Tag Archives: Nars Thakoon collection

Beauty Spot: Deborah Lippmann On The Beach & Nars Koliary nail polish review

A Tale of Two Blues…

Yup, you’re getting two reviews for the price of one here! Now you know me… my usual philosophy is why write 100 words when 500 would do… but the reason behind this package deal is that NARS Koliary and Deborah Lippmann On The Beach are basically the same colour. Admittedly, a very gorgeous bright primary ocean blue, but the same colour nonetheless – and I imagine you’d enjoy reading two identical reviews as much as I’d enjoy writing them!

It’s a simple colour, but both brands execute it stunningly. Pure bright creamy mid-tone blue. No turquoise or green or purple hints hiding beneath the surface, no shimmer or glitter or special effects – just straight-up primary blue on a platter. It’s a delicious palate cleanser of a polish and one that always gets me compliments whenever I wear it.

There’s also very little to separate On The Beach and Koliary in terms of formula and wear either. They both boast beautiful buttery formulas that flow perfectly and make application as easy as an ocean breeze. They’re both wonderfully opaque, they both have gorgeously glossy finishes and they last for around a week without chipping. Aaaaah… If only all polishes could be this easy, huh?!

I genuinely can’t choose between them… but you definitely should, because polish collections don’t really need both. Although I find the Lippmann brush a tad easier to hold thanks to the smaller cap, I daresay the NARS had a formula that was just a smidgen better. In Hong Kong, they’re even priced the same. So you’ll have to make the decisions I’m afraid!

Either way, On The Beach or Koliary, this is an essential beautiful ocean blue. It’s summer in a bottle… but don’t mistake this for just a holiday fling – it brings a striking injection of summer any day of the year. I think I just blue myself!

Looks good with: summer, summer, summer!
Drying time: <3 mins
Coats required: 1-2
Chips: +5 days

Deborah Lippmann On The Beach nail polish, Spring 2012 Collection, $170, Joyce Beauty (I received this product for review on Sassy Hong Kong)

NARS Koliary nail polish, Summer 2012 Thakoon Collection, $170, Lane Crawford

Beauty Spot: Nars Kutki nail polish review

As my nail polish collection multiplies by the minute, some tough decisions need to get made. In make-up mental mode, I picked up all of Nars’ Thakoon nail polish collection (an stunning series of summer brights, for those that haven’t already seen it). But when I got home and applied Nars Kutki, I had to ask myself – do I really another pastel blue?! The answer, of course, is a resounding YES.

Unlike China Glaze’s Sea Spray, there is not a hint of dustiness to Kutki – it is a true powder blue. Unlike Chanel’s Coco Blue, there is no secret shimmer to it – it a dreamy creamy crème through and through. Unlike many inferior pastel blues, there is not a hint of chalkiness to it; Kutki is bright soft summer skies all the way. It is, in short, gorgeous.

My previous experience with Nars’ nail polish had been fine but nothing spectacular (see my review of Night Rider here). But the consistency and quality of the Thakoon polishes do really justify the price tag! Kutki has a pleasant, easy to apply formula that seems to glide onto the nail just so. The texture is creamy, buttery and opaque in two quick coats. It is a polish that applies as effortlessly an cleanly as its carefree summer colour implies. I just wish that Nars would consider having a smaller, easier to hold cap under its admittedly aesthetically pleasing, big square one (like Illamasqua or Butter London do).

I imagine it would be easy to find a dupe for Kutki… but for that special frisson of the Thakoon factor, I found it pretty irresistible. Combined with the simply gorgeous colour and the easy as pie formula, Kutki is a definite keeper. Sorry, no tough decisions today guys!

Looks good with: fluffy white clouds, summer sunshine, ice-creams
Drying time: <3 mins
Coats required: 2
Chips: +5 days

NARS Kutki, Summer 2012 Thakoon Collection, $170, Lane Crawford