OPI Hollywood Blonde & Twinkling Lights

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Today I'm wearing a favorite layered polish combination, OPI Hollywood Blonde topped with OPI Twinkling Lights.  I knew I needed redemption after yesterday's manicure, and that was on my mind when I came across a little plastic box of long-lost polishes that included these two.  The little box is like a time capsule from the era when I was married - I'd use the little box to bring out some polishes for the week, and I guess it just got stashed with computer stuff when we split up household stuff.  Finding things stashed is far more common in this home than you'd expect - the ex was big on packing random stuff together when I wasn't looking.  I recall one that was clothes on top, then framed family pictures and breakable memorabilia under that, and about seventeen million coffee cups and and kitchen knives under that (none of those things would even go in the same room!).

Anyhow, Hollywood Blonde, which was part of OPI's Holiday in Hollywood Collection (2007, I think), is a delicate sparkling blonde.  My bottle has a Trade Secret price tag of $7.50, and that release was right about when that price increase came, and that's the point that I decided that retail was far too much.  I begrudgingly paid it for Hollywood Blonde because she's a beauty.  Here's Hollywood Blonde in low natural light.

OPI Hollywood Blonde Nail Polish, Two Coats

The only way to improve upon Hollywood Blonde is to make it sparklier, and that's just what I did when I added two coats of OPI Twinkling Lights to it.  Twinkling Lights and her sisters were my cruel introduction to the world of OPI's Japanese releases.  You know the six reds in OPI's Holiday in Hollywood Collection?  Well in their place, Japan got more like Hollywood Blonde and  some amazing glitters (I don't recall how many of each kind offhand, but my hope that I might find them around here has been renewed).  I'd commented on a message board that they were gorgeous and it was a mean joke that they weren't available to us, and a really lovely Japanese woman contacted me to do a trade that was my all-time best and coolest.  My side was the six Japanese Hollywood shades, which she bought for me at her local beauty supply for just under $9 each including shipping (wow, I just turned into my mother, citing deals from years ago!), her side was several Tazo teas and a bunch of American cookies aimed at kids (Nutter Butters, Chips Ahoy, shopping for her was like my parents were out of town).  Everything went perfectly, and as a result I have Twinkling Lights here and I was able to provide the woman who sent them lots of happy snacks of fun teas and cookies.

Twinkling Lights is about the same hue as Hollywood Blonde, but it's a base that seems to be between a sheer and a jelly that is full of fine holo glitter and cool hex glitter.  I added two coats to Hollywood Blonde, and this is what it looks like in sunlight.

OPI Twinkling Lights over Hollywood Blonde, Two Coats Each

What I particularly love about this pairing is the unexpected nature of the combination of this really safe shade and all that glitter.  Hollywood Blonde provides more opacity and adds depth with shimmer that shows through Twinkling Lights, and although it's not especially eye-catching in indoor light (the glitter shows and all, I just mean it's not flashy), in the sun the fine glitter explodes with a bunch of light and colors and the hex glitter starts shifting color.  It's great!

That is my OPI Hollywood Blonde and Twinkling Lights redemption manicure, so until next time, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!

OPI Hollywood Blonde & Twinkling Lights

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Today I'm wearing a favorite layered polish combination, OPI Hollywood Blonde topped with OPI Twinkling Lights.  I knew I needed redemption after yesterday's manicure, and that was on my mind when I came across a little plastic box of long-lost polishes that included these two.  The little box is like a time capsule from the era when I was married - I'd use the little box to bring out some polishes for the week, and I guess it just got stashed with computer stuff when we split up household stuff.  Finding things stashed is far more common in this home than you'd expect - the ex was big on packing random stuff together when I wasn't looking.  I recall one that was clothes on top, then framed family pictures and breakable memorabilia under that, and about seventeen million coffee cups and and kitchen knives under that (none of those things would even go in the same room!).

Anyhow, Hollywood Blonde, which was part of OPI's Holiday in Hollywood Collection (2007, I think), is a delicate sparkling blonde.  My bottle has a Trade Secret price tag of $7.50, and that release was right about when that price increase came, and that's the point that I decided that retail was far too much.  I begrudgingly paid it for Hollywood Blonde because she's a beauty.  Here's Hollywood Blonde in low natural light.

OPI Hollywood Blonde Nail Polish, Two Coats

The only way to improve upon Hollywood Blonde is to make it sparklier, and that's just what I did when I added two coats of OPI Twinkling Lights to it.  Twinkling Lights and her sisters were my cruel introduction to the world of OPI's Japanese releases.  You know the six reds in OPI's Holiday in Hollywood Collection?  Well in their place, Japan got more like Hollywood Blonde and  some amazing glitters (I don't recall how many of each kind offhand, but my hope that I might find them around here has been renewed).  I'd commented on a message board that they were gorgeous and it was a mean joke that they weren't available to us, and a really lovely Japanese woman contacted me to do a trade that was my all-time best and coolest.  My side was the six Japanese Hollywood shades, which she bought for me at her local beauty supply for just under $9 each including shipping (wow, I just turned into my mother, citing deals from years ago!), her side was several Tazo teas and a bunch of American cookies aimed at kids (Nutter Butters, Chips Ahoy, shopping for her was like my parents were out of town).  Everything went perfectly, and as a result I have Twinkling Lights here and I was able to provide the woman who sent them lots of happy snacks of fun teas and cookies.

Twinkling Lights is about the same hue as Hollywood Blonde, but it's a base that seems to be between a sheer and a jelly that is full of fine holo glitter and cool hex glitter.  I added two coats to Hollywood Blonde, and this is what it looks like in sunlight.

OPI Twinkling Lights over Hollywood Blonde, Two Coats Each

What I particularly love about this pairing is the unexpected nature of the combination of this really safe shade and all that glitter.  Hollywood Blonde provides more opacity and adds depth with shimmer that shows through Twinkling Lights, and although it's not especially eye-catching in indoor light (the glitter shows and all, I just mean it's not flashy), in the sun the fine glitter explodes with a bunch of light and colors and the hex glitter starts shifting color.  It's great!

That is my OPI Hollywood Blonde and Twinkling Lights redemption manicure, so until next time, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!

Chez-Delaney Plate XL B

Good morning, Dear Reader!

As I was warming up the car to go to the post office early this morning, I was admiring my Japanese OPI DS Original in the sun (the sun returned today!), and it struck me that I didn't have the heart to remove it after one day, so I conceded that I'd just not post today.  Then I went over to the PO, and lo and behold, guess what was waiting for me?  Well, since you read the title, I don't have to give you a lot of guesses - my plates A and B from the XL series arrived, and I scurried home to check them out.

The actual plates are giant but about as thin as regular, so they'll need more delicate care not to bend.  My plate B has a dent in it that looks like something pointy fell on it from a reasonable height, but it's next to a pattern, not on it, so I'm hoping that pattern works.  Otherwise, I have 83 big tip patterns that look fine, so I can't complain too much.  I used a pattern from plate B, and I was able to get a picture in sunlight.

Chez-Delaney XL B over Japanese OPI DS Original Nail Polish in Sunlight

I can tell I'm going to love these!  For the stamping, I used the regular Konad stamper and Konad Black Pearl Special Polish.  I tried the new giant stamper for two stamps, but I don't like it yet.  The surface is a squishy silicone, and it didn't pick up as much of the image as the regular stamper, so I didn't use it.  When I was done stamping, I used a coat of Konad top coat, then a coat of Poshe.

There's nothing quite like getting a new toy, so the arrival of the plates really made me happy.  That's what I have for you today, Dear Reader, and until next time, love and nail polish to you!

Chez-Delaney Plate XL B

Good morning, Dear Reader!

As I was warming up the car to go to the post office early this morning, I was admiring my Japanese OPI DS Original in the sun (the sun returned today!), and it struck me that I didn't have the heart to remove it after one day, so I conceded that I'd just not post today.  Then I went over to the PO, and lo and behold, guess what was waiting for me?  Well, since you read the title, I don't have to give you a lot of guesses - my plates A and B from the XL series arrived, and I scurried home to check them out.

The actual plates are giant but about as thin as regular, so they'll need more delicate care not to bend.  My plate B has a dent in it that looks like something pointy fell on it from a reasonable height, but it's next to a pattern, not on it, so I'm hoping that pattern works.  Otherwise, I have 83 big tip patterns that look fine, so I can't complain too much.  I used a pattern from plate B, and I was able to get a picture in sunlight.

Chez-Delaney XL B over Japanese OPI DS Original Nail Polish in Sunlight

I can tell I'm going to love these!  For the stamping, I used the regular Konad stamper and Konad Black Pearl Special Polish.  I tried the new giant stamper for two stamps, but I don't like it yet.  The surface is a squishy silicone, and it didn't pick up as much of the image as the regular stamper, so I didn't use it.  When I was done stamping, I used a coat of Konad top coat, then a coat of Poshe.

There's nothing quite like getting a new toy, so the arrival of the plates really made me happy.  That's what I have for you today, Dear Reader, and until next time, love and nail polish to you!

Japanese OPI DS Original

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

I had another huge ENAS failure, so I didn't have anything worthwhile to show you today until some more Japanese OPI Designer Series polishes landed here.  Now I have DS Original (DS 003-JP) to show you.  Of the 3 more I found, it was the only one I could get open.  I'll tell you more about that at the end.

So Japanese DS Original... It's fabulous, and few things can top a fabulous purple holographic nail polish.  The only down side is that like our DS Original, it's sheerer than looks right tome, so I needed four coats.  On the plus side, the polish is quite thin, so that's not the usual four-coat quantity I have to let dry.  I took pictures in natural light, but there hasn't been sun in forever, so they were so washed out from the lack of light that the color wasn't even close and no holo showed, so I reverted to artificial light.

Japanese Version of OPI DS Original Nail Polish, Four Coats

Not too shabby, huh?  I'm really thrilled to bits with this one.

I mentioned I found three more - I found them on ebay for $14-$16 each.  I tried a search that I figured would either give me gold or twenty thousand meaningless results, and I struck gold.  It seems the seller was asking somewhat gauge-y prices for regular OPI DS polishes when in fact it was the Japanese version she was asking a fair price for.  They arrived without their boxes, and for some reason the seller rolled up the actual bottles in really cheap packing tape before bubble wrapping them - I guess word of the advent of screw-on lids hadn't arrived yet.  Anyhow, this super cheap tape just shreds when I try to remove it, and in the picture I'm hiding all the gross tape bits and adhesive still stuck on there.  Yuck.

I looked to see if the others were still waiting there, and they were, but it seems the seller figured out what she had.  They now indicate that they're Japanese, and the prices went up $10-$12 each, which bummed me out. I'd planned to offer a link via email to anyone who's name I might recognize, but alas, these are now about as poorly priced as those from the really shady seller.  What bothers me about that is that my seller was content with whatever profit she would get with the price I paid, but a week later she got greedy.  

However, I still think that if you want these,you should hold out for a $15-ish or better price.  The fact that a few people hold these hostage as infinitely listed Buy It Now items doesn't mean that's what they're worth at all - they just go quickly when they're fairly priced.  So save a search and patiently wait, and then you'll get what you pay for.  Or pay whatever the heck you want to - it's your money!  ☺

That's my little lecture and my nail polish for today.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!  

Japanese OPI DS Original

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

I had another huge ENAS failure, so I didn't have anything worthwhile to show you today until some more Japanese OPI Designer Series polishes landed here.  Now I have DS Original (DS 003-JP) to show you.  Of the 3 more I found, it was the only one I could get open.  I'll tell you more about that at the end.

So Japanese DS Original... It's fabulous, and few things can top a fabulous purple holographic nail polish.  The only down side is that like our DS Original, it's sheerer than looks right tome, so I needed four coats.  On the plus side, the polish is quite thin, so that's not the usual four-coat quantity I have to let dry.  I took pictures in natural light, but there hasn't been sun in forever, so they were so washed out from the lack of light that the color wasn't even close and no holo showed, so I reverted to artificial light.

Japanese Version of OPI DS Original Nail Polish, Four Coats

Not too shabby, huh?  I'm really thrilled to bits with this one.

I mentioned I found three more - I found them on ebay for $14-$16 each.  I tried a search that I figured would either give me gold or twenty thousand meaningless results, and I struck gold.  It seems the seller was asking somewhat gauge-y prices for regular OPI DS polishes when in fact it was the Japanese version she was asking a fair price for.  They arrived without their boxes, and for some reason the seller rolled up the actual bottles in really cheap packing tape before bubble wrapping them - I guess word of the advent of screw-on lids hadn't arrived yet.  Anyhow, this super cheap tape just shreds when I try to remove it, and in the picture I'm hiding all the gross tape bits and adhesive still stuck on there.  Yuck.

I looked to see if the others were still waiting there, and they were, but it seems the seller figured out what she had.  They now indicate that they're Japanese, and the prices went up $10-$12 each, which bummed me out. I'd planned to offer a link via email to anyone who's name I might recognize, but alas, these are now about as poorly priced as those from the really shady seller.  What bothers me about that is that my seller was content with whatever profit she would get with the price I paid, but a week later she got greedy.  

However, I still think that if you want these,you should hold out for a $15-ish or better price.  The fact that a few people hold these hostage as infinitely listed Buy It Now items doesn't mean that's what they're worth at all - they just go quickly when they're fairly priced.  So save a search and patiently wait, and then you'll get what you pay for.  Or pay whatever the heck you want to - it's your money!  ☺

That's my little lecture and my nail polish for today.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!  

Japanese OPI DS Design

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Today I have the last of my Japanese OPI Designer Series polishes, OPI DS Design (DS 012-JP).  This one is holographic like the others, but the holo pigment is much finer in Design.  Its main color is kind of a beige, very subdued.  The polish was a bit thinner than the others, and Design needed three coats to be good.

Japanese OPI DS Design Nail Polish, Three Coats

I really like polishes like this when I don't want something too over the top but still want something fun to peek it, like holiday gatherings (other than Christmas, as Christmas nails are my equivalent to Christmas sweaters).  DS Design's holo effect is quite strong (light bright enough to show the color washed out the holo a bit in the picture), so it's one of those that's really entertaining to play with in the light.

That's what I know this morning.  I bet I'll know a little more after some coffee, and I'd wager I'll be fully equipped to face the day after some vitamins.  Since the coffee and vitamins have yet to happen, you know what I know so far today, so until next time,  love and nail polish to you!  

Japanese OPI DS Design

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Today I have the last of my Japanese OPI Designer Series polishes, OPI DS Design (DS 012-JP).  This one is holographic like the others, but the holo pigment is much finer in Design.  Its main color is kind of a beige, very subdued.  The polish was a bit thinner than the others, and Design needed three coats to be good.

Japanese OPI DS Design Nail Polish, Three Coats

I really like polishes like this when I don't want something too over the top but still want something fun to peek it, like holiday gatherings (other than Christmas, as Christmas nails are my equivalent to Christmas sweaters).  DS Design's holo effect is quite strong (light bright enough to show the color washed out the holo a bit in the picture), so it's one of those that's really entertaining to play with in the light.

That's what I know this morning.  I bet I'll know a little more after some coffee, and I'd wager I'll be fully equipped to face the day after some vitamins.  Since the coffee and vitamins have yet to happen, you know what I know so far today, so until next time,  love and nail polish to you!  

Japanese OPI DS Couture

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I'm wearing out on the cremes this week!  I took another break from them today to wear the Japanese OPI DS Couture (DS 004-JP).  This one is a warm kind of peachy shade with the same strong rainbow holographic effect as the Japanese OPI DS Luxury.  Couture also took only two coats to be totally opaque and even, and it's also unusually smooth to the touch when dry.

Japanese OPI DS Couture Nail Polish, Two Coats

It's another great one.  The shades of the Japanese OPI DS's seem to be a little more girly, and they're far more sparkly.  I'd trade in the US versions for the Japanese in a second, given the chance.

That's just about all I have to tell you about at this early hour.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!  

Japanese OPI DS Couture

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I'm wearing out on the cremes this week!  I took another break from them today to wear the Japanese OPI DS Couture (DS 004-JP).  This one is a warm kind of peachy shade with the same strong rainbow holographic effect as the Japanese OPI DS Luxury.  Couture also took only two coats to be totally opaque and even, and it's also unusually smooth to the touch when dry.

Japanese OPI DS Couture Nail Polish, Two Coats

It's another great one.  The shades of the Japanese OPI DS's seem to be a little more girly, and they're far more sparkly.  I'd trade in the US versions for the Japanese in a second, given the chance.

That's just about all I have to tell you about at this early hour.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!  

Japanese OPI DS Luxury

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I really needed a break from cremes, so today I decided to wear the Japanese version of OPI DS Luxury (DS009-JP).  It's  a rose holographic polish with a really pronounced holo rainbow.

DS Luxury only needed two coats and it was good to go, and it's remarkably smooth to the touch when dry.  Here it is under artificial light.

Japanese OPI DS Luxury Nail Polish, Two Coats

This is another pretty that is unfairly hard to find, but it doe show up every now and then.  When it does, there are usually quite a few available, so if this is a polish you want to hunt for, it'll show up on ebay for about retail eventually.

That's it for today, Dear Reader.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!  

Japanese OPI DS Luxury

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I really needed a break from cremes, so today I decided to wear the Japanese version of OPI DS Luxury (DS009-JP).  It's  a rose holographic polish with a really pronounced holo rainbow.

DS Luxury only needed two coats and it was good to go, and it's remarkably smooth to the touch when dry.  Here it is under artificial light.

Japanese OPI DS Luxury Nail Polish, Two Coats

This is another pretty that is unfairly hard to find, but it doe show up every now and then.  When it does, there are usually quite a few available, so if this is a polish you want to hunt for, it'll show up on ebay for about retail eventually.

That's it for today, Dear Reader.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!  

OPI Sugar Cookie Pink from OPI Sweet Pink

Good evening, Dear Reader!

I'd shown you OPI's Sweet Pink Collection, the recent Japanese exclusive release, not too long ago, but I was missing Sugar Cookie Pink. Well, I finally got it, and I tried it out today.

Since it looked pretty sheer even for a jelly, I used Zoya's ridge filler because it stays kind of white. I let it dry, which takes some time, then started in with Sugar Cookie Pink (which is really an odd name, when you think of it, since sugar cookies aren't pink). After two coats, it was still almost clear, so I waited a couple of minutes and added a third coat. Still barely even pink. I ended up waiting and adding coats until I had five coats, at which point I'd completely lost interest and just wanted to get on with the day.

Of the Sweet Pink Collection, this is definitely the weakest for me.

OPI Sugar Cookie Pink Nail Polish, Five Coats

OPI Sugar Cookie Pink Nail Polish, Five Coats, Closer View

I went on with my day, and a took a look at it again about four hours after I'd finished applying it to discover that it had bubbled up far beyond the scope of anything I've seen before. My nails look like they have pink seltzer water on them. By then I had afternoon sun, took a picture, and went back to what I was doing. Take a look at the bubbles (certainly not one of my most flattering pics, but it makes a point...).

OPI Sugar Cookie Pink Nail Polish, Five Coats, Chock Full o' Bubbles

I've used five coats of polish before, either because the nail polish was high maintenance or in layering, and have never seen anything like this. I don't know if it was the different base coat, just Sugar Cookie Pink (other pics I've seen didn't look like this!), or what, but I've just never seen this happen before. I was middle level not-thrilled when I finished applying it, but now that it looks like this, I'm distinctly displeased... Since it was a hassle to get hold of, I'll try it once more with my usual base coat and a soft white under it so I don't need so many coats, I think.

That's my strange little nail polish story for you. I hope I don't have another one to tell soon!

Until tomorrow, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!

OPI Sweet Pink Collection

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

I'm back with more OPI exclusives, this time OPI's Japanese exclusive Sweet Pink Collection. Unfortunately, only three of the four colors arrived, but the good news is that the missing one, Sugar Cookie Pink, is that to which I was least looking forward. It looks like it's just a pink jelly. So that'll either show up eventually or not, we'll see...

In the meantime, I have the other three for you. They all were three coaters for me, applied well, and have a great shimmer. One had the weirdest wonky brush I've had yet - it had one long hair with a knot in the end of it. I gave it a haircut, and it was fine.

Pink Caramel is a light brown, almost duochrome, slightly sheer, and it's shimmer is really strong.

OPI Pink Caramel Nail Polish, Three Coats

Pink A Peach is a delicate slightly pink peach, also with a strong shimmer.

OPI Pink A Peach Nail Polish, Three Coats

Pink Cupcake was the one that prompted me to seek these out, and is better than I'd hoped. It's a lively pink with an incredible shimmer. It's also just a tiny but sheer.

OPI Pink Cupcake Nail Polish, Three Coats

OPI's Sweet Pink Collection is better than I'd hoped. If Sugar Cookie Pink pans out, I might be happily surprised with that one as well.

That's all for today, Dear Reader. Until tomorrow, love and nail polish to you!

Anna Sui Dolly Girl Nail Polish Sets

Happy Halloween, Dear Reader!

I'm not a huge Halloween person, or holiday person, for that matter, so I have something entirely unrelated to Halloween for you today. Today, we have the limited edition Anna Sui Dolly Girl nail polish sets.

These are available on Sasa, but I found them for a lot less in Singapore. Alas, the source in Singapore no longer has them.

There are two sets (conveniently named 01 and 02), and each consists of three downsized Anna Sui polishes, nail art decals, and a little doll house box for them. The polishes aren't too mini - they're 6ml rather than Anna Sui's usual 10 ml.

This is Dolly Girl Nail Set 01.

Anna Sui Dolly Girl Nail Polish Set 01

This is Dolly Girl Set 02.

Anna Sui Dolly Girl Nail Polish Set 02

For today's manicure, I used two coats of 106 topped with one coat of 008, and my nails smell all Anna Sui rosy. It's the new rosy though, where it smells good rather than the overpowering scent of the older ones.

Anna Sui Dolly Girl Nail Polish, One Coat 008 over Two Coats 106

So I'm not Halloween-y today, but I have sparkly nails that smell like roses, so I couldn't complain if I wanted to...

That's what I have for you today, Dear Reader. Until next time, love and nail polish to you!

Anna Sui & Jill Stuart: Scented Nail Polish

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I'd planned to show you one nail polish today, Anna Sui #003, and discovered there were a couple more I'd forgotten to show to you. So today I have Japanese glitter nail polish that smells good.

The one for today, Anna Sui #003, is silver and holo glitter in a black base. Anna Sui nail polish smells like roses, and it seems that in the new bottles, the scent has been toned down quite a bit so it's no longer overwhelming. This is Anna Sui #003.

Anna Sui Nail Polish #003, Two Coats

The next one is a purpley base with multi colored glitter, Anna Sui #203.

Anna Sui Nail Polish #203, Two Coats

Last is Jill Stuart Planet Glaze, which smells lightly of lilacs and baby powder. This one, I think is a new and improved version of Essie Starry Starry Night. Here's two coats of Planet Glaze.

Jill Stuart Nail Polish Planet Glaze, Two Coats

These are just a few Japanese glitter nail polishes that smell pretty. Apparently, manufacturers are under the impression that Americans do not like things that sparkle and smell nice. At least in my case, they're wrong - I love them!

That's all for now, Dear Reader. Until next time, love and nail polish to you!

Jill Stuart Diamond Sparkle Nail Collection

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

Today I have Jill Stuart's 5th Anniversary limited edition nail polish collection for you, The Diamond Sparkle Collection.

It's a set of three nail polishes that come in this mirrored glass box.

Jill Stuart 5th Anniversary Diamond Sparkle Nail Collection

Here's a peek inside of the box.

Jill Stuart 5th Anniversary Diamond Sparkle Nail Polish Collection

The colors inside are all glitters, all two coaters. Here they are.

The white is Brilliant Diamond.

Jill Stuart 5th Anniversary Brilliant Diamond Nail Polish, Two Coats

The black is Secret Diamond.

Jill Stuart 5th Anniversary Secret Diamond Nail Polish, Two Coats

The pink is Lovely Diamond.

Jill Stuart 5th Anniversary Lovely Diamond Nail Polish, Two Coats

The little stones in each of the bottle caps match the polish, and each polish is scented, smelling lightly of baby powder and lilacs. This is the girliest nail polish collection ever!

Until tomorrow, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!