Butter London in Scrumptious

Brand: Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer-Vernis

Shade: Scrumptious
(magenta purple color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
I'm loving this shade for Feb. I feel like red is too racy (and predictable), pink is too sweet. This dark magenta color feels sophisticated. Scrumptious, indeed!

Julep in Kayla

Brand: Julep Nail Color

Shade: Kayla
(periwinkle purple color, iridescent finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
I wanted to make summer last, so I put on a light shade. I love Julep, but I don't think this one is what I was looking for, mainly because I'm not 13. I lived with it for about a day and then took it off. Bye, Felicia. I mean... Kayla.

Orly in Saturated

Brand: Orly Nail Lacquer

Shade: Saturated
(electric deep purple color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
I thought purple would be a nice switch from blue, but all it made me do is wish I was wearing blue. Know what will make me feel better? Turkey. And stuffing. And taters. That's something to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving!

Sally Hansen in City Slicker

Brand: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color

Shade: City Slicker
(purple color, glossy finish)

Cost: $

The Scoop:
I got this grapey shade after seeing a similar one on a colleague during a meeting.  It looked better on her.  But it did dry fast!

Trust Fund in Elegantly Wasted

Brand: Trust Fund Beauty

Shade: Elegantly Wasted
(dusty lavender color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
This one came in my Ipsy bag this month. I'd never heard of it before but I love the name. I wasn't sure about the shade. Didn't seem like me. But I got a bunch of compliments, so even if it's not me, it might be YOU.

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.

Essie in Flowerista

Brand: Essie Nail Lacquer

Shade: Flowerista
(magenta purple color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
Boy, my nails have gotten long! Spring is basically here, so I had to dig into Essie's cheerful 2015 shades. This one's a winner. After the long, frigid winter we had in NYC, it makes you happy just looking at it.

Zoya in Lotus

Brand: Zoya Professional Lacquer

Shade: Lotus
(dusty grape color, iridescent shimmer finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
I skipped the typical romantic pinks and sexy reds in favor of this lovely shade. It's chic enough for work, covers with just 2 coats and is always shiny without a topcoat. I'm in love.

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!

OPI in Don't Violet Me Down

Brand: OPI Sheet Tints Nail Lacquer

Shade: Don't Violet Me Down
(lavender color, sheer finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
I hate this shade and this concept of sheer tints. I dislike it so much so that I took it off immediately and gave the polish away. No bueno, OPI.

Next Shade: Avon in Seduce Me Strawberry

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

Julep in Kayla

Brand: Julep Nail Color

Shade: Kayla
(bright periwinkle color, iridescent finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
This happy shade came in my latest Maven box, and I got tons of compliments on it. Because it's iridescent, it goes from very blue to very purple depending on the light. A new fave.

Next Shade: Orly in Rage

H&M in Purple Mist & Prim & Proper

Brand: H&M Nail Polish

 

Shades: Purple Mist & Prim & Proper

(light lilac color with metallic finish, pink & silver color with glitter finish)

 

Cost: $

 

The Scoop:
I don't shop in H&M very much, but whenever I pop in there, I can't resist the cheap polish by the register. These shades didn't photograph very well, no matter what I tried, but they are light and springy.

 

Next Shade: Wet & Wild in Sunny Side Up

Rimmel London in Wild Orchid

Brand: Rimmel London Lasting Finish Pro

Shade: Wild Orchid

(medium purple color, glossy finish)

Cost: $

The Scoop:

Beat it Old Man Winter! I decided to ring in spring a day early with this cheerful shade because I cannot stand one more second of cold.

Next Shade: Sally Hansen in Lightening & Tweedy

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.

 

Pixi in Very Violet

Brand: Pixi Nail Colour

Shade: Very Violet

(electric magenta shade, glossy finish)

Cost: $

The Scoop:

Depending on the light, this shade is even darker.  I picked this one up at Target, and it was cheap.  Problem is, it also looked cheap.  Goes on thin, not very shiny.  Plan on a high-gloss top coat to improve the look.

Next Shade: Nailtini in Pink Russian and Multichrome Sugar Glitter

Sinful Colors in Purple Diamond & Frenzy

Brand: Sinful Colors Professional Nail Color

 

Shades: Purple Diamond & Frenzy

(lavender color with metallic finish & blue and purple color with glitter finish)

 

Cost: $

 

The Scoop:
I think I picked these up at Harmon's. Fun colors, went on nicely, didn't chip, and they were cheap! This color combo is a bit young for me. After all, I'm closer to having a Sweet 60 than a Sweet 16, but who's counting?

 

Next Shade: Sephora in Grapefruit

Essie in The Girls Are Out

Brand: Essie Nail Lacquer

Shade: The Girls Are Out

(magenta purple color, subtle shimmer finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:

I chose this girl power shade in tribute to Pantone's 2014 color of the year, Radiant Orchid.  I could do without the subtle shimmer, but the it grew on me by the end of the week. Kinda like a clingy friend.

Next Shade: Ten Over Ten in Carmine

Holiday Nail Looks & Video How-To's

(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 3 video manicure tutorials -- perfect for the holidays. 

 

Brand: Amanda Knight Colour Couture Get the Look Nail Art Set

Shades: Coral & Gold Glitter

(coral orange color with glossy finish, gold with glitter finish)

Cost: $$$

Check out this video how-to:
 

 

Brand: Amanda Knight Colour Couture Get the Look Nail Art Set

Shades: Purple & Multicolor Beads

(electric purple color with metallic finish, pastel caviar pearls with textured finish)

 

Cost: $$$

Check out this video how to:
 

 

Brand: Amanda Knight Colour Couture Get the Look Nail Art Set

Shades: Silver & Blue Glitter

(silver color with metallic finish, royal blue loose glitter)

Cost: $$$

Check out this video how-to:
 

 

Sally Hansen in Private I

Brand: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength No Chip Nail Color

Shade: Private I

(grape purple color, glitter finish)

Cost: $

The Scoop:

Guess what?  I've officially posted 52 shades of nail polish!  I finished in less than a year because some manicures used 2 or 3 colors.  Since I'm having so much fun, and there are at LEAST a hundred more where those came from, I'm going to start posting 2 shades per week: on Sundays, as usual, and now on Wednesdays too!  As for this shade, can your nail polish ever be too rich or too sparkly?  I think not.

Next Shade: Holiday Nail Looks & Video How-To with Amelia Knight Colour Couture