China Glaze - Colours From The Capitol (Hunger Games) Collection

"This collection of 12 new nail polish shades is inspired exclusively by one distinct setting in The Hunger Games - the Capitol of the nation of Panem. Awash in lavish fashion, food, and entertainment, Capitol citizens enjoy extreme cosmetics and body modifications, bold wigs, and outlandish costumes."

Set to be released March 2012, around the same time as the Hunger Games Movie. I'm defiantly picking up 'Luxe and Lush' and 'Fast Track'. Soooo exciting! This collection has had its problems coming out, but its officially back on! Yay!

China Glaze - Material Girl (Eye Candy Collection Winter 2011)

Pink is my all time favourite colour... EVER! Material Girl from China Glaze's new Eye Candy Collection is a dream. Pink glitter multi dimensional glitter bomb. It has three sizes of pink glitter. Tiny pink glitter, medium pink hexagon glitter, and larger holographic pink hexagon glitter all in a clear base.  I used three coats and took the picture before I put a top coat on. Application was fairly easy for a glitter. The holographic hexagon glitter seemed rather sparse. I would have liked to see a little more, I love my holographic glitter! To see the other nail polishes in the Eye Candy Collection, including some comparisons, and the press release click here. 

Siren Reds: OPI Gettin' Miss Piggy With It compared to China Glaze Love Marilyn

Within the last month both OPI and China Glaze put out collections with awesome red glitter polishes. I wanted to see how close these two compare. As you can see they aren't dupes but they are similar. OPI's Gettin' Miss Piggy With It is from the Muppets Collection (to see any post about this collection, including a comparison between Rainbow Connection and Deborah Lippmann Happy Birthday click here). China Glaze's Love Marilyn is from the Eye Candy Collection (to see other swatches of polishes in this collection, click here).

China Glaze - Marry A Millionaire (Eye Candy Collection Winter 2011)

I'm really enjoying China Glaze's newest Eye Candy Collection. This is Marry A Millionaire a unique purple sparkle polish. You can see the press release and swatches of the first polish that I swatched from this collection Some Like It Haute here. This is just coming out in stores. 

It's a clear base with purple sparkles but added in is tiny tiny iridescent yellow/greenish bar glitter. I used two coats and like all glitter it defiantly needed a good top coat. I used Seche Vite top coat.  I find thicker top coats like Seche Vite work the best over glitter, especially a bottle of Seche Vite that has thickened a little. China Glaze can be found at Chatters, select salons, and nailpolishcanada.com has just put these up too. China Glaze is $7 - $9 CAD, and a bit less in the US. 

China Glaze - Some Like It Haute (Eye Candy Collection Winter 2011)

I didn't think I'd get to do a post today with a million things going on, but I had to put up this! This is Some Like It Haute by China Glaze. It's from the Eye Candy Collection. It's a six piece collection that is just coming out in stores, all inspired by Marilyn Monroe (who I love!). It's the most amazing glitter. When I saw this collection I bought them all in a heart beat!

Some Like It Haute looks like it has a charcoal base, but its actually a clear base with TONS of glitter. It has tiny charcoal glitter and medium hexagon silver holographic glitter. Pictures really do no justice to how much depth this polish has. This is two coats with Seche Vite top coat to finish it off. It defiantly needs a top coat. The moment I put the top coat on, I was in love. Below is the press release from China Glaze. China Glaze can be found at Chatters, select salons, and nailpolishcanada.com has just put these up too. China Glaze is $7 - $9 CAD, and a bit less in the US. 

China Glaze - Tinsel Town (Let It Snow Collection Holiday 2011)

This is Tinsel Town from the Let It Snow Holiday Collection from China Glaze. It's a totally winner in my books. Perfect application, perfect colour, just perfect! Can't rave enough about it. It's a charcoal type colour with silver glitter, the glitter is round in small and medium size. Can I just say that China Glaze has some perfect glitters lately! I'm not even a glitter gal, I'm more of a chic taupe kinda gal, but these steal my heart! I used two coats and didn't use a top coat for the pictures. 

The collection had 12 polishes and many many assorted gift packs.

These are available at Chatters, Sally's Beauty Supply and select salons. They retail for about $6 CAD or $5 US.

China Glaze - Champagne Bubbles (Let It Snow Collection Holiday 2011)

EEEK... I'm really not sure about this polish. This is Champagne Bubbles from China Glaze's Let It Snow Collection for holiday season 2011. I keep my skin tanned, about a NC 30 in MAC terms, I'm not sure it really goes that well with my skin tone. I might go nicer for someone with a lighter or darker skin tone. 

So I used two coats to get a nice opacity. I didn't put a top coat on. I wasn't going to keep it on! I think this is the stinker of the bunch. It's a golden yellow frost with silver sparkles sparsely scatter through it. So what I didn't like wasn't just the tone of the colour. I also didn't like that when you put on a second coat of polish which is necessary cause one coat was just uneven, the second coat traps the glitter beneath it. The glitter doesn't show through it just stays underneath and makes the nail look lumpy. A top coat will help but I just don't think this polish was well executed. I would have like to have seen a nice golden glass flaked jelly from China Glaze, think Lighthouse but more darker. But ohhh well... with a coat of Twinkle Lights this colour was okay. 

I think skip it. Spend your time looking for other alternatives. China Glaze is $7-8 CAD. Finding a store that sells China Glaze is a little tricky. It's available at select salons, Chatters, and e-tailers. 

Thanks for reading!

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China Glaze - Velvet Bow (Let It Snow Collection Holiday 2011)

This is Velvet Bow from the Let It Snow Holiday Collection from China Glaze. It's a vampy dark red jelly.  I used three coats to get a nice opacity. This doesn't have a top coat over it. It has a really nice shine to it. I'm actually really surprised at how much I like this polish. The collection Let It Snow is 12 polishes, they can be bought individually and also within gift packs. The packs are great for gifting at Christmas and some come with cute extras too like gloves, ornaments, lip gloss... 

My 'I'm so appreciative' Giveaway! China Glaze Channelesque!

Soooooo... I've been blogging for one month and I've gotten so much love that I just wanted to have a little giveaway! I was thinking about it for a few days and I thought what would be a good giveaway? I was thinking in terms of what my HOLY GRAIL lacquers are... Annnnnd it clicked! I have a backup of China Glaze's Channelesqe! There really is no other Channelesque! I personally think Channelesque has a little something more special from China Glaze Below Deck. So this giveaway is for one brand new bottle of China Glaze's Channelesque in all its' taupe glory.


I've been seriously loooving blogging and getting feedback. So this will be for my first 75 followers. I don't want to make this hard at all. To enter just leave a comment below on a suggestion you have for my blog and be a follower of The Lacquer Lounge :) Thats it! & As soon as I  reach 75 comments I'll choose a random winner! It's open internationally too :)

China Glaze - Haunting (Haunting Collection Halloween 2011)

China Glaze always has the most amazing Halloween collections. I was happy with last years and I'm happy with this years even more! This is China Glaze's Haunting from the Haunting collection. It's a simple colour but stunning.

A black creme with silver glitter. It took two coats to get a nice opacity. It actually didn't seem that gritty without a top coat but I used one anyway, I used Seche Vite. I love dark colours.

China Glaze is available in Canada at Chatters, select salons, and on e-tailers. They retail for $8 CAD. I bought mine on a recent trip to the states and it was $6.99 US at an Ulta.  Below is a promo pic from China Glaze. From left to right: Haunting, It's Alive (see swatches here), Near Dark, and Crimson. 

China Glaze - It's Alive (Haunting Collection Halloween 2011)

ahhhh I die. This lacquer is China Glaze's It's Alive from their new Halloween collection that they just came out with. The Haunting Collection consists of:

- It's Alive (bright green glitter)

- Haunting (black with silver glitter)

- Crimson (purple reddish creme)

- Near Dark (dark green creme)

- Ghoulish Glow (glow in the dark top coat) 

 - Black Mesh (black shatter)

It's Alive is a dark green jelly base with small and larger sized olive colour glitter. 

It has a really nice depth to it.

I used two coats of It's Alive and one coat of Seche Vite top coat. Without a top coat it was too gritty.  Removal was actually not that bad, I used nail polish remove with acetone. 

Soooo.. Do you love it? I Do! It kinda reminds me of Kermit the Frog! This is my favourite Halloween lacquer I've tried this year so far. China Glaze is available in Canada at Chatters, select salons, and on e-tailers. They retail for $8 CAD. I bought mine on a recent trip to the states and it was $6.99 US at at Ulta. I'll have more swatches of this collection coming soon!

China Glaze - Midtown Magic (Metro Collection Fall 2011)

Last week I went to a Maroon 5 concert and it was amazing! They are so good live. So I searched my polish stash for a maroon colour lacquer. And what did I find? China Glaze's Midtown Magic! Not exactly maroon in the bottle but defiantly on the nail. I hadn't had a chance to try it so, it was prefect! Midtown Magic came out with the Metro Collection that was for Fall 2011. 

It's a deep burgundy or maroon jelly that almost looks black out of direct light. With micro gold flakes speckled throughout.It has a great depth to it. It's gorgeous. I had a few people compliment me while I was wearing it. I used two coats to get a nice opacity. Application was perfect. Zero complaints.

This colour is the best from the Metro Collection that I've tried so far. I think it's absolutely gorgeous. China Glaze can be found in select salons, Chatters, and Sallys Beauty Supply in Canada. It's retail price is about $7 CAD. Here are a few Maroon 5 concert pictures...

We had some really great Club seats at the concert. It was really amazing to get to watch them live. I highly suggest seeing them in concert if you ever get the chance!

Fall 2011 Trends: Dark Grey

This season brings some grey weather and some grey nails. I love this trend, because its versatile. This look can easily be taken to work and then to a night out. Neutral colours like grey are prefect for two reasons: 1. You don't have to worry about your polish clashing with your clothes  2. If you don't have the time to change your polish often grey polish can easily carry you through the week and not clash with anything that comes up. This season had many collections that had a dark grey in them. They ones I'm comparing are all described as dark grey cremes with zero shimmer to them.

From left to right:

Deborah Lippmann - Stormy Weather  (Fall 2011)

CND - Asphalt

Essie - Power Clutch (Carry On Collection Fall 2011)

China Glaze - Concrete Catwalk (Metro Collection Fall 2011)

From the swatches you can see that all are very similar. The only one that is noticeably very different is Essie's Power Clutch. To me that Deborah Lippmann and the China Glaze are the darkest and are virtually identical. The CND is also a lot like Deborah Lippmann and China Glaze but is slightly in direct like a tone lighter. Essie's Power Clutch is the lightest of the bunch and a tad bit green compared to the other three. Out of direct light they are all very close. 

Deborah Lippmann is sold in Canada at Murale, Holts, and select boutiques. You can see my post on this polish (here). It was $20 CAD.

CND is a little harder to find in Canada. Mine is from an e-tailer and it's been probably about a year since I've bought it so I don't remember exactly what I paid for it. They retail for about $8 CAD. 

Essie is now in drug stores and very easily accessible. Essie including there new collections can be found in Wal-Mart, Shoppers, and London Drugs. They are about $8 CAD. 

China Glaze can be found in Chatters and salons. They are about $7 CAD. 

Final thoughts, nobody really needs all of these colours. Deborah Lippmann, China Glaze, and CND are very close in colour. I would say pick one to see how you like it. 

Time Capsule: My Top 5 Summer 2011 Nail Polishes

I wanted to do a quick post on some of my favourite nail polishes that came out this Summer. Just for something to look back on. I know in 2010 I was a mint addict, it looks like this year I've diversified. I thought it would be fun to make a little post to remember the polishes that I most frequently wore this season now that it's slowly coming to an end.

It was honestly a tough choice. But here are my top 5 of Summer 2011 (pictured below from left to right):

• Chanel - Mimosa (Les Fleurs d'été Collection, 2011)

• Deborah Lippmann - Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Summer 2011)

• OPI - Mermaid's Tears (Pirates of the Caribbean Collection, 2011)

• American Apparel - Neon Red (LE Neon Collection, 2011)

• China Glaze - Below Deck (Anchors Away Collection, 2011)

Let me know what your favourite polish of Summer 2011 was!

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Pumpkin Spice (Halloween 2011)

I don't know about you, but here in Vancouver it feels like Summer just started. It's September 4 and it's the first day my apartment was too hot to handle. Hence, I made my way to the air-conditioned mall to grab a cool drink and take a look around. Now Pumkin Spice I've seen around for almost a month now and just never picked up, but for some reason today I had to have it. I kept telling myself it was too much like China Glaze's Ick-A-Bod-Y from last years Awakening Halloween collection to justify me buying it... but I still bought it. No will power.

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Pumkin Spice (three coats)

After I swatched it I thought it was terribly ugly. Like really really fug. So I played around with it a bit and compared it to last year China Glaze's Ick-A-Bod-Y. And I'm glad I didn't just give up on it, over black I think I like it better then Ick-A-Bod-Y.

Left to Right

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Pumkin Spice (three coats)

China Glaze - Ick-A-Bod-Y (three coats)

OPI - Black Onyx (two coats) & Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Pumkin Spice (one coat)

OPI - Black Onyx (two coats) & China Glaze Ick-A-Body (one coat)

As you can see both polished look much better over Black. They both have a clear black base that takes many coats to build up something more opque. They both have the same orange glitter but China Glaze's has much more. I think I might like Pumpkin Spice more... I'm a little torn, it all depends on how much sparkle you like I guess. 

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear retails for $3.50 CND (and about the same in US). It can be found many places, this particular bottle is from London Drugs, I haven't seen the displays with Pumpkin Spice out anywhere else yet. London Drugs usually has the Limited Edition displays out first. 

China Glaze is a little harder to find in Canada. It' retails for about $7 CND. Ick-A-Bod-Y was a limited edition colour from last Halloween collection only sold at Sally Beauty Supply. In the lower mainland there are two in Surrey and one in Abbotsford and one in Bellingham (if your a cross boarder shopper). China Glaze is also sold at many salons.

I'd love to read our comments on the two! Thanks!