NEW! Anna Sui Rose Cheek Color & Nail Art Color N

As a fan of both Anna Sui and red blushes, there is no way I will let pass the new Anna Sui Rose Cheek Color!! It is available in 6 variations, mainly pink, orange, coral, red, brown and lavender + blue (for highlighting). 

I picked up #400, a combination of pink, rose and red.

Anna Sui Rose Cheek Color #400, 6g, $49 each

Casing is quite standard for Anna Sui

I swatched the 4 colors in the palette separately first:

In artificial white light

The pink on the far left is really a shimmer. The rest of the colors look like a variation of reds to me -- even the rose color in the palette turn out red at the back of my hand.

Natural daylight

The following 2 photos show how the cheek color looks when all 4 shades are mixed together.

In artificial white light

In natural daylight

#400 might look very red when swatched, but the intensity of the color could be easily controlled. I applied the colors thick so that they will show up in the photos. I have many friends who have the impression that red blush is too red, which I totally disagree. Red blush is really very natural (depending on how much you apply). Just like Benefit's famous benetint… it's supposed to be very natural, and it's red!

I definitely like the Rose Cheek Color better than the old range Anna Sui Color Accent because the pigment is better, has a little bit of shimmer, lasts longer, and the color shows up clearer!

I also couldn't resist picking up some nail colors, in the new packaging :)

Anna Sui Nail Art Color N, 8ml, $24 each

#071
Glossy opaque black

Some might be curious why I would choose such a plain black from Anna Sui. Well, just like reds, I prefer to buy from a good brand where intensity of color is achieved with just 2 coats :)  

#270
Medium berry, more to purple than pink

What I really like about these polishes is that the finish is really really glossy! Both colors I applied 2 coats without top coat, and they are already super shiny. The polish in the 2 photos are surface dry, but they remain glossy enough for me not to put top coat after painting! 

The formula is good and easy to apply. The brush is ok, though not as good as OPI's blushes, but good enough to apply streak free nail polish. 

I am very happy with my purchase this time!

NOTD: OPI Ski Teal We Drop

First time painting my nails after a long long time!

Today's shade is a lovely dark blue green ~ OPI Ski Teal We Drop :)

Photo taken under artificial light, without flash

Same as above

Natural daylight

Artificial light, with flash

Color is very dark, but it's very obviously teal!

*Updated* NOTD: Gelish - Night Reflection

I like my new Gelish color! And my new nail shape :)

Night Reflection is a deep purple with red shimmer. *UPDATE* I have added 2 photos with my nails taken under sunlight. You can see the red shimmer a little better in these 2! It's not a very unique color, but it looks very good as Gelish because of the mirror like shine. This color looks trendier when nails are short, and I think that my nails are a little too long already (OMG did I actually say that my nails are too long); but I really didn't want to trim them shorter as I have not had such long nails for a long long time (due to how I used to abuse my nails by doing gel nails). Now my nails look slightly vampish due to the length…

Last year, I did a review on the durability of Gelish, and I said that the color only lasted chip-less for about 9 days. Now that I have done Gelish many more times, my experience on that has kind of changed. Since my nails are healthy again, I think I will be able to access how good this dark color will last on my nails much better. I will do a new review in 3 weeks' time (or when the color starts to chip)!

NOTD: Gelish June Bride

Having pretty gel nails comes with a big price… and that is weak, thin nails after removal.

After about 3 months of gorgeous gel nails in pink and blue, I felt that my nails were getting way too thin (due to all the filing), and decided to remove them. Got them removed in first week of June, but now my nails are still far from full recovery. Basically, my nails tips can't even be longer than 0.1cm (no kidding- just look at how badly chipped my thumb nail is)! It's still some time before all my gel-nails-damaged nails get all grown out. I look forward to strong, healthy nails again… 

The best solution to my current nail problem is Gelish. Gelish protects my nails from chipping, way better than normal nail polish.  It forms a thick-enough layer of soft gel over my nails, and doesn't harm my real nails further. Normally, Gelish should last about 3 weeks without chips, but due to my nails' condition, it lasts about 2 weeks (better than nothing).

So far, I have tried colors Stand Out, Black Cherry Berry, Sweet Dream (it's a nude, very clean sort of color) and now, June Bride. 

Pink holographic glitter polish

With darker lighting

June Bride is a rather unique color -- a little flashy, cause it has silver and holographic glitters in it. The holographic glitters shimmer like rainbow under the light. However, the glitter is not saturated, so those who don't like nails to be too sparkly will still find the color acceptable. The pink is different from the usual sweet pinks -- it's a bit close to my skin tone (but I won't really call it nude as it's not those natural pink), with a hint of purple. Very interesting, complicated kind of color -- I like! So, if you are the type who get bored with your nail colors easily, this one might keep you happy for a while :)

*Updated* Gelish - Black Cherry Berry

Three of my Blue Glitter Leopard gel nails broke, so I really have no choice but to remove them. I decided to give my nails some time to breathe, so I went for Gelish instead. My nails are just too thin and weak for normal nail polish now.

Aw… look at how ugly they are now…

Gelish - Black Cherry Berry

Black Cherry Berry is your all time favourite kind of dark red cream. Nothing special, but suitable for all looks, and matchable with all outfits. This is 3 layers.

I had a really unpleasant experience with Nail Palace yesterday when I went to do my Gelish. So they showed me the color chart and I picked Black Cherry Berry, because I wanted something dark. They painted 2 layers of polish for me, and was going to apply the top coat. I looked at the color, and it was way too light, not as dark as the color chart. So I told the manicurist so, that the color was too light and she told me that a 3rd layer would be about the same. I asked her to paint a darker color for me over the 2 layers, and she went to check for me. She spoke to someone and told me that she would paint the 3rd layer for me, but had to charge me extra $20. Inwardly, I was like…. WT@£$%^&*()?????? Hey! This set of Gelish is not cheap and is $88! And now you want to charge me $108 for Gelish?? If not for the fact I had some credit package with them I would have gone to my other manicurist and she would only have charged me $50. I asked to see the color chart again, and told her nicely, that…. hey, this color on my nails now and is different from your color chart. If I knew Black Cherry Berry is this light, I would have chosen the darker color instead! The chart has misled me! She called someone again, and said that she would charge me $10 only then. I reluctantly complied, not wanting waste time, or make things difficult for the manicurist, as it wasn't really her fault. They just applied the Gelish too thickly on the color chart and made the color darker. I paid extra $10 for the 3rd layer, because I have to like the color if I am going to be stuck with it for the next 2-3 weeks right =(

Some of you, dear readers, might find me petty, over the $10/$20, but I strongly feel that there is something wrong with charging me extra, in principle. I didn't go for some cheap service, but a $88 service, for God's sake. Their color chart misled me, which means it's their fault, so why should I pay more for their mistake? I am going to call their Head Office to enquire about their pricing policies, and definitely ask for action on their part. If they can't give me a good reason for charging $10/$20 extra, sorry Nail Palace, I am NEVER EVER going to buy a package, or do a manicure at your place ever again! I have already bought a credit package from you, so deducting $10/$20 more from my credit balance is not much of a difference, but -- prove to me that you want me to be satisfied with your service, not just earn money from me!

I will update on the outcome after I get a reply from them… *still fuming*

*UPDATE*

I called Nail Palace up on Monday and they were very patient, polite and helpful in solving this problem. They got the manager of the branch to call me to explain to me that since it's Gelish, they have to charge extra for an additional layer. Of course, if I am doing normal manicure, they would be able to paint a 3rd layer for me without charge. However, as the manicurist failed to tell me the color I had chosen would differ slightly from the actual, they are refunding me my credit of $10. I could do nail art etc with the refund. I didn't hear this part very clearly over the phone, but hey! I am satisfied as long as I know they still want to make their customers happy, not just make them take out more from their wallets! So I guess its happy ending =) Just that the outlet where I had gone for the service might be wary of me now (though I did emphasise to the manager it was not the staff's fault)! Haha!

Missha Lucid Nail Polish

Sorry I have not been posting!! Really busy these few days… a quick post today before I post again… probably soon… =D

These polishes are really affordable. 3 for $10 from Missha!!! All are the Lucid Nail Polish range.

VL02

A slightly frosty lavender - my favourite of the 3!

CR01

A slightly frosty coral. Very summer.

KH01

A very unique shade. Light camel. It's the kind of colour that you either love it or hate it.

That's all for today ~

NOTD: Blue Glitter Leopard Print Gel Nails

My new set of gel nails. Very different from my previous set of pink ones.

Dark blue glitter with light blue leopard print nail art.

What do you think?

O.P.I Pirates of the Caribbean Collection + O.P.I Silver Shatter

O.P.I's latest collection: Pirates of the Caribbean is an AWESOME range ~

I would describe the colours from this range to be 'chalky', as I can really imagine using these colours on the chalk board ~

The formula is good and easy to apply. The colours look 'bumpy' on my nails, not because the formula is streaky or anything, but because my nails are artificial... still haven't removed my gel nails yet. The surface of my gel nails is not exactly even.

O.P.I Pirates of the Caribbean Collection + Silver Shatter

The colours are applied without top coat.

Sparrow Me the Drama, P15

2 coats

Sparrow Me the Drama is a muted purplish pink. I find myself drawn to this the more I look at it =) Any pink lovers would adore this!

Stranger Tides, P17

3 coats, I think 2 coats should do on natural nails.

This happens to be my favourite colour of the lot! Just a glance of it the colour is light grey. But when you look closely, it is actually a greenish grey! This is a really unique colour to me =)

Mermaid's Tears, P18

2 coats

Mermaid's Tears was the first colour that caught my attention. It is a pastel dusty green that looks surprisingly flattering on my nails. The SA told me this is one of the more popular shades in the collection. The colour looks slightly lighter and dustier in real life.

I didn't buy Planks a Lot (dusty medium purple), Skull and Bones (light grey) and Steady as a Rose (light pastel pink). I thought the colours are a little common. I took out some of my own older colours to play with the Silver Shatter.

Thumb: China Glaze Light as Air

Index: OPI Sparrow Me the Drama

Middle: OPI Stranger Tides

Ring: OPI Mermaid's Tears

Little: Nubar Citadel

OPI Silver Shatter

The OPI Silver Shatter is just as cool as the Black Shatter. Just like the Black Shatter, the Silver Shatter 'cracks' into silver pieces on nails after a thin layer is applied and dried. It works best with pastel/ chalky/ dusty shades to give nails a mysterious look (if that is possible...?) So fitting for the Pirates of the Caribbean range!!

With flash

Without flash

With top coat for a glossy finish. I personally prefer the look with top coat.

Nice work, OPI. I am in love with you again.

NOTD: Pink Glitter Gel Nails

As I was watching the K-drama Prosecutor Princess last week, I wouldn't help but notice all the wonderful shoes and beautiful nails actress Kim So Yeon had in the show. There is no way I could afford all the designer shoes she wore, so I stared at my horrible nails instead and told myself that I have to have my nails done, soon.

So today, I finally spoiled myself to the service at Nail Palace, and got myself a beautiful set of gel nails done (beautiful to me).

I am surprised I ended up with pink glitter nails. Can't be more "boring" than that! Initially, I wanted french tips, just like Kim So Yeon in the show. But then the manicurist told me they don't do gel french tips -- they will just paste white nail tips then do gel overlay, something that I don't really want, so I somehow chose pink glitter in the end. Now come to think of it, I should have chosen green glitter instead!! Much more unique that way =)

But then, I am still happy with the result -- long shiny nails, something I haven't had in a long long time... I know I will face the consequences (thin ugly nails again) when I get them removed, but right now, I enjoy looking at them...

Review: O.P.I Nail Envy Natural Nail Strengthener for Soft Thin Nails

O.P.I Nail Envy Natural Nail Strengthener for Soft Thin Nails, SGD42

This is a treatment top + boat coat. I have used other "branded" top coats like Poshe, Seche Vite and Nubar Diamont before, and I think the O.P.I wins without a doubt.

First of all, the O.P.I is a treatment base, as well as top coat.... so that's $$$ saved. Secondly, the O.P.I has the thinnest formula comparatively, which makes any DIY manicure look more professional, less thick. Thirdly, the shine of the polish as a top coat is the most lasting. Usually, my manicure "top-coated" with Poshe or Seche Vite will look dull on the second day. Nubar Diamont was slightly better. But for me, the O.P.I one will look fresh for at least 4 days. I am not sure about the anti-chip ability though, as almost ALL polish chip on me on the 2nd day, if not the 3rd. Lastly, this treatment polish has improved the condition of my nails. Although they are still discolored, relatively thin and translucent (eekkks!), they are no longer peeling.

Good shiny finish

Please forgive the horrible look of my nails. My poor nails have been tortured and ill treated by me for many many years ^^"

So, I really recommend this... if you don't mind pricy nail polishes...