REVIEW: Bobbi Brown Denim and Rose Palette

*The products are shown true to color for the sake of those who need to order online without seeing the product first. If you would like to see the palette in action as well, check out my tutorial!


Bobbi Brown's Fall 2010 Denim and Rose Collection caught my eye first and foremost because of the packaging. I'm not a denim addict but it's a rare occasion when a palette packaged in denim is released. That translates to MUST-BUY! Plus, the palette does not have a standard closure.. it has a zipper! And I love zippers as accents, especially when they're practical! :)

Colors Included: Navajo and Gray Denim [new] shadows, Pink Granite and Dark Rinse [new] Shimmer shadows, Pink Rose blush, Cool Rose and Indie Rose lipstick, Iced Lilac glitter lip gloss, and Hot Rose [the bright pink] lip gloss.

Fall is my favorite season of the year but this palette shouldn't be limited to use in the fall. All the shades are classics and universally flattering. All the shades are wearable, even the deep Indie Rose lip color. I like to apply it sheerly with a lip brush and use the Hot Rose lip gloss! The only product that I absolutely dislike is the Pink Granite sparkle shadow. It has MAJOR fall-out and does not stick to my eyes, even with a primer. You could spritz your brush with water and apply it that way but I personally do not like to use my shadows wet or with a mixing medium so I was disappointed in that shadow as it looks lovely sitting in the pan.

It was a bit on the expensive side but because all the colors are so easy to use on a day-to-day basis, it is worth the $70-something [that's including tax] you will spend. I will be reserving this for travel, as it's convenient and portable, so it's not the best purchase for me. But I'm positive the ladies who are always fixing themselves up on the go will appreciate this versatile and wearable palette!

It is a limited edition piece so pick it up while you still can!

RAEview's Rating: B+

A Suede Story: OPI's Here Today, Aragon Tomorrow

Suede: Natural Light

Suede: Sunlight

Suede w/Top Coat: Sunlight

Suede w/Top Coat: Sunlight close-up

This is my first Suede polish and I'm impressed. Here Today, Aragon Tomorrow is the newest addition to the Suede family and I purchased it because I was informed the polish's formula was improved. I am wearing this polish in my August Favorites video!

Application: 2 coats provide opaque color and surprisingly, the polish dries very quickly! It has a matte finish, while the glitters add a bit of texture. It applies smoothly and for the most part, evenly. OPI's professional brush is the perfect fit for my nails!

Color: Without a top coat, the color is a dry (boring) forest green with a bit of metallic shimmer. Personally, I would never wear the suede finish alone. I feel as though it ages my hands, which already look older than your typical 21 year-old's hands. With a top coat, however, Here Today, Aragon Tomorrow shines! Literally, it shines. The green base brightens up to a rich forest green and the metallic shimmers burst with iridescent color under the sunlight. I love it!!

RAEview's Rating: A+

OPI Glitzerland - Lots of Glitz & Even More Glamour!

*I included the last photo, even though it is slightly out of focus, because the other photos were not able to capture the glitter's iridescence properly!

OPI Glitzerland was launched this Fall of 2010 with the Swiss Collection.

Collection Thoughts: The Swiss Collection is hefty, with twelve colors to choose from. I was only attracted to three colors but wound up purchasing two. [Yes, I took one out.. SELF-CONTROL!] I can't necessarily pinpoint the Swiss inspiration in the colors, other than the inclusion of red from the Swiss flag, but at least the names of the polishes are cute and memorable!

Color & Finish: Glitzerland is a champagne gold with a slightly beige base color and it as glitzy as the glamour girl in each of us could ask for! As you can see in the above photos, the polish appears to have a metallic finish in the shade and in natural light. The shimmer looks more subdued and leans toward the effect of a fine glitter foil. In the sunlight, however, Glitzerland really comes to life.. just like Paradoxal! The multi-faceted reflects of the glitters provide a hippity-hoppity show of rainbow-colored shooting stars for our eyes to take in with glee *tehehe* That's why it would make such a fabulous top coat for other polishes!

Application & Wear: The first coat gives my nails a sheer layer of glitter. The gold base is apparent but my nail line is still visible. The second coat builds up the color significantly. The glitters start to pop but my nail line is still visible. The third coat gives my nails complete coverage, with no visible nail lines! Furthermore, this polish does not chip easily! Even with my Seche Vite Top Coat, my Chanel varnishes chip after the 3rd or 4th day, but I wore Glitzerland for a week and it didn't even chip once! It did, however, fade at the very edges of my nails but that is normal wear and tear ;)

Dupe: Orly Luxe is the more intense, metallic version of Glitzerland. Luxe, however, has fewer iridescent glitter particles. Glitzerland is also a bit more beige while Luxe looks more like a true yellow gold against my hands' skintone. I will be reviewing Orly Luxe next so that you can see the differences. Personally, I find Glitzerland more wearable on a day-to-day basis.

Verdict: I feel that Glitzerland is the only must-have polish from the Swiss collection. I picked up another polish from the collection, Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous, but I prefer Glitzerland, as it can be worn all year round!

RAEview's Rating: A+

Chanel Paradoxal: My Love Affair

*Please excuse the sloppy paint job! I didn't have time to clean it up before the sun went down but I did manage to capture the versatility of the color.

Chanel Paradoxal is one of the two varnishes released in the Fall of 2010.

Color and Finish: I gave this post the title "My Love Affair" because my favorite color to wear on my fingernails is gold. I'm not one to cheat on gold and wear a dark color consistently but Paradoxal has been my go-to shade since I've purchased it. Indoors and away from the windows, it's a rich and creamy, graphite-tinged, ultra-cool purple. It's nowhere near as dramatic as black but has more edge than your average purple. In the sunlight, however, Paradoxal transforms. I catch myself staring at my nails in front of the window just to peek again at the mesmerizing effect of Paradoxal's burgundy and violet shimmers. The purple base color of the varnish also changes to a more vibrant and red-based. This varnish's color is heavily dependent on the lighting!

Application: Paradoxal applies similarly to Particuliere, so I recommend two thin layers or one heavy coat. I've tested both methods numerous times now but I prefer the latter to avoid brush strokes. Also, this varnish sets fairly quickly. I prefer rapidly drying nail varnishes because it allows for fewer opportunities to dent-or ruin completely-my nails!

Dupe: This shade has no dupe. Yes, a few may be somewhat similar but duality of the varnish is what makes Paradoxal truly unique! No other shade I own [or have seen] looks so creamy in the shade and under fluorescent lights but so shimmery in under the sun's rays. And unlike with Mistral, the shimmer particles are quite apparent!

Verdict: Cool purples are hard for me to wear because the grey tones can make my hands look ashy. Paradoxal, however, is a success! I have seen it look a bit muddy on some women who have a bit of ruddiness to their skin but thankfully, my hands are much more yellow than my face so Paradoxal suits my hands well.

RAEview's Rating: A