oz

Retail Price: $3.49/ea

Steph's Rating:

Buy it: Sally Beauty Stores

Last week when I stopped by my favorite beauty store to pick up some nail gel, I stumbled across a sweet, limited edition collection from Nina Ultra Pro that caught my eye.

The Crushed Velvet Collection introduces six, hi-gloss metallic nail lacquers laced with stunning flecks of gold shimmer. For the most part, each color is well pigmented and has a foil-y metallic finish. With the exception of Vintage Velvet, all shades applied smooth with two coats.

Are you ready for some swatches?

Vintage Velvet - is a gorgeous green metallic with flecks of gold shimmer. 

Velveteen Rabbit - is a mixture between a white gold and bronze metallic with flecks of gold shimmer.  

Viva La Velvet - is a red metallic with with flecks of gold shimmer. 

Velvet Underground - is a purple grape metallic with gold shimmer flecks.

Velvet Revolver was the only color from the collection that has a true metallic finish without flecks of gold shimmer. You'll notice in my swatches, the streak lines are more visible compared to the others.

Velvet Seas - is a blue green metallic with flecks of gold shimmer. 

And for the Matte Edition starring Essie's Matte About You. 

 

Overall, Great Collection for the metallic or foil lover. Nina Ultra Pro polishes are Big 3 free of toxic chemicals. Nice variety of colors, smooth application and reasonably priced for the budget savvy diva.  

My favorites: Velveteen Rabbit, Velvet Seas, Velvet Underground and Vintage Velvet.

How do feel about Nina Ultra Pro polishes? What are some of your favorite colors from the collection?

FEATURED - Thursday, February 18th 2010

Nubar Sparkles Collection for Spring

Product: Nubar Sparkles Collection, Nail Lacquer .5 oz

Retail Price: $49.95/kit or $7.49/ea

Steph's Rating:

Buy it: Online @ Nubar

Big 3 Free: Yes, Cruelty Free and Vegan!

Add some glitz and glamour to your wardrobe this season with the Sparkles Collection. The fine glitter texture provides full coverage in two to three coats, and available in eight dazzling colors.

After a record breaking week of that fluffy white powder, a fresh dose of Spring air is in order, wouldn't you agree? Nubar celebrates with another fun lovin' collection of eight colorful glitters.

As far as the formula, we have a couple different variations. Night Sparkle and Fire Sparkle are the only two colors in a "not so jelly" texture. It's more like a tinted satin and the glitter isn't as brilliant compared to the others, which are in a clear base.

Just a small disclaimer before we get started. All my swatches were taken indoors with a flash and artificial lighting. As soon as we get some sun here, I'll get better pictures.

Night Sparkle - is a deep blue glitter in a matching base. Since the base has a nice tint, Night Sparkle can easily be a two coater.

Oh man, Violet Sparkle is extremely pretty! It's a violet purple glitter in a clear base that flashes a bit of pink or magenta in certain lights. A must have!

Meadow Sparkle - is a light green glitter in a clear base.

Star Sparkle - is the only holographic based glitter from the Sparkles Collection. It's described as a silver glitter in a clear base. This would look fab layered over any nail color too.

Hyacinth Sparkle - is a lavender glitter in a clear base.

My swatches do absolutely nothing for Petunia Sparkle. It's a gorgeous magenta glitter in a clear base. This is another one of my faves up there with Violet Sparkle.

Sky Sparkle, sadly, is the only four coater from the group. It's a bright turquoise blue that resembles Massini or Color Club's Sexy Siren. 

Fire Sparkle - is a vibrant and saucy red glitter in a matching tinted base just like Night Sparkle.

My favorites: Violet Sparkle, Petunia Sparkle, Star Sparkle and Night Sparkle.

Overall, A great collection for glitter lovers! Not exactly two coaters as they claim to be. On the average, most colors were opaque in three coats, which is still pretty good considering. If you can get past the stubborn removal, you'll love these!

Did you guys pick up any colors from the Sparkles Collection? What are some of your faves?

Full Disclosure: The following product(s) was provided to Steph's Closet by the Manufacturer or PR company for consideration. 

FEATURED - Saturday, January 30th 2010

Preview: Color Club Who Are You Wearing

Happy Saturday! How is everyone enjoying their weekend so far? This morning Mother Nature came knockin' at my door and left a load of white stuff we all love (ha, ha). .  But I'm ready to move on to Spring, aren't you?  So let's start with a preview from Color Club's newest collection called, Rebel Debutante.

Who Are You Wearing is one of nine new colors from Color Club this Spring. Hmm... How do we describe this one? A little bit of white, beige and lavender combined in a semi sheer, creme formula.

Since the formula was a bit sheer, I did have some application problems. The first two coats applied rather streaky, but I was able to even things out with the third. Nonetheless, I love the color and was determined to make this work. It pops with tan or darker skin tones!

Check out a comparison below. 

 

Who Are You Wearing falls somewhere between Light Affair and Lavender Cloud. Not as beige as MAC's and not as stark as Sally's.

Having some polka dot fun with the collection colors!  

What do you guys think of Who Are You Wearing? Stay tuned, I'll be posting the reminder of Rebel Debutante in a couple days!

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