China Glaze Romantique Winners!

Congratulations to Leah Asher and Kristina Mauclaire, winners of Spoiled Pretty's Romantique Giveaway. Leah and Kristina will receive China Glaze Romantique, a stunning new collection of love-inspired shades. Featuring twelve, chrome finished hues, the Romantique collection brings you love in color with sweet nail lacquers in an assortment of harmonious shades for spring.

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest. And special thanks to the folks at China Glaze for making this giveaway possible.

Come back later today, when I'll announce Spoiled Pretty's next giveaway.

Oh Joy: China Glaze Romantique Giveaway!!!

Just in time for Valentine's Day...

Love is in full bloom! Embark on a love affair this spring with China Glaze Romantique, a stunning new collection of love-inspired shades. Featuring twelve, chrome finished hues, the Romantique collection brings you love in color with sweet nail lacquers in an assortment of harmonious shades for spring. The Romantique collection includes:


The Cools:
Admire - Lilac Shimmer
Adore – Turquoise Pearl
Awaken – Platinum Silver
Cherish – Shimmering Sea Green
Devotion – Metallic Lavender
Harmony – Brilliant Violet

The Warms:

Emotion – Berry Pink
Delight – Bubblegum Pink
Joy – Mauve Shimmer
Magical – Metallic Bronze
Passion – Gilded Gold
Poetic – Coral with Gold Flecks

I don't know about you, but I think it's so refreshing that China Glaze decided against the clichéd Valentine's Day color palette. If I see one more brand pushing red and pink foil hearts floating in a bottle of clear lacquer, I'm going to scream.

As the name implies, these shades are romantic and whimsical, but the chrometastic finish gives them edge. The formula is pigment-rich, so you really only need one coat; however, metallics tend to highlight every ridge in the nail, so you would be smart to buff and/or apply a base coat, pre-polish.

My current faves are Magical and Joy. Speaking of Joy, I'd better keep this one away from Mama Spoiled Pretty (also named Joy) before she starts begging. Mom loves a purple polish, and she somehow manages to relieve me of almost every plum, grape and eggplanty shade that comes into my possession. But she did "bring me into this world" and "never let me want for anything" - so I suppose I could share.

While we're on the topic of sharing...I'm pleased to announce that this week, Spoiled Pretty is teaming up with China Glaze for a romantical giveaway. Two sets of Romantique are up for grabs!!!

To enter, send an email to spoiledprettycontests@gmail.com. Be sure to include your full name and mailing address. The contest ends at midnight (EST) on Sunday, February 1st. Two winners will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Monday, February 2nd, I'll announce the winners' names. Please, only one entry per person; duplicate entries will not increase your chances of winning. Contest is open to U.S. residents only.

Good luck!

Silly Putty On Your Hands

According to the November issue of Glamour, "greige" (a combo of brown and gray) nail polish looks like a don't in the bottle, but is a total do on you.

Try:
Butter London in Fash Pack
China Glaze in Hybrid
Essie in Jazz (above)
Essie in Tartufo
Nubar in Sandstone
OPI in Tickle My France-y
OPI in You Don't Know Jacques!
Rescue Beauty Lounge in Grunge
Sephora by OPI in Run With It
Zoya in Pasha

China Glaze Nail Collections: Spring & Summer 2008

All winter, I wore dark and neutral nail colors. That is, when I actually had the time to do my nails. Now that Spring has sprung, I’m excited to switch things up. As I pack away my winter clothes and start rotating warm-weather fashions into my wardrobe, I’m excited to also dress my nails in something more vibrant. Bring on the brights, I say. And for Spring and Summer 2008, China Glaze has answered the call. So without further ado, I bring you China Glaze’s latest offerings…


OMG: Spring 2008

Stylish and techno-savvy ladies will surely want to put their fingers on OMG, a collection of holographic nail shades with just enough sparkle to create the ultimate frenzy. OMG features twelve micro-particle, holographic nail lacquer shades with names inspired by the age of text messaging. The OMG collection includes:

DVG – Holographic Teal
LOL – Holographic Purple
BFF - Holographic Pinkish Purple
IDK - Holographic Lavender
2Nite – Holographic Periwinkle Blue
OMG – Holographic Silver
QT – Holographic Rose Pink
TMI - Holographic Coral
TTYL – Holographic Pale Peach
FYI – Holographic Taupe
GR8 – Holographic Gold
L8R G8R – Holographic Pale Gold/Green


Ecollection: Spring 2008

Ecollection is a set of six eco-friendly shades inspired by the sun, clouds, trees, water, sand, and earth. Designed to preserve the beauty of our world's colors, the collection proves that going green is always fashionable. The Ecollection includes:

Unplugged – Metallic Bark
Hybrid – Shimmering Sand
Shower Together – Sky Blue
Tree Hugger – Fresh Cut Grass
Recycle – Rain Cloud Gray
Solar Power – Sunshine Yellow


INK: Summer 2008

Tattoo art has moved out of back alley parlors onto the couture collections of fashion's top designers with INK, a new collection of brilliant neons for brilliant self-expression. The collection consists of six vivid shades, black nail art lacquer with a fine tip brush, nail decals and rhinestones, and a limited-edition bottle of their Orange Cuticle Oil. The INK collection includes:

Blue Sparrow – Neon Blue with Glitter
Flying Dragon – Neon Purple w/ Pink and Blue Glitter
Rose Among Thorns – Neon Fuchsia
Sacred Heart – Neon Red
Japanese Koi – Neon Coral
Celtic Sun – Neon Yellow

Here’s a real-life look at a sampling of the collections.


Top row (l to r): Flying Dragon, GR8
Middle row (l to r): L8R G8R, Japanese Koi, Recycle
Bottom row (l to r): QT, Blue Sparrow, TMI, Shower Together

Spoiled Pretty’s Picks: Blue Sparrow and Flying Dragon are ab fab, but be warned that the addition of glitter to the formula results in a matte finish. So if you’re looking for a lacquered look, add a top coat. I like Seche Vite because it speeds drying time while adding shine. I also give the holographic shades two enthusiastic thumbs up – particularly GR8, QT, and L8R G8R (don’t be afraid of the green…it’s gorge). And be sure to snatch up Recycle. Gray is the hottest new nail color, however there aren’t too many on the market. This mid-tone gray looks chic on both pale and dark digits.

She Wore Blue Satin

When I heard that Chanel’s Blue Satin was the most coveted nail color for Spring 2008, I couldn’t run to the store quick enough, wrap my digits around a bottle, and bring it home with me. Normally, I would balk at paying $19 for nail polish. But when every magazine and website is promising it’s going to change my life, what’s a beauty junkie to do?

Blue Satin goes on smoothly, and the pigment is remarkably rich - so you only need one coat. In very bright light, the polish vacillates between sparkling sapphire and inky indigo. But most of the time, it just looks black. And not even a shimmery obsidian, either…just flat, matte black.


All I’ve read is rave reviews about this color…so I really wanted to buy into the buzz. Regrettably, I cannot. I expected the shade to pop more against my skin tone, which it didn’t in the slightest – and I’m convinced that it’s much more complimentary to paler complexions.

I’m going out on a limb – and you can take this review with a grain of salt – but I don’t think this lacquer lives up to the hype. In my humble opinion, the propaganda is outta control…some ebay sellers are charging $45 for a single bottle!

If Blue Satin cost half of its actual price, it might get more of an endorsement. But for my money, I’d rather buy three bottles of Essie, OPI, China Glaze, or Creative Nail Design.

I’ve got the blues.