Nail Call: Q1 2016

Basically no sunlight in the evening means no blogging because I can't take good pictures of wear time.  Here is what I've been wearing on my nails for the last three months though.  I aim to wear every single nail polish I own this year, which is going to take some doing.  I refuse to enter 2017 with a shameful pile of untried polishes mocking me.  I am going to cull as I go and try to give brief ratings or thoughts on each polish.  Also: I still think the hold things pictures are funny.  Please laugh along with my childish amusement.

Zoya "Brigitte"

10/10 would recommend.  I started the year off with a bang, an untried polish that I think is still probably my favorite so far.

Julep "Elaina":

This was fine, but I am on the fence about it.  It is blue for grown ups.  I will keep this one, but I don't need that many of this shade of blue.  

Zoya "Cosmo":

I don't often want a glitter, but when I do, I could probably use the most glittery glitter that ever glittered.  Keeping against my more practical judgement.

Julep "Cassie": 

This was very sheer and took 4 or 5 coats to build up to an opacity I was comfortable with.  I am going to keep it because I like the end result, but I am putting it in a project polish to use up in 2017.  

Zoya "Charli":

I love the idea of an olive nail polish but I just didn't find this flattering or interesting.  I think it needs a little more yellow.  This is being released back into the wild (put into a box to be sifted through by friends/family).

Julep "Isabella":

This was a great bright, vibrant blue.  I will definitely be keeping.  

Sinful Colors "Nirvana": 

Bordering on boring but a nicely professional color.  I will be holding onto this.  

Julep "Claudette":

There is something muted and brick-ish about this red that makes it more wearable and less 50 year old in leopard print doing her.  I will be holding onto it and remembering that I don't need that many more reds.  

Zoya "Wendy":

This is ridiculously bright, but it's also fun.  I will have to wear it sparingly but I don't mind it sticking around in my collection for now.  It was also pleasantly smooth for such a bright color, which tend to go a little streaky.  

Nina Ultra Pro "Sugar Spun"

This is an alright nude for my skin tone.   I don't love the tiny shimmers in it though.  This will also go into next year's project polish to be used up.  

Color Club "Gold Struck":

While this is a very good metallic, I am not a fan of metallics.  I should not have purchased this shade and will be releasing it into the wild to find a better home.  

Julep "Layne":

This is obviously quite sheer.  Because I constantly wear polish my nails tend to be quite stained so I can't wear them just bare.  I like having polishes like this to give the illusion of healthy bare nails though.  I will be holding onto this.  

Julep "Abigail":

This is one of their silk finishes, which are lightly matte.  It makes me appreciate the metallic finish a lot more and I will be holding onto this polish.  

Julep "Fifi":

Layne's less sheer cousin.  I will be keeping this one.

Nails Inc "Oxford Street": 

This is just a tough brown for me.  It is lighter and more yellow in the bottle than on the nails so I avoid reaching for it.  I actually think once I get it on my nails it looks quite nice though.  I will keep this and put it in next year's project polish so I am forced to use it rather than let it languish looking like baby poop.  

Zoya "Kendal":

I am a big fan of this  interestingly neutral polish and will be holding onto it.  

Julep "Rayma":

This is fantastic although I do think it made my nails quite yellow.  It may have to be reserved for toenails (it luckily is my favorite type plummy purple to use on my toes) or used with double base coat.  It stays for now though.

Julep "Mona":

I took an awful lots of photos of this polish, but unfortunately I am just do not like it enough compared to what else I have been wearing so far this year.  I am releasing this polish into the wild.  As a side note, I also very much dislike the Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel mask I am holding in these photos.  

Note pictured, Julep "Margaret": A nice light grey-blue I am holding onto. 

Zoya "Perrie":  This satisfies all of my radiant orchid needs.  Or at least checks all the boxes to satisfy them but who is to say if I will ever have enough radiant orchid in my life to be satisfied.  In good news my african violet is flowering again with flowers that are almost the exact shade of Perrie, which I will be keeping.  

Nine Ultra Pro "Blue La La":

This is a nicely muted blue but it runs a little blah.  I will be putting it in next year's project polish to try to use it up.   I am also motivated to use it up because it is quite old (at least 5 or 6 years).  I am not sure if the bottles/brushes are still the same, but I will mention that the Nina Ultra Pro brushes are wonderfully short and wide.  I really enjoy painting my nails with them.

Zoya "Paige": 

A slightly brighter version of Julep "Rayma" I also really like this shade.  It seemed to stain my nails a little less than Rayma.  

Formula X "Intergallactic":

This is obnoxious pink textured glitter and I kind of love it.  It's not subtle and it's not really appropriate for professional situations, but it sure is fun.  I am going to hang onto it because it actually wears pretty well (the pictures below show it after over 7 full days of wear).  

OPI small mystery polish:

This came as part of a set in a gift with purchase and I have absolutely no idea what the shade name is.  I liked this fine for a slightly healthier nail look and will hold onto it.  

Sinful Colors "Gogo Girl":

This is a good example of a red that just isn't for me.  I did not feel like myself for the entire time I was wearing this, like I was trying too hard to be loud and sexy.  Released into the wild for this one.

OPI "Taupeless Beach":

I bought this to try to dupe an old favorite I used up (Julep "Alaina") and am pleased with the results.  It is an interesting neutral that leans both grey and purple to provide some depth without being leaving the realm of appropriately professional.  

Zoya "Miley":

I love the end result I got with this, but I was disappointed in how thin the formula was.  Below is 5 or 6 coats to build up to that opacity.  I will be putting this in my project polish to try to use it up, perhaps over a white base.  

So there you have all of my nail polish adventures.  More to come in 3 months with hopefully/maybe a handful of blog posts in between.