Lippmann Collection Is Ready to Rock October
By Melanie Parker

She'll only come out at night.
The lean and hungry type.
Nothing is new, I've seen her here before.
Watching and waiting...
She's sitting with you, but her eyes are on the door.
So many have paid to see,
What you think you're getting for free.The woman is wild, a she-cat tamed by the purr of a Jaguar.
Money's the matter.
If you're in it for love you ain't gonna get too far.

Ohhhhh, here she comes...
Watch out, boy! She'll chew you up.
Ohhhhh, here she comes...She's a MANEATER.

With a name like Maneater, I knew I had to pounce on this new Lippmann Collection lacquer, even if it promised to be a bittersweet chocolate crème that rendered itself black in the first promotional picture that I saw. I was thrilled to buy it and find that it is a perfect chocolate sauce brown. As a matter of fact, the name makes me think of Hall & Oates's song and the rich brown color reminds me of chocolate chips. It an odd way, it satisfies a craving for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. The formula has a slight translucency, or jelly finish, that keeps it from looking black in most lighting conditions.

I also had to indulge in Lippmann Collection's spicy Limited Edition (LE) polish, Superstar. Superstar is a dark brown glaze with copper glitter. It's intense and the autumnal hue makes it a must-have beauty accessory for Rrrrrr-October. I'm not too fond of this heavy glitter finish on my finger nails because I wear contact lenses and it feels a little gritty even with a thick layer of top coat. However, it will make quite a statement as a pedicure with a pair of black patent peep toe pumps or strappy bronze-colored shoes. The Holiday 2008 collection also includes a traditional candy apple red shimmer called Holiday and a pink pearl polish named Icing on the Cake. Lippmann Collection polishes retail for $15 and are available on http://lippmanncollection.com/
and other fine retailers.

Credit: Melanie Parker and Hall& Oates
Disclosure: All products mentioned in this review were purchased by the reviewer.

Candy-Coated Nails
By Melanie Parker

I know a guy who's tough, but sweet.
He's so fine, he can't be beat.
He's got everything that I desire
Sets the summer sun on fire

I want candy, I want candy!

This summer there seems to be an abundance of bright, candy-colored goodness available for your nails. My favorite polish of the bunch is Lippmann Collection's I Want Candy, which was actually release last Fall, but is still readily available wherever Lippmann Collection polishes are sold. It's got a beautiful watermelon pink jelly finish. The jelly finish has the translucency of a sheer, but a buildable hue that you can increase the saturation level of by layering. I prefer my jelly polishes to reach full saturation like a cube of Jell-O or in this case, a Fruit Jammers gummi bear, so I used 3 thicker coats of color before a layer of Poshe rapid drying top coat.


The OPI Mod About brights collection features six creme finished shades that capture the fun and edginess of the mod 'invasion' of the 60s. There is a red, pink, orange, yellow, but the two that caught my eye and had to come home with me are the blue and the green.

Dating a Royal is a bight primary blue creme. The first time I wore it, I had no trouble finding prints in my wardrobe that matched it perfectly. It is surprisingly wearable on tips , as well as toes, based on this summer's color palette. Unfortunately, when I was wearing it, a friend pointed out that it reminded him of Cookie Monster, and then I kept thinking how much better my hands would look if I had two chocolate chip cookies to hold in them. Not good for the waist line!

All of this food talk brings me to a fun use for the new OPI Green-which Village, which is a verdant pea green creme polish. I added it to the top of my I Want Candy manicure for the rind, then used the dark brown shimmery Sally Hansen Salon Haute Chocolate for the seeds of this "funky French" manicure. This nail art would probably look better as a pedicure worn to a picnic with a pair of flip flops.

credits: head2toebeauty.com and Melanie Parker. "I Want Candy" lyrics as performed by Bow Wow Wow.

Disclosure: All products mentioned in this review were purchased by the reviewer.

Blue is the New Black in Nail Polish By Melanie Parker

Yes I been black.

But when I come back

You won't know, know, know...

Lippmann Collection dared to take the jelly polish to the next level with Rehab. Named after Amy Winehouse's hit single from the album Back to Black, this seemingly rich, sapphire blue polish in the cut glass bottle shines like a gem. But when you apply it to the nail, you see the sheer color must be built up in layers for the rich translucency that defines a jelly finished polish.
This picture features four coats of color and reminds me of French blue glass cabochons polished and gleaming in the sun. It's an interesting interpretation for the blue Fall polish trend in the industry right now. OPI currently features three new navy blue shades between their last two collection: Light My Sapphire, Ink, and Russian Navy. But, I'll stick with Rehab. Chances are that you won't be saying "No, No, No!" to this polish if you try it!

Credits: Melvis Parker

Disclosure: This product was purchased by the reviewer, Melanie Parker.

Lippmann Collection Fever

By Melanie Parker

Sun lights up the day time
Moon lights up the night
I light up when you call my name
And you know i'm gonna treat you right.
You give me fever...


Taking advantage of the Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale, I stocked up on Lippmann Collection polishes. They were less than half price--only $6.99 a bottle, so I chose five. The swatches online vary greatly from the true colors, so I thought I would share the ones I have used so far so you can see swatches on the nail in comparison to a bottle picture.

I ordered Satin Doll, which I had long admired for its shimmery, neutral goodness, but abstained from because it was made for Mariah Carey. Once you get passed this by throwing out the box with the holographic butterfly and Mariah's name on it, there is no evidence of the association with her on the actual bottle. It's a light peach shimmer on the nail and reminds me of Chanel Cashmere nail lacquer.

I also ordered Just Walk Away Renee, which is inspired by Renee Zellweger. For some reason, this association doesn't bother me nearly as much. This one does say her name on the bottom of the bottle. It's a hot vampy blackened red color. There are others like it that apply just as well, such as OPI Kangarooby and IsaDora Midnight Red. It's not unique, but it's a great color for tips or toes.

And the last of my new stash that I have swatched is Fever. This was an unexpected surprise. I thought it looked like burnished rose color on the Web site swatch, so when I saw it was a tomato red with orange shimmer, I was a bit surprised. It is truly unique, and the sleeper hit of my order! I think this is a great pedicure color for summer. It looks like a shimmer in the bottle, but dries a dark orangish red creme. It would look great with some coral jewelry and gold strappy sandals.

I haven't tried Girl Talk and Secret Love yet. They both look like they might be sheer, and are a little too similar. I feel like I wasted a pick getting both of them. But Secret Love has a warmer tone to it than Girl Talk, so I am sure they will look different when they are swatched on a nail.

Disclosure: This product was purchased by the reviewer, Melanie Parker.

A Prize Package from Lippmann!

Last week I actually won a contest. This was a massive event in my life considering I am terribly unlucky. I have never won a thing in my life. No spelling bee championships. No Lucky magazine contests. No powerball jackpots.

Lippmann contacted me and stated that I was chosen randomly for their monthly give-away. I was so excited that you would have thought I won a car on the Price is Right. I was clapping and squealing like a school girl.

My winning package arrived and it included:

My Old Flame and I Dreamed You nail polishes, Rehydrating Base Coat and samples of The Stripper to Go and Rich Girl cuticle cream.

Visit and sign up for the Lippmann site.

Register in the Ask Deborah section.

If I can win...then everyone truly has a shot!

http://lippmanncollection.com/07/LC007_index.html

40 Days and 40 Nights of Beauty Brand Reviews

Day 23, Lippman

Griff: I want to look like a high maintenance girl. Small problem, I am a low maintenance girl. To that end, I am always on the lookout for products that make me look good with a minimum amount of effort.
I have found that keeping my nails well groomed goes a long way. I do my own, they are short and I don’t spend more than fifteen minutes a week on them. I slap on nail polish. I can’t be bothered with tops coats and base coats. I look for polishes that wear well.
One of my favorite brands is Lippman. I fell in love with Lippman nail products about four years ago at one of those spring time Nordstrom events. It was right around my birthday. Anyway, one of the guests was Deborah Lippman. She was charming and funny, and there was a great giveaway with purchase. I bought a few things, including some nail polishes, nail polish remover, and cuticle remover.
Lippman polishes are perfect for me. They go on smoothly, and most colors look finished with one coat, though I usually do two. They wear incredibly well, far better then the comparably priced Chanel. Furthermore, the colors are "pretty". Even the vampies are somehow ladylike. My favorites are Daytripper, Dark Side of the Moon, and Pearls and Lace, though I love many more.
Daytripper is a perfect, bright, pinky, orangey, coral, spring color. Dark Side of the Moon is a gorgeous, deep dark plum, and Pearls and Lace is a glimmery dusting of peachy, pinky, golden goodness. At first glance, they look like any other polish, but they are quite special on. Just a little more something than similar colors in other brands.
I also have to give a huge rave for the nail polish remover and the cuticle remover. They are both the best I have ever used, fast and gentle.
Are they worth the price? This low maintenance girl thinks so.

Annieytown: I always enjoy looking at my local Lippman nail polish counter at Nordstorm. It is hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the store and is often unmanned. You can play and fool around with no sale's associate giving you the evil eye.
I think the most fun aspect of Lippman's nail polishes are the names. Like OPI, they are clever and interesting. Lippman's "celebrity" series boasts the best colors such as DramaQueenie2's personal favorite No More Drama(a gorgeous golden caramel created with Mary J Blige), Sara Smile(Pretty in pink shade from SJP) and Hit Me With Your Best Shot with the creative input of Ms Pat Benatar.
Hit Me With Your Best Shot is a magnificent gun metal color that rivals all the popular dark shades.

Ms Lippman is traveling to various Nordstorm stores to give the dish on her products and new spring line.

3/31/07 Nordstrom Trend Show Oakbrook, MI or IL(There appears to be a typo on the website. Let me know if you find out which mall it is and I will correct it.)
4/14/07 Nordstrom Trend Show Southcenter, WA
4/28/07 Nordstrom Trend Show Scottsdale, AZ
6/23/07 Nordstrom Trend Show South Coast, CA
Call your local Nordstorm store to see if she is coming. If anyone goes let me know. I would love to hear all about it.
These events rarely happen in my neck of the woods.







What are your favorite Lippman polishes? List them in the comments.
Photos: Blogdorf Goodman and Cavewoman.

Visit the Lippman website:
http://lippmanncollection.com/07/LC007_index.html

Disclosure: The products in this post were purchased or counter tested by the reviewers.

The Lippmanns: A Nail Polish Review

By Griff

For months now I have promised my sweet friend, Annie, that I would review Lippman polishes. I am ready to make good on that promise.
I have quite a few Lippman's, from vampies (Dark Side of the Moon, Walk Away Renee, Hit Me w/ Your Best Shot), to delicate little whispers (Diamonds and Pearls), some brights (Daytripper), and some in-betweens. I love them all, and find them worth the money for two reasons: beautiful colors, and decent staying power. Even the dark vampies are "pretty", if that makes sense. Nothing garish or scary about them. The polishes go on easily, and are always a little deeper, a little richer, a little something more than similar colors on the market.
I am lazy. I will never do more than slap on two coats of nail polish. No top coat, no base coat, no ridge filler, etc. Just slap on two coats of polish and go. Despite this cavalier attitude, I find that a Lippman manicure lasts a good work week, and yes, I do dishes. I occasionally touch up with another coat after about three days. Not bad.
Brava Lippman.

"Getting Nailed" Challenge: What is your polish for the week?
What do you think of the Lippmans?

photos: Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: The products featured in this post were purchased by the reviewer, griff