China Glaze Traffic Jam - Swatches

Having a migraine day, so I'm posting a polish from last year - quick and easy!

China Glaze Traffic Jam is from the China Glaze Metro Collection, which has several colors that I adore. Traffic Jam is a smooth, muted berry creme that goes on easily and is opaque in two coats (or one, depending on your application.)

China Glaze Traffic Jam

China Glaze Traffic Jam

China Glaze Traffic Jam

China Glaze Traffic Jam

China Glaze Traffic Jam

China Glaze Traffic Jam

China Glaze Traffic Jam

I love all sorts of polishes, but it's no secret cremes are still my favorite. What do you think of this one? Do you have it? In my opinion, the Metro Collection had a LOT of winners and this is one of them.

China Glaze polishes are widely available at various retailers and e-tailers in the US and range in price from around $3 to $8, depending on where you buy them and if they're from a new collection or not. The Metro Collection was from Fall 2011. "Like" China Glaze on Facebook for announcements, updates and information.


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Zoya Petra

Zoya Petra has been sitting on my shelf for a while and thanks to insomnia last night, I'm finally wearing it!  Can't imagine what took me so long!

Zoya Petra is part of the Smoke part of their 2011 Fall Smoke and Mirrors Collection. Zoya's website describes it as a "smokey eggplant mauve creme." That's pretty accurate. I would probably describe it as a greyed out aubergine creme. About the same thing.  You'd think, since I am such a green-lover, that Dree would be my favorite of this collection since it's an olive creme, but I'm surprised to find out that while I LOVE Dree, this Petra is just such a unique color that it's my favorite. It's not purple, it's not grey, it's not mauve, it's just...unique!

Application was smooth and creamy. Photos show two coats and a Seche Vite top coat (which caused shrinkage, so I'll probably go back to Cult Nails Wicked Fast top coat for this one) but because of my 3 am application, I could probably do a third coat to even things out.

As with most colors, different lighting brings out different looks. This one is no exception.

Please keep in mind it was 3 am when I did this mani...it's quite obvious from the photos that I did no clean up. Sorry.

Zoya Petra

Zoya Petra

Zoya Petra

And finally, the close up - best color capture in this one (below) I think, but it does read quite a bit darker on me in most lighting than it appears in the bottle.

Zoya Petra

I think it's probably going to be my go-to color for travel because it doesn't clash with anything - replacing Rimmel London Steel Grey for that.

What do you think? It is too plain/boring for you? Or is it unique and interesting?

YSL The Black Collection Nail Polishes for 2011

YSL The Blacks Collection 2011

Yves St. Laurent has just released a new Limited Edition trio of shimmery, blackened polishes for Fall/Winter 2011 and of course I had to have them! Black Lapis (purple) Black Indigo (blue) and Black Bronze.

The application on all three polishes was the same - superb. They are opaque in one medium-thick coat or two thin coats but they dry slightly dull, so a topcoat is definitely advised to bring out all of the shimmery goodness. The brush is good and all photos are shown without cleanup.

YSL The Black Collection 2011

YSL Black Lapis

YSL Black Lapis

YSL Black Lapis

YSL Black Indigo

YSL Black Indigo

YSL Black Indigo

YSL Black Bronze

YSL Black Bronze

YSL Black Bronze

These polishes can be ordered from Nordstrom for $45.00 for the trio. Be advised while the site says they are "regular $20 each" and the $20 regular bottles are normally .33 oz., these are just .2 ozs. each. Of course Nordie's customer service was excellent, as usual.

Do you have these yet?  Planning on getting them?

Which is your favorite?

Zoya Neeka and Zoya Yara

Zoya Neeka (purple) and Zoya Yara (green)

Zoya Neeka and Yara are both from the "mirrors" part of their Smoke and Mirrors Collection for Fall 2011 and I really can't decide which one I like better.  Well, I can, but it was difficult. You know me, I always have to go with the green. *grin*

But green and purple together?  Makes me swoon.

Zoya Neeka is a gold and violet shimmer in a dusty greyed purple polish.  That's what I see.  Zoya describes it this way: "greyed amethyst with subtle red douchrome shimmer and bright gold accents." So I'm guessing what I am seeing as the violet shimmer is actually the "subtle red duochrome shimmer?" 

Zoya Neeka

 This photo shows the true color better:

Zoya Neeka (purple) and Zoya Yara (green)

Zoya Yara is a medium-to-bright olive green with yellow gold shimmer and what looks like chartreuse green shimmer. That's what I see.  Zoya describes it this way: "medium smoky olive drab with an illuminating splash of bright gold glitters." I'm guessing what I am seeing as the chartreuse green shimmer is the gold picking up the green from the base?

Zoya Yara

The formula, color saturation and application of both was great.  Standard narrow brush, but I had no clean up on either, which is a HUGE plus in my book.  Also these are actually perfect in one coat. And one coat is shown in all photos. But as is my habit, I'll probably do two for my full mani. Two thumbs up!

*all photos are before top coat

OPI Uh Oh Roll Down the Window Swatches and Review

OPI Uh Oh Roll Down the Window

Um, WHAT? I don't know who is naming OPI's polishes lately, but this name certainly appeals to the 12 year old boy humor in me. I usually only let that part of me out to watch South Park - now it gets to come out and play while painting my nails!

I guess this is the color you turn when you don't roll the window down fast enough? *giggle*

This one is from the new-for-Fall OPI Touring America Collection 2011 and is my favorite by far. The other colors are:  Are We There Yet, I Eat Maine-ly Lobster, My Address is Hollywood, Color to Diner For, Honk if You Love OPI, Road House Blues, Suzi Takes the Wheel, French Quarter for Your Thoughts, A-Taupe the Space Needle, Get in the Expresso Lane and I Brake for Manicures.  Scrangie does a great review with swatches of all of them on her blog here.

Regardless of the name, I LOVE the color. My favorites are purples and murky/olive drab/dirty greens and this one makes the olive drab category.  And it's a creme which is my favorite finish. They're easy to work with, easy to remove (sorry glitterati, but I just can't go that PITA removal process for glitters) and for me, just have that classic feel. Even the loudest color seems somehow okay in a creme.

This OPI formula was no different than most - smooth, easy application. Medium thickness. Two coat perfection.  Thankfully, their super-thin polishes aren't colors I am naturally drawn to, so I only have a few of them.

The first photo was taken in direct natural light. As is this close-up...

OPI Uh Oh Roll Down the Window

The next two photos were taken in indirect natural light.

OPI Uh Oh Roll Down the Window

OPI Uh Oh Roll Down the Window

I can definitely see this color becoming one of my go-to polishes.