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June, 2011

  1. POLICE FILES: This post is brought to you by the letter P and Preview magazine

    June 30, 2011 by pam

    It feels like I won an award.

    I’m honored, I really am.

    Because this month, Agoo Bengzon, Preview’s Editor-at-Large, came out with the magazine’s A to Z of Nails and I’m letter P.

    How awesome is that?

    Here’s the magazine cover featuring the girls of Temptation Island.

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    And here’s the cover blurb:

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    And here’s where the polish goodness starts – page 132.

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    And there I am, letter P, on page 138.

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    That’s a photo of me checking out the NARS counter at a Sephora in New York. Note the utter concentration.

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    I love that Preview devoted so many pages to polish this month. I love that it helped me discover products I haven’t tried yet. I love that photo of Imelda’s crazy manicure. I love that lilac from Etude House – I will hunt it down. I love all those reds. I love that Sophy Robson is in it.

    Love love love love love.

    I love this feature so much. Yes – even if I wasn’t in it.

    Preview magazine is available at magazine stands and bookstores nationwide.

    Category police files | Tags: ,,,,, | 17 Comments

  2. MUG SHOT: NARS King Kong is a monster hit

    by pam

    I have to admit that when NARS came out with its Limited Edition Fall Vintage Collection last year, I was too enamored with the green goddess Zulu to pay attention to King Kong.

    Vintage-Nail-Polishes

    And when the collection became available in Rustan’s, I snubbed it again, choosing to buy Zulu and Midnight Express instead to add to Mash which I already had.

    But I got my shot at redemption when I went back to Rustan’s on my birthday for some polish-shopping. And although I was also drawn to Schiap and M Butterfly (two colors that I have yet to cross off my continually growing NARS wish list), I decided to go for Full Metal Jacket and King Kong instead, completing my set of last year’s vintage shades.

    And it took me months and months but this week, I finally wore NARS King Kong.

    And now I’m kicking myself for waiting too long because I think it’s beautiful.

    Yes, NARS King Kong was inspired by the movie King Kong. The first one, which NARS describes as “a classic movie about the infamous giant ape who becomes smitten with beauty.”

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    NARS describes the color as “copper brown infused with gold.”

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    I know the polish looks nothing like King Kong – many people have said so.

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    But seriously, do you want polish that’s black, hairy and can smash buildings?

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    Nope? I didn’t think so.

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    I would happily settle for polish that’s not black, not hairy and doesn’t smash buildings.

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    And that’s exactly what NARS King Kong is.

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    And it has more than just the lack of hair going for it.

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    It’s beautiful, it really is.

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    It’s a reddish brown coppery bronze shimmer.

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    On me it looks more brown than red.

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    I love how glossy it is.

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    The formula was nice and smooth. Application was super easy.

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    I used two coats.

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    I’ve had King Kong on my nails for five days now and I only have minimal tip wear.

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    Love.

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    I love it so much I just might watch King Kong the movie.

    NARS King Kong is still available in Rustan’s Makati for ₱995.

    Category mug shot | Tags: ,,,, | 5 Comments

  3. MUG SHOT: Nubar Chocolate Caramel, Ulta Green With Envy and the kindness of Josephine

    June 29, 2011 by pam

    Remember some months ago when I swatched Nubar Swiss Chocolate and Milk Chocolate Creme? Remember how I loved the two colors and said that I needed Chocolate Caramel?

    Josephine, a nail polish lover who lives in California, read that post and sent me an e-mail. Here’s an excerpt:

    We have the same weakness: Brown Nail Polish! Ayayay!!

    I read that you are in search for Nubar’s Chocolate Caramel… If you want, I can give you mine! Think of it as a “meeting a new nail polish kindred spirit.” :)

    I got Nubar’s Chocolate Caramel and Milk Chocolate but Milk Chocolate seems to sit well with me and my skin tone. The gold shimmer with Chocolate Caramel is a tad too much for me. I used it on my toes once, and it never saw the light of day again.

    If you want it, I can send it to you, no strings attached! :)

    I was sick when Josephine sent me that e-mail and it really made my day. She’s so sweet. I said I’ve love to have her Nubar Chocolate Caramel if she really didn’t want it and I promised to take good care of it.

    And since I was going to LA the week after, we did a sweet polish exchange.

    I was so excited to get the package she sent.

    I swear, I love the US postal service. If I lived there I’d probably be sending out packages nonstop!

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    One of the best things about getting packages is getting notes and letters from other polish fans.

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    I loved the card Josephine sent.

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    So sweet.

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    And Josephine didn’t just send me Nubar Chocolate Caramel – she sent me goodies including Seche Vite which she loves. (And I love it too!)

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    Look at these beauties.

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    It was love at first sight for me and the two bottles of polish Josephine sent.

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    And because I was so excited, I swatched them as soon as I returned to Manila.

    This is Chocolate Caramel.

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    It’s a sexy brown with gorgeous gold shimmer.

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    Chocolate Caramel is part of Nubar’s Chocolata Truffles collection, the collection that gave me my first taste of the brand.

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    I think Chocolate Caramel is just delicious.

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    I love it so much.

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    Thank you, Josephine, for bringing Chocolate Caramel into my life.

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    Although I was captivated by Chocolate Caramel, Ulta Green With Envy put up a hard fight for my attention.

    Even in the bottle, I thought, “Oh wow, what a gorgeous green.”

    And on the nails… yowza!

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    Green With Envy is a blackened green shimmer.

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    I love that despite having a lot of black in it, you can still clearly see that it’s green.

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    Green and freaking pretty.

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    The formula was a little thin and I needed three coats for opacity but I don’t mind because the color is just worth it.

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    It’s so beautiful.

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    There are many great things about blogging about polish – getting to play with so many colors, discovering new brands, helping people find shades to fall in love with. But the best part is meeting new people, making new friends and getting to share a similar passion with kindred souls.

    And that’s what Josephine is – a kindred soul.

    Thank you so much, Josephine. You rock.

    Category mug shot | Tags: ,,,,,,,, | 6 Comments

  4. MUG SHOT: Mission accomplished, Miss Bun!

    June 28, 2011 by pam

    It is fitting that I am writing this post today.

    Because today, the awesome Miss Bun who I love and adore with all my heart left for Beijing where she would stay for six months to film a movie with Jackie Chan. Yes, seriously, to film a movie with Jackie Chan.

    Last month, while I was in LA, Miss Bun sent me this message.

    Pamjam

    When u gonna go back to Manila?
    Urgent

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    It turned out that Rose, Miss Bun’s angel and helper, was going home to the Philippines for a vacation and was bringing a box of goodies for me.

    If you’ve been reading this blog for a while now, you know that Miss Bun and I met through our nail blogs and have formed a solid friendship despite never having actually seen each other yet. And the craziest part? We’ve been getting a kick out of sending packages to each other through friends who travel to Hong Kong where she’s based. So yes, Miss Bun has spent time with a number of my friends even if she hasn’t spent time with me yet. (But it will happen. SOON.)

    Crazy? Yes. Awesome? Yes yes yes.

    She has showered me with love and generosity and guess what – she did it again.

    I was happy to know that Rose was coming because I had a bunch of goodies I wanted to send to Miss Bun too. I don’t think Miss Bun knows this but I walk around with her wish list in my phone in hopes that I would stumble across polish she wants whenever I’m out.

    Rose, who is a sweetie, contacted me when she got to Manila but sadly, because she lives far from me and I was in the middle of Miley Cyrus craziness, I didn’t get to see her. Instead, she made the exchange with my driver who is so awesome he didn’t mind that he got lost and had to drive two hours in search of Rose.

    He returned with this box.

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    And I was so excited that I tore into it right there, on my office desk.

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    Inside the box were goodies from Miss Bun’s trip to Houston.

    Serious serious serious polish love.

    And once again, I was amazed by how much Miss Bun knew which colors I would love.

    This gorgeous mint green is Sally Hansen Jade Jump. I cannot wait to wear it!

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    This crazy purple is Orly Midnight Star.

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    Miss Bun knows how much I love purples.

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    It’s a purple party! NYC Midnight Amethyst. I love how both purple shades have the word midnight in their name.

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    And here is a highly inaccurate picture of NYC Lemon Cream which is actually a soft pretty medium yellow.

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    And now, two Essies that completely stole my heart. Beach Bum Blu and Coat Azure.

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    Both these shades remind me of my early days as a polish lover – back in the 90s, back when Hard Candy was the bomb and light blue was the color to wear on your pretty little (raggedy) fingers. (Because yes, I used to bite my nails.)

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    My first bottles of Essence! Walk of Fame and Fabuless. Taupe and black and so pretty. I love the cute little bottles too.

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    This green looks killer. NYC Flat Iron Green. I love the name because I love the Flat Iron building. And I love the Flat Iron building because it’s near Shake Shack. Yeah yeah, it always comes down to food.

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    This is NYC Persistent Putty. I love the name – it sounds like something George and Fred would sell at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes. Yes, I am on a Harry Potter kick. I’ve been rereading all the books and I’m watching all the movies again before the last one comes out. I’m in the middle of reading Half-Blood Prince and will watch Goblet of Fire next. I love Harry Potter. I really do.

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    Okay, here’s a confession. I’ve been wanting to try Sally Hansen’s Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips. I cannot count the number of times I stared at the display in Walmart and in drugstores but I never bought any because I thought they were expensive. They were $9.99 and unlike polish in bottles, I can only wear them once. So I didn’t buy. I never told anyone that I wanted to try them. But because Miss Bun is a mind reader, she bought me one.

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    Sally Hansen Salon Effects in Skinny Jeans. And Miss Bun told me she has the same one! I want to wear it the same time as her. And because these are supposed to last for a long long time (up to 10 days), I want to wear it when I can maximize it – when I have no plans of swatching or changing my mani after just a couple of days.

    And now, a photo that cannot do justice to my two favorites – my very first bottles of Sinful Colors.

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    Sinful Colors Daddy’s Girl and What’s Your Name. My photo is crappy, I couldn’t take accurate pics of these colors in their bottles, but my god, they are breathtaking. I am hoping that my swatches can show how beautiful they are. I will post them soon.

    Mission accomplished.

    Thank you, Miss Bun, for another amazing package. You just left today but I already miss you. Rock Beijing like I know you will.

    And when you get back to Hong Kong, you’ll have Sparitual Kiss The Cook, NARS Galion and other goodies waiting for you.

    Category police files | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | 8 Comments

  5. POLICE FILES: My 31 Days of Nails Favorites, my very short conversation with Justin Bieber and where you can get Black Shatter

    June 27, 2011 by pam

    Last month, I kept a nail diary for CandyMag.com. It was both fortunate and unfortunate that I did it during a very eventful month – I was up to my eyeballs in work, Justin Bieber arrived, I got sick and then I had to leave for my short action-packed vacation in the US. It was fortunate because the diary stayed exciting – at least for me – and unfortunate because the craziness of my days didn’t leave a lot of time for really playing with polish. I had some really elaborate manicures planned that I didn’t get to execute.

    But I still enjoyed my 31 Days of Nails. It was a lot of fun. June actually felt weird – it was odd not having to paint my nails every day.

    Here are some of my 31 Days of Nails favorites:

    May 2

    1

    You’ve seen this fantastic red before – RD102 from Etude House. And since I was attending the store opening of Etude House in Megamall, I thought it was the perfect polish to wear.

    May 3

    2

    We had a last-minute Mother’s Day photo shoot. We shot four different actresses and were in the studio the entire day. I actually brought polish with me thinking I’d have time to paint in a quiet little corner there but I was wrong. I had to do four interviews, fix the props, check the outfits and ride a tricycle to a nearby supermarket to get an emergency pie so nope, no time for polish. And because I had no time for a fresh new mani, I just asked Jill to turn my red nails into little ladybugs.

    May 5

    3

    I got sick. And I knew I was really sick because I had absolutely no desire to even touch polish. I decided to post one of my all-time favorite manicures instead. You’ve seen this before – Essie Pink Parka on my thumb, OPI Who The Shrek Are You? on my index finger, Essie Bermuda Shorts on my middle finger, OPI Ogre The Top Blue on my ring finger, Zoya Paz on my pinky with OPI Black Shatter.

    May 8

    4

    After days of being sick, I forced myself to get up and paint my nails in hopes that the bright colors would chase away my flu. I used Santee Vikini Green and Barry M Blueberry Ice Cream.

    May 10

    5

    No flu was going to keep me away from Justin Bieber. Remember the Nicole by OPI Bieber colors the awesome Miss Bun sent me? I rocked them that day and wore them to Justin Bieber’s press conference and concert.

    And here’s the awesome part – I was able to tell Justin that I was wearing his polish. And he said, “NICE!”

    Click here to listen to me tell Justin Bieber that I was wearing his polish.

    Yes, I sound like a doofus, I’m breathless and stuttering and it’s as if I have forgotten that I’m no longer a 15-year-old but I don’t care because I love Justin.

    May 15

    6

    Days into my break in the US, I wore China Glaze Fault Line over my beloved Dior Aloha. I loved it. And I loved how I managed to have little polish parties with the girls on our trip to Big Bear – Jill, Janna, Kate and TIffany.

    May 16

    7

    I brought a set of dry nail appliques from Tony Moly on the trip and it felt like a good time to try it. I couldn’t believe these little stickers really give you a full manicure complete with base coat, color and top coat. And I also thought they’d come off in the shower. I was wrong. I shamppoed just minutes after applying and they didn’t budge at all. There were no dents either. It really felt like nail polish and it wore like iron. When I tried to remove it, it was just like removing polish. The best part was that it looked like I spent a long time doing my nails but it just took a few easy minutes.

    May 19

    8

    Stranger Tides was the first polish I tried from the OPI Pirates of the Caribbean Collection. My good friend (and twin sister) Lala gave me the entire set and I was over the moon. I love Stranger Tides – it was the perfect polish to wear on the day we kicked off an insane road trip across California, Utah and Nevada.

    May 20

    9

    I had a feeling RBL’s Look Rich Be Cheap would look fantastic over Stranger Tides and I was right.

    May 22

    10

    I went back to black with RBL Iconoclast. I wore Iconoclast as we explored Yosemite National Park and Jill took this photo while we took a quick break from walking to the different falls.

    May 26

    11

    This is Aldo Marrakech with Bryce Canyon in the background. I painted my nails the previous night while doing our laundry in the scary laundry room of our hotel.

    May 29

    12

    I took photos of Chanel’s nail polish display at the Hong Kong airport when we landed after our 16-hour flight from LA. I didn’t buy any, I just looked. I love staring at Chanel’s polish bottles. And I know you do too.

    And those were my nail diary favorites.

    Keeping a nail diary was harder than I thought it was going to be but I found that two magic weapons worked. When there was no time for a full mani, I pulled out one of two things – crackle or glitter.

    Speaking of crackle, if you still haven’t had your OPI Black Shatter fix, Digital Traincase has stocks now. OPI Black Shatter is still my favorite crackle polish so far. There’s an order form on Digital Traincase’s Facebook page. Each bottle is ₱490.

    Thank you to Macy for asking me to do it and to Roch for her patience with my sporadic e-mails. I hope to have a polish party with you girls soon.

    Category police files | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | 12 Comments

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