Polish Your Holiday Wardrobe With These Holiday Lacquers

One of my favorite things about the holidays (besides gift giving of course) is all the celebrating! And every celebration demands the perfect holiday look—right down to our nail polish. China Glaze professional nail lacquers come in many festive colors and I soon realized that holiday nails can go beyond the traditional poinsettia red color. I got to test out a few and fell in love with this season’s options. Now let me spread some holiday cheer as I give you the low down on China Glaze’s seasonal lacquers.

“Drastic” is the perfect holiday red that will complement any party outfit. Two coats gave me a deep red that is dark enough without losing its cheery brightness. Applying this polish was so surprisingly easy and it went on more evenly than most Essie polishes I have tried. The formula is also packed with hardeners so you don’t have to worry about your nails becoming brittle.

Green is the next obvious choice for this holiday season and I am so excited to see this color on nails. “Outta Bounds” is great color to add a unique, personal twist to any look. But let the nail polish be the boldest holiday color or else you might look more like an ornament than a trendy partygoer. I’m also a big fan of China Glaze’s brushes. They are loaded with substantial bristles that provide great coverage and allow the nail polish to go on smoothly without any bubbles or blemishes.

Warm chocolate brown is anything but boring. “IX” is a rich, dark brown that is a softer alternative to black but still keeps the overall look edgy and on-trend. It’s an unexpected color that reminds me of hot chocolate…and chocolate chip cookies….maybe even wood for the fire! After one coat, I was amazed at the opaque coverage and two coats yielded perfection. Dark colors are sometimes hard to apply without smudging into cuticles, but China Glaze’s formula isn’t runny but is thick enough to give you more control as you apply.

“White Out” looks just like the bottle of correction fluid that its name implies. One coat left my nails still sheer, but two coats gave me an opaque, snow-white color. Perfect for capturing the essence of a first snow fall but cut nails on the shorter side to keep this look more subtle than sloppy.

If you want to let your outfit do all the talking this year, then China Glaze has your nails covered with “Inner Beauty,” a light pink that makes me think of The Nutcracker’s graceful ballerinas. The sheer formula allows you to vary the intensity of the color. One coat gives barely-there coverage while two will give a pretty pink that won’t distract from any show-stopping outfits.

They retail at $5.99. You can find more nail polishes from China Glaze at Sally Beauty.

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

Erin Simpson

product reviews

At-Home Manicure With Duri Nail Polishes Contest Winner Announced

The "At-Home Manicure With Duri Nail Polishes" contest ended yesterday. And, we'd like to give a special thanks to everyone who participated. To assure that everyone had a fair chance of winning, we pooled all entries using Random.org. With that said, let's announce the winner!

Congratulations to the following:
NikkiBelk

NikkiBelk said.. My nail polish would be called "Purple Rain". It would be a tribute to the 1980's movie staring Prince. With everyhting being so retro I think it would be a hit. The color consistency would be a midnight purple and blue matte. Can you say "DIVA"!

You've won a free set of 6 Duri Nail Polishes in Trophy Wife, Slum Dog Millionaire, Money Don't Make Me, Formula For Success, and Luxury Time and Million Dollar Baby to 1 lucky Fashion Circle follower. Valued at $30!. Please send your full name and mailing info to contest@fashionwithfifi.com to redeem your prize.



"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"
Suzanna

Essie - Polishes That Never Fail To Impress

I have always been a huge fan of Essie nail polishes. You always know to expect high quality nail polishes in trendy innovative colors. That kind of product reliability is irresistible to me and has made me a loyal patron of these polishes. So when I got to try out an eclectic mix of new colors by the essie brand, needless to say, I was pretty excited!

First, I tried out an electric orange and a neon pink. When I first saw these brightly colored bottles, I was intrigued. And then, when I applied it and let my nails dry, I was shocked by the matte finish. It is so surprising and unexpected with such bold colors—in a good way!

‘Bright Tights’ is an amazing orange color that will add a pop of fun color where you least expect it. Since it has a matte finish, the color is a little more muted than it appears in the bottle. The consistency is a little bit thin, so I applied three thin coats to get a bright orange without any streaks. I absolutely loved how the matte finish looks when it dried!

‘Pink Parka’ is a neon pink polish whose matte finish makes it so interesting to look at! In the bottle, it looks like a shiny, Barbie-pink polish, but when it dries, the matte finish adds a whole new level of sophistication. The formula was a bit thin and took a bit of concentration in order to eliminate streaks and get an even, consistent finish. I applied three thin coats of this color as well and just adored the results!

‘Mink Muffs’ reminds me more of an exfoliating mud mask than an exotic fur. The rich, dark brown color is a nice alternative to the usual blacks, purples, and blues. Just two coats gave me a perfectly smooth, opaque finish that looks very professional. I personally love mixing black with brown accents, so I can see this color being the perfect accent to your favorite little black dress.

‘Chinchilly’ might perhaps be my newest obsession of the season. I have been craving a gray nail polish that strikes the impossible balance between too dark and too light. And I found exactly that with ‘Chinchilly’! I love that the color has a slight green tint to it, making it a little more interesting than the more traditional gray polishes. After two coats, I got a beautiful opaque gray that is so reminiscent of preppy Catholic school uniforms.

'Midnight Cami’ is the inkiest of navy blues that I have ever come across! I could have stopped with one coat, that’s how dark the polish is! The polish applied really well and I even found the thicker consistency easier to apply and avoid my cuticles. However, you will definitely need to use a base coat because the polish stained both my nails and cuticles an unsightly blue when I removed it. Other than that, this color is a great alternative to black polish!

essie nail polishes are available in a plethora of colors, which you can examine at your leisure here. Each bottle is $8.00 and is available either online or in select salons as listed on their site. Product Review

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

Product Reviewz Erin Simpson

Product Review: Get An At-Home Manicure With Duri Nail Polishes

To me, trying on a new nail polish is like opening presents on Christmas morning. There is always that element of suspense where you wonder what exactly you will be getting. Colors inevitably transfer onto your nails differently and finding the right hue can be infinitely challenging.

I tried out a variety of colors by Duri, a Brooklyn-based company that produces nail polishes in bold, new colors. The colors ranged from light pink to lavender to deep red, so there’s a hue to suit any taste. I was very impressed with the smooth, rich formula. Two coats of each color was all it took to get a perfect, even finish. Getting uniform, even coverage that rivals a salon manicure is an elusive goal for me, but I found it refreshingly easy with these polishes. Check out these six great colors!

‘Silver Spoon’ is a light pink that looks as rich as its name implies. Two coats gave me a great sheer look while three gave me an opaque pink. I really like the versatility of the color and the subtle pink looks great with any outfit!

For a lavender look that is so reminiscent of spring, try ‘Penny Saved Penny Earned.’ What I love the most about this color is that it dries to an almost matte finish. The hue adds a sweet, pretty touch that won’t overpower any look.

‘Dress to Impress’ is a darker purple that has a lot more intensity than its lavender counterpart. These two purple shades are an interesting alternative to the usual deep, dark purples and reds that line most salon shelves. The finish is not too shiny but goes on true to color in just two coats.

I absolutely love the images that ‘Rags to Riches’ evokes as soon as you apply it. The dark, romantic color is the perfect departure from purple to brown and I bet even Charles Dickens would have loved this color!

When I applied ‘Party Like a Rock Star’ I was shocked by the bright red color that came out of the bottle—in a good way! Of all the other colors, this formula went on the smoothest and did not leave a single blemish or bubble on my nails. Seriously, picture your favorite vampire villain and this blood-red polish will not disappoint!

‘Social Ladder’ is very similar to ‘Party Like a Rock Star’ in color, but it had an added shimmer that made the finish slightly iridescent. This red was shiny without being too glitzy and would look perfect for the holiday season.

The Contest

Duri Cosmetics often give their polishes catchy names, and even naming them after movies. If you had the chance of creating a nail polish for Duri Cosmetics, what movie would it be named after and why? Also, describe the color. Would the polish have a matte, gloss, or suede finish? We'd like to know, get creative and describe your polish.

The Prizes

Fashionwithfifi.com is giving away a set of 6 Duri Nail Polishes in Trophy Wife, Slum Dog Millionaire, Money Don't Make Me, Formula For Success, and Luxury Time and Million Dollar Baby to 1 lucky Fashion Circle follower. Valued at $30!

Official Rules

1) To enter you must first be a member of the free to join "Fashion Circle" and be subscribed to Fashionwithfifi.com. Click Here: If you aren't already a free subscriber. Email subscriptions must be confirmed.

2. Next, leave a comment in this post telling us what movie would your polish be named after and why? Describe the color. Fashionwithfifi.com wants to know.

3) Shipping is Free to all U.S. subscribers. Foreign subscribers will have to pay for shipping.

4) Contest runs from now - Monday, November 2, 2009, through Monday, November 9, 2009 11:59 PM est. Winner will be announced on here on Fashionwithfifi.com on Tuesday, November, 10, 2009.

5) You must be 18 years or older to enter. Under 18 will need a parent's consent.

6) Shipping to P.O. Box is fine.

7) Winner will be chosen at random from the comments left on this post by subscribers and Fashion Circle members. Enter today and bon chance!

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

Erin Simpson

Product Review: Sally Hansen's new HD High-Definition Nail Color Collection

When I first saw Sally Hansen's new I have to admit, I was a little skeptical. I mean, Electric Yellow? Teal? Iridescent Purple? Are people really going to wear these colors?


After applying two coats, I instantly realized that Sally Hansen is right; these High-Definition colors are truly the next generation of nail polishes. Using advanced technology to create long-lasting color, these eight polishes (ranging from yellow to purple) will keep their luster while remaining intact longer. The non-sticky formula makes it easy to apply and minimize any mistakes. Also, the iridescent finish give your nails more depth and a major boost of shine. The colors are definitely eye-catching. What's even better is that every shade appears true to it's color. Finally, a nail polish that takes care of all the guess work! Although I had to push myself out of my comfort zone with these mega-watt colors, I'm now proud to call myself a believer! After a careful and thorough review, here are my top four picks. Enjoy!!

This neon green , aptly named 'Hi Def', looks just as bright on my nails as it does in the bottle. It has a nice, subtle sheen and I love how it reflects the light! I plan to wear it with summery floral dresses as long as I can. When the weather gets cooler, the green will add an unexpected pop of color to any outfit!

Lite ,' an intense yellow , might be a bold choice, considering my pale skin, but I just love the lemony, citrus shade ! Again, its a perfect shade for summer. Its also versatile enough to wear anywhere; during any season. This color will pair up perfectly with a flirty slip dress or make a statement with a conservative suit at the office.

This fall I'm officially going to swap out my old, burgundy stand-by polish for 'Pixel Pretty' . Since my winter wardrobe consists of deep, rich-colored sweaters and basic, dark jeans, this teal shade will totally amp up my look! I love how this blue-green color instantly makes my mind wander to warm, tropical oceans....

Always a creature of habit, I have inevitably saved the best for last. I've always been a sucker for hot pink and 'Digital ' definitely takes the cake! It's smooth, non-sticky formula is so easy to apply that I literally finished painting both hands in less than two minutes - which is a major feat in my book! Any product that saves time and looks fabulous will quickly become one of my new favorite obsessions!

Sally Hansen's new colors are definitely a statement worth building an outfit around! And, at only $5.95 a bottle, these polishes are a steal. Look for the complete line of colors at Walgreens . However if you'd like to try your luck, Sally Hansen is having a cool sweepstakes in which you can win not only some of these polishes but also a huge HD TV.

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

Erin