OP-I Love You

I feel like it's been so long, and yet the last post was just six days ago, which is crazy because I feel like I wore Zulu just ages ago.

In that post I mentioned I was having a fling with OPI. For various reasons I wore several OPI colors back-to-back and became semi-obsessed. They're just so darn GOOD. The brush is perfect on my nails and the formula and pigmentation are simply awesome. Around this time I also became somewhat stalker-ish about acquiring the OPI/Ulta holiday exclusives. Now I'm not so sure they're a must-have, but never say never when it comes to nail polish.

In any event, OPI.

I did totally swearsies with myself that I would not get any of the Burlesque collection. Call me crazy, but most glitters don't drive me wild with desire. In fact I think most of the Burlesque glitters are kind of a mess, frankly. I know many were over the moon about them, but between the gritty finish and the pain-in-the-A removal process I just can't be bothered. Aside from Ali's Big Break, I didn't feel particularly drawn to any of the other colors, and then? Then I went to Ulta.

Yes. Very very very pretty. Incidentally, also very close to Pomegranate Me A Wish, one of the 2009 OPI exclusives through either Trade Secret or Beauty Brands.

After that, I felt compelled to drag out a 2009 Ulta holiday exclusive.

Then I received Parlez-vous OPI? in a swap and used it right away.

So here's where things started to get sliiiiiiiightly obsessive. I put together an all-OPI cart at Transdesign.com and then thought better of it. However I did find myself at Ulta AGAIN one night recently and purchased two colors I've been wanting for a little while, Louvre Me, Louvre Me Not and You Don't Know Jacques!

I love OPI so much I can't stand it. But next time I'm going to show you what I got in my first-ever BB Couture order, which should be arriving in my mailbox very soon. Hooray!

Zulu!

So originally I was going to tell you about my recent love affair with my OPI polishes, but then I remembered that I promised to show you Zulu.



I resisted liking this polish for so long, even when people were crowing about it nonstop. I bought Illamasqua Rampage, which isn't meant to be a dupe but is very like Zulu. I liked it well enough and thought well who needs Zulu?

And then one day I was doing a Sephora order for some Christmas gifts and BAM Zulu fell into my cart.



I really love it.



I mean, what's not to like?


It's a beautiful, beautiful color and it applied like a dream. This was a can't-stop-staring color for sure.

I got Zulu from Sephora and I am pretty sure it's still available...so if you can't live without it...get after it.

OPI Burlesque

The OPI Burlesque collection is old news to most of you by now. At first I was a little disappointed that this year's holiday collection was one of OPI's promotional gambits (a la the Shrek collection or the 90210 polishes), but people really went crazy for the glitters. For me, that wasn't a draw - glitter is all well and good but I'm not crazy for it. I hate the way it eats top coat, feels bumpy and takes forever to remove.

So, initially I was only interested in one color: Ali's Big Break, a pretty red with gold glitter. But when I saw it in person I was underwhelmed. So I skipped it and ended up bringing home Tease-y Does It and Let Me Entertain You instead.

Each time I go back to OPI I remember why I love them so much: perfect formula and perfect brush.

I got something in the mail today that I'm excited to show you soon, too:

YAY! ZULU!