It seems that last week I was saying how summer has been pretty mild here in Southern California, and now I am roasting in my own sweat. It is so hot here that I can barely function. Whenever it gets this hot, I tend to be in a foul mood so I’m sorry if you’ve been unlucky enough to be the recipient of that. I’ve been saying that I am so ready for fall ever since May and it’s not just because it gets cooler, but also because of the drool-worthy nail polish fall collections. I was lucky enough to get my hands on the Jessica Cosmetics Spicy Dream collection, and I couldn’t wait to swatch it for all of you.
When I first saw these colors, I was immediately reminded of being in France. Let me elaborate: Back in 1999, D. and I were studying in Paris together (Paris X – Woo hoo!) and one of his friends was supposed to take us to his family’s house in Normandy for the weekend. Well, that weekend was an utter catastrophe because there was a terrible storm that leveled forests, ruined roads…it was a nightmare. But, we ended up taking off anyway and spent the weekend touring different areas…Pont-l’Évêque (which has an amazing cheese), Honfleur, Deauville…ahhh…it was a nice weekend. This was also the weekend when D. created his infamous Sopa Castellana (Castillian Soup). I have no idea what he put in it, but I just remember eggs and chorizo…it was delish. So the reason why I am talking about all this is because we drank a lot of Calvados which is an apple brandy. Calvados is such a pretty color, and I was instantly transported back there when I saw these rich fall colors from the Spicy Dream collection. These colors also remind me of the spice souks that I loved so much when I was in Tunisia and Morocco. Can you tell I miss traveling?
Let’s move on to some swatches:
CHAMPAGNE BUBBLES: This was my least favorite polish of the collection. I just don’t like the way it looks on me. China Glaze also has a polish called Champagne Bubbles but it is very yellow while this is much lighter and has a more delicate feel to it. Whenever I swatch, I always use Seche Vite as my topcoat and something weird happened when I applied it: it dragged and the polish got a wrinkled look to it so I had to remove it and reapply.
PUMPKIN DELIGHT: This is my absolutely favorite polish of this collection. I love how rich it looks. It’s just breathtaking.
GINGERSNAP: This is one is a pretty color as well. It’s obviously not as intense as Pumpkin delight, but it’s still pretty. Oh, and I am a gingersnap freak…I love them so much!
CINNAMON KISS: This polish looks like something I’ve seen many times before, but I see how it fits into this collection. I always love these type of polishes that have a glowing quality to them
CRIMSON TATTOO: Don’t laugh but this color made me think of Kat Von D. I wouldn’t say that I am a huge fan, but I love what she does with make up.I love how bloody this color looks and it’s probably the color I would wear the most year-round.
BROWN SUGAR: I think this is the most unique polish in this whole collection. In my opinion, it’s one of those ugly pretty colors that you can’t really nail down. It has the strangest shimmer in the bottle: it looks a bit blue to me but it’s almost like some marbling. You can barely see it on the nail, but you can definitely tell that it’s not a flat creme.
Overall, I do like this collection despite the fact that I don’t think some of these colors compliment my skin tone very well. I can’t really fault them for that because I’m sure others can really rock these colors. I can already see some of these colors as an awesome base for Thanksgiving nail art. The main thing that I didn’t like was that the first three colors were very difficult to remove. There was shimmer/glitter all over my fingers, my nails and embedded in my cuticles so I had to use pure acetone for removal. No one ever said beauty would be painless. The second part of the collection, which is intensely pigmented, surprised me because none of the polishes stained at all. I figured that Crimson Tattoo would be the biggest staining nightmare because of the pigmentation, but it removed effortlessly. I only had to use two coats for all of these polishes and some of them could do with one coat if you apply it carefully.
Are you ready for Fall? I think that we can start getting into the Fall mood with the lovely polish collections that will start to crop up even if the weather refuses to cooperate. Let me know what you think of this collection. Will you be picking up any of these colors? Do you have a favorite? Are you a Jessica fan? I am!!!!! They released my favorite collection of 2012 so far: Gelato Mio! Check out my swatches here if you haven’t gotten your hands on any of those beauties. The Spicy Dream collection will be out this month at www.jessicacosmetics.com and at salons and spas internationally.
Thanks for stopping by and remember: enabling = caring.
****These items were sent for review. This in no way influences my review and opinion of the product.****
ooh, these are really pretty, and I definitely do not usually go for these sorts of shades! OK, the top 2, yes, but not the rest!
They really are pretty even if I may have a dupe here and there (especially for the dark red). I can see you wearing the top 2 for sure!
These are so pretty! Is that a hint of duochrome I see in Cinnamon Kiss? Man, I really wish I had better access to these.
Yes, Cinnamon Kiss and Gingersnap have slight duochrome which makes them so gorgeous! I think transdesign sells there, right? I think I'm going to start ordering from transdesign as well. They have a lot of stuff at good prices…just hate the shipping. 🙁
Well, it looks like I'm going to have to brave the heat and search out some Chinatown spots for Jessica. Transdesign doesn't sell Jessica but they are a great place to order from, they have OPI too for $6.80 a bottle. But shipping is nuts, and I can't seem to find a code for any kind of discount. The only place I remember that sells Jessica is NailEtc and they don't have any new collections. Usually I can justify the shipping cost if the total amount out of pocket per bottle, to the door, is still cheaper than buying in a shop. But then I don't have decent nail shops like you do! 🙂 If my sister lived in Vegas still I'd be forcing her to buy my OPI's with her cosmetology license. 🙂 But since she's in LA I'd still have to deal with shipping, and her notorious unreliability. I still love her though. lol
LOL!!! Well, let me know if you ever want something that you can't find. It would still probably be cheaper even with shipping considering my amazing nail places. 🙂 One of my best friend's sister has a cosmetology license and I still get polishes cheaper than she does. HAHA!
Hahah! I'll make up a list. 🙂
I love vampy colors for fall and while these wouldn't be immediate go-to colors, I can see this fitting in really nicely with a rich, dark autumn polish collection 🙂
I definitely agree! They are staple colors, I think. They do scream fall.
I have so much to say about this post!
Firstly, I completely agree about the weather. It is literally difficult just to function as a normal human being and it does make me intensely cranky.
Secondly, OMG, thank you for swatching this collection for us! I LOVE IT! Champagne Bubbles is also probably my least favorite, mainly because I don't think there would be enough contrast between my nails and skin to satisfy me (a.k.a. I am pale). Pumpkin Delight – WHAT! YES! PLEASE! NOW! Gingersnap – my second favorite, and I also love the cookies! I have made myself sick eating them from the box. Cinnamon Kiss and Crimson Tattoo – I'm sure I have similar, but these are still pretty. Vampy dark reds like Crimson Tattoo are up there on my list of all-time favorites to wear, and I have a Maybelline polish similar to Cinnamon Kiss that I've gotten compliments on, given to a friend for a gift, and have worn to that same friend's wedding because it matched my bridesmaid dress perfectly! Actually, that is kind of funny because there were some staged pics of me, her mom, and the other two bridesmaids zipping up her dress and my nails were like this dark, glowy red and everyone else's were plain and I was like, haha, that's me! Brown Sugar – I agree, unique and kind of ugly-pretty. Kind of reminds me of that caramel one in the ChG Safari collection.
I don't own any Jessicas, but now I want some of these *pout*. Well, actually, I want all of these, haha. I have a problem with always wanting the entire set, despite acknowledging that I own dupes or similar! Thanks for caring, enabler!
How did I know you'd have the most to say about this collection? lol The heat is driving me crazy and it isn't even THAT hot where I live. I went to my nail place today (Sation overload) and it was beyond hot. I thought that I started sweating from excitement at seeing so many nail polishes at once, but it was just the weather. haha I actually wanted to stop at the place that sells a lot of Color Club to check on the holos but they were "closed for 20 minutes" WTF?? I waited for 20 minutes and no one showed up so I left. Whatever. I'm heading back there on Friday since I will be in the area so I hope they are open this time.
You should totally get Pumpkin Delight and Gingersnap: I think those two are the must-haves from this collection. It is a bummer that they are so hard to remove, but I know glitter/shimmer lovers don't mind so much. I am a little torn with Brown Sugar because the shimmer is confusing…it looks blue to me and then pinkish….I dunno. I think this is the color I will build a thanksgiving mani around. Oh man…I am going to tell you that you have to try the Gelato Mio! polishes if you're going to get some Jessica polishes. I know I keep harping on it, but they are so gorgeous and definitely my favorites this year.
Ha, that is funny that you knew I'd be all over it!
Also funny about the CCs because you said something (I think on Twitter) about not going to your nail places until it cools down and I almost responded, um, that's not true, 'cause you're going to hunt those CC holos!
If I have to be somewhat practical and not get all of them (which I do, haha), I think those two that you mentioned are the two I would get. I should listen to you about Gelato Mio, though, because I find that when one of us crazy nails ladies recommends something highly, it is for good reason!
Well, I forget where I read it (probably on another blog), that CC said the holos won't be out until the end of the month. 🙁 Now I know not to be all crazy chasing them down. Also, just like I said to Jessica, let me know if there are things you want and can't find because I can probably find them at my nail places. Since I practically live there, it's not a bother to look for them.
I am not ready for autumn polishes yet 🙁
I have too many summer 'brights' I still want to wear…
You'd better hurry up because I don't think we have that much longer before summer is officially gone. But…you can rock those brights year-round! 🙂
ooh, these are really pretty, and I definitely do not usually go for these sorts of shades! OK, the top 2, yes, but not the rest!
They really are pretty even if I may have a dupe here and there (especially for the dark red). I can see you wearing the top 2 for sure!
These are so pretty! Is that a hint of duochrome I see in Cinnamon Kiss? Man, I really wish I had better access to these.
Yes, Cinnamon Kiss and Gingersnap have slight duochrome which makes them so gorgeous! I think transdesign sells there, right? I think I’m going to start ordering from transdesign as well. They have a lot of stuff at good prices…just hate the shipping. 🙁
Well, it looks like I’m going to have to brave the heat and search out some Chinatown spots for Jessica. Transdesign doesn’t sell Jessica but they are a great place to order from, they have OPI too for $6.80 a bottle. But shipping is nuts, and I can’t seem to find a code for any kind of discount. The only place I remember that sells Jessica is NailEtc and they don’t have any new collections. Usually I can justify the shipping cost if the total amount out of pocket per bottle, to the door, is still cheaper than buying in a shop. But then I don’t have decent nail shops like you do! 🙂 If my sister lived in Vegas still I’d be forcing her to buy my OPI’s with her cosmetology license. 🙂 But since she’s in LA I’d still have to deal with shipping, and her notorious unreliability. I still love her though. lol
LOL!!! Well, let me know if you ever want something that you can’t find. It would still probably be cheaper even with shipping considering my amazing nail places. 🙂 One of my best friend’s sister has a cosmetology license and I still get polishes cheaper than she does. HAHA!
Hahah! I’ll make up a list. 🙂
I love vampy colors for fall and while these wouldn’t be immediate go-to colors, I can see this fitting in really nicely with a rich, dark autumn polish collection 🙂
I definitely agree! They are staple colors, I think. They do scream fall.
I have so much to say about this post!
Firstly, I completely agree about the weather. It is literally difficult just to function as a normal human being and it does make me intensely cranky.
Secondly, OMG, thank you for swatching this collection for us! I LOVE IT! Champagne Bubbles is also probably my least favorite, mainly because I don’t think there would be enough contrast between my nails and skin to satisfy me (a.k.a. I am pale). Pumpkin Delight – WHAT! YES! PLEASE! NOW! Gingersnap – my second favorite, and I also love the cookies! I have made myself sick eating them from the box. Cinnamon Kiss and Crimson Tattoo – I’m sure I have similar, but these are still pretty. Vampy dark reds like Crimson Tattoo are up there on my list of all-time favorites to wear, and I have a Maybelline polish similar to Cinnamon Kiss that I’ve gotten compliments on, given to a friend for a gift, and have worn to that same friend’s wedding because it matched my bridesmaid dress perfectly! Actually, that is kind of funny because there were some staged pics of me, her mom, and the other two bridesmaids zipping up her dress and my nails were like this dark, glowy red and everyone else’s were plain and I was like, haha, that’s me! Brown Sugar – I agree, unique and kind of ugly-pretty. Kind of reminds me of that caramel one in the ChG Safari collection.
I don’t own any Jessicas, but now I want some of these *pout*. Well, actually, I want all of these, haha. I have a problem with always wanting the entire set, despite acknowledging that I own dupes or similar! Thanks for caring, enabler!
How did I know you’d have the most to say about this collection? lol The heat is driving me crazy and it isn’t even THAT hot where I live. I went to my nail place today (Sation overload) and it was beyond hot. I thought that I started sweating from excitement at seeing so many nail polishes at once, but it was just the weather. haha I actually wanted to stop at the place that sells a lot of Color Club to check on the holos but they were “closed for 20 minutes” WTF?? I waited for 20 minutes and no one showed up so I left. Whatever. I’m heading back there on Friday since I will be in the area so I hope they are open this time.
You should totally get Pumpkin Delight and Gingersnap: I think those two are the must-haves from this collection. It is a bummer that they are so hard to remove, but I know glitter/shimmer lovers don’t mind so much. I am a little torn with Brown Sugar because the shimmer is confusing…it looks blue to me and then pinkish….I dunno. I think this is the color I will build a thanksgiving mani around. Oh man…I am going to tell you that you have to try the Gelato Mio! polishes if you’re going to get some Jessica polishes. I know I keep harping on it, but they are so gorgeous and definitely my favorites this year.
Ha, that is funny that you knew I’d be all over it!
Also funny about the CCs because you said something (I think on Twitter) about not going to your nail places until it cools down and I almost responded, um, that’s not true, ’cause you’re going to hunt those CC holos!
If I have to be somewhat practical and not get all of them (which I do, haha), I think those two that you mentioned are the two I would get. I should listen to you about Gelato Mio, though, because I find that when one of us crazy nails ladies recommends something highly, it is for good reason!
Well, I forget where I read it (probably on another blog), that CC said the holos won’t be out until the end of the month. 🙁 Now I know not to be all crazy chasing them down. Also, just like I said to Jessica, let me know if there are things you want and can’t find because I can probably find them at my nail places. Since I practically live there, it’s not a bother to look for them.
I am not ready for autumn polishes yet 🙁
I have too many summer ‘brights’ I still want to wear…
You’d better hurry up because I don’t think we have that much longer before summer is officially gone. But…you can rock those brights year-round! 🙂
I concur I am so ready for Fall EVerything! the Pumpkin flavored coffee (I only drink coffee in the fall becasue I normally dont like coffee! LOL) The fall scented candles, etc.. the fall colors, the fall polishes, I am right there with ya sister, I am READY! I am loving Crimson Tattoo, Cinnamon Kiss, and I honestly think I like Gingersnap more than the Pumpkin. like them both, but if I had to choose… this is a gorgeous collectionm, just got me even more ready 🙂 I want to put out my fall and halloween decorations now haha
Oh, man, Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks…my favorite! My friend (the one I mentioned above, haha) and I make a big deal out of sharing the first store we find that sells them and the last store we find that sells them. Cynthia doesn't pumpkin-flavored stuff, if I recall correctly, but she does like Starbuck's and fall!
Hehe…you have a good memory! I really don't like pumpkin flavored stuff but I am pretty sure that it has to do with the "spices" they use and not so much the pumpkin. I like to eat baked pumpkin…it's yummy…like yams and sweet potatoes. I can eat pumpkin pie once a year because everyone wants it for thanksgiving. 🙂
mm I love it so much, yummmmyyy
LOL…Yay to putting up decorations. I am so bad at decorating…I make everything look beyond tacky. A couple of years ago I put up my first Christmas tree (on my own) and it was a horrible Christmas nightmare. LOL I posted a picture on FB and everyone commented how ugly it was…how rude. hahaha
FALLLLLL come soon. We are waiting for you. I am excited to see what comes out this year for special halloween polishes. 🙂
I'm glad you like this collection! It really is pretty.
ugh! that is so rude!! I get so into Halloween its my favorite holiiday, I think I have more fall/halloween decos than christmas lol I think that China Glaze has a good Halloween/fall one coming out If I remember.. I think I saw a sneak peek
Haha, I think the only fight my best friend and I have ever got in was over a Christmas tree!!! It was senior year in high school and we were in the band council (yes, we were band nerds) and setting up for some dinner ceremony thing and she didn't like how I did the tree and I said who cares, it's just for a stupid band event! and stormed out. I did eventually show up at the thing but I remember I wore all black and was sulky the whole time, lol! We made up shortly after because I admitted the tree looked better after she fixed it and from that point on (like, until now, haha) I let her handle parties and that kinda stuff. Her husband proposed to her less than a month after she threw him a rather lavish 30th birthday party, so she is onto something, haha.
I would punch my way through the internet to get my hands on Cinnamon Kiss. That glowing red is stunning.
LOL…I love the idea of punching my way through the internet! 🙂 Yes, I agree: very stunning.
That is hysterical. A very accurate way of describing a particular nail polish lemming ;P
Haha! I know! I have such a vivid visual in my head right now.
Love your review and photos — thanks! I too am about ready to sell my soul for Pumpkin Delight, Cinnamon Kiss, and Gingersnap, even if they wouldn't be terribly flattering on my cool skin tone. I love fall !
Thank you so much for the visit and for the link love. 🙂 Pumpkin Delight is definitely my favorite even though I don't particularly like pumpkin.
I concur I am so ready for Fall EVerything! the Pumpkin flavored coffee (I only drink coffee in the fall becasue I normally dont like coffee! LOL) The fall scented candles, etc.. the fall colors, the fall polishes, I am right there with ya sister, I am READY! I am loving Crimson Tattoo, Cinnamon Kiss, and I honestly think I like Gingersnap more than the Pumpkin. like them both, but if I had to choose… this is a gorgeous collectionm, just got me even more ready 🙂 I want to put out my fall and halloween decorations now haha
Oh, man, Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks…my favorite! My friend (the one I mentioned above, haha) and I make a big deal out of sharing the first store we find that sells them and the last store we find that sells them. Cynthia doesn’t pumpkin-flavored stuff, if I recall correctly, but she does like Starbuck’s and fall!
Hehe…you have a good memory! I really don’t like pumpkin flavored stuff but I am pretty sure that it has to do with the “spices” they use and not so much the pumpkin. I like to eat baked pumpkin…it’s yummy…like yams and sweet potatoes. I can eat pumpkin pie once a year because everyone wants it for thanksgiving. 🙂
mm I love it so much, yummmmyyy
LOL…Yay to putting up decorations. I am so bad at decorating…I make everything look beyond tacky. A couple of years ago I put up my first Christmas tree (on my own) and it was a horrible Christmas nightmare. LOL I posted a picture on FB and everyone commented how ugly it was…how rude. hahaha
FALLLLLL come soon. We are waiting for you. I am excited to see what comes out this year for special halloween polishes. 🙂
I’m glad you like this collection! It really is pretty.
ugh! that is so rude!! I get so into Halloween its my favorite holiiday, I think I have more fall/halloween decos than christmas lol I think that China Glaze has a good Halloween/fall one coming out If I remember.. I think I saw a sneak peek
Haha, I think the only fight my best friend and I have ever got in was over a Christmas tree!!! It was senior year in high school and we were in the band council (yes, we were band nerds) and setting up for some dinner ceremony thing and she didn’t like how I did the tree and I said who cares, it’s just for a stupid band event! and stormed out. I did eventually show up at the thing but I remember I wore all black and was sulky the whole time, lol! We made up shortly after because I admitted the tree looked better after she fixed it and from that point on (like, until now, haha) I let her handle parties and that kinda stuff. Her husband proposed to her less than a month after she threw him a rather lavish 30th birthday party, so she is onto something, haha.
I would punch my way through the internet to get my hands on Cinnamon Kiss. That glowing red is stunning.
LOL…I love the idea of punching my way through the internet! 🙂 Yes, I agree: very stunning.
That is hysterical. A very accurate way of describing a particular nail polish lemming ;P
Haha! I know! I have such a vivid visual in my head right now.
Love your review and photos — thanks! I too am about ready to sell my soul for Pumpkin Delight, Cinnamon Kiss, and Gingersnap, even if they wouldn’t be terribly flattering on my cool skin tone. I love fall !
Thank you so much for the visit and for the link love. 🙂 Pumpkin Delight is definitely my favorite even though I don’t particularly like pumpkin.
You are so lucky to get on Jessica's pr list!! That gelato mio collection still haunts me. If I could find it in store it'd be mine!! 🙂 These polishes are cool but I'd probably only pick up a few. A stand-out to me is that Crimson Tattoo. I don't even really like reds but dang- something about that is just so pretty! And the fact that removal does not leave you looking like you tore the heart out of someone's still-beating chest a la Indiana Jones is definitely a HUGE plus!
About summer and fall- although I do love summer and pretty much never want it to end its slightly ironic that nothing (and I probably seriously mean NOTHING) makes me more angry than being too hot and sweaty. ESPECIALLY if you're somewhere where you're supposed to look nice!! It's gonna be 100 today so I think I better put on my patient panties and maybe very little else. :-/
You are so lucky to get on Jessica’s pr list!! That gelato mio collection still haunts me. If I could find it in store it’d be mine!! 🙂 These polishes are cool but I’d probably only pick up a few. A stand-out to me is that Crimson Tattoo. I don’t even really like reds but dang- something about that is just so pretty! And the fact that removal does not leave you looking like you tore the heart out of someone’s still-beating chest a la Indiana Jones is definitely a HUGE plus!
About summer and fall- although I do love summer and pretty much never want it to end its slightly ironic that nothing (and I probably seriously mean NOTHING) makes me more angry than being too hot and sweaty. ESPECIALLY if you’re somewhere where you’re supposed to look nice!! It’s gonna be 100 today so I think I better put on my patient panties and maybe very little else. :-/
Whoa, such pretty polishes.
I haven’t seen a lot of polishes with these colours.