OPI Lincoln Park after Dark

Good afternoon, readers!!

Easter is finally, here!! I have no classes tomorrow (Thursday), which means that my Easter break has started!!!! My family and I are having a road trip Friday morning (we're leaving at 3 AM) and we'll be leaving for Washington D.C to visit some aunts and uncles. I'm in a big need of retail therapy... so can't wait for that!

I don't know why I waited until spring to try this color on.... It seems like it would be perfect for those long winter days, no? I always like to wear vampy during the winter...

But anywho, Lincoln Park After Dark is a gorgeous dark blackened plum creme. For some reason, this color reminds me of blackberry pie.. hmmmm

Have a GREAT weekend, everybody!

OPI Ate Berries in the Canaries

This is Ate Berries in the Canaries from OPI Spain Collection. It's a surprisingly bright color-for a fall collection, but I like it! This was 2 coats. The color captured is not accurate: it's much brighter in real life.. I'd describe it as a pink fuchsia, a bright purple-ish pink or a berry pink.

Here's a swatch color from Wikipedia that I think is pretty true to what Ate Berries looks like:

(it's called 'Hollywood Cerise' apparently)

Miss K's first Spongicure!!

Alright, so I'm pretty sure you guys are all pretty much tired of seeing my 'unicolored' nails, so I got something different for you today.

My friend (Miss K) just received a sponge to do nail art. She's been waiting and talking about it for so long, I'm glad she finally got it! Here's a first try!

Cute, no? She didn't really like it all that much and REFUSED to let me see her nail in real life.. lol.

Orly Enchanted Forest

Alright I know you guys have probably seen this one a thousand times, but here's my swatch. Enchanted forest is a rich deep green creme. It's so gorgeous! It's not too dark so you can definitely tell that it is green. LOVE this!

China Glaze For Audrey

Hey readers!!
I'm so sorry I haven't responded to any comments, but thank you so much for taking the time to write something :) .

I have great news!! The place where I worked last summer called me back! Yay! I can finally plan a mega polish haul!

A beautiful turquoise inspired by Tiffany blue. It's truly scrumptious! (sorry, I just watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, couldn't help myself!). Seriously, though, it's really nice and really fresh! Perfect for Spring/Summer! Application was flawless, too!! This was 2 coats.

For Audrey is still available at TransDesign and 8ty8beauty

MAC Wham Bam Glam Swatch and Comparison

Quick swatch for you guys today! I just got this from the MAC Store!! I bought Wham Bam Glam matte polish from the Riveting Collection, which also includes Studded and Black Enough. My intentions were to get Studded, a light silver matte with 'pearls', but since I really wanted to test MAC's matte formula and Studded was sold out, I went with Wham Bam Glam :)

Here it is, over a basecoat (Nubar Nu Nail)! MAC's web-description is very much what this polish is, a cool dark taupe. Application was alright, just like any other matte nail polishes, the formula is a bit on the thicker side, so you have to work with it carefully. Drying time was normal, to as fast as my OPI suedes, but still in a reasonable amount of time.


Pinkie: Sephora by OPI Metro Chic Matte
Ring: OPI You Don't Know Jacques + Essie Matte About You
Middle: OPI Over the Taupe + Essie Matte About You
Index: MAC Wham Bam Glam

I did a quick comparison of WBG with other taupe polishes I had. The closest match - almost a true match - was OPI You Don't Know Jacques topped with Essie Matte About You top coat. The color was so similar, I actually think that if you have YDKJ and MAY, you don't need Wham Bam Glam: you won't need to worry about having ridges as the formulas are much easier to work with.
[Note: I do not own You Don't Know Jacques Matte, so couldn't do comparison!]

All in all, I would say that if you intend to pick up a MAC matte nail polish, get Studded!! It's really the only one that stands out from the three. This retails for $14.50CAD and $12 USD!

Blue Comparison

Index and ring fingers: Orly Cashmere Cardigan
Middle and pinkie: China Glaze Secret Periwinkle.

The two are similar, but Cashmere Cardigan is noticeably more on the purple side, and Secret Periwinkle is more blue.

Pinkie: China Glaze Sky High-Top
Ring: OPI Teal the Cows Come Home
Middle: OPI Sea? I Told You!
Index: Zoya Tallulah

The two OPIs look very much alike. Sea? I Told You! is slightly darker than Teal the Cows Come Home, and is more of a true blue than the other, which leans more toward teal (surprise, it says it in the name). The real difference, I think, lies in the shimmer. Sea? I Told You! is filled with medium blue microglitter while Teal the Cows has silver microglitter. You can enlarge the pictures to have a closer look!

China Glaze Secret Periwinkle

Another periwinkle blue creme!! However, unlike Orly Cashmere Cardigan, this one is more blue than lavender. Equally gorgeous!

OPI Sea? I Told You!

Sea? I Told You! is from the OPI Summer 2009 SUNbelievable Collection.

Sorry for the big smudge on the middle finger! I was too lazy to clean it off and redo it :)
This one is pretty similar to Teal the Cows Come Home... I'll do a comparison picture later.
The formula was a bit sheer, 3 coats were applied, but it was still not quite opaque yet.

Zoya Tallulah

From the Summer 2009 Ooh-La-La collection.

Zoya Tallulah is a bright blue shimmer. Such a nice summery blue, isn't it?

I really like Zoya's formula it's very easy to apply. I also like the variety of colors they have. Unfortunately for me, I can't find it anywhere in Montreal. They're supposed to be sold at Trade Secrets, but mine don't have it (cries) and they don't ship to Canada!! Not fair :(

OPI Teal the Cows Come Home

Teal the Cows Come Home is a teal-ish blue shimmer. This was 2 coats, without top coat. I think it would've been better with another coat, as the formula was a bit sheer.

Essie Shelter Island and Orly Cashmere Cardigan

Another blue from Essie North Fork Collection.

Essie Shelter Island

Orly Cashmere Cardigan

This is one of my favorite! A beautiful periwinkle blue creme, though it leans more towards lavender than blue. Very pretty and very nice application.

China Glaze Sky High-Top

From the Summer '09 Kicks Collection

A blue shimmer.

Essie Sag Harbor

Sag Harbor. I love this one's subtle shimmer!! It can be described as a light greyed pastel blue shimmer. I don't think I own any other color like this one. I believe Essie North Fork was the first full collection that I bought, and I definitely don't regret it! All three polishes from this collection are gorgeous!

OPI No Rooms for the Blues (Revisited)

If you're anything like me, you like to wear blue on your fingernails during Summer, to match it to the beautiful cloudless sky! I love love love to wear blue polish on my tips! I like to match the blue to the color of the sky of that day, and if it's raining, I like how it reminds of a nice sunny day.

We've been having such nice weather that I just had to do a Summer Blues Series showing off my blues. I don't have much... yet. I've seen lots of nice blues recently from new collections, so I'm planning my next haul carefully.

I've already shown this color before (here), but I just had to swatch it again! It's such a nice shade, like a perfect blue sky! No Rooms for the Blues is very pigmented and such a breeze to apply! Pictured are 2 coats, without top coat.

OPI Manicurist of Seville

Happy Monday!!
Hope you all had a great weekend! I'm definitely enjoying the warm weather here!

I'm sure you've all seen this color before, but anyways..

Manicurist of Seville is from OPI Spain Collection. It's a berry red creme. It's a tad bit darker in real life, but I couldn't capture it accurately on camera. It's nothing unique, but it's a very nice color to have in one's collection!

I spent my day swatching lots of polishes for you today, so expect to see lots of blue in the next few days - I'm doing a summer blues series ;) !

Revlon Minted

Revlon has a nice collection for Spring/Summer 2010, that consists of 4 pastel colors. I love pastels for summer!! Neons are great but I find that I don't reach for them that often.
I was able to get one of the 4 colors -would've bought all four but I'm trying to save up for my upcoming trip to the States. Here is Revlon Minted, the one color that caught my attention.

Swoon. Love.

Application was a bit tricky, as it was a bit thick and goopy, but I don't mind it at all. Three coats was required.
I heard it is limited edition, so get it while you still can!

Going to the sugar shack with some friends today!! Can't wait to stuff my face with maple syrup everything! Miam miam!

Have a great weekend, everybody!!

China Glaze Let's Do it in 3D + Muse

Lots of pictures for you today, because this nail polish is beautiful!

Stunning charcoal/dark grey holo; my chosen mani for Muse's concert Wednesday night.

Little bonus:

Miss K Konadicure

Miss K strikes again! I tell you, she gets better everytime at konading!

This time, she used OPI No Room for the Blues for the french tips. Then she stamped on motifs from Konad plates M3 and M36. Finally, she topped it off with Konad Special top coat Silver Glitter.

I'm going to see two of my favorite bands tonight, Silversun Pickups and Muse!! I can hardly wait!!!!!!!! So excited!

Nail Junkie's First Giveaway!

Lyra from Nail Junkie is having her very first giveaway here!

[Click on picture to get directed to her site]

There is only one lucky winner and that person will be getting a whole lot of goodies!!
Go check out the rules on her blog. Applications are accepted until March 20th, 8pm CET.

Orly Mirror Mirror

Feels like Spring here and I love it! I hope the sun is here to stay!


Mirror Mirror is a light grey creme. I really like this one, but then again, grey and purple are my favorite polish colors, so I guess I'm biased. Two coats. The formula was pretty good, and I must say that I really like the Orly's brush and rubber handle.

This is still available on TransDesign!

Birthday mani - Rescue Beauty Lounge Frugalista

For my birthday, I decided that I wanted something very sparkly on my nails, and Frugalista was just that - and more!!! 3 coats of this polish and it was blinding!!!!
Frugalista is: lots of silver and fuchsia glitter in a clear base. It is drool-worthy! Blingtastic!

I spent my birthday hanging out with a few friends - skating, eating and a lot of talking and hysterical laughing. We went to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D; because what's better than spending a birthday in Wonderland, right?! I absolutely loved the movie! Every character was perfectly cast and the score was just wonderful!! I've always loved the Tim Burton-Danny Elfman combination.
I will not say anything more but if you haven't seen it yet, go see it!!!!!!

Readers, did you watch Alice in Wonderland yet? If you have, what did you think of it? If not, are you planning to go see it?

Giveaway Winner!!!

Congratulations to Arie from Catch the Beauty with Arie !!!


I've sent you an e-mail since I need your address info to send you your goodies!

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I just want to say a big THANK YOU to everybody who entered and blogged about this! I can't believe I gained so many new followers! Welcome and I hope you all enjoy the blog!!!

For those who didn't win, don't worry, there will be another giveawaysoon!!!

Love you all,
Xuan-An

OPI Parlez-Vous OPI?

Parlez-Vous OPI? is a mid-tone smokey lavender creme. I needed two coats to achieve bottle color, but one coat still gave decent coverage as the formula is pretty pigmented.

I initially thought it was going to be more neutral, which is why I had chosen to wear it to my interview today, but I think it's still appropriate.

I'm so happy it's Friday!!!! Have a great weekend, everyone!

Zoya Zara

How gorgeous is this color?

Zara is easily one of my favorites!! It's a light purple/lilac with tons of gold shimmer that flashes hints of green and copper in bright lights. It has a subtle jelly-ish finish to it, which makes it even more special.


Application was flawless! You could get by with two coats, I'd suggest three, just because three bring out the gold flecks even more.

Get Zara at Art of Beauty for $7!