Focus On Black: Nina Ultra Pro Glamrock

The last time I popped into Sally Beauty Supply, I had a look at the core line of Nina Ultra Pros, because I always feel like I need to nab more of these little beauties - they just don't get as much love as they should from me, and there's so many cool colors. Lo and behold, there was a new nugget of greatness hovering in the bottom row - it had one of those little circular papers around the neck that said so! And for sure, I've never seen it before. I immediately snatched it up.
Turns out, Nina Ultra Pro Glamrock is perfect for Focus On Black. It's a black jelly jam freaking packed with two sizes of silver glitter - small squares, and larger hexagons. Jeez. Your nails look positively encrusted with glitter, and it just screams rock and roll. I love this. If you like glitter and silver at all, you need it. Seriously. And it's in the core section! I used three coats, and I let each one dry a bit in between to prevent balding patches - you know, where you squish on another layer of glitter and it seems to make a bald spot on your nail? That happens when your first layer isn't dry enough and you're dealing with chunky glitter.
So. This is sexy, yes! I just adore everything about it. The black jelly base gives it the depth it needs.

As you can see, it's so shiny and sparkly it almost knocked my camera for a loop trying to get a good macro, but there you go. Click to enlarge the other two photos, seriously! Have you spied this in your Sally's yet?

Nina Ultra Pro Mossy Britches

Oh my goodness, it's finally October! I have a lot to show you this month and it should be quite fun.
Anyway, this is another fall shade - it's actually quite like the CQ I just showed you guys recently, Golden Green.  I do have a comparison shot to show you for this!
So, Mossy Britches - love the name! - has actually been out for a while, I think I first picked this up last year, and it's in regular stock at Sally's Beauty Supply. It's a olive green based shimmer absolutely loaded with gold. There are bubbles on my nails, but that is not from the formula - I was using up the last of my base coat, and it's sticky and gloopy, so please ignore the bubbles. I used two coats for this swatch. It's a perfect formula, really - between medium and thin, and I like the brushes and the bottles. Easy to work with! Application is nice and even.

Okay, so you can click to enlarge this if you want to see the minor differences I'm talking about. These are essentially dupes. The biggest difference is formula - the CQ is more prone for brushstrokes, so you have to baby it a bit. Also, the shimmer in the CQ seems to float suspended in the olive base, so the base color comes through a bit more and it seems to have a bit more of a glow. Other than that, they're virtually the same shade!

I can deal with babying a formula, so I think if I had to chose one it'd be the CQ. Either way, they're both beauties!

Focus On Blue: Nina Ultra Pro Sailor

Let's kick of Focus On Blue week with a little featured brand, Nina Ultra Pro. I find these at Sally's Beauty Supply - I've never seen them anywhere else. Sailor is a gorgeous deep royal blue. It's a jelly creme, at first I thought it was going to be very jelly but I got it opaque in two coats. It's squishy and shiny even without top coat and application was divine - the perfect in between thin and medium formula. I really need to pick up some more of this brand, I do love it.

Yum. I just love blue, and to me, this kind of shade is just classy looking. I know not everyone will wear blue nails, but it's my second favorite shade of nail polish! I'm glad there are so many options for blue lovers like me. I actually have ten polishes to show off for Focus On Blue, I just couldn't narrow it down to seven - hopefully no one has an objection?

Nina Ultra Pro Leaf Me Alone

You know, this is a brand that I always like, and I never get many of these. I mean, hello - Purple Xing? GREAT color, but crazy name. I love the name of this color - Leaf Me Alone - and it's a great polish. Going slightly off topic - I wonder if they still have that pretty pastel blue, what is it, Oh Tiff? I need that.

Anyway, Leaf Me Alone is...well, it's a jelly creme. It starts off very jelly but builds nicely to opacity at three layers, but it's still squishy looking and lighter at the tips of my nails. This has to be my favorite finish, or at least tied with jellies. The color is a light yellow green, very spring and leafy. Awesome! I bet this would look great with a black crackle, too. I probably won't be able to leave it alone.

I've got a yellow by Nina Ultra Pro that I bet would look great under a crackle too, Like Butta? I hadn't tried it, I'm wondering if it's the same finish. Have a fantastic night! It's my night off, so I have a ton to do.