Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Misa Fall 2009 I'm Only Human Collection






The long-awaited fall collection from Misa is finally here! You may remember the interesting promo picture for this collection from this post... The colors that go along with it are quite unexpected!

Pictures first, opinions second.


Can't Nobody Take Me Down. Brown creme. This has a lot of red in it, almost appearing purple in certain lights. It's not quite a chocolate brown... It's too red/purple to be pure chocolate.

Forgive, Forget, For Me I Will. Dark orange creme. This looks more red in the picture than it does in real life. It's a very deep burnt orange creme. Very appropriate for fall!


I'm Going To Love Myself. Bright purple/pink creme. Looks like everyone's doing brights for fall! Flattering cool bright pink, in the same vein as OPI Ate Berries In The Canaries / OPI I'm India Mood For Love. Love these pinks on my skintone.



Sorry, Just Can't Help It. Medium red-purple creme. This, as always, look more blue in the picture than it does in real life. I'm a sucker for purple cremes... Sorry, just can't help it. Hahaha, okay, bad joke. But really, I just can't help but love this color!


That's My Little Secret. Berry creme. Cool-toned version of Today is My Birthday!

Today Is My Birthday! Berry creme. Red/warm-toned version of That's My Little Secret.

The shades are slightly truer to life in the bottle picture at the top of the page.


The formula on these is very, very thick. I had a little difficulty applying these because they didn't want to smooth out nicely due to the thickness. Nothing that can't be fixed with a little polish thinner, though. Misas in general are on the thick side so that's normal, but these are thicker than previous Misa polishes I've used. Opacity is very good, you could probably get away with one coat on these but I did two to cover up bald spots. Drying time is long, but they do dry to a shiny finish even without topcoat. One of my brushes was defective, so be sure to check for stray hairs before applying- a quick trim with very sharp scissors should do the trick.

Okay, deep breath. I hate to criticize a polish collection from a company whose collections usually make me jump for joy, but here goes....

I'm not completely in love with it! I really wanted to be. I'm a big Misa fan and I've been dying to see what kind of fun, fascinating and unique colors they had in store for us this year, and, truthfully, I feel a little bit let down....

There's nothing wrong with the colors at all. They're great colors, beautiful colors, colors I like. It's just that... they're not unique. We've seen these already in everyone else's fall collections. Misa usually does such unique and awesome colors, I wasn't expecting these to be so common. For one, they're all cremes, which is okay because I love cremes, but I would have loved to see a little more variety. And second: Berry cremes. Two out of six are berry cremes. I know a lot of people love them, but I personally think I might scream if I see one more berry creme. All of this year's collections have had multiple berry cremes and they're all near-duplicates of each other. Again, I would have loved to see more variety.

I love brown, I love orange, I love purple and I love Misa polish... But I'm just not feeling head-over-heels for this collection like I usually do with Misa. Remember last year's fall collection from Misa? It's still one of the best collections EVER, even a year after its release.... I suppose I was hoping for another one of those.

Also.... I feel the need to address this gem:

I'm not easily offended and I can't say this image actually *offends* me, but it does make me giggle like a twelve-year-old.

Here are the points I'd like to make on this. I'll keep it a clean and mature as possible.

First, it's shockingly raunchy and suggestive for a nail polish ad. I don't think the target audience for nail polish advertisements would really appreciate this type of image. Normally I'm giving China Glaze a hard time about their pseudo-pornographic promotional images, but I'm shocked to see this from Misa! Does this image really appeal to women? Does it really make women want to buy nail polish? I'm not a marketing expert by any means but this really surprises me. "Hey, does that woman have balls in her mouth?" "Yeah, let's go buy nail polish!!"

I understand that this image is supposed to portray Eve's sin (and that's something to celebrate??) and I'm just glad it didn't include the serpent as well.

Second, the theme of this collection is supposed to be a female-empowerment "You go girl!" type of theme. However, the model in the advertisement seems to be simulating a sexual act that is pretty much the opposite of female empowerment. Pardon my language, but there is nothing 'empowering' about being tea-bagged. This image seems to be very contrary to the 'feminist' embrace-your-flaws theme that was intended.

I really hope I'm not being too harsh! I know that I'm entitled to my own opinion, and hey, this is my blog so it's all about my opinion... I have to be honest, and I know you all come to read my honest opinion on things... But Misa never usually lets me down! Hopefully my criticism comes across as constructive, because that's how it's intended.

So... what do YOU all think? I'd love to hear your opinions!

60 comments:

  1. I'm just glad it didn't include the serpent as well.

    Perfect.

    And agreed entirely.

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  2. Wow! I agree with you totally. Colors are ok, probably not going to add any to my collection. And your dissection of the ad is SPOT ON. Sadly, pseudo-pornographic advertising for cosmetics and beauty products is a growing trend.

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  3. Yeah, I agree w/ you. The colors are meh and the add kind of grosses me out. It looks like the cover of a porno. I loved their fall collection last year and this collection pales in comparison.

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  4. Hey Scrangie,

    I agree with your commentary on the polish and the ad. I am not sure most men will react to it positively either, if that was the intended audience. "Hey Joe, check out that hot chick being teabagged by the apple!" "I don't know Ted, she hasn't got any teeth; how hot can she be??" "Want to go find some hot chicks with teeth?" "Sure Ted, but let's stop for some apple pie on the way. I'm suddenly hungry!"

    This is not to insult men, just point out that the print does not match the product or target audience. I think many of us are not offended, so much as bemused...

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  5. Haha, I think it's an hilarious ad actually! :D I don't think they intended it to be laugh out loud funny, but when I first saw the ad I immediately cracked up and had to show it to my boyfriend who also thought it was hysterical.

    I'm not the kind of girl who is easily offended. ;)

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  6. Thanks for the analysis, Scrangie. When I see this imagery, I feel weary. How many times will we have to put up with this s**t? Teabaggery doesn't make me think of nailpolish or of happy shopping at all.

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  7. This. Review. Rocked.

    THANK YOU for telling the truth.

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  8. You love nail polish, and you're a reasonable woman to boot! Fantastic analyses all around.

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  9. yes, thanks for not being afraid to drop a little analysis. good to know i'm not the only girl who likes manicures but not patriarchy ;-)

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  10. The polishes are alot like others we've seen this is true. The AD is ridiculous. It just looks stupid I know that isn't the smartest word to use but that's exactly what I think when I look at it. "Wow, that looks really stupid" What I should be thinking is "Wow, thats polish I want to buy" It needs help.

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  11. I never really pay attention to nail polish ads, but she could have at least been holding the apple and not had it dangling in her mouth lol.

    As for the colors, I'm disappointed. I love creams, but can I get a blue or green in here??

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  12. 1. for the most part I don't like cremes, so this collection doesn't excite me
    2. the colors do seem over done
    3. that ad doesn't make me want to buy nail polish

    I'd rather see ads that show off the makeup or nail polish, as opposed to making me think of fellatio.

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  13. I agree completely. They're all nice colors, but they aren't really special colors. And the ad, oh goodness. It's in complete contrast with the message they were trying to convey with the titles of the polishes. :/ Unfortunate.

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  14. I'm reading this post while waiting for my class to start and I had to be careful I didn't bust out laughing @ your ad dissection. Seriously, "'Hey, does that woman have balls in her mouth?' 'Yeah, let's go buy nail polish!!'"

    That might be the funniest thing I've read in a while.

    I'm pretty much inclined to agree with you, about the polishes and the ad. 6 cream polishes, really? And we've all seen those colors before. What a bummer.

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  15. I totally agree with the misogynistic ad! YUCK!

    And I SWEAR TO GOD. ONE MORE BERRY CREME AND I WILL SCREAM! And I really really really liked them before the nail polish companies decided this was the IT color (gotta say, I'd like a berry matte -- but I'll just use Essie's topcoat!). Berries (used to) appeal to nail freak with unique taste and the more matronly buyer alike. But ENOUGH ALREADY! If someone wants to buy one, they can get one of the million out there. NO MORE!

    On the other hand, I can never have enough purples (as long as they're clearly purple and not black). Love vampies, hate vampies that look black indoors. So they're ok :)

    (I'm currently waiting for my Nubar Cleopatra (finally splurged bc of the sale), Going Green, and Modern Matte Collections. SO Excited. Code is DRAW25 for 25% over $100 and free shipping)

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  16. And shouldn't they have included a GREEN for the serpent?! :-P

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  17. One of the best pieces you have written so far. I normally just look at the pictures and read the colour describtions but this caught me somehow. The collection was really boring and your analyzis was great. No, the ad doesnt appeal to women to buy nailpolish and if the want to celebrate women and women empowerment they shouldnt have choosen Eve. For Gods sake- Eve was not a 'girl power' woman- she's the opposite. They could have used any mythological character for this but not Eve. And especially not with balls in her mouth.

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  18. Oh, Misa. Why not show Adam eating something? Maybe a cut open juicy half of a large, blush colored apple? Eve could have her hands on it in whatever empowering polish color she chose.

    Misa is in my hometown. I love their polish. I love their address. This collection has an OPI feel to it. I expect Misa to be bolder and more adventurous. I do like the sort of chocolate color. I want to get in a time machine and go back to the creation of their duochromes. Now that's temptation!

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  19. I don't understand why you're saying these things about the ad. The only thing wrong with the ad is that the model doesn't have a pearl necklace on. I think she'd look beautiful with a lovely pearl necklace.

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  20. your photos are amazing...the colors just pop.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  21. I'm surprised there wasn't a green as well. Would have fit in with the garden of Eden or whatever is being portrayed, or a nice green to represent the snake. =p

    I don't want any of these, they are so boring. Berry cremes kill me too.

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  22. A slight disappointment in this collection. I haven't done swatches on these yet. But theres a few colors I'm actually looking forward to. And as for the ad, it made me giggle too haha

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  23. Boring Shades..... as for the photo, are they trying to market to men? It is demeaning, in my opinion.

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  24. I love you Scrangie, as tears of laughter roll down my cheeks! Hopefully a Misa rep will read your blog and report to the "genius" who chose this advertisment!

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  25. You had me from 'tea bagged'. :) These colors are kind of boring to me, how many times can you do a berry creme? I expected more from Misa:(

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  26. Yuck yuck and, oh yeah, yuck. Hate the colors love your review of the ad! And the pix are great, as always.

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  27. I'm not blown away, although that apple obviously is. *rimshot*

    The colors are pretty, but nothing spectacular. And I agree that the ad is...weird. They could have easily done an empowered-Eve theme, and still included some smexiness too.

    Oh, and aprilrobin - Heh! Too good.

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  28. I always think of nail polish when I see Eve with an apple in her mouth. Since there are more greens coming out, Misa added berry to be original. Not hardly! I like the purple and the chocolate. I have to stop myself from buying them in every companies collection. Thanks Scrangie for the truth
    1

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  29. YES! ITA. the collection is a let down and the ad DOES insult me. WTF Misa?! i will NOT be buying any of these polishes. ugh.

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  30. After this Misa ad I may need to wrap my Nails Mag in a brown paper bag!...Loved your review

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  31. Umm...yeah, it does look like she's got balls in her mouth! If that doesn't make a girl wanna polish her nails - I don't know what does!

    Seriously, though, I don't think I've ever seen, or noticed, a single promo picture for a polish company's new line. I just don't pay attention. What I do pay attention to is the polish itself: are the colors unique, fun, or awesome enough to own? In this case it's a big, fat "no!" Sorry, Misa, I liked that Toxic Seduction line, and some of the super brights from before....but these are some boring ass colors that I won't look at twice. My polish collection is small, but full of color and win, those losers couldn't teabag their way in.

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  32. I don't think the theme was totally out of line, but they didn't do it very well. I think it would have come across better if Eve had been biting the apple (you know, like when you actually eat food rather than fellate it) and looking sort of femme-fatale-ish. Oh well.

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  33. Quite frankly I love this add. I can give a not so subtle nudge to my boyfriend and say "Hey. Look what YOU get if I get what's on her nails".

    Well perhaps I dont have the balls (PUNNY AS HECK HERE) to say it, but at least it's a hint to the guys :)

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  34. Really agree with you on the ad! Well said Scrangie! As for the colours, they are very pretty but nothing I'd prioritise to buy.

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  35. This isn't my favorite collection, to say the least.

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  36. Just be grateful Essie didn't use a similar campaign for Meet Balls. Hmmm, let's face it, it's not really the mopst practical way to eat an apple, is it...

    I know what you mean about the China Glaze posters as well - the blow-up doll from Summer Days really stressed me out.

    We can't get Misa over here but I'm not exactly breaking my heart over missing out on this collection, I have to say. You're right - nice colours if you don't already own a gazillion berry cremes but nothing new or interesting here.

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  37. I never "look into ads" or analyze them to me they are just pictures nothing more. I guess its the innocence in me haha. I would of never noticed the explicity if you had not pointed it out. But thats why your the blogger and not me! Everything is about sex nowadays I try to not pay attention to it!!! Thanks for posting.....

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  38. AD interpretation: I know these colors suck but remember "I'm Only Human"

    Maybe the AD person had the same thoughts as you on the colors being so meh.

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  39. love your blog, great pics as always, and articulate and useful comments on the colors - that's what blogs like yours are for after all!
    There is however is one thing I really don't get (I do get your opinion on it though, very well spoken!): maybe I'm too old (41), maybe I'm too European (Dutch), maybe I'm too naive (married with kids?) but until you pointed it out, I really saw nothing suggestive/porno-ish/raunchy in the ad. She's eating an apple (last summer it was a raspberry, whatev) and she has pretty pink nails. The color of the polish doesn't match with the tones of the ad. The ad agency ran out of ideas so they just made one with a pretty woman. It's just like your regular American beauty ad: Suggestive. Sensual. Seductive. Selling. Like all advertising - and not just in the USA I hasten to add!!
    Your analysis however made it clear: this one can be classified as too much, as rancid. You are right.
    Then again, my dear ladies let's not pretend this is new, or that we don't see the ads in our magazines or on billboards/tv: suggestive imagery of (available) women is EVERYWHERE in adverstising, in much worse ways, even demeaning ways, to an extent that I find almost disgusting at times, and very saddening, because it has also invaded teen mags, the teen world including the likes of Hannah Montana and various other underage startlets who flaunt their bodies like the next Jenna Jameson. Who are we kidding if we are upset about a nail polish ad, or about Janet Jacksons 100% staged wardrobe malfunction, or even about undernourished models. Use (and exploitation, abuse) of the female beauty to sell stuff is not new, and it is everywhere around us. Who are we blaming? Is it the 'mad men' making the ads, is it the mysogynous (women hating) 'industry'? Do you buy stuff because you like it or because you like the ad (how naive is that btw), don't you buy the stuff because the ad sucks (pardon the pun) even if you like the stuff itself? Why are companies that use women in demeaning ways in their ads still in business? Because all those raunchy men cannot stop lemming nail polish/bras/shoes/bags/stuff? Or because we can't, regardless of the ads? Then, isn't it time we were a bit more outspoken towards the companies whose stuff we like? Why do we put up with it?
    Are we that masochist? Or brainwashed?
    For me, I'm grateful to know that I can make do with the Misa fall 2009 dupes in my stash, because they are not getting my patronage.
    DutchRose

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  40. Have to ask you what top coat you use? Your nails always look so amazing and I really need a great top coat now!

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  41. Totally agree with you.
    At first I was excited about a few shades but now that I've seen them swatched...they are disappointing, they lack "a little something".
    I won't even mention that add, it's very disturbing.

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  42. Scrangie, thanks for addressing the ridiculous ad again. When I first saw it, of course I laughed, but then I was offended.

    It's one thing to strive for shock value, and it's another to just cross the line and ostracize the demographic your ads are trying to target.

    As I mentioned last time, I'm boycotting this collection entirely because of what it stands for, and as it just disgusts me.

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  43. Scrangie! I love you for this "but there is nothing 'empowering' about being tea-bagged" LMFAO! I love you so much!

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  44. Hello Scrangie and Fellow Bloggers,

    First and foremost, we would like to apologize if this Ad has offended you in any way. We did not intend to give you the perceptions that most of you have with this Ad. However, we do feel that our colors fit the trend for this fall season. With that being said, thank you so much for all of your opinions. They have really helped us to serve you better.

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  45. pretty colors, but that's it. I was hoping that MISA would top last fall, but sorry.
    And I do agree with all you said. That promo pic turned out kinda whrong I think

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  46. So funny that the Misa rep wants us to believe the oral servicing subtext in that image was entirely accidental. Thanks Scrangie for stating the obvious.

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  47. Agreed, the colors are boring, I'm gonna fall aslee...zzz.

    But, really, is it reasonable to imagine that the powers that be at Misa have a vested interest in convincing their demographic that ball-sucking is sexy? More likely, a series of people with exquisitely undirty minds gave this photo approval (it's a pretty pic, after all), no?

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  48. She's not 'being' tea-bagged. She is
    *choosing* to eat the fruit/tea-bagged. If anything, she is *taking back* the idea that it is a demoralizing or power-stealing act. She is enjoying it.

    And I tell you what, when I have my man where I want him (I think you know what I mean) there is just about nothing else *MORE* empowering.

    Also? I *like* the idea of de-criminalizing Eve. I'm *tired* of Eve always being denounced and trashed. She was only human, if you subscribe to that set of beliefs.

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  49. Misti: I also am all about de-criminalizing Eve. I've always loved Milton's basic point in Paradise Lost: sure, Eve ate the apple, but hell, what human being (male or female) wouldn't have? But I don't think this ad achieves that as well as it could. An empowered Eve could be biting into a juicy apple and loving it, while she's stepping on the snake in her hott stiletto heels. Or just holding the apple and giving a saucy wink to the camera.

    I don't find this ad offensive (as you pointed out, there's no indication whatsoever that she's being forced to fellate the fruit). But I also don't find it very effective. Being tea-bagged by fruit does not translate into "I'm Only Human -- buy this nail polish" for me.

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  50. I agree with that Misti. The image of women almost biting something is very "male gaze." I think that if she actually bit the apple and overcame the snake (ie. had some agency) the message of the ad would have resonated with me more.

    Good dialogue on this!

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  51. @Whitney G or even if she had her eyes open and looking at the camera it would have made all the difference in the world.

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  52. Scrangie - right again! I don't mind sultry/sexy but this kind of offends me as well. I know the Adam and Eve story is all part of the Bible but I seriously can't handle the fact that women were considered the downfall of man!! Aside from the fact that apparently Eve also liked balls in her mouth...? YUK MISA!!

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  53. This collection looked like a snooze the first time I saw it. While your application and photos are flawless, you're right, there is nothing new or exciting here.

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  54. @misti who said, "She's not 'being' tea-bagged. She is
    *choosing* to eat the fruit/tea-bagged. If anything, she is *taking back* the idea that it is a demoralizing or power-stealing act. She is enjoying it."

    taking back? keep telling yourself that.

    it is insulting as a consumer that they think an image of a woman sucking balls will make me want to buy nail polish. it does the opposite. i like misa nail polish but this ad is rubbish and i wouldn't want my kid seeing it.

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  55. I must lead such a boring life. Who knew there were such terms? Learn something new everyday.

    The image is overly sexual, which I find disappointing in itself, since Misa doesn't seem to have gone down that road, at least not in the art work I've seen from their earlier collections.

    I'd ask them to aim a little higher next time, but considering the rampant focus on subtext here, maybe that's not the wisest choice of phrasing.

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  56. Hey there Anonymous 7/26, 2:43

    Nice that you can't even leave your name! Have some 'balls' next time. ;)

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  57. I really didn't get the "tea-bagging" aspect of the ad, until I read your review of it. In retrospect, I can see how one might be offended by this ad, or at the least, see it as rather "risque'" in it's nature, but to me it was just marketing a product. Perhaps MISA may have missed their target when they ran this ad (and seeing as most comments are negative, I think they must have missed their target) but in the end, it is just about ones' perception. I think the ad is intended to seem "other worldly, and "mystical." I think that MISA just failed to look at who their target consumers are, and how they might react to this ad, before they ran it. I truly wasn't offended, but I can see how some may have been offended.

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  58. i finally caved in and got a misa nail polish in the shade fushia love #57. and i found it not to be as opaque as i like, i had 2 use 3 coats to get it 2 a managable level. is it just this particular polish or is this their formular?

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  59. You have said everything I have been thinking about this collection. Love Misa, not feeling this.

    And every time I see this collection the photo just annoys the hell out of me. You are right, it's really not right for what they are trying to sell and it sure as hell is not appealing.

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