I actually swatched this collection back in June but hated the photos. It had been a cloudy day and my swatches were dull and dark and a bunch of the swatches looked really streaky. So every time I went to work on this post, I would cringe looking at the photos and just shut my computer. This time around I made sure to use Fill the Gap and Essie Ridge Filling Base to avoid streaking as much as I could. I also made sure it was a sunny day. So let's get into it!
Coming Together
What a pretty, sheer, pale candy pink! I wasn't sure how I would feel about this one, but I totally love it. This polish is sheer and STREAKY though. I've swatched it twice and worn it once and the best application is with Fill the Gap as your base plus three coats of polish. You kind of need to put on thicker coats and just float the brush over the nail to avoid streaks. Just to see the difference a base made, I used Fill the Gap on my pointer and Essie Ridge Filling base on the others. Where there's Ridge Filling base on my ring finger you can see the streaks still (even after base and three coats). Despite the streaks, I honestly love the way it looks once it's on. The sheer candy pink gets me!
Coming Together vs. Fiji vs. Tying the Knotie vs. Vanity Fairest
In my entire collection, I have no other colour like Coming Together. I grabbed the closest looking sheer pinks (Tying the Knotie and Vanity Fairest) but they are so pale in comparison.
Left to Right: Vanity Fairest, Tying the Knotie, Fiji (U.S. version) and Coming Together |
I thought the new U.S. version of Fiji might be kinda close in colour (even though its opaque, not sheer) but it doesn't compare to the level of pink saturation Coming Together has. So despite the streaks (I can work around that), I really love this polish. It's unique to my collection and I love the way it looks on.
Steal His Name
When I swatched this colour the first time I noted that the formula was exactly the same as Coming Together, but this time around I noticed it's a bit more pigmented. After 2 coats I thought it looked great and was able to take a picture, although my ring finger was streaky and needed a third coat. So I do think this formula was slightly superior to Coming Together. While you can't really see my nail line in these photos, in person it is there slightly, so you may not like this one or Coming Together if you aren't into sheer polishes. But it's another one I love!
Steal His Name vs. Van D'Go vs. Groove Is In the Heart vs. Got Engaged!
Look at the bottle shots! I thought for sure I would be finding a very similar polish in this bunch, especially how Steal His Name and Van D'Go look almost identical in the bottle.
Left to Right: Got Engaged!, Steal His Name, Van D'Go and Groove Is In the Heart |
But nope. Van D'Go is much more saturated and brightly pigmented, whereas Steal His Name has a subdued nudeness to it like Got Engaged. It's much more peach than Got Engaged though. And Groove Is In the Heart isn't even close. It's way too bright and pink.
Between the Seats
This is the kind of polish I love. A beautiful light neutral that goes with everything! Between the Seats has a nice formula and is easy to apply. It mostly self-levels but gets a teeny bit ridgey. No biggie though, your top coat would smooth that right out. It's opaque in 2 coats.
Between the Seats vs. Urban Jungle vs. Take It Outside vs. Master Plan
All of these polishes I compared to Between the Seats were requested by a reader, so lets take a closer look.
Left to Right: Urban Jungle, Between the Seats, Take It Outside and Master Plan |
Urban Jungle is a tad brighter with a hint of blush to it, while Between the Seats has a touch more greyish beige. I think if you do an entire mani with each, they would take on a bit of a different look. So no (exact) dupes here, but yep, they are super close. Oh, and I should also mention that Between the Seats had a more opaque formula. I got it opaque in 2 coats whereas Urban Jungle needed 3.
Groom Service
I love the way this one looks in photos, but I'm not as sure how I feel about it once it's on me. It has a nice formula, is fairly easy to apply and is opaque in 2 coats. Don't put too much polish on your brush or you will flood your cuticles.
Groom Service vs. Lilacism vs. Full Steam Ahead vs. Bond With Whomever
From the bottle shots we can see that Groom Service is more cool toned and blue-based so Bond With Whomever is sticking out like a sore thumb with it's pink undertones.
Left to Right: Lilacism, Bond With Whomever, Full Steam Ahead and Groom Service. |
Passport to Happiness
Passport to Happiness vs. Mint Candy Apple vs. Fashion Playground
Passport to Happiness (in the middle) has a touch of grey or something to make it a more subdued mint than the other two.
Left to Right: Mint Candy Apple (green version), Passport to Happiness and Fashion Playground |
Mrs. Always Right
I may have kinda, sorta swore when I applied this and said "HOLY S***!" (blushes). This raspberry rose shade is totally opaque in one coat and not thick and goopy. Just friggin' fantastic and easy to apply and self-level. 100% perfection.
Mrs. Always Right vs. In Stitches vs. Angora Cardi vs. Island Hopping
I thought I might be finding a dupe between Mrs. Always Right and In Stitches...
....but they are a tad different. Angora Cardi and Island Hopping are much more purple based and not even close.
But Mrs. Always Right and In Stitches are very close. The formula of Mrs. Alway Right was much better as it's so opaque and creamy and buttery. In Stitches was thinner and I needed 3 coats for opaqueness. Mrs. Always right is a bit brighter with a touch more pink and In Stitches seemed to have a touch of brown and a drop of orange compared to Mrs. Always Right. If you are choosing between the two, Mrs. Always Right is better.
Alright I admit it. I made a mistake not ordering this collection months ago! I really love these colours and I thought the formulas were pretty good on most of these. I wish for a non-streaky Coming Together but other than that, I'm in love with this collection! Between the Seats, Coming Together, Steal His Name and Passport to Happiness are new faves and the fantastic formula and colour of Mrs. Always Right is on point.
I'm also happy to point out that any polishes I thought were going to be dupes are just different enough for me to justify them ;).
Did you pick up any polishes from this collection? Which were your favourites?
7 comments:
So glad you did this post. Now I have a better idea of what "I need!" :)
Gorgeous collection!!! Really wish we had it here :/
P.S. When you talked about Between The Seats, you accidentally said Sheets several times just thought I'd let you know :P
Yay! I was so looking forward to this post and it's finally here! I always love your swatch posts, especially when you have comparisons!! Love them! :)
I am in the middle of moving so most of my polishes are packed away and I am sad to say that I haven't worn any of these shades yet! I believe I bought Between the Seats, Passport to Happiness, and Mrs. Always Right. I skipped the pinks because I don't like sheers and prefer opaques.
Btw, have you seen the new fall collection? The purple looks gorgeous! I'm also excited for the grey, orange, and mayyybe red.
Yay! Which ones are catching your eye?
Thank you for telling me! I went and fixed then. Subconsciously I kept thinking that should be the name of the polish instead ;).
Yessss! I love the look of the new Fall collection!! I'm all over that pale pink and the deep purple.
Thank you so much for such a helpful post!!
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