.:: CybeleSays ::.

I tweeted the other day how I was revisiting some of the vampy shades and settled on OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark. While I like it, I think it’s too dark for now and while I want something with pizzazz, I’m feeling something a little lighter.

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So where are you on the nail color spectrum right ……………. Now? For me, it seems to change weekly – dark one week and then barely there the next, with pretty much no middle ground to speak of. Here are some I’m taking the season out of and declaring these just great all around shades.

If you’re feeling nude …

CND Nail Lacquer in Pink Wishes and Pink Wishes Effect – cotton-candy pink and the effect of pale pink pearlescent sheen. Only available for a limited time! $20 @ cnd.com.
THE ORGANIC PHARMACY Organic Glam Nail Lacquer in Nude – one of the best “nudes” I’ve ever used. $16.95 @ theorganicpharmacy.com.

If you’re feeling dark …

CND Nail Lacquer in Dark Amethyst - this is part of a set along with Midnight Sapphire and Sheer 24K Sparkle Effect. I consider this the purple version of Vamp. $29 @ cnd.com.
DURI Nail Polish in Cabernet Sauvignon – this dark burgundy shade is part of their Fall/Winter Collection called Wine Tasting Party and is a nice alternative to the bold red. $5 @ duri.com.

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

Nude for nails is hotter than it’s ever been so here are some I’ve been rockin’ lately!

ZOYA's new Nail Polishes called the Touch Collection was inspired by the runways of NY Fashion Week's Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter 2011 Collection. From what I saw, nail colors were either a major accessory or kickin' back with the below-type of shades. I'm so into them right now! $8 @ zoya.com.

Minka: latte beige cream w/a metallic kiss
Shay – desert rose and beige cream w/a metallic kiss
Pandora – mauve beige cream w/a metallic kiss

The other set of nudes I’ve been wearing are CND’s Perfectly Bare Colour Nail Lacquer and Perfectly Bare Shimmer Nail Lacquer $20 @ cnd.com. These were used on some of the big Spring 2010 Runway Shows as well as lots of other of their colors. The way I’ve been wearing these is to start with the Perfectly Bare color and wear that for a few days and then when I need a change, top each nail with a coat of the Perfectly Bare Shimmer!

And if you are wicked anal about your manicure/pedicure, CND has a Scrub Fresh Nail Surface Cleaner. Yes, the cost of $22.50/8oz seems a tad steep but think of the time you will save fixing your polish when it starts chipping! This stuff helps make sure the nail surface is totally ready for the polish. It has both Isopropyl alcohol and acetone that temporarily dehydrates the nail. It also has quite a few parabens in it, so obviously not the best thing to breathe or use very often, but it really does work.

Scrub Fresh contains multiple parabens, which are seen by some as an ingredient of concern.

Read my ingredient disclaimer here.

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

What a great collection of colors, so much so that it’s hard to decide which one to apply without wanting to put them all on at once! I mean, don't they look really good all together in the above photo? Just out this week is CND’s Jason Wu Collection of Nail Lacquers and here is more about each color:

Miss Wu – Jason’s signature grey
Brigitte – lingerie-nude
Veronica – wanton garnet (used at Jason Wu's Spring 11 fashion show)
Sophia – voluptuous cappuccino
Anna Effect – a clear coat that “featherizes” any color, whatever that means as I didn’t notice it really do anything. Maybe this effect has me spoiled? $47 @ cnd.com.

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

Want to know what the latest trend in nail polishes is? Crackle! Sort of like this I did back in March 2010, it’s gives the nail an unsmooth texture. A few lines have come out with these Crackle nail polishes and I was able to try the ones from CHINA GLAZE. Just paint your nails with any color like you normally would, wait for them to fully dry and then apply a coat of Crackle Glaze! It takes about 10 seconds for it to start drying and crackling. The finish is kind of matte so for you apply a top coat to keep your mani/pedi a long time.  

Shown here – China Glaze Crackle Nail Lacquer in Cracked Concrete ($7.50 @ chinaglaze.com) on top of Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Enchanted Garnet. Top Coat – CND Top Coat Super Shiney.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

Do you have a nailfile (lover of all things nails, polishes, etc) on your list this year? I love to give gifts from the CND line. The quality is great and they put some creative sets out every year like this Almond SpaManicure Snuggle Set. It contains a bottle of their Almond Hydrating Lotion (8oz) – use it on hands, body and feet. Contains jojoba seed oil, sunflower seed oil and vitamin E, Solar Oil (.25oz) – this is a cult favorite to keep cuticles in tip-top shape with a bevy of nourishing oils like sweet almond, jojoba and rice and  a pair of cute Cozy Pedi Socks! $16.95 @ cnd.com.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.

As much as I love color right now, the nude color also has a piece of my heart. And over the years I have discovered that there is such a thing as a lippie or eye shadow being too nude as in, it’s practically invisible. I want some color with my nude, right? Here are some nudes that are rockin’ my features and not don’t do a disappearing act.

From L to R:
BARE ESCENTUALS Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Stick in Marrakech ($18 @ sephora.com).
MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Lip in 1C ($17 only @ sephora.com).
CND Nail Colour in Dessert Suede ($9 @ cnd.com).

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.

I’m putting away the beiges and nudes in favor of more sultry and seasonal Nail Polishes. Are you feeling these fall picks? Let me know in the comments and what you’re currently wearing!

From L to R: CND Urban Oasis (spruce crème) and Urban Oasis with Teal Sparkle (greenish-blue glimmer) on top. color - $9, effects - $11 @ cnd.com. CHINA GLAZE Bogie (brown eggplant), Jitterbug (charcoal grey shimmer) both from the Vintage Vixen Collection. $6.50 @ salon nationwide.

Wanna see more Fall 2010 nail picks? Click below!

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Remember this feature from last year with the new trend for the long-lasting manicure? Well CND’s version, called Shellac Hybrid Nail Color, is upon us. It's the same base coat, color, top coat then cure with a UV light type of process and the formula is 3-Free (no formaldehyde, tolune or DBP) like the other company I tried last year but did this Shellac live up to the hype? Click after the jump to see!

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Since I’ve been doing this awesome Spring Scent Picks feature, I feel like I want to start a smell blog for things that smell good - from beauty products and the interior of new cars to old-fashioned magic markers and old-fashioned report cards. Ok, I’m showing my age now. Here are some more that I’m digging right now!

From L to R clockwise:

ELIZABETH ARDEN 'Pretty' Eau de Cologne Splash ($45/6.8oz @ elizabetharden.com)
CND SpaManicure Citrus Hydrating Lotion for the hands ($13.95/8oz @ bebeautiful.com)
ORGANIX Conditioner in Cherry Blossom Ginseng ($6.99/13oz @ cvs.com)
CRATER LAKE COMPANY Sugar Cloud Foaming Sugar Scrub in Honeysuckle Fizz ($15.95/11oz @ craterlakecompany.com)
LA NATURA 100% Vegan Pure Body Butter in Pomegranate ($30/4oz @ lanatura.com)
FLIRT! Rock-n-Roll Rebel Perfume Spray ($35/1.7oz @ kohls.com)
KINGS & QUEENS Sugar Showergel ($9/10.14oz @ select Target stores)

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes. Some I bought.