Essie in Topless & Barefoot

Brand: Essie Nail Lacquer

Shade: Topless & Barefoot
(nude color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
Ok, don't look at this one up close. I took it at the END of my manicure, not the beginning. But I was kind of amazed that I had this on for 10 DAYS! So, it's a little dull, and has tiny chips, but it looks pretty good. Nice work, Essie!

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. 

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...

Butter London in Mum's the Word

Brand: Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer-Vernis

Shade: Mum's the Word
(mauve nude color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
You know I don't love nude shades that make my fingers look like mannequin hands. So I'm not crazy about this one. But my nails are short right now. And I guess it looks clean -- if you're made of plastic.

Whim in Fan-TAN-sy

Brand: Whim Nail Lacquer

Shade: Fan-TAN-sy
(mauvey nude color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
I know a lot of people think nude nail color looks clean. But this one reminded me of pantyhose. Gross. At least it was shiny. That made it better. Shiny pantyhose? Not so much.

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.)

Julep in Kay

Brand: Julep Nail Color

Shade: Kay
(goldish beige color, iridescent finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
Merry (almost) Christmas! I really liked this shade, it's nice for the holidays but you can also wear it to work. Sometimes red gets to be a little too much, you know? This gold is subtle, sophisticated, and hard to tell when it chips.

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.

Sally Hansen in Cafe au Lait

Brand: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure

Shade: Cafe au Lait
(nude color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
Sometimes, your nails need a color break. This shade is the perfect blank slate.

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 Kerfuffle

Brand: Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer-Vernis

Shade: Kerfuffle
(pale peach color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
I just love this name. It says troublemaker -- like causing a commotion, but in a lighthearted kind of way. What I don't like is this shade. It's just not me. It makes me think of perms and power suits in the 80's. But the name is pretty great!

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.

Revlon in Pink Pineapple

Brand: Revlon Parfumerie Scented Nail Enamel

Shade: Pink Pineapple
(pale baby pink color, sheer finish)

Color: $$

The Scoop:
This shade is a bit too sheer for me.  It looks streaky, and makes my nails look ridgy. I will say, though, it kind of smelled like pineapples, so gold star for that!

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.

MAC in Snob

Brand: MAC Nail Lacquer

 

Shade: Snob

(carnation pink color, glossy finish)

 

Cost: $$$

 

The Scoop:

This is a very girly shade.  It took 3 coats to get coverage that was mostly opaque.  I guess it's nice, but it's not really me.

 

Next Shade: Zoya in LC

Ulta in Girl Next Door

Brand: Ulta Professional Nail Lacquer

Shade: Girl Next Door
(nude color, sheer finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
I wanted to like this shade, but I don't.  I used three coats here, but for some reason it's pretty streaky.  For about the same price (and a much better effect), you should use ultra-classic Essie's Ballet Slippers, which came on the scene in April 1982.

Next Shade: Maybelline in Mod Moss

Nuance in Pink Grapefruit

Brand: Nuance Salma Hayek Nail Lacquer

 

Shade: Pink Grapefruit

(peachy pink color, glossy finish)

 

Cost: $$

 

The Scoop:
Pastels aren't really my speed, but this was a nice shade. I'm still not sure what qualifies Salma Hayek to make nail polish, but it's a good product -- shiny, no chips, cheap and cheerful!

 

Next Shade: Julep in Misti

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

Sonia Kashuk in Sugar Rush

Brand: Sonia Kashuk Nail Colour

Shade: Sugar Rush

(pale nude color, sheer finish)

Cost: $

The Scoop:

This beauty line is available exclusively at Target, and is a great quality for the price.  I chose this shade because sometimes it's nice to give your nails a color break, and go with a sheer for a clean look.  Kind of like a nail detox before the holidays!

Next Shade: OPI in Suzi Loves Cowboys

Michael Kors in Hint

Brand: Michael Kors Nail Lacquer, Sporty Shades

 

Shade: Hint

(nude color, glossy finish)

 

Cost: $$$$

 

The Scoop:
In honor of NY Fashion Week, and the fact that I miss him on Project Runway, this week's shade is a tribute to Michael Kors. His debut polish needed 3 coats, but it was pretty shiny right out of the beautiful bottle.  Somewhere, Tim Gunn is smiling...

 

Next Week's Shade: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Something