When you see the dark nail polish colors in Zoya’s Dare Collection for fall ($36 for a set of six), what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
For me it’s more a feeling than a thought. Dare’s deep greens, blues and purples have an edgy and mysterious — maybe even a little dangerous feel to ’em. MRRROWWW!
But then there’s the usual not-so-cute side effects that come with wearing dark nail colors, right? — the yellow stained nails and chips the size of Christian Siriano’s ego (still lovin’ ya, lil’ guy!).
All is not lost, my lovely Sookie Stackhouses. There are ways around the dreaded DPP’s (Dark Polish Problems).
DPP #1: Yellow stained nails
Solution: Wear a clear base coat.
The pigments in these (and other) dark nail polish shades can leave nails yellow and stained, gross!
To deal, I wear a clear base coat like Essie First Base Coat ($8), my current nail secret du jour. Not only does it prevent staining, but it goes on smooth and dries hella fast.
But wait, there’s more. First Base Coat works like a primer, creating a smooth surface upon which polish can adhere. When I use it, my nail color looks silky smooove. Awesome, added bonus, right? Plus, it extends the life of my manicures by about 50 percent.
DPP #2: Chips the size of Texas
Solution: Apply a top coat.
The darker the polish, the more obvious the chips. A clear, sturdy top coat like Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat ($10) protects polish from chipping and leaves a shiny finish SO bright that I gotta wear shades. 🙂
DPP #3: Waiting forever to dry
Solution: Get down with the drying drops.
Who has time to sit around waiting for all these extra layers to dry?? Not me. I’ve got pressing things to do, like watching YouTube clips of Heidi Montag “performing.”
Click only if you dare!
OPI’s Drip Dry Lacquer Drying Drops put the nail polish drying process on fast forward ($8). I’m not sure how this clear liquid works, but it penetrates the uppermost layers of coatings and polish, decreasing the time the top layers take to dry.
I use one drop per nail, which cuts down the dry time of the uppermost layers by about half. A word of warning, though. Because the drops only dry the uppermost layers, you still have to treat your paws gingerly for a good hour. Careful texting is probably cool, but maybe save the dishwashing and thumb war for later.
Vanessa
Pinta
Ibiza
Envy
Demi
Ciara
So tell me, ladies, does the Dare collection make you feel like taking chances?
Right now I’m ALL ABOUT Envy… Total sucker for green nail polishes.
What does True Blood have to do with lobsters?
Technically, absolutely nothing, but I can’t wait for both worlds to collide at my BFF Cindy’s house tonight!
She’s hosting a True Blood Season Two marathon/lobsterfest, and I’m just about ready to go. Time to get my grub on and watch fine-ass Vampire Eric take off his black tank top!
How’s your weekend coming along? What’s been the highlight so far?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I think I’m going to have nightmares from watching Heidi from Speidi singing and dancing. She shouldn’t quit her day job, let’s put it that way.
I always preferred the Dare Collection over the Truth Collection. I want the entire Dare collection!!! I love me dark, campy colors. Warm colors just don’t look right on my cool-toned skin, particularly warm corals. I love the last three especially.
I currently have OPI’s Russian Navy on my toes and Sally Hansens Hard as Nails XTreme Wear Nail Polish in Emerald City. Can you tell I really love darker nail polish?
Oh, I hate Seche Vite! It never fails to make my color chip in less than three days which promotes my picking nail polish off habit! I use either OPI RapiDry TC (I need a new bottle as I’m out) or Borghese Quick Dry TC (I have about 1/2 left…darn). I’m in need of another bottle of TC and another bottle of OPI Natural Nail Base Coat as I’m running low! This is what I get for changing my polish almost weekly.
Zena is chilling out on the La-Z-Boy as she went on a 40 minute walk. I’m attempting to cool off but my AC is taking forever to bring the temperature down in here. It may be 71 outside but the 79% humidity, but it’s 81 degrees and humid inside my house! Work AC work! Stupid AC always takes forever to “warm up.”
Batdog says hi from the couch!
Hi Kate & Zena,
Hope it’s cooler today out your way!
Gotta enjoy this warm weather while we can. I can’t believe that the summer is over… it went by so fast!
My favourite top coat is Essie’s 3 in 1 glaze. It is a base and top coat and strengthener. My manicures last at least 5 days with this polish and keeps my nails from staining when I wear reds and darks and I haven’t had a cracked or broken nail since I started using it. In addition, I don’t have 3 extra bottles of polish cluttering around. I am drooling over the Pinta, Ibiza and Envy. Dark nails makes me feel very funky and bad girl! I have heard so very good things about True Blood, so I rented the season series today. As if I am not already addicted to enough TV shows already. With the new tv season coming I am in trouble!
.-= amy’s last blog post… John Masters Organics =-.
Hi Amy,
True Blood is a great show! You need to rent season one, ASAP!
I like Envy & Pinta. Such great colors.
So I can safely assume that you are Team Eric now? Rawr! He is so hot. My friend has uploaded a bunch of his pics on Facebook & I’ve been visiting them daily. 😉
.-= Marisol’s last blog post… Obsessed much? =-.
Hi Marisol,
Nah, I’m still on Team Vampire Bill. I do appreciate Vampire Eric a little more now. 😉
How’s your Sunday going? Doing anything fun today?
Oooohhhhh, LOVE lobster… LOVE True Blood! That sounds like such a great evening! Dip one in the melted butter for me! 🙂
Pinta! Pinta! I’m comin’ for ya!
Hi Glosslizard,
Oh, there was LOTS of melted butter up in the mix. Lots of carbs, too (garlic noodles and big hunks of french bread). It wasn’t the most diet friendly of meals but daym it was good.
Whenever I am just trying out a dark color (so I am too lazy to use a base) I use lemon juice to remove the stain. it works pretty well.
Hi Citrine,
I’ve never tried that before. Thanks for the tip — I’ll have to give it a go soon.
Ok first of all, can I just say that ANY post with Eric in it is going to be an awesome post??! You’re making a girl swoon over here!
Ok Hafsa, focus on the polishes. I personally love the Dare collection, I have both envy and ciara. I’m actually rockin some ciara on my nails right now! I like the green too, it reminds me of the green from Illamasqua, starts with an “r”, can’t quite remember the name.
.-= Hafsa’s last blog post… Dawn =-.
Hi Hafsa,
LOL! Wipe the drool off your keyboard, now. 😉
How’s your weekend going?
I will probably go for the safe colors like Vanessa, Demi and Clara. I doubt I can carry the blue and green well. 🙂
.-= Shirleen’s last blog post… Forget The $500 Wrinkle Cream. Happiness Is Good For My Skin. =-.
Hi Shirleen,
Those shades are a little edgy, for sure… have you ever worn green polish before? You never know, you might like it!
omg, first of all, HEIDI is NO Britney. She should just stick to spencer and reality TV. The nail polish have a nice gloss to them and envy is my favourite!
Hi Blovet Beauty,
Yah, it’s, um, an interesting performance.
I like Envy, I don’t own any green polish yet!!
I’m definitely Team Eric, he is SO HAWT! And tall! Or maybe Bill is very short? 😛
.-= Eru’s last blog post… DuWop’s Twilight Venom: review, pictures and swatches. =-.
Hi Eru,
LOL, I think Eric might be abnormally tall. Thank goodness they cut his hair and put some gel in it. That shaggy look he was sporting was not cutting it.
How has your weekend been?
Demi is calling to me but I already have some purples… Envy is pretty too 🙂
I’ve been looking for the perfect coral-ish nailcolour for ages and also a grey one. I’m planning to get them tomorrow as a friend and I make a daytrip to Lille to check out sephora 🙂
Hi Karen B.,
Do you have essie in your town? Coral Canyon’s really pretty.
Have fun at Sephora!
I love this collection! Ibiza and Envy look gorgeous!
.-= gio’s last blog post… Sunday Beauty Reads =-.
Hi Gio,
Me too!
I just bought this collection and can’t wait to try it — I love fall makeup, it lets me be daring!
Hi Faye,
Yay! I hope you like the colors.
How’s your weekend going so far?
Damn girl…you stole my secrets…right down to the drops. the Essie base coat is da bomb as is seche vite. I am strangely attracted to the green…who woulda thunkit?
Hi Amy,
Gotta share the mani/pedi love, girl!
Green is a big color for fall this year. I have to say the nail polish industry has gotten really interesting in the last few years. Who would’ve guessed the rise of the deep camo greens?
Hope you’re enjoying your weekend so far. Doing anything fun today?
i really like ibiza, the blue!
Hi Catherine,
That’s a very popular color this season. Lancome has one too — have you seen it?
Doesn’t Envy kinda remind you of the lobster tomalley (the goopy head stuff)? MMMMMM. It was a wonderful night of gluttony, for the stomach and the eyes. Mary Anne would’ve been proud. Lo lo bromius…
Hi Cindy,
Did you wake up with that Lo Lo Bromeo stuck in your head? You better check your eyes…
I love essie first base coat, I’ve only recently switched and I am starting to see where the staining on my nails is growing out.
I haven’t had much luck with seche topcoat, it tends to make all my polish peel off in one sheet (great for removal if I’ve run out!)
I like Essie non-yellowing topcoat as I wear mostly sheer nude shades and this makes my manis last. I love my Essie quick drying drops, they truely are brilliant. I don’t know how I managed without them!
Oh and the UK Bobbi Brown website just got the Ivy League collection, I was worried we wouldn’t get it here. That gorgeous green long wear gel liner will be mine!
Oooo I think I am in love with Pinta!
.-= Lydia’s last blog post… Last Post of the Day… =-.
Nope. Not available in Belgium (as most nice polish brands). So therefore our little trip to France tomorrow 😉 I hope they’ll have Essie 🙂 and if not there’s always Sephora by OPI 🙂
I love Zoya polishes and especially their color lock system! It really does help. With other polishes, my nails chip within 48 hours but with the Zoya color lock system my mani lasts at least a week! I love it!
At first the Dare Collection really didn’t spark my interest at all since I’m not really a fan of cremes… then I realized I don’t like cremes because they tend to settle into my nail ridges and look funky SO I just got Essie’s Fill the Gap ridge-filler… I think I am probably still a shimmer/metallic/glitter girl (wearing China Glaze Strawberry Fields right now) but man, Pinta and Envy are HOT. I have and love Ibiza already. Other dark shimmers I think are totally worth checking out are Zoya Freja and Suvi, and China Glaze Let’s Groove.
.-= Catherine’s last blog post… Fuzkittie’s Birthday Butterfly Princess Style Bracelet =-.
I like Zoya but the collection is so predictable. Except for dark, glittery blacks and some grays, darks & colors like green and blue look best on thin, fashion-forward girls, who have the lifestyle and attitude to carry it out. Otherwise, I feel like people are trying to copy InStyle magazine, which is by no means fashion-forward…Where are the mid-tones?
I like ibiza among the lot because it looks the shimmery-est. And have you considered writing the labels on the swatches on the pic itself(and put your name also on it) as some times people just save the pic for portable reference on ipad or iphone etc.