I have been loving all of the fun gradient manicures I have been seeing on other beauty blogs, so I grabbed some make-up sponges and decided to give it a shot. I was thinking of a Cartier rolling ring when I picked these colors, but on my nails I am reminded of candy corn more than jewelry It’s a bit more subtle than I had hoped it would be. I think I need more contrast between the colors. Perhaps using a black base? Having said that this particular mani was also a bit photo shy. I think it looked much better in real life!

Orly's Rage, Luxe and Shine in natural light

Numerous coats and a top coat shown (since I sponged them on, and then did some touch-up work I am not sure exactly how many coats are in the final result).

Orly's Rage, Luxe and Shine in natural light

This year for Christmas my husband gave me a number of goodies from my wish list, but he also surprised me with some fun nail stuff. I recently organized my nail polish and labeled items that were “swatched,” “untried,” etc. He checked my nail polish bins and blog to determine what I didn’t already have, so he could decided what to get. He was right I didn’t have them, and I was so touched. I loved the research and thought that went into the gift! I managed to break my thumbnail pretty badly yesterday (and attempted a repair), so hopefully I will still have have length to my nails. However even if I end up trimming my nails all the way down, my sappy self is cheered by my sweet husband. I still wish I was a bit less clumsy though!

I am hoping to try my hand at a bit of frankening in the coming year. It seems like the glitter is going to make a huge mess, but it sounds like fun!

My Christmas nail goodies

Recently I tried to rescue a bad manicure by applying a glitter polish on top. Maybe I was just in a bad mood that day, but even with the addition of Color Club’s Sugar Plum Yum I still hated it. Every time I ran my fingers through my hair the chunky glitter  pulled my hair. Uggh! I had to get it off right away, and boy was it a pain to remove! I was a bad blogger though, and did not even snap a picture. After the fact I realized that I should have at least gotten a picture. I decided I should try it again, but I did not want to remove the Sugar Plum Yum from 10 fingers. I decided to try a different base color and just do glitter on an accent nail. For the base I used Color Club’s Lumin-Icecent which is an icy blue foil finish polish. Sugar Plum Yum is a scented polish for the holidays. It is a clear base with green glitter, and larger bluish-purple hex glitter. I thought this combo was pretty cute, and the chunky glitter looked a bit like bubbles I have to say I did not like the smell though. Scented polish sounds like a fun idea, but to me Sugar Plum Yum smells like one of those scented markers gone bad. The scent was barely noticeable after a while, but I would have liked the polish much better without it.

Color Club Lumin Icecent and Color Club Sugar Plum Yum in sunlight

Application on Lumin-Icecent was excellent, and Sugar Plum Yum applied very well for such a chunky glitter. I would rate its application as good to very good.  Two coats of  Lumin-Icecent with a top coat and two coats of Sugar Plum Yum on the accent nail (I also used top coat over the Sugar Plum Yum).

Color Club Lumin Icecent and Color Club Sugar Plum Yum

After a string of overcast days, the sun peeked out. I wanted to do something fun with some major sparkle

Worth the Risque

Worth the Risque is a bright silver holo.

Application was very good, and this polish dries quickly. I used a base coat, so I did get some bald spots with the first two coats. The polish was totally opaque in three coats. Three coats and a top coat shown.

Color Club Worth the Risque in sunlight

Revvvolution

Revvvolution is a beautiful black holo. Yummy!

Application was very good. I used a base coat, but this color did not have the same bald spot issue. I had excellent coverage in two coats. Two coats and a top coat shown.

Color Club Revvvolution in sunlight

Color Club Worth the Risque and Revvvolution (with flash)

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

I am celebrating 100 Followers on Google Friend Connect! Thank you for reading my blog! To celebrate I am giving away:

- OPI Burlesque Red Shimmers minis set (includes 0.125 oz. bottles of The Show Must Go On!, Let Me Entertain You, Ali’s Big Break and Tease-y Does It)

- MAC Bad Fairy

- Nailtini’s Mad Men inspired “You Call It” Mini Bar set (includes 0.25 oz. bottles of French 75,  Burbon Satin,  Stinger and Deauville)

OPI Burlesque minis set, MAC Bad Fairy, Nailtini You Call it set

Nailtini French 75, Nailtini Burbon Satin, Nailtini Stinger, Nailtini Deauville

The sun is proving elusive today, so I only have one quick shot of the Nailtini set. These beauties deserve full swatches, so time and sun willing I will add them later this week. Stinger is especially stunning. It is a blackened teal green/purple shimmer duochrome. YUM!

Each polish/set is new in box.

To Enter:

There are several ways to enter.

1. Follow me on Twitter and retweet the following: Follow @PlayWithPolish and RT to win OPI, MAC and Nailtini nail polish!  http://tiny.cc/wubs8

2. Follow my blog using Google Friend Connect

3. Follow my blog using NetworkedBlogs (at the bottom right side)

4. Be a friend on Facebook (Playing W. Polish)

5. Blog about my giveaway, or put in on your blog’s sidebar

6. Put www.PlayingWithPolish on your blogroll

Each counts as one entry, with a total of six possible entries per person. Please comment and tell me which method(s) you used, and the name(s) you follow under. I also need an email address to contact you if you are the winner.

The deadline is October 11, 2010 at 5:00 PM Pacific.

I will choose one randomly selected winner on October 12, 2010 and notify them via email. Please respond within 72 hours, or I will select another winner. My contest is open to anyone (except my family of course).

Good luck!

Vintage Vixen is China Glaze’s collection for fall 2010. There are a dozen colors, but I only bought six of them (so far anyway). I love the change of seasons from summer to fall (even though I live in Northern California where the seasonal changes are more mild than in many other parts of the world). I am looking forward to some gorgeous and glamorous fall colors!

Classic Camel

A shimmery golden tan/yellow that reminds me of honey mustard. I am sure this would be a unique and cool color on someone, but I really hate it on me!

Application was good. For some reason the texture reminded me a bit of mustard too. It made me feel like I might actually be spreading mustard on my nails. Three coats and a top coat shown.

China Glaze Classic Camel in sunlight

China Glaze Classic Camel with honey mustard

Ingrid

A medium brown with a golden shimmer. I wasn’t expecting much, especially after trying Classic Camel. This color was a pleasant surprise! In fact I really like it! This polish strikes the perfect note for fall!

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

China Glaze Ingrid in sunlight

Hey Doll

A brownish-rose colored shimmery metallic frost. I thought I was going to like this more than I actually did. It is a pretty color, but something about it is a bit boring. A bit old lady perhaps?

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

China Glaze Hey Doll in sunlight

Bogie

A brownish-eggplant purple with the same shimmery metallic frost finish as Hey Doll. This one is much prettier on me though! The blue shimmer really adds a wonderful dimension to this color!

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

China Glaze Boogie in sunlight

Jitterbug

A lovely gunmetal foil. It was difficult to get a crisp focused picture that really showed how shimmery this color is.

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

China Glaze Jitterbug in sunlight

First Class Ticket

A blue leaning purple with a ton of blue shimmer. It’s yummy! I am generally a big fan of purple nail polish, and this one is a great addition to my collection!

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

China Glaze First Class Ticket in sunlight

Although not all of them look great on me, overall these are great fall colors! I am especially looking forward to wearing Boogie and First Class Ticket. I may even pick-up a few more Vintage Vixen shades.

China Glaze Classic Camel, China Glaze Ingrid, China Glaze Hey Doll, China Glaze Boogie, China Glaze Jitterbug, China Glaze First Class Ticket

Twilight is one of three polishes from Nubar’s new Night Sky Collection. I know matte polishes have been a big trend for the past few years. As a lover of all things sparkly, I have ignored them for the most part. I am glad I decided to give Twilight a chance! Although it is not really my thing, I think it looks pretty cool!

Twilight is a silver matte polish with a suede type finish. It can be worn either with or without a top coat (the Night Sky set is sold with Diamont Quick Dry Top Coat). I think the texture looks better without one though.

Nubar Twilight without a top coat

Nubar Twilight in artificial light

Nubar Twilight in sunlight

Nubar Twilight with a top coat

Nubar Twilight in artificial light

Nubar Twilight in sunlight

Application was excellent with a fast drying time, and opaque coverage in two coats. First two pictures are  without a top coat, and the second two with.

Nubar Twilight

Orly Foil FX is a collection for spring 2010. I don’t associate metallic colors with spring, but hey they are stunning so who cares? Initially I only bought Rage since I love rose gold, and figured that the other two a gold and a silver were a bit boring. A rose gold polish struck me as being more unique. In indoor lighting Rage is pretty, but in sunlight it really comes to life with dazzling sparkle goodness! I had to go back and get the other two as well.

Orly Rage in artificial light

Orly Luxe in artificial light

Orly Shine

All three of these have a lovely foil finish that really dazzles in the sun! Application was a breeze, and this polish dried quickly.

Orly Rage wearing my rose gold necklace

Orly Luxe

Orly Shine

I was racing to beat incoming rain, so the Shine picture did not benefit from as much sun as the other two colors.

Orly Rage in sunlight

Orly Luxe in sunlight

Orly Shine in sunlight

Two coats shown without a top coat.