Crystal File 045: Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway at CasualLavish

Our gal-pal over at CasualLavish is sponsoring a one day only BCA giveaway of some really great haircare products.

Please visit http://www.casuallavish.com/2008/10/total-beauty-total-cure-campaign.html for additional details, and sign up before 11:59pm tonight!

Crystal File 044: OPI Brand New Skates

OPI Brand New Skates (my second installment in the Toyland collection) has to be the most beautiful metallic i've ever tried! A gorgeous dark silver metallic infused with tons of gold, silver, and multi-colored micro glitter. I absolutely love it! It is a bit on the sheer side, but with the use of Seche Vite Ridge Filling Base Coat under two coats of polish, my nail line wasn't really visible. And unlike some polishes that just go plat in low/indoor lighting conditions, this one keeps right on sparkling!











If you decide to skip most of the OPI holiday collection, please take my advice and buy just this one! You won't regret it! This is without a doubt, the most wearable metallic i have ever tried!

Crystal File 043: China Glaze Emerald Sparkle

Ready for the holidays? Have you been naughty, or nice? Got your list, checked it twice? And you have the perfect sparkly green polish for your tips and toes, right? NO?! Well, get yourself a bottles of China Glaze Emerald Sparkle right away, i wouldn't want you to miss out :)

The glorious deep emerald green base (perfectly pigmented!!) is absolutely packed with sparkling emerald green glitter. The good news is that this green is (at least in my humble opinion) truly neutral, having neither blue nor yellow tones. It offers two coats coverage with no visible nail line, but it will require a top coat for shine and smoothness.













I'm not certain yet if this color will be sold individually at retail, for now I've only seen it in the "Sleigh Ride" holiday set, which includes Ruby Pumps, and Tinsel (another new shade for the holidays). Keep an eye out for it online and in stores!

Crystal File 042: OPI Baby It's Coal Outside

My first installment from the OPI Holiday in Toyland collection, Baby It's "Coal" Outside, is certainly sparkly enough for the holiday season! I was actually expecting a shimmery charcoal (based on the color description i had read from OPI), but this is a black base with TONS of silvery-white micro glitter. In low light you'll see a tiny bit of a multi-colored effect (i saw tiny glimmers of blue and pink) but in brighter lighting the glitter is basic silvery-white. While very pretty, it is much more foily looking than i expected. Application is very smooth, and it is a nice smooth glitter finish (you won't need multiple top coats to get a smooth shiny surface, one coat will do it:).







Indirect sunlight



Shade



Close-up to show the concentrated glitter




I look forward to sharing others from this collection with you, Including Brand New Skates and Don't Toy With Me, which look to be true winners!

Crystal File 041: Essie Damsel in a Dress and It's Genius

The remaining two colors i purchased from the new Essie Winter 2008 collection. Damsel in a dress is a gorgeous vampy plum, slightly metallic due to subtle silvery shimmer. It's Genius is a mid-toned warm purple with strong golden shimmer and tiny flecks of multi-colored sparkle.

Damsel in a Dress








It's Genius








Damsel in a Dress applied well, although the formula seemed a bit thick. It's Genius was a true problem child with tons of drag marks and brushstrokes, but if you like the color perhaps it will be worth it to you. I found the entire Winter 2008 collection at Trade Secret, and eventually it will be available at other retailers such as Ulta, and online as well.

Crystal File 040: NOTD Essie Rock Star Skinny, From the Winter 2008 collection

The next installment in my chronicles of the new Essie Winter collection. Rock Star Skinny is an awful name, in my opinion, i absolutely hate it. Typing the name makes me want to barf a little, BUT it is quite a lovely color.

On the nail this polish makes me think of dark chocolate covered cherries, a very deep burgundy bordering on brown. It has a very soft metallic aspect in some lights due to subtle silvery shimmer. Application was fairly smooth, although i did find the formula a bit thick. I don't adore this one as much as Sexy Divide, but it is pretty none-the-less.

Pics are in varying degrees of sunlight, since the sun was ducking behind the clouds. I've ranged them from brightest sunlight, to least, with a brightly lit closeup at the end to showcase the subtle silvery shimmer.











I'm thinking my next installment will be Damsel in a Dress, which reminds me of OPI Lincoln Park At Midnight if it had a bit of red added. Check back soon!

Crystal File 039: NOTD Essie Sexy Divide, New for Winter 2008

Well, anyone who knows my polish tendencies also knows that i love purple polish. Purple is possibly my favorite polish color category, and i am loving all the new additions to my purple stash this season! Essie Sexy Divide has most definitely jumped right to the top of my purple favorites list. It is purple perfection in a bottle! Gorgeous shimmer, deep vampy color, and it GLOWS purple (in other words it won't be mistaken for black!). And i have to say, application was incredible. Now, on to the pics!











This collection is evidently showing up in some retail locations in advance of its November 1st release date. I found the display at my local Trade Secret, and promptly grabbed four of the colors, so i'll be sharing more of them with you soon! That is, if i can convince myself to take Sexy Divide off, which may be difficult :)