The first nail-focused beauty blog

Fanatic Feedback – Buying Polish for the Name?

By on August 22, 2008
in Fanatic Feedback

I know I’m not the only one. That girl who’s bought a beauty product simply for the name. Yes, NARS Orgasm blush is touted as being universally flattering but, part of you bought it for the risque name. Admit it!

What about nail polish? Are there lacquers you’ve bought just for the name or collection theme, regardless of the color? Between all the crazy, tongue in cheek names from OPI, the female names in the Zoya lineup and the discontinued but much desired Wizard of Ooh Ahz polishes from China Glaze there plenty of options floating around.

I still remember DQ2 posting on the MUA nail board how she wished her name was Manon instead of Melanie because she had bought both colors from Zoya and loved Manon much more than her namesake.

So which polishes have you bought for the name alone? Why? Did you end up loving the color in the end?

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Subscribe

If you enjoyed this article, subscribe now to receive more just like it.

There Are 49 Brilliant Comments

Trackback URL

  1. lovelyloey says:

    Not about polishes, but something funny about NARS Orgasm.
    Apparently one of the Cozycot forummer wrote the husband a list of cosmetics to buy from Hong Kong while he was on his work trip, so he went to the NARS counter and told the counter girl “can I have an orgasm please”. Hahaha.

  2. anniemal says:

    Yes, buying polish just for the name is so me! This is why I own Just Beachy, Exceptionally Gifted, Nocturnelle or South Of the Hiway. And I would LOVE to have a nice namesake from Zoya too, but they keep making them orange-y and warm toned (I am Anna and am talking about Anne and Annie I think). And I also consider getting Funny Bunny just for the name but I think I would hardly wear it.
    Oh and the OPI/Sephora line has some great names too. Like Brainiac. You know, Brainiac is one of my favourite bands. But it’s orange again.

  3. Anonymous says:

    hehe im buying the One Love Collection from CG just because of that.. !! i wish zoya had a Danielle!!! (thats me :( jerks… or do they have one/???

  4. CincyFan says:

    LovelyLoey – That’s too funny. The poor guy. But how awesome of him to even offer to buy a product named Orgasm. :D

    Anniemal – Maybe your day is coming. What would the ideal Anna polish from Zoya look like?

    Anon #1 – Oh but they do make a Danielle, it’s pink. HTH!

  5. stubby says:

    We’ll always have Paris from the france collex from OPI. It’s a place i long to go to and it also reminds me of Sex and the City. Which is also the reason I named my son Aidan.

  6. Rebecca says:

    I have Creative Okey Dokey Artichokey just because I loved the name, even though I’ll never ever wear it, it looks like nail fungus. : )

  7. rbrinkley says:

    I did buy OPI’s “Who Needs a Prince?” just to make a point. I like it, its a pretty standard pearly neutral. I actually did get NARS Orgasm nailpolish since I loved the blush so much – cute but not as flattering on me as the blush. Looks great on my 60something year old mom! Also really considering We’ll Always Have Paris b/c I love Casablanca and I did have a great trip there though the relationship has long since faded. Does Zoya have a Rebecca polish?

  8. bananafishpoet says:

    I have yet to buy a color for its name alone (though am very tempted to splurge on the Spongebob set by Rescue Beauty Lounge in Bikini Bottom, Square Pants and Starfish Patrick) but when I paint my aunt’s toenails (she’s had knee surgery and can’t do it for herself anymore) she likes to have OPI’s Italian Love Affair, and who wouldn’t (grin)?

  9. Jackie says:

    Well, I bought Jackie Oh My because my name is Jackie (how could I resist that?). But I buy a TON of sheers anyway, so it might have made its way to my house even if it had a different name.

  10. Anonymous says:

    i caved and bought the zoya polish named after me. I will refrain from mentioning it here, since I love zoya in general, and my “named” polish is sooo incredibly horrid. It’s a very unflattering cream nude, blech. yet I still keep it.

  11. Nina says:

    I just saw that Zoya has a NINA nail polish! I am so excited! I do tend to gravitate towards brands like OPI who have cute names.

  12. Alison says:

    I haven’t yet but am seriously thinking about buying rosy-mistletosies from the OPI holiday in toyland collection just because the name is sooo cute!

  13. Jennifer Mayer says:

    Yep, I own my Zoya “namesake” and although I just got it (and haven’t tried it) it looks pretty, though not the color I’d pick for myself. Bought Essie Thigh Highs for hubby’s enjoyment, lol, and I did get the RBL Spongebob set partly for the name. I’m sure there are others too..

  14. Olga says:

    I bought most of the colors from the OPI Russian Collection because I’m Russian.

  15. Hermione says:

    Well, I’m trying to talk my husband into painting our Mustang convertible The Thrill of Brazil red from OPI! Because I know he’d never paint it Shoot-out at the OK Coral.

  16. Jessica says:

    I bought See Ya Later Sailor! because my husband’s in the Navy, even though I don’t care for sheers. I did wait to cave till it was on sale at TS, though. And I resisted most of the Naughty Nauticals collection at MAC because of wearability, even though the names were right on.

  17. Anonymous says:

    I am always nearly broke, and can’t be really picky with brand names. But names that I like and have by N.Y.C Tight Denim Creme, or PureIce, First Time do match my personality because I still feel young and sexy, even after turning 31. But, with hubby who is much older than me, I need to get used to buying more conservative hues, and preferrably, never expencive.

  18. annessa says:

    I bought the Zoya Gossip collection partially because I looove the Hills. I like the colors too, but the names are what initially caught my attention. They don’t have my name though :( … not even a Vanessa. I have to say, there is a color I have not bought because I really dislike someone with the same name, and I know whenever I paint my nails that color it will remind me of her.

  19. styrch says:

    Oh boy there are a lot o them! Zoya Buffy and I didn’t like it all that much. OPI Belize it or Not because I took my honeymoon in Belize (and I also think I have yet to actually try this color because it didn’t wow me). China Glaze On Your Knees! because it reminded me of my husband (and I don’t think I’ve tried this one either). China Glaze Chocodisiac and I swapped it away. Zoya Milla because my husband and I both have a fondness for Ms. Jovovich – it’s ok, but not a favorite at all.

  20. Allison says:

    I bought the entire OPI Australia collection. It was the summer after I spent three weeks in Australia. Each name and color reminded me of places I visited and I just couldn’t resist. I also finally this week got the last two colors I needed for the OPI Russian collection. I really want to visit Russia so all the names and colors were a must in my collection.

  21. AutumnTwilight says:

    I’m just getting into polish so I had never heard of the Wizard of Ooh Ahz collection and can’t seem to find swatches for it. Anyone have a link of swatches so I can look and wish? lol – Kansas girl here, we love our Wizard of Oz ;)

  22. Emilita says:

    A few weeks ago I purchased “Zietgeist” by Rimmel. I love the metallic purple/slate color, but the coolness of the name also caught me. (I have no idea what the color has to do with ‘the spirit of the time’ but I’m not going to spend *too* much time disecting it.)

    And I’ve definitely fallen for OPI colors based on names too!

    (However, I chose the color I’m wearing now, #1 Hottest Pink by Milani, somewhat inspite of its just average name.)

  23. watcher says:

    In March this year, I bought OPI’s Italian Love Affair, a pastel pink w/ hint of shimmer, because the name reminded me of my trip to Italy a few years ago. I’ve still got a fave photo of a painting from Herculaneum as the background on my home and office computers.

  24. Sanna says:

    Yes, I admit it! I bought OPI Kinky in Helsinki, from ebay just for the name. I like the color too which is a plus. The name was funny and my dad is from Finland. So, I just had to have it:)

  25. ZuZu's Petals says:

    i do!!! i have my eye on Lippmans Dark Side of The Moon b/c i’m a huge pink floyd fan (but i’m having a hard time w/$15 a bottle). Zoya used to have a Victoria, which is my sis name-so i got that in her honor (it was a great color, don’t see it anymore). i have an incredibly unique name so if it ever becomes a zoya color i will have to buy it

  26. Hillary says:

    Well, if Zoya ever does a Hillary polish, i’m all over it!!!

  27. DarlingLuna says:

    Better yet, who hasn’t bought a cosmetic product just because they loved the name(or packaging)? I just can’t help it sometimes. That was the reason I originally started buying Stila, of course I loved everything in the end. But I’ve bought plenty of polishes just for their names, but I try to make sure I’ll love the color first.

  28. Karina says:

    Oh, I practically used to buy nail polish solely on name alone! I would choose them based on where I’d been, where I’d like to go, or on a particular emotion.
    I am a sucker for marketing (names, packaging, etc), and since I use only OPI and Essie, you can imagine all the campaigns I’ve bee through:
    As just one example of too many to write, OPI’s Italian collection hits 2 of those – where I’d like to go and the fact that, at the time, I was in a relationship with an Italian man.
    As I’ve gotten older (!), I choose colors based on what is flattering and appropriate.

  29. Deborah says:

    Im guilty, but it isnt for a nail polish, it was for a lip gloss. I bought Chanel Exodus, because of the cool name, but its a great lipgloss…one of my favorites

  30. shopgirl_alana says:

    I’m totally guilty of buying Chanel’s Black Satin because the of the name and hype! And I’m totally going to buy OPI’s 90210 colors!

  31. Anonymous says:

    but it also goes the other way round. I’ll never buy a nailpolish with a name I don’t like. e.g. my private jet is for some reason very unattractive to me and I won’t buy the polish even though it’s interesting.

  32. outspokenwallflower says:

    I’m guilty; I love nail polishes with food names (I have NO idea why) and just yesterday, I bought Zoya Ashley because that’s my name…*sigh* I couldnt help myself, and the color is pretty, so…=D

  33. Princesss says:

    I am, more often than not, guilty of buying cosmetics (not just polish) for the names. I will also not buy a polish I really like because I don’t like the name.
    The last polish I bought for the name was Piggy Polish The Right to Bare Feet. I have also bought Ni-Coal, Princesses Rule! and I’m A Princess, You’re Not for the names.
    Currently I am lusting after Benefit Sassy-Fras lipstick due to a nickname given to me by a student last year.

  34. Anonymous says:

    I’ve bought a few Nicoles for the names, but my favorite has to be China Glaze’s Tickle My Triangle and yes, I like the color
    Marilese

  35. hanna says:

    nope, but i do have some nail polishes/cosmetics with interesting names

    i have a hot pink polish named orgasm (i got it before the nars version came out) and an orange orange-utang

    i am, however, guilty of buying things because of the brand name, or nice packaging..ehehee

  36. Anonymous says:

    rimmel london nail polishes usually have pretty interesting nails, so i buy them just for the names. they also are only about $4, so that’s a plus! one of my favorites: hit that (a kind of dusky lilac not much unlike OPI parlez-vous OPI).

  37. gymnastgirly says:

    I buy more than I should just for the name :) Zoya Lindsay is my namesake polish (though I maintain that they spell it wrong…) and I have Zoya Jennifer (middle name) even though it’s awful on me. I also hunted down OPI Can’t Help Falling in Love on the Evilbay just because of the name. Oh, then there’s my “Beatles themed” polishes…

  38. Azucar says:

    I’ve bought the Zoya polish with my name. I happen to love the color, too. Other than that, no, I haven’t bought a polish just for the name…yet.

  39. Sminkan says:

    I have, just like Sanna, bought myself a Kinky in Helsinki just for the name. Yes, my parents too come from Finland. But Sanna liked the color of the polish. I am not sure I do…

  40. Grace Waste says:

    I keep wanting to buy one of polishes with the name Grace in it, but they all look too pale and sheer for my tastes!

  41. Alexandra says:

    I don’t know how it is in the US, but here in Germany (and possibly all of Europe, now that I come to think of it) L’Oreal stopped naming their nail polishes about 5 years ago. I haven’t bought any of their polishes ever since. A woman has to have her standards, right?
    But I DID buy polishes called Forbidden Ginger, Rock Rebel, Steamy, Mermaid, Candy Apple and Beauty Victim just because of the names.

  42. Anonymous says:

    Yes, I’ve bought polishes because I like the name but only if I also like the color and it would be flattering with my skin tone because I don’t like to waste money on something I would not wear or use even if it had a cute name. As others have mentioned, there’s also been a couple of times I found a color I really liked and didn’t buy it because I didn’t like the name of it or the “theme” of the collection it was in (for example: that “Divorcee” collection that one of the brands had one time).

  43. Gail says:

    I bought Zoya’s Abigail after my name, but it looks so boring on me. It’s a very light beige-y pink on me. I shouldn’t even say pink because I can barely see it. So sad. Maybe I can convince them to change the color….or maybe I can change my name to Suzanne since I love that color so much!

  44. Raye says:

    I know I have bought things because of the name ! Packaging too. Sometimes things just look so cool I want them based on how they look on my vanity.
    Hey they don’t pay people tons of money to come up with product/color names for nothing!

    I just foundf your site today. I love it ! And I am a Cincy fan too :)

  45. Anonymous says:

    I LOVE that someone else said that they bought OPI’s Kinky in Helsinki for the name (it helped that the color was awesome). I have to like the name AND the color to make a purchase. There are a few OPI colors that I loved but didn’t buy because I didn’t like the name. My family thinks it’s ridiculous to judge a color by it’s name- but wearing nail polish is so much more than just a pretty color- it’s an attitude!

  46. Audrey says:

    I know this post is old, but I had to comment! I bought China Glaze's "For Audrey" because my name is Audrey. I'm so glad I did– it's one of my all-time favorite polishes! I wear it all the time. :)

  47. Tiffany says:

    Like the above poster, I had to comment even though this is old. My friend and I both bought OPI’s classic “I’m not really a waitress” because we both worked at a gentlemen’s club in college, but told everyone we were waitresses. Hilarious and had to have it!

  48. Nichole says:

    I bought most of OPI’s french collection because I was studying abroad in Paris and wore the color that’s name corresponded to the monument/musseum I was going to that day. I wore Louvre me Louvre me not when I went to the Louvre, Eiffel for the color the first time i went to the eiffel tower,etc.

    yes, i know i’m crazy.

  49. Ami says:

    I bought OPI Austin-tatious Turquoise, from the Texas collection, because I’m a native Austinite. Had to have the one named for city and it is actually so funky and cool and spunky and Austin! I bought “I Vant to a Be A-Lone Star,” too, though, in spite of the inexplicably terrible name, and I LOVE this second color, so, so, so much. So, a bad name won’t keep me from a color I love, I suppose. Except OPI’s new Touring America collection – who would buy “Uh-Oh, Roll Down the Window”? No, that one’s done me in, though I happen to hate the color, too.

Top