SWATCHES: OPI // Orange You A Rockstar & V-I-Pink Passes

Found recently in TK Maxx for £2.99 each. I already have what feels like 1000 pink/peach polishes but I just can't stop buying them.

Orange You A Rockstar // pink/peach satin crelly

Collection: Neon

Release: Summer 2019

Coats: 3

I love the formula on this; it's a crelly and super easy to apply but it has a satin finish so it can leave streaks if you overwork it.

I wouldn't really call this a neon due to how sheer it is. After 3 coats I can still see my nail tips slightly peaking through. I think the satin finish is a disservice to this polish though; I love it with a super plumping top coat.

V-I-Pink Passes // magenta satin crelly

Collection: Neon

Release: Summer 2019

Coats: 3

This one is much brighter and more in the neon realm. It also has a crelly satin formula which I think all of them in this range do. I also have Dance Party Teal Dawn which I swatched here.

Watch out when removing as this really stains the skin and edges of the nails. It took me a while to get it all off.

SWATCHES: China Glaze // Sun Of A Peach, Pilates Please & Peachy Keen

Surprise surprise; I bought some peach nail polish! Bet ya didn't see that one coming.

One thing I did not see coming though was the revelation that China Glaze only went 5-Free in 2019. I found this article from 2019 (https://www.thezoereport.com/p/the-orly-vs-china-glaze-nail-polish-difference-is-this-experts-say-18196467) which states a spokesperson for CG says they were "always 5-Free but now they've gone 7-Free as well". This is a lie as all three of the below polishes clearly state Formaldehyde Resin on the ingredients label.

I wish I knew this before I started buying up older CG polishes. So a warning if you're allergic; only buy CG polishes from collections from 2019 onwards for at least 5-Free polishes. I personally only like to use polishes that are at least free of any formaldehyde and toluene so I'm disappointed. I'll still continue to use the polishes I've bought but I won't be buying anymore older CG polishes from now on.

But anyway onto swatches; make sure you're in a well ventilated area when using older CG shades as well!

Sun Of A Peach // satin neon orange (contains formaldehyde resin)

Collection: Sunsational

Release: Summer 2013

Coats: 4

This is a bugger to apply. It's extremely thin and dries insanely fast so streaks; streak everywhere. You need to build this up in thin coats. It's also nearly identical to FlipFlopFantasy V2. The re-release of FFF was after this though so I have a feeling that maybe they changed the colour of FFF to match this one as it's kind of hard to get hold of and is a sun of beach to apply. With FFF v2 I'm done in 2 coats.

You can see in the comparison photo that FFF is only slightly lighter than Son Of A Peach and you can only see the difference in very bright lighting. So if you're looking for a neon orange I'd say go with FFF v2 as it's much easier to apply and has a better formula.

Pilates Please // peach creme (contains formaldehyde resin)

Collection: Chic Physique

Release: Spring 2018

Coats: 3

A wonderful true peach creme. It is on the streaky side and I needed 3 coats in the end to get full opacity but I love this shade. I wish I had some stamping plates with peaches on them as this would be the perfect shade!

This is one those polishes though where the more layers you have, the lighter it gets. After 3 coats my nails were looking gloriously plump and shiny. The top photo was taken in more direct lighting than the bottom so you can see how much it changes based on lighting.

Peachy Keen // peach/orange creme (contains formaldehyde resin)

Collection: Up & Away

Release: Spring 2010!

Coats: 3

This is a super old one. We got some vintage China Glaze action going on here. It was actually in searching to find if CG did a re-release of this shade (because the text on my bottle is different than the original photos) that I discovered that this polish contains formeldahyde resin. So I guess it was good for that?

As for the shade though, this is another one of those polishes that becomes lighter with more layers. I think my bottle has started separating quite a bit as it was streaky and needed a good three coats. After that it was bordering on neon.

SWATCHES: Essie // Fall For NYC, But First Candy, Ooh La Lolly & Glowing Strong

More swatches! This time from Essie. I'm not the biggest Essie fan so I tend to ignore them when I see them in TK Maxx but last time there were a few shades that I just couldn't resist throwing in the cart (as well as interesting formulas).

Fall For NYC // orange clay creme

Collection: Fall For NYC

Release: Fall 2018

Coats: 2

I actually remember this collection being released and wanting specifically this shade along with Say It Aint Soho (an orange metallic) but Essie shades are £7.99 here and rarely on sale; the only times I do buy them are from TK Maxx, so I was very happy when this turned up in my local store for £2.99. This is one of those perfect autumn/winter shades. The formula itself is a little streaky and not that shiny but those issues are easily sorted out with a top coat (I just never wear one for swatches).

But First, Candy // dark green jelly

Collection: Glazed Days

Release: Summer 2019

Coats: 3

Where did this range come from? I had never even heard of it so I was surprised to find it only came out last summer. I have been looking for this exact shade though; a true green jelly, so I was very happy when I saw this and Ooh la lolly in TK.  I wanted them for layering effects however, they appear to be a bit too dark and this one is a little streaky. It also takes forever to dry but that's like most jellies. I stopped at three coats, where it just about lost its transparency and marvelled at the shiny gel-like surface. 

Ooh La Lolly // dark blue jelly

Collection: Glazed Days

Release: Summer 2019

Coats: 3

This is more like the formula I was after; no streaks and builds up nicely but still keeps its transparency. This is going to be perfect for jelly sandwiches (I've already got one planned). Again, it takes a while to dry but I love sticking glitter between the layers for that plastic gel look. Really pleased I managed to get this for £3 as it would've cost me that much anyway after p&p for a jelly polish from born pretty/eBay.

60 Glowing Strong // peach/pink creme

Collection: Treat Love & Color

Release: Winter 2018

Coats: 3

Of course I bought the peach/pink shade. For some reason I was expecting this to be a thick and gloopy creme but it's actually quite thin. It took me three coats to get the coverage I was happy with but it was easy to apply and dried relatively quick. This shade just makes me wish is was summer though...I miss the warm weather and being able to cycle without being battered by a 20mph wind.

SWATCHES: China Glaze // Diva Bride, Spring In My Step, My Sweet Lady, Sweet As Pinkie Pie & Magical

Ok, it's official; I can't stop buying pink polishes. I actually bought these back in June on the first day that TK Maxx re-opened. I have now just got round to swatching them. My desk has become cluttered with a thousand polishes that need swatching, why did I let them build up?

Diva Bride // Sheer Baby Pink Creme
Collection: ??
Release Date: 2010?
Coats: 3

This is a wonderful sheer pink that is streaky on the first and second coats but builds up nicely. It's also super shiny and delicate; perfect for wedding nails. This would also be great as the initial base for rose quartz nails. It does need to be applied slowly and carefully in thin layers but it's worth the extra effort. For fun, I added a red watermarble stamp on top; perfect for valentines looks.

Spring In My Step // Neon Pink Peach Satin Creme

Collection: City Flourish

Release Date: 2014
Coats: 4

This one is incredibly streaky with a satin finish but it does dry extremely fast. I love the shade but even after three coats there are still visible streaks and brush marks. This is not a shade where you can just load up the brush as it will flood the sides immediately. The key is to do two very thin coats, then load the brush up as the polish won't run everywhere. 

I will however let it these issues slide because this is the closest I've come so far to finding a dupe for Deco Miami's 'Cake' shade; my favourite neon peach/pink. It's cheap in the US but an arse to import over here.

Even though it needs four coats, this shade does dry extremely fast so overall I'm quite happy; I just wish it was less streaky.

My Sweet Lady // Soft Peony Pink Creme

Collection: Pastels
Release Date: 2017
Coats: 2

This has the best formula so far; not too thin but not too thick and very easy to apply. The first coat is quite streaky but the second coat evens everything out and leaves it super glossy as well. This is almost like a Barry M Gelly formula (but without the self-levelling magic).

Sweet As Pinkie Pie // Soft Peony Pink Creme

Collection: My Little Pony

Release Date: 2017

Coats: 2

I thought this was from a newer collection but I guess not. It's still a great shade that seems to magically change depending on skintone, lighting, weather, traffic conditions...honestly google swatches for this shade and they range from light pink to dark peach to hot pink. On me this is a light peachy pink similar to OPIs Barking Up The Wrong Sequoia. I do the love the shade though; these peachy pinks are my favourite this year.

Magical // Rose Gold Metallic Shimmer

Collection: Romantique

Release Date: 2009

Coats: 1

I was hoping this would be a vintage from 2009 however the bottle has four translations on the front and I'm pretty sure the older ones only had 2. Anyway, this is a one coat wonder with minimal brush strokes thanks to its shimmer finish. If this was a straight up chrome, the brush strokes would be pretty bad but all the shimmery pieces hide the lines.

I'm really impressed with this; it also stamps wonderfully as well thanks to it's intense pigmentation. It's similar to Barry M's Liquid Chrome shade in Razzle Dazzle but I much prefer this one.

QUICK SWATCH: Essie Mini // 318 Resort Fling

Time for another quick swatch! I found this beautiful shade in TK Maxx for £1.99 so obviously I had to buy it. 

318 Resort Fling // Coral-Peach Crelly

Collection: Resort Fling

Release Date: March 2014

Coats: 3

This could be a wonderful peach jelly but alas; 'tis streaky. It does have a glass-like shine to it though and two coats is more than enough for full coverage. I found it very easy to apply, even though the formula is more on the liquid side. On the first coat it looks much darker than it is, but lights up on the second. I was worried when I first applied it because it was looking like it did not suit my skin tone, but that second coat sealed the deal; I love this shade. 

As long as you apply thin coats, this shade dries pretty quick. Normally I don't really care about drying times (or chipping times...if it chips that means an excuse to paint my nails again) but I did noticed how fast this one dried.

There are 3 other shades in this collection, an icy blue, a beige and a deep blue. For me this is easily the best in the collection but then again, I'm totally biased against peach/pink shades.

SWATCHES: OPI Infinite Shine // Barking up the Wrong Sequoia, Excuse Me, Big Sir! & Malibu Pier Pressure

I keep buying pink nail polish and somehow it doesn't match anything else I have. It must be some kind of miracle...

I found these in TK Maxx the other day and I threw them in my basket like g2g fast. These shades are who I want to be. I had seen Malibu Pier Pressure on Nail Polish Direct but I didn't want to fork out £9 for it and then it appeared in TK for £3.99. And it's the infinite shine versions which are always more expensive; I am one very happy nail polish hoarder right now.

All Infinite Shine shades take a little longer to dry but the formula is much better than the originals. A few other blog posts I read for this collection noted that the originals were very thick and gloopy and required thinning out. I found all of these shades fine straight out of the bottle. As always, I'm not wearing any top coat in the swatches.

Barking up the Wrong Sequoia // Peach Creme

Collection: California Dreaming

Release Date: 2017

Coats: 2

My heart sang when I saw this shade; it's exactly what I wanted Coral-ing Your Spirit Animal to be. This is a beautiful, pure peach shade with a self-leveling formula. The first coat is a little streaky but two coats and you're good to go. 

Excuse Me, Big Sir! // Neutral Rose Creme

Collection: California Dreaming

Release Date: 2017

Coats: 2

This is such a nice pink. I can't get over how perfect this pink is. It's very similar to Barry M's Tropical Pink if you're looking for a dupe. If you apply a thick coat slowly you can get away with one coat but I've found that two thin coats dries faster.

Malibu Pier Pressure // Hot Pink Creme

Collection: California Dreaming

Release Date: 2017

Coats: 2

This one was the trickiest to apply with coats being streaky and fast drying but two coats even everything out. I wish summer wasn't almost over and I wish I could go on holiday because this shade deserves more than a dreary rainy afternoon in England.

// Verdict

I had seen this collection before and it's right up my street. I don't want all of them but there's a few others I've got my eye on like Sweet Carmel Sunday which is a metallic rose gold. I managed to get the main shades I wanted though for less than half the price. Thank you TK Maxx!

SWATCHES: China Glaze // Pack Lightly, More To Explore & Pinking Out The Window

So when googling "peach nail shades" a couple weeks ago I came across the most beautiful swatch and it turns out the shade was 'More To Explore' by China Glaze. I ended up googling the whole collection and damn...it's beautiful. I ended up purchasing my favourite 3 (I am trying to practice some self-restraint) but I can see myself getting the rest at some point in the future. The FabFitFun Summer Box Add-on/Customisation was this month as well so it was a pretty expensive month for me 🙈

Pack Lightly // Pale Peach Shimmer

Collection: Road Trip

Release Date: Spring 2015

When looking at swatches it's quite difficult to make out the shimmer, so I thought it was a creme until it arrived and then I saw the slight golden particles in it. It is very difficult to see the shimmer though so it doesn't ruin it for me. This is almost identical to Nails Inc Peach Tease but slightly lighter (and with shimmer).

This isn't the easiest shade to apply. The formula is thin and runny, so make sure your brush isn't loaded up otherwise it will flood the sides. I also really hate the thin brush that CG used to use; thank the polish gods they changed it recently to a wide one. 3 thin coats are required to cover all the patches.

More To Explore // Peach Creme

Collection: Road Trip

Release Date: Spring 2015

I have a lot of Peach shades but I don't have a Peach shade quite like this one. I think it's the pink undertone that makes it so unique. I'd say it's the most "peach-like" that I have in my collection now. The formula is much better than the previous shade; it's slightly thicker and I found it easier to get neat edges without using a clean-up brush. Each layer is nice and glossy but the first one is super patchy.

If you're in a hurry, 2 coats is adequate, but 3 is really needed for full opacity. Just watch out for how much product is on the brush though, as the thinner consistency means it runs down the brush quickly and can flood the nail easily. 

This looks great when paired with Flip Flop Fantasy V2; I imagine they'd make a great ombre.

Pinking Out The Window // Pink/Peach Coral Creme

Collection: Road Trip

Release Date: Spring 2015

This looks so good with my skin tone. I've been sitting out in the garden as much as I can lately and I've finally started to go from a pale olive to a tan olive. My eyes are greener when I'm tan, my hair looks better, my nail polish looks better. I just prefer summer me over winter me lol.

Anyway, this is my favourite out of the three. The formula is a bit thicker allowing for the easiest application out of the three. If this had a Nails Inc or Ciaté brush it'd be perfect. It's just such a beautiful summery shade. I can imagine using it as the colour for hibiscus stamps.

I'm wearing 2 coats in the photo but I think 3 is actually needed to cover some slight patches.

//Verdict

Amazing collection, a must buy. Also, I've been coercing my nails into a short square shape. I think it's going well. I like how it allows my nails to be slightly longer yet it doesn't annoy me when I'm typing. I feel it makes my fingers looks slimmer as well. I still need to let the sides grow a little more though; I keep filing them to make the nails more squoval; I like the squoval look though.

Back to the collection though; there is a really nice teal, and green that I'd like as well. I wish more of CG's recent collection were like these. I'm really over the weird satin/jelly finishes they keep doing.

SWATCHES: OPI // Mexico City 2020 Mini Collection

OPI have released a new collection for spring 2020 full of bright pastel shades and I'm really late to the swatching party but I just wanted to paint my nails. I know bright and pastel don't really go together but the photos on OPI's website really do match that description:

I fell in love with the Coral-ing Your Spirit Animal shade because it's Peach...and I'm obsessed with Peach this year. NailPolishDirect had an offer on the mini set when I went to purchase it so I got that as well. When they arrived, I found that the shades are actually much darker than the photos and I'm a tad disappointed; especially with Mural Mural on the Wall. For example, on the bottle photo above Suzi's Slinging Mezcal looks like a shimmer pastel yellow; it's actually a dark gold metallic.

Let's get into some swatches. All are two coats with no top coat (unless states otherwise).

Coral-ing Your Spirit Animal // peach/coral creme

We'll start with my favourite shade. Even though it's darker than I was expecting, it's still a beautiful shade that is a cross between peach and coral. The first coat is very streaky and the second kind of does the trick if you don't look to closely but there are still brush strokes. I'd recommend three coats for it to be fully opaque. I wish more brands would do peaches in their spring collections.

Telenovela Me About It // rose pink shimmer jelly

When will OPI start putting names on their mini bottles?? It's so annoying. I have to keep everything in the boxes or create stickers. I almost thought this was a creme but then I saw the slight pink shimmer. What is it with OPI and putting pink shimmer in what could be just lovely creme polishes? I hated half the ones I got in their 2018 advent calendar because they all had this random bright pink shimmer in them. 

Formula-wise; it's not the greatest. Even though it's a sheer jelly it applies in a thick gloopy mess and it's quite difficult to get a nice even spread; you always end up disturbing other bits of the polish and leaving brush strokes. It is super shiny by itself but it's not my shade of pink; I prefer more muted ones. Two coats is still a bit streaky with this one.

Mural Mural On The Wall // coral jelly with gold flakies

I bought this mini set because I really wanted to see if this polish was worth buying full size and I'm disappointed to report that is it not worth buying. It's an interesting polish thanks to the flakes but it's just too dark for my liking and doesn't match my skin tone. It's a shame because you don't often see jelly flakies in mainstream polish brands.

This one is much easier to apply than the previous jelly and each coat is even with no brush strokes. There is also an even distribution of gold flakes which starts to look really nice when you build up the layers. It looks better in the sun so perhaps this is a polish to take on holiday with you....if we can ever go on holiday again...

Mexico City Move-Mint // pastel blue creme

Oh I do love me some pastel shades and this is no exception. This is very similar to Barry M's Berry Sorbet so there is your £3.99 dupe. The first coat is very streaky, the second coat kind of fixes it up, three is probably needed. The problem with this polish is that it dries very quickly and if your brush isn't loaded up it causes serious drag marks. Even though it's a nice polish it's deceptively tricky to apply. I'd say go for the Barry M one.

Suzi's Slinging Mezcal // gold foil

This one really surprised me (especially given how on the website it looks like a pastel yellow). I was unenthusiastic about it; I saw it and was like "not another gold shade" but then I put it on and I LOVE IT. Many have spoken about the brush strokes but if applied slowly and in thin layers they're not really that noticeable. I also love the formula; it applies like a dream. The shade itself is also on the cool side so it's not brassy. I normally hate gold polishes; I'm in shock.

// Verdict

There are 12 shades in the collection but I after swatching I don't feel the need to go out and buy them. I have a strange relationship with OPI as more often than not I really hate the formulas of their polishes. I heartily recommend Coral-ing Your Spirit Animal and maybe even Suzi's Slinging Mezcal now I've tried it but there are many similar shades from cheaper brands.