This was a lot easier to throw together than I thought it would be! I was originally going to put together a top 10 glitters and top 10 everything else, but then I realized I don’t really actually HAVE a 10 favorite “everything else shades”. I’ll start from 10 and work my way to #1!
#10- China Glaze Fast Track
A pretty understated caramel-y nude with gold shimmer. I love this one with my skin tone so much! I have a lot of nudes that look well with my hands and I don’t really get the whole “mannequin” hands thing. The shimmer in this one really brings this up from a boring office shade to something more, it really warms up and looks delicate and feminine. My go-to interview shade!
#9- Wet N Wild Fergie Nail Color in Grammy Gold
True gold foil. I love this one so much because it’s been a pain in the neck to try and find a nice gold foil that isn’t too warm or orangey for me. I use this one a lot in nail art and it works really well for stamping too! Opaque in two coats, this is also one of my favorites from the whole Wet N Wild Fergie Nail Color Line.
#8- China Glaze Electrify
It was really difficult to bump this so far down in my top 10, I feel like it deserves to be higher (from here on out all of the choices were soooo close). Red-orange with heavy golden yellow shimmer. I really love wearing this in fall, it just glows off of your fingers!
#8- OPI Teenage Dream
Teenage Dream is a pink microglitter with small holographic hexes. Very dense, this one is opaque in only 2 coats. This was part of the Katy Perry collection so you probably won’t be able to find this. Super girly, I always get compliments when I wear this one.
#7- China Glaze Luxe and Lush
Golden white flakie. This looks good over everyyyyyything. Can be a little tricky in application as sometimes the flakes like to clump together, but taking care and wiping off your brush well before you apply should take of that. The flakes sometimes flash a little blue and pink too. Reminds me of diamonds or something.
#6 Wet N Wild Fast Dry Nail Color in Silvivor
Metallic silver foil. This is my #2 out of all of the Fast Dry Line. I use this for stamping and nail art all of the time. Applies perfectly and almost opaque in one coat. This one also has amazing wear, going strong about 5 days into a manicure.
#5- China Glaze Dress Me Up
A dusty rose creme. This one is on the thick side, so it isn’t perfect, but I really love the color. I have similar feelings about it as I do Fast Track, very feminine and office appropriate. I think I love these understated shades more because it’s harder to get them right, easier to get crazier, bright colors on point.
#4- China Glaze Whirled Away
A glitter topper made ouf of large white hexes, smaller black hexes, and black bar glitter. What I loved so much about this one is that you can see larger brands like China Glaze taking hints from the indie polish scene, glitters like this are everywherrrrre, but I love them! Very graphic and geometric looking, I love layering this with a dark grey, that way you can still see the black glitters but the white is stark as well.
#3- China Glaze I Herd That
A copper glitter with some gold thrown in for good measure. This dries matte and is completely opaque in two coats. WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED. So gorgeous. If you can find this and get your hands on it, do it!
#2- It’s A Trap-Eze
Like a jaw breaker on your nails, I can’t stop staring at this when I wear it. A very pale white jelly with a hint of blue and tons of multicolored glitter. I see white, orange, fuchsia, blue, yellow, and green. Wowza. Almost opaque in two coats, but worth a third one. The glitter tends to stick to itself a bit, but come on. I would put up with a TON of formula issues for this color.
#1- China Glaze I’m Not Lion
A pale blonde-gold glitter with silver holographic glitter. I knew when I had seen swatches of this online that it had to be mine and I really regret not buying 3 of them while I had the chance. The matte texture makes this look like sand on your fingers and when you top it with a thick top coat (this guy is a thirsty bugger) you can really see that holo glitter. Opaque in almost one coat, this looks stunning paired with darker, vampier polishes. Because it’s matte, it also dries ridiculously quick and for me that makes it even MORE worth my while.
2012 was really the year of polishes for me, tons of collections came out that I just HAD to have all of (Capitol Colors anyone?) and my collection really got beefed up. I am thrilled to see what 2013 has to offer in terms of collections and innovative new formulas.
What were your top polishes this year? Let me know in the comments!
Omg. I want them all!!!
Wow I had forgotten about Fast Track and how much I loved that one. I’m going to have to pull that one out and use it again!
Yay! It’s just such a pretty color! I’m glad you grabbed it before it was gone!