The cashier opened the box to make sure the right colors were inside. “You must really like green huh? I like green too. My son likes green too.” Then she spotted my nails. I was wearing Deborah Lippmann’s Rockin’ Robin, which I got from Rustan’s.

“I like that,” she said.

“I think you can buy it at Lane Crawford,” I said.

“It’s just one bottle?” (I think she was wondering if I had used a glitter top coat to add those black specks.)

“Yes, it’s just one bottle.”

I wanted to keep talking nails with her but I had to run. My flight was already boarding.

I was so happy about my purchase that I wanted to open the box inside the plane to stare at the bottles. I resisted any urge to immediately paint my nails because remember what happened to the woman who did that? I love Dior but not enough to be locked up for ten hours.

So I waited. I didn’t open the box until I was in my hotel room fourteen hours later.

So worth the wait.

It was midnight when I got to the hotel and room service had closed. I woke up crazy hungry the next morning and because I didn’t feel like shelling out $20 for a boring breakfast, I decided to walk to El Pollo Loco for some baja shrimp tacos.

I realized with joy that there was a Sally Beauty Supply beside Pollo Loco – and it was already open!

I walked in and stared at the rows and rows of pretty colors but ended up buying just one bottle of Seche Vite top coat.

I spent the day working but I had a few hours to kill before dinner so I went to the mall. My first stop? Nordstrom.

I went around the beauty counters and hit pay dirt in Dior. The other Bird of Paradise duo – Bahia – was there so I grabbed it.

This really nice salesgirl led me to the Chanel counter my eyes widened when I saw these:

“I’ll get these two,” I said, pointing to Azure and Bel-Argus.

Then I spotted Taboo and I said, “I want that too.”

I left the Chanel counter with Azure, Bel-Argus and Taboo. Don’t be sad for Lilis, I will definitely get a bottle of that too.

I went around Bloomingdale’s but didn’t buy anything there. I walked down Third Street Promenade, checking out the shops. I was so happy to see Sephora and this is what greeted me when I walked in – NARS X Pierre Hardy Collection.

I gawked at them for a long time but didn’t buy any… yet.

I kept walking around Sephora. I noticed the display of Dior bottles and my pulse quickened when I spotted a lilac tester.

OMG! Lilac Colorvision!

Earlier this year, Dior came out with a Japan exclusive lilac polish called Frou Frou (It was released with a capsule collection for Isetan Shinjuku. There was also a pink polish called Rosalba). I thought it was pretty but didn’t know how I would get my hands on it.

Luckily, Dior decided to release the same color as a Sephora exclusive. They changed the name to Lilac Colorvision. Yes, the name Frou Frou is cuter but that wasn’t going to stop me from buying Lilac Colorvision.

The big question was – did they have stocks?

I let my eyes wander over the row of Dior boxes and at the very end, I spotted one box of Lilac Colorvision. One last box. Naturally, I grabbed it.

Awesome.

And that was it, I was done shopping. For now.

I wanted to paint my nails with Azure and Bel-Argus for the flight home but I was so exhausted that I left my nails bare.

I finally got to do my two-color mani when I returned to Manila and I am so in love with it. My friends love it too. This photo doesn’t do these two colors justice. They are just beautiful. You need them, you need them both. I promise to post proper swatches soon.

My great shopping luck didn’t end after my plane landed.

Went to Shang to watch a movie with friends and stopped by Rustan’s. Dior Nymphea was also high on my list but I didn’t see any signs of it in Hong Kong and the States. And because Rustan’s sold Glacier and Icy Dew last year, I had high hopes they would have it.

“Do you have that new light blue Dior?” I asked the girls at the counter.

“Yes,” they said.

They went into the back and brought out the tester.

They didn’t have stocks yet, they said, but they’d be arriving soon. Awesome. I left my number and asked them to text me as soon as it came in.

They also let me take a picture of the tester.

And more good news for polish fans in the Philippines – Chanel’s Avant-Premiére Collection, which includes eight fabulous Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks, six new shades of Rouge Coco Shine and four le vernis shades Cinema, Starlet, Paparazzi and Provocation (which was part of last year’s FNO – swatches HERE), is available at Rustan’s The Beauty Source now.

And that’s not all – Chanel Lilis, Azure, Bel-Argus and Taboo will all be available in Rustan’s soon.

As for me, my shopping adventure kicks off again in a few days.

If you’re a fan of that beautiful glittery shade, I have great news for you.

This summer, glitter queen Deborah Lippmann is releasing four new shades inspired by the crazy popular Mermaid’s Dream. Deborah said, “I created these shades by listening to what customers wanted – more Mermaid’s Dream. I took the beautiful glittered shimmer to another level by creating a whole family of shades reminiscent of the cult classic.”

The four shades are Mermaid’s Kiss, Do The Mermaid, Million Dollar Mermaid and Mermaid’s Eyes.

Let’s start with Million Dollar Mermaid.

Described by Deborah as “tangerine twinkle,” this citrusy shade comes with orange sparkle.

This color would look fabulous with your tan.

Because of the crazy sparkle, this and the other shades in the collection might dry a little gritty.

But no worries – just use a top coat to make it smooth and shiny.

Lovely formula, application was a breeze.

I used three coats.

This is Do The Mermaid, one of my favorites.

Seriously. If I were a mermaid and I could choose the color of my tail, I would totally go for this.

So pretty.

Deborah Describes this as “lavender luster.”

Great formula too.

I used three coats.

LOVE.

This is Mermaid’s Kiss.

Deborah describes this as “bubbling blush.”

But this color is so much more than that. It’s cray to the zy.

Because you don’t just have a soft shimmery pink base and fuchsia sparkle, Mermaid’s Kiss also has gold glitter that gives it a golden sheen.

THAT. GOLDEN. SHEEN.

Crazy.

Again, problem-free formula.

I used three coats.

And the last shade is Mermaid’s Eyes.

Deborah describes this as “seaside cerulean.”

But I’d call it seaside awesome.

I love the metallic silvery blue base.

I love the silver and blue sparkle.

Love love love.

If my mermaid sisters refused to let me have Do The Mermaid as the color of my tail, Mermaid’s Eyes would definitely be my next choice.

Lovely formula, slightly more opaque than the others. I used two coats.

Now I know these colors would be fantastic to use for a mermaid-inspired skittles mani but I wanted to do something else. I wanted to see if they could be layer the different shades for a fun and easy gradation mani.

And the answer is yes, yes, yes!

First I layered Do The Mermaid over Mermaid’s Eyes.

And I loved how it looked.

So pretty.

Then I wanted to push things a bit and see if I can layer Mermaid’s Kiss over Mermaid’s Eyes and Do The Mermaid.

And yes, it turned out that I could do that.

And I ended up loving this collection even more.

A few more pictures because I couldn’t stop myself.

With top coat.

Deborah Lippmann’s Mermaids – Summer 2013 Collection will be available at Rustan’s The Beauty Source in June. Each bottle will be available for ₱825 each.

Although originally released with Laura Mercier’s Art Deco Muse collection for the holidays, these three shades can be worn all year round.

I love them all so much and they made me love Laura Mercier even more.

Let’s start with Moderne Red.

Laura Mercier describes this as a “true bright red.”

And yes, that is exactly what it is.

It’s a beautiful red.

Such a bright and happy color.

This would be a great pedi color too.

It’s almost jelly-like and super glossy.

Fantastic formula.

I used two coats.

This is Crimson.

Laura Mercier describes it as “merlot.”

It’s a beautiful wine shade – a brown-based red that I just love.

Looking at this photo makes me want to wear it now.

Super glossy too.

Perfect formula.

I used two coats.

And finally, Noir Glace.

Laura Mercier describes this as “deep brown.”

But it’s so much more than that.

In English, Noir Glace is “black ice.”

And yes, under some lighting conditions, it can look almost black.

But I can also see deep deep maroon undertones in this shade.

Crazy sexy.

Like the other colors in this collection, the formula was perfect too.

I used two coats.

Love. Love them all so much I can’t even pick a favorite.

Laura Mercier is available at Rustan’s The Beauty Source. Find the brand at Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Alabang Town Center, Rustan’s Shangri-La, Rustan’s Robinson’s Place, Rustan’s Gateway and Rustan’s Ayala Center Cebu. Each bottle is ₱745.

I didn’t just have the chance to try some Shimmer Polish colors, I was also able to interview Cindy about her creations, her inspirations and her unwavering love for shimmer.

What’s the best thing someone has said about your polish?

Sparkling explosions!

How do you deal with the pressure to meet the demand for your polish?

I no longer have any free time, all I do is nail polish. After work and on the weekends.

Which part of the nail polish-making process is your favorite? Is it coming up with the concept, the actual mixing of polish, filling orders?

I love creating the colors. I also like organizing the colors. I am a little bit OCD.

When you sleep, do you see glitter in your dreams?

Sometimes, lol. I have glitter all over my room, my kitchen, on my roomies, in my car, so there isn’t a need to have it in my dreams too.

How do you come up with the names of your creations?

My wonderful friends and family!

Which are the best-sellers?

Jennifer, Jasmine, Cassandra.

Which are your personal favorites?

Airriann and Jennifer.

Is there a Shimmer polish you wear the most?

Cindy

What do you have on your nails now?

Nothing, making the polish pretty much ruins my manicures

The ship is sinking, you can only save one Shimmer bottle – which one would it be?

Amy (there is a rainbow in that bottle)

What inspires you?

Art, beauty, creativity, people, and life.

What can fans expect from Shimmer in 2013?

More colors of course. Maybe even just regular color polishes! *gasp*

What’s the best thing about creating polish?

Being able to create nail polish is the best part. Seeing the colors unfold. Watching bloggers swatch and create art on fingers. I love seeing it ALL!

What’s the hardest?

Making sure I have constant inventory to ship out. Lots of shaking and mixing can actually be physically tiring.

What else are you passionate about?

Jewelry (which I make), art, movies, fashion, animals, friends and family! 

And now, it’s time to show you the swatches.

This is Tammy over NARS New York Dolls.

One coat.

Two coats.

Cindy describes this mix as “silver bars with purple and black.”

It’s that and more.

I love how there are surprises in each bottle.

In Tammy, I found tiny red sparkles, iridescent glitter pieces, even little specks of green.

It’s really pretty.

I loved Tammy.

And it made me even more excited to try the other colors.

This is Jasmine over a-england Galahad.

Cindy describes this mix as “aquamarine blue and green.”

This is one coat of Jasmine.

Pretty and sparkly enough.

And here, two coats.

Mega sparkle.

Although blue and green are the predominant colors in Jasmine, you also see some silver, gold and red.

Like Tammy, it’s very pretty too.

Up next is Trisha.

I layered Trisha over NARS TV Party.

I love this combination – it’s such a happy manicure.

Cindy describes Trisha as a “blood-orange mix.”

I see a bit of silver, gold and purple in it too.

Trisha reminds me of candy corn and Halloween.

Lovely.

One last color: Vanessa.

I layered Vanessa over Chanel Lotus Rouge.

Three coats of sparkly awesomeness.

Check that out.

Cindy describes this as “slate gray and silver.”

I also found black, red, blue, green and holo in the bottle.

There’s a part of me that wishes I layered this over a lighter color so you could see all the craziness going on in one great bottle.

But I think this swatch also proves that Cindy’s glittery creations can be layered over all kinds of colors.

Pretty.

Here’s another look.

I love layering glitter over black polish so I decided to show you how these four colors look with one of my favorite blacks – Illamasqua Boosh.

Here’s a closer look.

So pretty.

Vanessa on my index finger, Tammy on my middle finger, Jasmine on my ring finger, Trisha on my pinky.

I think they all look great with black.

I can’t pick a favorite.

The thing I like the most about Cindy’s creations is how there are so many ways to wear them – on their own (just use multiple layers to achieve opacity), over other nail polish colors, on just the tips of your nails, as a ruffian accent. You can mix them up, use them on just an accent nail or really pile the sparkle on. The glittery possibilities are endless.

Visit Shimmer Polish’s official website, Etsy store or Facebook page. Follow the brand on Twitter.

I’m showing them to you now to help you figure out which ones to pre-order. (Or I’ll make it easy – all of them! They’re gorgeous!)

I took all my RBL bottles out of my Helmer, placing similar colors side by side to figure out which colors should be swatched together.

Let’s start with Thank You (you can find all the swatches in my other post – this post is for comparisons).

I chose my other soft pinks and Be Humble because I thought it would be interesting to see them side by side.

Be Humble is a lot more lavender and taupe; Pizzicato doesn’t have Thank You’s beige tinge and it has those glass flecks that I’m crazy about; and Poco a Poco is a much darker shade and has a golden flash.

Here’s another look at the comparison.

Next is Be Humble.

Forgiveness and Insouciant are a lot more lavender, with Insouciant being darker and having quite a bit of shimmer; Grunge is way more beige.

I was actually planning to swatch this with my grey and greige RBLs too – Concrete Jungle, Stormy and Jane – but I realized they weren’t similar at all. Be Humble may look pretty grey in the bottle but on the nails, it’s really more of a taupe-y lavender.

One more look.

Let’s look at Forgiveness.

Be Humble has more taupe and grey in it; Insouciant is darker and has that pretty shimmer; Purple Haze is a creme too but it’s a lot more intense than Forgiveness.

One more look.

Up next is Smile.

I know Ji classifies it as a red but I also included Coral in the lineup because Smile is actually a pinkish red. Ji’s other reds are way too different from Smile. Killa Red, Chinoise – they’re not similar to Smile at all.

It must be said that the difference in these colors look way more obvious in person. The bright colors drove my camera crazy.

Coral is lighter and more pink; Poppy has pink, red and gold shimmer; and Bangin’ is a fiery orange red and doesn’t have Smile’s pink tinge.

Pause, oh Pause.

What an insanely gorgeous purple. Naturally, I had to swatch it with RBL’s other gorgeous purples.

Purple Haze is a lot lighter; Mismas is intense too but it’s a creme and Scrangie has that crazy iridescent shimmer.

I love this set of comparison swatches. I feel like I can actually wear this out – a crazy mixed-up purple mani. Clearly, if you love purple, you need all these colors in your life.

Up next is Become One.

This was actually the first one I opened and my immediate thought was, “How similar is it to Abi?” Not that similar, it turns out.

Abi is lighter and has that pretty silver shimmer; Recycle and Orbis Non Sufficit are both a lot darker, with Orbis also having grey tones.

I love them all.

And now, my favorite, Turn It Around.

Crazy. This color is so crazy I felt I had to do two sets of comparisons.

I love how reddish and coppery Turn It Around looks in this picture – it almost makes me look stupid for wanting to compare it with greens. But like I said, that’s the magic of this color – it really transforms into different shades depending on the light.

But okay, Halcyon is a lot lighter and has gray in it and that crazy pink flecks of glittery goodness; Orbis Non Sufficit is a lot darker and Diddy Mow, one of my first and biggest RBL loves, is lighter too.

And I might wear this mani out too. All I need is Recycle on my thumb and I’ll be set.

One more set, here we go.

No More War, also one of my first RBL loves, is a lot more olive; Recycle is a lot darker and is a straight-up creme; and Jack is a gorgeous teal and is a lot more blue.

And I don’t think I need to mention that none of these shades have Turn It Around’s crazy crazy in-your-face shimmer.

I felt like kicking myself for not swatching Turn It Around beside Anne too. It’s safe to say though that Anne is darker and doesn’t have Turn It Around’s coppery madness.

That’s it for now. Let me go back to staring at my Turn It Around mani. It’s over 24 hours later and I’m still swooning.

Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polishes are exclusively available at www.rescuebeauty.com for $20 per bottle. 48 hour pre-order starts on April 12. The collection will be available to the public by the end of April.

Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polishes are created with resin and high molecular polymers to improve flexibility, durability, and high shine. They contain no harmful toluene, formaldehyde, DBP and formaldehyde resin. They do not test on animals.

That lovingly wrapped package always gets my heart racing.

What magic can these beautiful red boxes hold?

Emoting Me, RBL’s newest collection, is inspired by Ji’s daily mantra:

May my goods come out greater than my own, every time I walk towards your path. Please usher my footfalls, guide me to be where to be, what to do, what to say, what to write, and to whom. Let me embrace every moment you’ve given to me with clear vision, strength, peace, love and grace. Let me be with you every moment to moment in your magical kingdom. Let me be at your service, my heart is open to you and use me for something greater than my own. Thank you for your abundance, blessings, and your love. Thank you for this beautiful gift of today.

Ji says, “I feel stripped naked, revealing and sharing my private daily mantra, but this is my story and also the story that is within all of us: we are all emoting.”

The seven polish shades are named after seven statements that she says she repeats persistently.

And these are the seven beautiful colors inspired by these beautiful words.

I slowly pulled each bottle out of its box, knowing that these colors and their names hold so much meaning for Ji.

These colors landed in my hands just yesterday and I am still reeling from the excitement.

Let’s start with Thank You.

Ji says, “Because I’m my own worst critic, I first thank myself, then I thank others, and lastly, I thank the universe. I know that I am loved and, even in negative circumstances, in order to grow, lessons must be learned.”

In creating thank you, she started with a neutral nude base.

Then she added opalescent pink shimmer.

Thank You is a beautiful nude polish (we already know Ji creates gorgeous nudes that even I want to wear). This is how Thank You looks outside on a cloudy day.

This is how it looks indoors under artificial light.

It’s a pretty, feminine, elegant shade.

To me, Thank You kinda looks like Insouciant’s pale pink sister.

So pretty.

The shimmer becomes more obvious, depending on the angle and the light.

I love when that flash of pink appears when you move your hands.

Lovely formula.

I used three coats.

This is Be Humble.

Ji says, “I know that I can’t be too self-congratulatory or judge others. I always remind myself to stay modest.”

And to translate that message into nail polish, Ji says, “I try to grey out my ego with this taupe lightness and allow hope to float in pink, blue, and lavender shimmers.”

I love Be Humble.

Is it taupe? Is it grey? Is it a pale grayed out lavender?

It’s all of the above.

Another instant classic from RBL.

Love it.

Great formula.

I used two coats.

This is Forgiveness.

Ji says, “To forgive and to ask for forgiveness is the ultimate emotional cleanser, but why is it so difficult for me to open my heart and admit that I’m wrong? Guilt and regret are useless emotions.”

She adds, “When I forgive someone, or even when I forgive myself, I step into the serene opaqueness of this dove-lavender color and then I am able to let go and move on.”

I love Forgiveness.

Not just because of the name but this beautiful calming color.

It’s such a lovely shade of lavender.

Love the beautiful butter-smooth formula too.

I used two coats.

This is Smile.

Ji says, “First, I always smile at the sky at least once a day. It is a privilege to be in this universe.”

She adds, “When I left my face to the sun and bask in its gloriousness, I blink my eyes and see this dazzling red light, a neutral red, and full of sunny, shimmery goodness. Like a smile, this color is contagious.”

After all those soothing shades, Smile is a welcome pop of color.

It’s a perfect match for the name – it’s such a happy shade.

Ji has managed to create another killer red.

It’s the perfect summery shade. I can’t wait to wear it to the beach.

Fantastic formula. I used two coats.

This is Pause.

This stole my heart instantly.

Ji says, “Violet is the color of the chakra that marks the union of the soul with the body, mind, and divine consciousness. With this come bliss, satisfaction, and rest. Being in the present moment is probably the hardest challenge I have. When I stare at the depth of this multi-faceted mid-violet silky shimmer and be at one with this color and nothing else, then I know I am in my present moment.”

I love love love this shade.

It’s a fantastic addition to RBL’s other gorgeous purples.

It’s just beautiful.

I love the shimmery metallic finish.

And I love how you see tiny pink and blue sparkles in the color.

Great formula.

I used two coats.

This is Become One.

Ji says she envisioned this color during one sunny April day (just like today). “I looked up to see the sun flickering through a cascade of innocent leaves.”

She added, “This opaque green takes me to those young verdant leaves in the spring and reminds me that nature is our best teacher of life cycles.”

It was RBL’s fantastic greens that first made me fall in love with the brand.

And Become One is a great addition to my growing collection.

It’s a little more subdued than these photos show.

A gorgeous green creme that’s a dream to apply.

I used two coats.

The seventh and final color of the collection is Turn It Around.

Ji says, “Once I understood the universe’s law of polarity, everything made perfect sense. Negatives can’t exist without positives. If I never allow pain to wash over me, then joy becomes meaningless.”

And she adds, “From this color’s dark mossy green pond, a vivid, glittering cast of copper shimmer welcomes me back to joy.”

I will give you a minute to let that gorgeous shimmer sink in.

It’s CRAZY.

There is no subtle shimmer here, no sir.

This is crazy in-your-face shimmer.

And I love it.

I love Turn It Around so much that I’m still wearing it now.

And I can’t stop taking pictures of it even if I’ve already taken hundreds. Even my phone is now full of pictures of this beautiful shade.

And it’s not just the shimmer that totally won me over.

I love how this polish changes color – it can look like a fiery copper, a smoky green, even a deep khaki.

Great formula too, I used two coats.

Once again, Ji has hit a homerun for me.

Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polishes are exclusively available at www.rescuebeauty.com for $20 per bottle. 48 hour pre-order starts on April 12. The collection will be available to the public by the end of April.

Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polishes are created with resin and high molecular polymers to improve flexibility, durability, and high shine. They contain no harmful toluene, formaldehyde, DBP and formaldehyde resin. They do not test on animals.

Never Nude is described as “a nude/champagne polish with a rainbow holographic finish.”

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while now, then you know that I’m not crazy about nude polish. But Never Nude isn’t your run-of-the-mill nude shade. The holographic particles in the polish make it really interesting.

It’s so pretty – a sophisticated take on holo.

Love the formula too.

I used two coats.

This is Your Hand In Mine.

This is described as “a soft white polish with a subtle rainbow shimmer.”

The name is perfect – it looks absolutely bridal.

The formula is lovely but it’s pretty sheer. I wasn’t sure if I could get it to become opaque. But I tried anyway.

As you can see, after three coats, I still had visible nail line.

Maybe four coats would have done it.

I think it would work great as a top coat too.

This is Vaudeville. Notice that crazy flash of glitter. This is described as “a muted lavender polish with gold and turquoise shimmer.”

That flash of glitter is more subtle on the nail.

I really like Vaudeville.

I think it’s pretty.

It’s a classy feminine shade that isn’t boring.

Lovely formula too.

I used two coats.

This is Fascination Street.

This is one of my favorites from the collection.

Because one, it’s purple.

And two, it’s not just any purple, it’s purple holo.

Fascination Street is described as “a vibrant indigo polish with a rainbow holographic finish.”

Yes, yes, that’s what it is.

Great formula – I used two coats.

This Epoch.

This is also one of my favorites.

And why wouldn’t it be?

Look at that craziness.

Cirque describes this as “a duochrome/color-shifting polish that is predominantly turquoise then changes to blue and purple at different angles.”

I also see quite a bit of black in it and I love that.

I used three coats.

This is Dark Horse.

This is described as “a unique black glitter polish with diamond-like rainbow sparkles.”

Although I have no doubt in my mind that this would work as a great glittery top coat, I wanted to try to wear it on its own too.

And after five coats, it was practically opaque.

The sparkle is crazy. Crazy crazy crazy.

I love it.

The cool thing is Dark Horse can work both ways – if you have time and patience, you can go for multiple coats and wear it on its own but if you’re in a rush and want a quick sparkle fix, you can just apply it over one of your favorite cremes.

This is Tibetan Nights.

It’s described as “a deep blue polish with micronic-sized glitter in a translucent finish.”

It’s an intense blue jelly with silver micro-glitter, bigger specks of glitter and silver bar glitter.

I really like this one too.

I like the intensity of this jelly.

I like the crazy glitter.

I like the formula too. I used three coats.

This is Ophelia.

This is “a dense glitter polish with multi-sized periwinkle glitter.”

The base is shimmery but practically sheer so I decided to layer this one over Concrete Jungle, one of my favorite RBLs.

I love it.

I love that it’s such a pretty and unique glitter color.

I think this would look fab over so many different nail polish shades.

Maybe a baby pink?

I used two coats.

This is French Roast.

It’s described as “a sparkling bronze glitter polish that reflects gold and copper.”

Like Dark Horse, I’m pretty sure this one can become opaque too if you use multiple coats.

But I chose to layer it over Chanel Madness.

But I think that was a total disservice to French Roast. I should probably have layered it over a deeper brown, one that doesn’t have so much red in it.

There is so much going on in this polish – you can even see specks of yellow and orange glitter.

I used two coats.

This is Potosi.

This is described as “a glitter overcoat packed with multi-shaped silver glitter in a clear base.”

I also see specks of gold in it.

I layered it over Dior Blue Label.

I love how those bigger glitter pieces look like mirror shards.

Really interesting.

I used two coats.

This is Trosseau.

Trosseau is “a luxe gold polish with a sprinkling of chunky gold glitter.”

I layered it over Illamasqua Boosh, one of my favorite blacks.

It also has silver shimmer in it.

The formula was nice – it’s super packed with glitter.

But I did have to fish out the bigger pieces.

I used just one coat.

And finally, Debris.

This is the twelfth and final shade from the collection.

Described as “a whimsical glitter overcoat with dark glitter in varying shapes and sizes in a clear base.”

I layered it over Illamasqua Boosh too.

This is also one of my favorites. Do you see that crazy sparkle?

Here’s a closer look.

I think this shade would look great over a lot of different colors.

I used two coats.

If you live in the Philippines and would like to pre-order any of these shades, head over to Digital Traincase. You can also find Digital Traincase on Facebook. If you live outside of the Philippines, head over to Cirque’s website.

We packed the eggs with chocolates, candies and little stubs of paper to determine their prizes. To mix things up, we also added little dares inside the eggs. Fun things like, “Kiss grandpa!” or “Shout “Happy Easter!”" or “Hug your yaya.”

We also asked the kids to paint eggs using dye, markers and watercolor. They had so much fun. And we had so much fun watching them have fun. The grownups all picked their favorite eggs and the winners received prizes too.

The egg hunt was the best part. I don’t have photos to capture the craziness but it was seriously worth all the energy and time. The kids had a blast and we did too.

To play the Easter Bunny, this is what I wore:

Isn’t that the most perfect Easter shirt you’ve ever seen? And of course my nails had to match the theme.

I used NARS Trouville, Zoya Neely, Zoya Blue, Illamasqua Wink and Illamasqua Blow for my Easter mani. To create the dots, I used the dotting tool my friend Michelle gave me. It was my first time to use the dotting tool and I had so much fun with it. Don’t be surprised if I end up dotting my next few manicures – that’s how much fun I had with it.

I have to admit though that doing all those colored dots took a bit of time. I can usually finish painting my nails in five minutes but not this time.

Now if I wanted a faster Easter-appropriate manicure, I have two other bottles in my arsenal.

They arrived in this black box.

These black boxes from Illamasqua have become one of my favorite things in the world. I know getting them can only mean good things.

And the boxes are always lovingly and creatively packed. I love the little feathers this box came with.

Inside the box were two new nail varnish colors from Illamasqua’s I’mperfection collection for Spring.

These are Scarce and Mottle.

They are part of the brand’s Speckled Nail Varnish line which includes three other colors – Fragile, a soft blue; Freckle, a soft neutral and Speckle, a soft lilac.

All five shades in this collection have a sprinkling of matte black glitter in three different sizes, giving the them a speckled effect. According to Illamasqua, this collection was inspired by “the fragility and beauty of irregular markings upon bird eggs.”

I ended up loving this collection – and not just because they can give me Easter-ready nails in a jiffy. I’ve always been a fan of Illamasqua. I love not only their products but what the brand stands for. I love how Illamasqua pushes boundaries and challenges our concepts of beauty. I love that it encourages self-expression, uniqueness, individuality and creativity. It’s a brand with heart – and that matters to me. With I’mperfection, Illamasqua continues their mission to see beyond a homogenized view of beauty. They want to inspire people to celebrate their imperfections, the very things that make them unique.

Let me quote Illamasqua:

“True beauty, we believe, lies in the individuality of the imperfections that we all have… I’mperfection is an open invitation to stand up and show the world what makes you perfectly, imperfect. We want you to highlight the features other brands encourage you to cover up and celebrate your imperfections like badges of honour. So show off your freckles. Make beauty spots more beautiful. Shine a light on your birthmarks. And be proud of your scars.”

I wasn’t just impressed by the concept behind the collection, I love the products too. I enjoyed swatching Scarce and Mottle.

Let’s start with Scarce.

Scarce is a speckled pink.

I love the contrast between the pretty shade of pink and the black specks.

I love the formula too.

I usually encounter two problems with glitter polish – it doesn’t matter if it’s one of those smaller indie brands or one of the bigger brands. One, a lot of times, especially with larger glitter, you end up having to fish them out to get the big pieces onto your nail polish brush and your nails. Two, when the glitter is set in a colored base, you usually require a lot of coats to achieve opacity. It’s a tightrope act for nail polish companies – the colored base needs to be able to become opaque but it also needs to let the glitter show through the layers. But I had none of those problems with this collection.

Somehow, Illamasqua managed to find the perfect balance – a nail polish base that becomes opaque in two coats and still lets the pretty black glitter show through.

Am I impressed?

Yes, yes I am.

This is Mottle.

Mottle is speckled green.

I love this shade of mint green.

It shouldn’t be a surprise though because I love green polish.

Mottle has the same glitter as Scarce.

Same great formula too.

I used two coats.

Visit the Illamasqua website and follow the brand on Twitter. And hurry, you still have a few hours to join Illamasqua’s Easter Egg Hunt!

Zoya Lovely for Spring 2013

I love how pretty this collection is. It’s a great mix of creme and shimmery pastels.

This is Jacqueline.

Originally created for fashion designer Peter Som, Jacqueline is described as “a full-coverage, perfect magnolia nude cream.”

It’s a light creamy warm beige – a really pretty neutral.

I love how glossy it is.

I used three coats.

This is Neely.

Also a custom shade for Peter Som, Neely is described as “a full-coverage earliest spring green.”

I love Neely so much, it’s one of my favorites from this collection.

It’s such a pretty pale green.

Love love love.

The formula was lovely.

I used three coats.

This is Blu.

Zoya describes this as “a full-coverage, soft and delicate pale baby blue.”

That’s exactly what it is.

It’s a dreamy pretty soft blue.

I love it so much.

It’s also one of my favorites from this collection.

Lovely formula and I love how glossy it is too.

This one’s super opaque.

I used two coats.

This is Piaf.

Zoya describes this shade as “a full-coverage, fresh forsythia yellow metallic.”

This shade was first made by Zoya for fashion designer Zang Toi.

Piaf is packed with iridescent shimmer.

If you’ve been resisting yellow polish because you think you can’t rock it, it might be a good idea to start with Piaf.

It’s a very wearable yellow.

Nice formula.

I used two coats.

This is GeiGei.

Like Piaf, this was a custom shade created for designer Zang Toi.

Zoya describes GeiGei as “a full-coverage, blushing cherry blossom pink metallic.”

It’s a pretty pink packed with the same silvery iridescent shimmer as Piaf.

It’s a soft and subtle feminine look that’s perfect for spring.

Lovely formula too.

I used two coats.

Sadly, we’ve reached the last shade of the collection – Julie.

Zoya describes Julie as “a full-coverage, soft wisteria purple metallic.”

It has the same finish as Piaf and GieGie – it’s packed with the same iridescent shimmer.

I love Julie so much.

It’s one of my favorites from this collection.

This shade was also made for designer Zang Toi.

I love this soft shade of purple.

It’s so pretty.

Lovely formula.

I used two coats.

]]> http://www.polishpolice.com/2013/03/29/zoya-lovely-spring-2013/feed/ 6 http://www.polishpolice.com/2013/02/21/chanel-spring-2013/ http://www.polishpolice.com/2013/02/21/chanel-spring-2013/#comments Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:02:51 +0000 pam http://www.polishpolice.com/?p=5886 Before we proceed with the swatches, here’s a quick Polish Police update: I’ve started using a new camera and because the new camera’s lens is much bigger than my previous one, it isn’t compatible with the ring light I’ve been using for years. And that means I need to figure out a new lighting setup. I consider this a blessing since I wans’t 100% happy with the ring light anyway. I will keep swatching as I figure things out. That’s the only way to ride out this transition – with pretty painted nails.

And speaking of pretty painted nails. Chanel’s Spring 2013 is out at counters and stores now, including Rustan’s, my beloved polish mecca. Chanel’s Printemps Precieux collection includes three new nail polish shades.

Am I one of the many Chanel fans who have been dreaming of more unusual releases? Yes. But did I end up loving these three colors anyway? Hell yes.

I will admit that out of the three, I thought I was going to like Emprise the least. Longtime readers of Polish Police know that I rarely wear nude shades but holy crap, Emprise is pretty.

Seriously pretty.

Emprise is a rosy beige.

In the bottle you see very subtle shimmer but it doesn’t translate on the nails.

No problems with the formula, it was nice and creamy.

I used three coats.

Fracas is a bright pink.

It’s a nice happy color that will be perfect for the upcoming beach months.

I really like it.

Like Emprise, Fracas has subtle shimmer that you can see in the bottle.

Lovely formula.

Application was problem-free.

I used two coats.

And finally, Accessoire.

Accessoire is a deep red brown.

Super dark, super vampy, super sexy.

My photos don’t show just how dark this shade is. It’s even darker in real life.

Chanel does release a lot of vampy shades but how I can I blame them? They do it so well.

Accessoire has instantly added itself to my list of vampy favorites.

In fact, I love it so much I’m still wearing it now.

Formula was fantastic too.

It applied like a dream.

I used two coats.

Chanel’s Spring 2013 Collection is now available at Rustan’s The Beauty Source.