Good morning, friends. I hope you’re having a good weekend so far. I’m sitting here at my desk, playing with nail polish and surfing the Net for beauty news.
Check out Essie’s fall polish line ($8 each). Keeping in character for fall, the collection features deep plum, berry and cherry shades that look good enough to eat (I’m always hungry, LOL!).
Sometimes I shy away from uber-dark shades because of how obvious it can be when they chip, so I’m glad Essie decided not to go too vampire dark with these colors.
- Big Spender: Light purple
- Forever Young: Vivid orange-red
- Lacy Not Racy: Deep burgundy
- No Boundaries: Dark plum
- Swept Off My Feet: Rose pink
- Tomboy No More: Deep red
Essie Weekend Giveaway
This should be fun. I’m giving away a full set of all six shades of Essie Fall 2008 this weekend. To qualify, just leave a comment with your favorite nail polish shade of all time and why you like it. I’ll choose the winner at random after I get home from work on Monday afternoon.
UPDATE: Entries are now closed. Congrats to reader Lucky for winning! She chose her nickname well!
Big Spender
Forever Young
Lacy Not Racy
No Boundaries
Swept Me Off My Feet
Tomboy No More
I’m so glad it’s Saturday… Later this afternoon I’m heading to Bloomingdale’s in the City for a MAC Studio Talk session/class. I expect to hear plenty about the Cult of Cherry collection and can’t wait to see all of the quads and lipsticks.
I hope it’s a hands-on class like the Chanel master class a few weeks ago. If you have any MAC questions about Cult of Cherry or anything else, leave them for me in the comments, and I’ll do my best to get you an answer from the MAC people while I’m there.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
OPI’s Yoga-ta Get This Blue! Perfect brush, consistency, and colour. Gorgeous, and it looks completely different in direct light and in the shade. (And, to top it all off, it has never chipped on me!)
Raes last blog post..Seattle trip hauls!
OPI You’re a Pisa Work this is my all time favorite.
It looks so nice on my nails and doesnt chip.
Thank you!
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
My favorite nail polish would be Sugar Plum Fairy at Ulta, b.c I am a struggling typical college student so i cant afford nice manicures and nice polish so i make do with wat i can! Usually i do my nails when i dont have finals coming up hahah!
Thanks KAREN
I would have to say that OPI “skinny dippin’ in lake michigan” is my favorite shade! It is the perfect neutral (so far!) for me, when I wear it, it makes my fingers look more slender and the overall look is so polished. It looks great on toes as well!
(not sure if i qualify as I live a million billion miles away but its fun anyway!!)
My all time favourite nail polish has to be the classic Rouge Noir by Chanel I love how glamorous the deep rich red looks and how it is immediately noticable when you see it on somebody else and you give each other that knowing look like you are both part of an unspoken club haha!!
OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark on my toes. Chic, simple, but dramatic — just like me!
OPI’s nail lacquer in “Cajun Shrimp” is one of the few nail polishes I own, but it’s definitely my favorite 🙂 My friend got it for me for my last birthday because she said it looked like my personality in a bottle, lol! It’s definitely not an everyday color but it’s fun to use in the summer at least!!
My favourite nail colour ever is this dark purple I got from someone. I just have great memories (but also a tad sad ones) from taht shade. It’s the shade I wore when I saw my cousin for the last time before he died. I had it on my toenails and I remember him suddenly saying: your toes are purple!!! His face! It was brilliant. Like he thought I had bruises on all of my toes. The little angel.
I’d have to say my favourite is Zoya Yasmeen. It’s an intense, shimmery blackened purple with lots of depth, and wearing it always makes me feel a little badass.
My fave would have to be “Atomic Orange” by OPI…simply because someone once told me that brown girls can’t wear bright colors…its just to prove them wrong that I am fabulous in ANY color…especially atomic orange.
😀
Zoya Elodie, it’s pretty new but it such a pretty poppy color that it always puts me in a good mood!!!
Alright, I have to be boring and admit that every Beauty Editors’ fave nail polish is my favorite as well–Essie’s Mademoiselle! It’s a gorgeously layerable baby pink, perfect for looking rich bitch chic! I can’t wait to pick up a few fall colors however, and the Big Spender new from Essie above looks like a likely choice!
I am loving Avon’s new one Teal Waters. It’s so pretty! I actually like all 4 that came out with the Tahitian Holiday collection.
My favorite shade is OPI’S more time for me! It is sooo pretty 🙂 It almost looks like the swept me off my feet color you have pictured here!
Lydias last blog post..Burt’s Bee’s Review
Loving these colors!
My fave polish is Exclusive from the OPI designer series. It’s a gorgeous shimmery purpley fuchsia with rainbow flecks (although the website says it’s a “deep amethyst satin”). Love the prowide brush. When I get a car, I’m taking this bottle to a paint shop and having them try to match it!
Yes, I want the most obnoxious car in the lot.
OPI Strawberry Fields. So pretty on my toes this summer!!
i can’t choose LOL.. i have too many that I love, and I do get quite attached to most of them. Like you know how some people remember events by what they were wearing? for me its nail polish.. i recall events by what nail polish i wear lol weird, i know. how are the application on these essies? some of the essie polishes just don’t agree with me.. anyways, have a good weekend!
OPI’s Kreme de la Kremlin is my favorite shade. Not only is it a beautiful classy pink, but its name makes me think of my visit to Russia (one of my passions) every time I use it.
OMG I love that last one!
My Saturday was gonna be pretty great, I had plans to stay in and watch “The Kings of Comedy” but when I checked my Crackberry this morning, I found out that the funniest one and my fave comedian, Bernie Mac, died 🙁 I’m still gonna watch it, though!
Luckys last blog post..OMG…GMO
what’s the name of the top middle color? it’s gorgeous!
hmm i’d have to say my favorite nail polish is “quarter of a cent-cherry” by opi. it’s my go-to color when i want to feel glamorous 🙂
Hi-I love OPI’s I’m Not Really a Waitress. Perfect red for me. Not too blue, not too orange. Plus, waitressing is in my blood. 🙂
Bearsmama
I’ll say Ginger from Zoya. Very orange with gold sparkle.
Hey hun,
I sent it throught the Chanel site. So it should say that Saniya sent you something from Chanel blah blah.
I emailed it at the address u have listed on the site!! 🙁 Let me know if u see it in your inbox.
Or just email me and I’ll email u back
saniyairshad@gmail.com
xox♥
i♥makeups last blog post..Visiting IIFA 2008 with Senior M.A.C Artist Pornpichit
I love OPI’s Big Apple Red and Princesses Rule. I love the look of classic red nail polish. I also love Princesses Rule because its such a gorgeous sparkly pink color. My nails always look so pretty when I wear it. I get complimented so much when I wear either Big Apple Red or Princesses Rule. It lifts my spirit so much when I get complimented on my nails when I’m having a bad day.
Oh my god, I think I’m in looooove with “Swept Me Off My Feet” and “No Boundaries.” They are stunning! (Also, Karen, you have gorgeous cuticles. They’re so clean and moisturised! lol)
My favourite polish shade ever is YSL’s Black Tulip. I think it was a limited edition from last year’s holiday collection. I love all kinds of dark nails, but this deep purple is a little something different to the usual reds, blacks and browns that you see in the winter. I’m completely obsessed with it, and I ALWAYS get compliments when I rock this one!
I like the swept off my feet shade! The weird thing is I almost always wear summer colors, no matter what time of year!
ooh. definitely ‘don’t socra-tease me” by essie. it makes me look so tan! yay 🙂
OPI’s I’m Not Really a Waitress. It looks good on toes and fingers and isn’t too shimmery.
I love OPI “Mimosas for Mr. & Mrs.” I’m a sucker for pale pinks and creams on my nails and this one brings out my summer tan perfectly on my feet. And I loove OPI’s wide brushes– I’m glad someone finally got a clue about nail polishes.
I agree with Kristen. My favorite shade is OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark. I have gone through so many bottles of the color and I always get tons of compliments on the color!
Oh man, I swear to God I have similar shades of red/burgundy back in the day. I hope I didn’t throw them out yet because red is so in this year. Actually today I was so tempted to get a red lipstick but I’m afraid I don’t look good with it. How’s your day been? And how’s my favorite kitty? He’s thisclose to dethrown Garfield 🙂 I think I have a thing for chunky cats hehe
Daos last blog post..TGIF FOTD!
My favorite is OPI’s Lincoln Park at Midnight. It’s pretty dark, but I love it. And it’s a tad lighter than LP after dark.
This is a FANTASTIC giveaway – thanks for hosting:) These shades all look gorgeous. I’m so ready for Fall to officially begin!
Love Essie Mademoiselle just because it’s a nice neutral shade!
Big Spender caught my heart! i am in love!
Nikkis last blog post..Askmewhats Version: "Evil Twin" Look
Chanel Pink Satin is definitely my HG nail polish. It’s delicate pink color goes with EVERYTHING! The Chanel formula has proven — for me, at least — to be chip-proof, and color is so pure even with just one coat! [On a side note, I picked up LA Sunrise from the exclusive Robertson collection. It’s a very bold and very bright yellow, and it’s gorgeous! I haven’t worn it on my fingernails yet, but I’ve been enjoying the pop of color on my toes!]
Tieras last blog post..Gratitude Journal 08.08.08
Hey Karen! Will you let us know how that MAC Studio lesson went? By the way, how did you find out about it?
Wow, this is a hard decision! I think I’m going to say Swept Me Off My Feet is my fav, but then, I also love the way Big Spender looks too! 😀 They’re all cute!
Mariahs last blog post..080808080808
Have fun at MAC! Make sure you get the scoop for us.
Those Essie colors look fabulous!
My favorite nail polish would have to be Chanel’s Vamp. It was the first high end nail polish that I tried and it made me feel glamorous!
Marisols last blog post..Work Pet Peeves
Hi Karen!
I love your blog, it always brightens my day and has great info on all the products I love!
My favorite nail polish has to be Essie’s mademoiselle, it always makes my nails look clean, healthy and manicured yet still natural. If I don’t have much time I just sweep on one coat it dries in seconds and it looks amazing! If I have more time I love to do a french manicure with Essie’s Marshmallow on my tips, It always looks proffessional even though its quick to do (base coat, one coat of each and a top coat) and lasts for ages!
Love the new essie colours for autumn (I’m from the UK) I can’t decide between no boundaries and swept me off my feet, thanks for the great swatches!
One color that I’ve been loving for almost the past six months is Sally Hansen’s Salon nail polish in Feverish Rose. It’s pretty similar to OPI’s Indi-a Mood for love. It’s a really bright, happy pink which I’ve been wearing all summer long. It looks great with my skin tone. I also like the fact that it’s really bright, but not obnoxiously so. It’s definitely work appropriate, but still really fun. Plus, it’s pink. Pink is classic and I can wear it year round.
I also try to set aside some time each weekend for a home manicure and pedicure. Choosing a polish is an extended ritual, with at least 4 and sometimes 5 shades swatched on individual nails. One shade that’s been in constant rotation is OPI Elephantastic Pink, but I started passing that over for hot orange shades somewhere around mid-July. OPI My Daddy’s the King is a shade I’m sure I’ll buy over and over again. For me, it’s a perfect workday shade. But I think in my heart of hearts, my favorite shade right now is China Glaze Turned up Turquoise. (And Essie Sexy Red Bag is a newly found favorite!) How’s that for indecision?
My all time favorite is probably Milani Pyramid Passion because it’s a great hot pink color. Lately I’ve also really been liking China Glaze Frostbite – I’m a sucker for very bright polishes – great for pedis!
I know it’s not really original but I love Essie Mademoiselle… it is so neutral and doesn’t look terrible when my left hand shakes while I’m painting my right hand:)
opi Lincoln Park after dark is my all time fav i really like the dark vampy nail and these essie colors for fall look really gorgeous!
Wow the fall collections are already here, and I haven’t even used all my summer purchases!
My fave would have to be Zoya Indigo, a dark blue with soft shimmers. It’s different enough even for the most conservative event–if on toes 😀
Ahh I love Tomboy No More it’s such a lovely shade of red. To me reds look so classic and elegant, when I wear them I feel as though I am a hollywood scarlet from the 1960’s.
I really like to change up nail polishes (I’m loving the yellows right now) and try a lot of new things but the only polish that I always have to have on hand and keep in my makeup bag is a good clear polish. I actually have pretty nice nails so I like to let them show instead of hiding them with color. A few coats of clear polish just gives them a nice shine and makes me look put together without having to use an obvious color.
Oooo this is a tough one… I change my polish quite often, so I have a lot of favorites. But I think my all time fav is OPI Route Beer Float. It is SO flattering on my skin tone. They don’t make it now though, so I stockpiled a bunch of bottles!
Essie’s Anniversary Gala is just so perfect for every day–sheer pink with a dusting of iridescent green shimmer. It always looks clean, healthy, and shiny. Plus, it’s very forgiving when it comes to chips and smudges.
ooooo….tough choice. I think I’d have to go with Liquid Vinyl by Orly. I have had a weird obsession with black nail polish for the past year (which is odd as I love color) and this shade doesn’t chip very easily, and looks very shiny (esp. after you top it with Orly’s shiny top coat). I heart it! 🙂
Vamp is my favorite nail polish. I wasn’t ready for black so it was the perfect way to try a dark nail polish without going all the way
It would have to be teal waters by Avon. It’s a recent shade, but it’s the ONLY green/funky shade I can wear and not feel self conscious about. It is a soothing, but cool shade and it lasts for 10 days with a topcoat and is cheap, cheap, cheap.
My favorite polish has got to be OPI Lincoln park after dark- its so chic on shorter nails, and looks edgy cool when it chips. Its the perfect polish for a New Yorker like me!
The fall collection looks amazing! Big Spender kind of reminds me of Secret Stash, but No Boundaries! It looks like an amazing berry shade. Can’t wait to try Lacy Not Racy and Sweep Me Off My Feet too!
My favorite shade is probably Nars’ Arabesque. I only tried it on once at the store, but I’ve been looking for that perfect combination of creamy pink ever since! The gold glitter look sophisticated, not tacky too.
betsys last blog post..Foie-gras this!
essie mademoiselle…its the perfect go to nail polish…it will never go out of style
can’t wait for the mac news! lucky girl.
Ok, I feel the same way about nailpolish as I do makeup so it’s hard for me to pick ONE favorite, LOL. RIght now I’m going to say Zoya Tart-love it because it’s a gorgeous, slightly shimmery royal blue. Bright, fun and funky toesies!
Favorite hasss to be….
NYC Skintight Denim- its a gorgeous dark blue, for only 1 dollar!
After years of not wearing polish, a coupla years ago I decided I wanted a brown polish. I found “Espresso your style” from OPI. It was quite a dark change from my bare nails, but I loved it. I am so ready for fall colors already!
My favorite nail polish of all time was by Toma. I still have the bottle, which I bought over five years ago. The label with the color name has long rubbed off the bottle. I think it was called Vixen. It is a deep, rich purple – nearly black. It would stay on without chipping for a month on my toes.
Jennifers last blog post..Footbinding and Chinese Lotus Shoes
That would be Sally Hansen Salon “Sultry Fuschia” – it provides a glossy finish and is great for tips and toes all summer long! At 40% off at Longs while vacationing in Honolulu, I couldn’t go wrong.
Hey Karen,
Given that it’s common knowledge that I suck at choosing favorite beauty products (I like to think that I love them all equally), I politely demand to know what your favorite nail polish is once this poll ends! But since the offer is too tempting I’ll choose the one and only nail polish I never fail to use: Revlon’s Blackberry. It has a gorgeous coppery, surprisingly non-berry toned finish that always gets me noticed and elicits compliments from random strangers no matter what the lighting of the room. The only downside is that it absolutely demands a top coat or it will seriously chip by the end of the night.
One of the many upsides is that I can totally wear it in Fall with all the crazy deep nail and lip colors. 😀 On that note, I bought a deep red today from Revlon as my first fall lipstick purchase and am quite proud of myself. I’m going to try it on and then try on MAC’s Dubonnet (I’m still buying that one regardless) to see if I’ve found a possible future dupe. 🙂
La Paz-itively Hot by OPI! It is one of my favorites because it reminds me of my Best Friend. It is one of her favorites and I love the fact we share similar tastes in things!
I have been reading this blog forever but this if my first post – I want those colors!!
My favorite of all time is OPI An Affair in Red Square. The color is perfect on my skin tone and the gold undertone is so pretty. My second favorite is OPI California Raspberry. It is similar to the Red Square but a bit more pink and has a silver undertone shimmer. Both pretty!
On another note, can’t wait for the Cult of Cherries!!!! It is on my calendar!
My favorite nailpolish is OPI’s Lincoln Park After Midnight. It is the perfect vamped up purple/black that takes me straight into the cooler months. Instant hotness I say 🙂
My all time fav is Essie Fiji. It’s the perfect pink/white shade for the summer and looks great on my tanned feet. I love how clean it looks.
cutti.bebe@yahoo.com
Okay Karen – One all time favorite is kinda hard to pick. I am a big fan of clear on the nails and colors on the toes. Essentially I can’t stand when my polish chips and my fingernails are too close to my eyes. I will pick up on every tiny chip and it will totally get on my nerves. So let me first say that there was a Revlon shade that I rocked all the time circa 1992-1996 or so…called Blackberry. It’s a dark color for winter and fall and I wore it to death in my teens! I just googled it and they still sell it…hmmm I might have to try that out again. So my current favorite shade is Changing of the Garnet by OPI…although it’s a discontinued shade that came out in 2002/2003. This one is also a dark color that I wear a lot in fall and winter. I find myself much more likely to switch it up during sandal season though…so my current fave is probably the china glaze TTYL.
So in answer to your color comment on the other post. I’m going with cool colors throughout. Blue is my favorite color and I think the dark floors will balance nicely with some airier colors. I’m doing a lot of blue with some greens, a little yellow and some purples thrown in. Mostly though there will be a lot of the same hue, but different values…so that it flows, but doesn’t look like the whole place is all one color.
This summer I’ve really been feelin’ Orly “Razzle Dazzle.” I just love it! Thanks for sponsoring the contest Karen! 🙂
My go-to toe fave: OPI “I’m Not Really a Waitress.”
Those are gorgeous!!! I’ve never tried Essie, it’s pretty hard to find in my area. And I would order online, but I like to see polishes “in the flesh” (so to speak) before buying (unless I’ve seen swatches). Um. I’m rambling 🙂
I think my favorite polish would have to be Lippman “Lady is a Tramp” or “Day Tripper”. I love them both for the color and the names. I’m such a sucker for the names 😉 Not to mention the formula and application is FABULOUS. If only they were on clearance at B&BW more often!
Tanyas last blog post..Cinnamon Sunday.
Favorite nail polish of all time….probably China Glaze, For Audrey. I just *love* that Tiffany Blue!!
My favorite nail polish is probably OPI’s Pompei Purple. Pretty, without being too overly bright.
My favorite nail polish is Revlon Colorstay Forever Scarlet.
It stays on foooooorever! And the top coat that comes with it makes it look so even and shiny.
The red is fantastic, it’s just the perfect shade for me. I love having red toes. There is something so fun about it!
Bridgets last blog post..My Life On Hold
Picking a favorite is like picking a child! I really, really like OPI’s “I’ll Take the Cake.” It’s a shimmery nude-classic OPI, right? But it always looks so polished and fresh; I never have to worry about my nails looking (too) grody. Only for fingernails, though, I hate the look of nude toes, I like fun pops of colors peeking out from flip-flops!
Picking a favorite is like picking a child! I really, really like OPI’s “I’ll Take the Cake.” It’s a shimmery nude-classic OPI, right? But it always looks so polished and fresh; I never have to worry about my nails looking (too) grody. Only for fingernails, though, I hate the look of nude toes, I like fun pops of colors peeking out from flip-flops!
Luckys last blog post..And You Can’t be an Idiot…Can You?
Tell me it’s not too late to comment? It’s only 5:00 P.M. where you are, so I’m not too late (puh-leaaase?).
After that articulate plea, LOL . . . my favorite polish is O.P.I. Not so Bora-Bora Pink. It’s a beautiful, muted mauve-ish pink that gives me some subtle color without clashing horribly with my cool-toned, vampire-pale skin. Plus, Bora Bora is one of my favorite places on earth, both because it’s so beautiful and the site of my honeymoon :).
Thanks for the blog, Karen!
-Faye
I like all the shades of pink 🙂 ” Big Spender”, No Boundaries, and “Swept me off my feet”. I prefer the light colors. I am not big on bright colors on my nails like Orange, Red etc. 🙂