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.

Maybelline in Dust of Bronze & Mosaic Prison

Brand: Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer

Shades: Dust of Bronze & Mosaic Prison
(bronze brown color with sheer metallic and glitter finish)

Cost: $

The Scoop:
This is a pretty combo, and this brand is super cheap so splurge and get them both. Then your hands will look extra special when you ask the person sitting next to you at Thanksgiving to pass the cranberry sauce. And yes, I mean the kind from the can. We're being frugal, right?!

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 Leo

Brand: Julep

Shade: Leo
(bronze brown color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
I'm a Leo, so of course I had to get this shade from the zodiac collection.  They call this a golden honey color for Leo's "confident and majestic" personality. Hmmm. I call this shiny baby poop. I removed it about a minute after I put it on. It's a horrible color, and I cannot throw enough shade at it.

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.

Whim in Serendipity

Brand: Whim Nail Lacquer

Shade: Serendipity
(light blue color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
I picked this up on a trip to Ulta.  On a whim. (Couldn't resist.)  It's exclusive to the store but I'm not sure why this polish is so expensive. It seems like everything else out there, but the shade was unique. Reminds me of an Easter egg.

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.

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!

Zoya in Neve

Brand: Zoya Professional Lacquer

Shade: Neve
(navy blue color, subtle shimmer finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
Today's my birthday and navy's my favorite nail polish shade, sooo... here's a good one to help soften the blow of turning 42. Make a wish!

China Glaze in Love's a Beach

Brand: China Glaze Nail Lacquer

Shade: Love's a Beach
(neon pink color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
There is one time of year that a shade like this works. Luckily, we're in it! This one's perfect for voyages, vacations, staycations, and summer Fridays.

Sally Hansen in Crushed

Brand: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color

Shade: Crushed
(traffic cone orange color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
Summer has unofficially started, so it's time to show those pasty fingers and toes the sun! Only a bright color will do. Though, as much as I love Sally, this might not be the one. If it wasn't metallic, it could be great. But it is. So it's just kind of...cheap.  Color me crushed.

Milani in Gems & Pool Party

Brand: Milani Nail  Lacquer

Shades: Gems & Pool Party
(multicolor glitter & turquoise blue color with metallic finish)

Cost: $

The Scoop:
It's Memorial Day, hope you're enjoying some time in the sun with family and friends!

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.

Butter London in Prince's Plum

Brand: Butter London 3-Free Nail Lacquer Vernis

Shade: Prince's Plum
(deep purple shade, metallic finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
This photo doesn't do this regal shade justice.  It's purple in some lights and blue in others. I'm not totally sure I like it, but I want you to have all the facts. This one's a mini, just like the prince.

Avon in Deluxe Chocolate

Brand: Avon Nailwear Pro+ Nail Enamel

Shade: Deluxe Chocolate
(deep brown color, metallic finish)

Cost: $

The Scoop:
I never understand how Avon can sell their makeup so inexpensively. Here's another example where their quality is just as good as polishes 3x the price. Definitely some chocolate you won't feel guilty about.

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.

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.

China Glaze in Hook and Line

Brand: China Glaze Nail Lacquer

Shade: Hook and Line
(taupe color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
I think this is another from the Hunger Games collection, but I like it because it's a nice, neat neutral with a sophisticated edge. Cinna would approve.