OPI Grape...Set...Match

Today's manicure is a skittled OPI Grape...Set...Match from the latest Serena Williams set (I believe it's Wimbledon), and the two closest purple dupes I could find in my stash. I didn't have an exact match. Both LA Girl Rock Star Groupie and the unnamed purple from Hot Topic have a similar finish, but are a shade darker (noticable even in low indoor lighting). I feel like Grape...Set...Match is a bit pinkish toned even.
What's with OPI and Suzi's egregious use of bad puns and repetitive random punctuation?
Ewe-no Watt Eye...Green?
This mani is one coat Spa Ritual Lacquer Lock bc, one coat CND Stickey bc, two coats polish, and one coat of Seche Vite tc.
These pictures were taken indoors using artificial lighting.

OPI Reflecting Pool

Today's manicure is OPI Reflecting Pool. This is purported to be both a Japanese and UK exclusive polish from the Reflection Glitters collection (2009). I bought it off eBay from a US seller, so it's tough for me to weigh in. Japan tends to get beautiful glitters from OPI that the consumers in the US will never see, so I definitely buy it being sold there. I know of bloggers who bought it in store in the UK, so it was definitely retailed there as well. It is not incredibly old since it's new formula green label OPI with a pro-wide brush. It may still be findable in retail locations with old stock in either of those countries, but otherwise you must know someone abroad or buy secondhand.
Reflecting Pool is a super shimmery (bordering on foil) silvery teal base loaded with golden glitter. It's super awesome looking in pretty much any light situation. It's a bit sheer, but not overly so - three coats provided full coverage.
This mani is one coat Nubar Nu Nails, three coats of polish, and one coat of Nubar Diamont.
Disclaimer: These photos were all taken indoors using artificial light (I'm experimenting with a light box).
Taken with indirect artificial light:

Taken with flash:

OPI Damone Roberts 1968

Today's manicure is OPI Damone Roberts 1968. This is an exclusive to Damone Roberts salons in New York and Beverly Hills and can be shipped from these locations, the contact information is available at damoneroberts.com. I saw the post on ALU and realized that Damone Roberts' salon is practically around the corner from me, so I went and picked it up after lunch. It's a very nice green, and appears unique in my green creme collection.
This is the official description: "It is not your typical mint green. It has a little touch of gray in it and a little touch of brown." I would say it's pretty accurate - it's less blue than MAC Peppermint Patti and Ciate Apple & Custard. It's at least one shade deeper than the pale mint of BB Couture Laguna Lagoon and Illamasqua Milf. (see the comparison photos at the bottom)
The polish is smooth, but thin in a streaky way - you need three coats to reach opacity. This mani is one coat Nubar Nu Nails, three coats of polish, and one coat of Nubar Diamont.




Here are comparison photos with other pastel mint green cremes. I also did bottle comps of Orly Mint Mojito, Nubar Green Tea, Barielle Sweet Addiction - but all were several shades deeper.

OPI Vampire State Building

Today's manicure is OPI Vampire State Building. This hard-to-find polish was released with the New York City collection in Fall of 2000. Word on the street is that this polish has a dead dupe in Mrs. O'Leary's BBQ, which should be easier to locate as it was released in summer of 2005 with the Chicago collection. I bought this one just for the name. I love vampires, so this is a great time in pop culture for me.
This is a deep burgundy creme, opaque in two coats, but I did three. Like all of my lovely old formula OPI, this is thin and smooth like buttah.
This mani is one coat Nail Tek Foundation II, Orly Bonder, three coats polish, and one coat Seche Vite top coat.

OPI Real Teal

Today's manicure is OPI Real Teal. Real Teal is an OLD old formula OPI from the mysterious "X Collection" so called because every s/n in the collection begins with NL X##. This collection is believed to be from 1989, but information on the internet or from OPI regarding this collection is scant. It includes many green nail polish collectors favorites including Tequila Limelight, Rainforest, and Creme de Menthe. These polishes are easy to work with but quite thin and sheer. This mani is three coats and the coverage is not fully opaque. I like the finish on these X polishes as it gives them a dreamy watercolor consistency. Real Teal is a blackened teal shimmer with sparkling microglitter. This mani is one coat Nail Tek Foundation II, one coat CND Stickey, three coats of polish, and one coat of Seche Vite.

OPI Matterhorn Mauve

My manicure of the day is OPI Matterhorn Mauve. Matterhorn Mauve is from OPI's Alpine Collection of Fall 1993. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love old formula OPI; it may be thin, but man is it smooth. I don't wear pink much, but I like this - it's a rich salmon pink.
Mani is one coat Nail Tek Foundation II, one coat Creative Nail Design Stickey, two coats polish, and Seche Vite top coat.

OPI Ecuadorable Coral

OPI Ecuadorable Coral is a warm orange-y coral with a gold flash. It was released with the Spring 2002 South American collection. I love old formula OPI and this is no exception - smooth, quick-drying, and full of chemical goodness. It was opaque in one coat, but looks even more vibrant with two. The bubbles are the result of an old bottle of thinned out Seche Vite. Maybe it's time to throw it away? I might not change this one tomorrow, I really love it. The polish looks simple and classic, but it really shines when it catches the light.

Fireworks for the fourth - OPI Red Dazzle

OPI Red Dazzle is a warm red jelly base with fine red and gold glitter from the 2006 OPI Holiday Collection. It is OPI's new formula with the green label (Big 3 Free aka free of toluene, DBP, and formaldehyde) and the pro wide brush, which I personally find great for pedicures but not on tips since it's hard to avoid the cuticles with such a honkin' brush. The following pictures are with three coats over one coat of Nubar Nu Nails base with one coat of Nubar Diamont top coat. Two coats provided fine coverage. These pictures are all taken in direct sunlight.