OCC Nail Lacquer in Pool Boy

So, a few months ago, I went to the Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics store in New York and picked up a bunch of nail polishes. I finally decided to bust them out, and of course, had to start with Pool Boy, which was the sole reason for my going to the store to begin with (OCC isn't widely sold in Canada, and they don't ship nail polishes here from their website). This shade came out last fall and I was obsessed with acquiring it, to no avail. It was sold out online and in store, and I basically had no hopes of getting it. But OCC decided to add it to their permanent line-up this year, and there was only one left when I went to the store, so I snatched that bad boy up before I could even look at anything else.

Pool Boy is a light aqua-sky blue in a cream finish. It has a fluid consistency without being too thick or runny. It does streak a bit in its first coat, but all subsequent coats go on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation and will reach opacity in two coats. It is lighter and less teal than Dior's Saint-Tropez, more aqua than Chanel's Coco Blue, and much lighter than Julep's Claire. You know, despite the plethora of light blue polishes out there, this one still manages to stand out. I can't really think of any exact dupes for it. And I seriously got asked by every other girl what shade I was wearing. As a fiend for blue nail polishes, this is definitely one of my top ten nail shades of all time. And you know I don't say that lightly.

NYC — Spring 2012: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

The only make-up I bought in New York was from OCC, or Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, which is a vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics company based in New York City. I was determined to make a trip to their only store in East Village, partly because I missed them at IMATS last year, partly because they're not widely available in Canada, and mostly because they won't ship nail polishes over the border. My haul includes:

Lip Tar in Anime, Ophelia, Digitalis, Hoochie, and Belladonna

OCC first became popular for their Lip Tars, which are intensely-pigmented, featherlight, liquid lipsticks. They go on slick and wet like a lip gloss, but are smooth, non-sticky, long-wearing, and dries down to a matte finish. Lip Tar is currently available in 36 shades, and while many of the colours can be worn alone, a lot of them are meant to be mixed to create custom shades. There is a light peppermint scent to them (from the peppermint oil), but they are taste-free. Due to the intense pigmentation, a very tiny amount goes a long way (I'm talking like, a tiny bead), because too much of this product will lead to feathering. I have yet to find another product that is comparable to these in terms of formula and colour range (MAC's Lip Mix, which is a PRO product, are similar in concept, but they are very limited in terms of shades). The Lip Tars come in new packaging now with more product (10 ml instead of 8 ml), matte tubes, and a pointed applicator instead of a slanted flat applicator. I actually prefer this packaging, since the old one dispensed way too much product.

Nail Lacquer in Chlorophyll, Chimera, Phantasm, Something, Pool Boy, Wasabi and Traffic

You know I had to stock up on the nail polishes, which are apparently some of the most pigmented and quick-drying on the market (they were developed for editorial manicurists, so they give opaque colour pay-off with little product that is camera-ready in little time). OCC won't ship these over to Canada because they're considered "Hazardous Materials," so I couldn't get my hands on these. I picked up seven shades, but Pool Boy is the one that I knew I had to snatch up — they were consistently sold out of this shade when it was released last year, and again at IMATS, so my friend who actually went couldn't even pick one up. The store had one bottle of Pool Boy left, and I snatched it right up before I even had to chance to peruse the rest of the store. I ended up picking up six other shades that I'd been eyeing on their website for the last year. Best of all, they signed me up for their pro program, which means 20% discount!

I just can't believe that's all the make-up I bought in New York.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

174 Ludlow Street

New York, NY 10002

(212) 675-2404

OCC Pretty Boy: Loose Colour Concentrates

For its Fall/Winter collection, Pretty Boy, OCC released three new shades of Loose Colour Concentrate, of which I picked up two. Loose Colour Concentrates are "lightweight, ultra-refined, densely pigmented powders" that can be used on eyes, face, and body (similar to MAC Pigment). Due to the intense pigmentation, a little goes a long way, because too much of this product will lead to fall out. OCC is not yet widely available in Canada, so it is easiest to purchase their products online (or for those going to IMATS this year!). Each Loose Colour Concentrate contains 2.5 grams, and retails for $12 USD. All OCC products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free.

Poison and Cruising

Poison is a blackened forest green with hints of brown in a frosty, metallic finish. It goes on smoothly and has very rich colour pay-off. It works equally well used wet or dry. It reminds me of Illamasqua's Nail Varnish in Viridian, but in powder format. It is darker and more green than MAC's Pigment in Emerald Dusk.

Cruising is a brassy, almost antique, gold in a frosty, metallic finish. It goes on smoothly and has rich colour pay-off. Used dry, it looks softer and less metallic. Used wet, it looks smoother, more metallic, and more opaque. It is darker and more yellow than MAC Pigment in Gold Mode (discontinued), and lighter than MAC Pigment in Cocomotion (discontinued).

Both Poison and Cruising are absolutely beautiful colours. Cruising is slightly less unique, only because there are so many metallic gold eyeshadows and pigments available out there, but is totally worth getting if you are on the market for a gold eye colour. Poison is just stunning, especially in a smoky eye, and more unique than Cruising, though perhaps less wearable. Like with MAC Pigments, I recommend using OCC's Loose Colour Concentrates on top of a base or primer so the powder adheres better onto skin. It would also work beautifully with a mixing medium to use as an eyeliner. I love that OCC sells their Concentrates in smaller batches, too, 'cause for anyone who has bought a MAC Pigment will know, it lasts forever (seriously, you can split a MAC Pigment with five other people, and you'll still never be able to finish it). Very much worth the price as well, since a little goes a long way. I'm really excited to check out some of OCC's other Concentrate shades.

OCC Pretty Boy: Lip Tars

For its Fall/Winter collection, Pretty Boy, OCC released six new shades of Lip Tar, of which I picked up three. Lip Tars are intensely-pigmented, featherlight liquid lipsticks. They go on slick and wet like a lip gloss, but are smooth, non-sticky, long-wearing, and dries down to a matte finish. Lip Tar is currently available in 36 shades, and while many of the colours can be worn alone, a lot of them are meant to be mixed to create custom shades. There is a light peppermint scent to them (from the peppermint oil), but they are taste-free. Due to the intense pigmentation, a very tiny amount goes a long way (I'm talking like, a tiny bead), because too much of this product will lead to feathering. OCC is not yet widely available in Canada, so it is easiest to purchase their products online (or for those going to IMATS this year!). Each Lip Tar contains 8 ml, and retails for $13 USD. All OCC products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free.

Pretty Boy, Narcissus, and Queen

Pretty Boy is a bright, saturated blue-based fuchsia pink. It has opaque colour coverage. On the lips, it's like a brighter and cooler version of MAC Girl About Town or Lickable.

Narcissus is a bright medium blue-based pink. It has opaque colour coverage. On the lips, it's like a darker version of MAC Saint German or a lighter and milkier version of MAC Pink Nouveau.

Queen is a bright, neon pinky coral-red. It has opaque colour coverage. On the lips, it's like a brighter, neon version of MAC Impassioned, or a more pink version of MAC Korean Candy.

OCC Lip Tars are fantastic to play around with, by mixing the colours together, or layering them with other lip products. Because Lip Tars are so saturated in colour, the wear time is quite long; typically around six hours. The bright shades (Pretty Boy and Queen) tend to stain over time as well, so they do wear for eight or more hours. Again, I do have to stress that a tiny bit goes a long way with this product, so be gentle when you're squeezing the tube! I would also recommend using a lip brush to apply it rather than straight from the tube to get a more precise lip.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars

I got my package from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in the mail yesterday! I ordered five shades of their Lip Tar, which are intensely-pigmented, featherlight liquid lipsticks. They go on slick and wet like a lip gloss, but are smooth, non-sticky, long-wearing, and dries down to a matte finish. All of OCC's products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free. Lip Tar comes in 39 shades, and while many of the colours can be worn alone, a lot of them are meant to be mixed to create custom shades. There is a light peppermint scent to them (from the peppermint oil), but they are taste-free. Due to the intense pigmentation, a very tiny amount goes a long way (I'm talking like, a tiny bead), because too much of this product will lead to feathering. OCC is not yet widely available in Canada (they are currently only carried at two stores, in Mississauga and Montreal), so it is easiest to purchase their products online. Each Lip Tar contains 8 ml, and retails for $13 USD.

Divine, Grandma, Memento, Pageant, and Trollop

Divine is a bright milky peach. On the lips, it's like a super, super opaque and darker version of MAC Shy Girl or a milkier version of MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Gotta Dash!.

Grandma is a true coral. It doesn't lean too pink or orange or red. On the lips, it's similar to MAC Vegas Volt, though perhaps a little peachier.

Memento is a soft peachy pink. On the lips, it reminds me of a more opaque version and more pink version of MAC Ravishing, or a lighter and less pink version of MAC Crosswires.

Pageant is a bright fuchsia pink that leans very slightly cool. On the lips, it's similar to MAC Prolong Wear Lipcreme in Love Forever!, but a little less blue-based.

Trollop is a bright, almost neon, watermelon pink coral. On the lips, it reminds me of MAC Impassioned or Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Full Speed.

OCC Lip Tars are fantastic to play around with, by mixing the colours together, or layering them with other lip products. Again, I do have to stress that a tiny bit goes a long way with this product, so be gentle when you're squeezing the tube! One thing I don't like, though, is that they tend to accentuate lip lines and dry flakes, so it is best to use a lip scrub beforehand, and then a good emollient lip balm. I would also recommend using a lip brush or even your fingers to apply it rather than straight from the tube to get a more precise lip. Overall, though, I'm really impressed with Lip Tar. Definitely worth the money, seeing as 8 ml will last anyone a very, very long time.