Butter London Toff and Chanel Graphite nail polish

   
          Recently I treated myself to a small nail polish haul. My fall/winter polish color collection is not extensive, and I couldn't find anything that wasn't too dark or too light that I wanted to wear. The two colors I chose were Chanel Vernis in Graphite and Butter London Toff. It is a happy coincidence that these are my first Chanel and Butter London nail polishes, respectively. Perhaps you might find this to be surprising? I love nail polish, however I've developed an extraordinary ability to resist temptation. Nail polish is the one cosmetic item that I can successfully enjoy vicariously through blogs. However, once in a while, some colors are just needed. This is where Chanel Graphite and Butter London Toff come in.

         Aside from being my first bottles from their respective brands, the color and story behind how I acquired Chanel Graphite and Butter London Toff are quite different. I've been obsessed with Chanel Graphite ever since it came out. I don't like shimmer or glitter, however Graphite was the exception. I also love greys, as you might know. I swatched it when it first came out, however I just wasn't in the mood for a sparkly wintery grey in summertime, or even early fall. However, recently it's just what I need now. I couldn't stop thinking about it, so I went out and bought it. I know I'm late on the train, but that's fine with me! Butter London Toff was a color I didn't specifically plan to purchase. I had the Ulta Friends and Family coupon and figured it was my chance to buy something from Butter London. I love the idea behind the brand, however most of the Butter London color renditions just don't speak to me. I decided to pick Toff because I knew I could use a medium mauve toned color for my collection. Toff debuted as a part of the Butter London Fall/Holiday 2011 collection, so it is fitting for the season.

          I love the little detailing on the bottles. I love glossy black casing with monochrome details. Then Chanel cap and wand are of course immaculate. The Butter London wand has a dent in the bird. I've deduced this is from a point the inside of the cap. The pointer finger on the cap is a sticker decal, and isn't printed on the actual casing. Despite this, I still find the packaging charming.

          Finally here are my swatches of Butter London Toff nail polish and Chanel Vernis in Graphite. Both colors were painted on with two coats and have nice formulas. Butter London Toff is a mauve / purple rose creme polish. The rosy color in my photos and swatches looks similar to how the bottle looked in store. However at home, I find the color to be more purple and less rose. I'm wearing it now, and would say it appears considerably more purple than in my swatch. I'm not a fan of purple tones, however I find this color easy to wear for everyday use. I think I will use it a lot this season. Chanel Graphite is a silver grey glitter that seems to flash green in some lighting. It's really complex and pretty. I think Graphite fits my idea of a festive holiday color.

         I'm excited to wear both Graphite and Toff this season. Both are fun in an understated manner. I'm pretty sure these colors, along with Owl's Night will be staples for me. I'm pleased with the quality of the formula, packaging, and colors, and look forward to adding Butter London and/or Chanel sporadically to my collection in the future. Thanks for taking a peek at my nail polish haul! What are your must-have colors this season? Do you have any favorite Butter London or Chanel colors?

Love, Dovey.