All winter, I wore dark and neutral nail colors. That is, when I actually had the time to do my nails. Now that Spring has sprung, I’m excited to switch things up. As I pack away my winter clothes and start rotating warm-weather fashions into my wardrobe, I’m excited to also dress my nails in something more vibrant. Bring on the brights, I say. And for Spring and Summer 2008, China Glaze has answered the call. So without further ado, I bring you China Glaze’s latest offerings…

OMG: Spring 2008

Stylish and techno-savvy ladies will surely want to put their fingers on OMG, a collection of holographic nail shades with just enough sparkle to create the ultimate frenzy. OMG features twelve micro-particle, holographic nail lacquer shades with names inspired by the age of text messaging. The OMG collection includes:

DVG – Holographic Teal
LOL – Holographic Purple
BFF – Holographic Pinkish Purple
IDK – Holographic Lavender
2Nite – Holographic Periwinkle Blue
OMG – Holographic Silver
QT – Holographic Rose Pink
TMI – Holographic Coral
TTYL – Holographic Pale Peach
FYI – Holographic Taupe
GR8 – Holographic Gold
L8R G8R – Holographic Pale Gold/Green

Ecollection: Spring 2008

Ecollection is a set of six eco-friendly shades inspired by the sun, clouds, trees, water, sand, and earth. Designed to preserve the beauty of our world’s colors, the collection proves that going green is always fashionable. The Ecollection includes:

Unplugged – Metallic Bark
Hybrid – Shimmering Sand
Shower Together – Sky Blue
Tree Hugger – Fresh Cut Grass
Recycle – Rain Cloud Gray
Solar Power – Sunshine Yellow

INK: Summer 2008

Tattoo art has moved out of back alley parlors onto the couture collections of fashion’s top designers with INK, a new collection of brilliant neons for brilliant self-expression. The collection consists of six vivid shades, black nail art lacquer with a fine tip brush, nail decals and rhinestones, and a limited-edition bottle of their Orange Cuticle Oil. The INK collection includes:

Blue Sparrow – Neon Blue with Glitter
Flying Dragon – Neon Purple w/ Pink and Blue Glitter
Rose Among Thorns – Neon Fuchsia
Sacred Heart – Neon Red
Japanese Koi – Neon Coral
Celtic Sun – Neon Yellow

Here’s a real-life look at a sampling of the collections.

Top row (l to r): Flying Dragon, GR8
Middle row (l to r): L8R G8R, Japanese Koi, Recycle
Bottom row (l to r): QT, Blue Sparrow, TMI, Shower Together

Spoiled Pretty’s Picks: Blue Sparrow and Flying Dragon are ab fab, but be warned that the addition of glitter to the formula results in a matte finish. So if you’re looking for a lacquered look, add a top coat. I like Seche Vite because it speeds drying time while adding shine. I also give the holographic shades two enthusiastic thumbs up – particularly GR8, QT, and L8R G8R (don’t be afraid of the green…it’s gorge). And be sure to snatch up Recycle. Gray is the hottest new nail color, however there aren’t too many on the market. This mid-tone gray looks chic on both pale and dark digits.

When I heard that Chanel’s Blue Satin was the most coveted nail color for Spring 2008, I couldn’t run to the store quick enough, wrap my digits around a bottle, and bring it home with me. Normally, I would balk at paying $19 for nail polish. But when every magazine and website is promising it’s going to change my life, what’s a beauty junkie to do?

Blue Satin goes on smoothly, and the pigment is remarkably rich – so you only need one coat. In very bright light, the polish vacillates between sparkling sapphire and inky indigo. But most of the time, it just looks black. And not even a shimmery obsidian, either…just flat, matte black.

All I’ve read is rave reviews about this color…so I really wanted to buy into the buzz. Regrettably, I cannot. I expected the shade to pop more against my skin tone, which it didn’t in the slightest – and I’m convinced that it’s much more complimentary to paler complexions.

I’m going out on a limb – and you can take this review with a grain of salt – but I don’t think this lacquer lives up to the hype. In my humble opinion, the propaganda is outta control…some ebay sellers are charging $45 for a single bottle!

If Blue Satin cost half of its actual price, it might get more of an endorsement. But for my money, I’d rather buy three bottles of Essie, OPI, China Glaze, or Creative Nail Design.

I’ve got the blues.