Barielle Berry Blue Swatches and Review

I was really surprised when I went to find a navy or darker bright blue in a straight up creme. I thought I had several! But I don't. They all seemed to have a shimmer or glitter or glass fleck of some sort. I am sure they are out there, but I didn't have any. So when I ran across this Barielle shade in Berry Blue that is a pure creme, of course I had to pick it up! And the name is perfect to describe the color. It's navy, but it's bright blueberry in the sunlight!

The formula is good and application was good. Perfect in two coats. I used a base, one light coat, one medium coat and a Seche Vite top coat.

Barielle Berry Blue

Barielle Berry Blue - natural lighting

Barielle Berry Blue - natural lighting - in the shade

Indoors or in the evening, it's a deep navy that doesn't read black on me (WooHoo!) and in the sun, it's a great bright blueberry color.

I know there's a time and place for a little something extra like a shimmer, but there are times when I just want a pure creme. And this is a good creme.

Next time, I will wrap my tips though. I started showing tip wear by the end of the evening. And, as with all blues, use a GOOD base coat! I used the OPI base coat with this and I had a little staining even with that. I'm still on the hunt for the perfect base. Right now, I think my favorite is the Cult Nails base coat. Any other suggestions are welcome!

Day Ten of Sinful Colors Swatch Fest - Secret Admirer

This is the LAST Sinful Colors Swatch Fest post!  And last up is Secret Admirer. This looks like glitter, but it's either shimmer or micro-glitter because removal was nothing like normal glitters. It's a black or really dark grey base with a ton of silver shimmer or micro-glitter. Application was fine and 2 coats did the trick.

Sinful Colors Secret Admirer

Sinful Colors Secret Admirer

Sinful Colors Secret Admirer

Nothing spectacular, but it's a good formula and if you like colors like this, it's worth the price. This was the last one I got on sale for $0.99, but full price is only $1.99.

Day Eight of Sinful Colors Swatch Fest - Tapping Nails

Sinful Colors Tapping Nails

This one should be called Flaming Orange Sunset or some such name...not sure where Tapping Nails came from.  It went on easy and these photos are with 2 coats. As you can see, there is still a slight Visible Nail Line.  It's bright and shimmery and I'll definitely wear it again, should an occasion call for orange.

Sinful Colors Tapping Nails

Sinful Colors Tapping Nails

Sinful Colors Tapping Nails

Chanel Pirate Swatches and Review

Chanel Pirate

Finally a true blue-based red. Alas, Pirate is not a straight creme, but most of you will be happy to find out it's a crelly. Crellies(jellyish creme) are great, I just don't happen to be one of those people who have the patience for application. Most people love them.

However, this one IS pretty.

In an attempt to eliminate VNL (visible nail line) it took me 4 coats - 3 regular coats and a 4th thick one. And as you can see in the close-up, I still have a little VNL.

Application was still smooth, but I am going to have a bit of clean-up, as I usually do with jellies for some reason.

Chanel Pirate

Chanel Pirate

Chanel Pirate

And some more in different lighting...

Chanel Pirate

Chanel Pirate

Finally I put on a coat of China Glaze China Rouge as a base and layered Pirate over it and I love it! But since I have so many reds, I decided to see if I had a dupe and lo and behold, I do. It's A Perfect "10" Take Charge.

Doesn't look identical in the bottle, but it's very close
in the swatches!

Comparison shot of Take Charge and Pirate

And I have to admit that the application of Take Charge was easier than Pirate. I know, I know...that's heresy. Sorry.  I calls 'em as I sees 'em!  (Take Charge is a jelly-like creme.)

So...what do you think? Will you be getting Pirate?

**Just as a note, I never use flash for any of my photos.

UPDATE:  I took my bottle of Pirate back and exchanged it for a new bottle after reading that people are getting great coverage in 2 coats. I will update my review when I try it out to see if it's really different.

Day Five of Sinful Colors Swatch Fest - San Francisco

San Francisco is a shimmery, Christmasy green that comes off much like a foil in appearance. This one's hard to capture so I've adjusted the first two photos (excuse the orange fingers) to get the accurate color of the polish to show.

Sinful Colors San Francisco

Sinful Colors San Francisco

Sinful Colors San Francisco

Sinful Colors San Francisco

and finally to show the shine and shimmer...

Sinful Colors San Francisco

This polish applied smoothly and was *almost* a one-coater, but I used two to even it out. - this is actually with NO topcoat!

Not bad. Not bad at all.

My Nail Polish Collection

Here is a spreadsheet of my current polishes.

I'll be randomly swatching them as I post my Nail of the Day posts.

If there are any of them you'd like to see specifically, just post a comment and I'll get them swatched PDQ!