China Glaze Anchor’s Away Sneak Peek – Below Deck, Pelican Gray and Sea Spray
 Ever since I used China Glaze Sea Spray, from the Spring 2011 Anchor’s Away collection, in my Emmy night manicure I’ve been counting the days til Spring.
Normally Spring nail color collections leave me yawning but I’m not so patiently waiting to get my hands on the bold brights and delicate cremes that make up the nautical inspired collection. The sailor in me can’t wait to replicate the mani/pedi combo I saw at Cosmoprof using Life Preserver (orange) and First Mate (navy). It’s a match made in nail heaven. To help pull me out of my nail polish funk I turned to the few Anchor’s Away colors I have on hand. So while we wait to see the collection in full I have a little sneaky peek at a few shades; Below Deck, Pelican Gray and Sea Spray. |
A full review including formula & application and comparisons with my collection review. For now, let’s just oogle the colors.
If you’ve been reading ALU since September you already saw Sea Spray but looking back I wasn’t overjoyed with my initial photo. Plus my nails were way too long for my liking. So here’s take 2 of sky blue-grey creme. If you look up close you’ll see the faintest hint of shimmer in Sea Spray but it dries pretty creamy, sort of like how Chanel Riva has shimmer in the bottle that basically disappears on the nail.
Pelican Gray is a slightly lighter version of one of my all-time fave pale grays, Carolyn New York Handball Courts. CNY is out of business so I’m REALLY happy to have a new dove gray that I can recommend. Someone on Twitter asked me for light gray cremes recs from the major brands and I couldn’t think of any except Pelican Gray. While the shimmer in this one is more apparent, for all intents and purposes it’s a creme.
Below Deck has been getting a lot of buzz because it’s intended to be a Channelesque dupe. Reps from China Glaze say Below Deck is the closest they could get to replicating the discontinued and beloved muddled mauve creme.
What’s funny is I remember when I first saw Channelesque on the MUA Nail Board I thought it was FUG and never bothered to buy a bottle. I always think of my MUA pal Mickster who loved it and I just didn’t get it. Over the years as my tastes have evolved my feelings have changed though I’m not sure why. I still find it kind of fugly but in a fashion-y way. Like a dog that is so ugly it’s cute.
China Glaze Anchor’s Away launches in February 2011 but I would expect to see it online and in stores, like Sally Beauty & ULTA, in late January as long as there are no production/shipping delays.
So what do we think Fanatics? Are you getting excited for the Anchor’s Away collection? What shades are you most looking forward to? What do you think of Below Deck/Channelesque? Is it a color you’re happy to see come back?
Disclosure: Product samples were provided by China Glaze. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Another one who wants to see how Sea Spray compares to Essie’s Sag Harbor. They look eerily similar.
Hi Michelle,
Because of your blog, I have been venturing outside of my jewel-toned nail color box. Below Deck intrigues me in a way that I never thought a muddled greyish-mauve would. My reds, blues, and purples have to scoot over and make room for this new color obsession.
I didn’t know Carolyn New York was no more! I think Below Deck is so gorgeous – can’t wait for that one.
I am heavily intrigued by every colour in the second row. I see more polish in my future…since that’s EXACTLY what I need!
Love these colors! But Sea Spray does look like Essie’s Sag Harbor. Can you do a comparison?
How does Pelican Grey compare to Zoya Harley? Is it as blue as it looks in the pic?
i’m the one who asked via twitter, thanks!
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Someone on Twitter asked me for light gray cremes recs from the major brands and I couldn’t think of any except Pelican Gray
China Glaze always has such a fun collection of colors! Its hard to find in NYC
Got Sea spray on my nails now with white cap over it. White cap is 2nd row all the way to the right.
went to my supply store to get the Katy perry OPI’s that they DID NOT get yet (AAAARGGGH!) and saw they had the CG for sale already! YAY! not a wasted trip at all!
I never got my hands on sag Harbor, but after googling pics online, I see a definite shimmer/frost (whatever) to sag harbor on the nails that I do not see with Sea Spray. Sea Srya has the ever so slightest pearl effect in the bottle, probably just added to the formula for dimension but nearly undetectable on the nail. Sag harbor is a lot more noticable in the pics i saw. the color is quite similar but the finish is definitely different.
when will you show us all of the colors? you will do that, won’t you? i’m so excited about all of them, these colors are so gorgeous! i can’t wait to see swatches of all of them so i can decided which ones to get!
Doesn’t Below Deck look like Essie’s Smokin Hot?
how does below deck compare to you don’t know jacques i wonder? or parlez vous opi?
i’m still on the hunt for a parlez vous opi dupe
I am very excited about Below Deck! I bought Channelesque Last Christmas in Puerto Rico, had no clue that it was discontinued! I will be stocking up on Below Deck, as Channelesque is one of my all time faves
I just bought Starboard (the green) and Below Deck today. I haven’t tried them out yet but I’m really excited!