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Filed In: magnetic polish
Essie 2012 Repstyle Collection – ‘Repstyle’ & ‘Snake it up’
Maybe a little late coming to the party, but Essie has jumped onto one of the latest nail polish trends: magnetic lacquer. First launched during Toronto’s Fashion Week this past October, Essie has released their ‘2012 Repstyle Collection’ – 6 shimmering jewel toned magnetic shades. Today, I’m reviewing 2 of the more wearable hues, the namesake colour ‘Repstyle’ – a glimmering dusty taupe, and ‘Snake it up’ – a deep midnight beauty.
Now for the hard part … as a beauty blogger, my responsibility is to present as accurate a picture as I can of the products I review, and while anyone can put down an item, it takes a little extra work to find something positive, as I had to do with these 2 polishes. What made this so difficult, was that I truly admire this brand and have never been let down before, but as the saying goes “I cannot tell a lie” … read on to find out more.
Al swatches are with Essie’s All In One Base Coat and No Chips Aheaad Top Coat
Essie ‘Repstyle’ & ‘Snake it up’
A quick note on applying magnetic lacquers: after base coat, begin by applying one layer of polish to all nails – let dry a couple of minutes, then working one nail at a time, apply a second thin layer and immediately position the magnet over the nail for a few seconds to create the pattern. Finish with a layer of top coat, if desired.
I found that thin layers delivered the best results and showed up the pattern more distinctly, although the magnet was tricky to work with since it doesn’t come with a guide (tab) to help in the proper placement or in keeping it at an even distance from the nail surface – you have to try and hold it steady while ensuring it doesn’t touch the freshly applied polish. The pattern seems to take longer to develop than other magnetic lacquers I’ve tried, needing a minimum of 30-45 seconds before anything appeared.
removable outer cap bearing the magnet
Repstyle – is an odd mix of taupe, some silver and touches of copper, in a rather paradoxically semi-sheer formula that also happens to lean somewhat thick-ish, with a frosty finish (already off to a bad start …) You need to pay attention to your application, as this finish is quite prone to visible brush strokes, but I was totally surprised by the glossy finish at the end. The reptile pattern that emerges here, is a platinum silver against the taupe/bronze base. Coats applied: 2
Essie ‘Repstyle’
Essie ‘Repstyle’
Snake it up – with a better flowing formula and application than that of ‘Repstyle’, this is a gorgeous mix of midnight navy and tungsten steel; in fact, I absolutely loved how this looked without the pattern/magnetic effect. Self-levelling and requiring less effort in application re: brush strokes, once again I was amazed by the super glossy natural finish at the end – top coat is almost redundant here, although I wouldn’t skip base coat as you could experience some light staining. The reptile pattern that emerges is of a blackened navy against a steely blue base. Coats applied: 2
Essie ‘Snake it up’
Essie ‘Snake it up’
Since I was less than impressed with the magnets that came with these 2 shades, I wondered if changing the magnet would yield better results; after having experienced great results with the OPI magnets from the Skyfall Magnetic Lacquers Collection (previously reviewed here) I was disappointed to see that they were ineffective here. Moral of the story: these Essie polishes were definitely created to be used with their included magnets, so any issues are obviously a mix of the formula + the magnets themselves.
How cute are these Essie stickers? I don’t want to use/waste them!
Final thoughts: It pains me to say this, but Essie, these lacquers – for the most part – are a fail for me. ‘Repstyle’ is a shade that needed a touch more bronze perhaps to make it modern – not this old biddy frosty taupe. The fact that the magnets produce less than stellar results, makes me wonder why I would want to bother, although a case can be made for anyone who wants to experience a more subdued version of the reptile pattern (I’m looking for something positive here, ok?). ‘Snake it up’ is an absolutely gorgeous shade and had the magnet worked more effectively, I’d say it would be a total hit. As it is, I think that the brand needs to go back to the drawing board on these … but I have faith that if anyone can do it, Essie’s R&D team can. Best I can say, folks …
Kindly provided by Essie for my unbiased consideration
OPI – Skyfall Collection Magnetic Lacquers (swatches & review)
Along with the 12 stunning shades of the ‘Skyfall Collection’ (previously reviewed here – part 1 & part 2), as well as ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’ 18K Real Gold Top Coat (previously reviewed here), OPI has a few more “007” goodies to throw our way. For their first foray into magnetic lacquers, the brand launches 3 new shades inspired by Skyfall, the newest Bond movie coming to theatres this November 9th, each with their own unique magnetic pattern … thanks to these innovative little gizmos, we can all now create some big-screen magic of our own!
Boasting rich colour and interesting visual textures, the 3 new OPI Magnetic Lacquer shades are also fabulous stand-alone hues. Two of them (‘Is That Silva?’ and ‘Morning, Moneypenny’) are also filled with multi-dimensional holographic particles that rise to the surface quite prominently when the magnet is applied; the last shade (‘Bond, James Bond’) has an underlying patina of old gold – very luxurious and enhanced by its interesting magnetic pattern. All swatches are with base and top coats.
According to the insert provided with each combo – and as with other magnetic varnishes – the best way to achieve each magnet’s effect is to work one nail at a time. What I found works best:
- begin with base coat
- add one layer of magnetic lacquer on all nails
- beginning with the pinkie, apply a second layer of the magnetic
- with the ‘magnetizer’ resting on a flat surface – pattern side visible – place your finger inside & rest it solidly on the bottom surface
- ensure that the little indentation found on the top inner surface of the ‘magnetizer’ falls just above your nail & rests on the cuticle
- be careful to not let the inner surface of the ‘magnetizer’ actually touch the surface of your nail (I made sure I kept my finger pressed down)
- the instructions say to hold it in place for 5-6 seconds; I kept it down between 12-15 seconds and found the pattern was more clearly defined
- carefully open ‘magnetizer’, remove finger and … voilà! Instant nail art!
TIP: After some experimentation, I found that a thicker layer of the magnetic lacquer helps the pattern emerge in a more pronounced manner.
OPI Magnetic Lacquers & Magnetizers (boxed sets)
OPI Magnetic Lacquers & the “magnetizers”
the “magnetizers”
instruction insert provided with each set
Is That Silva? – steely silver-grey hue dusted with incredibly fine prismatic glitter. The formula was of a medium thick density, but flows quite easily upon application. Self-levelling, hardly any visible brush strokes and finishes with a beautiful natural gloss. Absolutely no difficulty with removal.
After using the ‘magnetizer’, the pattern that emerged was surprisingly vivid, with the stripes appearing more like tungsten steel against a gunmetal-silvery base – all sprinkled with a light overlay of the holographic glitter.
in sunlight
macro
shaded light
Bond, James Bond – golden/pewter base hue willed with ultra-fine antique gold and bronze shimmer particles. The formula here was the thinnest of the 3, but still flowed amazingly well, totally self levelling and leaving behind a fairly shiny finish (although not as glossy as the other 2).
After using the ‘magnetizer’, the snakeskin-like pattern that emerged was a stunning surprise, with the deep golden tones standing out in sharp relief against a lighter silver/grey base. Even the shimmer seemed to be more emphasized – LOVE!
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in sunlight
macro
shaded light
Morning, Moneypenny – dusty plum/burgundy hue filled with ultra-fine prismatic glitter, similar to ‘Is That Silva?’ in that respect as well as the formula (medium thick density). This shade appears slightly deeper and more muted when worn alone, with hints of purple in the base as well. Beautiful natural gloss to accompany its self-levelling application.
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After using the ‘magnetizer’, I was in for a surprise; I expected the pattern to be simple horizontal lines across the nail (as the image on the ‘magnetizer’ appears to be). What emerged instead was a lattice-work of wavy lines, with the rich berry tones of the base shade showing up distinctly against a purple-plum background. It looks like an “X” to me (marking the spot?)
in sunlight
macro
shaded light
Final thoughts: I totally LOVE these! Everything I wanted previous magnetic polishes to have – a visible & clearly discernible pattern – but didn’t (see my previous posts on the nails inc. versions here and here), these OPI beauties have IN ABUNDANCE, along with being ridiculously easy and quick to use – always a nice bonus. I also appreciate the versatility of these magnetic shades, as they look absolutely beautiful even on their own, but with the magnet applied, you really get to appreciate all the hidden nuances found deep within each one. Ready for your Bond-girl moment?!
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Available starting this month at professional salons, spas and OPI retailers, each Skyfall Magnetic Lacquer pack has a suggested retail price of CDN $21.95 – including the magnet.
*Disclaimer: Product samples provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration
nails inc. – ‘Piccadilly’ Fishnet Magnetic Effect Polish (swatches, review & a variation)
While my tastes don’t run in the direction of traditional nail art, I do appreciate the unique look that effect lacquers can give a manicure, so recently when I came across nails inc.’s ‘Piccadilly’ Fishnet Magnetic Effect Polish, I had to try it out. My first attempt at using this type of lacquer (previously reviewed here) was interesting – but fell a little short of my expectations. Hoping that a fishnet pattern would increase my opinion of magnetic polishes, I couldn’t wait to give this a shot; it should be said that even without the effect, the colour of this beauty alone was worth the investment!
Piccadilly Circus is a road junction and public space of London’s West End in the City of Westminster, built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with the major shopping street of Piccadilly. In this context, a circus, from the Latin word meaning “circle”, is a round open space at a street junction – (source)
Piccadilly Circus, circa 1890 (source)
Piccadilly Circus, today (source)
‘Piccadilly’ is an absolutely beautiful & regal-looking antique gold hue, filled with all kinds of interesting surprises, such as ultra-fine brassy coloured glitter, as well as larger golden irregularly shaped flakes – all ending with tiny magnetic particles in the formula which help create the unique fishnet pattern when the included magnetic cap is used. The formula had a nice density to it, flowing more on the thicker than thin side, and levelled off quite evenly, leaving a nice shiny finish behind.
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While magnetic effect lacquers have been around for some time now, it’s still useful to know a few tips to help the pattern appear more readily, and after some experimentation, the following is what I found worked the best:
- begin by applying base coat
- apply one coat of ‘Piccadilly’ to each nail
- working one nail at a time, apply a thick coat of the polish (remember to keep the bottle well closed between each nail application)
- working very quickly, hold the magnetic cap over your nail – as close as possible without letting it touch the surface – use the little tab on the cap as a guide, aligning it over your cuticle line
- don’t rush this part; the longer you hold the magnetic cap in place, the more pronounced the fishnet pattern will turn out – approximately 20 – 30 seconds should be enough
- finish with a glossy top coat to really enhance the effect, and bring out each unique facet
NOTE: while removal wasn’t too difficult, the fine glitter in this lacquer does tend to travel, therefore you’ll need a few passes of polish remover to get every last little bit off the nails and surrounding skin.
the cap which bears the magnet, clearly displaying the fishnet pattern
in sunlight
macro
indoors
with flash
When I was recently fortunate enough to acquire a bottle of OPI’s ‘Spotted’ (review forthcoming) thanks to a very special French reader of mine, the wonderful Lélie of The Purple Fairy Book, I’ve been having a blast by applying this effects polish over EVERYTHING — some combinations are iffy at best, while others turn out to be spectacular successes. When layered over the soft brilliance of ‘Piccadilly’, something unexpected occurred; the randomly spotted pattern that surfaced followed by some crazing, created a unique tortoise-shell effect … so simple to achieve, yet so unique (also, this was a look I hadn’t seen when ‘Spotted’ was layered over other lacquers). Note that there is no top coat applied to this finished look.
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in sunlight
indoors
with flash
Final thoughts: I’m a little torn with this magnetic effect polish; on the one hand & after having satisfied my need to try this type of lacquer with my first bottle a few months back, I hesitated to pick up a second version – but I can’t resist anything fishnet. I’m a little disappointed that the pattern does not appear more distinctly and that it’s almost hit or miss, depending on the shape of your nails (the more curved your nail bed, the more difficult it will be to make anything appear), but that being said, I do appreciate that ‘Piccadilly’s’ final effect results in a more subtle, elegant and refined look and that in a pinch, this lacquer can also be worn alone – without the magnet being used. Retailing for CDN $18.00 at Sephora, nails inc. also offers the fishnet pattern in 2 other colours – ‘Spitalfields’ (green), and ‘Soho’ (chrome).
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