Reprise: Misa Bourbon on the Rocks

Over a year ago I did a post featuring brown polishes, one of which was Misa Bourbon on the Rocks. My nails were the very epitome of nubs in those photos, so short that I couldn't wrap the tips because I had literally no free edge. Thank goodness for the gifts of time and experience. I now have tips to wrap and can hopefully do better justice to the splendid autumnal beauty of Bourbon on the Rocks.

Bourbon on the Rocks was released by Misa as part of the High Society collection for winter 2012. Described by Misa as a "vibrant metallic copper," this polish has a translucent black-tinted jelly-like base carrying superabundant microshimmers in a coppery crimson color. On the nail, it has the appearance of a blackened auburn, with the microshimmers lightening along the axis of light to a gorgeous reddish chestnut color with hints of gold that deepens to black along the edges of the nail. It's a stunning lit from within look in a rich, luxurious color that is perfect for fall.

Application was awesome. Bourbon on the Rocks has a smooth, fluid, dense, almost oily consistency with a velvety glide over the nail and excellent self-leveling properties. Coverages builds easily to opacity in two coats. Cleanup is easy and straightforward with no trace of staining left behind. Bourbon on the Rocks dries naturally in slightly longer than average time to a smooth glossy finish.

Photos show two coats of Bourbon on the Rocks over treatment and basecoat with a slightly bubbly topcoat of Seche Vite to ensure drying of all the layers. I wouldn't want to use this polish without a fast dry topcoat.

Misa Bourbon on the Rocks

Misa Bourbon on the Rocks

Misa Bourbon on the Rocks

Misa Bourbon on the Rocks

Misa Bourbon on the Rocks

Misa Bourbon on the Rocks

Misa Bourbon on the Rocks

Misa Bourbon on the Rocks

Misa Bourbon on the Rocks

Misa Bourbon on the Rocks

It's overcast here again today and the absence of sunlight leaves Bourbon on the Rocks with a vampier look than it has when there is plenty of light, where the microshimmers have a fuller showing than they do in my photos and you see more of the reddish chestnutty color through the black-tinted base. But even so, it's kinda killer, no? Many reviewers classify this color as a burnt or blackened orange, but I prefer to think of it as a reddish brown. Like its namesake! 

I know of at least one polish blogger who listed Bourbon on the Rocks among their favorites for 2012, and I'm surprised there weren't more. To me, it's a stand-out for it's provocative dreamy color and excellent execution. Love this polish!

xo,
Liz

Misa Bikini with a Martini

Stepping well out of my comfort zone today, I bring you an unusual neon from Misa called Bikini with a Martini. This polish was released with Misa's Look on the Bright Side collection in August 2008, and it's a rare red neon. My first and only neon polish! I can't remember which blog I saw this on, but it wasn't too long ago and the concept of a red neon just kinda stuck with me so during my latest order for supplies from Head2Toe Beauty, I added it to my cart.

Bikini with a Martini is an orangey red, but when you look at the typical neon orange (the traffic cone sort of color) you can see that this one is much more red than orange. It actually has loads of pink in it too. In the bottle and on the nail in dim light it is a searing tomato red with hot pink overtones. On the nail in most lights it's an over the top hot red orange. The formula is outstanding for a neon. Fluid, smooth and thin, it's not the least bit chalky and in fact has a degree of translucence to it that is more like a jelly than anything. It applies beautifully, too, without any of the streakiness that often accompanies neon application. It's not the best self-leveler, but can be applied in thin coats so that's not much of a problem. Two coats are pretty sufficient for opaque coverage but I added a third just to be sure. Bikini with a Martini dries naturally in very good time to a smooth slightly rubbery-looking finish.

Photos show three coats of Bikini with a Martini over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite. I went ahead and happily let my camera freak out over the intensity of the color as the results actually do justice to what this polish is like in person. This manicure isn't my best work -- there's acetone residue around my nails, a bubble or two (or three) in the topcoat and (still!) leftover glitters from Heartless. Oh well, either it's all right or it's too bad, as Fuzzy would say. 

Misa Bikini with a Martini

Misa Bikini with a Martini

Misa Bikini with a Martini

Misa Bikini with a Martini

Misa Bikini with a Martini

Misa Bikini with a Martini

Misa Bikini with a Martini

Misa Bikini with a Martini

Misa Bikini with a Martini

For a neon aficionado, I'd think this would be one for the books. Eye-searing color in an unusual shade with a great formula and easy application, huzzah! Although I don't think the color does much for me, it's still an awesome polish. Neon lovers, take note!

love,
Liz

Zoya Darcy and Fall Nail Art Fail Y'all!

This entry is kind of excruciating to post. Why am I doing it then? I don't know. But I post with this caveat: if fails (and I mean, REAL fails) give you that queasy feeling that attaches itself like Pavlov's dog to events, persons or objects, please do not view this.

First thing's first! Darcy was released this past summer as part of Zoya's Stunning collection for summer 2013. It is a bright creamy buttercup yellow creme with a bit of secret yellow shimmer to it. This is the color that you would make the sun in your early crayon landscapes, and maybe add a smiley face to it because it is a happy sun.

Yellow isn't the best color for me as you will see but I really like this forthright honest beamer. I would have liked it even better had taken less than three coats to even out the coverage, but most all yellow polishes are reknowned for their streakiness so it isn't a question of being subpar. Streaks aside, the formula was light and liquid and I got it everywhere. Turns out I didn't do as thorough a clean up as I thought I did. Please try to overlook the winning way I included my cuticles in the paint job. 

Photos show three coats of Darcy over treatment and basecoast with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Zoya Darcy

Zoya Darcy

Zoya Darcy

Zoya Darcy

Zoya Darcy

Zoya Darcy

Zoya Darcy

Zoya Darcy

Zoya Darcy

Zoya Darcy

Using the Darcy manicure as a base, I created a gradient using the sponging technique. Fuzzy had picked up a leaf yesterday that was shed by the red maple in the front yard and I used that as my inspiration. The colors I used were OPI Nicole Shoot for the Maroon, Misa Bourbon on the Rocks, Zoya Livingston and Zoya Darcy. I sponged each color one at a time starting at the cuticle with Shoot for the Maroon. I made a little pool of color on a piece of tinfoil and dipping the tip of a small latex-type make-up sponge into the pool, sponged the color across all my nails before beginning with the next color. Once I had finished sponging, I did my clean up (such as it is) and applied a topcoat of Seche Vite to each nail.

Once that had dried, I added a tiny reverse glitter gradient beginning at the cuticle with Shimmer Polish Wendy. Another coat of Seche Vite and I was done. 

It didn't turn out like I'd hoped at all but of course I learned a lot and realize that I must try more of these sponging manicures before I can even begin to know what to expect when I do it. There's more to getting it right than just dabbing color. Here are the pics....

polishes I used, l to r: Nicole by OPI Shoot for the Maroon, Misa Bourbon on the Rocks, Zoya Livingston, Zoya Darcy...

...and Shimmer Polish Wendy

fall gradient nail art fail

fall gradient nail art fail

fall gradient nail art fail

fall gradient nail art fail

fall gradient nail art fail

fall gradient nail art fail

fall gradient nail art fail

fall gradient nail art fail

fall gradient nail art fail

*lol* Actually this manicure reminds me most of those reverse candy corns, you know the ones? 

What I learned was: use a smaller bit of make-up sponge and dab more lightly and carefully (or I think I might try painting the polish on the sponge with the colors in stripes and do the whole nail at once that way), be more patient with the process, pick colors that have a similar finish. I also found it difficult to figure out how much of each color to sponge before quitting and moving to the next color. The clean up was tedious and I was kinda worn out afterwards! I think I may need a new and different clean up brush too.

This was my third go at sponging a gradient and while I know it's no beauty and doesn't compare to the wonderful creative manicures I've seen online using this technique, it was fun. At least, until I got to the photos. Ha! And Fuzzy liked it a lot. It was inspired by her leaf, so that makes me happy.

love,
Aunt Liz

Grey: Chick Gr8 Gray Owl, Misa Grey Matters and Barielle Out-Grey-Geous

The other day I herded a small flock of untried greys into my swatching chute and now I'm ready to try them out.


The first grey I have for you is Gr8 Gray Owl from Chick. Chick is an indie polish maker on a mission to make our lives less toxic -- more power to them! Their handcrafted polishes are vegan-friendly and free of carcinogens, and come in neat rectangular bottles with a carefully selected high-end round brush and a sweet chick logo on the front. I purchased Gr8 Gray Owl as part of a stout Llarowe haul early this past spring. It's a beautifully formulated light-medium Gainsboro grey creme with a smooth fluid consistency that flows easily onto the nail. The brush reminds me of Essie's in size, it has a petite diameter and flexible bristles that do not overload and fan out nicely over the nail when applying.

Gr8 Gray Owl is a superbly balanced grey. To my eye, it wants to lean cool on my nails but swatching on the wheel reveals it's perfect neutrality. It has a soft presence as you would expect and creamy sleek look. It dries naturally to a glossy shine.

Photos show two coats of Gr8 Gray Owl over treatment and basecoat plus a topcoat of Poshe.

Chick Gr8 Gray Owl

Chick Gr8 Gray Owl

Chick Gr8 Gray Owl

Chick Gr8 Gray Owl

Chick Gr8 Gray Owl

Chick Gr8 Gray Owl

Chick Gr8 Gray Owl

Chick Gr8 Gray Owl

Chick Gr8 Gray Owl

Chick Gr8 Gray Owl

Chick Gr8 Gray Owl

Chick Gr8 Gray Owl

Chick Gr8 Gray Owl

Chick Gr8 Gray Owl

The second grey for today is Grey Matters from Misa. Grey Matters is a light silvery grey creme with very fine iridescent shimmers and dainty charcoal flecks. The components really give this nicely balanced neutral a certain special je ne sais quoi (hey, FRENCH!), aka visual texture. The iridescent shimmers are only barely noticeable on the nail, but their presence adds a subtle overall glow, not quite metallic but light reflective in that way. The charcoal flecks are a delicious counterpoint to the light grey of the base and give Grey Matters an interesting speckled egg look that I find extremely fetching. This polish has a silkier and slightly lighter feel on the nail than Gr8 Gray Owl.
Application was easy and smooth. Photos show two coats of Grey Matters over treatment and basecoat plus a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Misa Grey Matters

Misa Grey Matters

Misa Grey Matters, with bonus dirt crumbles, nice... NOT!

Misa Grey Matters

Misa Grey Matters

Misa Grey Matters, with bonus doink

Misa Grey Matters

Misa Grey Matters

Misa Grey Matters

Misa Grey Matters

Misa Grey Matters

Misa Grey Matters

Misa Grey Matters

Misa Grey Matters

The third and final grey of this post is Out-Grey-Geous by Barielle. Out-Grey-Geous was released in 2009 as part of their All Lacquered Up collection, which was a collaboration between Barielle celebrity manicurist Elle and polish blogger Michelle from All Lacquered Up. It's a great collection and I own several polishes from it.

Out-Grey-Geous is a medium metallic charcoaly grey shimmer polish with golden glitter flecks in addition to loads of silvery shimmers. I adore mixed metals, I think they are the height of sophisticated chic when done well, and I love the concept of this polish. If I could redo the construction of it, I'd take away about three quarters of the silver shimmer and replace it with grey pigment. As it is, Out-Grey-Geous is somewhat sheer and -- dare I use the "f" word? -- frosty.

Frosts were the height of nail polish couture in the 1980s and since that time have been in an ever more rapid and steep decline. At present, the word alone is enough to trigger gag reflexes in the majority of nail polish enthusiasts, including me. To me, a frost is a polish that a formulator wasn't well-budgeted enough to finish properly so they threw in a boatload of highly reflective shimmer along with the towel. I'm sure there are folks out there who disagree with this somewhat cavalier assessment, but that's how I feel.

So it's no surprise that Out-Grey-Geous is my least favorite polish of the three in this post. Still, the inclusion of gold glitters in the silvery charcoal grey is a beautiful touch. If the polish had a less shimmery finish, they would stand out even more than they do. As it is, close scrutiny and the right angle of light are required to give them the appreciation they deserve.

Because it was so sheer, I applied Out-Grey-Geous right over my Misa Grey Matters manicure. Had I started without a base polish, I would have needed at least three coats possibly four to achieve aesthetically pleasing opacity. Photos show two coats of Out-Grey-Geous over the Grey Matters manicure above with a topcoat of Seche Vite. My application and clean up on this manicure left something to be desired, my apologies.

Barielle Out-Grey-Geous

Barielle Out-Grey-Geous

Barielle Out-Grey-Geous

Barielle Out-Grey-Geous

Barielle Out-Grey-Geous

Barielle Out-Grey-Geous

Barielle Out-Grey-Geous

Barielle Out-Grey-Geous

Barielle Out-Grey-Geous

Barielle Out-Grey-Geous

Barielle Out-Grey-Geous

Barielle Out-Grey-Geous

Barielle Out-Grey-Geous

Barielle Out-Grey-Geous

So there you have it, three grey polishes. The spectrum of this comparison reminds me of a discus throw: you start with the creme, then there's the point of release with the flecked creme and then there's a good bit of distance to the shimmer. To continue the metaphor further than necessary or tasteful, probably farthest out, the landing spot for the disc, would be a stark black and white glitter mix in a clear base like Lynnderella's Connect The Dots.

To me, grey polish is less about drama and more about satisfaction, hitting that sweet spot that gives you a little spiritual boost. Of course, there are times when drama IS the sweet spot, in which case colors other than grey are called for. But when the yen is for something effortlessly classy and sophisticated, grey is an excellent choice. 

I think I'll be on the look out for more of those "sweet spot" greys after this post!

love,
Aunt Liz