Red-hot nails for the hot days

When I saw a friend wearing Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails in Royal Crème Red, I got into a nail lacquer fixation of the crimson kind. Years ago, I was very happy with L'Oréal Ceramide Resist in this perfect sharp red I loved, however, the product has long been discontinued. And it's been a while since M.A.C. Nail Lacquer in Rougemarie ended my quest for the perfect blue-based Hollywood red that's neither too orange nor maroonish.

Since the aforementioned Sally Hansen nail polish has proven to be an elusive find (my friend got hers at PCX), I ended up getting a bottle of Caronia Simply Red in Watson's. On another mall trip, while waiting in line at Rustan’s Essenses, I had a good 10 extra minutes to look over my shoulder and peruse the Max Factor shelf behind me, yielding a bottle of Nailfinity in Red Passion.

One coat wonders

When first applied, both Max Factor and Caronia register a youthful, candy apple red, with subtle differences barely noticeable to the naked eye. At this point, they only vary in formula and finish, with Nailfinity in the lead in terms of gloss and ease of use.

At two coats, Caronia blooms into a deeper velvety crimson—perfect for sophisticated get-togethers. Max Factor on the other hand, becomes a shinier fire-engine red: 80's kontrabida [villain] vixens come to mind, albeit modernized and now desirable (like those vibrant poinsettias in holiday decor).

Personally I am loving both shades, so much that my experiment of Simply Red on my right hand and Red Passion on my left are both still prettily painted on. These two can actually go up against the more expensive salon brands out in the market: Caronia, for its value for money and all-around availability; and Max Factor, for its super shiny formula (you’ll no longer need a clear top coat).

A matter of preference

A few days into my nail polish experiment, both products still look great and have not chipped on either hand. Both hues are still similar at first glance, with Caronia mellowing to a more subdued red. Nailfinity is still almost as smooth and glossy as when I first applied it. The verdict now is as follows: If you have extra cash to spare for nail varnish, get Max Factor’s Red Passion. If you have good dexterity with a nail brush, go for Caronia’s Simply Red. Either way, your hands will enjoy this sizzling summer shade!

Ask Mariel a beauty question at http://BeautyintheBigApple.com or visit her blog at http://NyMinuteNow.com.

Originally published in The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Lifestyle Fashion & Beauty section, p.F3.