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.

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?

Nudity: Not An Issue

It's an art. Err... The art of star-nakedness. Lol

Rather on nails, it's always a yes. I mean, nudes vary depending on you skin tone/color and undertone. See this.

It's deceiving which one looks just right on my skin color. Luckily, I belong to the neutral undertone family but still, some shades of nude doesn't fit well.

Pinkie: OPI Miso Happy With This Color --- Well, I'm NOT! From the formula, application and drying time. Maybe the color looks okay but in reality it's not. It has a touch of pink but darker than Samoan Sand. Rating: 1/5

Ring: OPI Bare It In Trafalgar Square --- A vhtf shade. Surprisingly for OPI, it's not a sheer! 2 coats will be fine. Hmmm, it's close and I'm considering it. Rating: 3.5/5

Middle: Essie Topless & Barefoot --- The right one (imo). Essie had never been bad with formula and I love this shade and I love love love Essie. I might get another bottle for this one. Rating: 5/5

Index: Orly Pure Porcelain --- Another vhtf color and surprise from Orly. Opaque in just 2 coats. Even the brush is not a problem (which is usually Orly's fail). If I will refer on my skin color, I wouldn't say it's porcelain. When close up (third picture), it looks just a little bright. I think this one and MAC Studio Sculpt NC15 has the same shade. Rating: 3.5/5

Thumb: Zoya Kennedy --- Confusing. I thought it's a foundation. Deceiving. It looks perfect in picture but in actuality, it shouts BEIGE. I love Zoya as I love Essie because their formula is excellent, except  Zoya's drying time. Rating: 4/5

This is how they look in their respective bottles:

Over-all, I always love wearing nudes!

"Our admiration of the antique is not admiration of the old, but of the natural." ---Ralph Waldo Emerson

Cake-y Nail

As I promised just right after my Oh, Lara. But this have to be fast. 'Twas inspired by a manicure where Mr. Google landed me which I'm in fact searching now --- I even scavenged my browser's history, but I gave up. So just to show you, here.

It used to be the background image of my header. Imma being a-mnemonic (from where did I get it so I couldn't give you the link) and I'm candid to admit it. Sorry.

While I'm doing my own version, my li'liest sister gave me a chat and told me she wants me to do it on her nails. I said I was doing it, as in now, on my nails. And she obliges me to post a spoiler. By the way, she's in Riyadh.

Not perfect but I like how it blends. Something that made me think of a layered chocolate cake! The side looks good though...

Base to tip: Orly Porcelain, Essie Topless & Barefoot, Color Club Best Dressed List

Just so you know, it's not good to capture it with flash (not even under the sun) for the reason that T&B will blend to Porcelain and they will look as one color. I took (like) ten of this color but I did not like most of them. Maybe I was not in my hormones.

How about some effect/s?

"You made all things new." --- Shadowfeet