My Top Five Summer Nail Polishes (Review and Swatches)

For some, Labor Day marks the end of summer even summer doesn't officially end until September 21. I suppose it's because after Labor Day is usually when school is back in session for my U.S peoples.

Some maybe wondering, "why are you just posting this?" Just think of it as my monthly favorites, except this is for the summer season. Regardless, I still want to share which nail polishes have been in heavy rotation for me. So as I bid adieu to summer, here's a recap of the nail polishes that I kept loving this summer. Hopefully, some of you would love and save this list for next year, or pick-up a color or two in the last few days before summer officially ends. Or your summer is just about to begin, and you can't be any happier to find this list :). 

1. Revlon Brilliant Strength Nail Enamel in "Provoke" - I think that there is no better time to wear coral on your tips than in the summer. It's a fresh color and just reminds you of a fruity drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic... whatever you prefer) that you might be enjoying beach or pool side. This creamy coral-peach color just adds femininity on the days you're feeling sweet and girly. The application of this nail polish is pretty good for a drugstore nail polish brand. It took about two even coats to achieve a nice, glossy finish. The nail polish brush also made it easier for me to apply since the brush has a flat edge with rounded corners.

2. Nicole by O.P.I (Selena Gomez collection) in "Hit the Lights" - A canary yellow nail polish that just screamed summer. I loved the boldness and brightness of this nail polish which made me really happy whenever I looked down on my nails. What didn't make me too happy is the horrible formula of this nail polish. It was streaky and a pain to apply. This swatch took four coats just to get that even and opaque finish. However, my love for the color trumped the pain of application, so it still made the list. It's like a cute puppy that you can't really get mad at.

3. Revlon Colorstay Longwear Nail Enamel in "Coastal Surf" - Blue was never my first choice when it comes to nail polish. For some reason, I've associated the color blue with dead finger nails (weird, I know). But this nail polish changed my mind and made me love blue nail polish, especially in the summer. It's the perfect blue that mimics the blue, picturesque beaches that you see in the travel channels or vacation websites. It would really make you want to take that tropical vacation or just hit the beach to relax and enjoy life. The nail polish is very opaque and only takes two coats to get the sea on your nails. Just like the Revlon Provoke nail polish, the brush makes application a cinch. Although, keep in mind, that after two weeks of wearing it, the color changes it's color to a bluish-green. Yes, the nail polish was actually long lasting that I had it on for two weeks before I decided that it was time to change the color.

4. Essie Nail Polish in "Fifth Avenue" - A great red-orange color for the working ladies in a conservative office environment. It's a little different than your classic red nail polish as it has a little punch of orange that makes it so summer appropriate. This is also makes a great transition color for fall season. Essie's Fifth Avenue is super opaque that one coat and a top coat can do the trick. The only nail polish I've used so far that's able to make that happen. Since it's such an opaque nail polish color, make sure to use a good base coat before applying because it will stain your nails. 

5. CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant in "Snow Storm" - And last but not the least, the white polish. Like the blue nail polish, white was the other color that didn't really strike my mind. But after seeing white nails make a statement on fashion show photos or editorials, it grew onto me and eventually led to me really loving it. I love the clean, simple, and sleek look of white nails. I have stayed away from white nail polish because it reminds me of the days when I used to paint my nails in liquid white-out (my mom was strict about using cosmetics when I was younger. I had to pretend some how). This nail polish has changed my mind and my life. And, you bet I'll still be wearing white after Labor Day.

What was(were) your favorite nail polish(es) this past summer?

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Revlon's Bloom With Captivating Color Mini Tea Party Nail Polish Set (Review and Swatches)

The other day, Holly and I made a trip to Walgreens. And we saw this on the display.

Revlon recently came out with their latest nail polish colors for spring, and this particular set definitely caught my eye. Holly was so sweet that she got this set for me :).

O.P.I Katy Perry Collection (Review and Swatches)

O.P.I's collaboration with Katy Perry was probably the most anticipated nail polish collection for me. I'm not one to search high and low for a nail polish, but this was definitely an exception. With all the buzz and press release images that's been floating around the web for Shatter a few months ago, I knew I had to get my hands on it.

Click on the link below to see what I have to say about this collection.

O.P.I Katy Perry Nail Polish Collection (Swatches)

Over the weekend, I finally got a hold of the whole Katy Perry O.P.I collection that I've been waiting for since I heard about them a couple of months ago. I was mostly excited about the Shatter nail polish because of its the cracked effect. A review will be coming up soon, but for now, here are some swatches. Click here for the review: O.P.I Katy Perry Nail Polish Collection Review.

So I've decided that from now on, I'm going to separate swatches and product reviews into two different posts. Just so I can break down the number of pictures loading in single post.

Rimmel London Lasting Nail Polish in Steel Grey (Review and Swatch)

During my most recent haul post/video to CVS, I randomly picked up this Rimmel London nail polish. I've been loving neutral colors lately and this bottle has definitely struck my interest.




Rimmel London Lasting Nail Polish in Steel Grey

Product Blurb: 
Professional polished perfection for flawless up to ten-day colour and shine. Enriched with micro-sized minerals that fill in imperfections on the nail surface, Lasting Finish Pro Nail Enamel creates a smooth and super glossy finish for up to 10 days of maximum colour impact and shine. Advanced micro formula technology with active time-released system enhances shine over time. It captures and reflects light for colour that shines with dimension. UV fade protection keeps colour true. The formula is ultra flexible and long wearing with superior shock absorption and chip resistance. The Mistake-Free Pro brush features a wide angled brush for a fast and mistake-free professional application. With more than 800 fine textured bristles, the brush is designed to adapt to any nail shape and require less strokes to apply, while delivering a super smooth finish and truly streak-free results. (via Rimmel London US)

Price: $4.89 (get a $2 off coupon for a limited time when you like Rimmel London US on Facebook)

Available at: Major U.S. drugstore chains

Read the review and view more product images by clicking on the link below...

NOTW: O.P.I My Private Jet Swatch is Fly Like a G6

It can be a pain sometimes trying to decide whether a nail polish suits you. When you're shopping for nail polishes, you really only have ten fingernails where you can swatch a kajillion nail polishes on your hands just to see if you can see yourself wearing it ever.

So thank goodness for beauty blogs that provides swatches and recommendations from beauty blogger babes (thank you Jill), that nail polish shopping can be a breeze.

This particular nail polish has been getting a lot of buzz on the blogger realm. I mean I don't see why not because this nail polish is gorgeous.






Nail polish with glitter can sometimes be tricky. Just as a personal preference, I really don't dig chunky or decorative glitter on my nails (except for China Glaze Ruby Pumps). It can come out as a little teeny bopper-ish sometimes, and you just don't want to be rocking that if you want to be taken seriously in the corporate world. You don't want your fingers to look like you've been  playing with craft glitter the whole day.

O.P.I My Private Jet has plenty of glitter... but in a good way. My Private Jet has micro-glitters that it's not blinding or tacky in the daylight. If anything it adds that extra oomph to it. It's your vampy nail polish with a little spin to it.






In low lighting, your nails almost look like they're granite-looking. It's still "so pritty".






In certain lighting and angles, you can kinda see some reddish brown undertones but sometimes it look as it's a gunmetal grey nail polish.

The formula for this nail polish is pretty good. One coat gave me an almost opaque color, and the second coat pretty much sealed the deal for me. Top it off with a clear top coat, and your nails are money.

I think I couldn't have picked a better color for this weekend's festivities :).


FTC: I was not paid nor sponsored to write this post and the product mentioned was purchased by me. These are my honest opinions.

Beauty Review and Swatch: Essie Fall Collection 2010 Nail Polish Mini Series

Out of the four seasons, I'd have to say fall is my favorite. One, because my birthday is around fall. Two, fall has the perfect weather in LA (although I wouldn't say the weather was perfect today in LA as we hit another triple digit weather) . And three, you get to wear your scarves and coats without being too cold or too hot. Not to mention the nail polishes in style are prettier.

One set that I was really impressed on that I recently picked up is the Essie Fall Collection mini series. On my recent trip for nail polish shopping, this is probably the set you'll need for the season. It has your staple red, purple and green with a grey base, and your chocolate brown.

I always find the nail polish sets a smarter buy for the obvious reasons: you're able to sample multiple colors; less products go to waste (when was the last time you've used up all your nail polish before it dried out?); and they're more cost effective. It's enough for you to test out a color to find out whether you love it or not. When you do, buy a full back up bottle! Since these are limited editions, they might be difficult to come by again. And well if you hate it, the pain isn't as bad as buying a full size polish and being stuck with it.








Size compared to a regular Essie nail polish. Each mini bottle is about 0.16 oz while your regular Essie nail polish is about 0.5 oz. So just mathematically speaking, you get a little over the amount of the regular size with the four mini bottles combined (0.16 x 4 = 0.64). But how cute does the small one look?


Size comparison to an OPI mini nail polish. OPI bottles are about 0.12 oz each. OPIs are definitely smaller in size. Perfect for those who are really afraid of commitment when it comes to nail polish. I've had the bottle in the picture for about two years now. And I'm barely finished with it. I mean with other nail polishes I have, it's just difficult to go through them all.

But I still find that the Essie mini nail polish is a perfect size that it will last you awhile yet it's not that small that makes you wonder if it'll be enough for your finger nails and toe nails.

For this collection, there are actually two more shades not included in mini pack.





On to the swatches!


Limited Addiction: Your classic red nail polish. When it comes to the color of your nails, red will never go out of style. Limited Addiction is your basic nail polish that you can always reach for when you're not feeling adventurous with your nails.


Little Brown Dress: A deep chocolate brown color. This polish came a surprise to me. I didn't know how I felt about brown nail polish until I swatched this. I always thought that brown made my nails look old, but this has definitely changed my mind. This is a really dark brown color that it's almost black yet it's a perfect dark color for fall. It's a great alternative to your gothic black polish for this season.


Sew Psyched: Just as the name implies, I was pretty psyched about this color. It's a nice green with a hint of gray. It's a nice sage color if you want to play up your nails a bit. I've always thought green was a tough nail color for me to pull off since it gives me that leprechaun feeling no matter what shade of green it is. But this green is a winner to me. It's also a very work friendly color.


Merino Cool: I love this color. This has to be my favorite out of the four. It's a grey nail polish with a tinge of purple. Not quite your grey nail polish and not your purple either. I love it because it's almost two colors in one. In a well-lit or daylight, this nail polish will show more of its purple side while in low light it almost looks greyish taupe. Sometimes I'd think it's OPI You Don't Know Jacques at night.

Although the formula of these nail polishes were a bit thick and goopy, I'd put up with it just because of how perfect these colors are for fall or for the corporate world for that matter. It has that grown up appeal with a bit of an edge to it. These are definitely winners in my book.

FTC: Items on this post were purchased by me. I am not affiliated with the company nor paid to write this post. These are my honest opinions.

Product Review and Swatches: Urban Decay Apocalyptic (Nailpolish) Kit

When Hautelook had their Urban Decay sale a few months ago, I just know I had to check out and see what goodies they had in store. And besides, Urban Decay is probably one of my favorite makeupline, not just because of their super cute packaging and witty product names, but because of the awesome quality that you're getting when you buy their products.

First item I saw was this baby right here, Urban Decay's Apocalyptic Kit that has seven different shades of nail lacquer goodness. Getting the kit was probably the best way try their nailpolishes without being stuck with a full bottle of what you hate, yet having the variety of colors to play with!

Read more after the jump!

NOTW: China Glaze Prize Winning Mare

China Glaze Fifth Avenue (Swatch)

I think I'm getting into a nail polish obsession. For some reason, I've had the need to buy a bottle more often than I used to. If it's not makeup, it's nail polish. I've also been really diligent with keeping my nails nice, pretty, and painted lately. It pretty much changes every week just because there are way too many colors that just needs to be worn. And it has become a pet peeve of mine to have ugly, chipping nail polish.

With that said, I present ya'll my new favorite pink nail polish (at the moment), China Glaze Fifth Avenue. I love how dainty and feminine this nail polish looks. It's a really pretty color and at the same time very work appropriate. This is definitely a nice change with my usual dark and vampy colors.

China Glaze Nail Polish in "VIII" (Review and Swatch)

Believe it or not, but this is my first China Glaze Nail Polish.

I am never really big on nail polish as much as I am with makeup, but then I realize that a nicely manicure make a whole difference in the world. Since then, I make it a habit to change my polish when I notice that my nails are growing. I don't even wait til they chip off because I just don't want busted looking nails.

I dropped by Sally's today to buy some nail polish remover. And, since I was already there, I figured to at least try one China Glaze nail polish, so I picked up a purple shade, VIII.


Right when I got home, I quickly removed my nail polish, and I must say that China Glaze equals LOVE!

China Glaze made it super easy for me to apply my nail polish. I practically fail in that area especially when I do it in my dominant hand (right). The nail polish has a very thin consistency, but it applies evenly. It took me two to three coats to get the my desired shade. I loved how this nail polish didn't streak and just gave me a smooth application.

I also have a habit to putting way too much nail polish on my nails that after I'm done, my nails would end up looking fake because I slathered it in too thick. Not the case with this nail polish. My nails just looked like I got them done in a salon. And the brush head is perfect that it was easier for me just to put nail polish on my nails rather than making a whole mess with it.

I love darker nail polish on my hands because they don't make my hands look like they're "dirty". And it's just vampy. The purple shade itself is the purple that I've been looking for in a purple nail polish. It's almost black, but not quite because of its purple tinge.

China Glaze nail polishes dries almost instantly. I don't have to worry about ruining my perfectly good nail polish because of all sorts of nicks or marks because I accidentally swung my hand somewhere and the nail polish hasn't dried yet (the horror!).

Nic's Sticks Nicole by OPI in "I'm Outta Here" (Review and Swatch)

I got this nail stick in the mail to be reviewed just in time for the Pow Wow. I actually fell asleep the whole day the day of the Pow Wow, and I actually planned on painting my nails for the night. So within only two hours to get ready for the big event, I was scrambling around the house and thinking whether or not I should even bother painting my nails. Then, in comes the Nic's Stick. It was a perfect time to test this baby out to see how fast and really convenient it is.

What they say about it: Just pump, paint, and go! Long-wearing, fast drying, and convenient. Fits in pocket or purse. Check out our 24 fashion shades (Source).

Price: $6.99-$7.99 (price varies in stores)

Available at: Ulta, Ulta.com, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and other major drugstores.


Nic's Sticks by OPI - I'm Outta Here
Quality: 3.5 out 5
Price: 3.5 out of 5
Packaging: 4 out 5


Overall: 3.5 out of 5


Brush head - unused What I like about it: I initially thought that it might get a bit messy since the brush head is pretty wide, and won't fit my short stubby nails. Although the brush head is bigger than your normal nail polish heads, it's able to dispose enough product on your nails easily. With one pump from the stick, it actually gave a good and even coat on one hand. I didn't have to clean up any mess on the side with a Q-tip like I normally do. I was surprised that brush head was able to reach the sides of my finger nails without getting any on my fingers for clean up. It was really quick and easy and it took about only 10 minutes for me to go through both of my hands with two coats and drying time. I also found it easier to hold especially when I'm doing my nondominant (left) hand. This pretty much solves my problem of painting my nails with too much nail polish that ends up looking pretty thick, clumpy, and ugly.
The cap closes securely that keeps the brush head from hardening even with the left over nail polish. You wouldn't really worry about nail polish spilling on your purse since you have to untwist the cap and then pull before you can open it.
This nail polish also doesn't leave any bubbles. It leaves a nice coat and shine even without the top coat on it. It really does leave you with pretty nails as if you've just stepped in to get your nails done in a nick of time. Nic's Sticks are very easy to use and convenient, and really good for those last minute touch ups (or even manicures).

What I don't like about it: The price first of all is almost as much as a bottle of salon-quality nail polish probably because of its packaging. For the price you are paying, you're not getting that much. I already used up a quarter of the contents inside for both hands with only two coats each. The nail polish also tends to be a bit sheer (not sheer in a sense that you don't get a good color payoff with one coat), so two coatings wasn't really enough for my nails. Three coats would've probably given me a nicer, opaque color. The nail polish wasn't as long-lasting as I thought it would be. I had other nail polishes that lasted me a few weeks without it chipping. I'm typing most of the day, so my nail polish is expected to take some beating to it. As you can see from the picture, after eight days, the tips of my finger nails have some nail polish chipping off.


They can probably improve on the packaging some more by putting a "window" on how much nail polish you have left at least on the side where the brush head is. The only "window" the packaging has was the pump of the nail polish, meaning you have to tip the polish to the opposite end of the brush head.

Would I buy it again?: I probably wouldn't. Maybe I would only buy it if it was on sale, and the colors are pretty enough for me to buy. Honestly, I would rather spend the same amount of money on a better bottle of nail polish that would last for a few weeks. The only time I would reach out for this is when I'm really crunched on time and I have to paint my nails real quick.