Yesterday, The Nail Ninja showed you Jessica's Victorian Crush nail polish. Well, even though she didn't want to take it off she needed to. There were more polishes to swatch. A package in the mail added to the swatch pile. In it: CNDCopper Shimmer top coat from their Colour + Effects line of polishes. (Plus a few other things --- stay tuned!)
So naturally The Ninja swatched the Effect over her Jessica mani.
It gave a neat orange-y tinted overlay that just whispers "Fall!" Gorgeous. A can't-take-my-eyes-off-of-it mani.
Take a look at Victorian Crush + Copper Shimmer:
This combo will be swatched again once the sun comes out.
PS: Baby Ninja had to get in the picture! The light is terrible because of the rain, so swatching was at the window. Baby Ninja thought The Ninja was looking out at something and had to be a nosey-pants.
This product was furnished for consideration by the manufacturer or a representative thereof. Please read our review policy on our About tab for more information.
Wow. Beauty is indeed where you find it (and not always where you expect it)! The Nail Ninja is pleased to introduce you to another (surprisingly) pretty polish from Jessica Cosmetics' Fall '10 collection, Muse. Let's just say The Ninja wasn't exactly looking forward to this color...
Earlier today, The Ninja showed you how to rock the ladylike trend for Fall with Scarlet. While you're placing that order, toss Victorian Crush into your shopping cart so you can bust out the military trend, too.
Application wasn't quite as smooth for Victorian Crush (as compared to Scarlet). It was a little thick and sticky. However, it should be noted that The Ninja was applying this polish outside in high humidity. That's probably why it was gloppy, but keep some thinner around just in case.
One coat was probably opaque, but since the application was weird, what you're seeing is two fairly thick coats.
Wear is pretty much the same, though, which is to say somewhere above average and hovering around "good".
The color is olive. It's an olive cream, in fact. Some might call it "khaki". The Ninja would not. In the bottle it was a threatening shade of yellow-green, but on the nail it's much more attractive. The green has enough yellow to be considered olive, but not enough to resemble something in Baby Ninja's diaper. And it even looks pretty good on cool-toned ninja skin. This color will get lots of wear this Fall!
The finish is nice. Swatches are with Poshe topcoat, though. The Ninja will probably have to try a matte topcoat over this to see if it's extra rad that way!
Where Scarlet stood up and made you take notice, Victorian Crush speaks quietly but confidently. Perfect for wearing on ninja missions.
Here are the pics:
Only three more colors left for The Ninja to swatch from this collection. Coming up: a gregie/mushroom, a blue, and a mustard yellow.
You may want to request that The Ninja's send you copies of her posts so you don't miss anything! Don't worry - she'll keep your info private. She's a ninja!
Why are so many bloggers and nail polish collectors not a fan of red nail lacquers?
Don't look at The Ninja, she's got no idea why. That's why she's asking you!
Here's a red polish that's hard to resist. It's Scarlet, from the Muse collection byJessica Cosmetics. Sure, The Ninja thought it was just another red... but when she slicked it on, she fell in love.
Two coats to opacity; smooth application (no drag, no pooling, no brush strokes or uneven appearance); great wear (four days and counting with only tip wear); and a crystal clear, shiningly bright cherry red creamy appearance that's simply beautiful.
Take a look...
Final thoughts: If you're looking for a classic red cream polish that's perfect for holiday manis, retro looks, or any time you want to be sophisticated and classy, then Jessica's Scarlet is for you. It's highly recommended by The Ninja for all skin tones, but especially cool-toned fair-skinned beauties!
There are six shades in the Muse collection. The Ninja only got 5 of the 6 to review (weird!). Sadly, she won't be reviewing Crimson Reflections, the other red. That's the one that was missing. Stay tuned for the others, though, and they're all quirky colors, so if you're a red hater you'll want to check it out. ;)
xoxo
The Nail Ninja
How do you feel about red polishes? Are you a lover or a hater? What's your favorite red? What's your favorite polish color?
Yes, yes... this sounds right up The Ninja's alley! She adores Jessica polishes, and these colors are a lovely blend of all that a gal could want for Spring! If only a purple were added, it would be The Dream Collection.
646: Enchanté
– Hot Pink
647: Starry Eyed
– Pale Pink
648: Perchance to
Dream – Sparkling Champagne
649: Cloud Mine
– Opalescent Green
650: Flight of Fancy
– Coral Pink
651: Eyes Wide Open
– VibrantOrange
Polishes are $7.50. Check out JessicaCosmetics.com to pick these up, and stay tuned here as The Ninja hopes to be showing swatches soon!
Those are Lindsey Lohan's grubby fingers up there. Without speculating (out loud) about why her hands are so craptastic, I thought we could at least discuss how to disguise your own talons when they're less than stellar.
You have probably been in this situation before: you've got somewhere to be (soon!) and with time ticking away you glance down and see the horror that is your chipped-ass polish or manky, ragged, yellowed nails courtesy of your vampy polish habit. What to do!?
Guys,The Ninja doesn't usually just post items that were sent to the old Inbox from PR people. While The Ninja respects the jobs that PR folk do, it seems to be a cheap move to just post something someone else wrote, right!?
But just this once The Ninja will post -verbatim!- something sent by Jessica Cosmetics' PR, because it's got some great product recommendations in it and so far The Ninja has been impressed with everything tried from Jessica Cosmetics. So here comes the info. Now you know how much The Ninja loves you!
Disclaimer: The picture does not have anything to do with Jessica nails. The Ninja just likes a little levity from time to time. Maybe if we use Jessica's products we, too, can win the Guinness World Record for Longest Nails?
JESSICA,
manicurist to the stars, has a few tricks up her sleeve thanks to the
last three decades of taking care of Hollywood’s elite fingers and toes.Her
understanding of varying nail types and conditions has revolutionized
the industry and altered the way in which manicures are offered today.Below are some of her “Best Of” tips to help with common nail ailments:
·Polish chipping after one day?You can get it to last longer with a few simple steps:
o
Make sure that your nails are clean (oils and creams on the nail plate will hinder the polish’s ability to adhere)
oGently file the nail in one direction and make sure that there are no rough edges
oCover the entire nail with polish, including under and over the nail, all sides and edges
oApply another coat of topcoat the day after your manicure to help keep nails in tip-top shape
·Running low on time or don’t want to splurge on a manicure this week?Here is how to fake it:
oStart with clean, dry nails. Massage a cuticle oil like Phenomen Oil with natural Jojoba into cuticles and nails to make them look pink and healthy.If necessary, file nails so they are smooth and evenly shaped.
oNext,
wash hands to make sure excess oil is removed. Apply 2 coats of the
appropriate basecoat treatment for your nail type, 2 coats of light,
sheer color and finish with fast-drying top coat like Brilliance that
gives nails a high gloss shine. The light color will hide any polishing
imperfections and your cuticles will look and feel pampered
·Are your nails ridge-prone?
oRidges are a common problem.“Buffing” the ridges with a strong grit buffer will damage the nail plate.Since most ridges cannot be corrected as they are a result of a Systemic illness or by an injury to the nail bed, JESSANA Flexible Fix and JESSICA Flawless products beautifully conceal the ridges, leaving a smooth finish on the nail.Now you can apply your polish without any signs of imperfections.
oSecret tip: The safest way to buff the nail is with an old fashioned Shami cloth.
·Frustrated with your polish turning yellow?
oThis
occurs from overexposure to the sun or a chemical reaction with crèmes
and lotions or detergents and cleansers. The most important thing to do
is choose a topcoat with UV inhibitors to help prevent yellow.Also, be sure to wear gloves when cleaning, this will help protect nails and hands.
Interesting JESSICA facts:
·First to develop a natural nail system that promotes the health & growth of the nail – Natural Nail Cultivation System®
·First to invent The Natural Nail Transplant®
·Opened the first NAILS Only salon in the world
·First to introduce America to the French Manicure
·First
to use heated mittens and booties during manicures and pedicures to
soften and soothe skin, a treatment that is commonly offered in nail
salons today
The Ninja digs cats and rabbits who maintain their beautiful clawses!
Collection: Jessica Cosmetics' Baby It's Cold Outside Colors that Heat Up Chilly Winter Days
When the cold, black days of winter roll back into town, snuggling up by a warm fire seems like the only fitting social activity. Luckily, Jessica, manicurist to the stars, has a few reasons to pull on your furry-best and hit the town. The new winter 2009 collection, Baby it's Cold Outside, brings out your inner snow-bunny and has you heading for the eggnog instead of the hot chocolate.
The Baby It's Cold Outside collection presents four new rich colors that add drama and personality to your cold-weather style. With shades of deep greens, purple and glittery black, the new collection helps any woman look good as Jack Frost is biting at her nose.
The rest of the collection: #643 - Divine Pine - Hunter Green #644 - Midnight Mist - Grape # 645 - Black Ice - Shimmering Black $7.50 each
All shades are: Eco-friendly (Toluene-, Formaldehyde- and Phalate-free) Infused with UVA/UVB protection Formulated with Vitamin A for maximum conditioning
Jessica is going burlesque. No... I don't mean she's getting all dressed up and doing a striptease. I mean she's giving us a collection called Burlesque Beauty. As of this writing, it's not on the Jessica website, but this is the Fall collection, so look for it soon! Oh, and quite a deal, too: $7 a bottle.
636: Gorgeous Garter Belt – Magenta
637: Ruffled Bottoms –Violet
638: Fishnets and Fringe – Hunter Green
639: For Your Eyes Only - Grape
640: Feather Boa - Mauve
641: Sexy Siren - Plum
All JESSICACustom Colors are:
*Formulated with Vitamins A for maximum conditioning
*Contain UVA/UVB protection from sun’s damaging rays
So what do you think? Are you a Jessica fan? Do these colors intrigue you? I'd like to see the green for sure, and all of the rest look pretty (plum, magenta - you know I like purples, too!), though the frosted-looking bottle hides some of the color, no?
Today I busted out one of my oldie-but-goodies: ZoyaMata Hari.
This is one of my all-time favorite polishes, and possibly my #1 favorite Zoya. I got this when I was working at a salon that sold the line, and bought a backup nearly immediately after 1st trying it.
Description: A "magenta purple frost with subtle metallic shimmer". It's a bit more berry-purple than purple-purple, maybe somewhere halfway between cranberry and purple. That's right in the pocket of my favorite colors, so for me this is a stare-at-your-nails shade.
Application: Very smooth and even; easy to apply nice thin layers. Kind of a dream to apply. Shown here with JessicaCoat of Armour over two coats of Seche ViteBase Coat (a new method I'm trying), then two coats of color, topped with Seche ViteTop Coat.
Wear: Pretty good, but be sure to use Big 3 Free top and base coat for best results. I reinforce this one with top coat and Seche Vite the day after application (or several hours after) for enhanced wear.
Pair with: Nearly anything, though I like to put this on my toes with a black or graphite tip on the fingers. Try it with navy, emerald or any other jewel tone for a rainbow of lusciousness!
OK, check it: the lady above doesn't lie when she says she need some help. Look at the long, spindly and undoubtedly weak nails (she even broke off the thumbnail!), and that awful yellow tint... UGH. She needs some major assistance! Enter: Jessica.
A quick visit to Jessica Nail Clinic on Sunset Blvd will give a major boost to those talons. Nail Cultivists (that's "nail technicians" at other salons) are trained in founder Jessica Vartoughian's special system of nail analysis and cultivation.
Let's do a quick run-down on what I'm going to coin "the Jessica way", since I know you're probably in the middle of coating your tips with lacquer to hide your own secrets!
At the Nail Clinic, a Nail Cultivist will scope your nails and figure out your nail type. Huh? Oh, let me explain: Jessica believes, quite sensibly, that nails have "types". It holds true for hair and skin, right? Your nails will be one of (or maybe a combination of) 4 types: damaged, dry, brittle or normal.
A specific regimen will be decided upon, one that will help bring out the best in the nails. And if you think you've seen all of your options for nail care but you haven't yet met Jessica: you ain't seen nothin' yet! She's got solutions for problems you didn't even know you had!
Nails will be gently groomed and broken nails fixed, all naturally and with no rough metal implements and absolutely no acrylics.
Your nails will be decorated with the appropriate treatments, base coat, color and top coat, and you'll be sent out the door with the right potions to maintain continue to improve your gorgeous nails.
Can't make it to the Sunset Strip or any of the other locations that use Jessica's system? Me either. Don't fret! Simply answer the questions on the website, here, and find out the remedies for your woes. Then follow these steps to create your own spa mani "the Jessica way". Finally, select one of over 200 polishes to coat your now-healthy tips. OK, it's not the same as having a Nail Cultivist gently and professionally tending your hooves, but it's better than nuffin' right!?
OK, enough is enough with the background info. Let's see what we can do to help our evil-looking hostess at the top of this article, shall we?
Let's chat about Jessica's Nail Whitener. Dubbed a "natural nail concealer", this product is genius. I don't know about the science (the product promises that "Active Biostructurer smoothes the keratin surface of the nail, leaving nails
visually brighter and whiter"), but it sure does work! I'm not completely clear on whether that's a permanent or ongoing change, or what, but for those of you with instant gratification issues (me, me!) you'll still be thrilled. "Active biostructurer" or not, the (secret?) blue pigments in the product surely give a white glint to nails. Want proof? Take a look at my still-recovering from acrylics a few months ago nails:
In a word: wow!
And now for the next product I got to try: Coat of Armour. This is Jessica's "natural nail shield" which provides a protective and durable layer that keeps nails from chipping, cracking or breaking. This product is meant to be a natural alternative to acrylic nails, due to the special combination of polymers and resins that strengthen your nails. I will say, the mani I did with it on shows a bit of tip wear (amazing, since it's a crap polish), but no polish chips and certainly no damage to the nails themselves. I'm going to keep using it, and I'll get back to you, but for now I'm going to have to give this product a big old two thumbs-up!
So I don't know about that grumpy looking chica at the top of the page, but I certainly am sold, and definitely looking forward to trying more from this line!
