Nail Challenge: #OldiesButGoodies | February Picks

Well hello, friends! Today I have something a bit different for my blog! I have recently been thinking about how I have so many polishes in my collection that don't receive enough love, so I decided to start my own challenge! I know it's February, and it would've been nice to do this starting in January, cuz, you know... it bugs me now that I did not start in month one, but it's better late than never!

I decided that each month I will pick three to four polishes to show and swatch for you, and talk about why I chose them! My goal is to evaluate my collection, and possibly de-stash what I don't "need." (Well that's gonna be hard).

Also, there is a video ;).

​So there are two inspiring factors I have considered for this month... we are in Winter, transitioning into Spring, and, Valentine's Day is just around the corner. 

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Sinful Colors: Cinderella

​Why I picked this one: Mostly because we are still in Winter season and I believe this shade of blue with the iridescent glitters is really popular right now.

When I was looking through my collection, and I saw this, I immediately gravitated towards it. I have had this polish since 2013, and it is my second bottle. This is a sheer polish, and even with 3 coats I could make out my nail line ever so slightly. I was surprised that it dried so shiny, but I do think it was a little bit on the slow drying side. I still love the color, and the shifting glitters are more apparent in person than in my photo (or video). Shown is three coats plus top coat.

​​Availability: This polish is still widely available in stores that sell Sinful Colors (if you find it in stock), and in amazon or ebay. 

Cult Nails: Let's Get Dirty

Why I picked this one: Because you have to have a sultry nude for the month of February, and this one is my favorite for my skin tone. It's versatile, and fits with the two reasons I mentioned above.

It's got the perfect cool mauve-y undertone for my skin tone. This polish dries matte, and with the bits of silver micro-shimmer, it has a satin finish overall. For a quick mani, I could just throw this on by itself, and I would be perfectly fine, even for a date night! I have had this particular bottle since 2012, and it is almost down to half. I had stopped using this because I didn't want it to finish, even though I have a back-up bottle, but then I think, what's the use of having it if I'm not gonna use it? I definitely hope to give this one more love this year. The formula was great on application, and even though it mostly self-levels, I did notice some areas where I could have been more careful on application. This dried very fast. Shown is two coats on it's own. It also looks great with glossy top coat (which you get a peek of with the next polish).

Availability: Unfortunately, Cult Nails is no longer around so this is no longer available for purchase (sorry). This is my all-time favorite polish that they made, so of course I have a back up bottle of it. Good thing is there are plenty of nude polishes to go around, so it's a matter of finding one that you love for your skin tone. 

Orly: Halo

​Why I picked this one: I wanted to have a glitter polish in here, and even though this is not a holographic glitter, which is all the hype right now, this glitter polish has always been stunning in my eyes. Paired with black or a nude, this is the perfect amount of bling to have for a date night.

This polish has a perfect combination of silver hexes, along with smaller gold and silver micro glitter, giving it an overall cool tone, and it's in a clear base. This is a polish I have mostly use to create glitter gradients with, so that's what I'm showing you today. However, it is also beautiful on its own. I have had this since 2013, and the bottle is about 3/4 used. I had a mini bottle of this at first, which I used up, and then I purchased the full one. 

Availability: This polish is still widely available in stores that sell Orly (if you find it in stock), and in amazon or ebay. 

 
The Hungry Asian: Strawberry

​Why I picked this one: I felt obligated to look for an old 'red' favorite, and this one fit the bill. 

​From what I remember, this was one of the most purchased and talked about polishes/brands back in 2012 when I started my nail polish journey, and this polish was on my lemmings list, until I was finally able to purchase it. I love this polish, the formula, and, I loved the fact that it was so different, with the black matte glitters that were inside. So I guess you can say it's nostalgic. The fill line in this is like 4/5ths of the bottle. The formula is still really great, and it was easy to apply. This also dries very fast and with a glossy finish. However, top coat is needed to smooth out the black glitter. Shown is two coats plus top coat. 

Availability: Currently available in a mini 5 mL bottle at The Hungry Asian's Etsy shop here. I have no idea how long it's going to be available for, or if quantities are limited, I just know it's listed now ;).

​Anyways, I'd love for y'all to tell me what you thought of my picks!

Thanks for reading!

<3 Mely