Dior Wonderland #575 Gel Shine Nail Lacquer ($25 for 10 ml/0.33 fl oz) is a beautiful warm vibrant pink nail polish from the new Gel Shine formula line. There are a number of different shades released in this new formula, however some are exclusive to certain stores (see nail wheel swatches here). Wonderland #575 is one of those classic shades that is available at all Dior locations.
It’s a bright summery color that has a slight hint of silver shimmers in the bottle. On the nail it applies like a cream. The coverage of Wonderland is like a jelly with good pigment. It has a semi-transparent finish but covers the entire nail with two coats. The Dior formulas continue to get better in my experience. As noted in some previous reviews of the Gel Shine Formula, these have a lush glossy finish with impressive lasting power.
I applied it on my own on several occasions over the past few months. My favorite combination was to use this on top of the Sephora Formula X Base Coat and the Dior Gel Top Coat on top. My manicure lasted 5 days without any tip wear.
I pulled out a number of other warmer bright pinks to compare. Dior Wonderland proved to be almost identical to Chanel Tutti Frutti and Fracas. All the pinks pull really similar on the nail wheel. The differences in real life are slight:
Chanel Tutti Frutti is slightly warmer and more coral with a golden shimmer (more pigmented)
Dior Rose Cabaret 563 (discontinued) is slightly more pink
Chanel Fracas is a bit more blue and has gold shimmers (more pigmented)
Chanel Rose Insolent is more blue in undertone
Dior Plaza (discontinued) is significantly cooler with a visible blue base
You may find color of Dior Wonderland to be too close to other Chanels to justify owning. I know some find better wear with Dior, I personally find them both to be of similar quality and lasting power. The Dior Wonderland has a slightly jelly finish. The color has enough warmth in it to make it super flattering on a wide range of skin tones. The Chanel colors by comparison are slightly more opaque with a more complex shimmer infused.
Estee Lauder has released a mini collection called Crystal Baby which I spotted at Nordstrom last week. I haven’t been able to find any information about this on the web so I’m not sure if it’s an exclusive to Nordstrom or will be released elsewhere. I picked up three items, but entire collection consists of:
I snapped a really quick photo with my iPhone at the counter:
The three items I purchased are the Nail Lacquer, Shimmer Lip Gloss and Illuminating Gelée Powder Blush. Swatches here and more details below:
The Crystal Baby Nail Lacquer is a soft shimmering nude pink that flashes a hint of blue, violet and pearl sparkles. On the nails it’s very neutral on my skin. With my current skintone it’s almost a nude because it matches my olive complexion. However I love how it gives a subtle polished look which I find office appropriate for conservative work places. I didn’t have time to test this long since I took it off after two days to try other products. In my experience Estee Lauder polishes are average for lasting power 3-4 days max.
Crystal Baby Lip Gloss is a warm frosted pink with lots of pearl. If you can tolerate the fig scent it’s a really pretty color. It has enough color to wear alone although I like to wear this on top of other lipsticks for added shine. It’s not sheer but not full coverage – I find it falls somewhere in between.
Crystal Baby Illuminating Gelée Powder Blush is a unique gel-powder. Similar in concept to prior limited-edition Gelées by Estee Lauder, this one has intense shimmer. On my skin it’s not frosty but I do need to apply with a light and gentle hand. It applies well with a loose fluffy brush all over the cheeks as a highlight or on the eyes. You can use the sponge it comes with but it makes the shimmer more intense. I found it did not emphasize pores with a light swipe, although if you swipe one swipe too many it will emphasize imperfections. It’s a lovely light opalescent pink. I recommend applying with a light hand.
I found this mini collection to be an unexpected surprise. I discovered it on route to the Chanel counter at my local Nordstrom. I’m glad the display caught my eye. All the items I picked out are lovely delicate feminine colors. Thumbs up on all items from me. According to the sales rep the entire collection is limited-edition. Available now at Nordstrom.
Marc Jacobs released five new shades of nail polish designed for the runway shows in Klute, 9 to 5, Tootsie, Charlie and Julia ($18 each, exclusive to Marcjacobsbeauty.com). Based on the previews and promotional images I expected pinkish nudes, they turned out to be a bit warmer and with more of a beige base in real life, but these still proved to be chic neutrals. All the colors are creams without shimmer. They are on the opaque side with full coverage after two coats. Some nudes can be a bit finicky to apply and often streak on the first coat, I found application with these shades to be a bit mixed.
Klute is a warm beige with yellow tones, 9 to 5 is a neutral cream beige with a hint of pink, Tootsie is a mauveish cool-toned nude, Charlie is a warm/neutral latte color, Julia is a dusty purple-brown. My top three favorites are 9to5, Tootsie and Julia.
All photos by me, as usual, please do not republish or use content or photos without express written permission.
I thought there might be similarities between some of the current Marc Jacobs Nail Polishes from Sephora to the new ones, I took my nail wheel into the store and swatched a few of the colors to see if they were similar. Nail comparisons to other beiges, nudes, browns and greys include:
Overall pleased with the wear and lasting power after two coats. I had application issues with 9 to 5 and Tootsie but not anything out of the ordinary with some nudes. It just took me a few re-do’s to get an even application. It took me a few tries to figure out the right amount of polish to load onto the brush to get smooth coverage. Even though they were a bit harder to apply, I really liked the final result and those two are in my top color picks for nudes.
I’m personally not a fan of Klute or Charlie – I found they had a bit too much yellow which makes my already olive skin look a bit sallow.
Julia is almost identical to Delphine (which I don’t own). If you already own Delphine you can skip Julia.
For more Marc Jacobs Nail Lacquer reviews you can see features on this blog on Petra, Le Charm, Gatsby and Daisy. I’ve overall been really happy with the formula and color options. This was my first time trying non-shimmers from the line.
The five runway shades Klute, 9 to 5, Tootsie, Charlie and Julia are
currently exclusive to Marc Jacobs Beauty. All other Marc Jacobs shades
are also available at Sephora.
Have you tried any of the nudes? What did you think?
The most frequently asked questions I’ve received have been focused around hand and nail care. I review lots of nail polishes and change colors frequently and taking care of my hands has always been a must. I’ll go through my hand and nail care routine and answer some questions that I receive on a regular basis.
I’ll share a bit of background on my nail/hand care routine and history. I played the violin when I was younger and kept playing through through college. This required me to keep my nails extremely short with only a sliver of the white tips showing. Out of habit and personal preference I’ve always kept my nails on the shorter end, although in recent years I’ve started growing them a bit longer. You can see the difference then in 2010 vs. now in 2014. For everyday hand activity I’ve had a diverse work history that has required a lot of typing from number crunching and market research. I tend to type with my hands at an angle (rather than having finger more at a 90 degree angle) so my nails don’t tend to hit the keys as much as someone who holds their hands at a more perpendicular angle to the keyboards. Some frequently asked questions:
Are your nails always professionally manicured? Or do you maintain them yourself? My manicures are a mix of both professionally applied nail polish and DIY. For the longest time I couldn’t properly do my own nail polish for a full manicure. Being able to paint one’s nails doesn’t always come naturally, it takes lots and lots of practice. I would say my manicures are 50/50 done myself versus at a professional salon.
How often do you get professional manicures? It varies depending on what I’m testing out, swatching, and also time constraints. I would say it ranges from every other week to once a month.
Your nail polish seems to have a long wear life without tip wear, I work at an office job that requires a lot of typing, how do you avoid tip wear? Tip wear will probably depend on how long your nails are, if they are on the long side there will be a lot of surface contact which can lend to more tip wear. I recommend keeping them on the shorter end to avoid breakage. Make sure you use a good base coat, brush the tips of the nails with a bit of color to cover the end of the nail, make sure your top coat covers not just the top of your nail but brush over the tip end as well.
What base and top coats do you use? I’ll go into what I use below, I usually use Deborah Lippmann Rehydrating Base Coat and Chanel Top Coat but it varies depending on what brand of color I’m using.
My nail polish never lasts more than 3 days, it starts to peel and chip no matter what brand, help? Several things could contribute to short-lived manicures. For prep, your nail might not be entirely clean. Even with polish remover, if you’ve used oils or lotions, there could be remnants of product still lingering on the nail. Use a nail cleaner or polish remover that helps clean (more below). You could be loading on too much color too soon. While it may seem to be a time saver to load up more color for 1 coat, don’t do it. Apply your polish in thin coats even if it looks uneven the first coat. The second or third (for sheerer colors) will smooth out the surface. You also might not be covering your entire nail tip with top coat – doing so will make sure you covered the entire nail.
What advice would you give to those who are a novice to DIY manicures? I would recommend getting your nails professionally manicured the first 3-4 manicures you have so you can observe their application technique in person. You really only need salon manicures every once in a while for a clean up. It’s easy to maintain your nails yourself in between salon visits. You don’t necessarily have to do it yourself, as some can vouch, manicuring your own nails can sometimes take longer and be more frustrating.
Do you need to stick with the same brand of polish and base/top coats? Or can you mix and match? I don’t think you need to stick with the same brands, although using the same can often be best. Different brands have different formulas and don’t always work well together for me. For example I’m super picky with top coats – I don’t like any sign of shrinkage where the top coats dry and shrink over the nail polish leaving a visible line around the edges. (Seche and OPI do that with Chanel for me). I like to mix and match.
The items I use are going to broken down into the following categories: Removers, Treatments, Tools, Base Prep and Top Coats. Like most beauty routines, I believe nail care items should be built slowly over time with testing or by researching reviews online.
I used to use cheap nail polish removers from CVS and Target, but after I started changing my nail polish frequently, I found that they made my nails and fingers extremely sensitive and that my nails started to peel (the actual nail). Based on reviews and recommendations I’ve found several new removers that are gentle for sensitive fingers but still very effective in removing all traces of polish. Items shown above described left to right:
Zoya Remove + Big Flipper is a 3 in 1 product that removes color, preps the nail and conditions. I discovered this thanks to the recommendation of Café Makeup – we discussed nail care, I shared my finger woes, she said try the Zoya, it’s “so good.” She was right. Read the reviews on Zoya or Makeupalley and you’ll see others agree. There are different size options, I like the Big Flipper because it has an easy push down dispenser.
Sephora Formula X Delete Nail Polish Remover is another love (reviewed here). This is another item I bought based on online reviews. It has a similar push down dispenser lid. I like this one because it’s compact and the design is very sleek and simple. The easy to use pump action makes it super handy – you don’t have to flip over the bottle and risk ruining painted nails if you need to clean edges or mess-ups.
Dior Dissolvant Abricot is an ultra luxurious and pricey non-acetone remover, it has a rich abricot scent formulated with ingredients to nourish, hydrate and strengthen. I found it was extremely effective in removing Dior’s Gel Top Coat and dark polish underneath. I’m not a fan of the price and those sensitive to fragrance may find this too heavy. I went through one bottle pretty quickly and repurchased a second. It’s the only remover I’ve tried that has a slightly moisturizing/hydrating feel. If the bottle were about 3-4 times larger I think I could justify the price for more frequent use.
Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Remover is the only cuticle softener that I’ve tried but I was lucky to find a really good one on my first try. It comes in a milky white liquid with a dropper. Apply to the cuticle area for a minute and then push back with a cuticle tool and it removes excess cuticle skin easily. This is a definite must for anyone who does their own manicures. It’s gentle but super effective.
I attribute good looking hands to good hand care. I’m almost always carrying one to two hand creams in my purse. I rely on L’Occitane because they come in travel sizes, a variety of scents and have fun packaging. Plus the formula is hard to beat. For extra care I’ve discovered layering oil into hand cream can help give an added boost of moisture. I prefer hand creams that absorb quickly into the skin and that aren’t greasy feeling so it doesn’t ruin paper, clothes or get everywhere you touch. My current loves, left to right:
Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Oil is as good as it gets (there’s a mini version as well). A little goes a long way with the dropper, you only need a little bit. It’s not greasy but can get sticky, I recommend applying this with precision to the cuticles and rub in quickly. It has Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil, Mineral Oil and smells amazing. I use this about once a week and it keeps the cuticles looking really good.
Caudalie Divine Oil is a must for me (review here), unfortunately they’ve changed the packaging of the mini size and it doesn’t come with the spray pump dispenser. When I visited the Venice Boutique, they had hand massage treatments and they mixed the oil with their Hand and Nail Cream (review here) which is another staple of mine. I can’t rave enough about these.
Tatcha Soothing Silk Indigo Hand Cream (review here) helps to soothe dry or irritated hands, it hydrates well and absorbs quickly into the skin, the packaging is compact enough to fit into the purse
L’Occitane Hand Creams have been a classic for me for years (check out the L’Occitane Hand Cream Bar), they can be on the pricey side for the side, but the formula is worth every penny, these come in a variety of scents and special formulas, my current favorites are the Shea Butter Honey (soothing and creamy) along with the new Vitória-Régia from the Viva Brazil collection (lush sweet floral). L’Occitane has monthly gift with purchase promotions in stores and online, it’s one of the few brand newsletters I subscribe to that I don’t mind receiving weekly (they have good deals). I’ve converted so many of my friends to L’Occitane as these hand creams make good small gifts or add-ons (just add a box of Godiva chocolate or small bouquet of flowers).
Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Hand Cream was a huge step-up gift with purchase from Neiman Marcus at one of the Estee Lauder events they had a year ago in store. I was a bit intimidated by the size and packaging as it looks like an intensive treatment. It is indeed an intense hand cream but still very gentle and is the best at smoothing lines. You can see the effects immediately and over time it does improve the overall look and appearance of your hands.
My tools are very basic, items were either found at local drugstores or Ulta. There are a wide number of tools out on the market, I’m sure there are more experienced nail experts who know more about tools, my picks were picked out without much research or planning.
Revlon Nail Clipper is an older version that I have, they’ve gone through a few revamps and upgrades in packaging design but the overall shape and size remains the same
Tweezerman Nail File I’ve picked up various nail files over the years, I find Tweezerman to be sturdy but with a rough enough surface to be effective on harder nails but not too harsh, the ones from Sephora that I’ve bought come with a plastic storage sleeve which is convenient for storage (and makes sure it doesn’t scratch your other products)
Ulta Crystal Nail File if you’re one who hates the feeling of filing nails, you need to check out Crystal Nail Files, a multitude of brands have these such as OPI and Sephora. These have a unique fine-grade glass surface that is good for sensitive or thinner nails, it gently smooths edges and also has a tapered precision tip to clean beneath the nail.
Tweezerman Pushy Cuticle Pusher is a smaller tool for cuticles, I prefer smaller shapes, although some prefer ones with larger curved tips to match the natural shape of the nails. I find the Tweezerman one to be small enough for my small fingers, it’s sturdy and effective for me. For any kind of cuticle removal or care, I recommend you proceed with extra caution. Don’t push too hard and be extra gentle with the cuticles – this is where I recommend you observe a professional several times before attempting on your own.
Revlon Cuticle Nippers are another basic drugstore purchase, I’ve had two from Revlon, both have lasted over 5 years, just make sure you clean them regularly with warm water and soap (I use antibacterial dish soap) or alcohol. I wouldn’t recommend using cuticle clippers regularly, I use them to clip hang nails or only use if the cuticles have been softened and properly prepped.
For base coats, I look for something that helps protect bare nails. I look for items that won’t turn the nails yellow, items that aren’t drying and that also don’t make the nails peel. I’ll highlight the ones I use briefly, let me know if you need more information on any of these, I find they all work well with other brands such as Chanel, OPI, YSL, Dior, Tom Ford and NARS.
Sephora Formula X Nail Cleanser (reviewed here) is a relatively new discovery for me but I find that having a completely clean nail surface before using base coat or color really makes a difference in the wear of nail polish
Sephora Formula X Base Coat (reviewed here) is a sticky formula that helps polish adhere well, I like this best with the Formula X polishes but I’ve also tried (and love it) with Dior, Marc Jacobs and Chanel
CND Stickey Base Coat is a classic that I’ve repurchased multiple times, it’s an affordable option that works well with all brands I’ve tried
Deborah Lippmann Rehydrating Base Coat is my most-frequently used base coat, I don’t usually have nails that peel except when I do a lot of swatching and comparisons on the fingers, this helps immensely
Sephora Formula X Shine Top Coat (review here) is an awesome top coat but is on the thicker side, it works best with Formula X brand nail colors, when I used The System and their Nail Color, I had a manicure last over 7 days without any tip wear or chipping
Creative Nail Design Super Shiny Top Coat is another beauty staple, some of the nail salons I go to layer this with a Revlon top coat for an ultra cushy look (I haven’t looked into the Revlon personally)
Chanel Laque Brilliance Extreme is my all time favorite top coat, it helps my polishes last long, doesn’t crack or chip and give a lush shiny gloss
Rescue Beauty Lounge Top Coat is another item I’ve repurchased (I’m on my third bottle), it’s just as good as Chanel, some say it’s better, mine has a pinkish tinge because I didn’t let my pink nail polish dry long enough and had some color transfer
Dior Gel Coat is a top coat I’ve found works best with Dior Polishes (Chanel v Dior post here), it works well over other brands for a gel-shine finish and lush look, but can be prone to cracking on certain brands
This sums up my hand and nail care favorites. I hope this give you a comprehensive overview on my personal hand and nail care routine. To recap, I definitely think you can maintain your hands and nails on your own but regular salon visits help keep hands looking better. You don’t need an expensive salon to maintain your nails, there are a lot of good ones that are more affordable.
This post contains some items that were sent for review consideration. Most items were purchased by me. Press samples include Sephora The System, Tatcha Indigo, L’Occitane Vitória-Régia. For more information refer to my Disclosures.
Sephora Formula X was launched last October which includes a full lineup of nail care, treatment, removers, lacquers and effect nail products. I discovered the Delete Nail Polish Remover several months ago after reading rave reviews which I found to perform extremely well – super effective in removing polish easily (you don’t have to rub a lot) yet gentle enough on the nails and hands (a must since I frequently change and swatch nail polishes).
For those new to the line, you may find the number of options a bit overwhelming. They break down the options into four main categories:
The Colors – there are currently around 100 different nail polish colors in Neutrals and Classic shades, these range from nudes to dark reds to bright edgy options
The Treatments – includes cuticle treatments, ridge fillers, polish remover, base/top coats
The Effects – for the creative types or those looking for layering effects they have a multitude of nail polishes that have unique finishes or colors for layering such as glitters, crystals, transluscents, holograms
The System – four piece starter set with a nail cleanser, base coat and top coat (you get to pick the fourth shade if you purchase the set)
Delete Nail Polish Remover ($10.50 for 160 ml/5.4 fl oz) comes with a convenient no-spill push pump dispenser. The cap twists to lock the top after use. I like that’s compact with a simple easy to use bottle. I read reviews on my phone while in the Sephora store before buying (317 reviews with an average rating is 4.6 out of 5 stars right now). The reasonable price plus rave reviews convinced me to buy. I’ve found it to be everything reviewers have gushed. It’s gentle yet effective. I don’t usually wear a lot of glitters so I can’t comment on how it removes those hard to remove glittery colors. But for regular polish I’ve found it removes all traces of nail color with one to two swipes per nail. If you don’t use a base coat and end up with stained nails from darker shades or intense brights you may need to use a bit more rubbing or soaking, but it’s still very effective but gentle.
Sephora sent their treatment set The System ($32) which is a steal. It includes a 0.4 oz Nail Cleanser, 0.4 oz Base Coat, 0.4 oz Top Coat and a nail color of your choice (both online and in stores). Each item is also available individually.
It’s an easy to use set. I’ve been testing this set with various brands (Chanel, Dior, and Formula X) and the items all work well with other brands. The Nail Cleanser is a good gentle, non-drying product to prep the nails and make sure they are free of any oil or lotion remnants. Per It’s infused with witch hazel extract (a naturally effective ingredient that
purifies the surface of the nail), Vitamin E (to condition nails), and
invigorating cucumber extract. The Base Coat is a shiny sticky base coat designed to help polish adhere longer than regular base coats. It has a smooth finish. The Top Coat is high shine top coat. I found it to be a bit thick so you need a decent amount loaded up on the brush to get an even application but it dries to a high shine smooth finish.
Overall I’ve found The System works really well with Formula X polishes and Dior. For Chanel I prefer to use other top coats such as Chanel, Rescue Beauty Lounge or CND, but the base/cleanse Formula X performed really well. When I’ve used the Formula X System + Color together I’ve had manicures last over five days without any tip wear or chipping.
I’ll show you Push The Limits a bright red tomato cream color. The coverage is phenomenal with two coats you get full opaque rich coverage. I’m on day 5 of the manicure with no signs of tip wear or chipping. Here it is with two coats plus The System products applied.
More on Sephora’s Formula X Line.
Overall a huge thumbs up for Formula X. I’ve been really pleased with the results and find the price points very reasonable. I’m on my second bottle of Delete Nail Polish remover and can see myself repurchasing over and over again. I found the Cleanser and Base Coats to be of excellent quality and I do believe these help extend the wear of nail polish. The Top Coat performed well but since it is on the thicker side, I found it took a bit more work for it to run smoothly over Chanel nail lacquers (which I wear a lot). It’s not uneven or goopy – I just needed to make sure my brush was loaded with more top coat than I’m normally used to and it took a few brush overs to make it apply smoothly.
The Formula X line is exclusive to Sephora online and in stores. If you have time to visit their stores I highly recommend you spend some time playing at their nail stations. They are equipped with clear nail sleeves you can paint to test colors with a layover type of product without having to ruin your current nail polish or make a mess of your fingers.
Have you tried Sephora’s Formula X? What did you think?
Sephora provided The System and Push the Limits for review. Delete Remover purchased on my own. For more information refer to my Disclosures.
I’ve been wearing a lot of other nail polish brands lately. YSL, Dior, Sephora Formula X, and Tom Ford have been releasing really impressive formulas lately but my heart still belongs to Chanel. Do you have any particular nail polishes you find yourself gravitating towards?
Have a happy Tuesday! (Review on Les Beiges to follow shortly.)
Dolce & Gabbana Oleandro Nail Lacquer ($25 for 11 ml/.037 fl oz) is a shimmery medium-light pink. It was released almost a year ago with the Dolce & Gabbana Love in Taormina collection (see the details on Makeup and Beauty Blog) but the colors are part of the permanent line. Oleandro is a lovely light pink that has a good mix of color and shimmer. It applies smoothly with rich color with just two coats. I found it to last quite well when used with CND Sticky Base Coat and Top Coat. I was able to get 5 days of wear without any tip wear (no chipping at all).
For those new to Dolce & Gabbana Nail polishes, here’s a snapshot of the brush. The gold caps are removeable. The brush is thin enough to apply easily on the nails.
Here it is swatched with two coats. I like that the pink base is a medium pink and that it’s infused with some lighter shimmer particles. It gives the color some pop. It leans towards being a baby pink without being too pale or pastel.
Bottom line love. It’s a lovely delicate pink that still has enough color in it to prevent it from looking like your traditional super pale pink. I’ve had some hit/miss experiences with some of the Dolce & Gabbana shades. Some of the sheer ones are super sheer with a jelly finish. Even though they are designed to be sheerish some (like Pearl Grey, Anise and Pink) I still prefer a bit more coverage. Oleandro on the other hand is rich in pigment and smooth in application. The formula is flawless.
Dolce & Gabbana Nail Lacquers retail for $27 each. I found mine online and also purchase the other shades in store at Saks. For some reason it’s not listed everywhere online, but you can find it now at Sephora.
