Orly "Rock Solid" Swatches!

Sparkly rainbow asphalt! Multi-color metallic gray! Holo-dark-tastic!...

That's all I've got for now. I'm only half way through the day's first cup of coffee.

Anyway, what you see here is my favorite polish of this year (this far), Orly "Rock Solid" from the Mineral FX collection. I found this (and another from the collection, "Rock the World") at my local Sally Beauty about two weeks ago. This is their fall collection, and of the six shades this one certainly stands out the most for me. I adore dark polishes anyway (I'm a goth kid in remission) and anything holo/super-sparkly, so the combination of both is just too much to resist!

Orly polishes are generally of excellent quality, and this is no exception. Opaque in two coats, normal drying time, and easy to apply. The rubberized brush handle makes application easier than with other brands. It does need to be noted that this polish will soak up your first top coat, and if you want to get the most bang for your buck in terms of the rainbow sparkle, apply two top coats.

I took a few more pictures than normal, just because this polish is so awesome (and unique). Enjoy!

Milani "Bolting Blue" Swatches!

This crazy-bright blue nail polish is "Bolting Blue" from Milani. It's certainly a stand-out color, and is also a very nice quality polish at a budget-friendly price. You can find Milani at many drugstores, including CVS and Walgreens, for around $4. This shade is a classic from their line and has been around for a while. If you want a bright blue, look no further!

If you like attention-grabbing polishes, you'll adore this one. It's opaque in two coats, doesn't eat a top coat (just one and it's shiny) and is easy to apply. I've always loved Milani's polishes, and this is a stellar example of the brand. It has a normal drying time, isn't streaky or overly-thick. The color has a gentle shimmer that adds to the eye-catching quality.

This shade is a good dupe for China Glaze "Frostbite", they're incredibly similar, with "Frostbite" being just a bit lighter. Having used both, I would actually pick "Bolting Blue" between the two if I had to choose, as its application is a bit smoother and "Frostbite" did stain my nails just a smidge. Check out more views in varying types of light below!

One-Shots: Sinful Colors "Snow Me White"!

The best kinda shot is a one-shot! (Duh, any video gamer knows this.) Here at Mineral Magnolias, we give you fast-and-dirty one-nail reviews of nail polish that strikes our fancy. Today it's "Snow Me White" by Sinful Colors. SC gives you good quality polish, a wide variety of colors and finishes at a very reasonable price and a convenient location (Walgreens, $1.99).

Stark-white polishes are tricky. They can be too thick, too thin, streaky, watery or just plain uncooperative. Of all of the super-white, no shimmer's I've tried, this is the best. Some, like Sally Hansen "White On" just looks like generic office product white-out on my nails. Others, like any from Orly's French Manicure line, are way too watery. This is just right. If you want to do a French Manicure at home, using my previous post about black tips, then I recommend using this white. You'll get opaque in one-coat!

OPI "Here Today...Aragon Tomorrow!" Swatches!

There are a few (good) reasons I bought this polish a while back. Number One: I grew up in a small town in Georgia called Aragon. Number Two: Green is my favorite color. Number Three: Ultra unique shade! Number Four: it's the color of my first car!

OPI "Here Today..Aragon Tomorrow!" is from their Coleccion De Espana (a few years back). I've had this for a while, it's the only shade from that collection that I purchased and it is still one of my favorite polishes. Every time I wear it, people ask "Is that black...or green...or what?!" It's certainly eye-chatching, without being flashy or over-the-top.

I find that the formula follows OPI's standard formula. Opaque in two coats, and be careful with your first coat. If you don't apply it evenly with an easy hand, it'll be two thick and look spotty. It has a normal drying time, and takes well to just one top coat (I used Seche Vite). You can buy this polish in-store at most Ulta shops, and in varying places online.

A few more shots in varying types of light!

Orly "Dazzle" Swatch!

Today I bring you quite possibly the most chrome nail polish I've ever seen: Orly "Dazzle"! This will be repromoted this winter as part of their holiday line, but you can still pick it up at beauty retailers as it's a permanent shade. (Orly's site retails for $7.50.) This is a seriously eye-catching nail polish. There's nothing subtle about it. The quality is quite nice. It can be opaque and ready in one coat, but two really brings out the full shine and pop. It has a faster than normal drying time, and does not streak. The one downfall of this shade is when it comes time to take it off: it's so shimmery that, much like many glitter polishes, your hands will be covered in little silver flakes (I suppose there are worse things for your hands to be covered in).

Here are a few more shots of it. The photo up top is in natural light. The next few are as well, and the last is with flash (super dazzle!!!!!).


(Yeah, I totally spilled some green polish on this bottle's cap. That's LASplash Ocean Fairy, heh. Whoopsie!)

One-Shots: Zoya "Adina"

The best kinda shot is a one-shot! (Duh, any video gamer knows this.) Here at Mineral Magnolias, we give you fast-and-dirty one-nail reviews of nail polish that strikes our fancy. Today it's "Adina" by Zoya. I adore Zoya polishes, they're all very high quality and never disappoint.

Adina is a gem! Zoya's site describes it as: "Violet metallic multichrome. A frosty hint of green and magenta creates a unique "oil-slick" look." This description is spot on. Adina is one of the most pronounced multi-chromes I've ever seen. You can easily get purple, green and gold just from looking at it. It's fully opaque in two coats, but even better in three. It has a normal drying time, doesn't streak for your second/third coats. This is easily one of my favorite polishes in my entire collection. You can find Adina at zoya.com.

Here are some shots in a variety of angles and lights:

Crazy Manis: Fricktastic

One of my closest friends, artist Miranda Harrell, is in a karaoke competition here in Georgia every Monday night. Each night has had a fashion theme, and this week was "red, blue and flashy". Since most of my clothing is black (yeah, I'm a goth in remission), I decided to carry this theme in my makeup and nails. I call it the "Fricktastic" because Miranda's favorite colors are actually "red, blue and flashy" and this is just her as a manicure. The index finger is Zoya "Ginessa", with OPI Turqoise Shatter. Every other nail is Nina Ultra Pro "Love Struck." I found this red on Monday in a store and fell in love with it. It goes on well, opaque in two coats, thick but still even...however...it stained my nails! One of my pet peeves, polish that stains my acrylic tops! I buffed and put on a thick coat of Seche Clear, but it still stained them. So disappointing!

Zoya "Ginessa" Swatch

My current nail color, "Ginessa" from Zoya! The product's site describes this as: "Soft, silvery white glitter flakes against a sheer winter white base. A clean shimmering white that's universally flattering." It's opaque in two coats, isn't overly thick and is a good example of Zoya's shimmer formulas. It tends to try a little thick, but as long as you're careful and use a drying top coat (I use Seche Vite), you'll be fine.

Sometimes white nail polishes can be chalky or harsh. With the shimmer in Ginessa, it's much more gentle on the onlooker than your average white polish. Because of its silver glitter, it does lean cool, but it isn't overbearing and should be fine on any skin tone. I can see this being especially flattering on darker skin tones, but it still looks elegant on my insanely pale skin.

You can find Ginessa at zoya.com!