Smith & Cult in 1972

Brand: Smith & Cult 8 Free

Shade: 1972
(rose gold color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$$$

The Scoop:
I first noticed this beauty because of the name, since I was born the following year. I bought it because the color was pretty. And I fell in love with it because of this bottle! It's as gorgeous as your nails will be. It's my new go-to summer shade!

Lauren B Beauty in Santorini Seduction

Brand: Lauren B Beauty 7-Free Nail Couture

Shade: Santorini Seduction
(deep navy blue color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$$

The Scoop:
I found this shade on Beauty Habit, and I loooooove it. I think if you look at my fave shades, you'll find 100 navys. I'm SO glad someone invented it as a nail color. And this one is great because it went on super smooth without any streaks. Two coats did the trick!

Ten Over Ten in Commerce

Brand: Ten Over Ten Five-Free Nail Polish

Shade: Commerce
(ink blue color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$$

The Scoop:
No matter how many shades I try, I always come back to navy. In honor of the NYC marathon, I went with this brand. Each color is named after a downtown NYC street. Even the salons feel like you're in someone's apartment. Expensive, but good.

Michael Kors in Sensation

Brand: Michael Kors Nail Lacquer, Sexy Shades

Shade: Sensation
(tomato red shade, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$$

The Scoop:
I know this is expensive, but I just can't say no to Michael. When I go for a bright red shade, I like ones like this that lean orange. I think it looks freshest on short nails. It also goes on in two coats and is super shiny -- for this price, it had better!

Michael Kors in Rio de Janiero

Brand: Michael Kors Nail Lacquer, Limited Edition

Shade: Rio de Janiero
(pale rose gold color, iridescent metallic finish)

Cost: $$$$

The Scoop:
Wearing Michael Kors polish makes me feel fancy. And this one makes me think of the beach at sunset, which is where I wish I was instead of in my apartment glowing in the light of my laptop. This shade does not, however, come with a passport to Rio. Go figure.

Ciate in Serendipity

Brand: Ciate Paint Pots

Shade: Serendipity
(rose pink color, glitter finish)

Cost: $$$$

The Scoop:
This one is a party in a bottle. Girly, flirty, sparkly, and expensive. What more could your fingers want in February? Ok, okaaay. Maybe there's one other thing... but this is a nail polish blog, not a fairytale blog. xoxo

Sephora in Infatuated

Brand: Sephora Formula X Color

Shade: Infatuated
(pale light blue color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$$

The Scoop:
The holidays are over, but my nails weren't ready to quit cold turkey. So, this manicure was born. A little bit fancy with the appliques (from Red Carpet Manicure). A little bit seasonal with the icy shade of blue.  Happy 2015!

Chanel in Taboo

Brand: Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour

Shade: Taboo
(deep purple color, with reddish/orange iridescent finish)

Cost: $$$$

The Scoop:
Ok, here's the truth: I don't actually know that Chanel nail polish is worth the money, but I will say it's fun to buy because it makes you feel fancy.  And since my birthday is today, it's as good an excuse as any to splurge!

Marc Jacobs in Blue Velvet

Brand: Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer

Color: Blue Velvet
(deep teal color, shimmer finish)

Cost: $$$$

The Scoop:
This shade is prettier in person, the shimmery finish isn't coming through here, but it's a very rich shade. Still not convinced it's worth the price, but a nice one, nevertheless.

Next Shade: Essie in Armed & Ready

Michael Kors in Envy

Brand: Michael Kors Nail Lacquer, Glam Collection

Shade: Envy
(raspberry color with glossy finish)

Cost: $$$$

The Scoop:
I chose this pretty shade for an event we were having at work -- a Spring Fling. This is a fancy splurge, but that helped justify it in my mind. Plus, it matched my necklace. It's the little things...

Next Shade: Essie in Hide and Go Chic

Deborah Lippmann in Rolling in the Deep

Brand: Deborah Lippmann Nail Color

Shade: Rolling in the Deep
(midnight blue color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$$

The Scoop:
I'm a sucker for navy nail polish, so obviously I had to get this one. Great song, great shade. Can't miss.

Next Shade: Julep in Kayla

Nailtini in Pink Russian & Multichrome Sugar Glitter

Brand: Nailtini Sugar Rim Manicure Kit

Shades: Pink Russian & Multichrome Nail Sugar

(pale pink color with shimmer finish & gold color with glitter finish)

Cost: $$$$

The Scoop:
Isn't this fancy looking? Like fairy nails. Only thing is, you need to be magic to keep the glitter on. It flakes off if you touch anything. Or move. Or breathe. The set also came with a silver shade -- cute idea but not worth the price.

Next Shade: Seche in Smitten

Ten Over Ten in Carmine

 

Brand: Ten Over Ten Five-Free Nail Polish

 

Shade: Carmine

(crimson red color, glossy finish)

 

Cost: $$$$

 

The Scoop: I was on Birchbox buying my favorite hair stuff (It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product) when this polish caught my eye.  They name their shades after NYC streets.  I couldn't resist choosing Carmine, which also happens to be the name of my boyfriend in the second grade.  Well... one of them.

 

Next Shade: Nuance in Black Dahlia

15 Christmas Nail Polish Gift Sets

Santa brought me 15 nail polish gift sets.  Best.  Christmas.  Ever.

Brand: Butter London Luxe Rock 12-piece mini set

 

Shades: Yummy Mummy & The 444
(nude color with glossy finish & clear with gold glitter finish)

 

Cost: $$$$

 

The Scoop:

Pretty box, great shades. On a scale from 1-10, a 12. 

 

 

 

Brand: Ciate Mini Mani Month 24-piece set

 

Shades: Boudoir & Christmas Tree Caviar
(candy apple red color with glossy finish & gold, green, red caviar balls)

 

Cost: $$$$

 

The Scoop:

A nail polish advent calendar? Genius. 

 

 

 

 

 

Brand: Deborah Lippmann Starlight 6-piece mini set

 

Shade: Twilight Zone
(greenish black color with multicolor glitter finish)

 

Cost: $$$$

 

The Scoop:

Can the holidays ever have too much sparkle?   

 

 

 

 

Brand: Dior Golden Winter Holiday Collection 2-piece full-size set

 

Shade: Diorific
(gold color with metallic finish)

 

Cost: $$$$

 

The Scoop:

Didn't like the pearls, but the polish was nice. 

 

 

 

 

Brand: e.l.f. Nail Polish Collection 15-piece mini set

 

Shades: Sea Escape & Love Me
(dark green color with shimmer finish & clear color with red glitter finish)

 

Cost: $$$

 

The Scoop:

Awesome value, great set. 

 

 

 

 

Brand: H&M Nail Polish Collection 6-piece full-size set

 

Shade: $$

 

Cost: Petrol Sky & Skyscraper
(blue green color with glossy finish & clear with silver glitter finish)

 

The Scoop:

Festive shades for the holidays.

 

 

 

 

Brand: Hard Candy Cube of Color Nail Polish Collection 24-piece mini set

 

Shades: Green Glitter & White
(lime green color with glitter finish & white color with glossy finish)

 

Cost: $$$

 

The Scoop:

Lots of colors, but man, these smell horrible! 

 

 

 

 

Brand: Julep 2013 Gen Holiday Collection 12-piece full-size set

 

Shade: Kenya
(fire engine red with metallic finish)

 

Cost: $$$$

 

The Scoop:

Beautiful gift box, irresistible shades. 

 

 

 

 

 

Brand: LA Colors Nail Polish Collection 18-piece mini set

 

Shades: Silver Glitter & Gold
(clear with silver glitter finish & pale gold color with metallic finish)

 

Cost: $$

 

The Scoop:

Surprising drug store find, another keeper! 

 

 

 

 

Brand: Lila Grace Nail Polish Collection 7-piece full-size set

 

Shades: Red & Gold Glitter
(orangey red color with glossy finish & clear with gold glitter finish)

 

Cost: $$

 

The Scoop:

Really low quality polish, skip this one. 

 

 

 

 

Brand: Lord&Taylor Deluxe Nail Polish Collection 18-piece mini set

 

Shades: Green Glitter & Silver
(clear color with green glitter & silver color with metallic finish)

 

Cost: $$$$

 

The Scoop:

A bit expensive, but a nice set. 

 

 

 

 

Brand: Nails Inc. London My Nail Polish Diary 12-piece mini set

 

Shade: Fibre Optic Belgravia Square
(clear color with metallic red & silver feather finish) 

 

Cost: $$$$

 

The Scoop:

Just what this 13 year old girl (in a 40 year old body) needs -- a diary! Cute. 

 

 

 

Brand: OPI Take Ten 2013 Nail Polish Collection 10-piece mini set

 

Shades: German-icure, Tickle My France-y & Pirouette My Whistle
(burgundy with metallic finish & pale pink with glossy finish & clear with silver glitter finish)

 

Cost: $$$

 

The Scoop:

Their best-selling shades, a great collection. 

 

 

 

Brand: Sephora X The Twenty Two Nail Polish Collection 22-piece mini set

 

Shades: Flashy & Wham!
(cherry red color with glossy finish & clear with white splatter finish) 

 

Cost: $$$$

 

The Scoop:

I was on the fence at first, but I'm glad I got it for the neons, chromes and splatters.

 

 

 

Brand: Zoya Build Your Own Dream Box 6-piece full-size set

 

Shade: Hunter
(mossy green color with glossy finish)

 

Cost: $$$$

 

The Scoop:

The perfect way to get the exact colors you want.  

 

 

 

 

 

 For more behind-the-scenes scoop on these presents, check out my other blog.
 

Chanel in Cinema

Brand: Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour

Shade: Cinema

(fire-engine red color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$$

The Scoop:

Everybody should treat themselves to Chanel nail polish at least once. And can you think of a more classic shade?  Me neither. So skip the movies on Saturday night and get a bottle of Cinema instead -- it lasts longer! Also it looks fab for the holidays, if you need another excuse to splurge...

Next Shade: Zoya in Hunter

Ciate Caviar Manicure in Fit for a Queen & Stop the Press

Brand: Ciate Paint Pot & Caviar Pearls

Shade: Fit for a Queen & Stop the Press

(light silver color with metallic finish, gray/silver/raspberry caviar pearls with textured finish)

Cost: $$$$

The Scoop:

The effect of a caviar manicure (which these super creative gals invented) is stunning.  Much like beauty, though, this too is fleeting.  Why?  The pearls pop off.  As in, I think I accidentally ate a few when I had a cookie.  Still, a very festive holiday look.

Next Shade: Chanel in Cinema