Ciao! Borghese Mena and Pistacchio

Ciao! Borghese Mena and Pistacchio

I really like Borghese polishes. Unfortunately, it is one of those brands that don't get a lot of buzz. That is a pity but I do understand why. The price is a bit steep for a drugstore polish though Sally Hansen is getting to be just as expensive. The selection can be limited depending on what the store has stocked and folks have this image of the brand as being boring. I prefer the term classic but that is just me. They make some amazing golds and the formula on the cremes are smooth as silk. The brush is wide like OPI but a bit stiffer and easier to use for me compared to OPI. I'm still not a fan of wide brushes though.

Over the next few days I will be posting some Borghese polishes.

Within the last year or so Borghese has released some really great colors that aren't the norm for that brand. Menta and Pistacchio were two of those colors. It was such a pleasant suprise to see these vibrant colors from them. I think they were limited edition though. I purchased mine at Rite Aid so if you have one of those you may want to check if they have them.

Menta is a sheer glowy blue with a hint of green. It reminds me of tropical ocean water. I have it over OPI Suzi Says Feng Shui on my pointer and middle finger, black on my ring finger and alone over my pinkie.



Close up of Menta over OPI Suzi Says Feng Shui.



Close up of Menta alone.



Close up of Menta over black.



Pistacchio is a sheer glowy emerald green. So damn pretty! This one went on a bit thicker and I sometimes wear this without layering. Here I layered it over OPI Jade is the New Black on the pointer and middle finger, black on the ring finger and alone on the pinky.



Close up of Pistacchio over OPI Jade is the New Black.



Close up of Pistacchio alone.



Close up of Pistacchio over black.

OPI Here Today Aragon Tomorrow Suede

OPI Here Today Aragon Tomorrow Suede

I bought the new suede Here Today Aragon Tomorrow from OPI online at TD. Oh yeah a green suede! Yum! I love the previous suede colors from OPI so I was pretty excited about this one. Well it's not as great as I thought it was going to be. Don't get me wrong I think it's an awesome green but not unique. In fact it reminds me of Zoya Veruschka and I would compare them except I haven't gotten my Zoya exchange yet with Veruschka. Going from photos they look a lot alike.

The formula on this one is thin and it needed two coats for complete coverage. Compared to the other suede polishes this has a more flat and matte finish. Where it does shine is with a topcoat. Oh baby! Sparkly hunter green. That is how I will wear it.

To refresh your memory here is the original OPI Here Today Aragon Tomorrow. I love this one!





Here is the suede.





Here is a comparison of the finish of a previous suede, You Don't Know Jacques, with Aragon. You see how the Aragon is a bit flat and more matte?



Here is the suede with a topcoat. It really comes to life with a topcoat.





Here is You Don't Know Jacques and Aragon with a topcoat.

Petites Color Fever - Good Things in Small Packages

Petites Color Fever - Good Things in Small Packages

I passed this brand while in Rite Aid and a few caught my eye. In the bottle they don't look like much but on the nail - whoa! This is why I try not to judge a polish by what is in the bottle.

Black Diamond is a black based holo. Oo. In the bottle it looks like nothing on the nail. I almost didn't get it because I need another black like I need a hole in the head. Of course that could be said for a new polish in general. The great thing about this one is that the holo shows in low light and in the sun. I only needed two coats and it went on smooth as silk.







Raspberry Ice is a vibrant raspberry pink that has an almost foil look to it. This is two coats as well.







Pink Fairy is a peachy pink holo that looks like it has a greyish tinge to it. Yes it is pinkish but that tinge gives it a little edge. I layered it over China Glaze Recycle to see what it would look like. Recylce is on my middle finger.



Top is over Recycle and bottom is alone.



Close up of over Recycle.



Close up alone.



Wild Plum is a vibrant deep purple with a shimmery foil look. Two coats.

First photo is color accurate. I'm getting better at Photoshop!

GOSH Metallic Green

GOSH Metallic Green

I received GOSH Metallic Green in a swap from Michelle over at The Lacquer Files. She also sent me my first Models Own and P2. I'm was so giddy! It's like getting a present each time I get a swap.

First I should warn you. I smacked my hand against my coffee cup and took a chunk of the first layer of one of my nails off. So that little dent you see on my middle finger is that. Oh, and when wearing metallic polishes - wear a ridge filler. I didn't and should have.

This is such an odd color and I love it! It's a soft green, along the lines of a mint, that is metallic. Two coats with very little brush strokes.

I finally had some sun to take photos. FINALLY!!

The Mystery of Zoya or How I Learned to Love

The Mystery of Zoya or How I Learned to Love

I had a love/hate relationship with Zoya. The formula is wonderful and the color selection is great. They are always putting out codes and having sales. Love all that. They just never dried on me and when they did dry I got maybe 10 hours of wear before major tip wear and chips. Hate all that. I tried numerous basecoats, no basecoat, numerous topcoats and no topcoat. I really, really, really didn't want to have to purchase something just to use with Zoya.

Well, I did. I took advantage of the lippy code and the special they had where you bought the Color Lock system and got a big old bottle of Remove+ free. Hell yeah! I love that remover. I tried out the system and finally, finally got a Zoya to dry on me within 10 minutes. I thought I was going to weep.

The best product from the system, for me, is Armor. That is what made a difference for me. I applied it over the polish and I applied Nubar Diamont over that. I did this with Astra, which I LOVE, and applying Armor first kept me from having to apply two or three coats of Diamont to keep the glitter sparkly. You know how glitter can sometimes dry dull looking and need a number of coats of topcoat? Well Armor prevented that. Wonderful! I also got three days of wear from doing this. From a Zoya! Hallelujah!

Do I like that I seem to have to use a specific topcoat with Zoya? No. I would suggest Armor to everyone though - especially for glitter - as a really nice non quick drying topcoat that can go before a quick dry. The rest of the system - eh. Except for Remove+ - that stuff rocks.

Here is Astra after almost three days of wearing it. Not bad Zoya, not bad. I feel like I can love you again.

Pardon the state of my hands - I'm so rough with them!









Now to remove it. Blah!