BB Couture – A Touch of Greece part 2 ‘The Gods’ (swatches & review)

A few days ago, I showed you ‘The Goddesses’ (reviewed here), half of BB Couture’s summer 2011 collection; today, I bring you ‘The Gods’. What’s so unique about these six shades, is that while they were created for men (yes…some men actually DO wear nail polish!), they are also colours that will be highly coveted by women. Slightly dusty in tone, and all rather creamy looking (with the exception of one shade), these are all highly wearable and modern colours, infused with such a depth of pigment. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I look forward to having these ‘Gods’ at my fingertips! All swatches were done using Sèche Clear base coat and two coats of lacquer, no top coat.

Just like I did with ‘The Goddesses’, I begin my review with the first three gods, as well as their historical references: ‘Hades’ (pronounced “ah-thees” in Greek) is known as the god of the underworld, ruler of the dead as well as the king of all the hidden wealth of the earth. ‘Eros’ (pronounced “eh-ros” in Greek), portrayed in some myths as the child of ‘Aphrodite’, is the god of love. Also known as ‘Cupid’ by the Romans, he is always depicted with a bow, flinging arrows of love into the hearts of men & gods/goddesses alike. Lastly, there is ‘Uranus’ (pronounced “ou-ra-nos” in Greek) one of the primal deities in mythology and the god of the sky, consort to ‘Gaia’, the goddess of the earth.

Stripped of life giving colour, ‘Hades’ is represented by this muted shade of tan. What’s interesting is that even though this is a crème shade, there is the tiniest, almost hidden swirls of silver micro shimmer in its depths, as well as some random darker specks giving this hue a new and fresh twist. There also seems to be a tinge of yellow in the base, lending this colour a nice warmth which should make it wearable across a variety of skin tones. I love how sunlight (top photo) brings out the shimmer, while shaded light (bottom photo) lends it a more neutral coolness.

Reminiscent of burgeoning love, ‘Eros’ is a truly lovely pale celadon green hue. Slightly dusty looking, this polish also has that mysteriously fine silvery shimmer swimming in its base, lending it a beautiful richness of depth. Upon enlarging the photos, you will also notice similar random black flecks (like with ‘Hades’) as well as a few dots of yellow here and there, which makes this polish so different from other similar shades. This is a chameleon hue, which goes from warm to cool depending on the light and I feel it will also transition beautifully from one season to the next.

Get the snickers out of the way over the name, especially now that you know how to properly pronounce it! ‘Uranus’ is one of those colours that either you’ll hate or love; I personally love it, as I find that it is totally unique in my stash. A rich mustard shade when viewed in full sun (top photo), it cools down to a caramel toffee hue in shaded light (bottom photo). The only thing that breaks up some of that creamy look, is the random yellow flecks floating in this polish, which only adds to its uniqueness in my opinion. Like melted Kraft Caramel squares on your fingertips….yummy!

The next three gods to appear, begin with ‘Apollo’ (pronounced “a-po-lon” in Greek), a multi purpose deity, who is best known for being the god of prophecy & oracles. Among his other accomplishments, he is also revered for being the patron god of healing, music, song & poetry, archery, as well as the protector of the young. ‘Ares’ (pronounced “ah-rees” in Greek), is not only famous for being the god of war, but for representing battlelust as well as manly courage. Finally, we come to ‘Plutus’ (pronounced “plou-tos” in Greek), the god of wealth who has also come to represent the rich bounty of harvests, thanks to his mother being Demeter, another goddess of the earth.

The creamiest shade in this set, ‘Apollo’ is also the brightest hue of the six shown here. A luscious but somewhat muted looking tangerine shade, it instantly reminded me of the orange creme-sickles of my youth, those melt-in-your-mouth frozen treats that we couldn’t resist! I love how even though this is a vibrant colour, it still has enough of a dusty tone to it that doesn’t scream ‘neon’ and which will make it a standout shade for a summertime pedi. Can’t you just picture this with lightly tanned skin and glorious strappy sandals? (heels or gladiators…take your pick!)

Like looming stormclouds portending battle, ‘Ares’ is a contradiction as far as summer hues are concerned, but I absolutely love the sophistication of this polish. The only shade out of the six with obvious shimmer, it also has those random black flecks floating throughout its base, but which are not so easily seen on the nail. This is a deep and gorgeous blue based grey hue, with tons of silver micro shimmer swirling about and I love how elegant it makes your hands look. Sunlight truly does bring out the shimmer (top photo) but shaded light (bottom photo) shows you its simmering depth…..stunning!

Money, moolah, greenbacks…whatever term you use, the green of ‘Plutus’ has come to symbolize wealth. The most obvious summery colour of the set, this is a contradiction of a bright yet muted grass green hue, with random yellow flecks floating in its base. Because of its slightly yellowish tinge, it has a rich warmth to it and I like how regardless of the light, it nonetheless stays a true primary green shade. Such a happy hue!

Final thoughts: The twelve lacquers that comprise this entire collection are a wonderfully eclectic mix of summery shades, giving you a great choice among crèmes, shimmers, glass-flecked glitters, sheers and even a duochrome. BB Couture lacquers are free of all harmful toxins and are also animal-cruelty free, as well as made with added natural strengtheners; form & substance! The formula is simply outstanding, starting with an easy to use tapered brush, to a self-levelling application, super fast dry time, and ending with a wonderful glossy shine. Being insanely proud of my Greek heritage (we did invent practically everything, you know!!), how could I fail to be anything other than impressed by the inspiration behind this collection, I ask you?! For more information or to purchase, please visit BB Couture’s website.