The Darling of Fall

I’m pretty sure Bahama Mama by Essie is quite possibly one of the most universally adored fall nail polishes ever, and today we combo’d it with Sally Hansen’s Xtreme Wear polish in Strobe Flash from their fall 2013 collection:

From left to right: CND Stickey, Orly Top-2-Bottom top and base coat, Essie Bahama Mama, and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Strobe Flash

For this lovely little result:

Sophisticated, yet fun,

This is actually the first time I have used Strobe Flash since I bought it, and I’m diggin’ it. I’m not usually a fan of bar glitter, but this one works. It’s completely matte, and has a fun polka dot effect. Bahama Mama, of course, is that quintessential lovely, plummy wine color that everyone reaches for in fall. Together, it says “sophisticated fall look, with a splash of awesome.”

It’s Like Buttah

The first time I ever picked up a Butter London nail polish, I was all “OOOH, PRETTY.” And then I looked at the price tag, and put it back as I laughed hysterically. I told myself that never, ever would I spend $15 on a nail polish. 

But then Tati, aka GlamLifeGuru came along, and once fall started she was constantly wearing Butter London’s Brown Sugar. And after she gushed about it, and I watched her wear it for weeks on end, I simply had to have it. I don’t regret the purchase even one tiny bit – it is beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a polish like this, and believe me, I perused polish racks and blogs for weeks trying to find a dupe before I caved in.

Behold the beauty: 

I lurve it.

Pretty!

I’m not normally one for browns and reds and oranges and golds – we’ve talked about my love of cool neutrals before. I’m a winter, not a summer, etc, etc. But this polish is incredible. Forget duo chrome – this is like 20 (okay, 4) colors in one. I tried to get the light to strike it in the picture, so that you could possibly see that it changes between brown, gold, a deep red and orange depending on the light, but I still don’t think the picture does it does justice. The best part is, even though the polish is comprised entirely of fine glitters, this stuff does not remove the way normal glitter polishes do – aka, like hell. As usual, I paired it with my Orly Bonder base coat and Orly top-2-bottom base coat, and it’s lasting power is ah-mazing. 

So, if you have a bit of money burning a hole in your pocket, try this out. I just hope I don’t find any other colors as incredible as this in their line – that could get expensive.

All That Glitters is Rose Gold

I’ve officially hopped on the rose gold bandwagon, ya’ll.

This is surprising to me. I hate yellow gold. Sort of hate it on other people (just on principle), really hate it on myself. Part of this is probably due to the fact that everything about my natural coloring is cool-toned, from my skin to my eyes to my hair. I tend to stick to a color palette that consists of black, gray and blue. If I’m feeling especially sass-ay I may throw in some white or cool purples. Me and cool neutrals: we’re BFFs. We text for hours every day, we braid each other’s hair, we have slumber parties and gossip about those horrid browns and oranges. We have a thing.

I own one – count ’em – one piece of yellow gold jewelry. One single, solitary gold glitter nail polish top coat. And that is about the extent of my love for yellow gold. But rose gold? … I think it’s growing on me.

Exhibit A: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Gold Roses from their fall 2013 by Tracy Reese. It’s a beautiful rose gold with a metallic finish – and it’s a TRUE rose gold. It’s not copper, it’s not yellow gold with a tinge of pink. It’s rose gold.

Best part? This is with only one coat. It’s the little things.

This polish is vying with Orly’s Rage for top contender in rose gold nail polish. Also, can we talk about the brush in this nail polish? I love this brush. I want to save one of these brushes, wash it off, and save it to use each time I apply any polish. It’s the perfect shape, and coats my nail in two swipes.

Here’s all the polishes used in today’s look!

I topped my ring finger with a few coats of Essie’s LuxEffect in A Cut Above. I like to think my love for glitter makes up for how boring the rest of my ensemble usually is. Right?