YSL
La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer
6/27/13

I have a confession. I've been cheating on my beloved Chanel polish for about a year now, and I've decided we can no longer be exclusive. I'm seeing other polishes, and I'm loving them. YSL has stolen my heart with some of the most incredibly rich pigments I've seen on the market. From the perfect red, to deep fuchsia and sexy golden hues, I can't get enough of these polishes. 

I've been a Chanel polish devotee for well over 15 years, and have zero guilt about my betrayal. A girl needs to keep her options open, and YSL knows how to create perfection in a bottle. A gorgeous bottle, to boot. The array of colors offered is stunning, particularly their seasonal, ltd. edition releases. This is where YSL really casts a large shadow on Chanel. Chanel has the disadvantage of mass appeal, and their ltd. edition colors tend to reflect that. Light blue, endless shades of rosy pinks, and sparkle. Always some offerings with a glittery sparkle. I just don't do glitter. 

(click photo to enlarge)

YSL's ltd. edition releases tend to skew bolder. Richer. More luxurious. What you see in the bottle is what you get on your nails with two coats. I've had some trouble with Chanel's darker shades lately (like Taboo), where you really don't know what you're getting until it's mani/pedi time. With YSL, I know exactly what my nails will look like. Better still? They're $2 less than Chanel polishes. My current favorites are Corail Colisee (above left), Violet Baroque (above right), and Dore Orfevre (a Neiman Marcus Exclusive). From what I'm told by manicurists near and far, the YSL brush is far easier to work with. 

My verdict? I'll never completely call it quits with Chanel.There are several favorites I can't live without. But my YSL crush is strong, and I don't see it fading (or chipping) anytime soon. 

- YSL La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer is $25 a bottle. 

- Chanel Le Vernis Nail Color is $27 a bottle.

Both available at Nordstrom. 

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour
5/29/13

I fondly recall buying my first Chanel polish during my college years in NYC. The Chanel counter at Barneys offered a staggering array of gorgeous colors, and I purchased my very first rather pricey polish: Vamp. It was a must-have at Parsons for budding fashionistas to adorn their nails with the deep, distinctive purple nail lacquer. I'd seen the polish on my roommate and was wildly impressed and in awe of the rich eggplant hue. Let's say it was love at first site. I swiftly got myself a mani/pedi with my new polish, and instantly felt transformed. By a nail polish? Absolument. 

One of the many things I adore about Chanel polish is that what you see in the bottle is what you get. No surprises. Then there are the glorious colors. They offer about 30 shades, plus limited-edition releases each season. It's heartbreaking to fall in love with a color that's destined to vanish at season's end, so I've taken to stocking up on colors I adore. New releases are quickly snatched up by Chanel devotees and global fashion gurus, and can be incredibly difficult to find. The formula actually resists chipping for nearly a week's time, which is practically unheard of. My nails get put through the wringer while traveling (those pesky suitcase zippers are just plain evil), and I always reach for one of these polishes prior to travel. I used their base and top coats for many years, but haven't noticed a difference in quality using various base & top coats in good nail salons. I do receive a fair amount of complaints from manicurists around the globe regarding the brush, which is rather thin and apparently difficult to work with. That said, my nails always look flawless post application. I like to label that as a "not my problem" type of situation. If you're brave enough to paint your own nails, be prepared to spend some extra time. 

The depth of each color is incredible. One of my favorite shades Péridot (shown above) is a prime example of what sets these polishes apart. I call this my chameleon polish, because it constantly changes depending on lighting and angles. At first glance it's gold, but suddenly has a green shimmer with slight movement. I should mention that they still sell Vamp, which remains a staple in my obsessively large collection. What can I say? Sure, they're expensive and you could buy several cheaper brands for less than half the price. But no dupe holds a candle to the real thing. Try one. I promise you won't regret it. But I can't promise you won't become addicted. Welcome to the cult!

My verdict? Gorgeous, rich colors with real depth. Worth every penny.

$27 a bottle

Available at: Chanel, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdales. 

YSL La Laque Couture: N 1 Rouge Pop Art
5/20/13

Over the years I've become known for my massive nail polish collection, which consisted solely of Chanel polishes and a lone MAC red (Shirelle). Sure, I had about ten or so variations of Chanel reds, from blue-based reds to warmer orange-reds and everything in-between. Pirate was always a solid choice. Dragon is also a nice red. Sadly, none were 
the perfect red. I began to branch out and started procuring YSL polishes...and fell head over heels. I found the formula to be quite different from any other brand, and the highly-pigmented hues are stunning. Rouge Pop Art was my second YSL La Laque purchase, and quickly became my favorite red - ever. It's most certainly a warm red, and is deliciously bright and rich. 

Rouge Pop Art manages to be bright yet polished (no pun intended), and pretty much works with whatever style you're currently rocking. It's a great color to wear while traveling, as it looks fabulous dressed up or down. I've received more compliments on this red than most any other polish I own. Men love red. That's a given. 

They say redheads shouldn't wear red. Well ladies, I'm over it. My pale Irish skin gives even more pop to Rouge Pop Art, and complements a bright red lip rather nicely. Might I suggest YSL Rouge Volupté N 17 in Red Muse? Just sayin'. 

Manicurists overwhelmingly prefer YSL brushes over my thin Chanel ones, not that the brush is a deciding factor if you have a professional at the wheel. Of course it looks equally gorgeous on the toes, making it ideal for peep-toed shoes and summer sandals. I recently purchased my third bottle, and imagine I'll never tire of it. 

My verdict? A must-have. 

Available at: YSL, Neiman Marcus, Barneys, & Nordstrom.