OPI Matte Collection Review, Swatches & Comparisons
Posted on June 8, 2009
 When I got my hands on the new OPI Matte nail polishes, I immediately started swatching them on my fingers. This was my first time using a true matte polish and all I could say was, “Wow, that’s MATTE alright!” I’ve never seen anything like these before. Think about dipping your fingers in flat wall paint and that’s the look we’re talking about here fanatics. Not at all like the satin-esque finish I got from using Orly Nails For Males top coat for my matte & glossy nail art experiment. It’s like the black hole of nail polish, no light lives here.
I’ve got swatches, a full review and comparison shots for you after the jump! |
 Every bottle of OPI Matte comes with a little tag that explains the nature of the formula, rules regarding application and suggestions on how to wear it (i.e. matte nail w/glossy tip).
It states that you should NOT use a base coat, top coat, drying drops or hand lotion. According to OPI, “because of the different formulation of the OPI Matte Nail Lacquers, it is best to wear it without a base coat and to stay away from lotions to get the best, most fabulous matte look possible.”
My theory… hand lotion will affect the finish, making it more satin looking and a base coat affects the application (streaking, unevenness, etc).
Application – This formula dries FAST. Like lightening fast so you must work quickly and meticulously. Any hesitation in your brush stroke will show as will any imperfections in your nail bed, like ridges. The polish is thick and highly pigmented but because of the difficulty in getting it smooth, I needed to do three coats of each shade. |
 Wear – I experimented with the no base coat rule when I did my five day wear test. I buffed then prepped my nails using Seche Prep to make sure they were free of any oils. I applied CND Stickey base coat to three nails (thumb, middle, pinkie) and left the other two bare. I noticed that the formula didn’t flow as nicely over the nails coated with Stickey.
By the following day I already had two chips on my index and ring fingers, by day five, well you can see the disaster they were. Going out to dinner with nails like this was, um “fun.” The boyfriend just shakes his head at this point. Meanwhile, the nails with base coat showed normal tip wear, nothing drastic.
While OPI doesn’t suggest using base coat, I highly recommend it for two reasons: 1. So you don’t feel like you wasted your money on a polish that only lasts two days. 2. To avoid staining. The dark colors do stain! It may mean trickier application but it’s worth it for longer wear. Now let’s move on to the colors |
Alpine Snow Matte is the polish version of painting Wite-Out to your nails. It’s chalky and blindingly bright.
Even though original Alpine Snow is used as a french tip shade, next to the matte version it looks almost off white. Now because Orly Matte has a tinge of color to it, it altered the color of Alpine Snow making it more creamy.
Gargantuan Green Grape Matte is also very chalky and as much as I love a green, I’m not in love with this. It reminds me of a faded dried out pressed leaf. Unfortunately I don’t own the original version (I know, I know sacrilege) so I can’t compare them for you.
As much as I’m not a pink girl La Paz-itively Hot Matte is my favorite polish in the collection. It’s the shimmer in it that gets me, making the finish a bit more satin than the rest.
As you can see La Paz Matte is NOTHING like the original. La Paz is a hot pink but the matte version is more rosey and deeper in hue. Both colors are actually more vibrant in person but my camera just can’t capture that.
I showed you You Don’t Know Jacques Matte in my second matte/glossy nail art experiment but here it is on its own. Is it just me or does it look like I rubbed dirt on my nails? I don’t hate the color but the finish just isn’t doing it for me. It doesn’t have the same uniqueness as the original (below).
Lincoln Park After Dark Matte is the same almost black plum that the world has come to know and love. In most light it looks pretty black, in natural/sunlight you can see the purple undertones. It’s warmer than a flat black just like it’s shiny finish sister.
Now after seeing La Paz Matte I had high hopes for Russian Navy Matte, expecting that same slightly satin, shimmer-filled finish. But that’s not what we got. Instead it’s a lifeless blue-black hue.
In this case, I much prefer the satin version using Orly Matte.
The OPI Matte collection officially goes on sale in July and can be found online at our fave e-tailers and in professional salons like Regis, ULTA, Trade Secret, JCPenney.
I know you’ve weighed in on the matte look but what do you think about OPI’s version? Will you be running out to buy them?
When I got my hands on the new OPI Matte nail polishes, I immediately started swatching them on my fingers. This was my first time using a true matte polish and all I could say was, “Wow, that’s MATTE alright!” I’ve never seen anything like these before. Think about dipping your fingers in flat wall paint and that’s the look we’re talking about here fanatics. Not at all like the satin-esque finish I got from using Orly Nails For Males top coat for my matte & glossy nail art experiment. It’s like the black hole of nail polish, no light lives here.
Every bottle of OPI Matte comes with a little tag that explains the nature of the formula, rules regarding application and suggestions on how to wear it (i.e. matte nail w/glossy tip).
Wear – I experimented with the no base coat rule when I did my five day wear test. I buffed then prepped my nails using Seche Prep to make sure they were free of any oils. I applied CND Stickey base coat to three nails (thumb, middle, pinkie) and left the other two bare. I noticed that the formula didn’t flow as nicely over the nails coated with Stickey.
Even though original Alpine Snow is used as a french tip shade, next to the matte version it looks almost off white. Now because Orly Matte has a tinge of color to it, it altered the color of Alpine Snow making it more creamy.
Gargantuan Green Grape Matte is also very chalky and as much as I love a green, I’m not in love with this. It reminds me of a faded dried out pressed leaf. Unfortunately I don’t own the original version (I know, I know sacrilege) so I can’t compare them for you.
As much as I’m not a pink girl La Paz-itively Hot Matte is my favorite polish in the collection. It’s the shimmer in it that gets me, making the finish a bit more satin than the rest.
As you can see La Paz Matte is NOTHING like the original. La Paz is a hot pink but the matte version is more rosey and deeper in hue. Both colors are actually more vibrant in person but my camera just can’t capture that.
I showed you You Don’t Know Jacques Matte in my second matte/glossy nail art experiment but here it is on its own. Is it just me or does it look like I rubbed dirt on my nails? I don’t hate the color but the finish just isn’t doing it for me. It doesn’t have the same uniqueness as the original (below).
Lincoln Park After Dark Matte is the same almost black plum that the world has come to know and love. In most light it looks pretty black, in natural/sunlight you can see the purple undertones. It’s warmer than a flat black just like it’s shiny finish sister.
Now after seeing La Paz Matte I had high hopes for Russian Navy Matte, expecting that same slightly satin, shimmer-filled finish. But that’s not what we got. Instead it’s a lifeless blue-black hue.
In this case, I much prefer the satin version using Orly Matte.
I’m wearing Rimmel’s 60 second nail polish in Camouflage. My first time...
I gotta admit…I'm not into this look at all. I can barely get decent wear from regular polish (three kids and using my nails as tools = BAD!) and can't imagine that a matte nail will last more than 30 seconds for me.
I also don't love the look of the matte finish. I'm a shiny, sparkly, glitter kinda girl. Alpine Snow looks like white out, and the only colors that interest me are Russian Navy and Gargantuan Green, but not enough to spend money on them. I'll be staying away from this look altogether.
I will not buy this,
to OPI, I give the diss.
For me, this look falls flat,
I will not go matte.
i was really excited about the collection, but now that i see the swatches…i think it just looks–ugly. i am still open to doing the matte with gloss tip tho. idk, i am just not very excited about it anymore. =(
I was so excited when matte polish first started hitting the market and I won one of those Man Glaye polishes in black, but I also noticed they don't wear well. I had chipping after 1 day, even with a good base coat. Also, the natural oils in your nails and from using hand cream etc, it reduced the matte effect very quickly. By day 2 or 3 they weren't matte anymore, they weren't glossy like a cream but they just looked weird – kind of blech. I don't think I'll be getting any more matte polishes. They do look very edgy but in real life, just not practical.
I like some of them, but they don't really coincide with their glossy counterparts well enough to do a French tip thing, imho. That's what I was looking forward to the most. The white and green were disastrous. They look horrible! If the end product wasn't SO matte, it might have worked, but this matte is really extreme.
as much as i want to LOVE them, all i can keep thinking is how badly i want to put a layer of seche vite over it!!!
I will be all over them! I really would love to see a comparison to regular GGG. I have it and it looks much lighter than the matter version. And it takes 4 coats so I would love one that doesn't! And I am dying to Konad with Matte Alpine Snow!
Wow. I'm actually disappointed in all but the pink one. Pooh.
I loved "Gargantuan Green Grape Matte" and "La Paz-itively Hot Matte".
Yikes! That's nothing like the matte nail polish I had about 15 years ago from Orly. Those were really nice, they were in jewel tones and had a hint of gold in them and they definately lasted longer than 2 days! Maybelline had mattes as well, not as nice as the Orly but nicer than OPI's. As much as I love matte nail polish, I think I'm going to wait for the Zoya polish to come out.
So I was not completely convinced about mattes and have been waiting for swatches before I make up my mind.
Am now jumping on the bandwagon, I love my two favorite colors in matte (LAPD and RN)! Might also go for GG, but will have to see some more swatches first.
Thanks for the preview and a great blog
They would be interesting to use for nail art (especially since you can't use top coats to get the original versions as matte as the matte versions), but alone they're pretty uggums.
Ummmm…..These aren't looking so hot. The brights seem to look a little better than the darks. I'm a tad disappointed. I may try just one bottle for the heck of it, but I'm not feeling too hopeful.
Maybe I'll try it with a glossy tip in a contrasting color.
Ummmm…..These aren't looking so hot. The brights seem to look a little better than the darks. I'm a tad disappointed. I may try just one bottle for the heck of it, but I'm not feeling too hopeful.
Maybe I'll try it with a glossy tip in a contrasting color.
I like La Paz, but I'm disappointed in the rest. You are absolutely right on calling the texture like wall paint. They took it too matte, I think. Too bad, I was really excited for these…
well… hmmm.. I am completely disappointed in this collection. I was originally pretty excited about seeing these, to add something different to my polishes, but I will now be running from these if I see them in the store. It seems as though I could just rub sidewalk chalk onto my nails and get the same effect…
I just like shiny polish too much to try any of these. They just seem a little dull and sad to me.
I'm the kind of person that things take a while to grow on me. I really love the pink matte so I'll definitely be getting that. The green and the white i'm thinking about. I have a feeling i'll love those after i've looked at the swatches some more. Maybe the Russian Navy as well.
When I was little and bored at my moms office I would paint my nails with white out. It always left this matte kind of texture and look. I loved the look at feel of it, so I love this collection. I think I will definitely be buying a few of them just to try out. I'm not sure how the no hand lotion rule will go, but we'll see.
Thanks for the swatches
The more swatches I see of these, the less I like them. I don't like the colors or the finish. This is a trend I'll be taking a pass on – bring on the shiny!
well….I'm quite disappointed with this collection.. I don't know.. Maybe my expectations were too high?! I still think I'll be getting a few of these though, to try them out but we'll see…..
Ugh. Don't really like these. Looks like chalk. The original garguantuan green grape is 10 times better. The matte version does it NO JUSTICE. I can't really wear mattes, I always want to put on a top coat.
Wow. I was all set to love these, but no. The pink's nice, the others not so much.
I think either of the off-blacks might work with a drop of (normal creme) white added to take it to somewhere in the charcoalish range and give it some life, but I'm not interested enough to bother trying myself.
Guess it's going to be Nails for Males or Orly Matte for me.
Not so impressed. Honestly, I was less interested in OPI's Mattes than Zoya's as I thought some of the color choices were odd. La Paz is far more stunning than I expected, I'm not into pinks either but that one is fab. Much more appealing than the original IMO. The rest? Eh. Alpine Snow and Gargantuan Grape look like they'd make great bases for nail art. Not sure how I feel about them on their own. The three dark shades don't thrill me at all.
I haven't given up on this trend as the KO matte polishes and ManGlazes look hot. But OPI's version, while daringly matte, just fall flat. I think if they had chosen some better colors it might have worked out better. When there's no shine, no sparkle, a nail color has to be a shade that really sings you know? But with the exception of La Paz (which has a rockin' set of pipes
) and maybe GG, none of the colors did.
I think I'll pick up La Paz when these come out but I think the "no hand lotion, no base coat, no top coat" rules will keep me from really getting on board. That's murder for your nails!
I'm just not impressed. I don't know what it is, but OPI has really fallen flat for me lately. The pink is SO cute, but I just don't know.
I was wondering if you could do a comparison of Licoln Park After Dark and MAC's Dark Angel?
Thanks!
I think I'll be taking a pass on this whole collection. They just look so lifeless and boring.
Hmm, this matte trend disappoints me a little, especially coming from OPI. *sigh*
I was waiting for your review and swatches and I have to say I'm pretty disappointed. These look pretty yuck. Too bad. Maybe Zoya's will be a bit better?
I was so excited about these and planned on buying the entire collection but now not so much. I think I'll still pick up La Paz and maybe LPAD but that's it.
idk. maybe it's just the neon-lover in me, but i think i love the alpine snow. it's like a neon white! and i also think i love gargantuan green grape. it reminds me of dried up "sticky green leaves" a la brothers karamazov, which is sad but awesome. wow, i just exposed myself as a nerd, didn't i?
Guess I'm not a matte girl. Although I like the idea of maybe mixing it up by using matte on the tips.
I am not a pink polish gal, but La Paz matte looks like a must-have for me!
I was hoping this post would have changed my mind about the matte collection, but I still don't love it :/
Hi Micheklle:
I haven't seen these OPI Matte polishes but the way you present them they deserv a look. I agree "Alpine Snow" should be left in it's original shiny formula, as so shall Garganthan Grape. The pink La Pazitively and You Don't Know Jaques especially lok super but not in Matte form. I am loving LPAD and RN in both the regular shiny and matte forms and will be on the lookout for the LPAD and RN in matte since I own the original colors, lol.
There's something about the mette glaze of both the RN and LAPD that makes it appear diferent and exotic to me. I can't explain it and since I have only heard about these colored mattes it's great you are featuring them on your web page. Kudos, especially your always beautiful and gorgeous nails! I only thought that the only matte color I would ever see was Matte Nail Envy so men would not be afraid of ever wearing "shiny" clear nail color" lol we have gone very far with this concept. Peace.
Seems like anyone who does their nails regularly (us fanatics) use top coat and bottom coat, so I just don't know about this… aside from that, I just don't think it's right for me. I applaud OPI for trying something different, but they don't seem to have put their whole hearts into this. The colors are interesting choices – to say the least.
this is the second review I've seen for this collection…and neither of them were exactly glowing reviews.
Personally, I wasn't really impressed either. I feel like everyone WANTS to like the matte collection and was excited about it..but it isn't meeting expectations
I agree, out of all the colors, I would have to say La Paz-itively Hot Matte is the best looking..and i'm not even that into the color itself. The satin-finish just makes it look so much classier.
You Don't Know Jacques Matte is alright too, but I feel like I would be tempted to put a shiny topcoat over it after looking at it for a while =P
(sorry for the super long comment!)
this is the second review I've seen for this collection…and neither of them were exactly glowing reviews.
Personally, I wasn't really impressed either. I feel like everyone WANTS to like the matte collection and was excited about it..but it isn't meeting expectations
I agree, out of all the colors, I would have to say La Paz-itively Hot Matte is the best looking..and i'm not even that into the color itself. The satin-finish just makes it look so much classier.
You Don't Know Jacques Matte is alright too, but I feel like I would be tempted to put a shiny topcoat over it after looking at it for a while =P
(sorry for the super long comment!)
I just think they all look like there's something missing, will be sticking with my glossy top coat!
When I was younger, my absolute favorite nail polish of all time (and still to this day) was a dark lead-colored polish from a holiday gift set from the Gap. There were two other polishes in the set–a light silver and a silver-pink–but neither were as nice as the dark one, which had a matte finish (although I didn't know what it was called at the time).
I'm so excited for this collection! I can't wait to try it! And I think the swatches look awesome (I guess I'm kind of weird)!
Have you tried putting a top coat on them to see how close they are to the original colors? I've been into the nail art thing with friends and we bought acrylic paint (kinda like what you get in the nic stick pens) and the colors change when glossy coated…I'm curious to try the GGG and LPAD…maybe la paz…
I am…..intrigued.
I think this is something I have to try on on myself before I give a verdict….
Awesome swatches!
I really like the comparison with the regular ones.
Think I will get LPAD!
Looks like I'm on the minority when I say:
I really like them…
And where's that e-tailer that I can order them from right NOW?
Hmmm. I'm kind of curious about matte, but I think I might pass on this collection. I hope a local salon will get the collection so I can try the green (which looks the best, IMO) without buying the whole bottle.
Maybe Zoya's mattes will be better.
You could use the La Paz matte on your nail, and the Green Grape matte on the tips, and put black dots with the LPAD matte on the La Paz, and have watermelon nails for summer
Just kidding, that's probably the only way I would wear any of these!
Matte eye shadow; yes; matte nail polish, no. For me anyway! I don't think this is a trend I'm getting behind (although I must admit that I'm sort of intrigued by You Don't Know Jacques – looks very punk and edgy.) I love the original LPAD, but the matte version looked almost bruise-like to me. What a difference the finish makes!
Thanks for the swatches!
eee I can't get into these.
the white one looks like tipex
Wow…this makes me sort of sad. I had such high hopes for these polishes.
i have the opportunity to try the matte version of la paz through work – and it is just so so gorgeous! thanks for posting these!
I've been waiting for this collection and now I am completely disappointed
The La Paz Matte looks quite good, but still, it isn't good enough compared with my expectation..
Well, I wish Zoya's matte would be much better than this