Nail Look: OPI Cheyenne Pepper

OPI Cheyenne Pepper is such a pretty color, perfect for fall and winter! Reminds me of - what else - cayenne pepper! It's a warm orange brown with gorgeous gold and orange shimmer although it looks like a creme from afar. It's from a 1990's OPI collection called Rocky Mountain, but I believe this is a part of the permanent line now. I love old OPIs, the shimmer is fantastic but super subtle- not a creme, but not super blingy like metallics or glitter either. Very subtle and classy/classic. Love it.

Nail Stamp Art Using China Glaze Tronica Nail Polish in Digital Dawn

So remember when I received the XL image plates a few days ago? I used XL plate "D" for the images:


I used the bottom left image.

My base color is China Glaze in Digital Dawn from the Tronica collection. It's a nice burnt orange holo, very pretty. I used Konad special polish in Black, which was probably a mistake. I didn't like the overall nail look because the image was too dark. It would have been nice if I didn't use a stark black polish for the image. A lighter grey or pewter would have worked better. I added red rhinestones to add some dimension to the polish. Not a favorite, but at least I found out that the XL plates do work wonderfully.

OPI Burlesque Collection: Rising Star and Extra-Va-Vaganza

Rising Star, Take The Stage, Tease-y Does It!
Let Me Entertain You, The Show Must Go On






Glow Up Already!, Show It & Glow It, Sparkle-iscious
Bring On the Bling, Simmer & Simmer, Extra-Va-Va-Ganza



I've had these polishes for about a month now, but I've only had the opportunity now to post them. They are gorgeous and the glitters and shimmers are beautiful. I am drowning in polish but I can't seem to stop! There are a million different nail looks I am imagining and concocting using all my nail polishes, I don't know where to start! I just love my pretties and these are the perfect accessory for all my outfits. A nail polish that fits the ensemble just makes my entire look seem pulled together.

Anyhow, here are some swatches of Rising Star, a nice gold-copper metallic with gritty-looking (but smooth actually) glass sparkle. So pretty!











I applied Extra-Va-Va-Ganza (that was hard to type!) over it:









I like the fact that one layer of top coat smoothens the entire nail bed and does not feel gritty at all. The glitters are nice for layering, or they can be applied alone. They are opaque in 3 coats, and they are just galactically dazzling. I used only 1 layer of Extra-Va-Va-Ganza, so you can see the base underneath it.

I will be posting swatches of the rest soon.

NEW Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Shrapnel

Several months ago, Illamasqua launched a wide-reaching contest where over 6000 nail polish enthusiasts around the world submitted descriptions of their dream nail varnish colours in 50 words or less, accompanied by an image of their inspiration.

Three winners were eventually chosen to have their dream nail polish come true. Here are two of the three custom-made varnishes:









Here's how the contestants described the winning shades:

Shrapnel - “I have NEVER found my dream nail colour, a pink based metallic copper, like a shiny new penny – pure sex!” - Loren, Toronto, Canada.

Raindrops - “Inspired by a photograph I took from the monorail in Seattle, through the rain on the window you glimpse the Seattle Space Needle. I want a polish that looks like raindrops on my fingernails. A light, creamy grey with the sheerest silver glimmer, lightly reflective... like a raindrop.”– Ann, California

I have already featured Raindrops in a previous entry, so this time, I am featuring the copper penny nail polish called Shrapnel.











It is a very pretty color and it is indeed the pinkish copper you see in a shiny new penny. It is eye-catching and classy. The staying power is also very good with a base. I am impressed with the quality of Illamasqua varnishes.

Illamasqua started retailing these at illamasqua.com and at selected Selfridges stores across the UK from Monday 4th October. These will be available in the U.S. at Sephora stores; exact dates will be announced.

NOTE: Media samples were provided by a representative of the company for consideration and evaluation. All opinions are 100% mine.