Julep in Darby

Brand: Julep Nail Color

Shade: Darby
(dark emerald green color, shimmer finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
This shade is a good way to get into the spirit of St. Patrick's Day without looking like a leprechaun barfed on your nails. I took this pic about 5 days after painting my nails, so you see its rubbing off on the ends, but no chips.  Talk about luck!

Covergirl in Emerald Blaze

Brand: Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss

Shade: Emerald Blaze
(mossy green iridescent color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
I got a lot of compliments on this one -- it was green in some lights and brownish in others. A nice fall shade.

Sally Hansen in Scarab

Brand: Sally Hansen Lustre Shine Nail Color

Shade: Scarab
(teal green color, iridescent finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
This is a total summer shade. It looks like the ocean I wish I was dipping my toes in. Another hit for Sally!

Essie in Garden Variety

Brand: Essie Nail Lacquer

Shade: Garden Variety
(turquoise blue color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
This another one of Essie's Spring 2015 collection. I picked it up at CVS while I was looking for cold medicine and just looking at this happy shade made me feel better.

Julep in Marion

Brand: Julep Nail Color

Shade: Marion
(teal green color, silver shimmer finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
I picked this one because Marion sounds like an Irish name to me, but this isn't the quintessential green St. Patty's (Paddy's?) Day shade. And I like that it has a hit of silver mixed in for a shimmer in the light.

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.

Avon in Midnight Green

Brand: Avon Nailwear Pro Nail Enamel

Shade: Midnight Green
(forest green color, shimmer finish)

Cost: $

The Scoop:
For the cost, Avon polishes are great. I love deep green as an alternative to my first love, navy blue. I do wish this one lasted longer -- I had to touch it up twice during the week.

L'Oreal in Fashion's Finest

Brand: L'Oreal Extraordinaire Gel-Lacque

Shade: Fashion's Finest
(teal green color, glossy gel finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
I do love this shade for fall, but I have to say it doesn't have the staying power of a gel polish, even the at-home variety.  It chipped after one day.  Expensive and doesn't last?  No bueno. Not worth it.

Rimmel London in Rags to Riches

Brand: Rimmel London Lasting Finish Pro Nail

Shade: Rags to Riches
(mossy green color, metallic finish)

Cost: $

The Scoop:
I like this shade a LOT more in this picture than I did on my hands. Maybe I'll try it again!

Next Shade: Essie in On a Silver Platter

Maybelline in Mod Moss

Brand: Maybelline Color Show Limited Edition Vintage Leather

Shade: Mod Moss
(moss green color with iridescent flecks, matte finish)

Cost: $

The Scoop:
This is an edgy shade with a nice finish.  Somehow, it really does look like old leather. Maybelline is fast becoming one of my favorite drugstore brands, though my first love still is (and will always be) Sally Hansen.

Next Shade: Sally Hansen in Brattlesnake

Butter London in British Racing Green

Brand: Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer

Shade: British Racing Green
(deep forest green color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
This one's a keeper. A nice twist on black or navy, it shows up as different shades of dark green colors depending on the light. Gotta love those Brits!

Next Week: Julep in Monaco

Revlon in Posh

Brand: Revlon Nail Enamel

Shade: Posh

(kelly green color, glossy finish)

Cost: $

The Scoop:
There's probably only one day a year to wear this nail polish and tomorrow is it. May the luck of the Irish be with you!

Next Shade: Rimmel London in Wild Orchid

Ulta in Jaded

Brand: Ulta Salon Formula Nail Lacquer

 

Shade: Jaded

(moss green color, metallic finish)

 

Cost: $

 

The Scoop:

No matter how I tried, this one photographed horribly. But what I like about Ulta polish is it's good quality and super cheap. Usually you can get these at for 2 for $4.  If you bundle the $3.50 off $10 coupon they usually run, you can get a ton of polish for very little green.

 

Next Shade: Essie in Lapis of Luxury & Stroke of Brilliance

H&M in Turquoise & Glitter Green

Brand: H&M Nail Polish

 

Shades: Turquoise & Glitter Green

(seafoam green color with glossy finish & teal color with glitter finish)

 

Cost: $

 

The Scoop:

Has this ever happened to you? You're in H&M and something catches your eye... then, you look at the price and it's super cheap... so you feel like you can afford the whole store... you buy a bunch of dumb stuff you don't need... you go home and wear it and then you know WHY it's so cheap. Yeah. That's kinda like what happened here.

 

Next Shade: Ulta in Jaded

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.

 

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.