Lacquer Lundi

Last week, Sher asked if I ever have to throw out any of my polishes when they get old. The short answer is no, no and nope. Polishes don't ever get to the point where they have to be thrown out (unless you just hate the colour). Even if your polish gets thick, lumpy, chunky or completely dried out, just add nail polish thinner (I use Beauty Secrets Nail Polish Thinner from Sally Beauty Supply). Be careful not to add too much at a time though. For a light thinning, I add 5 to 10 drops to the polish bottle, close the lid and shake it up. If I still need things a bit less viscous, I repeat the aforementioned until happy. If you do manage to get a bit overzealous with the thinner and make polish soup, don't freak out. Just leave the lid off the polish for a minute or two (or three or four) and allow the thinner to evaporate. Voila, no need to trash perfectly good polish ever again. Or you can always send your old polish to me. I'm thinking of opening up a polish rescue - it'll be a non-profit haven for unloved and over-the-hill nail lacquer!


Now, on to the pretties:

OPI - Have You Seen My Limo?
- purchased at Rachelle's (my hair salon) for $7.00 CDN

Have You Seen My Limo? is so frickin' awesome! (Yep, I just said "frickin' awesome"!) This polish is a dark brownish-purple base with greenish-silver shimmer. If you like vampy colours, chances are you will like this one.

As with most OPI polishes, Have You Seen My Limo? applied easily, due its nice consistency. However, I found that I needed three coats to eliminate all streakiness. Although I prefer a polish that covers in two coats (or ideally, one coat), I am willing to go the extra mile for this one. It held up well - for the three days that I had it on, all I got was minor tip wear.

I think this may become my regular pedicure polish from here on out, as I like a nice dark colour on my toes.


L'Oreal - Shocking Green
- purchased at Shoppers (chain drug store) for $5.99 CDN

Shocking Green is such a unique colour - a yellowed green with subtle gold shimmer (enlarge the photos for a better look at the shimmer). I don't have any other greens in my collection that are even remotely like this one. It reminds of the colour that would be produced if Kermit the Frog had a love child with an alien.

I have included pictures both in sun (to the right) and shade (to the left).

Unfortunately the formula on this brand is not spectacular. It is very thick and difficult to push around the nail. I had to resort to adding thinner (rather apropos considering the beginning of this post, don't cha think?) to get a better consistency.

This polish did wear fairly well. after three days I had minor tip wear, although it was beginning to get small chips on the edges of a few nails.


Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear - Blue It
- purchased at Wal Mart for $2.07 CDN

Blue It is a gorgeous royal blue polish, with a metallic like sheen. It is quite stunning and eye catching. I have a soft spot for blue polish and this one is very high on my list of most loved.

As with all the Sally Hansen HANXW polishes that I own, Blue It has a great consistency and applied to the nail quite well. It covered in two coats and dried quickly.

This polish holds up reasonably well - only tip wear after two days.