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Dior Le Vernis #204 Porcelaine & #187 Perlé – Trianon Collection Spring 2014

February 19, 2014

Dior’s Trianon Collection for Spring 2014 takes its inspiration from Marie Antoinette and her private domain, the Petit Trianon – a stunning ‘Greek-style’ mansion (more like mini-palace, if you ask me) surrounded by gardens on the grounds of Versailles. Of the limited edition lacquers released with this collection, I opted for #204 Porcelaine – a dreamy pale blue, and #187 Perlé – a shimmery matte top coat, and while I hadn’t intended to pick up the latter, I’m so happy that I did as the effect it leaves behind needs to be seen … and felt.

Dior – #187 Perlé & #204 Porcelaine

#204 Porcelaine (CAN $25.00) – An icy baby blue shade in a crème formula with an effortless flow: self-levelling and ending in a high-gloss shine. As beautiful as this shade is, it’s not without a little bit of fuss – but so, so worth it. I found that the best way to get a flawless application with Porcelaine, is to have patience – a wait time of at least 3-4 minutes between coats will yield the best results. Coats applied: 3 thin (athough shorter nails can definitely get away with 2 coats), and Dior Gel Coat Top Coat

Dior – #204 Porcelaine

#187 Perlé (CAN $26.00) – A milky base filled with pink, lilac, and prismatic ultra-fine shimmer that comes to a satin/matte finish. The formula is on the thick side but flows easily – staying exactly where placed. Layering Perlé over another shade is where its unique look really comes alive – giving the appearance of frosted glass and the feel of velvet or suede. Or sueded velvet. Simply amazing. Coats applied: 2, no top coat

Dior – #187 Perlé

Dior – #187 Perlé (1 coat) over #204 Porcelaine (3 thin coats) – is this not pure gorgeousness?

The other two limited edition shades released with this collection, while lovely on their own, somehow didn’t seem original enough to warrant me picking them up (although I’m still thinking about it), but I couldn’t resist the crystalline allure of Porcelaine. Perlé winding up in my stash was a bit of an accident, as the sales agent had originally given me that shade instead of Porcelaine – but I decided to keep it just the same. Would I wear Perlé alone? Probably not – but whether it’s layered over dark or pale shades, the effect is just jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

The Dior Trianon Spring 2014 Collection is available now, but it is limited so be warned. Find more information via:

YSL Spring 2014 – #48 Rose Scabiosa (LE) & #49 Rouge Pablo

February 17, 2014

The Spring Look 2014 Collection from Yves Saint Laurent Beauté features 2 new nail lacquer shades, #48 Rose Scabiosa (limited edition) & #49 Rouge Pablo (permanent) – and both hues are nothing short of utter perfection. What makes these two unique, is not so much their colour (we’ve all seen pink & reds done before), but their application: effortless, luxuriously glossy and long-wearing.

A word about the YSL brush: wide, angled & densely bristled, application is completely effortless – once you get the hang of working with it. The trick is to apply very light pressure and let the bristles splay out on their own, which in turn helps the polish flow evenly across the entire surface of the nail.

YSL – #48 Rose Scabiosa (LE) & #49 Rouge Pablo

In case you’re wondering at the name: the above flower is a ‘Rose Scabiosa’ (source)

#48 Rose Scabiosa, Limited Edition (CAN $27.00) – a lavender-tinged pink hue with a hybrid crème-jelly application, and a formula that is absolutely STELLAR. Highly pigmented, non-streaky, self-levelling and ending with an über-glassy shine, there is nothing I don’t love about this shade … and I’m not usually a fan of pink! Coats applied: 2, no top coat (NO TOP COAT!)

YSL – #48 Rose Scabiosa (LE)

#49 Rouge Pablo (CAN $27.00) – I thought that #48 Rose Scabiosa was amazing, but this beauty totally blew me away; a hot maraschino cherry-red hue with coral undertones in the base, this is a true 1-coater (although I did apply two for photographic reasons). A crème that displays jelly-esque tendencies (ridiculously glossy & a plush, almost cushiony look), the formula was perfection in every way: self-levelling and highly pigmented – and non-staining upon removal (but don’t skip your base just the same). Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

YSL – #49 Rouge Pablo

YSL – #49 Rouge Pablo sponged over #48 Rose Scabiosa (LE)

With so many pinks & cherry-red hues in my personal collection, #48 Rose Scabiosa & #49 Rouge Pablo still manage to stand out with their totally amazing formulas (are you sick of hearing me say that yet?). My opinion is that both shades transcend the seasons and can be literally worn year-round – not to mention the fact that they should suit all skin tones across the spectrum – but I intend to have them in full rotation this Summer. Think I’m going to start channelling that warmth now, in fact …

Available now through Holt Renfrew, Sephora, and The Bay across Canada, find more information via:

*Disclosure: Product samples provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration

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essie – Resort 2014 Collection

February 3, 2014

Back in October when I was attending the World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto (previously reviewed here), I was given Essie’s Resort 2014 Collection for review (but I couldn’t reveal it until now, obviously). While none of these shades initially made me think of a steamy getaway, I have since revised that opinion; they are all absolutely and perfectly curated to represent luxury and vacationing at its finest. Think: a lavish spa in Bali, or a yoga retreat in Costa Rica … maybe even a jaunt to St. Tropez. All of the afore-mentioned would suit me just fine, especially since that damn groundhog just predicted another 6 weeks of Winter. Sigh …

Essie Resort 2014

essie Resort 2014

Essie Resort 2014 B

essie Resort 2014

Find me an Oasis – Before I get into the description, let me say that last year I was obsessed with white, but that was then; 2014 is going to be all about this ‘cloud blue’ shade for me. Icy and utterly clean looking, the first coat applies a touch patchy, but that’s totally resolved by the second layer. Super glossy and the most modern way to wear white, it takes 3 thin coats to achieve a perfect finish – but the end result is so. darn.worth.it. Coats applied: 3 (thin), plus top coat

Essie Find me an Oasis swatch

essie – Find me an Oasis

Resort Fling – A semi-sheer, soft cantaloupe hue in a hybrid crème-jelly formula, that also holds a pink/peachy tint in the base to warm it up. Self-levelling and über-glossy at the finish, I love the slight translucency it gives my nails at 2 coats, although there was still some visible nail line showing (will not show on those with shorter nails). Application could not have been more perfect and buttery smooth – something I’ve never experienced with a lacquer before. Coats applied: 3 (thin), plus top coat

essie – Resort Fling

Cocktails & Coco – A sandy nude hue that holds mauve/pink tints in its base, with a finely ground silver & pink shimmer throughout. Semi-sheer but also totally self levelling and with a ridiculously high glossy shine at the finish, I love how this isn’t the ‘invisible’ type of shimmer, but the type that can be seen even away from direct sunlight – but definitely not over the top either. Very ‘café au lait’ in tone, I may have just found my absolutely perfect nude. Coats applied: 3 (thin), plus top coat

essie – Cocktails & Coco

Under the Twilight – the deepest indigo crème in an INSANE formula: basically a true 1-coater, self-levelling, high-watt glassy shine and 100% non-staining upon removal. Yes, you read that correctly. There’s a hard to describe, almost dusty quality to this shade (it sounds like an oxymoron, I know, but it’s literally glossy & murky at the same time – at least, in my eyes) and the application almost has that jelly-like feel to it. Really stunning, sexy and a gorgeous alternative to black. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

essie – Under the Twilight

I can sum this collection up very easily: back up worthy, each and every shade. With its mix of pale, dark, crème, jelly and shimmer, this capsule collection of just 4 shades are all unique – perhaps not overtly, but take a second look: the ethereal blue tinge of Find me an Oasis, the cushiony tone of Resort Fling in the most wearable orange-y hue ever, the opalescent shimmer of Cocktails & Coco that adds an edge to an otherwise safe neutral, and the mysterious purple depths of Under the Twilight – they all have an understated sophistication to them without sacrifice any fun. Well done, Essie … well done.

Kindly provided by Essie for my unbiased consideration

Cirque Colors – Alchemy Collection pt. 2

January 31, 2014

The following is taken from the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

al·che·my

noun \ˈal-kə-mē\

a science that was used in the Middle Ages with the goal of changing ordinary metals into gold
a power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way

a medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy aiming to achieve the transmutation of the base metals into gold, the discovery of a universal cure for disease, and the discovery of a means of indefinitely prolonging life
a power or process of transforming something common into something special
an inexplicable or mysterious transmuting

I don’t know about you, but I found that all of the above definitions eerily accurate as far as these beauties are concerned. Whereas the first part of the Cirque Colors Alchemy Collection (reviewed here) focused on more ‘sleight of hand’ type of shades, this second half is nothing short of spectacular. Colour shifting, brilliant glitters, and textured finishes define these 5 lacquers and I was captivated by each and every one.

Cirque Colors – Alchemy Collection

Lichen – A perfect example of “alchemy“, this shade bears a charcoal base (surprised?), filled with mossy green, olive & bronze ultra-fine shimmer. The ‘gasoline’ effect is strongest in the bottle, but I do catch glimpses of it on the nails in certain lights. I recommend that you mix the contents thoroughly to avoid any separation and/or patchy coats – otherwise, the application is awesome. Self-levelling and with a brilliant (but not glossy) finish, Lichen has incredibly depth. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

Cirque Colors – Lichen

Stella – A clear base loaded with rose gold (a totally trending colour this season) glitter in a variety of shapes and sizes – all the way from ground, ultra-fine, and fine. Easily layered over a matching base, opacity is quite good even on its own, giving good coverage by the second coat. An effortless application and high-watt finish, Stella has a naturally soft-grit texture that becomes completely smooth once top coat is layered over. Coats applied: 2 (top coat added for final swatch only)

Cirque Colors – Stella

Cirque Colors – Stella (top coat added)

Ica Valley – The golden version of Stella, in terms of application and formula, but in a cool gold tone, that should suit all skin tones – from the fairest to the darkest … like magic? (sorry – it was too perfect to resist). Be prepared for some glitter migration upon removal. Coats applied: 2 (top coat added for final swatch only)

Cirque Colors – Ica Valley

Cirque Colors – Ica Valley (top coat added)

Chainmail – Is it just me, or does anyone else think this name is über-sexy? A light grey base filled with ground and fine steely blue glitter, along with fine prismatic particles and more random black specks thrown in for good measure. The formula is the thinnest of the glittery shades shown here, and while layering Chainmail over a matching base is always an option, I love the more complex look on its own. Coats applied: 3, thin (top coat added for final swatch only)

Cirque Colors – Chainmail

Cirque Colors – Chainmail (taken with flash)

Cirque Colors – Chainmail (top coat added)

Vectors – Meant to be a “topper” (as in, applied over the base of your choice), this is a clear base filled with black bar, small round, medium & larger hexagonal, and diamond shaped glitter, with the addition of finely ground holographic glitter throughout. Each brush stroke yields a good variety of glitter, with no “fishing” necessary – although you may need to nudge some of the bar pieces into place, especially if they fall near the nail sides or free edge.

I’ve opted to show Vectors two ways: over a light base such as CHANEL’s Eastern Light (previously reviewed here), the white backdrop serves to enhance every detail, while layered over the more intricate look of Magnum Opus (from the Alchemy Collection pt. 1, previously reviewed here) the entire look seems to take on a more 3D tone. The options are literally limitless with this topper.

Cirque Colors – Vectors (over CHANEL’s Eastern Light, previously reviewed here)

Cirque Colors – Vectors (over CHANEL’s Eastern Light)

Cirque Colors – Vectors (over Magnum Opus, previously reviewed here)

Cirque Colors – Vectors (over Magnum Opus, taken with flash)

I can’t say it often enough: for all nail-philes out there, Cirque Colors is a brand that you need to sit up and take notice of. The originality, formula, and detail that goes into every single bottle of lacquer, is undeniable. From this second half of the Alchemy Collection, I am hard-pressed to choose a favourite, as I found something to love about them all, but I confess that Chainmail has my number. Considering that I’m not glitter’s biggest fan, I found that I couldn’t stop staring at my nails when wearing both Stella and Ica Valley, and while top coat does all kinds of wonderful to these hues, I love the edgier look without – adding a tactile sensation to polish brings it to a whole other level, in my opinion.

The Alchemy Collection is available now – find more information via website/twitter/facebook

About Cirque
Cirque is an artisanal line of hand-blended nail polish made in New York. The name Cirque, meaning ring or circle, represents the color wheel and the endless color possibilities in the continuum. Creator, Annie Pham, sought to develop colors that transcend those of conventional brands by experimenting with unique pigments and raw materials. Cirque nail polish is 3-free, which means it does not contain toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate.

*Disclosure: Product samples provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration

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Lancome Vernis in Love #520 Étincelle de Neige (LE), Holiday 2013

January 12, 2014

For their Happy Holidays 2013 Collection, Lancôme released two limited edition nail lacquers, #520 Étincelle de Neige and #071 Étincelle d’Argent (not shown), shades that take their inspiration from the crystalline wintry landscape. The very name of this lacquer means “snow sparkle”, and that is exactly the look your nails take on with this beauty. Wearable weather, as I like to call it.

Lancôme – Étincelle de Neige

#520 Étincelle de Neige, Limited Edition (CAN $16.00) – a cool-leaning and totally complex white hue with so much going on; the slightly thicker formula means that this lacquer will fall exactly where you want it to go, while coverage is pretty even even at 1 coat – unexpected for such a pale hue. Here’s where things become very interesting; this self-levelling varnish is textured – along the lines of OPI’s Liquid Sand – although the finely ground silvery and prismatic glitter renders this shade particularly brilliant in spite of the matte-ish finish. Picture your nails as though coated with fine sugar crystals, and you’ll get the idea. Meant to be worn as is, there’s always the option of adding a top coat for a different kind of glossiness (as on my last swatch), although I personally love the look without – very edgy and beautifully unique. I’m totally loving this look of Ice Queen nails; absolutely sublime and perfect for the season, although something tells me I’ll be wearing this beauty far into the warmer season as well. Note that removal, while not difficult, could mean some fine glitter migration upon the skin. Coats applied: 2, no top coat (except for final swatch)

Lancôme – Étincelle de Neige

Lancôme – Étincelle de Neige (detail)

Lancôme – Étincelle de Neige (top coat added)

With its perfect representation of the season, this shade was a delightful surprise all around; my first thought upon looking at the bottle of “just another frosty white polish” quickly changed to oohs & ahhhs with every brushstroke. What makes this lacquer so unique, is the finish – not glossy, but über-brilliant nonetheless, with that sensorial experience that only such a fine texture can give. The bad part, is that it’s limited edition (and pretty much sold out online through retailers that carry Lancôme), but with a little bit of detective work – not to mention, luck – you might still be able to score this beauty at counters.

Lancôme products are available through fine department stores and select Shopper’s Drug Mart/Pharmaprix stores across Canada.

Find more information via: