NOTD: Zoya Banks

Zoya Banks

3 coats

from the EasyNeon Collection

 

Essie Too Taboo topped with HOLO

Essie Too Taboo

2 coats over a base of Essie Blanc

topped with Cover Girl City Lights

Last year I bought the mini set of Essie Neons from 2014, and I decided to give it a try last week.  I first did a base of the Blanc that was included in the set, and it was no bueno. Very patchy and uneven, but I went ahead and pushed forward with the color. I did two coats of Too Taboo and followed with a coat of NYC Grand Central Station.

The resulting mani was just.... lacking. I had hoped that the color would balance out the uneven white, but it didn't. It just gave me uneven color. 

So I did what I always do with a failed mani, I topped it with holo goodness. Much better!

NOTD: Avon Mega Watt in Hot Pants

Avon Mega Watt in Hot Pants

4 coats

Earlier this summer I placed an Avon order and was surprised to see they had a neon nail polish line! There were 5 shades in the collection and I ordered the one that grabbed my interest the fastest- Hot Pants. (Bailey at I Know All the Words has swatches of all 5 shades, which do not seem to be available any longer.)

Although some people like to start their neon manis with an undercoat of white, I chose not to. I was able to get the above look, *almost* covering my nail line, with 4 coats. Note that Hot Pants does dry matte, but a coat of NYC Grand Central Station brought the shiny back.

I am so happy with this color- it's bright and pretty and eye-catching. Although it's Fall, it's still getting up in the high 80s here during the day, so I'll just pretend it's still neon season!

Identical Neon mini sets from OPI and Sephora by OPI

This is the first time I have seen identical OPI and Sephora by OPI sets!

I noticed the Sephora by OPI Neon Lights set yesterday for $24.50 on Sephora's website and thought to myself that I've never seen one of their sets have a top coat mini in it. Then I saw info about the OPI Outrageous Neons set today and couldn't believe what I saw... absolutely identical shades.

Shade names are different, however.

OPI: White Base, Ridiculously Yellow, Formidably Orange, Riotously Pink, and Seriously Purple

Sephora by OPI: White Base, Mega-Watt's Your Deal?, Glowing Somewhere?, I'm So Vivid With You!, and All Bright Already!

What a short-cut! We already knew they were recycling Nicole by OPI shades for the Ulta exclusive summer shades, but I don't believe any Sephora by OPI shades have been such a blatant recycle before.

Anyone know what the price on the OPI set will be? I don't think OPI mini sets ever run $24.50 do they?

China Glaze Poolside Skittles

left to right- all China Glaze from the Poolside Collection

Sun Worshiper (orange)

Towel Boy Toy (blue)

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini (yellow)

Pool Party (pink)

Kiwi Cool-Ada (green)

All are four coats over one coat of China Glaze White on White, topped with Seche Vite.

I haven't worked with neons much, but I had good luck with a few and not so good luck with others.

One thing to note: These dry super fast, which is really nice, especially when you are having to do 4 coats!

I got good coverage and nice color from the blue, pink, and green, but wasn't happy with the result with the orange and yellow. The latter were quite streaky and I wasn't even sure that a 5th coat would take care of it, so I didn't try.

I think these will make great pedi colors and can see myself sporting the the blue, pink, and green (and also Flip Flop Fantasy, which I have actually already done a pedi with) all summer.

Disclosure: This polish collection was provided to Sasha by China Glaze for review purposes.