NYC Carnival Red

Carnival Red is a limited edition color from NYC. I found mine at Rite Aid. I don’t generally care for NYC as a brand, but every once in awhile they come up with some brilliant nail polishes. This is a fantastic color, and Seche Vite makes it REALLY pop!

The formula is super opaque. I used two coats, but you might be able to get by with one. This polish does dry quickly and has a beautiful finish.

Even though red polish isn’t groundbreaking, I love this one. It is so rich and just has a little something special to it. 🙂

Ten Polish Picks for Fall Under $5

Fall is just around the corner, or already here depending on how you look at it! 🙂 I like to go headstrong into fall once September 1st arrives, but that’s because it is my favorite season! Actually, we had our first red leaf on our tree in July. I don’t want to know what that means for winter!

Today I am sharing ten budget polish picks. ALL of these polishes are under five bucks! Some of these are new, some are limited edition, and others are old classics, but with rich jewel tones and of course some sparkle and creme formulas, there is a variety to choose from for the season.

Revlon Cherries in the Snow ($4) -This historical shade is perfect for the entire year, but if you’re going to wear pink in the fall you can’t go wrong with this one! It’s looking quite red here, as it is a pink-red shade. Marilyn Monroe herself rocked this color!

Revlon Divine ($4)– This is a new shade for fall from Gucci Westman’s Fall/Winter collaboration with Revlon, entitled Evening Opulence. Divine is a rich, deep burgundy shade.

Milani High Speed Fast Dry in Rapid Orchid ($3.50-$4)– Rapid Orchid is a new shade in Milani’s Fast Dry line up. It is a very vampy deep purple shade, almost black.

Sally Hansen Insta-Dry in Jet Set Jade ($4)- This is a new, limited edition shade for fall from Sally Hansen’s Rent the Runway collaborations. Jet Set Jade is a very rich green, perfect for right now and as we transition into the holidays!

Maybelline Color Show Vintage Leather in Plush Plum ($3-$4)– This is another limited edition shade that is currently showing up at drugstores and convenience stores. The vintage leather formula is matte and slightly textured with flakies. Purple and plum is having a major moment right now, though it’s always pretty popular in fall.

Sinful Colors Slate ($2)- This gray shade makes for a lovely neutral with a hint of shimmer; great for the cooler weather out there. This is also very pretty with silver glitter added as a top coat!

NYC Broadway Burgundy ($1)– This polish is a real steal! Just one dollar, it is a red jelly with red microglitter. Not only that, it’s opaque in two coats and really shines on the nail! This polish is a cheaper alternative to China Glaze Ruby Pumps.

Sinful Colors Blue Suede Shoes ($3)– Part of the Sinful Shine with Gel Tech line, Blue Suede Shoes is a dusty blue creme. You can get away with just one coat, and it has nice shine even without a topcoat.

Wet ‘n’ Wild Megalast The Bronze Age ($2)– The Bronze Age is a gorgeous cool-toned bronze with fine silver shimmer. Another great neutral, this one is perfect for holiday parties!

Revlon Scandalous ($4)– A dupe for Deborah Lippmann’s Bad Romance, this is deep fuchsia glitter suspended in a black base. Since plums and purples are so big this fall, this classic is one to bust out for sure!

 

What are your budget picks for fall nail polish?

 

NYC In A New York Minute Quick Dry Top Coat Review

We all want a fast drying top coat, right? Which one is the best? It can be difficult to choose a top coat sometimes, that’s for sure. I used to use Seche Vite all the time, which I think is great, but it almost always makes my polish shrink, and I can only use half of the jar by the time it dries up, which seems wasteful. The brush also doesn’t reach to the bottom, so even if it didn’t dry up, the brush would!

I read on the Nouveau Cheap blog that the NYC In A New York Minute Top Coat was a cult classic and decided to try it. Not only is this crazy affordable ($1-$2), it actually works! I wore Sinful Colors Sail la Vie with this as a top coat, and after three days I didn’t have any chipping, just a little bit of tip wear. My polish was still very shiny and looked great!

This does dry very quickly, and it goes on the nail smoothly. This is probably one of the best top coats I’ve ever used. I like it better than Out the Door, Seche Vite, and Nubar Diamont! I definitely recommend trying this out if you’re looking for a cheap top coat that actually works and dries quickly.