Zoya Shawn

2 coats, sunlight

Zoya Shawn is an incredible creme green with yellow undertones. It’s from the Zoya’s recent Fall 2010 Wonderful collection that contains five other shades. Shawn was the only one I had to get my hands on. I already have OPI’s Jade is the New Black, so any other green that came along had to be incredibly unique and Shawn certainly fits the bill.

2 coats, flash

I’m wearing Shawn for Halloween this Saturday to match my army outfit. It’s the perfect shade of camouflage green! The camera’s flash really brought out the yellow undertones of the polish.

Alicia’s toes, 2 coats, shade

Shawn is a bit darker – and not as pretty – when you view it in the shade. Here Alicia painted white flowers on her big toes. Rather cute, don’t you think?

NARS Zulu

2 coats, sunlight

NARS Zulu from the Vintage Nail collection 2010! This was another goodie I picked up from Hong Kong. For years now, Zulu was revered as one those super hard to find collectors’ polishes. Now that NARS has re-released this shade, it means that people late to the party can get their hands on the coveted colour. Now onto the colour description: this is a dark green jelly that dries super glossy (no top coat here). Formula was good, only marred by the small brush and the un-ergonomic square cap. There is some streakiness because I’m not used to the tiny brush and I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to make the polish neat along the cuticles.

1 coat Zulu vs 1 coat OPI Here Today Aragon Tomorrow, sunlight

I thought Zulu would be really similar to OPI Here Today Aragon Tomorrow, so I did a comparison swatch. A huge difference when it’s just one coat! Zulu is a rich forest green and Aragon (ring and pinkie) is mossy and a lot less opaque.

2 coats Zulu vs 3 coats Aragon, sunlight

At full opacity though, it’s almost impossible to tell the difference, given that both belong in the almost-black categories. It will most certainly fail the boyfriend test (“Which colour do you prefer, dear?” “Err… they are both the same, aren’t they?” “No no… they are different!” “Err… they are both black, no?”)

2 coats Zulu vs 2 coats China Glaze Wagon Trail

So here’s another comparion with another near-black colour, China Glaze Wagon Trail. There is a clear difference this time, largely because of the golden-olive shimmer in Wagon Trail.

Essie Body Language

3 coats, sunlight

My first Essie nail polish! This was one of the goodies that I picked up on my recent trip to Hong Kong. Body Language is a pale grey-lilac creme. This is a three-coater, but thankfully it dried quickly enough. I love this colour! It’s a great neutral that is perfect for the workplace, yet still looks interesting enough for me to take a second look.

Rosiva’s nails, 3 coats, shade

Body Language looks pinker in the shade. Rosiva chose this colour to wear because she needed something quiet for her job interviews.

I thought it would be similar to China Glaze’s Light As Air, but nope, they are really different. Body Language is not as purple and it has this insanely gorgeous moodiness to it. I much prefer it!

Melissa’s nails, with China Glaze Light As Air and silver nail striper

OPI Get In Lime

Alicia’s nails, 3 coats, sunlight

This colour seriously confuses me!! All the swatches that I see online show Get In Lime as a mint green, but for us, it leans more blue than green. Amanda purchased this on from eBay so we may have gotten a fake or a faulty polish.

Amanda’s nails, 3 coats, flash

Well, now it looks slight greener under flash photography, but still nothing like mint green! This doesn’t stop us from loving the shade though.

Rosiva’s nails, 2 coats, sunlight

So here we go again with Get In Lime on Rosiva’s toes. The pink balls are acrylic and dotted on with the sharp end of a toothpick.

20110526-113457.jpgAlicia’s nails, with OPI Rumple’s Wiggin’  (ring finger) and acrylic paint, iPhone picture

OPI Coney Island Cotton Candy

Two coats, sunlight

Three coats, sunlight

OPI Coney Island Cotton Candy! I must admit that I was more drawn to its name than the actual colour itself. As you can see above, this is one of those sheer OPI nudes that makes no sense to me. Well, unless you’re trying to do a French manicure, which in my case wouldn’t work because I need a colour that covers up my very white tips. It does have an interesting yellow/buttery tinge to it though, which makes it more unique than sheer pinks.

I have seen pictures of Coney Island applied with four to five coats. Only then do you seem some semblance of a colour. But it’s my personal philosophy (out of laziness) that nail polish should not go beyond three coats.

With China Glaze Classic Camel

Felicia’s nails, with China Glaze Millenium and jewels, flash

Dim light

I’m starting to like Coney Island more and more. I like its unique milkiness and it’s so much more interesting in a French manicure.