Showing posts with label orly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label orly. Show all posts

Sunday, February 13, 2011

I have some pastels. Yes, me. Really.

Hello All!

First off I want to apologize for the long wait on the next post.  I had the foresight to swatch extras on my last day off, because I knew my next day off would be probably hectic, and I work long hour shifts.  Well, that plan fell apart as I was just too tired to post, and I was right, Friday was hectic.

I convinced Mac (it wasn't hard) to go to the King Of Prussia Mall with me.  For those of you who don't know, it's the second largest mall in America, about 20 minutes from where I live.  I don't go there too often for several reasons:  1) I used to work there, so had to give myself time to actually miss it B) It's a fancy shmancy mall, which equals big $$$ and green) as a non teenager, I don't want to deal with teenagers.  At a mall.  On a weekend.  Well, we went anyways.

I've haven't really shopped KOP for nail polish (for shame!), until I accidentally found Deborah Lippmann at Neiman Marcus a couple of weeks ago.  Did I mention that NM has valet parking?  At the mall.  See above adjectives. 

We both made it out with something off of our lemming list, plus some shiny, shiny pretties.  I'll get to my stash later on.  BTW we also hit Target and Ulta, so my final tally was 19 bottles in one day!  Needless to say, my budget is blown for like 3 months, but we'll see how that goes...

On to my delayed post: this is the second part of my old as sin classic Orly collection.  These are the pastels, though I think that they were actually released in two separate collections.  I bought these, well, my best guess is between 15-20 years ago; they are some of my oldest polishes.  Anybody remember Hills?  Yeah, I'm pretty confident that's where I bought them.  I distinctly remember buying them under the harsh glare of the florescent lights.  Anyways, I remember thinking how very pretty they all were, all soft and springy!  Which was shows you how unpredictable I am, since I was an emo, goth, nerd before either emo or goth were really in.  I was a champion headbanger. Anyhoo, on to the pretties!!

Orly Aqua Pastel
Aqua Pastel is a very, very creamy light mint color, that could almost be called ecru.  It is just this side of not being cream.  It was the thickest of the pastel Orlys .  It was pretty brush strokey, and didn't quite even out.  Index finger is 2 coats with a top coat; middle finger is 3 coats no top and ring finger is just 2 coats no top coat.  I think the color could have been interesting if it evened out.  Next swatch I'll try with some thinner first.

Orly Blue Pastel



The only reason I know the difference between Orly Blue Pastel and Orly Breathless Blue is that I managed to get some polish on the bottle, they're pretty similar.  BP is a very pretty light blue creme that handled much better than AP, though it never quite evened out either.  Again, index 2 coats with top; middle 3 coats no top coat and ring just 2 coats no top.  Again, looking to swatch again with some thinner.

Orly Breathless Blue



When I was doing some online searching, this is the only color that came up, though it was in the new, round Orly bottle.  I'd be interested to find out if its identical, because I freaking love this color!  This one was the least streaky/thick and actually looked pretty good when set.  This is an exquisite dusky blue with green undertones.  Not close to a teal, but definitely greener than BP.  I <3 this color. Again index 2 coats with top; middle 3 coats no top, and ring 2 coats no top.  SQUEE!

Orly Hello Yellow


Hello Yellow was  pretty streaky, considering you can actually see it on the slightly unfocused swatch.  I would call this a sunny, butter yellow creme.  It's not a bright yellow, a bit more subdued, but it makes my hand look very, very red.  This is my only yellow, since I am not a warm color girl in general.  Index finger is 2 coats with top; middle is 3 coats with no top; ring is 2 coats no top.  I'm glad I have a yellow in my stash, and I doubt I'll buy another, even if this one is pretty horrible to use.  


Ok, so I've promised I would improve my pics, and I will.  On the ultra-mega-uber-awesomesauce nail polish shopping coma of love day, Mac figured out what I was doing wrong with my macro.  Basically, I thought I was activating it, and I wasn't.  So, my next post will actually contain clear shots...in theory!  I'm super excited about the shiny polishes I bought, and just to tease, I've got some new E.L.F., Nars, Illamasqua and Deborah Lippmanns!  Well, new to me anyways!

Thanks and have a good one!

Luci <(")


Monday, February 7, 2011

Orly bottles used to look like that?

Hello All!

First off, I had wanted to do a little test with the Zoya polishes that I have been loving for the last couple of months.  I have always had soft, brittle nails that often broke and split like nobody's business. So I decided to put Zoya Valerie to the test (which I still less than three with all my might).  After swatching it, I wore it as my mani...with no base or top coat to see if it would effect the chipping.  Now, I've tried every freaking combo with base and top coat, but I'm super rough on my nails, so they chip.  They chip a lot! So I just wanted to see how it would stand up to wear and tear without any help.

Well it did great!  Check it out:
There was very little tip wear and only a couple of chips.  And I've been wearing it for 4 days!  That might not seem like a lot, but with me it is.  I have to say this is the longest mani I've had in months, so many pretties to try...




Anyways, on to the swatching!

I decided to pullout some of my oldies that I haven't used in like forever.  Or 14 years, if my research is correct.  Quickly looking online, Orly came out with a matte collection around 1997ish, and I have three of them.  I think Orly may have been one of the first to do so, and I remember thinking it was the coolest idea ever!
Orly Satin Gala  
Satin Gala is a dark burgundy matte that has a red shimmer to it.  It is quite lovely.  I used 2 coats and my index finger has a top coat on it.  I must say, that it was quite shiny without the top coat, but man does it sparkle with it! As like any other matte, it dried very quickly and for being 14 yrs old the formula was freaking awesome if a little thin. 
Orly Satin Illusion 

Satin Illusion is a heart breaker!  It is a nearly opaque periwinkle with a strong olive shimmer/matte.  It rocks my socks off!  Again this is 2 coats with topcoat on my index finger.  It is so gorgeous!  There is almost a golden undertone to the olive matteness of it and I need to wear this more often.  It deserves to be taken out and shown a good time!


     
Orly Satin Patina
Wow, an awesome peridot matte. Even in the matte you can see the phenomenal mossy shimmer it has.  This has the least distinction between the matte and the topcoat finish (index finger again).


Well, my pics are slowly getting better.  I have very few windows in my apartment and even fewer lamps, so lighting is a definite issue for me, and as you can tell, my camera does not like to focus up close.  Sigh.  I will keep practicing, but these colors were amazing.  I totally forgot I had them, and now I want to take them out to play.  I have more  old vintage Orlys that I will be putting up later this week.  The pictures are better, I swear!!!

Thanks and have a good one!

Luci

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Welcome to our little part of the 'verse

Well, Hello there!


So you've stumbled upon another new nail polish blog?, Well, good, good for you! So you're here for the pretty pictures and to mock our cuticles, well get in line!

Ok, seriously folks.  We know that there are a bazillion nail polish blogs out there, but that doesn't make our little blog of joy any less relevant or...joyous?  I, Luci, take full responsibility in dragging Mac into this kicking and screaming, but maybe we can form our own little niche in this great wide web.  We're here to add our two cents into one of the best obsessions out there:  spelunking, I mean nail polish.  Show some of our favorite colors *uh-hum greens and teals or reds and purples* on two different types of skin colors:  Eastern European Pasty Alabaster and Caribbean Exotic. 

We welcome all comments and opinions, just beware of the villagers with pitchforks and C4.

Just for laughs, I'm going to put up my very first attempt to capture my favorites for Fall '10.  You've been warned...

Nice and fuzzy...
Left to right starting with thumb:  Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure: Haute Chocolate; China Glaze: Riveter Rouge; Orly: Galaxy Girl; Essie: Sew Psyched; Zoya: Kelly

Well, this is the first of hopefully many posts with infinitely better photos!

Thanks and have a good one!

Luci
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