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Swatch Requests

Swatch Request Sunday – Orange You Glad You Asked?

I know it’s been a couple weeks since I’ve done swatch requests. Not to worry, I have logged all your requests and will try to get to as many as I can.

Since there was in influx of emails and comments looking for comparisons in the orange/coral family I knocked out your most requested in one fell swoop. Of course the OPI Bright Pair collection and Sally Hansen HDs brought out some dupe requests as well so you’ll find all that and more after the jump!


Let’s start out with my fave color, green. Sally Hansen HD Hi-Def may look like last summer’s Lacquer Shine Glow but looks can be deceiving. Glow has gorgeous gold shimmer and it’s much more pigmented. I prefer Glow so if you can still find it, GET IT! I saw some dual packs at my local Rite-Aid so I believe it hasn’t reached hard-to-find status yet.
Before I got my hands on Bright Pair a reader requested a comparison of No Room For The Blues, OPI Just Groovy and Misa Right Here Now, No More Later. Now that I have it I can say that RHNNML and Just Groovy are pretty much dead on dupes. NRFTB is a hair deeper in hue but brighter. If you have to choose, get No Room For The Blues. It applies better and is more pigmented.
OPI SUNBelievable‘s I’m His Coral-friend may look like a twin to last summer’s Mod Bright Mod-ern Girl but it’s not. Coral-friend leans towards pink and is more pigmented while Mod-ern Girl leans orange.
A reader wanted to see China Glaze Breakin next to Misa Speed of Life. And while they aren’t dupes due to Breakin’s shimmer the base shades are similar. Breakin is just a touch darker. Though what I did discover is a cousin of Speed of Life(below).
OPI In My Back Pocket from the Bright Pair collection isn’t a twin but it’s definitely in the same family as Speed of Life. For me, they’re close enough to not need both.
A while back I received a request to see China Glaze Kicks shades Style Wars and Oh How Street It Is next to Mod Bright Brights Power. Both the ChG polishes are darker, more pigmented and more red orange than Brights Power.
Finally, after Finger Paints Week a few of you wanted to see how Artist’s Inspiration stacks up against China Glaze Unplugged from the e-collection. I haven’t worn Unplugged in a WHILE so doing this comparison reignited my love for the shade. As you can see, it’s richer than AI and has a different finish. AI has a metallic looking shimmer while Unplugged’s is more of a micro-glitter.
That’s it for today kids. If you have a request, leave a comment or email me at [editor] at [alllacqueredup] dot [com]. The more specific the request, the better. Enjoy what’s left of your holiday weekend.

Swatch Request Sunday – Blues and Greens and Berries, Oh My!

I was a busy beaver yesterday, running errands and the like before heading to a Cinco De Mayo party so this week it’s Swatch Request Sunday.

Blues and greens are still on your radar but some purples and berries were added to the mix. To those of you that didn’t get your swatch requests fulfilled, I didn’t forget about you. I still have them on my list and will try to address them next weekend.


When I reviewed the Misa Living On The Fast Lane collection, I mentioned that Push Upon It is a “long lost twin” of OPI Miami Beet. Reader Amanda wrote in asking for proof. Here you go Amanda, I hope this saves you some money. While Miami Beet is a tad brighter, I wouldn’t suggest spending money on both.
After posting about Milani Totally Cool, Lena asked to see it up against fan favorite Zoya Yasmeen. Yasmeen is a richer, warmer, deeper plum as compared to blue based glitter bomb Totally Cool.
Reader crotchfairy wants to see how Illamasqua’s Rampage compares to Rescue Beauty Lounge Recycle. While the shades are close, Rampage is a bit brighter and less pigmented requiring three coats to Recycle’s two.

I assume in the hopes of saving some $$$, MoonChaii requested a comparison between China Glaze Bahamian Escape and Essie Shelter Island. Unfortunately, they are not twins. B.E. is lighter and more pigmented compared to S.I.’s jelly like consistency.
And to finish out the week we have your top request, dusty greens Essie Greenport and Misa Dirty Sexy Money. DSM’s deep, slightly muddy hue may have caused the boyfriend to say “eww” but I’m all over it. And as you can see, it has no close relatives.
That’s it for this week kids. If you have a request, leave a comment or email me at [editor] at [alllacqueredup] dot [com]. The more specific the request, the better. Enjoy what’s left of your weekend.

Swatch Request Saturday – Summer Blues & Greens

By on April 25, 2009
in Blue, Green, Swatch Requests, Teal with 31 Comments
Like I said last week, every weekend that I have free I’ll be addressing as many of your comparison requests as I can get to. This week all of you seem to be focused on bright blues and soft aqua/teal greens which I’m SO all about right now. I LOVE when we’re on the same wavelength dolls.

So here I come with this week’s Swatch Request Saturday pics to help you avoid buying dupes and save money. Check ‘em out after the jump!


After seeing my comparison between Sally Hansen Honeydew and Finger Paints Turquoise Tile, reader Mandy suggested that Honeydew looks like Barielle Decadence. Well Mandy, as you can see, Decadence is deeper and more ocean water-y.
My weekly Archives post featuring Essie Mesmerize prompted two requests. First up, OPI Dating A Royal from last summer’s Mod About Brights collection. DAR is a bit thinner, requiring an extra (3rd) coat. Also, DAR is a bit bolder but only slightly so.

Reader vbie3714 asked to see Mesmerize next to Zoya Tallulah from the Ooh-La-La collection. The hue and shimmer in Tallulah are really nothing like Mesmerize.

Lucky Candita was gifted a bottle of sold out gem, MAC Peppermint Patti and wanted to see it next to Essie Greenport. Greenport is deeper and more blue.
Reader Jenn’s bottle of Essie Greenport looks like China Glaze For Audrey on her nails. And I agree that they are close but Greenport is just a tad deeper and more muted on me. Anyone else see them as dupes?


That’s it for this week kids. If you have a request, leave a comment or email me at [editor] at [alllacqueredup] dot [com]. The more specific the request, the better. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Swatch Request Saturday – Search for Chanel Dupes

By on April 18, 2009
in Gray, Pink, Swatch Requests, Turquoise with 12 Comments
Every time I post new nail polish pictures, I try to search through my stash for comparable shades but sometimes time just doesn’t permit that. And then the requests for comparisons start coming in. So to remedy the situation, I’m introducing Swatch Request Weekends. Every weekend that I have free, I’ll be addressing as many swatch requests as I can.

The unveiling of the Chanel Celestial Lights collection and my new Barry M shades brought up a lot of great dupe questions so I hope I answered them for you after the jump. Enjoy!


MariahGem wanted to know how Finger Paints Turquoise Tile from the Sunburst Summer collection compares to Sally Hansen’s Honeydew. As you can see, Honeydew leans more green.
After seeing Chanel’s new Mica Rose and hearing how it compares to fan favorite Flamingo, Denette requested a Flamingo dupe. Unfortunately I don’t have any polishes with Flamingo’s exact sparkle factor but Nubar Je t’aime comes pretty close. OPI Dancing In The Isles is just too metallic.
Of course people always want a low cost version of Chanel’s stunning shades and Cosmic Violine is no exception. The closest I could come is with OPI Kris Kringle Makes Me Tingle, a holiday Trade Secret exclusive. Kris Kringle’s shimmer is more garish and the base is more brown without the same depth as Cosmic Violine. I threw in Tulipe Noire just for funsies.
Reader Crotchfairy wanted to see Barry M’s Grey next to MAC On The Prowl and Rescue Beauty Lounge Stormy. The Barry M is much deeper.
The only shade I have that is remotely close is a custom blended CND shade. Get the recipe here.
That’s it for this week kids. If you have a request, leave a comment or email me at [editor] at [alllacqueredup] dot [com]. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

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