Nubar Reclaim On Your Birthday

There once was a laquerista named Eleanor,
Whose collection was so big that it fell on her.
She clawed through the pile
With a laugh and a smile
And exclaimed "What an excellent metaphor!"

Happy Birthday my dear! For your birthday blog post I have a polish in... what else, GREEN! A very special green for a very special niece. *grin!* It's called Reclaim and it's made by Nubar. 

Nubar is an excellent progressive company started in 2001 in California by one man, Noubar Abrahamian. After a family member succumbed to cancer, he founded Nubar with the commitment to making the highest quality and most innovative nail products without any carcinogens (cancer causing elements) and with only the healthiest ingredients. 

If you're gonna spend money (and who doesn't do that?) it's fun and worthwhile to find out about the people who make the products you spend your money on. Larger private companies like Nubar and Zoya have my respect for making mass production of nail polish a more healthy enterprise. That's a win-win proposition that I am more than happy to support.

Now, about Reclaim. Reclaim is a gorgeous bright medium toned grass green linear holographic nail polish. There are two kinds of holo polishes, scattered and linear, which are determined by the size of the holographic particles they contain. Polishes with larger particles are generally scattered holos. Polishes with finer particles/microparticles are linear holos. Holographic particles reflect light in a prismatic way. They reflect the colors that you see in a natural rainbow in the sky: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and voilet. When a holo polish is linear like Reclaim, the particles align themselves to reflect these colors in a gradient striped flair.

Reclaim was the first widely available green holographic nail polish (it came out in 2008 I think or 2009) and it is still one of the best if not THE best green holo ever. It's a legend. It's gorgeous fresh silky green color, kind of a cross between the color of Kentucky blue grass and the blue green you see in tropical waters, it's perfectly crafted formula (applies like buttah), and it's fantastic holographic flair all combine to give it HG (holy grail) status.

Since you're probably dying to see photos by now I will cease the yak and give you some pics to enjoy. Be sure to click on them to see enlargements!

Nubar Reclaim, a fount of holographic goodness

Nubar Reclaim

Nubar Reclaim

Nubar Reclaim

it is beautiful even in the shade

such a great green, no?

Nubar Reclaim

Nubar Reclaim

Nubar Reclaim

Nubar Reclaim

Nubar Reclaim

Nubar Reclaim

Nubar Reclaim

One of my favorite polish bloggers said about Reclaim: "Nubar Reclaim is close to being a perfect polish, and I don't say that lightly." I have to agree with her. You'll be happy to know that I've made sure to pack this one to bring up. We will have to get it on your nails immediately!

In honor of your birthday today I am wearing a forest green scattered holo polish called Deep Green Sparkle by Glitter Gal, an Australian indie polish maker.

It's a lovely conifer green that sits lightly on the nail despite the dark color and sparkles in the sun. I don't have any pics of it (already packed my camera) but you'll be able to see it when I get there! *squeal* John is off with Frankie to his appointment (it's about quarter of nine in the a.m, here right now) and I have to finish packing so I will sign off.

Hail to the holo!

love,
Aunt Liz

Picture Polish Cosmos

More blue nail polish! Here is another of my very favorite blues, Cosmos by Picture Polish. Picture Polish is an indie Australian brand that sources all of their ingredients in Australia. Awesome! As you would expect from thoughtful and proud formulators, their polishes are of excellent quality and are much sought after here in the US. They aren't cheap, of course, but that's to be expected.

Cosmos is a rich limitless dark blue polish full of holographic flecks. The formula is Perfection with a capital P. I swatched it back before I started this blog, right after I first started getting into nail polish and I remember being absolutely shocked at how smoothly and beautifully it applied. It practically paints itself onto your nails and dries to a silky smooth finish with a bit of squish to it that is just SCRUMPTIOUS. Dark blue is a particularly elegant color for nail polish, I think. The sparkly fleckishness of Cosmos adds complexity and some real big fun to the elegance of the color. This one is totally wearable at all times.

Picture Polish Cosmos bottle shot

Picture Polish Cosmos all sparkly and stuff

Picture Polish Cosmos

Picture Polish Cosmos

Picture Polish Cosmos

Picture Polish Cosmos

Picture Polish Cosmos

Picture Polish Cosmos

Picture Polish Cosmos

Picture Polish Cosmos

Picture Polish Cosmos

How about them apples, eh?

I remember using a basecoat, two coats of Cosmos and no topcoat (I was very enamoured with the finish, which you'll have to experience in person to see what I mean about squishiness -- it doesn't show in my pics or any pics of this polish that I've seen now that I think about it). That's a total of only three layers of polish and probably accounts for the in-your-face nail ridge visibility. But it is TDF even with ridges. 

I've packed two other Picture Polishes to bring with me, one red and one dark purple. Hopefully we'll have time to try one of them!

love,
Aunt Liz

Zoya Skylar

Here's what may well be the most favorite Zoya polish that I own, Skylar. Definitely one of my favorite blue polishes. Rich, softly sleek and breezy but also grounded. Pretty much just plain lovely and a delight to wear.

Zoya describes Skylar as "a medium steel blue with a softened, dusty look and speckled by visible gold and silver shimmer flecks. A soft blue that's bold without being too dark, bright or flashy." I don't know about the steel blue part, to me it's more of a soft slate or denim blue. The finely flecked shimmer is mostly silvery to my eye, with muted hints of gold and pink and pale green that my photos captured only a little bit of but are more noticeable in person, especially in sunlight. The shimmer gives the finish a textured, layered look that is complex but subtle, very much in keeping with the overall feel of this polish.

I swatched Skylar before I started this blog but managed to take some ok pics including bottle shots. Take a look...

Zoya Skylar bottle shot

Zoya Skylar shimmer shot in the bottle

Zoya Skylar -- I like this shot showing the polish on my nails not gripping but next to the bottle, gonna try to remember to take more polish pics like this...

Zoya Skylar -- forgot to mention that I did use base and topcoats with this, I think I used Seche Vite topcoat which accounts for the extra glossiness of the finish. Seche Vite rules!

Zoya Skylar showing some shimmer baby...

Zoya Skylar

Zoya Skylar -- decent shot of the flecked shimmer finish that makes this polish more sophisticated than a plain blue creme

Zoya Skylar, shaded shot

Zoya Skylar against the linen pants I was wearing that day -- they go together fabulously, no?

Zoya Skylar -- shimmer shows up quite silvery here... my clean up leaves a lot to be desired too, ugh...

Zoya Skylar -- beautiful denim blue with grey overtones and hints of green...

Zoya Skylar

Zoya Skylar

Zoya Skylar

Gosh looking at these photos makes me want to put it on right now! But I think I've packed it up, along with about a bazillion other polishes (way too many but whaddaya whaddaya), to bring up with me to Charlottesville. I'd originally planned to leave today but John needs to use Frankie for important doctor appointments today and tomorrow. He got in a wreck with his van and it is totalled. A parts and scrap guy is coming this morning to tow it away. I think I have a picture of it, hang on...

Here we go. If this was a polish we'd call it Le Wreck by JFF (John Francis Fortys)...

JFF Le Wreck

JFF Le Wreck

JFF Le Wreck

JFF Le Wreck

No shimmer in that one, ha! So I will be up ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, Friday. Rather fitting, don't you think? *lol* How old will you be anyway, 16?

Humor, gotta have it!

love,
Aunt Liz

Evolution of a Blue Bling Manicure

Right now I'm sporting a very shimmery glittery all-in-all blinged out manicure in blue that I have documented with photos as it evolved. Five different polishes went into the making of it, including base and topcoat.

It began, as all my manicures do, with OPI Nail Envy basecoat. I wanted to mention about Nail Envy that is is not a dedicated basecoat. It is what is called a "treatment." Treatments are lacquers that contain special ingredients that supposedly fortify or hydrate or strengthen or otherwise "treat" the nail in some way. Now I say "supposedly" because these things do not magically erase problems and transform fingernails into visions of loveliness. Any transformation that occurs will take place over time. Some treatments are more effective than others, and some are better for specific issues than others. It's usually a matter of testing out various products over time to find one that you feel really does help your nails in some way. Treatments are usually clear and come with directions to apply to the nail one coat per day for a period of time, usually a week, after which you remove with polish remover and begin again.

But of course not everyone wants to limit their nail adornment to clear lacquer day after day for weeks on end. I know I don't! But I do realize that there are issues with the health of my nails that would probably be the better for some attention. I decided to use OPI's Nail Envy, which is supposed to strengthen the nail, mostly because it regularly comes up for auction on ebay and I can get it there for a lot less than what it costs retail. Instead of using it by itself, I make it my basecoat and hope to receive some of those strengthening benefits that way. And it works pretty well as a basecoat. The polish I put on top of it stays on my nails until I decide to take it off. But then I only wear a manicure for a day or two.

And now back to our regularly scheduled program already in progress. 

The polish I used for this post is another medium toned blue creme that I've been wanting to swatch called A Bouquet for Ava by Barielle. Barielle describes Bouquet as "a cool Caribbean blue." In reviews online I seen it described as a blue-leaning teal, a French blue and a deep sky blue. To me, it's a balanced medium teal. The formula is highly pigmented and smooth and the finish is glossy. Careful painters could probably get one coat coverage. I did two coats.

Barielle A Bouquet for Ava

Barielle A Bouquet for Ava

Barielle A Bouquet for Ava

modified claw

Barielle A Bouquet for Ava

Barielle A Bouquet for Ava

Barielle A Bouquet for Ava

Barielle A Bouquet for Ava

Barielle A Bouquet for Ava is a Chi approved polish!

Can you tell that I really liked this color on me? And you know I love blue polish generally so we can probably both agree that A Bouquet for Ava is a WIN!

As much as I liked this polish, I had a yen for sparkle that demanded satisfaction. So I looked through my collection of China Glaze glitter polishes and picked out Atlantis. Atlantis is a fabulous mermaidesque combination of blue and green small glitters in a lightly tinted base. 

Then I had to decide what method I would use to dress up Bouquet with Atlantis. I could simply layer Atlantis on top of the whole nail. Or I could do a gradient. 

A gradient is a type of manicure where one or more polishes taper or feather into each other, so that there is an area of transition from one polish to the next where they actually mix or appear to mix. Gradients can be done with colors or textures or both.

I wanted my nail tips to look like I'd dipped them in sparkle, so I applied Atlantis beginning at the free edge, or tip of my nails. I wiped most of the polish off of the brush at the neck of the bottle and lightly brushed from the tip down over about a quarter of the nail's length. I did this to all of my nails, let them dry long enough to set up securely and then did another application round with the same technique. This time I dragged the mostly dry brush a teeny bit farther down the nail in just a few places, like the edges closest to the cuticle and one or two spots in the middle. Let that dry. Then a final round where I used a medium loaded brush on the free edge to make sure it was opaque with Atlantis and then ploshed the brush lightly where I'd dragged it before to make sure there'd be a sparkly drippy kinda look.

I have two quick pics of the mani at this stage. It really doesn't look like much. Visually, glitter is a dynamic element. The impact it has depends on light AND movement together. So a photograph is never going to capture the sparkle the way it is experienced in person. But you will be able to see how I concentrated Atlantis at the tips of my nails.

This is Atlantis in the bottle with glitter reflecting mightily in the morning sunlight

China Glaze Atlantis applied over Barielle A Bouquet for Ava

China Glaze Atlantis applied over Barielle A Bouquet for Ava

At this point I wanted to add something to help smooth out these two and tie them together more. So I reached for one of my most favorite toppers, Orly's Shine On Crazy Diamond. If this polish were a man I would move to Vermont and marry it, that's how much I love it! Shine On Crazy Diamond has VERY sparkly holographic microglitter sparsely suspended in a clear base. It's not packed with the microglitter, so it is a perfect polish to tie a look together without distracting from other elements.

I applied it to the whole nail over both Bouquet and Atlantis.

Orly Shine On Crazy Diamond, bottle shot

Atlantis applied over Bouquet with Shine On Crazy Diamond over both

Atlantis applied over Bouquet with Shine On Crazy Diamond over both

intentional blur helps to show sparkle

Atlantis applied over Bouquet with Shine On Crazy Diamond over both

I could have stopped here, but why? I grabbed another great topper, Nubar 2010 (which I showed you back in my Three For One post), and added a coat of its flakie goodness over Shine On Crazy Diamond. Finally I added a layer of venerable Seche Vite fast dry topcoat to encase the look in glossy shine, help protect the glitters from chipping, bond the layers together and speed up drying time for all.

recap, what I used (l to r): Nubar 2010, Orly Shine On Crazy Diamond, Barielle A Bouquet for Ava, OPI Nail Envy and...

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

the total look

blingy blue manicure

blurred for some colorful sparkle action

prrrretty sparrrrrkly prrrrecious

yup!

did I mention, this is a sparkly look...

at the window looking a bit more subdued...

see the pretty flakies? bling! bling! bling bling bling!

beautiful glowing flakies

it's blingtastic!

yup yup!

extreme close up whoa!

shade

direct sunlight

indirect light

blingy teal blue mani

Gotta love it. Gotta love love LOVE it! Something about that much sparkle on your tips just makes you want to party! Got no party here at the moment, though. What I do have quite a bit of laundry to do so I can pack for my trip to YOUR HOUSE. *squeal* How in blazes am I going to pack all the nail polish and manicure stuff? I hope I remember to bring everything. It would be so sad if I forgot, say, YOUR BIRTHDAY PRESENTS. Just pickin, chicken! I'd never forget a present, much less a birthday present for my favorite niece.

May the bling be with you, Eleanor!

love,
Aunt Liz