Video: OPI Nordic Collection Overview

Hi guys, welcome to Sunday.  I did say that I would have comparisons and a video of the OPI Nordic Collection up today.  Well one of those got accomplished.  I got so involved in making the video happen that I went to write my comparison post and realized all of those photos were unedited.  Whoop whoop!  So, the video will go up today and comparisons will go up tomorrow.  

Here is the video version of my thoughts on the OPI Nordic collection.  Also, I finally figured out how to insert swatch photos, yay!!!

OPI Nordic Collection-Full Swatches and Review

Hi there everyone, TGIF.  Yesterday was an interesting day to say the least.  I was super happy because my migraine medicine is kicking in but it's been interesting in that most everything tastes or smells differently than it normally does.  My two favorite examples from yesterday include my philosophy cake frosting hand lotion that normally smells like yummy frosting which now smells like play doh.  The second was a taste.  My husband made me take a bite of chicken with bbq sauce on it and it was like someone had crushed up the most sour candy into powder form, dipped the chicken into it, and then made me eat it.  Some things taste normal though, like tea, popcorn, and oatmeal.  It's very strange and kind of funny. 

Besides weird food experiences, a bomb was dropped at work yesterday two minutes before the lunch hour.  It basically sums up to cutting our six month deadlines to three month deadlines, which is seemingly impossible, or eliminating half of the entire staff that work in the section.  Ummmm, yea.  I still can't get over how ridiculous that was to read about in an email.  I just spent the entire afternoon talking to people including my boss about it and I still can't wrap my head around it.  But hey, it's Friday, my head barely hurts, and I have some pretty polishes to show you!

My Dogsled is a Hybrid

Fun fact, during my honeymoon, my husband and I took a helicopter up to a glacier where were rode on a dogsled.  Top five coolest things I've ever done!  My Dogsled is a Hybrid is a dusty seafoam green cream.  I loved this color and it surprised me that it looked a little brighter on the nail then in the bottle.  I used two easy coats with topcoat below.

Can't Afjord Not To

Next up is a bright orange polish but it's different than a traditional orange.  It's interesting because it's a little bit melon-y and bright but it does have a dusty quality to it.  The formula was a little streaky on this one so I used three thin coats with topcoat for good coverage.

Going My Way or Norway?

Next up is a warm caramel brown cream.  This brown is very warm toned and I didn't think it was the most flattering on me to be honest.  It had a great formula though, I used two easy coats with topcoat below.

How Great is Your Dane?

This next polish was a surprise favorite for me, a cooler toned dark chocolate brown cream.  The brown almost has a taupe undertone to it, which I really liked.  I thought this was a great transition color from Summer to Fall and it will also be good for the cooler months as well.  Fantastic formula, two easy coats with topcoat below.

Ice-berger & Fries

Next up is a warm medium red-toned brown.  I expected to hate this one but I ended up loving it.  It reminded me of warm melted chocolate and it made me feel so cozy when I wore it.  Another great formula, two easy coats with topcoat below.

Do You Have this Color in Stock-holm?

Next up is what I think will be the stand out shade of the collection, at least from what I've seen people writing about the collection.  This polish is a blue-toned violet cream.  My photos lean very blue and most of the time when I wore it it looked blue to me but whenever I put it next to something blue it definitely looked purple.  It reminded me of the deep purple colored Easter jelly beans, those ones were always my favorite flavor.  Impeccable formula, two easy coats with topcoat below.

My Voice is a Little Norse

Next up is my personal favorite from this collection, a really unique glitter.  This polish is a grey tinted jelly base with holographic silver glitter.  I love that the base is tinted because I was able to build it up to full coverage (and wear it to work as a full mani).  The formula was great and it had a perfect amount of base to glitter.  I built up the opacity in three coats and finished with two coats of topcoat because it does dry slightly gritty.

Skating on Thin Ice-land

Another one I really enjoyed was this next polish that I tried for the first time last night.  This polish is a purple-toned black cherry creme and I really liked the amount of purple in this one.  I did a huge comparison last night, which will be up on Sunday, and I don't have anything that is as deep but still plummy like this polish.  Great formula and super shiny.  I left this one without topcoat just so you could see how shiny it was.  Two coats without topcoat below.

Suzi Has a Swede Tooth

This polish is a cooler toned strawberry pink creme and it's the only one that I can't see fitting into this collection.  I wore it yesterday as a full mani and I just think it belongs in a Spring or Summer collection.  The formula was a tad on the streaky side so I used three thin coats with topcoat below.

Thank Glogg It's Friday!

First, very fitting name because I'm very happy it's Friday :)  I didn't expect to be wowed by this one but I was.  This polish is a raspberry polish, almost a metallic finish but not frosty finish.  I've seen other swatches with shimmer but I didn't see any in mine.  Like other polishes of this color they tended to have a silver or sheer base but this polish is different because it has a very opaque raspberry base.  It builds up beautifully in two easy coats and I love how deep and warm this polish is, a real winner.  I used two coats with topcoat below.

Viking in a Vinter Vonderland

Second to last is a polish color commonly released by OPI, trust me, I did the comparisons already.  This one is a deep purple cream, nearly black is some lights.  Not much else to say but the formula was great again in two easy coats with topcoat.

OPI With a Nice Finn-ish

Last up is a polish I know will be polarizing because people either love or hate frosty metallics....I love them.  This one is a bronzy gold frosty metallic.  There are brushstrokes but they aren't terrible and the formula is very opaque.  Two easy coats with topcoat below.

Okay, so I'm going to give my final thoughts to you now.  While this collection has nice colors and great formulas, I find myself disappointed.  I was really excited about the thought of a Nordic collection but I think the theme and the polish ideas fell flat for me.  I pictured deep vampy shimmers, gorgeous ice blue, aurora borealis, glistening glitters.  Does anyone else feel the same?  How do you guys feel about this collection?  My top picks are Thank Glogg It's Friday, My Voice is a Little Norse, Do You Have this Color in Stock-holm?, and How Great is Your Dane?

Zoya Naturel Deux Comparisons

Hi everyone, welcome to Thursday, where we start to countdown until it's Friday.  Guys, guess what!  My migraine medicine is starting to work!!!  I want to shout it from the rooftops (I'm afraid of heights though) ;)  In all seriousness I started to notice something yesterday when I only had a little bit of a headache, which didn't get worse.  The second way I noticed was more funny.  When I got the medicine I looked it up online and I noticed a lot of people saying that it can affect how soda tastes.  At lunch I got a coke zero and I struggled to finish it until about five o'clock.  I could not figure out why that sucker tasted so bad.  The hubby and I went to Chipotle for dinner and I got a diet coke and the same thing happened and that's when it hit me.  It's like someone added cough syrup, made it flat, and then added extra acid when you tried to swallow it.  I could care less about that side effect...I couldn't be more happy!  I actually felt happy and motivated yesterday and today is more of the same. I haven't felt that way in maybe six months and I hadn't realized it until this morning, needless to say I'm very excited.

Today I have some quick comparisons with the Zoya Naturel Deux Collection, which I reviewed yesterday.  I wanted to compare it to last years collection, which most weren't even close to, as well as some other well known polishes.  Also, if you follow me on instagram, you'll know that I've been working my way through the OPI Nordic collection so I will also have additional comparisons with these polishes in that comparison post.  I think the collection post will be up tomorrow and then comparisons will be on Sunday.  A video was also requested so be on the lookout for that as well.

First up the camel colors.  Zoya Spencer is from the new Zoya Deux collection, Zoya Flynn is from Zoya's Fall collection from last year, and OPI San Tan-tonio is a core color I believe.  These were all very similar if you aren't a polish junkie.  Even if you are a polish junkie, Spencer was just slightly dustier and cooler toned.  Flynn is right in the middle of the two and San Tan-tonio is just a smidge darker than Flynn, very close though.  

My pick is Spencer, just because I have cooler toned skin and it works better for me.

Hmmm, not much of a comparison between these three huh?  Zoya Madeline is a rosy mauve whereas Brigitte is more of a dusty plum mauve.  OPI Kreme de la Kremlin looks like a warm rose in this picture but when I've worn it, it actually looks tan on me.

My pick, OPI Kreme de la Kremlin.  It suits me best I think and looks like a chocolate moose brown when I wear it.  The other two are too "grandma-y" to me.

Okay, another rough comparison.  Zoya Chanelle is a warm medium brown whereas Essie Fierce, No Fear is a much cooler toned medium brown.  OPI Chocolate Moose looks very out of place and almost rusty orange compared to these other two.  

My picks....um, can I say none?  I don't really care for any of these actually.  Sorry.

Ahhh, this is much better.  Zoya Marney is close to OPI Scores a Goal! but it's slightly more dusty and subdued.  OPI Scores a Goal! is still dusty but it's more of a deeper berry and a touch more vibrant.  Julep Coco is more of a deep cherry color.

My picks are both Zoya Marney and OPI Scores A Goal!  I'm a big fan of this raspberry chocolate color and both are great in my book.

Well it wouldn't be my comparisons if I didn't throw in some more weird ones ;)  I honestly thought this would be closer!  Zoya Aubrey and Essie Angora Cardi look like dupes to me, if they aren't, I can't tell what the difference is.  Maybe Aubrey is one touch cooler?  Barielle Sexy Mood looks very radiant orchid in this picture.

My pick would be Zoya Aubrey just because its formula kicks the others butts.

Last up is the deep browns.  I actually will have a more extensive brown comparison with more Nordic collection review, I think I did five for that one, including two that are dupes (I'll just tell you it's Zoya Emilia and OPI How Great is Your Dane?).  Zoya Emilia is a mid-tone cool brown, You Don't Know Jacques is a lighter taupy brown, and Louise is a warm chocolate brown.

My picks, all again.  They are all different enough to love individually.

I hope this post helped you guys out.  Keep an eye out for more comparisons and the OPI Nordic collection coming soon!

Zoya Naturel Deux Collection-Swatches and Review

*Press Samples

Hi guys, happy Hump Day.  Half way through the work week!  I didn't make it through the whole day yesterday.  I went home half way through the day and slept for three hours.  I haven't really been sleeping.  That being said I'm still trying to keep a positive attitude until my scans in September, all  of your positive comments really mean the world to me.  On the positive side, the weather has felt positively amazing here.  I'm wearing boots and a sweater today and it feels just like Fall (Fall is by far my most favorite season).  Also, I haven't really mentioned this at all but I am finally kicking my weight loss in its butt.  I haven't been at this weight since I ate nothing after I had my wisdom tooth removed four years ago.  That feels pretty good.  I am sorry for being a debby downer lately, but I know you guys are with me through thick and thin and I appreciate that.

Now onto the polish.  Today I have a new collection from Zoya, The Naturel Deux Collection, which is meant to be a collection of transition polishes from Summer to Fall.  There was an original collection that came out in Winter of last year with different but similar colors.  I will have comparisons coming soon.

Spencer-rich camel cream

Spencer is a nude camel-colored polish and it's deeper than the nudes we saw in the first collection.  In fact, most of the polishes in this second collection feature deeper and richer tones than we saw in the original six polishes.  The formula was perfect on this polish and I used two easy coats with topcoat below.

Chanelle-toasted almond cream

Chanelle to me is a warm-toned medium brown and I think it's far too warm to look good against my cool-toned skin.  I think if you are olive or warm-toned this would look stunning.  Another fantastic formula, two coats with topcoat below.

Emilia-dark chocolate cream

Emilia is a pretty and deep dark brown cream and it is more in the neutral range to me when it comes to browns.  It reminds me of a rich deep chocolate color, like a good quality chocolate bar.  Another outstanding formula, two coats with topcoat below.

Madeline-muted rose cream

I'm sorry to say this, but I have to be honest, this is totally a grandma color.  It's very mauvy and rosy and I didn't really care for the color at all.  It still had a great formula though, two coats with topcoat below.

Aubrey-medium mauve cream

As opposed to Madeline, Aubrey feels like an updated version of a muted mauvy berry color.  I definitely thought it had those raspberry/berry tones to it and that's what I liked about it.  Very pretty color!  Can you guess the formula?  Great formula, two coats with topcoat below.

Marney-deep warm plum cream

I'm not sure if this polish is spelled Marney (my bottle) or Marnie (Zoya's website) but this one is my favorite of the six, hands down, and I knew it when I opened the package.  Instead of a warm plum, I would describe this as a chocolate raspberry/cherry color and those are some of my favorite deep colors to wear.  It does have a warm tone to it, but I didn't find it hard to wear.  This color is rich, warm, and beautiful.  Two coats with topcoat below.

Like I've said before, I always have to be honest with you guys.  I wasn't a big fan of the original Naturel collection but I like this second offering better.  It still is probably one of my less liked Zoya collections but it's okay.  It's not that I dislike the colors and the polishes all have superb formulas.  Maybe it's just too neutral of a collection for me, or maybe it just is too mauve toned for me.  Either way, my favorites of the group are Marney and Aubrey.  What do you guys think of this collection?  These polishes can be found here.

*Polishes in this post were sent for review in exchange for my honest opinion.