Nerdlacquer Opera Collection: Walküre, Götterdämmerung, and Rheingold Swatch And Review

Nerdlacquer has returned for her mini haitus with a new collection called Opera, based on "Der Ring des Nibelungen," an epic series of operas influenced by Norse sagas.  Previously unaware of such a creation, I read a little into it and it seems really interesting.  Hopefully one day when I'm not overwhelmed with LO, I'll get a chance to really explore it further.  What's not to like about gods, magic, heros, and mythical creatures?

The first part of the Opera is called Das Rheingold, and Nerdlacquer has aptly named the her polish Rheingold.  Rheingold is a gorgeous shade of dusty blue with gold hexes, black squares, and mini gold and bronze glitter.  It had perfect coverage after two coats and dried to a matte finish.  The first five pics are sans topcoat, the latter two are with one coat of Essence Gel Look nails topcoat.

Nerdlacquer Rheingold

Nerdlacquer Rheingold

Nerdlacquer Rheingold

Nerdlacquer Rheingold

Nerdlacquer Rheingold

Nerdlacquer Rheingold with topcoat

Nerdlacquer Rheingold with topcoat

The second Opera of the trilogy is called Walkure, which means the Valkyrie.  From what I read, it's the second opera but is a prelude to Rheingold and goes into the development of the main character of the story, Seigfried.  I really fell in love with this one as I was swatching it.  It's a cement gray cream base with mini gold glitter and silver hex and square glitters.  I didn't get as many larger glitters on my nails but maybe I needed to scrape the sides of the bottle to get them to float more in the base.  I used two coats and had no problems with application otherwise.  I really loved the matte finish of this, it looks so soft!  The first five are without topcoat, and last two are with Essence Gel Look nails topcoat.

Nerdlacquer Walküre

Nerdlacquer Walküre

Nerdlacquer Walküre

Nerdlacquer Walküre

Nerdlacquer Walküre

Nerdlacquer Walküre with topcoat

Nerdlacquer Walküre with topcoat

Finally, the third Opera, Götterdämmerung, concludes the story and involves the final battle between man and gods.  This is probably one of Nerdlacquer's most epic polish ever, and I couldn't believe how breathtaking this polish is.  It's like Bel Argus had a glitter baby and named it Götterdämmerung.  It immediately has catapulted itself into one of my top ten favorite polishes, EVER!  It has a gorgeous duochrome blue to purple base, with a mixture of blue, purple and silver glitters that don't detract from the color shift.  It's fantastical and mindblowing.  I could gush on all day about this, really, but I really should let the pictures do the talking.  I used again two coats for this, with no trouble with application at all, and the first six are without topcoat, the resr are with two layers of Essence Gel Look nails because it was more topcoat thirsty than the first two.  Be forewared, I took a ton of pics!

Nerdlacquer Götterdämmerung

Nerdlacquer Götterdämmerung

Nerdlacquer Götterdämmerung

Nerdlacquer Götterdämmerung

Nerdlacquer Götterdämmerung

Nerdlacquer Götterdämmerung

Nerdlacquer Götterdämmerung with topcoat

Nerdlacquer Götterdämmerung with topcoat

Nerdlacquer Götterdämmerung with topcoat

Nerdlacquer Götterdämmerung with topcoat

Nerdlacquer Götterdämmerung with topcoat

How unbelievably beautiful is that polish?  I suck at capturing duochromes on camera, but I think the color shift is fairly visible in these pics.  It's completely backup worthy, and definitely worth snatching up the next time Nerdlacquer has a restock.  Have I missed the glitter duochrome train before, or has there been something like this ever been released?

This entire collection was nothing short of amazing.  I think is probably the best collection released to date by Nerdlacquer.  I loved the variety of colors and finishes, from a soft cool grey with sparse glitter to the heavily glitter laden duochrome masterpiece.  If you want your chance to nab these, follow Nerdlacquer on Google+ and make sure you set your phone up to receive notifications when she posts.  

Sinful Colors Lavander and Shock And Awe Swatch And Review

Happy belated Summer Solstice!  I hope you're enjoying the longest days of the year this weekend!  I have my brother and mother visiting so I've been busy running around town with them.  It's always great to have family visit.

I found some of the new Sinful Colors polishes to show you - first is Lavander, a nice dusty lavender cream.  Opaque in two coats with a wonderful formula and easy application.  No topcoat in this pic.

Sinful Colors Lavander

Sinful Colors Lavander

Sinful Colors Lavander

Sinful Colors Lavander

Sinful Colors Lavander

This color I found at Target and I believe it's exclusive to them.  It's called Shock And Awe and it's a neon blurple cream.  Nearly opaque in one coat, however I did two hasty coats here.  Super easy application and great formula once again.  There is a topcoat of Poshe in this pics.  First pic is the auto white balance setting on my camera but it made the color look much more blue than it actually is.  The rest are more color accurate despite my skin look off-color.

Sinful Colors Shock And Awe

Sinful Colors Shock And Awe

Sinful Colors Shock And Awe

Sinful Colors Shock And Awe

Each time I use Sinful Colors I find that I love them more and more, more so than OPI and China Glaze.  I'm really considering switching to that brand for my regular staple colors.  How do you think Sinful Colors compares to more costly polishes on the market?

Illamasqua Venous and Comparison of YSL Vert D'Orient with China Glaze Exotic Encounters

Happy Friday!  I hope you've got some great plans for the weekend, that way I can vicariously live through you while I'm working on Saturday.  Aside from work, it's my five year wedding anniversary and we're planning on going to one of Roy Choi's restaurants for dinner.  I'm really looking forward to it because I've been seeing so much of his food on tv lately.

I have another fantastic dark teal for you today, and that is Illamasqua's Venous.  It's a dark green leaning teal cream that had a superb formula.  With absolutely no issues with application, this polish nearly painted itself on my nails.  I almost got away with one coat but used two to be safe and then finished with a layer of Poshe.

Illamasqua Venous

Illamasqua Venous

Illamasqua Venous

Illamasqua Venous

Illamasqua Venous

And as promised, I have a comparison of Illamasqua Venous, YSL Vert D'Orient, and China Glaze Exotic Encounters.

Comparison of YSL Vert D'Orient, Illamasqua Venous, and China Glaze Exotic Encounters

As you can see, Venous and Vert D'Orient are closer in shade than Exotic Encounters.  EE leans more darker and dusty.  Application-wise, China Glaze was streaky and thinner than either YSL or Illamasqua, but Illamasqua wins hands down in formula and ease of application.  The YSL was a bit thicker and didn't self level at all, unlike the Illa that smoothed itself out.  I'll keep looking for a cheaper alternative, but if you like this shade of teal, I definitely recommend the Illa over the other brands.

OPI Thanks A Windmillion Swatch And Review plus bonus OPI Black Spotted

I love a gorgeous dusty green shade and OPI Thanks A Windmillion is just that.  I neglected to pick it up when it was first released(why, I don't know and I've been kicking myself ever since), so when I saw it today I had to have it.  Formula was typical OPI goodness, pigmented and smooth, albeit a bit streaky and dried slowly.  I used two layers for this mani and you can see that I rushed the 2nd coat because there's a little dragging.  Oopsies.  No topcoat in these pics.

OPI Thanks A Windmillion

OPI Thanks A Windmillion

OPI Thanks A Windmillion

OPI Thanks A Windmillion

OPI Thanks A Windmillion

And bonus pics!  I found OPI Black Spotted in my nail supply store today, it looks like it's finally landed in the US!  Woot woot!  Forgive the cracks, it was my first attempt.  My right hand actually looks much better than this.

OPI Black Spotted over OPI Thanks A Windmillion

OPI Black Spotted over OPI Thanks A Windmillion

OPI Black Spotted over OPI Thanks A Windmillion

OPI Black Spotted over OPI Thanks A Windmillion

I'll have to do some homework and practice a bit more with the OPI Black Spotted.  I'll figure a way around those cracks.  But hey, so what, OPI Black Spotted is finally in the US, hooray!!

Contrary Polish Feels Like Home from Love Lyrics Spring 2013

This is my first actual post with the new nubbins, and I really had a hard time getting them all the same length.  Call it length separation anxie. It took me a full week to get them all filed down, because each day I could only file them down a little at a time. 

Tonight I have another installment of Contrary Polish's Love Lyrics collection and this is called Feels Like Home.  It's a smokey purple shade with itty bitty pink microglitter.  I really love the combination of colors in this polish and I think it makes a wonderful office appropriate mani.  The formula was minimally streaky and fairly opaque after the first coat, and I used two coats to even it out.  I had no trouble with application and it went on very smoothly.  It dried to a satin finish so I added a layer of Poshe for additional shine.

Contrary Polish Feels Like Home

Contrary Polish Feels Like Home

Contrary Polish Feels Like Home

Contrary Polish Feels Like Home

Contrary Polish Feels Like Home

I can't get over the contrasting microglitter in this polish and I can't help but wish there were more polishes out there.  Luckily I managed to snag another similar polish from the same collection called The Way I Am which you can see here.  I think this may be one of my favorite collection released this season because it isn't your traditional spring pastels.  Have you managed to snag any of these yet?