Nail Files: Spring and summer nail polish

For those of you who follow my blog regularly, you've likely noticed a sudden increase in nail polish- related posts. I've been on a nail polish kick lately. Spring is in the air, and now that open-toed shoes are back in regular rotation, the need for polished nails has suddenly doubled. Seeing as I change my nail polish regularly, a gal needs options. Plus, it seems that everywhere I turn there are fabulous bright colors out there for me to discover. I can't seem to help myself lately, especially since I'm finding so many great colors at reasonable prices. 

One color that's been grabbing at my attention for weeks, every time I enter a drugstore has been Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear in Mint Sorbet. I'd been resisting picking this one up because I kept thinking it might be too similar to China Glaze's For Audrey. But then I wore For Audrey and compared the two and realized it's not really the same at all. So I went for it. Mint Sorbet is a much lighter pale mint green. It kind of makes me think of mint chocolate chip ice cream, except if I indulge in this little treat it won't present itself on my hips. I love this color, though I think it looks better on my nails if they are shorter, and it may even be more of a toe nail polish for me than a finger nail polish. I think it will really pop against strappy sandals, espadrilles, and wedges in both dark and light colors. I'm a huge fan of the Xtreme Wear polish as you've likely gathered since I purchase colors from this line often. The pigmentation is great, the color applies smoothly, and the price is right. I pick these up at Target and Walmart for a mere $2.04, and have seen them at Walgreens for $2.99. Plus, I just clipped a coupon in last Sunday's paper for $0.50 off. 

Sally Hansen Mint Sorbet

Another fixation I seem to have lately is bright colors. I am certainly gravitating to colors that scream spring and summer, which is a huge departure from my normal affinity to dark, sultry colors. Specifically, I've been drawn to bright pinks, corals, and oranges. I haven't quite taken pictures of all my recent nail polish finds, but one of my favorites of late is Sinful Color's Thimbleberry. It's a gorgeous, bright coral-orange-pink-red (depending on the lighting you see it in). The photos I took don't do it justice, it's appearing redder than it really is on camera. It's a lot more of a bright orangey-red (leaning more to the orange side). When I go outside in the bright sun, it looks a lot less red and more like an orange-fushia. But when I took photos, even by the window, that didn't quite pick up. What I like so much about this color is how bright it is. It certainly does not go unnoticed, but it gets noticed because its so vibrant, not necessarily because it is obnoxiously loud. It's bright without being neon loud, and when I look at it I just automatically think of spending an afternoon poolside. It conjures up visions of beach balls, bright bikinis, beach towels, and summertime fun.  Perhaps best of all is that I've now discovered yet another brand of nail polish that I absolutely love. It is certainly not new to the market, but it recently dropped significantly in price. They used to sell Sinful Colors at the drugstore at a similar price point to China Glaze, OPI, and Essie, and now it retails for $1.99. The quality is fantastic; definitely professional grade. It has fabulous color pay off, the formula applies smoothly, isn't streaky, comes in an impressive array of colors, and boasts similar staying power to the brands with which it once shared a price point. I finally picked this brand up because I found a coupon for $1 off, which made it even more affordable. How great is that?

Sinful Colors Thimbleberry

Thimbleberry in sunlight

What nail polishes are you gravitating to this spring? Are you already stocking up on summer color too?