ABC: G is for Golden Green (times 2) and Geeky Owl

Like a month ago I stopped with my ABC posts, well, here is G! Today is a comparison post. I have two polishes both named Golden Green. One is by CQ and the other is by Models Own. Let's take a look. Above you see both polishes at one coat each. CQ Golden Green is on my index and ring fingers. Models Own Golden Green is on my middle and pinky fingers.

Models Own Golden Green is a but more opaque and brighter than the CQ Golden Green. But the Models Own gave me a bit more of an issue while applying it, a bit gunky in places.

Two coats each of CQ Golden Green (index and ring fingers) and Models Own Golden Green (middle and pinky fingers). Pretty dang close! Which is fab because CQ Golden Green is easier to get here in the US because it's at Rite Aid. :)

One thing I did notice was that Models Own Golden Green which is on the nail on the bottom is brighter and more green with yellow. The CQ (nail on top) definitely has more golden olive hues in it. But since I really like this color, I'm glad I have both! (um, plus a few more that probably look like these!)

And here we have the debut of my other custom polish created by the wonderful Kevan of Dragon Lacquer. This glitter is called Geeky Owl. And I love it! A lot! It's varying sizes and shapes of grey glitter! What!? Grey?! Yep! I'm stoked! Thank you so much Kevan!

Macro shot of Geeky Owl by Dragon Lacquer to show you it's not bubbles but tiny glitters! Isn't it purdy! :)

I also used HK Girl Top Coat on this mani.

I'm so glad a stepped up and ask for custom made polishes. I was a little scared at first to approach and then worried I wasn't going to like them. But Kevan was wonderful to work with and I love the final product! Thanks again!

Dupes? Orly: Nite Owl vs Slick Lacquer: A Wink and a Nod

I was asked by Missy from Gnarly Gnails to do dupe/comparison post of these two polishes! This is Orly Nite Owl and Slick Lacquer A Wink and a Nod. Sorry this post was quickly done but I had no problem doing it because it gave me yet another reason to wear two of my favorite polishes! :)

The photo above shows one coat each of Orly Nite Owl (index and ring fingers) and Slick Lacquer A Wink and a Nod (middle and pinkie fingers). As you can see they are not the same color! Both are beautiful nudes with shimmers. Orly is a silver shimmer where Slick Lacquer is a holo shimmer.

Here is two coats of each, again: Orly Nite Owl (index and ring fingers) and Slick Lacquer A Wink and a Nod (middle and pinkie fingers). Orly is definitely more brown whereas Slick Lacquer is more grey based.

Both are fabulous! Both apply like a dream -- like buttah! And I can't stop staring at either when I am wearing them! :)

So are they dupes? Nope, not at all. But they are both stunning!

Do you need both? Heck yes you do! Run, don't walk and get them! You will not be disappointed!

You can get Orly Nite Owl where ever you are able to buy Orly polish as it is part of their core line now! Score!

Slick Lacquer A Wink and a Nod can be purchased:
Slick Lacquer Etsy shop
Slick Lacquer Facebook page

Sea Green Dupes?

Today we have a dupe/comparison post! Check out these four bottle shots! Whoa! They are all very similar! (l-r) OPI Thanks a Windmillon, OPI Mermaid's Tears, Finger Paints Choco Mint, and Zoya Bevin.

Here is one coat each of OPI Thanks a Windmillon, OPI Mermaid's Tears, Finger Paints Choco Mint, and Zoya Bevin. As you can tell they aren't all the same. Right away you can see that Finger Paints Choco Mint (ring finger) is way more minty than the others. So it is not a dupe! The other three are pretty similar here with one coat, but look to be bit different shades. And OPI Thanks a Windmillion's formula is a bit thinner and streaked some. And Zoya Bevin was a bit sheer as well, you can see some visible nail line.

Here is two coats each of OPI Thanks a Windmillion, OPI Mermaid's Tears, Finger Paints Choco Mint, and Zoya Bevin. Now you can see their true color more. Finger Paints Choco Mint is still more minty than the others. OPI Mermaid's Tears (middle finger) is more brighter than the other two. I think that OPI Thanks a Windmillion and Zoya Bevin are the closest but Bevin is more blue.

Do you need all four? Depends on your level of polish-aholicism. I love them all will probably keep them all seeing as I really like this calming sea green, and each bottle has a memory attached (don't they all!?).

31 Day Challenge 2013 Day 23: Glitter! Dupe Alert!

Yes! An easy day! 31 Day Challenge 2013! (relaxed version) Day 23: Glitter! Oh yeah! But I couldn't just do glitter right? This is a comparison/dupe post! Say what? These aren't the same glittery goodness glitters? Nope. Sorry!

Here is one coat of Deborah Lippmann Bad Romance (index and ring fingers) and Revlon Scandalous (middle and pinkie fingers). I know, this is a bit old news but I haven't done this post yet and I have been meaning to do it! :) As you can tell, Bad Romance has a darker/blacker base. But both have purple hex glitter and micro glitter.

Here is two coats of each in direct light.  Deborah Lippmann Bad Romance (index and ring fingers) and Revlon Scandalous (middle and pinkie fingers). As you can see both are about the same opacity now. But, Scandalous' glitter seems to pop more. This could be because it's own base isn't as dark.

Bottle shot, they look like identical twins. But maybe more like fraternal twins in person?

Here is my first photo again. So, do you need both? Nah, I wouldn't. Not sure how readily Revlon's Scandalous is anymore, but if you can find it I would get that one. Two reasons: the glitter pops more and cheaper! :)

Don't forget to check out the glittery goodness of the other ladies!

Dupes? L'Oreal Brit Invasion, L'Oreal Owl's Night, and IsaDora Bronze Patina

Look at them all lined up in a row, L'Oreal Brit Invasion, L'Oreal Owl's Night, and IsaDora Bronze Patina, making you think they are the same. Are they? Aren't they? What about in real life and not a computer screen? Why oh why with all the questions? >_<

I thought I would try this comparison because when I was searching for swatches of L'Oreal's Brit Invasion some images showed up looking a ton like the other polish Owl's Night. Hmmmm, said I, I will end this a do a comparison dupe post! Great idea, said I, but don't forget a beautiful polish that was sent to you across the great big blue ocean that is also similar. 

Well, here it goes!

One coat of each polish. Left to right is: L'Oreal Brit Invasion, L'Oreal Owl's Night, IsaDora Bronze Patina, and L'Oreal Brit Invasion again. One coat and kinda streaky for our wonderful Brit Invasion. And well, hello there totally different base color. Yep. L'Oreal Brit Invasion is NOT a dupe for either L'Oreal Owl's Night or IsaDora Bronze Patina. Brit Invasion is more of a taupey purplely base while Owl's Night is a brown as with Bronze Patina. And check out Owl's Night and Bronze Patina, identical? Sisters? Cousins? Hmmmmm...... must investigate this further.

Well hello gorgeous! Such a fun skittle or maybe an M&M? Hahaha! Ah, polish humor! ;) This is now two coats of each polish. Left to right again: L'Oreal Brit Invasion, L'Oreal Owl's Night, IsaDora Bronze Patina, and L'Oreal Brit Invasion again. Brit Invasion is still totally different from the other two. All are shimmers, with Owl's Night being a chunky shimmer than the other two. But look how alike Owl's Night (middle finger) and Bronze Patina (ringer finger) are! Pretty dang close!

A straight on shot shows how much of a chunky shimmer L'Oreal's Owl's Night (middle finger) is than the rest. Also, Owl's Night seems to turn a bit green in some lights while Bronze Patina takes on more reds and purples almost.

As you can tell, you are safe to buy L'Oreal Brit Invasion if you already have L'Oreal Owl's Night or IsaDora Bronze Patina or vice versa. However, do you need both Owl's Night and Bronze Patina? Well, that would depend on what type of polish fiend you are. :) I would say that they are close enough to take the place of the other but they are not identical. They will satisfy the craving! :)

But also take into account IsaDora's brush, I mean look at this:

Yep. Could also polish my whole nail in one swoop! :) Wide brush indeed!

Both L'Oreal's Owl's Night and IsaDora's Bronze Patina were great to apply only a bit of splotchy in one coat while L'Oreal's Brit Invasion was more splotchy.

Well, what do you think? Which is your favorite? Do you own any? Or all?

Dupes? Zoya Mitzi, Essence Lime Up, China Glaze Electric Pineapple, OPI Did It On 'Em, and OPI Fiercely Fiona

Today I am comparing 5 polishes! While swatching I realized I have a few bottle of the weird yellow/pea/spring green. (l-r) Zoya Mitzi, Essence Lime Up!, China Glaze Electric Pineapple, OPI Did It On 'Em, and OPI Fiercely Fiona.

Back shot of the the 5 polishes. (l-r) Zoya Mitzi, Essence Lime Up!, China Glaze Electric Pineapple, OPI Did It On 'Em, and OPI Fiercely Fiona. They all look pretty similar huh!

This is one coat each of the five polishes. Starting with my thumb then to my index finger and down: (l-r) Zoya Mitzi, Essence Lime Up!, China Glaze Electric Pineapple, OPI Did It On 'Em, and OPI Fiercely Fiona.

As you can see, Zoya Mitzi (thumb) has some drag marks which is normal for a matte polish and only one coat. Essence Lime Up! (index finger) is the most opaque with one coat with China Glaze Electric Pineapple (middle finger) being the next opaque but had a bit of a dragging issue. OPI Did It On 'Em (ring finger) looks a little bit like a jelly but really isn't.

This is two coats of each polish. Zoya Mitzi (thumb), Essence Lime Up! (index), China Glaze Electric Pineapple (middle), OPI Did It On 'Em (ring), and OPI Fiercely Fiona (pinkie finger). With two coats you can get a better show of their colors. China Glaze Electric Pineapple (middle) and OPI Fiercely Fiona (pinkie) have more yellow to them.

Essence Lime Up! (index), is not completely opaque. There are still a few drag marks on Zoya Mitzi. And you can still see the drag marks on China Glaze Electric Pineapple.

Three coats of each now. Zoya Mitzi (thumb), Essence Lime Up! (index), China Glaze Electric Pineapple (middle), OPI Did It On 'Em (ring), and OPI Fiercely Fiona (pinkie finger). Sorry that it is a bit blurry, was starting to loose the light! >_<

All polishes are now completely opaque and China Glaze Electric Pineapple (middle) and OPI Fiercely Fiona (pinkie) are definitely more yellow with OPI Fiercely Fiona the most yellow. Zoya Mitzi looks like Essence Lime Up! mattified. (d'oh! why didn't I try to matte the Essence polish!)

Are they dupes? I wouldn't really say that. I would say that all 5 polishes are different colors but would you need all 5? Well, that depends on your level of polish a-holic-ism! ;) Hahahaha!

I love this color and am glad that I have all 5! :) And just to show you how much I like this color:

Check out how well it matches my blanket! hahahahaha! :)

What do you think? Which is your favorite? Do you need all 5? Do you own all 5 like I do?

Dupes? Essence Choose Me, Fashionista Mystical Dragon, Jesse's Girl Glee, and Orly Halley's Comet

 

 Today I bring you four beautiful polishes! Essence Choose Me!, Fashionista Mystical Dragon, Jesse's Girl Glee, and Orly Halley's Comet. This is what I found after swatching all my polishes! There different.....right? Errr........maybe? Why don't we take a closer look, shall we?

**Picture Heavy**

Macro bottle shot of Essence Choose Me! Retails for 99 cents, is 0.16 fl oz and is found at Ulta (at least here in the US).

 

Macro bottle shot of Fashionista Mystical Dragon. Retails for 5 pounds (sorry don't know where the symbol is) which converts to $7.85 (according to Yahoo finance), is around 0.38 fl oz, and is found at Superdrug. Or is you have an amazing polish friend who lives in England and has access to it! You know who you are ;)

 

Macro bottle shot of Jesse's Girl Glee. (anyone else thing of Jesse St. James and Rachel Berry From Glee when they read that?) Retails for $2.99, is 0.35 fl oz, and is found at Rite Aid.

Macro bottle shot of Orly Halley's Comet. Retails originally for $10 (but now is clearanced), is 0.60 fl oz, and is found at (if they have any more) Ulta, Sallys, and Amazon (plus many other places).

 

Here is one coat of each polish. (l-r) Essence Choose Me!, Fashionista Mystical Dragon, Jesse's Girl Glee, and Orly Halley's Comet. Right off the bat you can see that my middle finger, Fashionista Mystical Dragon, is more opaque. You can see visible nail line (VLN) on all other fingers. My ring finger, Jesse's Girl Glee, shows a few bare spots because the polish sort of dragged. The other three polishes all applied very nicely!

Two coats of each polish. (l-r) Essence Choose Me!, Fashionista Mystical Dragon, Jesse's Girl Glee, and Orly Halley's Comet. My pointer finger Essence Choose Me! is much lighter than the other three polishes. Again, my middle finger Fashionista Mystical Dragon, is darker and more opaque. Could have been fine with just the one coat. My ring finger,  still shows some of the bare spots (a third coat would have covered it all). On my pinkie finger, Orly Halley's Comet, is a tad more green, only a smidgen if that. You can still sort of see some VNL on my pointer and ring finger.

All these polishes are teal based and jammed back with glass flecks and are just stunning in the light!

Look at that shine and sparkle! Look at all those flecks of gorgeousness! Two coats of each polish. (l-r) Essence Choose Me!, Fashionista Mystical Dragon, Jesse's Girl Glee, and Orly Halley's Comet.

And again another angle. The edges take a on a deeper hue. Two coats of each polish. (l-r) Essence Choose Me!, Fashionista Mystical Dragon, Jesse's Girl Glee, and Orly Halley's Comet.

There are also other polishes that belong with this comparison. Wet 'n Wild Teal of Fortune (I own this but it went missing when I did this post, weird!) and Zoya Charla (which I don't own).

The blog I'm Feeling Nail-Venturous does a great comparison post that includes these two polishes: Comparison: Zoya Charla, Essence Choose Me, Orly Halley's Comet, & Wet n Wild Teal of Fortune. Please click the link and go check it out! :) She says that the Wet 'n Wild Teal of Fortune isn't a dupe, it is more blue based. But that Zoya Charla looks exactly like Orly Halley's Comet and Essence Choose Me! So I would assume that is would also look like Jesse's Girl Glee and Fashionista Mystical Dragon.

So are they dupes? I believe Essence Choose Me! Is a bit lighter than the rest, the blue/teal isn't as deeply saturated. But they are all pretty close and you wouldn't be sad if you only had just one of these. Fashionista has the best coverage as it is pretty much opaque on it's first coat. And Jesse's Girl Glee likes to drag a bit. But I would think it's safe to say that they are all pretty close and could be considered dupes!

Do you have any of these or all of them like me? 

I am planning on a blog sale soon and will possible be putting a few of these up on it. So, if you don't have any and would like one, wait around a bit and you soon could! My blog sale will be up around the beginning of August (would be sooner but I am going on vacation and won't have that much internet and wouldn't be able to keep track of it all!).

I hope you enjoyed this comparison/dupe post because while swatching my polishes I have found quite a few more! >_<

Dupes? Orly Oui and OPI It's My Year

While working on my swatchsicles I came across these two pretties. OPI It's My Year and Orly Oui. Let's take a closer look, shall we? This post is picture heavy. Pretty similar in the bottle, right?

  

Macro bottle shot of OPI It's My Year.

 

 Macro bottle shot of Orly Oui. Still pretty similar, maybe slightly different color.

Pointer and Ring finger are OPI It's My Year. Middle and Pinkie finger are Orly Oui. All are one coat. Right away you can tell that OPI It's My Year has a more pink jelly base with Orly Oui being a more purple jelly base. Both polishes have that golden foil shimmer running through out. Also, OPI It's My Year is a bit more sheer, notice the visible nail line on my pointer.

Still one coat of each with my Pointer and Ring finger as OPI It's My Year and on my Middle and Pinkie finger are Orly Oui. This angle shows more of the golden shimmer.

This is two coats with my Pointer and Ring finger as OPI It's My Year and my Middle and Pinkie finger are Orly Oui. The golden foil shimmer still looks the same but OPI is still more pink than the Orly; and OPI is still more sheer than Orly.

Here is a direct sun shot of the two polishes. This one really shows the different base colors of the two polishes. Again, on my Pointer and Ring finger are OPI It's My Year and on my Middle and Pinkie finger are Orly Oui. Look at the color difference!

One final shot. The formulas of the polish were consistent with their brand name. Both have the same type of finish, one is just more pink while the other is more purple.

Now do you need both of these? Probably not. Are the exact Dupes? Well, in everything but the color yes. But the color isn't the same so I would say no, not exact dupes, but pretty dang close and one would only need to choose which base color they prefer.

But a polish hoarder lover, may still want both! :) I wonder how the OPI one would work in a jelly sandwaich? Hmmmmm.

Dupes: NerdLacquer I Aim To Misbehave vs Orly Fowl Play

So the other day I wore NerdLacquer's I Aim to Misbehave, remember? (If not, go here). Well, as I was applying it Orly Fowl Play popped into my mind as being a dupe. So I thought I would compare them. As you can tell straight from the bottle shots they are not dupes. But they do have some similarities! Let's take a look shall we?

Macro shot of NerdLacquer I Aim to Misbehave. You can see it is a purple base with red, silver, and blue glitter.

Macro shot of Orly Fowl Play. Look, purple base with red, silver, and blue glitter! See why I thought they could possibly be dupes. But this is how they are similar. :) But the red glitter in this one seems to be flakie than glitter. (no complaints here!)

Whoops! So not dupes! This is one coat of each. NerdLacquer on the left with Orly on the right. NerdLacquer is more of a berry purple with Orly a definite purple base. Nerdlacquer is more opaque too and bumpy!

Still one coat of NerdLacquer on the left with two coats of Orly on the right.

So, though they both are a purple base with red, silver, and blue glitter....that is where the similarity ends. Do you need both? That's a heck yes you do! :) And yes, you are most welcome for added more lemmings to your wishlist! :)