NOTD: OPI's Mermaids Tears

High Quality, HD (Hi Def) Nails

I've always admired the look of bright orange nails since I spotted the color on Kim Kardashian (yes, I'm a Kardashian lover), but quite frankly, I've never had the balls to try it myself.  A couple weeks ago I spotted this Sephora by OPI nail polish in Hi Def on sale for $5 (a steal!), so I knew it was my time.

Is the color "hi def" and true to its name?  Definitely.  I followed up my base coat (Sally Hansen Insta-Grip) with two coats of the varnish, and I was left with a bright, shiny, and opaque orange.  The color looked even more amazing after application of my favorite top coat, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri.

My next venture?  Yellow nails!  Summer is almost over so I'm trying to experiment with as many bright nail colors as possible.

Hope everyone's enjoying the last days of summer <3

Mint-y Fresh!

I know it seems that I'm a little late on this trend - but to tell you the truth, I've been on the hunt for the perfect mint green nail polish for a couple months now.  Most of the colors I've seen were too green, too blue, or too blue-green, so I was beginning to lose hope.  But FINALLY, after months of searching, I found my perfect mint green - OPI Stranger Tides.

OPI released this minty green varnish as part of the new Pirates of Caribbean collection.  When I first saw pictures of this collection, I was instantly attracted to Mermaid's Tears (first from left), but unfortunately my local Ulta sold out within two days!

After a second visit to Ulta - again, in search of Mermaid's Tears - I thought hey, why not?  I grabbed a bottle of Stranger Tides and headed to the checkout counter.

I went home, brushed it on...and needless to say, I WAS HOOKED (haha, get it?)!  Although it looked dull in the bottle (and in the advertisement), it's a completely different story once you have it on your nails.  The color is playful enough for the summer but can still transition into the fall with its minty, yet subdued, green tones.  I definitely think that it can compliment a range of skin colors, and I know for sure that I'll be using this over and over again...probably even until the Holiday season!

My Summertime Red: OPI Guy Meets Gal-Veston

I'm a huge fan of bright red nail polish, especially during the warmer months.  Although the heat wave hasn't hit Chicago yet, I think I've already found my favorite red nail polish for this summer!

I know for a fact that there are only a few red nail polishes that suit my undertones: bluish-red nail polishes (along with lipsticks in the same color family) definitely do not work in my favor.  During a recent trip to Ulta, I naturally gravitated towards a new red nail polish in OPI's Spring/Summer 2011 Texas Collection, Guy Meets Gal-Veston ($8.50).

OPI has always been my nail polish of choice.  The large brush and long handle makes application extremely easy for me because I have very long fingers.  With a good base coat and top coat, it usually takes my OPI polishes a couple days of wear to show any signs of chipping.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to take any good photos until two days after I did my nails, and I'd say they still look pretty good after two whole days!

These pictures definitely do not do this color justice, so if you're looking for the perfect summertime red, give this one a try =]. Don't forget to use those coupons at Ulta and watch out for their "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" sales on OPI!