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Rescue Beauty Lounge | The Fan Collection 3.0
There’s a good reason why Ji Baek of Rescue Beauty Lounge has such a loyal fan base: she understands what makes lacquer lovers tick, and has welcomed the world to becoming an integral part of the creative process behind several of her nail polish collections. After the resounding success of the two previous iterations, Ji once again put out the call for fans to submit a vision of their dream polish shade, and after receiving thousands of entries (which were then narrowed agonizingly down – I mean seriously, how can a person choose from so many original ideas?), the list was finalized to the seven hues shown here.
Therefore and without further ado, presenting The Fan Collection 3.0 – enjoy!
Rescue Beauty Lounge | The Fan Collection 3.0
Rescue Beauty Lounge | The Fan Collection 3.0
Rescue Beauty Lounge | The Fan Collection 3.0
Rescue Beauty Lounge | The Fan Collection 3.0
“It is reflected in a fleeting sunrise, the lining of a seashell, the bubbles of pink champagne in a gold-rimmed flute, the shimmering silk of a sari, the elegant glow of a candle through a gossamer white curtain. Ethereal is elegant and infinitely wearable, but has the merest hint of flash. It’s a versatile polish that can be word by anyone, for any occasion” – Nancy’s Fantasy
This colour truly reflects the inside of as seashell – shiny, with a mellow white mica and flashes of pink that swim through its slightly golden-grey shimmer – you can practically hear the waves by looking at the bottle.
Ethereal | An opalescent white shade that displays some sheerness with the first coat, albeit still giving good coverage – and which applies non-patchy and self levelling. This pearly shade gives way to a visible pink flash and while not super glossy, the finish is quite shiny just the same. Note that longer nails may still see some translucency after 2 coats, but I personally love that look.
Coats applied: 2, plus top coat
Rescue Beauty Lounge | Ethereal swatch
“This dream color would be an icy pastel blue/green with magical iridescent sparkles. It would be light and bright, never described as muted or dusty. More blue than Aqua Lily, and much lighter than Faraway, it is closer to the colour of Bikini Bottom, but striking and opaque. I imagine the sparkle effect to be along the lines of Scrangie and NailsandNoms. Tiny, yet highly effective” – Ashley’s #want
Electro Glacier was the most challenging of the collection, requiring many variations (there were tons of non-stop mixing going on – making this the most demanding fan color thus far) and boy, am I glad we stuck with it! Creating an icy blue that would stay light, but still be a true blue, took some magic. This blue iridescent sparkly delight is jammed-packed with shine.
Electro Glacier | An icy baby blue with ultra fine and tightly condensed shimmer. The formula leans slightly thick but is still easily spread along the nail with a quicker dry time than most of the others here, so make sure to load up your brush and work fast. Opaque enough by the first coat, you’ll need a second for complete coverage. Note: be prepared for some glitter spread upon removal.
Coats applied: 2, plus top coat
Rescue Beauty Lounge | Electro Glacier swatch
Rescue Beauty Lounge | Electro Glacier swatch (detail)
“…a night-sky black polish that, like Uluru, responds to its environment revealing fiery flashes of red orange from within. ‘Many Splendors’ can be thought of as a darker sister to my beloved bottle of Pie Mosso, however, like the island that inspired her, she will be truly one of a kind.” – Angela’s Envisage
I am super technically challenged, but not one to give up. we focused on creating a lava-like color since black pigment by itself is very dense. I replaced the black matte glitter with gold and orange sparkles. This color dries to a matte. I’m really into this look, but one swipe of our super-shiny top coat will transform Many Splendors into live, hot, molten danger.
Many Splendors | A sheer charcoal base that’s brimming with gold and fiery amber ultra fine glitter, in a formula that appears somewhat thin at the first coat, but achieves good coverage by the second. This shade comes to a velvety matte finish (very hard to capture in photos; much more cohesive and smoother than appears in the first swatch photo) with the shimmer keeping it from coming off as too flat or 1-dimensional (soft grit to the touch). Adding top coat does all kinds of crazy magic to Many Splendors and makes it come alive.
Coats applied: 3 thin (top coat only in second swatch photo)
Rescue Beauty Lounge | Many Splendors swatch
Rescue Beauty Lounge | Many Splendors swatch with top coat
“This is a beautiful place in Istanbul where the Bosphorus makes an inlet. The idea is to have an off-white base (nothing too strong) with gold particles in it, similar to Naked Without Polish (which had a pink base). I love Naked Without Polish and I believe this can be a unique addition to your line. The particles should show through, so probably the base will not be 100% opaque. I love white & gold, I think it can be worn all year round, it is classy and chic” – Sara’s Marvel…
This is a sophisticated, soft white mica base with a flash of lavender and golden flecks. It applies like a dream and yep – all year around and for every occasion.
Golden Horn | An opalescent ivory hue with irregularly shaped gold flecks that appear to be suspended beneath the surface layer – in a formula that falls semi-sheer at first, but reaches a decent opacity by the second. There’s a subtle lilac flash flash seen at some angles that add a nice depth of tone, and the finish is relatively smooth to the touch. Bonus: no glitter migration upon removal.
Coats applied: 2, plus top coat
Rescue Beauty Lounge | Golden Horn swatch
“The color I crave is a juicy jelly à la Starfish Patrick with a bright burgundy base. It is luminous, like Poco a Poco, illuminated by the soft, peached pink glow and subtle flashes of orange. The colour is vibrant, bold, and spirited. At once bright and sparkling, mysterious and dark” – Lygie’s Craving
It isn’t technically possible for a jelly to hold shimmers and flashes, so we’ve altered the base to a smooth, gliding, non-streaky mica base, which we punched with sparkles. If Peachypolish.com is raspberry, this is its brighter, sparkly cranberry cousin.
Sanguine | A luscious claret that’s loaded with shimmer of the glass-flecked variety; this gives the illusion of banked embers and that lit-from-within glow that’s just so mesmerizing (and which I totally love). Highly pigmented, this shade can almost be a 1-coat-wonder if you load up your brush enough, but I prefer the look with 2 coats. Self-levelling and super glossy at the finish, there’s no staining upon removal – bonus!
Coats applied: 2, plus top coat
Rescue Beauty Lounge | Sanguine swatch
“I’m dreaming of a shade that (as of yet?) has been missing from the RBL spectrum. It’s rich and decadent and just dripping with luxury. A vivid magenta! A semi-translucent jelly, but one that is so drenched in color that it can become fully opaque in just a few coats. Its depth is filled with shimmer like (the first) Scrangie. so deep you feel as though you could dive right in and swim around for hours. A magenta that almost glows from within with stunning teal and gold, sparkling, shining through its layers…” – Shelly’s Dream…
There are so many shimmers in here that it’s almost ridiculously obscene – in a good way of course. This flawless formula waxes poetic on magenta while it perfectly embeds and traps the decadent, luxurious glimmers…
Vixen by Sassy Shelly | An intense magenta with similar glass-flecked shimmer to that of Sanguine, with that same inner fire and hypnotic tone. There’s a jelly-like quality to the formula, bearing a self-levelling application and insanely glossy finish — although be warned that there is some mild staining potential here, so do not skip your base coat.
Coats applied: 2, plus top coat
Rescue Beauty Lounge | Vixen by Sassy Shelly swatch
“Things that excite (and somewhat terrify) me are outer space and the sea. My inspiration for a new shade are those two extremes, as well as my favorite colors – multi-faceted shades of purple, blue, magenta – think fish scales. I love glitter in my polishes or sometimes a well-done shimmer makes an even bigger impact — think stars” Danielle’s Yearning…
Ok. This might win top honors at a shimmer contest. It really reminds me of our long-ago Scrangie, but on steroids. This lavender base enmeshed with flecks of blue glass makes this formula glidingly, oh-so-easy to apply — it’s a win-win.
Galaxea | A high-voltage violet/lilac hue with prismatic glitter that gives off pink, blue & purple flashes. The formula falls this side of thick (similar to that of Electro Glacier), but is nevertheless easy to work with and provides excellent coverage even by the first coat. While shiny on its own, this shade turns almost supernatural with an addition of top coat – spectacular! Note: be prepared for some glitter spread upon removal.
Coats applied: 2, plus top coat
Rescue Beauty Lounge | Galaxea swatch
Rescue Beauty Lounge | Galaxea swatch detail (in sunlight)
Upon looking at the shades when I first received them, I was positive that my favourites would be the Ethereal, Golden Horn (just proves my weakness for whites) and Electro Glacier (my other weakness for anything remotely aquatic-looking), and while I was correct about ethereal and Electro Glacier, I was totally unprepared for the way Sanguine, Vixen by Sassy Shelly, and Galaxea would grab me. Many Splendors is an interesting contradiction; what appears to be a shimmery black hue, turns out to be many sided and also adds a tactile and visual appeal – and while matte may not be everyone’s cup of tea (I confess to loving a matte and/or textured finish), it’s a shade that will blow you away once seen with a layer of glossy top coat. Believe me.
The Rescue Beauty Lounge Fan Collection 3.0 will be available for pre-sale starting October 13th for 48 hours, retail USD $20.00/each (shortly thereafter for everyone else) – make sure to sign up for the RBL newsletter in order to receive the email link invite.
Press samples kindly provided by Rescue Beauty for my unbiased consideration
An evolving mani: from wintry to Snow Leopard nails!
It began innocently enough; for some bizarre reason, on the day we decided to put up our Christmas tree, I had this sudden & inexplicable urge to create a “holiday” mani., but first I needed to come up with an idea – preferably something that did not require traditional shades or tons of glitter. I wanted a look that would be at once understated and subtle, yet sophisticated and glamourous – and simple to execute.
Channelling my inner Snow Queen, I decided to go full on winter … and so my tone-on-tone winter white mani was born.
- The inspiration – a blanket of snow
- The shades used – OPI Bride’s Bouquet (old formula) and CHANEL Velvet Mat Top Coat (previously reviewed here)
- The look – matte white nails with glossy white tips, except for the ring finger which sported the reverse: glossy white with a matte white tip
- Application – 3 thin coats of Bride’s Bouquet for the base on all nails, 2 thin coats on the tips
The bottle of Bride’s Bouquet that I have, is in OPI’s old formula – therefore not toxin-free, but it was the exact shade of white I was looking for; neither leaning too yellow, grey or pink, but rather a pure & pristine white hue. Application was easy, although it required 3 thin coats to reach the opacity I was looking for. The finish was one of unbelievable glossiness but I could have done without the fumes, a by-product of its formula.
When I originally reviewed CHANEL’s Velvet Mat Top Coat (limited edition), I stated that it took longer to develop its effect than other mattifying products, but over Bride’s Bouquet, not only did it work relatively quickly, but left a plush finish behind and lent my nails a softly diffused look.
The tips were all done free-hand (hence the less than perfect application) … I love this delicate effect!
Winter’s Snow nails
Winter’s Snow nails
Of course, it didn’t end there. I wanted to take this look up a notch and decided that my all white nails would be the perfect canvas to attempt something I’ve been curious to try – leopard spots, but not just any leopard: those of a snow leopard, an elusive and solitary feline beauty found in the mountainous regions of Central Asia, reigning supreme in snowy landscapes.
- The inspiration – a Snow Leopard’s rosettes
- The shades used – Dior’s Camel and Ebony (from the limited edition Mitzah Collection – previously reviewed here)
- The look – irregularly shaped & spaced dabs of the tan shade, partially outlined with the darker shade
- Application – using a fine brush, I created irregularly shaped rosettes with ‘Camel’, partially outlined using ‘Ebony’ which was applied with the blunted end of a toothpick.
Interestingly, the two shades used to make the rosette shapes, Camel and Ebony, were created in homage to Dior muse Mitzah Bricard’s love of leopard print — I love it when things all tie in together like that!
Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) – source
free-hand leopard rosettes
To complete my Snow Leopard look, I chose Rescue Beauty’s ‘Bella’ from the GOMM Collection (previously reviewed here), a creamy translucent white hue that not only softened the look of the rosettes, but added a veiled & softened overall appearance – much like catching a glimpse of a snow leopard in a snow storm, no?
Snow Leopard nails
Snow Leopard nails
Snow Leopard nails … and an ornament!
Final thoughts: I don’t often delve into the world of nail art (as my skills in that area are meagre at best), but I was surprised by how easy it was to create this rosette pattern, using a minimum amount of products and fuss. While I loved the wintry feel of my white mani, I couldn’t stop staring at my nails with their muted leopard print. A very chic way to decorate the tree, that’s for sure!
Rescue Beauty Lounge ‘GOMM’ Collection Spring/Summer 2012 (swatches & review)
It’s no secret that I have a huge love of all things beautiful and of exceptional quality, which is why anything produced by Ji Baek, creator & founder of Rescue Beauty Lounge, has a standing invitation to enter my collection of lacquers. My first foray into this brand began back in September 2010 with the ‘Housewives of Tudor England’ Collection (please search under the Rescue Beauty Lounge tag to read all my reviews), which also happened to coincide with the start of my blog, hence the personal attachment for me.
I continue to be fascinated by the creative process behind boutique brands such as this one; back in May of this year when the first swatches of Rescue Beauty’s latest offering began showing, it thrilled the art lover in me to see that a talent such as American artist Georgia O’Keeffe (November 15, 1887 – March 6, 1986) was the inspiration behind this latest collection, but this homage came with a price: due to certain legal issues, Ji had to tweak certain aspects of this collection from its original presentation (you can read the article here), although the end result remained the same – four beautifully poignant and rich hues, all crafted in Rescue Beauty’s inimitable style. I present to you the ‘GOMM’ collection …
The past few seasons saw Rescue Beauty releasing new collections in sets of 4; the ‘GOMM’ collection gave us 7 vibrant hues, and I can fully understand why when you factor in the vast choices of colour used by the artistic inspiration behind these shades. With only one crème hue and the rest bearing varying levels of shimmer, the formulas also ranged from somewhat sheer to densely opaque, with a flow that ran from relatively easy to slightly thick – but all with an absolutely stellar application and super high-gloss finish. All swatches are with base and top coats.
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*Please note that only the part of the name outside of the brackets is the official title of each hue, although I have chosen to include the full name for information purposes only.
Rescue Beauty Lounge GOMM Collection – autographed boxes
Three years ago when my daughter was in the 10th grade, her art class began a project based on works by Georgia O’Keeffe, whereby the students looked over the artist’s collective pieces and had to create an original oeuvre in that style. Above, is the painting my daughter created – to say that it blew me away, would be the understatement of the century! I am so immensely proud of her attention to detail and that certain quality of “still movement” that she intuitively gave her work; truly awe-inspiring!
Bella [Donna] – a paradoxically crisp & muddied white shade in a medium thick but easy flowing formula, all with a rather jelly-like finish. I loved the translucent quality at 2 coats, which was surprisingly streak-free and lay down smoothly, but I preferred the “bleached bones” look of 3 applied coats. This is a somewhat filtered white colour, elegant and classic but with a definite modern edge and while the insanely glassy finish made a top coat almost redundant, I did apply it here for the photos. Coats applied: 3
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RBL Abi[quiu] – in natural light
Abi[quiu] – an aloe green hue with deep lime undertones and absolutely brimming with silver, blue and pink ultra-fine shimmer. The excellent formula applies with a perfect density, showing amazing pigmentation of colour by even the first coat. Very self-levelling, brush-stroke free and leaving behind a high gloss finish (surprising for a shimmer), this shade imparts more of a pearly hue when seen in sunlight, although that sheen in almost undetectable indoors. Coats applied: 2
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RBL Santa Fe [Road] – in natural light
Santa Fe [Road] – a warm Creamsicle orange hue with mysterious green flashes seen at some angles, all in a shimmery pearlescent formula that was perfect in every way: opacity, coverage and high shine. To repeat the above, the finish was ultra smooth, no visible brush strokes and it can almost apply as a 1-coater in a pinch. While the shimmer is not as apparent in subdued lighting, it does serve to add a beautiful depth. What makes this orange hue so very wearable, is its softly diffused appearance, looking more like pumpkin purée than Crayola inspired. Coats applied: 2
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RBL Ghost [Ranch] – in natural light
Ghost [Ranch] – a complex mix of taupe, brown and silver, this shade is filled with matching ribbons of shimmer that also include some specks of green and pink for added visual depth. This incredibly pigmented formula lays down perfectly with the first coat, although I applied a second for photographic purposes. Interestingly enough, this was the only one of the 7 that ended in a satiny finish, which completely reminded me of driftwood or the patina of weathered wood. Coats applied: 2
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in sunlight
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RBL Faraway [Nearby] – in natural light
Faraway [Nearby] – is a vivid cyan blue shade, filled with an almost iridescent shimmery dust throughout, all in yet another KILLER formula. An incredible saturation of colour, this hue also applied in the same self-levelling and brush stroke-free manner as the rest, leaving behind an impossibly high gloss shine. Bringing to mind the colour of a searingly blue sky over the desert landscape, I found that the teal-leaning ultra-fine shimmer seemed rather concealed indoors, but came to brilliant life when seen in full sun or with flash. Coats applied: 2
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RBL [Oriental] Poppy – in natural light
[Oriental] Poppy – is somewhat of a contradiction; an über-vivid coral-leaning tomato red shade, it is filled with pink, orange and gold ultra-fine shimmery particles that while almost imperceptible indoors, serve to add a rich lustrous depth to this hue. This richly pigmented crème-jelly hybrid formula applies ridiculously easy, levelling smoothly and with a high glassy shine, although I did notice some light residual staining upon removal – easily remedied with a second swipe of polish remover. The paradox with this shade, is that while overall it can be classified as a warm hue, there also appear to be these inexplicable blueish flashes of light at times, that help it cross into more cooler territory. Coats applied: 2
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RBL Jack [In The Pulpit] – in natural light
Jack [In The Pulpit] – is pure LOVE for me. A deep viridian green shade with glistening teal flashes, this true 1-coater formula is filled with silver, blue and green shimmery particles that add a new level of depth to this rich hue. Flowing like liquid silk across the nails, this beauty is the crowing jewel of this collection, its allure clearly evident. Effortless application, gliding smoothly and with a glowing gloss at the finish – perfection! BONUS: no staining upon removal. Coats applied: 3
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Final thoughts: Even though I may not always be a complete fan over every colour produced in a collection, I cannot help but want to keep all of my limited edition Rescue Beauty sets intact, such as the ‘GOMM’ collection showcased here. For the most part, the colours are unique which helps to offset the steep price of ordering (at US $20.00 per bottle plus US $18.00 shipping to Canada, it can hurt the wallet plenty) and I believe that the formulas are quite superior to that of more mass-produced brands, but I confess that if it weren’t for the collector in me, I would have stuck to less than all 7 shades. My favourites here are Jack [In The Pulpit], Bella [Donna], and [Oriental] Poppy, with an honourable mention going to Ghost [Ranch] and Faraway [Nearby], but I don’t regret the other 2 – I just don’t think they will see as much love from me. Still available through Rescue Beauty’s website, if you haven’t given this brand a look before, here’s your chance … just don’t say you weren’t warned if one of these beauties sells out while you’re looking at it!
Rescue Beauty Lounge ‘Fan Collection’ (swatches & review)
Back in December of 2010, Ji Baek, owner & creator of Rescue Beauty Lounge, announced a “contest” whereupon fans were able to submit entries of their dream nail lacquer shade – hundreds answered the call, but in the end there were 4 winners – chosen by the people – and 15 months later, the ‘Fan Collection’ was born. Launched to the general public in April 2012 and with a somewhat aquatic theme underlying this entire collection, each hue offers something exceptionally unique and never seen before in the world of nail varnish, and as soon as I was able to, I snatched up all four – good thing I did, as these were all limited and sold out fairly quickly.
But wait! Before you start lambasting me for showing colours not for purchase anymore, just know that Ji is planning to re-release some of these in the fall. All is not lost, right?
A quick rundown of the winners and their inspiration behind each chosen hue of the ‘Fan Collection’:
- Halcyon – Imagined by Danielle: inspired by the look of dewdrops on tender succulent leaves. The beauty of these plants keeps her calm & serene
- Cuprum – Imagined by Neeta: inspired by the metamorphic moment when ammonia meets copper and transforms into a radiant blue – Cuprum is latin for copper and the dual nature of this element is what she wished to see captured in a bottle
- IKB: 2012 – Imagined by Nora: inspired by her appreciation and search for Yves Klein’s signature blue shade (International Klein Blue)
- Aqua Lily – Imagined by Kay-Di Kat: inspired by her mom, Lily, with her absolute love of swimming like a mermaid
dew on a succulent plant (source)
‘Halcyon’ is a softly diffused and muted silvery/sage green hue that is filled with ultra-fine, and rather square-cut pink shimmery glitter. The formula was absolutely amazing: self-levelling and excellent pigmentation/coverage. There is a hint of blueish-grey undertones in the base which appear as a sort of after-image, and the pink reflections of the glitter really come alive when see in sunlight. As this does not bear a high gloss at the finish, top coat is a must to really enhance its gentle beauty. Coats applied: 2
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copper coils (source)
‘Cuprum’ is an absolutely stunning deep cyan blue shade that is filled with minute copper and pink micro-flecks of shimmer. With its slightly thicker formula, you need to apply the first coat quite carefully in order to minimize and visible brush strokes, but the incredible density of pigment means that this hue can almost be a 1-coater. The coppery flacks are definitely sparse and quite tiny, making them almost non-existent indoors, but this shade needs to be seen in sunlight to be truly appreciated. A nice shine at the finish, but should be definitely enhanced by the addition of top coat. Coats applied: 2
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Yves Klein: With the Void, Full Powers – Hirshhorn Museum (source)
‘IKB: 2012’ is a pulsating & vibrant deep ultra indigo shade, in a semi-sheer crème-jelly hybrid formula. Exceptionally self levelling, I found that the thickness of this lacquer actually works in its favour: usually sheer-leaning hues need several layers to achieve a decent opacity, but I saw excellent coverage by the second coat. This a high-voltage colour that almost vibrates with its intensity, but it was surprisingly not as glossy as I expected, given its formula. Once top coat is added, look out: DROP DEAD GORGEOUS. Another bonus: completely non-staining upon removal. Coats applied: 2
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Maldives (source)
‘Aqua Lily’ is the one hue of this collection that I anticipated the most, given my absolute obsession with anything aqua – and in that regard I was not disappointed. A deep and murky aqua shade in a greenish/turquoise base, this is filled with exceptionally fine ribbons of pink shimmer that seem to actually be suspended upon the surface of the colour once applied – clearly visible and not embedded deep within. The formula was absolute perfection, self-levelling and with a nice shine, but don’t skip the top coat here as you’ll want to bring out all of its amazing aquatic nuances. Its pearly pink gleaming flashes make me imagine a hidden/secret lagoon, nestled in a tropical paradise … ahhhhh…. Coats applied: 2
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NOTE: While I absolutely LOVE this shade, it needs to be stated that this is highly staining; doubling up on base coat should definitely help avoid this issue.
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Final thoughts: I love it when an entire collection meets up to all of my imagined expectations, then takes that one step further by exceeding them. It is becoming harder and harder for brands to produce original nail lacquer shades; opening up this venue to the diverse imaginations of so many people, pretty much guaranteed that something original would come forth as a result … and it did, as evidenced by these 4 incredible beauties. Picking my favourite among them is difficult, but if forced to choose, I would have to say ‘IKB: 2012’ for its über-intensity and ‘Aqua Lily’ for its oceanic appeal – stain potential, notwithstanding.
*I recently learned that Ji is planning to reissue at least ‘Aqua Lily’ come November; by following on twitter/facebook, you can be on the forefront of all of Rescue Beauty Lounge’s latest news.
Rescue Beauty Lounge Fall 2011 – The Firebird Collection (swatches & review)
Mysterious. Mythical. Magical. Enchanting…The Firebird lives! For Fall 2011, Rescue Beauty Lounge breathes new life into “L’Oiseau de Feu”, the classic ballet created by Igor Stravinsky. The four captivating new shades that make up this collection, include ‘Pizzicato’ – a delicately soft pink, ‘Poco a Poco’ – a medium rose hue with a twist, ‘Più Mosso’ – a navy with contrasting shimmer, and ‘Fortissimo’ – a deep brown hybrid. Mimicking the tone of this score, which rises to a thunderous crescendo, these four hues form a similar melody for the eyes. All swatches were done with Seche Natural Base Coat, two coats of lacquer (except where otherwise noted), and Revlon Quick Dry Top Coat.
Back in July of this year, and as soon as I received the pre-order email from Rescue Beauty, I wasted no time in immediately placing my order. Ji Baek, owner and founder of the brand, takes a personal approach with all her orders, usually having a hand in their preparation herself, and her incredible attention to detail begins right from the packaging. The four lacquers (above) were neatly wrapped in her signature tissue paper, placed in a bubble wrap envelope, then finally sealed in a mailer box.
A view of the boxes, all neatly arrayed and awaiting to be discovered!
When renowned composer Igor Stravinsky (June 17, 1882 – April 6, 1971) was approached by Sergei Diaghilev to write the score for The Firebird ballet (choreographed by Michel Fokine), he rose magnificently to the task; this was to be his breakout work. Premiering in Paris on June 25, 1910, “The Firebird” is an amalgamation of Russian folk tales, devised around a mythical phoenix-like bird that is both a blessing and a curse to its captor.
The story centers on its hero, Prince Ivan, who enters the realm of Kashchei The Immortal and while there, chances upon The Firebird, which he promptly chases and subsequently captures. The Firebird, begging for its life, agrees to help the prince in exchange for its freedom. In this realm there are also 13 princesses, one of whom Prince Ivan has fallen in love with, but to spirit her away, he needs to destroy Kashchei, whose secret to immortality is that his soul resides in a magical egg. By singing a bewitching song, The Firebird lures the prince’s enemies away, and finding & destroying the egg, all spells are broken, the princesses awaken to real life, and everyone celebrates this victory.
Famed costume designer, Léon Bakst, was commissioned to create the beautifully elaborate and richly intricate costumes for The Firebird. Above, is an original sketch of his vision for the lead role, The Firebird.
Known as the pre-eminent ballerina of her time, Tamara Karsavina (above) wearing the costume designed for her lead role as The Firebird, brought the house down with her ethereal performance.
A rare photo of the first production of this ballet, depicts The Firebird and Prince Ivan, portrayed by Tamara Karsavina and Adolph Bolm respectively.
Trained in classical piano and having taught the instrument for 11 years, the musician in me was instantly and instinctively drawn to this collection. Ji Baek, herself an accomplished and classically trained viola player, perfectly understood the many nuances that make up a musical composition, and she managed to translate the very notes into the following four shade of her Firebird collection. I have included the musical definitions for the names of these four shades, so that you can better appreciate their “tonal” symbiosis.
Pizzicato: a light, plucking staccato sound
Heralding the tentative beginning of the musical journey, ‘Pizzicato’, is a delicate lavender-based, pale rosebud hue, filled with generous amounts of incredibly fine silver micro shimmer. While the formula was a touch on the thick side, it also gave excellent spreadability and was completely self-levelling. While I applied three coats of lacquer for the following swatches, it was primarily because I did not want any visible nail line showing, although two coats were wonderfully opaque as well. The dry time was excellent, and the resulting finish was truly glossy.
A view in sunlight not only emphasizes this shade’s pink nature, but allows you to fully appreciate its subtle sparkle.
Indirect light appears to pull out any grey that might be lurking in its base, lending ‘Pizzicato’ a more subdued and dusty semblance.
Taken into shaded light seems to draw forth yet another tone to this shade: lavender, yet note how the shimmer continues to be in evidence.
A final view with flash lightens ‘Pizzicato’s’ tone and reflects off the shimmer, draping a silvery white cape over this shade.
Poco a Poco: little by little (referring either to an increase or a decrease)
Now beginning to fill out the musical storyline and lend substance to the characters, ‘Poco a Poco’ is a dusty medium pink shade, given an almost duochrome appearance by the inclusion of exceptionally finely-milled pink shimmer. The density and amount of the shimmer gives off an almost coppery iridescence, yet never overpowers the base colour. Two coats were all that were needed for good opacity, bearing the same wonderfully smooth and glossy formula as the rest of this collection.
Seen in full sun, there is a creamy warmth of tone given to ‘Poco a Poco’, with its inner iridescence flashing secretly from within the muted rose base.
When viewed in indirect light, this shade takes on a more greyed-out lavender hue, becoming so much cooler in tone.
Interestingly enough, it is shaded light that gives this shade its warmest appearance, turning the base into a dustier version of carnation pink.
A final view taken with flash displays the full effect of the shimmer, all the while maintaining a delicately feminine yet edgy feel.
Più Mosso: more movement (quicken)
Moving to the heart of the performance and adding depth to the score, ‘Più Mosso’ is the “pièce de résistance” of this collection, bearing the most unique twist on navy blue that I’ve seen to date. A deeply brooding, blackened Prussian blue shade, is made completely original by the addition of coppery ultra-fine shimmer. The is formula was in a word, spectacular. Due to its intense saturation of colour, you barely need more than one coat for full opacity, although I applied two here for swatching purposes. The smooth finish and mirror-like gloss of this shade, are also complimented by the fact that removal was so effortless, with absolutely NO staining left behind.
Viewed in sunlight, the coppery shimmer is seen to reside so harmoniously within the slate blue look of this shade, adding to its unique visual appeal.
I’ve included this closeup view, in order to better appreciate all the intricacies of hue that make up ‘Più Mosso’s’ inner fire…isn’t this stunning?!
Indirect light gives this shade and almost muted, greyed blue appearance, while the shimmer seems to glow with an amber light just under the surface.
A shaded light view gives ‘Più Mosso’ a deeply mysterious midnight blue cast, temporarily subduing the shimmer and drawing out its inner creaminess.
A final view taken with flash, fully showcases the shimmer, that now appears somewhat meteoric against a cosmic denim-blue background.
Fortissimo: very loud
Exhibiting the grandeur and power of the opus’ finale, ‘Fortissimo’ is a deeply pigmented espresso brown shade, given a modern urban edge by the addition of olive green in the base. The formula on this lacquer was the thinnest of the four, yet still gave perfect opacity with just two coats. Wonderfully smooth and streak free (as well as non-staining upon removal), the resulting finish was unimaginably glossy. I have included two photos of the bottle shade here, to provide the best indicator of ‘Fortissimo’s’ true shade.
Sunlight appears to pull out lighter tints from ‘Fortissimo’s’ deeply luxuriant cocoa base, framing the nails with a mossy green touch.
Seen in indirect light, this shade now takes on the semblance of the darkest, most decadent bar of chocolate…and just as smoothly creamy!
While shaded light covers this shade with a black mantle, its deep chestnut leanings give it a more three dimensional depth and keep it from looking flat.
A final view with flash, gives evidence that while a darkling shade, ‘Fortissimo’ can never be mistaken for anything other than the deepest coffee bean hue.
Final thoughts: Once more, Rescue Beauty Lounge has pulled off an amazing coup; the four shades that make up this Firebird Collection offer something for everyone, all expertly housed in her trademark short square bottles. Known for an exceptional formula, they all were effortless to apply, and as though the smooth application were not enough, all four shades bore an utterly brilliant shine. The brush is on the short but totally manageable side, being dense and rather bushy-tipped, although quite flexible, easily fanning out on the nail without any dragging issues. Available now on Rescue Beauty’s site, this not-to-be overlooked collection is a beautiful medley of colours.
