I'm Swatchin' You - OPI Romeo & Joliet

Up next is a pretty red-brown shimmer from OPI, called Romeo & Joliet.  I classified it as a red since I think the red hue dominates.  Sorry this doesn't translate well to the photos.  Light box, light box...where art thou, light box???  Oh, but the bandages abound!

The formula was only so-so.  There was no sign of leveling.  The first coat was a bit streaky, but improved with the second coat.  I went with a light third coat to fill in the streaks.  But it is a pretty color, vampy with a touch of class!

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Essie Wicked

Today, I get to show you my first Essie!  It's the vampy beauty, Wicked, a red jelly.

I have classified this as a red.  It's a deep, dark black-red.  I was excited to finally try my first Essie.  Sadly, I wasn't too happy with the formula.  There was no leveling, and uneven application.  This took three coats.  However, the third coat should be very light just to fill in the streaks that remain after the first two coats.  The formula was also quite thin.  But how could you not love the color or the name?!?

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Orly Bus Stop Crimson

I can't wait to show you this amazing color!  It's Bus Stop Crimson from Orly.  This is a deep, red creme.

I have nothing bad to say about this polish!  The color is gorgeous, and the formula was excellent.  This took two coats.  Application was smooth and even.  Love it! 

On a side note...I really miss my light box!  But I should have photos using my light box coming to you within the next week or two!  Now if I could just get around to getting my cuticles back in shape!  Thanks for hanging in there with me!!!

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Zoya Sookie

After yesterday's disappointment, I was hoping for better news today.  But I got a little more disappointment.  Today's color is from Zoya's 2011 Summertime collection.  It's a bright red creme called Sookie (any fellow True Blood fans out there???).

First, the good news.  The formula is actually incredible!  This took only one coat to look beautiful.  I actually bought this color because it reminded me of my favorite WnW color, 414.  I thought Sookie might make a good back up.  Now for the bad news.

Sookie was not meant for longevity.  I didn't fix the polish in the photos so you could see what I was talking about.  A couple of hours after painting my nails, I took a shower, and I had not taken my photos yet.  Despite the fact that I am very heavy handed with my TC, I experienced terrible tip wear and chipping.  Sadness.  You'll notice the tip wear on my index and ring finger, and the chip on my middle finger.

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - OPI Animal-istic

Oh, how do I love the Muppets?  Let me count the ways!  Today's color comes from OPI's amazing Muppets collection from Fall 2011.  This is Animal-istic, a bright red with light red shimmer.

First of all, this color totally reminds me of candy apples.  Such an incredible color!  Two coats with a great formula, and no issues with clean-up.  This is one of those "you've got to see it to believe it" colors.  Looks just too amazing IRL.

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Petites Hazel

This is the first color I'm showing you from Petites.  It's called Hazel, a very pretty, deep red shimmer.

The red of this color is like a deep burgundy.  This was two coats.  The formula was great, but it does dry a little dull, so you will definitely want a good top coat.  In the bottle, the color has a subtle green shift.  I was able to see a slight shift, but I would have liked it to be more prominent.  It was too subtle to pick up on camera.

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Orly Poison Apple

Up next is Orly's Poison Apple, a deep red creme.

The formula on mine was very thin, so I experienced some cuticle flooding.  Of course, this made my clean-up a nightmare.  This was even more fun since I'm dealing with extreme nubbins, too.  Oh, joy.  But the color is good, a nice understated red.  I needed only two coats.  And how much do you love the little charm they put on the bottle?  Too cute!

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - OPI Red Lights Ahead...Where?

Folks, I have to say I LOVE this red!  This is OPI's Red Lights Ahead...Where? from the Holland 2012 collection.  It's a beautiful bright and light red creme.

You are looking at two coats that applied like a dream.  Great formula that was so easy to work with.  There is no need to fear this red!  And in my opinion, it's a must have!  Thoughts?

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - OPI I'm Not Really a Waitress

Hi everyone!  I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season.  I would love to hear what everyone got for Christmas in terms of nail polish!  Any major lemmings crushed?  As for me, I got four, count them - FOUR ManGlaze polishes I've been wanting.  Can't wait to swatch them!  Stay tuned...

Today, I've got my favorite color to wear for Christmas, which is exactly what I did.  That's why you didn't see any swatches for the couple of days following Christmas.  I wore this for as long as possible.  It's OPI's I'm Not Really a Waitress.  It's a gorgeous red shimmer.

This was two coats.  The formula on this is amazing, and it applies like a dream.  Being a red, clean-up is a bit of a nightmare.  But when you go to remove the color, there is little mess if you use the method I discussed here.  What is your favorite holiday go-to color?

Side note:  There will be no post tomorrow due to the holiday.  Gotta take a day off every now and then, right?

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Orly Crawford's Wine

Hi all!  Today, I'm showing you Crawford's Wine, by Orly.  This is a dark red creme with a subtle shimmer, and a not so subtle virtual bandage.

This was pretty much opaque in one coat.  I added a second coat just to solidify the color.  As with most reds, this is a royal pain to clean up.  I think that it's a rule of nail painting that if you are using a color that does not clean up easily, you will make a huge mess.  So you are also looking at an example of an epic cleanup failure.

 SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Zoya Tosca

I have been slowly building up some Zoyas in my collection.  Tosca, from their Classics line, is a really pretty bright red with a slight gold shimmer.

The formula on this was great.  Tosca applied so evenly.  You are looking at two beautifully easy coats.  The gold shimmer is very subtle.  You really don't pick it up except in bright sunlight.  Unfortunately, my day was a little overcast, so I don't know if you can really see the shimmer, except in the bottle.

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Orly Rock It

I have another incredible color for you today!  This is Orly's Rock It, from the Mineral FX collection.  It's a deep red shimmer.

As you can see, the red leans to a dark pink/fuschia side.  This is two coats, which applied wonderfully thanks to a fantastic formula.  My favorite thing about this polish?  Despite being a red, it was a breeze to clean up!  Always a big plus for me!

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.