Essie in Winning Streak

Brand: Essie Nail Lacquer

Shade: Winning Streak
(gray purple color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
This lucky shade is a nice alternative to greens around St. Patty's Day (or is it Paddy's Day?). Maybe if you wear it, you'll find a pot of gold!  And if you do, please call me. 

Julep in Marika

Brand: Julep Nail Color

Shade: Marika
(graphite gray color, matte metallic finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
What better color to pick for back to school than a graphite gray? Like a pencil! Do students even use pencils anymore? I dunno. Anyway, I did like this shade very much, but I don't love the matte trend.  I like my nails like I like my apples.  Shiny.

Julep in Erin

Brand: Julep Nail Color

Shade: Erin
(gray green color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
You know I love some Julep, but I wasn't crazy about this shade.  I know gray is so chic these days, but depending on the light, my nails just looked sick. (Not in a good way.)

OPI in Peace & Love & OPI

Brand: OPI Nail Lacquer

Shade: Peace & Love & OPI
(gray, purple & green iridescent color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
This is a fun one because it's a different color in every light. The photo doesn't do it justice. Purple in sunlight, green in fluorescent light, and gray pretty much everywhere else -- it's like a mood ring for your nails!

Julep in Becky

Brand: Julep Nail Color, Silk Finish

Shade: Becky
(graphite color, metallic matte finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
I'm wearing this shade because the streets are covered in snow and I'm wishing we could see the pavement again. Also, I didn't love the "silk" finish here (aka: matte), so I added a topcoat.  Like black ice.

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

Victoria's Secret in Steel the Scene

Brand: Victoria's Secret Pink Nail Paint

Shade: Steel the Scene

(gray beige color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:

Did you know VS had nail polish? Neither did I, but it makes sense -- like lingerie for your fingers.  I think this shade is officially called greige. It's a nice neutral for the winter, and one of the more work-friendly colors in the collection.

Next Shade: Candie's in Stay Golden and Supernova Sky

Joe Fresh in Slate

Brand: Joe Fresh Nail Polish

Shade: Slate

(charcoal gray color, glossy finish)

Cost: $

The Scoop:

Joe Fresh is one of my new favorite stores.  I shop in the one on 5th Ave in NYC so you'd expect it to be fashionable (which it is), you don't expect the clothes to be inexpensive (but they are!).  I always find something cute there, like this nail polish!  I think it was about $3.  I heart you, Joe.

Next Shade: SpaRitual in It's Raining Men

Nails Inc. in Trafalgar Square

Brand: Nails Inc. Magnetic Polish

 

Shade: Trafalgar Square

(graphite gray color, glossy finish)

 

Cost: $$$

 

The Scoop:
Nails Inc is always good for innovative techniques.  I liked this one because of the wavy design the magnet makes when you hold it over your wet nail.  They also have stars, fishnets, and other patterns to try -- it's a super easy way to create your own nail art! 

 

Next Shade: Essie in The Girls Are Out

New Year's Eve Nail Looks

(Note: This is a sponsored post for SheKnows Experts Among Us, the opinions -- and nails -- are all my own.)

To celebrate the launch of the new beauty counters at Kohl's in almost 300 stores, I tried 3 sparkly manicures -- perfect to celebrate New Year's Eve. 

Brand: Essie Nail Lacquer & Luxe Effects

Shades: Smokin' Hot & Set in Stones

(deep purple gray color with glossy finish, clear color with silver glitter finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
This ombre glitter look is easy to do at home. Start with 2 coats of a glossy (or matte)  polish.  Then paint a coat of glitter, stopping halfway down your nail.  Finish up with a 2nd coat of glitter just at the tip.  Essie Luxe Effects gives an extra-special touch with glitter pieces at all different sizes.  I got lots of compliments on this look -- you will too!

Brand: Candie's Nail Polish

Shades: My Kinda Teal & Over the Rainbow

(teal green clear color with glossy finish, clear color with green, bronze & silver glitter finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:

Bright green was such a popular color in 2013.  Give it a fond sendoff with this manicure, then add an accent nail coated in glitter so you are sure to twinkle well past midnight.

Brand: ELLE Nail Lacquer & Sugar Nail Frosting

Shades: Fuchsia Fusion & Confetti

(hot pink color with glossy finish, clear color with pink, blue, and silver glitter finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
Doesn't this one just look like a party?  Try this retro look and pretend it's 1999, when the hair was big and the nails were bright.  Happy New Year!

Revlon in Iconic & Evening Garnet

Brand: Revlon Nail Enamel & Revlon by Marchesa Nail Art 3D Jewel Appliques

Shades: Iconic & Evening Garnet

(charcoal gray color with glossy finish, stones in shades of pink and black with textured finish)

Cost: $$ & $$$

The Scoop:

Back in the day (like 20 years ago), I only wore Revlon nail polish.  Now, I skip that section when I'm in CVS.  That is, until these nail polish strips by Marchesa caught my eye.  This is a really clever collaboration, and the nail polish strips stayed on and looked good for about 5 days. Welcome back!

Next: New Year's Eve Nail Looks

Winter Nail Polish Trends: Metallics & Gemtones

(Note: This is a sponsored post for SheKnows Experts Among Us, the nails are all my own.)

To celebrate the launch of the new beauty counters at Kohl's in almost 300 stores, I've created 4 manicures in metallic and gemtone shades -- totally on-trend for winter. 

Brand: ELLE Cosmetics Nail Lacquer

Shades: Dancing Queen & Chain Mail

(silver color with iridescent metallic finish & charcoal gray color with metallic finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:

What better brand to choose for a trend post than ELLE?  Not only are their shades super fashionable, they are also available exclusively at Kohl's.  Here, I started with 2 coats of the dark gray on my whole nail and let that dry overnight. Then, I used painter's tape to mark the diagonal stripe and finished with 2 coats of the silver color. 

 

 

Brand: ELLE Cosmetics Nail Lacquer

Shade: Amp It Up Amethyst
(violet purple color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:

If you're trying to find a way to brighten up a gloomy winter day, look no further than your nails.  This rich purple shade is bright in sunlight, and takes on a cool edge at night.  For an extra pop, don't match it to your outfit. 

 

 

 

 

 

Brand: ELLE Cosmetics Nail Lacquer

Shades: Gold N' Glitz & Shock It To Me
(gold color with metallic finish & magenta purple color with glossy finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:

Nails are quickly becoming the star of the runway at Fashion Week, so here's a scene-stealing look: Jazz up a manicure with an accent nail.  It's the easiest nail art you can do.  Here, the gold and magenta colors are perfectly festive for the holidays. 

 

Brand: ELLE Cosmetics Nail Lacquer

Shade: Sapphire Sophisticate
(cobalt blue color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:

I wear blue all year round, but I especially love it in the winter.  And I think it looks best on shorter nails.  This shade is a slightly darker, metallic version of Pantone's 2014 color of the year, Dazzling Blue.  It's the perfect cold weather hue!

Butter London in No More Waity, Katie

Brand: Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer

Shade: No More Waity, Katie

(dusty gray color, lilac shimmer finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:

I had a different shade lined up for this week but I switched it at the last minute in honor of this tribute to the Royal Baby's mum.  It needs at least 3 coats, looks purple in sunlight, and is a bit dull right out of the bottle so plan on a top coat.  (Top hat and tails, optional.)

Next Week's Shade: Deborah Lippmann in Candy Shop

Essie in Bobbing for Baubles

Brand: Essie Nail Lacquer

 

Shade: Bobbing for Baubles

(navy-ish gray color, glossy finish)

 

Cost: $$

 

The Scoop:

I always gravitate toward darker colors -- grays, blues, blacks all year round but I think this shade is better suited for fall or winter.  They say it's a deep sapphire, but it really looks gray in most lights.  The first coat goes on pretty thick, but I did a second just to be sure.  It wore well all week, didn't start to chip until day 5!

 

Next Week's Shade: China Glaze in Riveting & Luxe and Lush

Covergirl in Midnight Magic

Brand: Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss

Shade: Midnight Magic

(charcoal gray color with blue green flecks, glitter finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:

The nice thing about glitter polishes is that they don't really chip.  And this one is an interesting shade, not one you see everyplace.  I used 3 coats to get a deeper color, which changes from gray to blue depending on the light.  The picture doesn't do the shade justice so next time you're in a drugstore, check it out!

Next Week's Shade: Essie in Trophy Wife

Sally Hansen in Gunmetal

Brand: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear

Shade: Gunmetal

(pewter gray color, metallic finish)

Cost: $

The Scoop:

I love Sally, and this line of nail polish might be her best because it's a great bargain too.  I think it was about $3 -- and that's in NYC.  You might miss it at your local drugstore because it's usually near the floor, while the expensive ones are at eye-level, but bend down and check them out!  It also dries quickly and lasted a full week.  Worth every penny.

Next Week's Shade: OPI in Russian Navy

China Glaze in Stone Cold

 

Brand: China Glaze Hunger Games Collection

Shade: Stone Cold
(charcoal gray color, matte shimmer finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
Great color inspired by the movie and unique finish.  The polish is opaque but really thin so it definitely needs a matte top coat to protect it from chipping.  But even that won't work.  I had to touch this one up a ton, but I still love it.

Next Week's Shade:
Rimmel London in English Rose

Revlon Moon Candy in Supernova

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Brand: Revlon Moon Candy Nail Enamel

Shade: Supernova
(charcoal gray color, iridescent foil finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
Glitter foil flakes are unattractive, hard to get enough glitter on the brush, awkward bottle design is top-heavy when painting your nails so it tips over, and looked nothing like the ad. At least it didn't chip!

Next Week's Shade:
Ciaté Velvet Manicure in Blue Suede