Formula Perfection That's Easily Found

By Melanie Parker

Several years ago, I relegated myself to only salon brand polishes. I stocked up on Essie, OPI, China Glaze, and Misa. I let my Orly, Sally Hansen, and Finger Paints polishes linger unused in their bottles for years. I don't know why. Before the color obsession, I was quite happy with my Sally Hansen Pure Putty and Calming Cocoa colors. Both were neutral crèmes that looks elegant with my long nails. I'm happy to report that their new salon formulas are actually outlasting the salon brands. You really can get the best finish and wear at the drugstores thanks to Rimmel London and Sally Hansen raising the bar.

After getting burned by several lackluster collections and a whole lot of wasted money on Chanel polishes that take too may coats to achieve bottle color and chip easily, I stopped buying polish for awhile. Now, I've started up again and I'm going back to my roots. Well, back to my nail lacquer roots. I'm still going to cover the gray in my hair.

So, I experimented with two new polish formulas easily found on display at the local Walgreen's. First up is Rimmel London's new Lasting Finish Pro formula. Despite there being a lovely peacock blue shimmer, I opted for a traditional blue-based red crème. I wasn't sure if it would be a jelly finish like Sally Hansen Salon's Cocktail Party or not. Luckily, it is not a duplicate. The Rimmel has a wide flat brush that covers the nail thoroughly. Because I like vampy nails, I did three coats of color. The bottle promises that it will last "Up to 10 Days." I took this picture on day 8. There was no chipping and minimal tip wear. I'm impressed. I can't remember if this was $7 or 8, but it was definitely worth it. I will be buying this formula again.

Next up was Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure line. As you can tell from the pictures, the bottle shape is different than the Sally Hansen Salon formula polishes is the rectangular bottles. I like this new cap. It has a rubber ridge that you can rest your bent finger on while painting the opposite hand. It also has a wide, flat brush that cover a pinky nail in one stroke. I really like everything about this polish. I love the two dusty crème hues I chose and that they covered thoroughly and completely in two coats. For less than $8 a bottle, this formula is the best I have ever used. Yes, it's better than OPI, China Glaze, and even Misa. I'm hooked!

Commander in Chic is the color I spotted across the aisle that drew me to the display. It looked a little like the Sephora for OPI Metro Chic, but it's a few shades lighter. OPI's You Don't Know Jacques is another mushroom/gray/beige crème polish that it might get compared to, but Commander in Chic is at least 2 shades lighter on the nail and almost has a lavender base color. The closest color that I could find is the Rimmel London Steel Gray, but that was just a tad darker and more taupe, which is ironic since the name would indicate it was gray. I really debated between the two colors in the store, but I am happy I choose Sally Hansen's Commander in Chic because I really love this formula. It's so thick and glossy, even before I added a coat of Poshe topcoat.

Plum's the Word is another interesting shade from this collection. I am quite satisfied that this will quench my thirst for the new Chanel Particuliere. Muted plum crèmes are strong on the fashion scene right now. I like this formula better than Essie Mink Muffs and the Chanel, but I also think it is a few shades lighter. When Walgreen's has a sale on these, I'm going back for Fairy Teal and a few other bright colors.

Disclaimer: These polishes were purchased at the drugstore by the reviewer.

Project Runway: The Polish and the Finale

By Melanie Parker

This week is the finale of Project Runway. In celebration for the end of the sixth season of this design show, I'm featuring a fantastic limited edition Sally Hansen Salon lacquer called Project Runway. This color is believed to be exclusive to Canada. The Runway Collection of polishes are in a cute display that features a center catwalk, and so far I have yet to see any making an appearance at a drug store in the USA. I don't know what it is about these LE Sally Hansen Salon colors, but they don't seem to have a sound distribution channel. This color is reallly quite fabulous and I hope that it comes to a store near you one day.

Project Runway is a jelly green with lots of green and gold shimmer. It almost reminds me of a snakeskin in the bottle. On the nail, it is rich and shimmery. I really have to say in a sea of green nail polishes available now, this one is unique and captivating.

In other limited edition news from Sally Hansen, the Hi-Definition Nail Color in Opulent Cloud is another special snowflake. This color always seems to photograph with a lavender hue, but it is actually an interesting gray with gold flashing. There were reports that it flashed green, but I don't get that on the nail. I get a strong gold flashing, which is a complete contrast to the silvery gray base.

The closest color I could think to compare Opulent Cloud to in the silver and gold category is CHANEL Kaliedescope, but as you can see in the bottle shots, Kaleidescope is quite brassy by comparison. Opulent Cloud is a great color to wear as a pedicure with silver shoes around the holidays and New Year's Eve. The Sally Hansen Hi-Definition colors are available at select drugstores like Walgreen's and CVS thoughout the USA and retail for about $7 a bottle.

Back to the Project Runway finale... Are you watching the show since it switched over to the Lifetime channel from Bravo? It has Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum, and some great guest judges, but it still seems to be missing something. I'm not as impressed with the designers this season, but I think I miss the marathon format of Bravo the most. The Models of the Runway show that is on after it is interesting. But again, I'm not keen on the casting of any of these models, so it just seems a little lacking. If you want to get caught up on episodes before the finale on Thursday, you can watch them on http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/project-runway.

I think I'm rooting for Irina. Yes, she's a little like a Kardashian, but I would wear her designs. Who are you cheering for this season?

Disclaimer: All products featured in the review were purchased.

Just Picked for Spring 2008!
By Melanie Parker

Often times I like to focus on nail polish colors that are new, but in this review I will focus on what's right now. Sally Hansen's Salon formula Spring collaboration with designer Tracy Reese is a triumph. Despite the "Salon" name, this brand is available at drug stores for about $6 and features some exceptional colors. Look for free standing displays that are set apart from the other Sally Hansen polishes. My favorite is this rich, jewel-toned jelly finished polish called Sultry Fuchsia. I liked it so much I actually had a matching manicure and pedicure going for a few days--and that rarely happens with so many colors available. The translucent quality of this jelly finish is subtle in this sheen because of the deep pinkish red hue. It's yummy!

Other standouts in this Sally Hansen Salon Spring collection are Tunisian Sand (which is a shimmery neutral shade that looks subdued and sophisticated) and Arabian Night (which is one of the most unique colors I have ever seen in a Sally Hansen polish). Arabian Night's dusty grape-colored base is sprinkled with antique gold-colored speckles. It doesn't work with all skin tones, but if you love shades of violet, it is a must-have. Since the displays for this line only offer two of each color, these three shades are selling fast! There is also a Limited Edition silver foil-finished polish called Sterling out now.

My other pick for right now is OPI's Yoga-ta Get This Blue! I didn't listen to the name and waited a few months after the India collection came out to cave in on this color. Last Fall when the "blue is the new black" nail polish trend hit hard with Chanel's Blue Satin, I got burned out. All of the blues I tried rendered themselves black in most light and made me feel a little self-conscious. However, this OPI is a true cobalt blue shimmer that is distinguishable in any lighting condition. It's a great color for toes this Spring and Summer.

Disclosure: The products featured in this review were purchased by the reviewer.