Comparison: Corals with Gold Shimmer

Today I am comparing Essence What Do U Think? and Pure Ice Twinkle. Both polishes have a coral base with gold shimmer. The base colors are very similar, but these are not dupes.

I have to apologize for the swatch quality. I had originally swatched these three days ago, but my camera would not pick up the true color indoors and we didn't get any real sun here until yesterday. By then, my nails had scuffs and nicks.

Anyway, here are some bottle pics:







As you can see, the shimmer in Twinkle is a lot finer than that of WDUT?

This is two coats of WDUT? on my middle and pinky, and three coats of Twinkle on my index and ring fingers.





As you can see, the shimmer in WDUT? is barely detectable on the nail, which was a disappointment because I prefer the larger shimmer particles.

Formula wise, WDUT? was superior; it was opaque in two coats. Twinkle wasn't bad, it's just a tad on the sheer side and needs three coats. Both applied well.

Even with the shimmer tease factor, I prefer WDUT?.

What Do U Think? lol

Happy painting!

Comparison: Pure Ice Purple Reign vs. OPI Catherine the Grape

Today I'm comparing two smoky purples. I originally thought these two shades were close, but after reviewing them side-by-side, it's clear that they are not.



This is two coats of Catherine the Grape on the pointer and ring fingers, and three coats of Purple Reign on the middle and pinky fingers (no topcoat on either):



As you can see, Purple Reign has a cool base while Catherine the Grape is more warm and red-based. The gold shimmer is also different; PR has large shimmer particles while CtG has ribbons of gold microshimmer.





Formula wise, CtG wins. It was perfectly opaque in two coats, while PR was still a little patchy after the second coat. Both were easy to apply and had good consistency.

Final Verdict: I originally called PR the more outgoing sister of CTG, but now I'm going to change that and call PR a second cousin LOL. They aren't even close to being dupes and if you love purple, you probably need both.

I'm going to be doing comparisons all week.

Happy painting!

Pure Ice: Purple Reign

Hello strangers! I have to apologize for my disappearing act. I've had a lot going on these past few weeks...some good, a lot bad. Such is life.

Today I have Pure Ice Purple Reign. I had never been able to find this at any of the Walmarts near me so I had given up on getting it. As luck would have it, on our way back from Panama City, we made a pit stop in Dothan, Alabama and their Super Walmart had it! I got this, Pure Ice Heartbreaker, and a coral one I can't remember the name of right now.

Purple Reign is a smoky purple with gold shimmer. It's like OPI Catherine the Grape's more outgoing sister. I'll do a comparison one day. This is three coats, no topcoat:





Ooh, shimmer!


The formula was good and I probably could have done two coats, but as always, my application sucked so I had some patchiness. The third coat evened it all out. I love the shimmer in this and it is absolutely visible on the nail.

Varnish Vixen, if you're reading, I still owe you some mail and I'm so sorry it has taken me so long but I will make it up to you!

Happy painting!

Straight to the taupe!

How lame is that title? lol

Anyway, I have some taupe comparisons. I had already planned to compare Color Club Give Me a Hint from the Alter Ego collection with China Glaze Below Deck (re-release of Channelesque) from the Anchors Away collection, but I threw in Pure Ice Taupe Drawer and OPI You Don't Know Jacques just because. I already know they aren't close, but what the hell. No topcoat on any of these.

Index finger: Give Me a Hint (GMaH), 2 coats
Middle finger: Below Deck (BD), 2 coats
Ring finger: Taupe Drawer (TD), 3 coats
Pinky finger: You Don't Know Jacques (YDKJ), 2 coats







As you can see, GMaH and BD are not dupes. BD is more purple; GMaH is more grey. Formula wise, there is no comparison. BD was pretty much a one coater for me even though I did two out of habit, while GMaH needed two thick coats. If you have BD, you don't need GMaH unless you look at these pictures and see two drastically different shades.

TD is pretty sheer and not all that great to work with. YDKJ is standard OPI creme fare (smooth, creamy, pigmented, etc.).

I think I can safely say I have enough taupes. Happy painting!