Monday, April 5, 2010

Urban Decay - Summer of Love Nail Polish Swatches

Happy Monday all! Are you all lagging from the sugar and overindulgence of Easter feasts and Cadbury Eggs? I know I am!

But regardless, I have a new post for you today and I think it is a pretty great one. I have swatches of the newest nail polish release from Urban Decay: The Summer of Love Nail Kit, part of the Summer of Love collection of make-up and beauty products influenced by the rebellious 1960s.

The collection is 7 shades in mini, 5ml (0.17 fl oz) bottles in a little zip pouch, just like the Apocalyptic Nail Kit that released in the fall.

The pouch has "Summer of Love" on the front and "Psychedelic Sister" forward and backward on the back with that cool, trippy font. I wish I had that font to write this post with.

Shine On - This is a metallic, shimmery taupe. I know taupe doesn't normally sound exciting but Urban Decay knows how to make it exciting. Plus I think it is so fitting for this collection. This is 2 coats.

Woodstock - This is a neon pink creme and as always, please remember that neons are not the best photo subjects. Although this swatch does look pretty bright. Please excuse that bit of debris on my ring finger. That was my fault, not the polish's! This does dry on the matte side as most neons do, but in atypical neon fashion, this is not thin and watery. It has a very pigmented formula and is perfect in two coats. Hmm! That is interesting! This is 2 coats.

Love Light - This is a shimmery, sheer peach. I know most LL readers are not fans of shades like this, but that doesn't mean people don't like them. There are folks who would say this is right up their alley. I know my sister would love this. I actually felt great about it once I got in on for this swatch. I would normally never want to rock something that would show my tips underneath, but I really like this look! *feels forehead* Maybe because it is soooo shimmery it hides my yellow nails well and looks really interesting? I don't know, but I like it. And if you don't like it alone, you can rock it layered over some of the other shades in this kit. Observe:

Shine On + Love Light

Woodstock + Love Light

Hashbury - Very cleverly named after "Haight and Ashbury" but made into one word. This is a very vibrant, red-purple with flashy shimmer. At first when I got this kit I thought that this shade would be dupable but it definitely is not. At least not with anything in my stash. This is unique to my collection for sure. It is firery and beautiful and who doesn't love purple? This is 2 coats.

Magic Bus - I love this shade! I know I am biased as an orange lover, but it is so great to see an orange release. We don't get many of them. It is similar to L'Oreal - Sizzling Tangerine so it's not unique, but I think it is awesome and so fitting to the premise of this collection. This swatch is two coats.

Aquarius - I am sure this is going to be the fave of this collection. And everytime I think about it I start singing in my head: "This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius, age of Aquariu-us!" It never fails. This is a glowing Caribbean blue/shimmering teal/aqua just gorgeous shade of blue-green that is scene stealing! I don't find it terribly unique. I don't have exact dupes but it is reminiscent of Rimmel - Green with Envy and Wet n Wild - Caribbean Frost. This swatch is three coats.

Psychedelic Sister - Urban decay describes this shade as "bright coral" which is a fine description but I actually find it to be more red than coral. And I don't find it bright, actually. I think that is what I like about it. It is a faded red. It reminds me of an old, faded bandanna. So although "red creme" sounds boring, this one is unique. It almost got worn today but the BF picked out a blue for me instead! Oh, and this swatch is 2 coats.

Formula-wise this collection was pretty consistent at being awesome. Most were 2 coats and the all glide on effortlessly. The only one that broke that mold was Aquarius. I found it to be on the thin side and had to give it 3 coats, but I am sure people will love the shade enough to look past that flaw.

I feel people may be thinking these shades are not drool-worthy enough but I have fallen for it for a couple reasons: 1) The "Summer of Love" premise gets me and I find that the shades really capture a retro, hippie feel. Was I around in the 60s to confirm this? No, but I still feel it! 2) I like the collection all together rather than looking at each shade individually. Maybe it is a bit of a collector vibe I am feeling because it is Urban Decay? After I got myself their Book of Shadows II in the fall I swore I would get any and all books they released like that and so when the Alice in Wonderland palette came out I jumped on that too. And since I got the Apocalyptic Nail Kit (the day it came out, mind you) I like that I have this one to go with it and will probably treat any future nail polish releases from Urban Decay the same. It's just that Urban Decay love that I know is felt by many make-up junkies. What is it about these guys?! They really know how to make their fans fall in love with them.

So overall this set gets the thumbs up from me and I especially love Psychedelic Sister, Aquarius, Hashbury and Love Light. I really want to wear Psychedelic Sister with Love Light over it!

The Summer of Love Nail Kit is available now and retails for $28. It is only available as the set, not individual shades. Shop here. And while you are at it, don't forget the Apocalyptic Nail Kit has been reduced to $18.

Disclosure: The products featured in this post were furnished to me by the manufacturer or PR company for review. For more information please visit my disclosure policy.

9 comments:

  1. The colours are OK - some are really nice.
    And as someone who was 14 in 1969 I have to tell you that the Summer of Love logo they have designed is EXACTLY right. I would probably buy them all just for that alone.....Memories!

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  2. I'm just kinda "meh" about this collection. I liked Apocalyptic much better. I love UD, but this collection didn't grab me much. Your nails are lovely as usual!

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  3. I'm with Elizabeth, these aren't exactly exciting, but I do like Woodstock. =) x

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  4. I love Aquarius, but I do think the rest of the colours are pretty dupable (except maybe, as you said, Hashbury).

    xx

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  5. ooOoo...i love aquarius! good thing i already have carribean frost :)

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  6. They look great but thank goodness I don't really want them LOL

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  7. They copied the whole collection from a Edition the european/german brand Essence brought up maybe half a year ago, the name of the collection is the same and the colours are very similiar (Shine on and Aquarius look totally the same as the Essence-products ...) O.o

    I have pictures from the blush:

    http://images.glam.com/glampress_de/beautymakeup/artikel_essence_summer_of_love.jpg

    And two pictures where you can clearly recognice the logo used from Essence:

    http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9249/157g.jpg

    http://www.pinkmelon.de/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/fotos-direkt-im-artikel-2.jpg

    Greets from Germany,
    Julia

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  8. There are a few colours in the collection that are a bit iffy for me but I love the idea of a 60's collection and even if I don't wear them on my nails a few of these colours I could wear on my toes. (I tend to experiment more with shades I'm not sure about on my toes..they aren't seen unless I'm barefoot or at the pool!) The 1960's is one of my favourite decades and I have been wanting to try Urban Decay.

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