I'm Swatchin' You - OPI Lighten Up, You're Two Pence!

Hi there, folks!  Isn't it weird that one of my least favorite colors is orange, but I love orange polish?  I guess it's because it reminds me of autumn.  This is one of my oldies but goodies.  I have had this little beauty in my stash back before my stash could be classified as a stash!  It's OPI's Lighten Up, You're Two Pence!  This is a beautiful orange shimmer.  Had to go with a favorite...it's my birthday!  Nope, no crazy special birthday mani.  Just a favorite color is enough to put a smile on my face.  I'm pretty easy to please!

This was a breeze to apply, and only took two coats.  The formula was great.  Nothing like a good, old-fashioned OPI...especially before the pro-wide brush, IMO.  What are your favorite fall colors (she asks in the dead of winter)?  Enjoy!

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 - China Glaze Peachy Keen

Today's polish is another case of "It looked prettier in the bottle."  This is China Glaze's Peachy Keen.  It's a peach creme from the Spring 2010 Up & Away collection.

You are looking at two coats.  The formula was good, and this self-levels well.  I think I actually may have needed a third coat to settle it out more.  But the color was just too blah for me.  It reminds me of those really plastic-y band-aids.  Oh, well.

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - China Glaze Champagne Bubbles

So, remember a few days ago I told you that my cuticles have been ravaged by some work I'm doing in my mother's bathroom?  Well, manual labor strikes again.  While removing a wallpaper border, I broke TWO nails.  A moment of silence, please.  Beware, extreme nubbins lay ahead...with horrible cuticles to boot.

Today's color is China Glaze's Champagne Bubbles, a gold shimmer with silver micro glitter.  This is from ChG's Winter 2011 Let It Snow collection.

This is two coats with no issues.  The formula was good, and I really had no problems with this at all.  The color is good, but not really anything to shout about.

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 - Zoya Arizona

Today's color has me on the fence.  It's Arizona by Zoya, an orange creme.  This is from their Beach and Surf 2012 collection.

I absolutely love this in the bottle.  I thought it would look kind of like an orange creamsicle.  But it dries just a hair darker than I expected, looking more like a true orange.  The formula was incredible, and it self-levels like a dream.  This was three coats.  I do like it, but wish it were a little lighter.

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Sinful Colors Unicorn

Do you know that shade of yellow that was popular in the 50s?  It's a light, buttery yellow, and I love it!  Today's polish is very close to that yellow.  It's a yellow creme called Unicorn from Sinful Colors.

This is one of the few yellows I would wear alone.  The first coat is streaky, which gets a little better with a second coat.  Therefore, you really need three coats with this one.  I have found that the formula on SC polishes can be hit or miss.  The formula was decent, and it self-levels nicely.  However, I did have an issue with the drying time, even with a fast dry TC.

A word on my ravaged cuticles.  I have been doing some minor renovations in my mother's house.  Despite constant moisturizing, the cold winter weather and manual labor are taking their toll.  Please don't look too closely!  Hopefully, they start looking better soon.

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.