Nutmeg & Java

Seriously, I'm getting busy lately packing the things off my shelf. I mean, I dish out my shelves to make room now that I'm back to schooling. And for my nails, I have to choose from the neutrals to not-so-neutrals; and this one is a lot surprising.

Pinkie/Middle: Essie Glamour Purse

Ring/Index: OPI You Don't Know Jacques

Taupes and tantalizing! I supposed that Glamour Purse will be a dark brown as I refer to the bottle color. Really nice colors. I think more of a coffee java and my hair color which is nutmeg.

Dupes or not? (back-to-back)

From the very first, I'm lemming and dying to have Essie Mint Candy Apple. And finally it's here! Woohoo! But before I have it, I got the three nail lacquers from MAC Quite Cute Collection. There is the Mischievous Mint there, and right there, I know that they are dead dupes.

L-R Essie Mint Candy Apple (3 coats), MAC Mischievous Mint (2 coats)

You might say that Essie is mintier than MM. This is true but not after three coats in MM. They are dead dupes. But I have some concerns; 

> MM is a limited edition color. Meaning to say if it's gone, it's gone. Candy apple is always and just around. 

> MM is $16 per 10ml bottle. Candy Apple is $8 per 13.5ml bottle.

> With regards to application, MM is so creamy and the stem holding the brush is quite soft. Essie of course, two hands up.

> MM has prolong drying time.

I wonder what makes MAC expensive. Well, it's MAC. Maybe yes; I'm gonna buy a MAC nail polish again. Just because it matches my favorite lipstick.

Over-all, it's Essie that I'll always love.

Dupes or not?

This is just the result of my over curiosity and obsessive-compulsiveness. A friend told me that Misa Girls' Night Out is a dupe for NARS Schiap. To be exact, exact dupe. I was telling my brain, wait, I have to confirm.

L-R NARS Schiap, Misa Girls' Night Out

Misa is more neon that Schiap. I read a blog saying that Nicole by OPI All Kendall-ed Up is a dead on for Schiap. Another on saying Kendall-ed Up and OPI Kiss Me In My Tulips are dead dupes too. Ergo, Schiap and Kiss Me can be dead dupes. I'll confirm it by tomorrow.

Smokey

Sorry for being so late. Here it goes. I got two shades from Essie Brand New Bag Collection for Fall 2011; Power Clutch and Glamour Purse. I almost regret that I pick Power Clutch considering it's dead color (from the bottle); and just tried it now.

Okay. Some are saying that it's a grey-green and smokey. For me, it's a true smoke and grey. Or I may say an "incomplete grey". I can not see the green part. Does undertone also affect the color of nail polish like lippies and foundations?

Bluer Than Hue

I ended with unexpected colors today. I was expecting that one or two will be close colors (except for Jade) but not even one. These colors are as follows (pinkie to thumb):

Essie Go Overboard - Darker than the bottle color when dried. This is a blackened teal.

China Glaze Shower Together - Good consideration for teal.

Zoya Phoebe (matte) - This is the blue in turquoise.

OPI Fly (Nicki Minaj Coll.) - Too green for teal, too pale for blue.

OPI Jade Is The New Black - Nice jade.

Overall, I'm happy that I tried them in my nails but they leave a gruesome stain! Especially OPI Fly.

Toasted Mandarin

This might sound ridiculous but I call it legit. OPI Chop-sticking To My Story, you're such an epic!

One of a kind. Not too bright, not too dark, not too red, not even just right. It's burnt. Just like the chrysanthemums.

When I'm bored, I do stamping. When I'm in a rush, I do glittering.

Just did some stamping in line of my Chinese ancestry. I wish I did a gradient (of black or gold) instead but so I'm lazy to do that. Sorry for the blurred ring finger. I was trying to get a good focus (for my right hand) but since it's been gloomy for the past days, I have to take a quick shot before the clouds cover me. Again, ChG Passion for the stamping.

Anyho, I love so much this nail art tho stamping gives me a li'l pain in the bumster.

In The Ayer

It's not about this and this; it's about Deborah Lippmann Glitter in the Ai(ye)r.

Who wouldn't put her hands in the air with this gorgeous mani??? Two coats of Essie Borrowed & Blue for the base and several coats of DL.

As usual, DL has always been thick yet smooth. Just a little problem --- I end up with a chalky, uneven tips. I don't really know if it's Essie Borrowed & Blue, DL or Seche.

Just did some tripping. Bleh! The last time I paint is (*think, think, pause), oh, with DL Lara's Theme!

Stamp attack

It's been five long days. My fault for being loaded and I'm sorry fo that. I was inspired to create a Chinese motiff. I have three colors from HongKong Collection though but I think it would be better to be more creative.

So would you believe that I wore these colors for five days??? Surprising for me because I don't wear polishes for more than two days. Oh now it depends and I think, this is becoming more frequent.

First pic is under the lamp and I have to crop it because of too much lighting. Second pic is under sunlight and the last is indoor w/ natural light.

I used OPI Greenwich Village (4 coats) for the base and ChG Passion for stamping; and for the contrast, I did an overlapping stamping using Konad M73 since GV is sheer. When I went out for foot spa, I surprisingly got the most exaggerated compliments from the manicurists! Hahaha.

For the (Q)win!

My stoke level is up to the sky. Sister bought this shade after my strong commendation.

Butter London is really a good fancy brand from the shades, formulation (it's actually a 4 free), application and drying time. However, it never lasts without Seche Vite. Over all, I won't regret getting like five more bottles (a bottle costs $14).

Butter London All Hail The Queen (3 coats)

Tee hee! That's so queenly. This jelly finish lacquer gives me no problem at all. It is described as semi holographic but I don't care. I mean, clearly you can see how adorable it is, err... I don't know what else to say; I'm captivated.

"All hail their queen, fair regent of the night."

Dupes or not?

I love seeing celebrities wearing fairish nail polishes. Just like us, she loves OPI too! But much to my curiosity, I know that I've seen this India Mon before. Hmmm, oh in HongKong!

Alright, let me show you this and let yourselves be the judge.

Indoor at daytime w/o flash

Under the lamp (cool light)

Indoor w/ flash

Against sunlight w/ flash

Direct sunlight

OPI Mon-sooner or Later (L)

OPI Red My Fortune Cookie (R)

They are not dupes but I think either can be a good replacement to another, whatcha think? I don't have much to say about this because both came from the same family of color and yeah... except that Jason Wu and Rebecca Taylor used that OPI thing and that made me buy the Mon-sooner. Influence huh?