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!

Butter London in Bubbles

Brand:  Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer-Vernis

Shade: Bubbles
(pale rose gold color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
Happy 2018! You might be hung over from last night, but your fingers aren't. This is a great shade to keep the celebration going into the new year. Plus, it's got a gold cap so you know it's fancy...

Sally Hanson in Game of Chromes

Brand: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel

Shade: Game of Chromes
(matte gold color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
I don't think this is like the gel polish you'd get in a salon -- it's not nearly as thick. But it's prob better for your nails! And I do love this shade. It didn't chip, it more kind of rubbed off on the edges after a week or so. I can live with that.

Julep in Kay

Brand: Julep Nail Color

Shade: Kay
(goldish beige color, iridescent finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
Merry (almost) Christmas! I really liked this shade, it's nice for the holidays but you can also wear it to work. Sometimes red gets to be a little too much, you know? This gold is subtle, sophisticated, and hard to tell when it chips.

CND in Sugar & Spice

Brand: CND Vinylux Weekly Polish

Shade: Sugar & Spice
(bronze gold color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
This polish is supposed to get stronger with exposure to natural light. Apparently you are also supposed to use a special topcoat (which I neglected to buy). I don't know about you, but I'm getting kinda tired of having to buy these multi step polishes because each one is a different mix. Still, I like the shade.

Julep in Lucky & Margot

Brand: Julep Nail Color

Shades: Lucky & Margot
(grass green color with glitter finish & pure gold color with shimmer finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
What better time than March to put the luck of the Irish on your fingertips? I think this pot of gold shade is a subtle tribute with a 4-leaf clover-colored accent nail. But the glitter was especially stubborn to remove.

Sally Hansen in Gilt

Brand: Sally Hansen Lustre Shine Nail Color

Shade: Gilt
(soft gold color, metallic sheer finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
I love gold polish in the summer.  It's the perfect shade for July. I put 3 coats on here to get a more opaque finish, but you can still see my nail underneath if you look hard enough.  That was a hassle.  But I still love gold.  And Sally.

Essie in On a Silver Platter

Brand: Essie Nail Lacquer

Shade: On a Silver Platter
(silvery gold shade, blue and iridescent glitter with metallic finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
This is a shade shifter, depending on the light it looks silver or gold, and the glitter is blue or iridescent. Lots going on here, but I kinda like it.

Next Shade: Sally Hansen in Booty Camp

Nailtini in Vintage Fizz

Brand: Nailtini Nail Lacquer

Shade: Vintage Fizz
(gray gold color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
This came in a kit with a pink shade and gold glitter. While the idea of a sugar-rimmed martini manicure is cute, this wasn't worth the price.

Next Shade: Revlon in Super Powered

Sally Hansen in Brattlesnake

Brand: Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips

 

Shade: Brattlesnake

(gold and gray colored snakeskin, glossy finish)

 

Cost: $$

 

The Scoop:
I thought this pattern looked cool in the store, but when I put it on, I hated it. Maybe it would be better on just an accent nail, because a whole hand of snakeskin is way too much.

 

Next Shade: H&M in Purple Mist & Prim & Proper

Ciate in Spending Spree

Brand: Ciate Paint Pots

Shade: Spending Spree
(rose gold color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
I think Ciate is at the leading edge of new nail techniques. Problem is most of them are pretty but impractical. I do like their paint pots, though. Nothing fussy, just great shades.  This one is even prettier in person. The fact that I picked this up while on an actual spending spree at Lord & Taylor is purely coincidental...

Next Shade: Maybelline in Blue Blaze

Nail Rock Caviar Manicure in Venus

Brand: Nail Rock Nail 3D Caviar Manicure

Shade: Venus

(gold color with metallic finish & multicolor caviar pearls)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:

Here's the good news: Nail Rock is making knock-offs of Ciate's caviar and velvet manicure techniques for half the price. Here's the bad news: these beads still fall right off your fingernails.

Next Shade: Sally Hansen in Lick-O-Rich

7 Red Carpet-Ready Manicures

Looking at the Oscar nominees for Best Picture this year, I realized I've actually seen most of them, which is rare for me. Usually, I just root for the one or two films I actually recognize, but this year I'm torn. Too many good ones!

So, I did what any sensible movie-lover would do: I turned to nail polish.
 

Here are 7 easy nail designs to help us decide who should take that little gold man home. Pick your favorite movies -- and manis -- below.
 

Brand: Julep Nail Vernis

 

Shade: Oscar

(gold color with glitter finish)

 

Cost: $$$

 

Inspired by: American Hustle, starring Amy Adams & Jennifer Lawrence

Brand: OPI Nail Lacquer

 

Shades: Big Apple Red & Be-Claus I Said So

(fire engine red color with glossy finish & red glitter with clear finish)

 

Cost: $$

Inspired by: Her, starring Scarlett Johansson & Amy Adams

Brands: Sephora Formula X Color and Red Carpet Manicure Nail Art Appliques

 

Shades: Dark Matter & White Matter, Champagne Wishes & First Class

(jet black & snow white colors with glossy finish, white & black floral decals)

 

Cost: $$$$ & $

Inspired by: Blue Jasmine, starring Cate Blanchett

Brand: Essie Nail Lacquer

 

Shades: Ignite the Night & Matte About You

(pewter & black color with glitter finish, clear color with matte finish)

Cost: $$

Inspired by: Gravity, starring Sandra Bullock

Brand: Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer

 

Shade: HRH

(royal purple color with metallic finish)

 

Cost: $$$

Inspired by: Philomena, starring Dame Judy Dench

Brand: Nail Rock Velvet Manicure Kit

 

Shade: Velvet Burgundy

(mulberry color with velvet textured finish)

Cost: $$

 

Inspired by: Dallas Buyers Club, starring Jennifer Garner

Brand: China Glaze Nail Lacquer

 

Shades: Smoke and Ashes & Graffiti Glitter

(forest green color with shimmer finish, emerald green with glitter finish)

 

Cost: $$

Inspired by: The Wolf of Wall Street, starring Margot Robbie

I think I've got to go with American Hustle. Gold glitter and Oscar are like peanut butter and chocolate -- a perfect match!

Find out who really wins when the 86th Annual Academy Awards airs tonight on ABC at 7pm ET/4pm PT.

 

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

Candie's in Stay Golden & Supernova Sky

Brand: Candie's Nail Polish

Shades: Stay Golden & Supernova Sky

(gold color with metallic shimmer finish, clear color with turquoise and iridescent glitter finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:

It's pretty dreary in NY, so I thought I'd give my fingers a vacation with these shades.  Like summer in a bottle.  Incidentally, these would look fantastic with a tan.

Next Shade: Pixi in Very Violet

Sephora in Grapefruit

Brand: Sephora Scented Nail Polish

Shade: Grapefruit

(neon coral color with glossy finish, and sheer gold color with micro-glitter finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:

This is one loud color.  I'm not sure why they call this scented.  It doesn't smell like anything but nail polish.  And I really dislike these 2-sided bottles -- they're top-heavy when you're painting your nails, you have to be so careful that you don't spill.  I will say, I like the glitter shade but overall, not really a fan.

Next Shade: Victoria's Secret in Steel the Scene

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.