Holiday 2016 Comparisons - Essie Getting Groovy (Getting Groovy)

Unfortunately, the two things I wanted to compare most to Getting Groovy, OPI’s Up Front and Personal and Glitzerland, are both MIA presumed destashed, so if and when I get replacement bottles of those, I’ll be sure to add comparisons.

From left to right: Front Page (Infamous, Holiday 2015), Love.Angel.Music.Baby (Gwen Stefani, Spring 2014), Cheryl (Very Merry, Holiday 2015), Comet Closer (Starlight, Holiday 2015), Leggy Legend (Leggy Legend, Autumn 2015)

Leggy Legend’s not even kind of close but I thought you would like to see them together. Front Page and L.A.M.B. are a similar color but different finishes, Front Page a regular metallic and L.A.M.B. a matte. Cheryl and Sienna though are really close, Cheryl’s a little lighter and Sienna’s a little darker, but if you have one you don’t need the others, I’d go with Getting Groovy. Comet Closer isn’t really close though, it’s cooler toned and has distinctive glitter.

Mani of the Day - Julep Stephanie (Classic with a Twist)

Good evening everyone! Today I have another mani – Julep’s Stephanie, from last August's Endless Summer collection. I love this so much! Stephanie is a summery strawberry red with holographic glitter. Now, a lot of the holo glitter takes a red tone because it’s underneath some of the base color, but even if it’s not the strongest holo in the world it’s still absolutely awesome! The holo glitter is actually these tiny irregularly shaped shards, but they lie completely flat. Plus Stephanie is completely opaque in two easy coats. Go check this one out!

Holiday 2016 Comparisons - Essie Oh Behave! (Getting Groovy)

Note: I have a really close comparison for this in the Spring 2017 comparisons, stay tuned for that.

From left to right: Erika (Chit-Chat, Summer 2008), Chantilly Peach (Core Collection), Cancer (Zodiac, July 2016), Cozu-Melted in the Sun (Mexico, Spring 2006), Tinsley (Irresistible, Summer 2013), Awakening (Pure Platinum, 2000)

Awakening is way darker and more purple, but I thought it was worth comparing. They’re made with the same idea in mind. Tinsley is very much a foil, the gold particles are the most distinct in Tinsley; also it’s darker pink. Erika is not as white in person, but it is lighter and the shimmer is more distinctly gold while Oh Behave is more duochrome-y. Chantilly Peach is a similar base, but it’s just a frost and doesn’t have any real shimmer like Oh Behave. Cancer is a little lighter and a little blingier. Cozu-Melted is by far the closest thing here, but it’s a little darker and the shimmer is silverier.

Holiday 2016 Comparisons - Essie Party on a Platform (Getting Groovy) - Part 2

The stuff I thought you’d like to see:

From left to right: With the Band (Leggy Legend, Autumn 2015), Ruby Deer (‘Tis the Season to Be Naughty and Nice, Holiday 2010), Salsa (Core Lineup), Party on a Platform, Big Apple Red (New York, Autumn 2000), Red Satin (Holiday Joy, Holiday 2010, Rekha (Designer, Autumn 2012)

With the Band is way lighter, warmer, and dustier, and Rekha is really darker. I don’t think I realized just how much warmer Ruby Deer is until I took these pictures. Salsa likewise is warmer. So is Big Apple Red, which is also brighter and squishier. And Red Satin, for that matter, is also rather squishy.

Holiday 2016 Comparisons - Essie Party on a Platform (Getting Groovy) - Part 1

Of course, Party on a Platform is the token red crème every holiday needs at least one of. No matter how many there are though, I always pick them up because they’re some of my favorites! Also, I don’t know why Party on a Platform looks so pink in the flash pictures but it’s really not that pink.

The closest things I have:

From Left to Right: Fishnet Stockings (Core Collection), Alix (Vibe, Autumn 2008), Party on a Platform, Stand By Your Man (I’ve Gotta be Me, Holiday 2014), China Rouge (X Anniversary, Autumn 2007)

These are closer in person than in the picture. In person, Fishnet Stockings is more of a true red while Platform is more blue toned. They’re rather close. Alix is very similar in color, but the formula is much more jelly-ish. Stand By Your Man is really, really similar, if you got the I’ve Gotta Be Me set, you don’t need Platform. China Rouge is also close but it’s a bit warmer.

Also, I forgot to add in Love is in my Cards to my big picture:

Love is in My Cards (Starlight, Holiday 2015), and Party on a Platform

These are much more different in person; LiimC is brighter.

Holiday 2016 Comparisons - Orly Sunset Blvd (Sunset Strip) - Part 2

The stuff I thought you’d like to see:

From left to right: Go with the Lava Flow (Hawaii, Spring 2015), Y’all Red-y for This? (Rebel, Autumn 2016), Aphrodite (Paradise Sun, Summer 2015), Love is a Racket (Serena Williams US Open Duo, Summer 2011), Delilah (Core), Ruby Pumps (originally Wizard of Ooh Ahz, 2001), Sarah (Flame, Holiday 2010)

Go with the Lava Flow is a million miles away color wise but it also has gold glitter so I wanted to compare. Y’all Red-y, Aphrodite, and Racket all look much more strawberry by comparison to Sunset Blvd’s cherry. Y’all Red-y has silvery shimmer Aphrodite and Racket have tonal flakie like shimmer. Delilah, Ruby Pumps, and Sarah are way darker.

Holiday 2016 Comparisons - Orly Sunset Blvd (Sunset Strip) - Part 1

I have a lot for this one, so I'm splitting it into two posts for the tags' sake!

The Closest I have:

From left to right: Red Carpet (Core), Carrie Ann (Wicked, Autumn 2010), Aries (Zodiac, April 2016), Jade (Core), Sunset Blvd, I Stop For Nicole, Stronger than Ever (Breathable, Spring 2016)

Red Carpet is Sunset Blvd’s spiritual predecessor, but it has silver glitter instead of gold. Carrie Ann is kind of a foily and more muted version of Sunset Blvd. Aries is the lightest of the set, and the glitter is more silver and red than gold. Jade is one of the closest, but it’s sheerer, had red glitter instead of gold, and it’s less bright. Sunset Blvd is by far the brightest of the set, more of a cherry red than anything else, and the only one that is both a jelly finish and has gold glitter. Scarlett is really close it just has more pink toned glitter. I Stop for Nicole is a lot more dense in its gold glitter. Stronger Than Ever is the least vibrant and most fall-ish of the lot, the most orange, and has by far the densest shimmer.

Holiday 2016 Comparisons - Orly Last Call (Sunset Strip)

I promise I’ll get the rest of the Sunset Strip Collection someday soon! In the meantime, enjoy a lot of comparisons for Last Call and Sunset Blvd!

LAST CALL

Interestingly, like The More the Berrier, pretty much all of my comparisons for Last Call are also really old polishes!

From left to right, Miami Nice (Color-holic, Holiday 2011), Diva Driver (Fast Lane), Last Call, Flashbulb Fuchsia (Brights, Summer 2005), Caribbean Temptation (Caribbean Temptation), Sexy Silhouette (Fashion Lounge, 2004)

Sexy Silhouette isn’t close at all, being red by comparison, but the others are all in the same boat. Miami Nice is the lightest of the set. If I didn’t want to keep Last Call in the middle, I would have put it next to Miami Nice since Last Call is just a touch darker. Diva Driver is a touch darker than Last Call and less vibrant. In fact, Last Call is the most vibrant and glowy of the lot. Flashbulb Fuchsia and Caribbean Temptation are a lot darker, and Caribbean Temptation is the bluest of the shimmers.

Holiday 2016 Comparisons - China Glaze Joy to the Waves (Seas and Greetings)

Blue with gold/green shimmer is a really unique combo, but I still have a couple of comparisons.

Joy to the Waves and Saint

I really wish I had Olivera, because I think Joy to the Waves is kind of a cross between Olivera and Saint. Because these two came out in the same season I gave them a special comparison. They’re both really cool blue duochromes, but Joy to the Waves is way darker and blue to green to gold, while Saint is way lighter and blue to pink to green. Definitely not dupes!

From left to right: Indigo to the Gallery (Slick Oilpaint, Summer 2016), Miss Piggy’s Big Number (Muppets Most Wanted, Spring 2014), Come Rain Or Shine (House of Colour, Spring 2016), Joy to the Waves, This Color’s Making Waves (Hawaii, Spring 2015), Teal the Cows Come Home (Brighter by the Dozen, Summer 2006), Beauty & the Beach (Fiji Fling, Summer 2006). Also cameo by Lippmann Harlem Nocturne (way too silvery by the way) and Saint!

Indigo to the Gallery is a true chrome with a lot of silver in it, not gold. Miss Piggy’s Big Number is a classic blue shimmer that is a lot more purple. Come Rain or Shine is something of a sister polish, just A) pink instead of gold and B) much less shimmery. They’re different but if you like one you’ll like the other. This Color’s Making Waves is probably the closest I have, being my only other blue/green duochrome, but Making Waves is way more teal and has little orange glitter in it (trust me). Teal the Cows Come Home is way lighter, and silvery. Beauty & the Beach is green by comparison and not even kind of gold, but this is another one where if you like one you’ll like the other.

Holiday 2016 Comparisons - China Glaze The More The Berrier (Seas and Greetings)

THE MORE THE BERRIER

I thought Berrier looked really retro, and fittingly the closest polishes I have are all at least ten years old!

From left to right: Adeline (Endless Summer, August 2016), Ariel (Smitten, Summer 2007), The More the Berrier, Faith (Jewels, pre-2006), Lainey (Drenched, July 2015), Bohemian Rhapsody (Bohemian Chic, Autumn 2004)

Adeline has distinct gold glitter in it unlike Berrier’s metallic base, but the base color is rather similar. It doesn’t show up super well, but Ariel is more red toned, and more of a traditional metallic (same with Faith), while Berrier seems to be a little more foil-y. Faith has more of a golden sheen, but otherwise they’re really close, if you’ve held onto Faith for all these years you probably don’t need Berrier. Lainey and Bohemian Rhapsody are both darker, Lainey more purple and Bohemian Rhapsody more fuchsia.

Holiday 2016 Comparisons - Deborah Lippmann Queen of the Night (Her Majesty)

From left to right: Frock ‘n’ Roll (Leggy Legend, Autumn 2015), Lubu Heels (The Perfect Pair, Autumn 2007), Smile for the Glam-era (CVS Exclusive Kardashian Collection, 2013), Taboo (Revelation, Spring 2013), Jem (Mirrors, Autumn 2011), Queen of the Night, Haute Tub (Virgin Snow, Holiday 2015), Russian Navy (Russia, Autumn 2007), Vendetta (Spring 2009), Cosmo with a Twist (Starlight, Holiday 2015), First Class Ticket (Vintage Vixen, Autumn 2010)

Maybe if you mixed Vendetta and Taboo you’d get something close to QotN, but alas, she is not a Taboo dupe (Side note: Jem might be close, I need to do a bigger post on the two of them). Frock ‘n’ Roll is super gray, and Lubu Heels has red glitter in it, but I thought they’d be worth comparing. Now, actually, my first thought for comparison was actually Glam-era, and they are pretty close, and you can’t see it well from my shots but Glam-era has silver glitter in it as opposed to QotN’s gold/orange. Taboo and Jem are more metallic in their base, plus Taboo has some silver glitter in it. Vendetta is similar, except it has no orange glitter in it, just a metallic base. Russian Navy, Cosmo, and First Class Ticket are much bluer toned. Now, Haute Tub is pretty similar to Queen of the Night. The glitter is more pink-to-gold as opposed to Queen of the Night’s pink-orange, and it has a silverier tone to it. Haute Tub is also more crème-like in its base.

Holiday 2016 Comparisons: Deborah Lippmann If I Ruled the World (Her Majesty)

Oh man, these are all so close…

From left to right: Giovanna (Satins, Autumn 2013), Rule Breaker (Wild at Heart, Autumn ’09), Laughin’ to the Bank (Jewel Heist, Autumn ’13), If I Ruled the World, Mercer (Sparkling Sights, Holiday 2016), Blowin’ Money Fast, Standing Ovation (A Night at the Opera, Autumn 2013), Capricorn (Zodiac, December 2016), British Racing Green (Autumn 2009), Cuckoo for this Color (Swiss, Autumn 2010), Emerald Fitzgerald (Autumn 2010)

Oh man, IIRtW and LttB are really, really close. I’m surprised! Well, IIRtW is a tiny bit darker, but they’re awful close. If you’ve been excited about IIRtW thinking it was a new exciting Lippmann green, prepare to be disappointed. Mercer is also really, really close too. Definitely don’t need them all. Now, Giovanna is distinctly teal and the lightest of the set, Rule Breaker the second lightest. Cuckoo and Fitzgerald (very close to each other) are likewise way darker. BRG is the only one that’s not a true metallic, rather it’s a crème with green shimmer in it, but that said the finished look is rather similar to IIRtW. Capricorn has a lot of silver glitter and Standing Ovation has a strong blue duochrome. BMF is a bit cooler toned. That said, except for Giovanna these all look pretty similar. That said again, if you’re a massive green hoarder you’ll probably enjoy all of these!

Close up: Rule Breaker, Laughin' to the Bank, If I Ruled the World, Blowin' Money Fast

Holiday 2016 Comparisons - Deborah Lippmann Reign of Love (Her Majesty)

Other Lippmanns:

From left to right: It’s Raining Men (Summer 2009), Stand by Your Man (I’ve Gotta Be Me, Holiday 2014), Reign of Love, Great Balls of Fire (Happy Days Sephora Exclusive, Summer 2016

None of these are dead-on, but Stand by Your Man is awful close. The flash shot really shows the differences deep within the color (Stand by Your Man is more blue toned), but to the naked eye they’re really close. It’s Raining Men is warmer and brighter and Great Balls of Fire is cooler and lighter (and it has a little bit of silver shimmer).

Other brands:

From left to right: Poinsettia (Let It Snow, Holiday 2011), Queen of Speed (Fast Lane), Hey Sailor (Anchors Away, Spring 2011), Asia (Vibe, Autumn 2008), Reign of Love, Big Apple Red (New York, Autumn 2000), Fishnet Stockings (Core), Party on a Platform (Getting Groovy, Holiday 2016 (Stay tuned for more comparisons for this one!), Alix (Vibe, Autumn 2008), Rekha (Designer, Autumn 2012)

Now, Poinsettia, Queen of Speed, and Hey Sailor are lighter and warmer, and Rekha is way darker, but everything else is pretty close. Asia is a bit pinker toned, Big Apple Red is darker, and Fishnet Stockings and Platform are less vibrant (and Platform also bluer), but they’re all your classic red crèmes. Unless you’re a red hoarder like me, they’re not all necessary.

Holiday 2016 Comparison - Deborah Lippmann King of the Road (Her Majesty)

Note: I’ve heard Zoya’s August is rather close to this, I don’t have that one to compare as of right now. If I get it, I’ll be sure to add it as a comparison.

From left to right: Linda (New York Never Sleeps, October 2015), Carey (Feel, Winter 2011), King of the Road, Petal Pushers (Flowerista, Spring 2015), Desert Moon (Painted Desert, Summer 2015)

Desert Moon is the closest thing I have in Lippmann’s line, but it’s got a very strong green tone to it. Linda and Carey (which are actually really close to each other!) are both lighter. Petal Pushers though, is awful close. Petal Pushers is cooler toned, but you don’t need them both.

Holiday 2016 Comparisons - Deborah Lippmann Crown Velvet (Her Majesty)

From left to right: Drunk in Love (Color Fever website exclusive, Summer 2014), All Aboard (All Aboard, Autumn 2014), Grape Pop (Up & Away, Spring 2010), Mix and Mingle (Cheers!, Holiday 2015), Do You Have this Color in Stock-holm? (Nordic, Autumn 2014), Crown Velvet, Monica (Designer, Autumn 2012), O Suzi Mio (Venice, Autumn 2015), Katya (Dark & Stormy Nights, October 2016), Plum Sugar (Sugar High, Spring 2015)

Drunk in Love is the closest thing I have within Lippmann’s line, but it’s infinitely lighter, redder, and brighter. All Aboard is lighter and dustier. Grape Pop, Mix and Mingle, and Stock-holm are all lighter, but all share Crown Velvet’s blue tone. Monica, O Suzi Mio, and Katya are more red toned. In hindsight, I probably should have put Plum Sugar next to Crown Velvet, because they’re pretty close, but Plum Sugar is also redder.

Holiday 2016 Comparisons: Deborah Lippmann Blue Blood (Her Majesty)

Note: If I ever get After Midnight, they might be close.

From left to right: Blagger (Spring/Summer 2011), Catch of the Day (Aim to Misbehave/Shimmer Brights, Summer 2016), Natty (Designer, Autumn 2012), Sailor (Cashmeres, Autumn 2013), Blue Blood, Octavia (Dramatic, February 2014), Strangers in the Night (Dressed to the Nines, Holiday 2015)

Blagger and Catch of the Day are brighter, plus Catch of the Day has a subtle shimmer. Natty is dustier. The last three are much closer to Blue Blood. Sailor is less vibrant, Octavia is more purple, and Strangers in the Night is darker, but none of these are that visible to the untrained eye.

Holiday 2016 Comparisons: Deborah Lippmann Ever After (Her Majesty)

Note: Once I get into Spring colors, I’ll be sure to compare Ever After and everything in the Bed of Roses set!

From Left to Right: Dress Me Up (Capitol Colors/Hunger Games, Spring 2012), Brigitte (Naturel, Spring 2014), Ever After, Madeline (Naturel Deux, Autumn 2014), Suzi Sells Sushi by the Seashore (Japan, Spring 2005), Aphrodite’s Pink Nightie (Greek Isles, Spring 2004), Uptown Girl (Rebel Debutante, Spring 2010). Swatch stick: China Glaze My Lodge Or Yours (The Great Outdoors, Autumn 2015)

My bottle of Dress Me Up is really showing its age, I thought it was darker. When it dries it’s a bit darker but it’s always more brown tone. Uptown Girl is way darker, so are Sushi and Aphrodite, but they’re also brighter and shimmery. The three things I have that are closest to Ever After are Brigitte, Madeline, and Lodge (I only have this in a mini, so I just decided to use my swatch stick instead.) Madeline’s a bit darker, but it’s still very close. Ever After, Brigitte, and Lodge are all really close. You don’t need all three.

Holiday 2016 Comparisons: Deborah Lippmann Emperor's New Clothes (Her Majesty)

From left to right: You’re so Vain-illa (Coca Cola, Summer 2014), Tiramisu for Two (Venice, Autumn 2015), Shay (Touch, Winter ’11-’12), Spencer (Naturel Deux, Autumn 2014), Emperor’s New Clothes, Gretchen (Spa Essentials, 2005?), Nomad’s Dream (Painted Desert, Spring 1998)

Vain-illa, Tiramisu, and Shay are much lighter, and Tiramisu and Shay also both have more of a pink tone in them, and Shay has a slight shimmer. Nomad’s Dream likewise has a green shimmer, but the base color is close. The two closest I have are Spencer and Gretchen, and they’re close. Spencer is darker and Gretchen is also pinker but they’re all close.

Holiday 2016 Comparisons - China Glaze Twinkle Twinkle Little Starfish (Seas and Greetings)

From left to right: Francine (Rainbow Bright, May 2016), TTLS, Visions of Georgia Green (Coca Cola Icons of Happiness Summer 2015)

Now, Francine and Little Starfish are definitely made with the same idea in mind, but the differences between them are much more visible in person than in this picture. You see, Little Starfish has larger particles and a sheerer base, and Francine has smaller particles and a much more opaque base. You can use Little Starfish as a topper, not Francine. They’re close to the same color, so I’d say you don’t need them both; go with whichever you think you would use more, the topper or the opaque. Visions of Georgia Green is a similar color, but it’s kind of like a cross between Little Starfish and OPI Not Like the Movies, in that Georgia Green has a pink shift and little microglitters that shift from green to pink. You can definitely have them both.

Julep Blue Holographics Comparison

Good afternoon everyone! Today I’m going to compare Julep’s blue holographic polishes! I’m not certain why it seems like Julep has more blue holos than any other color, but they certainly have quite a few! The only blues holos of theirs I’m missing are Tomi (I’ve been avoiding it because I worry it’s just too close to Hallie, but if I do get it I’ll add it in) and the two blues from last holiday’s mini holographic set, Kinsey and Yvette.

From left to right: Jennye, Tali, Ayonna, Hallie, Tessa, Eliza, Ginny, Delores. Bottom, Cecile.

I decided to throw in Cecile (Lighten Up Collection, March 2016) at the bottom even though it’s more green than any of the rest. The only other one of these with a lot of green in it is Hallie, which is much lighter and bluer. It’s also the only one of these that is a jelly finish (so does Tomi, but it’s also lighter and bluer). Everything else is much more opaque.

Jennye (Spring to It Collection, March 2017) – Jennye, one of the newest of these, is definitely filling a void in Julep’s lineup, that being light blue. The base of this is similar to Jessica, only a bit more purple toned. Jennye is one of the finer, blingier, less silvery, more linear holographics, which gives it a much different look than Tali.

Tali (New Year Fresh Look Collection, January 2016) – Tali has always been the strongest of the Liquid Holographics, but has a distinctly different look than the 2016-7 Holographics like Eliza and Jennye. Tali is a sky blue with a strong but not quite as in your face holo effect. The glitter in Jennye or Eliza jumps off of the polish, while the holo in the Liquid Holographics compliments the base color and is one with it.

Ayonna (Hatch Me If You Can Mystery Box, April 2017) – The new kid, Ayonna is unique in that when not flashing holo, the glitter appears silver against the denim blue background. In fact, when not flashing holo Ayonna quite looks like denim! It’s like a holo pair of jeans! It’s darker than Tali and lighter and less purple than Tessa.

Hallie (Holo Days Mystery Box, July 2015) – Hallie is by far the most teal out of all the blue holographics, but not as green as Cecile. Hallie looks like Caribbean resort water! It has a subtler holo effect that’s hard to see in indirect lighting but visible and quite chic in sunlight or bright light.

Tessa (All is Bright Trio, Holiday 2015) – I don’t think I realized how much purple was in Tessa until I compared it to all these other blue holos! Tessa is a dark blue with a lot of purple, but not so much purple as Delores. It is of the Liquid Holographic formula that is less blingy and more silvery, but in the sunlight is quite beautiful.

Eliza (Endless Summer Collection, August 2016) – Eliza, as mentioned above, is what I’m going to call a 2016-17 Holographic, Julep’s new favored form of holographic shimmer being this less silvery and more linear holographic. Eliza is somehow simultaneously dark and bright blue, Julep calls it an “infinite ocean blue” and I wholeheartedly agree, It’s similar in color, except brighter, to Tessa, but their holographic glitter is quite different.

Ginny (This Way to the Soiree, December 2016) – Ginny is a whole other animal compared to the rest of Julep’s blue holos. The holo in Ginny is incredibly fine and almost hard to see in some lights, and it also has some orange shimmer, which is mostly lost on the nail but it gives the polish a lot of depth. It’s far purpler and darker than Eliza, which has little purple in it.

Delores (Kisses, London Collection, September 2015) – Delores is very violet, but a very blue toned one. This Liquid Holographic is pretty close to Tessa, but putting Delores next to Tessa does really show that Tessa deep down really is blue.