Sally Hansen in Dig Fig

Brand: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel

Shades: Dig Fig & Top Coat
(cranberry red color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
My college roommate gave me this shade when I came over to make Christmas cookies with her kids, so it's got fun memories for me. But it's also just a great holiday color that works all month long. Merry everything!

Julep in Suzanne & India

Brand: Julep

Shade: Suzanne & India
(cherry red & royal blue colors, iridescent finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
For July 4th, of course I had to whip out the spirit fingers as a salute to the red, white, and blue. Especially since the political scene is getting heated, it's a good reminder that at the end of the day, we're all Americans.

Aurora in 4 Alarm Fire

Brand: Aurora Gel Effect Nail Lacquer

Shade: 4 Alarm Fire
(pinky red color, glossy finish)

Cost: $

The Scoop:
I got this shade in an Ipsy bag and it sat on my counter for a few months. Decided to give it a whirl for Valentine's Day. And go figure -- it was a bit disappointing, much like VDay. I wish the gel was thicker and the polish was more opaque.

Covergirl in Nemesis

Brand: Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss, Star Wars Collection

Shade:Nemesis
(deep burgundy color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
This shade is almost black. Like Darth Vader's soul. I'm not really into Star Wars (and if I was, I'm a fan of the old school variety), but this caught my eye in CVS. I hate being left out of a pop culture sensation. Plus, I hear this is the color Chewbacca uses on his toes.  Good choice!

Rimmel London in Stiletto Red

Brand: Rimmel London Lasting Finish Pro

Shade: Stiletto Red

Cost: $

The Scoop:
This is a great shade and you can't beat the price. I chose it because I was looking for something pretty and patriotic.  Mission accomplished!

Sally Hansen in Cha-Ching!

Brand: Sally Hansen Gem Crush Nail Color

Shade: Cha-Ching!
(bright red color with silver glitter finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
This is a sparklebomb and I love it. I missed seeing the NYC fireworks this year from my apt because they were on the East River and I'm on the Hudson, but who needs them when I have nails like this?

Michael Kors in Sensation

Brand: Michael Kors Nail Lacquer, Sexy Shades

Shade: Sensation
(tomato red shade, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$$

The Scoop:
I know this is expensive, but I just can't say no to Michael. When I go for a bright red shade, I like ones like this that lean orange. I think it looks freshest on short nails. It also goes on in two coats and is super shiny -- for this price, it had better!

Zoya in Toni

Brand: Zoya Professional Lacquer

Shade: Toni
(merlot red wine color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
This is a beautiful, rich shade. I usually prefer a deeper red to a brighter one because it's more sophisticated and this one's a winner.

Butter London in Come to Bed Red

Brand: Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer-Vernis

Shade: Come to Bed Red
(cherry red color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
This is a classic red, perfect for all your holiday parties.  Butter is great because it's really glossy straight out of the bottle, but use a top coat anyway. Santa doesn't like chipped nails.

Essie in Wicked

Brand: Essie Nail Lacquer

Shade: Wicked
(oxblood red shade, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
Wicked was Essie's color of the month for October, so I fished this one out of the archives (see, it's so old, the logo isn't even white!).  It looks brown-ish in this picture, but it's a deep shade of red, kind of like dried blood. Perfect for Halloween, no?

Zoya in LC

Brand: Zoya Professional Lacquer

Shade: LC
(red coral color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
I think Zoya only names their polishes after famous girls because somehow there's an LC but not a Jennifer. Really? Lawrence, Aniston, Garner, Lopez... Love-Hewitt... get on that!

Next Shade: Revlon in Pink Pineapple

Sephora in Cherries & Cherry Popsicle

Brand: Sephora by OPI Trend Tips Nail Lacquer Strips & Sephora 5-Day Shine Nail Lacquer

 

Shades: Cherries & Cherry Popsicle

(white color with red cherries and glossy finish & bright red color with glossy finish)

 

Cost: $$$ & $

 

The Scoop:

My Easter nails were inspired by cherry Jelly Bellies, my favorite jellybean. This would be cute for a summer picnic too!
 

Next Shade: Michael Kors in Envy

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.

 

OPI in Aphrodite's Pink Nightie & Minnie Style

Brand: OPI Nail Lacquer

Shades: Aphrodite's Pink Nightie & Minnie Style

(semi-sheer cotton candy pink color with metallic finish & pink, red, white glitter with clear finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:

It might be odd to mix a color named after lingerie with one named after a Disney character, but whatevs. This look isn't really for me, but maybe Mickey would like it.

Next Shade: Victoria's Secret in Start the Party

Seche in Smitten

Brand: Seche Nail Lacquer

Shade: Smitten

(fire engine red color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
This just might be the perfect Vday shade. What I liked best, though was that it was super shiny right out of the bottle -- and no chips! It's a total keeper.

Next Shades: Revlon in Bubble & Charmed

Ten Over Ten in Carmine

 

Brand: Ten Over Ten Five-Free Nail Polish

 

Shade: Carmine

(crimson red color, glossy finish)

 

Cost: $$$$

 

The Scoop: I was on Birchbox buying my favorite hair stuff (It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product) when this polish caught my eye.  They name their shades after NYC streets.  I couldn't resist choosing Carmine, which also happens to be the name of my boyfriend in the second grade.  Well... one of them.

 

Next Shade: Nuance in Black Dahlia

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.