OPI Holland Collection - Spring/Summer 2012 and a Guest Model...

When I first heard about OPI's upcoming Spring/Summer collection was going to be inspired by Holland - I got a little excited. It's a little personal because my father spent a good part of his childhood in the Netherlands - by way of Indonesia. He's Dutch-Indonesian and he speaks fondly of his Dutch boyhood. I remember picking up a Dutch phrase book so I could learn some words and perhaps impress him and my Oma (Dutch for Grandmother). He asked, "Why would you do that? You're better off learning Spanish..."

So much for trying to impress my old man. He migrated to San Francisco at the age of eight and became and American citizen not very long ago! I still dream of visiting his native country and meeting relatives that still live there. I'm sure he's gotten over his heartbreak to the Netherlands soccer team losing to Spain - World Cup 2010.

Okay on to the featured polish collection. It's a well rounded collection featuring twelve different shades - from a neutral putty to deep metallic aubergine. I couldn't afford to buy all twelve so I bought four that I really liked, plus my husband would have some words if I walked out with the entire collection. However, I am thinking about picking up another color from this collection.

Here's a quick nail swatch picture - I'm a NC42 for reference:

Colors I chose:

1. Gouda Gouda Two Shoes - it looks like a rose gold in the bottle because of the gold shimmer but on my nails it's a bit like a mauve.

2. I Don't Give a Rotterdam - a cool, grayish slate blue with silver and gold glitter. This went on pretty sheer, I'd probably layer up to four coats of this.

3. Kiss Me on my Tulips - a cool, hot, HOT pink creme. At first I thought this was like Berries in the Canaries from the Spain collection but that is more fuchsia.

4. A Roll in the Hague - Bright Orange - that's all it really is. You love a bright, sunny pedicure for the summer? This is your color. I can't wait to paint my toes with this. I don't know if I can rock this on my nails at the office but maybe with short nails?

I'm really happy with this collection - I love that there is truly a color for everyone. It's screams warm weather - maybe not the darker colors in the collection like Vampsterdam or Wooden Shoe Like to Know but I appreciate the variety it adds to the collection. I actually think constantly of returning back to Ulta to pick that one up.

The colors applied smoothly. I applied three thin layers or you can do two thick, with the exception of I Don't Give a Rotterdam. I get about a good 3-4 days of wear time if I apply my Seche Vite top coat every other day.

Curious to see Kiss Me on my Tulips? Here's my guest model:

My mini cupcake picked out this shade in the store and I couldn't resist!

Now I'm craving Hagelslag Melk toast - something my father taught me how to make as a young girl as an after school treat.

Curious about these colors mentioned or the collection in general? Click here. These were bought by your truly at my local Ulta store. They each retail $8.50/USD.

Get in The Expresso Lane

My latest (DIY) manicure: OPI's "Get in the Expresso Lane", from OPI's Fall Collection - Touring America:

I know you really can't tell but this is a very lovely, dark brown, but in the sunlight it reads like a brown, green camo color. Surprisingly, I am in love with this shade. I normally go for traditional plums and wines this time of year.

A better close up shot of the shade and my poor, dry cuticles - sorry, I know...it's like an assault to the eye:

However, I am happy to report that I have been using Curel's Hand and Cuticle therapy hand cream and my cuticles have been looking 10x better! I'll need to do a mani do-over!

I used this on top of Sephora for OPI Strengthening base coat. I applied 2-3 coats. It does streak a little the first coat and if I see a bit of visible nail bed after my second coat dries, I will apply another coat. I finish with Seche Vite Top Coat. I get about a good 3 days of wear time before I see intial chipping at the top corners.

This retails for $8.50 so I don't mind too much that it lasts for a short amount of time, especially if I did my own nails.

This was bought by yours truly at a nail salon.

Silver Shatter

Okay, the other day I posted pictures of OPI's Black Shatter well today I give you the Silver Shatter, released with the Pirates of the Caribbean collection.

Base color - OPI Lucky Lavendar (released last year - Hong Kong, Spring '10)

I showed my co-worker who loves a good nail art look and her thoughts were, "at first glance your nails look raggedy" Not what I was looking for but I knew what she meant. We both agreed that this might look better on top of a darker color for a starker contrast plus because I have a deeper skintone so that might translate better.

The jury is still out. As my husband said, "I like this one less that the other one you tried"

I told him just for that I'm going to wear this everyday for a month. I like being a smart ass to him any chance I can get.

The feeling is mutual.

Silver Shatter by OPI
I purchased this bottle at my local Pure Beauty for $8.50/USD

Can I Get Away With This?

At first, I was really shunning the idea of the whole "crackly, black, shattered" effect on nails. But the more I read about and seen pictures of this polish, I started to obsess over this new trend.

I know, I need to practice on my application technique as I'm still on the fence with this look. When I look down at my hands all I can think of is "Am I trying to look like I hang out at the mall all hours of the day?"

But with the reassurance of my colleagues (older and same age as me), it's a cool effect.

What I do know for sure is that I'm LOVING this blackened green/purple duo chrome polish my sister gifted me this past Mother's Day.

From the Katy Perry, OPI collection:




Not Like the Movies

This color is awesome. Not only does it have that cool duo chrome quality but it's also a metallic polish that has some fine glitter to it. It applies on the sheer side and I did end up with some visible nail lines so I applied three layers.

(LOVING this color!!)

**When using the black shatter polish please make sure your base color is completely dry. Also, use a top coat since it dries pretty flat and matte**

My final assessment - I can't wait to experiment with more colors and just to really test myself, I bought the silver shatter that came out with the OPI Pirates of the Carribean collection. More to come!


Purchased at Pure Beauty - $8.50/USD - 0.5 oz

Caught with my Khakis Down

No, not literally you pervs...I am referring to the Sephora by OPI Spring collection.

(sorry if my nails look messy, it was a home manicure!)

I like this shade - it's a creamy, army green. Actually, I would love a pair of khakis in this color - but as I learned from Michael Kors on Project Runway, it's not always good to be "MATCHY-MATCHY"

Yes, I spent most of the day watching a marathon of PR when it was still on Bravo - I miss those good ol'days!

I know this is not the shade one thinks of when you think of Spring/Summer nail colors. This is just one that I felt stood out the most for me. Please see the entire lineup here.

I am really liking this shade - I think I feel in love with the army green tips when I tried on my sister's bottle of RBL's Diddy Mow - from last Spring's collection. Please see the awesome pics here on the most awesome nail blogger, Scrangie.

On my NC 42 skin, it looks like a putty, greyish green.
Because this is an unexpected color, it'll look great with sultry summer outfits to add a bit of rugged edge.

Retail - $9.50 USD/0.5oz at Sephora stores now.

Special Delivery!

So finally my NARS purchases arrived - the rest of the items I bought from that NARS Mega Event a week and a half ago - my EFA Night Infusion serum, Taj Mahal blush, and Mousson cream eyeshadow. Surprisingly, I'll be taking a break from NARS (very brief of course) to talk about the second package I found greeting me at the front door!

Yes, it was wrapped up nicely when I first opened the box but I tore that package in 5 seconds like Christmas morning!

Say hello to Insouciant and Bruised.

Insouciant is part of the recent Spring 2011 collection and Bruised was near extinction until legions of fans voted to bring it back, therefore it is part of the B.I.B. lineup. I am sure these colors are limited as well so if you missed picking up Bruised in the past now is your chance!

Insouciant:

Cool, dusty grayish lilac with multi-color shimmer. I see most of the light blue shimmer in the light.

Bruised:

The perfect brown based reddish, plum. I know I can wear this on my toes in the Spring and as well as the last months of Fall right before it turns into Winter. If only the bruises I get from my banging my legs on sharp table edges looked this lovely.

Here are two swatches on tape placed on my NC42 arm. I cannot wait to get a mani-pedi. I may even put Insouciant on my nails and Bruised on my toes!!

I had to wait a little over a month for this package. Normally, RBL has a great turnaround time - expect your order within 3-5 days after receiving a notice from their store that your order has been shipped. But since they were waiting for the batches of their B.I.B. colors to be completed, I had to wait to receive Insouciant until then.

Luckily, I have bad relationships to thank for strengthening my patience skills.

I know my husband probably begs to differ!

Nail polishes bought by me online.
$18/bottle

If you are in NYC then you know where to go but if you are visiting for the first time - peep the details here. I met Ji once - when I visited the lounge. I didn't have time for a pedicure but she did show me last Fall's collection, "Real Housewives of Tudor"

I was a stuttering idiot because I wanted to say so much to her without looking like a fool but I'm sure I failed. I am happy that she was nice to me, regardless.