Filed In: Metallic Lacquer
a-england Excalibur Renaissance
To explore the world of a-england, is to not only have the opportunity to wear some of the most incredible lacquers, but to soak in a bit of history, culture, and art as well. When Adina Bodana, founder and creative force behind the brand, launched her first collection – The Mythicals (click on the a-england tab in the sidebar for swatches & reviews of all shades), the romanticism and concept behind these varnishes instantly captured the attention of polish lovers worldwide. When the original version of Excalibur from that first collection seemed to fall out of favour, it was replaced by a variation of the shade (Excalibur reissued/reborn): still bearing the gleaming silver tone of the legendary sword for which it is named, but with a more 3-dimensional overall feel.
But as with most legends, this tale took another turn as well …
In bringing back the original silver of Excalibur – with an improved brilliance, I might add – Adina has shown that she listens to her fans, in particular those who so strongly requested this shade’s return. Excalibur Renaissance proudly joins The Mythicals collection, a gleaming addition with a long-standing pedigree.
Excalibur Renaissance – A true metallic silver foil, in a medium-thick formula and excellent pigmentation as to almost make it a 1-coater. Fairly quick drying, you need to not only work quickly in your application, but to also maintain a steady hand in order to keep any potential visible brush strokes to a minimum, although expect some levelling off which also goes a long way in presenting a smooth appearance. Incredible brilliance (almost mirror-like) at the finish, making a top coat basically superfluous. Coats applied: 2, no top coat
a-england ♦ Excalibur Renaissance
a-england ♦ Excalibur trio
The original version of Excalibur from a-england’s première collection, The Mythicals (reviewed here), bears a few differences worth noting from this latest Excalibur launch:
- slightly thinner flowing formula
- a few degrees paler in tone
- not as brilliant/gleaming
- glossier natural finish
The reissued version of Excalibur (reviewed here), has obvious differences from the other two as well:
- shimmer foil metallic with bronze glitter flecks/scales
- the most intense brilliant finish of the three
- nor risk of visible brush strokes with this formula
a-england ♦ Excalibur trio
a-england ♦ Excalibur trio
a-england ♦ Excalibur (original)
a-england ♦ Excalibur (reissue)
a-england ♦ Excalibur collection
What makes Excalibur Renaissance such a stand out, is that it respects what the original shade stood for, but with subtle overall improvements. Different enough from the reissued version to merit owning both, this shade is spectacular whether worn alone as an elegant attention-getter, or as a counterpart for stamping and nail art enthusiasts (skills that sadly elude me). For fans of metallics as well as those who never picked up the original shade, here’s your chance to remedy that oversight. The people have spoken, and Adina has listened: Excalibur lives again.
Find more more information on a-england products (as well as a complete list of international stockists):
*Disclosure: Product samples provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration
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Butter London – Boho Rock Collection Nail Lacquer
The Boho Rock Collection from Butter London, is a collection of 6 neutrals infused with sensuality, some texture and a whole of lot possibilities. With nude shades trending hot this season, I love that these aren’t the same old – same old, but a fresh & modern spin on classic hues: wearable, yet still funky enough to suit your inner Bohemian princess.
All swatches were done using Butter London’s new Patent-Gel Base and Top Coats (except where top coat was omitted, as stated) – and after playing with this duo for some time now, I’m ready to include in my list of Holy Grail favourites.
Butter London – Boho Rock Collection
Keen – a warm leaning doll-skin pink (Band-Aid pink?) hue in a formula that’s a touch patchy with the first coat, but then levels off nicely by the second. Super glossy at the finish, I was take by complete surprise in finding myself strangely drawn to this shade – so not my usual colour, but there you have it. Coats applied: 3 (thin, which gives the best coverage), plus top coat
Butter London – Keen
Trallop – a camel-nude shade given warmth by the yellow undertones in its base, in a formula that can best be summed up as SPECTACULAR: amazing opacity even by the 1st coat, self-levelling, easy flow & application and a high gloss finish. The perfect nude? Possibly. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat
Butter London – Trallop
Butter London – Lushington over Trallop
Goss – a stunning rose-gold foil (metallic) hue in a quick drying formula and which applies in a very opaque way even by the 1st coat. TIP: I suggest loading up your brush with polish, as this type of formula is not tolerant of touch-ups (going back in with your brush to correct anything). Some brush strokes may be evident upon initial application (much less visible in person, believe me), but within a few seconds it begins to level off and give a wonderfully smooth, foil-like finish. Those with less than even nails might want to apply a ridge-filling base coat first. I also found that this shade definitely looks best as is – a top coat somehow takes away from the finish and can make it look dated. Bonus: ridiculously easy removal. Coats applied: 2 (no top coat)
Butter London – Goss
Trifle – what looks like a chocolatey/bronze hue is actually so much more complex than that; this bears a plum/raisin base colour that’s filled with an oxidized bronze metallic shimmer. At times it can look like wood-grain, at others I catch a slight flash of gold – very rich, unique and rather Rococo-looking, no? Coats applied: 2, plus top coat
Butter London – Trifle
Lucy in the Sky – the Beatles version of this song gets stuck in my head every time I say this name This shade is INSANE. A blush/taupe base that’s loaded with small prismatic glitter in a slightly thicker flowing formula than the rest, but nonetheless super easy to work with. I have seriously NEVER seen anything like this – reminds me of haute couture nude gowns with artfully applied sequins, or even mermaid skin – gorgeous and I absolutely LOVE it! The finish is lightly textured – think suede, not grit and unless you first apply a peel-off base coat (like OPI’s amazing new Glitter Off), then be prepared for some effort to remove it (so worth it, though!). The final sparkle is nothing short of brilliant (not glossy like a crème). Coats applied: 2 (surprisingly opaque at 2)
Butter London – Lucy in the Sky
Butter London – Lucy in the Sky (with top coat)
Lushington – a cloudy ivory base with tons of ultra-fine gold glitter. Easily layered over any other colour, this shade seems to work well with both dark & light hues. Worn alone, you’ll definitely need at least 3 coats to make it almost opaque and again, I strongly recommend a peel-off base coat under to avoid removal issues later on. I love how the tiny size of the glitter and the cooler tone of the gold gives this a more modern & sophisticated vibe. Coats applied: 3 (thin, plus top coat)
Butter London – Lushington
Butter London – Lushington (with top coat)
If asked upon first receiving this collection, I would have probably said that 2 out of the 6 would most likely turn out to be favourites, but I’ve never been happier to say how wrong I would have been (and I hate admitting that I’m wrong). I found something to love about the entire Boho Rock Collection, and with Butter London’s amazing formula backing each shade, you seriously can’t go wrong with any. Then there’s Lucy in the Sky – have you EVER?! (and there goes that earworm again …)
Available now through The Bay (Canada) – find more information via:
*Disclosure: Product samples provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration
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OPI – Mariah Carey Holiday 2013 Collection ‘the sparklers’
Dividing this fairly extensive collection into three groups was the easy part; ‘the reds’ (reviewed here), the Liquid Sands (coming soon), and this group here that I’ve named ‘the sparklers’, although it should technically be ‘the 5 sparklers & a metallic’, but that just looks weird in a title, no? These six lacquers all have something unique and totally eye-catching to offer – brilliant, sparkling and festively extravagant.
OPI – Mariah Carey Holiday 2013 Collection
Ski Slope Sweetie – a sheer milky base hue filled with finely ground iridescent/pearlized shimmer that flashes predominantly gold, with pink and green glints seen as well. While the formula leans a bit on the thick side, it still applies ridiculously easy, staying exactly where placed, brush stroke-free and self-levelling (this can also be layered over a similar colour for more depth). Gleaming at the finish, I swear that there’s a magical look to this shade – makes me think of unicorns. Love unicorns. Note that there could be some shimmer migration upon removal. Coats applied: 3 (thin), plus top coat
OPI – Ski Slope Sweetie
OPI – Ski Slope Sweetie
My Favorite Ornament – a clear base loaded with ultra fine platinum and silver micro glitter (doesn’t it look like teeny-tiny crinkled up pieces of foil?), that’s almost opaque by the first coat — it’s THAT densely packed. With its antiqued/tarnished effect, this shade is insanely brilliant and absolutely spot-on as the perfect festive lacquer. You will probably need a couple of layers of top coat to smooth out the slightly gritty finish – totally worth it, however. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat (2 layers)
OPI – My Favorite Ornament
OPI – My Favorite Ornament
Wondrous Star – a clear base filled with the same platinum & silver ultra fine micro glitter of My Favorite ornament, but slightly sparser and in a thinner flowing formula, as well as the addition of tiny black hexagonal glitter pieces in the mix. Definitely best if layered to bring out its full effect, this shade is ridiculously brilliant as well. Coats applied: 3 (thin), plus top coat
OPI – Wondrous Star
OPI – Wondrous Star
All Sparkly and Gold – a smokey semi-sheer taupe base hue filled with bronze ultra fine glitter (the warmer and more golden version of My Favorite Ornament). The gritty feel at the finish seems more Liquid Sand to me, but not as dense, and really benefits from top coat to enhance every brilliant facet. I absolutely LOVE how the glitter seems suspended at the surface level. Coats applied: 3 (thin), plus top coat (2 layers)
OPI – All Sparkly and Gold
OPI – All Sparkly and Gold
Warm Me Up – the odd man out of the group shown here, but still part of the same overall colour family, this is a metallic taupe/mink brown hue bearing a silvery/pearlized shimmer throughout. A totally unique colour (at least in my fairly vast collection), this shade is a chameleon – looking pewter in some lights, bronzey-grey in others. Self-levelling, no visible brush strokes and shiny at the finish, it’s also non-staining upon removal. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat
OPI – Warm Me Up
OPI – Warm Me Up
I Snow You Love Me – the “pièce de résistance” of the collection (and you HAVE to love the name!), this is a slightly milky (and relatively thick) base, filled with large round holographic glitter. As this shade is best when layered, I’ve shown it (1 coat only) over 3 distinct finished: over a crème (Visions of Love previously reviewed here), a shimmer (Ski Slope Sweetie), and a metallic (Warm Me Up). Some tips for application:
- start by keeping this bottle stored upside down, as the glitter is heavy and tends to sink to the bottom
- don’t try applying this the usual way – you’ll only wind up with the base and no glitter
- instead, use the “drop, dab, & swoosh” method and work quickly to avoid an uneven surface
- Bonus: glitter placement is quite easy to do, although you may need to fish some pieces out of the bottle in the first place
OPI – I Snow You Love Me (over Visions of Love)
OPI – I Snow You Love Me (over Ski Slope Sweetie)
OPI – I Snow You Love Me (over Warm Me Up)
I’m not even a glitter person, and yet I am so totally drawn to (most of) these shades. My favourites here are I Snow You Love Me (portable disco balls!), Warm Me Up (you already know how I love these moodier-type shades), All Sparkly and Gold (sophisticated bling, in my eyes), and My Favorite Ornament. I can see Ski Slope Sweetie as a pedi shade, a colour that will translate well even for the warmer season, but Wondrous Star didn’t do it for me – something about the darker bits looked too much like debris for my liking – maybe it just needs to grow on me shrugs.
The six Liquid Sand polishes of this collection will be shown in an upcoming post.
The OPI Mariah Carey Holiday 2013 Collection is limited and available now. For all updates, feel free to follow via: website/twitter/facebook
*Disclosure: Product samples provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration
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Butter London Summer Holiday 2013 Collection & a special promo!
Make no mistake about it: the Butter London Summer Holiday 2013 Collection is scorching HOT. Taking inspiration from summer holidays spent in Spain by the brand’s Global Colour Ambassador (Ambassadress?), Katie Hughes, the six shades of this collection epitomize everything I consider summer: a long sandy beach, blazing sun overhead (+ an umbrella to shield you), the sensual glow of tanning oil (+ SPF, of course), and the beckoning sound of the ocean. Pure, unadulterated and hedonistically summer … I am so TOTALLY ready for this.
Find the complete details of an amazing Butter London promo offer at the end of this post!
Butter London – Summer Holiday Collection 2013
Poole – the only crème of the entire collection, this is a dusty Wedgewood Blue shade in a streak-free formula that applies smoothly along the nails, leaving a nice glossy finish behind. A cross between Robin’s Egg Blue and slightly Tiffany-esque, I was surprised to see that while I have many similar shades, none are in this exact tone. Bonus: non-staining. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat
Butter London – Poole
Butter London – Poole
Bobby Dazzler – a platinum/silvery foil hue with definitive mauve undertones, you need to work quickly in application as this shade dries super fast. Any visible brush strokes upon the first coat are quickly managed by a second layer, and you might consider a ridge filling base coat as a primer for an even smoother surface to paint on, as well as a steady hand to apply. There’s a brilliant natural gleam at the finish, but I added top coat for a glossier look. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat
TIP: If wearing full-on silver feels like too much, you can try adding Bobby Dazzler either as an accent nail, or along the tips for an edgy take on a French mani.
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Butter London – Bobby Dazzler
Butter London – Bobby Dazzler
Sunbaker – a burnished orange/copper metallic base hue that is filled with gold and pink glass fleck-like shimmer. A stellar formula with a self-levelling application and superior glossy shine at the finish, the colour saturation of this shade is intense. Love that lit-from-within glow – there’s just so much “movement” here! Coats applied: 2, plus top coat
Butter London – Sunbaker
Butter London – Sunbaker
Marbs – an antiqued gold metallic shimmer bearing a luxe gilded patina, there are some bronze-y veins running throughout for added visual depth. Almost a 1-coater due to its high pigmentation, this formula is more forgiving that than of ‘Bobby Dazzler’, as it gives you more time for application before it sets. This ultra-dazzing 24 karat gold leaf shade leans slightly warm, but can be worn by basically all skin tones. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat
Butter London – Marbs
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Butter London – Marbs
Champers – a complex rose-gold & champage hue in a combination metallic/shimmer/foil formula that bears a similar application to that of ‘Marbs’. Even with its predominantly silver sheen, there seems to be both cool & warm tones in this shade – which makes this the easiest metallic you will ever wear. Coats applied: 2
Butter London – Champers
Butter London – Champers
Bit Faker – (gotta love that name!) a clear base that is filled with densely packed ultra-fine glitter in shades of rose-gold and brown, application is ridiculously easy as each brush load is more than enough to cover the nail. The natural finish is semi-matte and lightly textured like that of fine-grit sandpaper, while the interesting mix of colours almost makes this shade a “neutral glitter” – highly unique. By adding top coat (see the 2nd swatch photo), every particle bursts into life, but I personally prefer it au naturel (but it’s nice to have that choice, no?) – LOVE! Coats applied: 2
Butter London – Bit Faker
Butter London – Bit Faker, top coat added
Last word: I don’t know if Butter London has adapted their formula, but I found that all these shades seemed to dry incredibly fast – which is a good thing -although in the case of ‘Bobby Dazzler’, just remember to work extra quickly. Having a total weakness for aquatic colours, especially come the summer time, ‘Poole’ is a no-brainer win for me, but I was surprised to find myself loving the almost retina-searing brightness of ‘Sunbaker’ and the fudgy glitter bomb of ‘Bit Faker’. The Olympic-medal trio of ‘Marbs’, Bobby Dazzler’, and ‘Champers’ will look spectacular against lightly tanned skin … perfect accessories for the beach, I say! And now for the promo:
*From April 15th until May 15th, you can enjoy 20% off all Butter London products (not applicable on bundles or discounted packs) when you purchase online through ButterLondon.ca – enter the code “OMMORPHIA” at checkout to take advantage of this fabulous offer!
Feel free to follow Butter London through their website, twitter or facebook for all future news & updates.
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*Disclosure: Product samples provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration
Butter London: Autumn/Winter 2012 – Colours from the Catwalk Collection (swatches & review)
Butter London’s fall/winter 2012 collection will make you stop and stare. I’m not kidding. These 5 dazzling hues in the brand’s signature flawless formula take their inspiration from the myriad colours shown on the fall runways, and are distilled down to their bare essences – managing to not only capture an autumnal flavour, but taking it up a notch … or 10!
Every single one of Butter London’s new fall/winter 2012 shades bears sparkle in one form or another, some definitely more overt than others, but all applying in an effortless manner – one of the brand’s hallmarks. I’m so pleased to see full-on holographic properties finally making an appearance in the lineup, and the two glitter lacquers have surprises of their own, both in the finish and the final colour. Note that while all shades can certainly be worn with 2 coats for full coverage, I applied 3 coats for most, as I find specific hues photograph more accurately that way.
‘Dodgy Barnett’ (*possibly meaning a “bad hairdo”) is a somewhat sheer-leaning dove grey/silver hue that is loaded with prismatic dust throughout, truly coming to vivid life the instant sun hits it. A stellar formula, this lays down in a completely self-levelling way with no visible brush strokes and a surprisingly high gloss shine at the finish. On shorter nails, 2 coats are more than enough, giving a daintier overall look to the finish, although longer nails may need an extra coat for a deeper opacity. There also appears to be some subtle sky blue & lilac undertones in the base that add an interesting depth to this hue – very unique indeed. Note that there is NO top coat in the following swatches. Coats applied: 3
in sunlight
indoors
with flash
‘Trustafarian’ (meaning: “a youth with no money worries, who subscribes to a hippie lifestyle”) is described as a “holographic sage green”, but I found this excellently flowing formula to be so much more complex than that. More of a hybrid golden/pewter/lime green hue, this is filled with warm-toned prismatic dust that seems to capture & then reflect light right back at you. As with ‘Dodgy Barnett’, 2 coats gives full coverage on short nails, although longer nails will required 3 for a fuller opacity. The self-levelling and brushstroke-free application leaves behind a superior glossy shine at the finish, surprising for a “holographic” lacquer. The mod way of wearing neutral, note that no top coat was added to the following swatches – none needed! Coats applied: 3
in sunlight
indoors
with flash
‘Shag’ (meaning: “a colloquial term for the act of coitus”) is a deeply burnished burgundy/copper metallic shade, filled with ground scintillating shimmer. A simply amazing formula, the first coat showed some rose-gold undertones and applied in a flawless manner, self-levellingly smooth and leaving zero brush strokes behind. The epitome of a perfect fall colour, this russet stunner bears such a complex shimmer, that it almost seems to pulsate with an inner glow. While its natural shine is awesome, I added top coat for the following swatches to enhance every autumnal nuance. LOVE! Coats applied: 2
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in sunlight
indoors
with flash
‘Gobsmacked’ (meaning: “utterly astounded”) left me feeling exactly as the name implies: stunned! Looking exactly like crushed diamonds embedded in concrete, this bears pulverized teal and silver glitter in its base, although the formula is quite the enigma; the coats apply somewhat sheerly, but then mysteriously turn rather opaque as they dry. As this shade winds down to a semi-matte finish, interestingly enough the glitter remains quite prominent and does not get swallowed up in either the finish or the colour. Slightly gritty to the touch, adding top coat not only smooths everything out and inexplicably lightens the colour by a few degrees, but totally amps up the final look. BONUS: no staining & surprisingly easy removal. Coats applied: 2
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in sunlight
in sunlight, top coat added
indoors
indoors, top coat added
with flash
with flash, top coat added
‘Lovely Jubbly’ (2 definitions, but I prefer the one which means: “something good about to happen”) bears a clear base utterly filled with purple, magenta, red, blue, silver & gold ultra-fine glitter suspended throughout. Cool-toned and super brilliant, this applies easily and reaches full opacity at 3 coats, but 2 coats gives good coverage as well. Alternately, you can always layer this over any other single-hued base colour for less applied glitter. As this dries quickly down to a semi-matte finish and with a slightly gritty feel, a layer or 2 of top coat not only provides an ultra-smooth surface, but enhances the overall look, making your nails appear to have been dipped in crushed gems. Note that some elbow grease is required for removal, but nothing overly excessive. Coats applied: 3
in sunlight
in sunlight, top coat added
indoors
indoors, top coat added
with flash
with flash, top coat added
Final thoughts: Sometimes you hear about a brand’s cult following, and wonder if it isn’t due mainly to hype; I can honestly state for the record that this is so NOT the case with Butter London. One of the first to go cruelty and toxin-free, not only has the formula ever suffered as a result, but they continue to release truly unique and outstanding varnishes. My favourite of the 5 here is hands down ‘Shag’ (love than name too, lol!) as I have a weakness for richly jewelled hues, and while I’m usually not a glitter fan, I couldn’t help but be impressed with the 2 included here – ‘Gobsmacked’ for its powerfully gothic allure, and ‘Lovely Jubbly’ (I swear I hear Austin Powers every time I write that) for it disco-ish frenzied feel. While these may not be your typical fall/winter hues, they nonetheless evoke the cooler temperatures that wait – with some added bling to warm you up in the meantime!
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Feel free to check out Butter London’s website for more information on their full lineup of products, as well as follow them on facebook/twitter to be kept updated on all their latest news.
*Disclaimer: Product samples provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration
