Ultraviolet is a bright blueish-purple crème. In some lights it looked more purple and it some it looked more blue. It’s a fun, bright color that would be great for a pedicure too! For some reason it makes me think of jelly beans

Pop Beauty Ultraviolet in sunlight

Application was good, but it took me three coats to get totally opaque coverage. It actually dried a soft matte, but I prefer my polish shiny so I added a top coat. Three coats and a top coat shown.

Pop Beauty Ultraviolet

I reviewed the first half of Zoya’s Intimate collection before Spring Break. The new quarter started yesterday, and I am finally posting the second half of the collection.

Caitlin

Caitlin is a lovely bluish gray purple crème. Is similar to Kelly from last fall but much lighter.

Application was very good. Two coats and a top coat shown.

Zoya Caitlin

Dove

Just as the name would imply Dove is dove grey crème. It is a soft, elegant spring color.

Application was very good. Two coats and a top coat shown.

Zoya Dove

Marley

Marley is a pale lilac with a subtle silvery shimmer.

Application was a bit streaky, but it mostly leveled out by the third coat. A top coat took care of any remaining uneven spots. Three coats and a top coat shown.

Zoya Marley

Overall these are beautiful choices for spring. Zoya makes some of my favorite polishes, and these don’t disappoint!

Zoya Intimate Collection

Sheesh, it feels like it has been forever since I wrote a blog entry! I have snapped a few manicure pics, but I have been really busy with school and they have not turned into blog posts At any rate, the weather has been quite spring-like here this week. I have been dying to try Intimate, Zoya’s new spring collection. So here are the first of the six new shades. I will try to get the other three up in a few days.

Gemma

Gemma is a murky greyish-blue green with a blue and dark pink shimmer. It is a really cool color! I don’t really love it on me though.

Application was very good, but a tad on the sheer side. Three coats and a top coat shown.

Zoya Gemma

Jules

Jules is a soft muted gold. I was unsure if I was going to like it or not since many golds are a bit too warm for me. This is cooler and softer though. I was surprised at how much I liked Jules! For me is a much more wearable gold.

Application was very good, but  this one was also a tad on the sheer side. Three coats and a top coat shown.

Zoya Jules

Danni

Danni is a lovely violet with a pinkish shimmer. Mmmm, this is such a yummy spring color! I love it!!! I got some other new polish today too, but this was a swatch that turned into a full manicure. The other colors will have wait a day or two

Application was excellent. Two coats and a top coat shown.

Zoya Danni

Zoya Gemma, Zoya Jules, Zoya Danni, Zoya Caitlin, Zoya Dove, Zoya Marley

Urban Decay Apocalypse

Apocalypse is one of the minis from Urban Decay’s Apocalyptic Nail Kit. It is a deep eggplant purple crème. It is a nice winter color, but not very unique.

Application was good. Two coats and a top coat shown.

Urban Decay Apocalypse in sunlight

CND Effects Copper Pearl

Copper Pearl is my second CND Effects. In November I reviewed Ice Blue Shimmer. I am looking forward to trying more of these top coats! They really change personality of the polishes you use with them. Copper Pearl over Apocalypse yielded a much warmer reddish Burgundy shimmer. Pretty!!! My husband did not seem too impressed by Apocalypse, but he loved it with a top coat of Effects.

Application was excellent. Two coats of Apocalypse and one coat of CND Copper Pearl shown.

Urban Decay Apocalypse with CND Effects Copper Pearl in sunlight

CND Effects Copper Pearl with Urban Decay Apocalypse

Priced at only $13, Urban Decay’s Apocalyptic Nail Kit is a fun holiday gift or stocking stuffer for the nail polish lover in your life (or maybe a holiday goodie  for yourself )! It looks like the kit is a Beauty.com exclusive. It contains 7 mini polishes: White Widow, Gunmetal, Apocalypse, Grunge, Meltdown, Big Bang and Fbomb.

Big Bang

Big Bang is a bright raspberry pink foil. It looks more red in photographs than it did in real life. IThis bring pop of shimmery color is just what I need for dreary overcast days! I have been wearing this one for three days, and it is holding-up quite well. I often find that foils do not wear well on me, but this one is a wear winner.

Application was good. Two coats and a top coat shown.

Urban Decay Big Bang in natural light

I will try to get swatches of the other colors soon. I also have some other well-priced kits to review as I think they would make great holiday gifts!

Urban Decay Apocalyptic Nail Kit

Previously I reviewed Nars’ Pokerface with a CND Effects top coat. Here are some pictures of this shimmery lilac beauty on her own. Although this is not a color I would associate with the holiday season, it is a beautiful breath of fresh air for fall and winter.

I took my pictures in the afternoon, and although it was sunny outside my natural light pictures came out too orange. Even though it is the same this time every year, it seems like it is getting dark so darned early! The flash picture is a pretty good representation of the color and shows off the shimmer.

Application was very good. Two coats with a top coat shown.

Nars Pokerface in artificial light with flash

Nars Pokerface

Pokerface is one of Nars’ new holiday colors. It is a lovely cool lilac with a subtle silver shimmer. I applied it while I was watching a movie with my family. I often watch tv while I polish my nails, but I didn’t do a very good job this time! I loved the color, but did not want to take a picture of the substandard manicure. It seemed like the perfect time to try my first CND Effects top coat, and see if I could save this dud mani. Fun! I really like the way it came out! I will try to post a swatch of Pokerface by itself soon, but I think it looks pretty cool with the Ice Blue Shimmer on top

Application was good (the only issues were related to poor application). Two coats of Poker Face, with a top coat of CND Effects in Ice Blue Shimmer.

Nars Pokerface with CND Effects Ice Blue Shimmer topcoat in sunlight

Nars Pokerface and CND Effects Ice Blue Shimmer topcoat

Right now I am about half way though midterms Last night I decided that I needed a cheerful, sparkling study mani. I started off with OPI’s The Show Must Go On! to match my toes. It was pretty, but I felt like it needed a little something more. I decided to try layering OPI’s Merry Midnight over it, and I was very pleased with the results! It ended up being lighter than Merry Midnight. I would describe it as a boysenberry pinkish purple with blue micro glitter and flakie glitter goodness! It is just what I needed to provide a little extra boost to my studying!

Application was very good on both. Two coats of The Show Must Go On! with a further two coats of Merry Midnight and a top coat shown.

OPI's The Show Must Go On! layered with OPI's Merry Midnight in sunlight

OPI The Show Must Go On! and OPI Merry Midnight

Lavendaring a is dusky purple crème. Lavender sure, but daring? It strikes me as a pretty “safe” color. It is pretty, but I think I will find myself reaching for more shimmers and glitters this fall

Application was a bit streaky and sheer, but was fine in three coats. Three coats and a top coat shown.

Ulta Lavendaring in sunlight

Ulta Lavendaring

Nailtini worked with Mad Men’s amazing costume designer Janie Bryant to create this cocktail themed set of nail polishes. Rather than using retro nail colors like classic red, the lush fabrics of classic cocktail gowns inspired these stunning polishes.

French 75

This rich glittering gold really does remind me of fabric. Chunky glitter and a foil base create a textile texture. Although I don’t see this as being an everyday polish for me, it would be stunning for a special occasion or the fast approaching holidays!

This polish was a bit thick, but it still went on pretty well. Two coats and a top coat shown.

Nailtini French 75 in sunlight

Deauville

Although I do own other silver foils like Orly’s Shine, this one is still worth getting. The foil texture is smoother than Shine’s, and the polish is very opaque. It is also a much brighter silver than any other silver polish I have. This makes sense since Nailtini describes it as platinum rather than silver. Deauville strikes me as quite a futuristic look. I love it!

Application was excellent. Two coats and a top coat shown.

Nailtini Deauville in sunlight

Bourbon Satin

As the name would lead you to believe, Bourbon Satin is a luxurious shimmery golden brown. Very rich looking! I look forward to wearing this color again (although my husband has indicated that he would like to swipe it for his toenails )!

Application was excellent. This one glides right on! Two coats and a top coat shown.

Nailtini Bourbon Satin in sunlight

Stinger

This beauty was the most complex of the bunch, and of course the most difficult to photograph! In the bottle the duochrome (or should I say polychrome) effect is very pronounced. It appears to be a shimmery teal/eggplant purple/red/gold. On the nail the effect is not quite as strong, but it still has a good shift from blackened teal shimmer to purple. Mmmm, it is yummy!

Nailtini Stinger in sunlight

Nailtini Stinger in shaded natural light

Every polish in the You Call It set is something I would wear again It is the perfect way to add some glamour to your fall look. This limited edition set is currently available at QVC for $20, or 360 Beauty for $25. Nailtini’s mini bottles are almost twice the size of OPI’s (7 ml vs 3.75) and the brushes feel like they are full-sized to me.

Nailtini You Call It Set