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Now that nail art is mainstream and crazy nail looks are commonplace on the runway, established nail brands keep trying to find ways to top themselves. The latest trend is with nail polish made from actual gold. We're not talking Kelly Osbourne $250K manis over here, but several brands are incorporating real gold (usually gold leaf) into their polishes just in time for the holiday luxury push.
First up: OPI's Man With the Golden Gun topcoat is part of their Bond-inspired collection. This polish is made with actual 18K gold, and it's the only one of the bunch that's a solid instead of a glitter. Just don't confuse it with the brand's Golden Eye polish, which is also Bond-inspired but made with fake gold.
Rococo is an emerging British brand, and they've made a name for themselves across the pond with this Gold Leaf Lacquer. The high-gloss chunky glitter looks great layered or alone, and it has lots of staying power. Unfortunately, the price is pretty high: £35, or about $55, plus international shipping.
For a lower-priced but still pretty effective option, check out Deborah Lippmann's Boom Boom Pow. If you can manage to overlook the fact that the polish is named after a Black Eyed Peas song, the 24K gold dust is pretty cool looking and works over almost any color you can think of.
Pricewise, Zoya's limited-edition Gilty is probably the best deal of the bunch. The 18K topcoat isn't as chunky or bold as the others, but it's still pretty cool layered over other polishes, and it won't give you as obviously blinged-out of a look. The kit is $35 and includes a white and black polish, so it's gift-ready.
· Holiday Beauty Trend Report: Why Does All This Makeup Look Like Candy? [Racked]
· Dior Is Hoping You'll Trade Your Jewelry in for 24K Gold Tattoos [Racked]