NOTD: Mahogany by China Glaze with Come to Paparazzi

Disclaimer:  I purchased these.

I know I just wore Come to Papa-razzi a few weeks back, but I like it so much that I'm wearing it again.  This time I layered it over the milk chocolate goodness that is Mahogany. 

Mahogany was part of the much anticipated Capital Colours collection from China Glaze.  Wouldn't it be exciting if they released another collection for the second movie based on the Hunger Games trilogy, Catching Fire?  Doesn't look like that's going to be happening, though.

Linking up with The Nail Files hosted by Well Shut the Front Door!

NOTD: Ruby Pumps by China Glaze

I'm sure the classic Ruby Pumps by China Glaze doesn't need much of an introduction to most people, but this is actually my first time wearing it.  I picked it up last year during the after holiday sales, and figured it would be perfect for my Christmas manicure.

Gah, now I see what all the fuss is about!  Ruby Pumps is absolutely gorgeous and was so easy to apply!  I ended up applying 3 thin coats, as each layer got progressively prettier.  I topped with Seche Vite's top coat, and now I want to know why China Glaze hasn't released a similar polish in every other color.  I believe the blue Dorothy Who? is along the same lines, so I need to try that next. 

You've got that lovely glow from within quality, plus a relatively non-gritty finish, plus a remarkably undiva like application.  All photos were taken inside, as a mini-monsoon was rolling through when I needed to take pictures.

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

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NOTD: Desert Sun by China Glaze and Butter London's Tart with a Heart

As the weather flirts with possibly, maybe, cooling down a bit here on the gulf coast, I'm indulging in colors that remind me of fall, even if it is still in the mid-80's.  And what's more evocative of fall than pumpkin pie?  So let's tie it all together - hot weather and pumpkin pie - with Desert Sun by China Glaze, one of the 3 polishes I got from the On Safari collection.

I was originally thinking Desert Sun reminded me of Werther's original butterscotch candy, but when I look at photos, it's really more of a pumpkin pie color.  Two coats were plenty, formula was good, and it does dry glossy. 

After a few days of enjoying Desert Sun, I topped it with my first Butter London polish.  I picked up Tart with a Heart along with Black Knight during the recent Ulta BOGO free sale.  Tart's a lovely girl, full of glowing gold micro glitter and slightly larger glitter for flashes of color.  Tart does dry gritty and dull, so a good top coat is a must.  I used one coat of Seche Vite.

Disclosure:  I purchased these.

NOTD: I Herd That by China Glaze

I'm on an orange/cream/brown kick, so several of the polishes from China Glaze's On Safari collection caught my eye and made their way to my house.  I Herd That is a beautiful copper/orange/gold holographic glitter that I am mesmerized by. 

I did two coats over Sante Fe by Rescue Beauty Lounge, which you can see here.  I Herd That dries very rough and a bit dull, so several layers of a good top coat will be necessary.  I used one coat of Gelous followed by one of Seche Vite, which both smoothed it out and amped up the shine factor.

I had no difficulties with the formula and after 4 days I have minimal tip wear.  Really, really nice.

Disclosure:  I bought this. 

NOTD: Galahad & Mahogany Magic French Tip

Egads, a-england's Galahad chipped on me after one day!  Not sure what was going on with that, I think I was opening a package when it happened.  I'd already had the idea of doing a french tip with Mahogany Magic, so this just sped things up a few days.

I topped off with one coat of Sally Hensen's Tealy Cool, an iridescent micro glitter mix in a blue-green gel base.   I really like the overall effect!

Galahad, Mahogany Magic, Tealy Cool

NOTD: Fast Track and Tangerine Tango Glitter Gradient

Fast Track, from the China Glaze Capital Colours, was not a polish I would have bought on it's own.  It was part of the Hunger Games inspired mini-collection exclusive to Ulta which I purchased recently.  But you know what?  I really, really like this polish.  It's a nude with a gold fleck that gives it this glowing effect that I loved.  Total surprise hit for me.  That makes three for three for me out of the Capital Colours collection, as I've also loved Riveting and Mahogany Magic.

I wore this for three days before adding Tangerine Tango Glitter to the tips.  This was my first attempt at a glitter gradient and I think it turned out pretty good.  I first swiped my nail tips with Tangerine Tango Shimmer, and then dabbed on Tangerine Tango Glitter.  This gave me the more solid effect on the tips without having to layer the glitter, which can be a bit gritty.

Fast Track with Tangerine Tango Glitter

NOTD: China Glaze's Mahogany Magic with Luxe and Lush

Mahogany Magic

Mahogany Magic was the surprise purchase for me from the China Glaze Capital Colours collection.  I wasn't intending on getting it but once I saw this milk chocolate creaminess, I was drawn in.  I love the glossy finish and ended up wearing this for 3 days without the  top coat of Luxe and Lush, I liked it so much.  I know, unheard of for me.  Application was great and this was two coats.  After three days, I had some slight tip wear. 


















I had always envisioned this being the polish out of the Capital Colours collection that would look best with Luxe and Lush, and I do love the two together.  Luxe and Lush is jagged pieces of mylar that change color with the light.  I used two coats, and because it was a bit rough, topped with one coat each of Gelous and Seche Vite.  This smoothed things out for the most part, however there are a few stray pieces that are still making their presence known.  I've also got a few pieces that extended beyond the nail line and had to be filed down.  Just things to be aware of.

Mahogany Magic with Luxe and Lush

So far, I haven't been disappointed with any of the polishes I've worn from the Capital Colours collection!  I purchased these two at Sally's Beauty Supply for $5.99 each.

NOTD: China Glaze Electrify and Riveting

As much as I enjoyed Riveting on its own, I was itching to try Electrify over it.  If Riveting is an in your face color (and it is), then pairing it with Electrify just amps it up even more.  Quite appropriate for "girl on fire" Katniss Everdeen, heroine of "The Hunger Games", the book series and inspiration for this China Glaze Capital Colours collection. 

I used one coat of Electrify over two coats of Riveting.  Since the glitter was rough, I used one coat of Gelous and one coat of Seche Vite on top, which smoothed things out nicely.  While the glitter did not dry dull, adding the two top coats did brighten things up even more.  

NOTD: China Glaze Capital Colours Riveting

China Glaze's Capital Colours polish collection is inspired by "The Hunger Games", a trilogy of books that is being released as a movie on March 23rd.  Names of the polishes are based on the districts depicted in the post-apocalyptic former United States, and this vivid beauty called Riveting is a tribute to district 3, the district known for it's technology, specifically electronics and explosives.  An interesting book series and worth checking out if you haven't read them yet.

Riveting macro

The formula of Riveting was quite good, thin but coverage was smooth and opaque in two coats.  The main thing I had to watch was making sure I did not have too much color on the brush since it was a bit runny.  Orange with gold flecks, this color glows on your nails and is not for the faint of heart - it's an attention getter!

All twelve of the polishes are pictured in this post, along with more information about the upcoming movie.  I picked up seven of the colors that appealed to me:  Riveting, Electrify, Mahogany, Luxe and Lush in full size bottles from Sally's Beauty Supply, and Fast Track, Smoke and Ashes, Agro and Luxe and Lush (again) in the mini-set available exclusively at Ulta.  Full size bottles are $7 at Ulta and $6 at Sally's.  My Ulta did not have the collection in store yet, but a sales rep told me last week that they were hoping to get them soon.

China Glaze Capital Colours in Electrify, Mahogany Magic, Luxe and Lush, Riveting

Electrify, Mahogany Magic, Luxe and Lush, Riveting

The buzz for China Glaze's polish collection inspired by "The Hunger Games" has been building for a while now, so as soon as I heard the polishes were available at Sally's Beauty Supply I stopped by to check them out in person.  I kind of knew which ones would appeal to me based on nail blogger swatches online, but sometimes something grabs you in person.  These are the four that I purchased, knowing already that I wanted the mini-set available exclusively at Ulta for a few other coveted colors (specifically, Agro).  I'll show that set in a separate post.  I did not include a macro of Mahogany Magic as it is a creme and represents just as you see it above.

The polish names refer to what industry it's representative district is known for.  District 5 specialized in power, thus the gold and red glitter bomb that is Electrify. 

District 1 was known for supplying luxury goods to the Capital, and was one of the few well off districts.  Luxe and Lush is comprised of sharp edged mylar flecks in a clear base that shift color from yellow, peach, blue, and green. 

Riveting is a vibrant, in your face orange with gold flecks.  It's represents District 3, known for technologies such as electronics and explosives. 

Mahogany Magic (not shown in macro) refers to District 7's lumber industry and was my surprise purchase.  I love brown polishes and do not have a brown creme like this.  I think it will look good with my skin tone and envision Luxe and Lush looking lovely paired with it.  Have you purchased any of the Capital Colour polishes yet?  Any favorites?  My first NOTD from this collection will feature Riveting.

Nail of the Day: Some Like it Haute

I clearly have a thing for glitter polish.  Each time I do my base coat, which for this look was OPI's Suzi Skis in the Pyrenees from the 2009 Spain collection, I think "how pretty" and then cover it with a glitter polish.  Suzi Skis in the Pyrenees looked to me like a deep charcoal cream, but I've also seen it described as a smoky dark blue shimmer, so there ya go.  Bright lights bring out the blue and the faint shimmer, apparently. Two coats were almost opaque, but I didn't bother with a third as I knew I'd be putting China Glaze's Some Like it Haute on top.

Some Like it Haute

Some Like it Haute is from China Glaze's Eye Candy collection of Marilyn Monroe inspired polishes.  It is tiny silver and black glitter with medium sized holographic glitter and I used two coats.  The finish on this was quite gritty, but two layers of topcoat made it smooth enough.  I also managed to smudge my index finger before it was completely dry, but c'est la vie.  Hardly a manicure goes by where I don't manage to mess it up somehow.

Good bottle shots where hard to come by as Some Like it Haute made my camera want to not focus, but the above gives you a pretty good idea of the multi-color holo glitter lurking inside (click on photo to enlarge).  Since Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and we're in for 6 more weeks of winter, maybe this ice slicked road with broken tail lights look is appropriate.  For those of us that seem to have skipped winter, maybe just think of it as deep space?