I feel that I am rather faithful to make-up brands especially when I find something that really works for me. But what about nail polish? I seem to buy anything and everything because I like to think of myself as an equal opportunity purchaser when it comes to nail polish. I don’t have the most lavish budget so I am an avid deal hunter. I am very lucky to have so many beauty supply stores in my area that sell a lot of the major brands at huge discounts. Unfortunately, this also makes me buy huge quantities of nail polish because, well, who can resist discounts? Not me!
Illamasqua is a brand that I don’t mind spending a little more money on…or a lot. Granted, their nail polish sells for $14 which is nowhere near bloated Chanel prices, but it’s still pricier than I would like.When their Naked Strangers Collection came out, I wasn’t that excited about it because I am more of a bold nail polish lover and the colors just seemed so…tame. I had gone to Sephora earlier in the week because I wanted to see if they had any of the Nails Inc. matter glitter “Sprinkles” polishes. Alas, they are not in store yet so I had to console myself with other nail polishes. I was playing around with the newest colors and Faithful really caught my attention. It looked like it was glowing from within. It had to be mine.
How can you resist the metallic looking glow of Faithful? The formula was perfect, as usual for Illamasqua, and I only needed two coats. This is a color that I could wear anywhere because it’s a bit neutral but still has a certain playfulness to it. It’s not overpowering, but it’s not boring either. Can you tell I love this color?
I’ve been playing a lot with glitter lately so I took out my #1 favorite glitter of all time: China Glaza Mahagonie. It has such a beautiful brown/red base with lots of holo glitter thrown into the mix. I think this combination sounded better in my head because I’m not too happy with the way it turned out once I sponged it on top of faithful. I don’t know if it was the sponge, my technique or the glitter, but this just doesn’t appeal to me as much. This just goes to show you that two rights, don’t always make a right!
Since I wasn’t too happy with the sponging, I went ahead and applied one thick coat of Mahoganie over my nails. This glitter is opaque at two coats if you wear it on its own. Since I already had a base color in Faithful, I was able to get away with one coat.
So what do you think? Are you an Illamasqua fan? Have you tried any of the China Glaze specialty glitters? This one is my favorite but Atlantis comes in at a close second. Wow…all that writing about glitter is throwing me off. Hello, my name is Cynthia and I am a reluctant glitter lover.
This Illamasqua looks stunning on you, love it! I don't own any of this brand but you're really making me want this shade. I'm not crazy about the glitter though, the texture looks strange.
Does it? I am totally in love with this glitter so everyone has to like it too! hmmmphhh! 😉 I think the way the base is tinted makes it looks weird sponged on top of faithful.
I do have to say that Faithful is really gorgeous and you will not be disappointed by any Illamasqua polishes.
I knew it!!! (reluctant glitter lover) 😀 I don't care for the glitter on top… Idk why exactly maybe just the color combo..? Anyway I KIND OF like that polish tho… I've never tried that brand and I don't think I'd buy that color for 14 bucks but if I saw it in person it might happen. It's a nice neutral, just a little sleepy for me right now.
I think that's the main reason I wanted it…because it seemed like something I wouldn't normally wear. I love it when I unexpectedly like a random nail polish color.
I agree about the color combo…the glitter's base is too tinted to be used for sponging but hey…I did it, so now I show it: good or bad. hehehe
This is my favorite glitter, though.
Beautiful combo! Polish with a sprinkle of holo glitter has fast become one of my favorites- it kicks the sparkles up one more notch!
I think the gradient looks great, and adds depth to the nail. It'll definitely make people look twice!
Awww…thank you! I hadn't thought about it that way and just felt that maybe the colored base was making it look…dirty? I don't know if that makes sense.
I have been so reluctant to actually say I like glitter but it's growing on me, I guess. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
I have never tried that brand either. I have quite a few China Glaze though. the color reminds me of like a milk chocolate hot cocoa.. something about it is just warming. Although I particularly go for more loud colors too, I see how this could be used for a certain occassion or two and livened up by some glitter 😀
I almost feel like Faithful is going to become my naked nails color…almost like a palate cleanser of sorts. I am so in love with Illamasqua polishes that they can do no wrong! 🙂
I think that China Glaze is my favorite brand: It's great quality and it doesn't break the bank. Even more importantly, they always put out such interesting collections!
sure do!
This Illamasqua looks stunning on you, love it! I don’t own any of this brand but you’re really making me want this shade. I’m not crazy about the glitter though, the texture looks strange.
Does it? I am totally in love with this glitter so everyone has to like it too! hmmmphhh! 😉 I think the way the base is tinted makes it looks weird sponged on top of faithful.
I do have to say that Faithful is really gorgeous and you will not be disappointed by any Illamasqua polishes.
I knew it!!! (reluctant glitter lover) 😀 I don’t care for the glitter on top… Idk why exactly maybe just the color combo..? Anyway I KIND OF like that polish tho… I’ve never tried that brand and I don’t think I’d buy that color for 14 bucks but if I saw it in person it might happen. It’s a nice neutral, just a little sleepy for me right now.
I think that’s the main reason I wanted it…because it seemed like something I wouldn’t normally wear. I love it when I unexpectedly like a random nail polish color.
I agree about the color combo…the glitter’s base is too tinted to be used for sponging but hey…I did it, so now I show it: good or bad. hehehe
This is my favorite glitter, though.
Beautiful combo! Polish with a sprinkle of holo glitter has fast become one of my favorites- it kicks the sparkles up one more notch!
I think the gradient looks great, and adds depth to the nail. It’ll definitely make people look twice!
Awww…thank you! I hadn’t thought about it that way and just felt that maybe the colored base was making it look…dirty? I don’t know if that makes sense.
I have been so reluctant to actually say I like glitter but it’s growing on me, I guess. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Do I like this? I dunno. I'm kinda tilting my head to the side, totally unsure. It's a flattering neutral and a palate cleanser, like you said, but it doesn't call to me.
LOL I have Atlantis. I won her in an auction. We aren't friends. She's pretty and she knows it, but I grow tired of her conversation. She reminds me why I dislike glitters…
I keep wondering how this looks on someone with a different complexion. Since I'm dark, colors tend to look way different on me…especially these type of neutrals.
Ok…Atlantis is pretty for sure, but there is another version of it from color club that is a million times better: Holiday Splendor.
I have never tried that brand either. I have quite a few China Glaze though. the color reminds me of like a milk chocolate hot cocoa.. something about it is just warming. Although I particularly go for more loud colors too, I see how this could be used for a certain occassion or two and livened up by some glitter 😀
I almost feel like Faithful is going to become my naked nails color…almost like a palate cleanser of sorts. I am so in love with Illamasqua polishes that they can do no wrong! 🙂
I think that China Glaze is my favorite brand: It’s great quality and it doesn’t break the bank. Even more importantly, they always put out such interesting collections!
sure do!
Do I like this? I dunno. I’m kinda tilting my head to the side, totally unsure. It’s a flattering neutral and a palate cleanser, like you said, but it doesn’t call to me.
LOL I have Atlantis. I won her in an auction. We aren’t friends. She’s pretty and she knows it, but I grow tired of her conversation. She reminds me why I dislike glitters…
I keep wondering how this looks on someone with a different complexion. Since I’m dark, colors tend to look way different on me…especially these type of neutrals.
Ok…Atlantis is pretty for sure, but there is another version of it from color club that is a million times better: Holiday Splendor.
For someone who doesn't like glitter (although I think you are getting past that, haha), you have an impressively awesome glitter collection! I somehow missed these ChG specialty glitters.
I LOVE Illamasqua. I only have two of their polishes, but they are a dream. This one does look like a good naked nails color for you. I was intrigued by it when it came out, but now I think it may be a little too neutral for me, but, if I see it in person, who knows, haha?
I actually like the gradient the best!
Thanks! I know I have tons of glitters…I am such a spaz. I honestly wasn't that much into glitter until I started this blog and even then I have been super negative about glitters as a whole. But then I see what people do with glitter and I just love it. They put out so many glitters in that collection…some are them are awesome and some of them are big fails.
Ahhh…Illamasqua. I love them. They are having a sale right now but I just don't want to buy more. They're selling polishes for 5 pounds on their site…just a few colors. Why do they do this to me?!
For someone who doesn’t like glitter (although I think you are getting past that, haha), you have an impressively awesome glitter collection! I somehow missed these ChG specialty glitters.
I LOVE Illamasqua. I only have two of their polishes, but they are a dream. This one does look like a good naked nails color for you. I was intrigued by it when it came out, but now I think it may be a little too neutral for me, but, if I see it in person, who knows, haha?
I actually like the gradient the best!
Thanks! I know I have tons of glitters…I am such a spaz. I honestly wasn’t that much into glitter until I started this blog and even then I have been super negative about glitters as a whole. But then I see what people do with glitter and I just love it. They put out so many glitters in that collection…some are them are awesome and some of them are big fails.
Ahhh…Illamasqua. I love them. They are having a sale right now but I just don’t want to buy more. They’re selling polishes for 5 pounds on their site…just a few colors. Why do they do this to me?!