Hi guys, hope you all had a good weekend! Did everyone watch the Super Bowl? I sure did not...I only watched the half time show. I thought Beyonce was pretty great, I especially loved the little Destiny's Child reunion.
Today I have China Glaze's Spring 2013 Avant Garden Collection to share with you. I didn't plan on picking up the whole collection but the place I shop at only had them in the 2 packs of 6 colors. Glad that they *forced* me to buy all 12 because I ended up really enjoying this collection, especially some of the shades I was planning on passing on!
Check out all the swatches by clicking the read more button below!
Budding Romance is a murky moss green. This is one of those shades you're either going to really love or really hate...I really love it! The formula was good, a bit of a jelly creme hybrid. The first coat went on very sheer and jelly like but it built up pretty easily and it dries super shiny on it's own. I used 3 coats for the photos below.
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Dandy Lyin' Around is a shimmery white. This is one I wasn't planning on picking up but man, it's so pretty! The formula was a little thick but not too difficult to work with. It was streaky and a bit patchy on the first coat. I used 3 coats to even it out and get it completely opaque.
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Fade Into Hue is a dusty periwinkle creme. The formula was good on this one, a little sheer on the first coat but I only ended up needing 2 coats to get it completely opaque and even.
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Fancy Pants is a purple/blue with a pink shimmer. I'm not sure if I would call this a blue leaning purple or a purple leaning blue. It's really walking that line and it tends to look different depending on the lighting. Inside my house it looks very purple and outside it looked much more blue. The shimmer is pretty but pretty hidden, even in direct sunlight. The formula was really nice, no application issues with this one! I used 2 coats for the photos below.
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Keep Calm, Paint On is a light minty green shimmer. This is another I was planning on passing on because I just didn't see the awesome from the promo images. The subtle shimmer is so pretty in here, if you like a finish like Dandy Lyin' Around but don't like white polish this is the perfect alternative...it's got the same feeling without looking as stark on the nails. The formula was great, a little thick but the thickness worked to it's advantage, in my opinion. This went on so smoothly and wasn't streaky at all. I used 2 coats for the photos below.
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Life Is Rosy is a a dark rosy mauve. This color is something I would have passed on because it looks a little Grandma to me but I ended up liking it well enough. It's very flattering on my skin tone so I'll probably wear it again one day. The formula was great, a little on the thick side but easy to apply and it had great opacity. I used 2 coats for the photos below.
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Mimosa's Before Mani's is a peachy coral shimmer. I really love this one even though the name is a big grammar fail, I like corals than lean more orange like this one does. I do wish that the shimmer was a little more noticeable but that's a small complaint. The formula was good, a little patchy on the first coat but the 2nd coat evened everything out. I used 2 coats for the photos below.
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Passion For Petals is a pink toned red creme. In person this was a touch more pink but it definitely leaned red on me. The formula was good, no application issues. I used 2 coats for the photos below.
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Pink-ie Promise is a light shimmery pink. The shimmer is very very hidden in this, I could barely see it even out in the sun. The formula was good but difficult at the same time. It was super opaque and creamy but you have to be careful not to put a lot of pressure on the brush or it drags. It kind of reminds me of the formula the creme Tranzitions polishes had. This also dried a bit dull, I used top coat for the photos below. I used 2 coats of Pink-ie Promise for the photos below.
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Snap My Dragon is a shimmery red. This reminds me of a few polishes we saw for Holiday 2012 but it's definitely more red than fuchsia compared to them. The formula was fantastic, very nearly a 1 coater for me! I ended up using 2 coats but the second was hardly needed.
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Sunday Funday is a bright blue creme. Not the most amazing shade of blue ever but the formula was awesome. It was so creamy and nice to apply, I used 1 coat for the photos below!
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Tart-y For The Party is a lilac pastel. This is pretty again but I think what I like most (besides the lol worthy name) is the great formula. It was nice and opaque and not streaky! I used 2 coats for the photos below.
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Overall I really like this collection as a whole, not all the shades as super unique but the formulas are better than the norm for most of them. My favorites are Budding Romance, Keep Calm Paint On and Mimosa's Before Mani's.
The Avant Garden should be in stores in March but it's already available online at shops like
Nail Polish Canada.
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all of these are so beautiful, I cant pick a favorite
ReplyDeleteYou were right about CG stepping up. These are beautiful! Do you have Kleancolor Fashionista? I'm wondering if Budding Romance is a dupe? I love that color, but, can't stand the smell of KC polishes.
ReplyDeleteNone of these are really standing out to me, thanks for the swatches!
ReplyDeleteThere are definitly three or four that I want. Fancy Pants for sure.
ReplyDeleteOoh, brilliant swatches, thank you! Got to get myself Budding Romance and Life is Rosy :)
ReplyDeleteFancy Pants as looks as Essie - Smooth Sailing. I can't wait China Glaze Hologram Holographic Collection. :)
ReplyDeleteI had some major staining issues with Budding Romance and Passion For Petals, but I really like the colors that I've tried so far! Your swatches make me want to get the rest =)
ReplyDeleteYay! I've been waiting for your swatches of this collection before I bought any and I'm glad I did, totally changed my mind on a few of them- i'm off to order now :) Thanks
ReplyDeleteYou bought them all because China Glaze has us by the wallet-ballz.... I'll probably end up buying all of these, as well. I NEED Fancy Pants, if only for the name :-)
ReplyDeleteBudding Romance is SO gorgeous- I love colors like this. It kind of reminds me a bit of CG Trendsetter without the shimmer. I also love Dandy Lyin' Around. I don't have anything like it.
ReplyDeletePlease, compare Dandy Lyin Around with Frosty if you have it! and maybe with some other whites
ReplyDeleteand Sunday Funday with OPI blue ones from Eurocentrale collection and some old ones
that sucks! I didn't have staining with either of them!
ReplyDeleteWow is this awesome! I see so many I like form your great swatches! Thanks again for the entry on this collection, well worth waiting for! :)
ReplyDeleteI wonder how similar is Life Is Rosy to Essie Angora Cardi.
ReplyDeleteI thought I liked Life Is Rosy, until your Grandma comment... and then I realized you were right. I think I'll opt for Passion For Petals instead. Thanks for the great swatches!
ReplyDeleteThese look great on you, as usual! I was wondering if you could compare Fade into the Hue with Electric Beat (China Glaze as well). Also, I know Zoya Julie has shimmer in it and that alone makes it different than Tart-y For the Party, but do you know how similar the color is? Thanks!
ReplyDeletelol! It's actually really pretty even though it's a Grandma color, I was surprised that I liked it but it's very flattering on the nail!
ReplyDeleteThank you for doing this collection! I've been hoping you would before I bought the collection.
ReplyDeleteAny chance you'll be doing a comparison post with some of these? I am debating picking up the whole collection, but I don't know if any of them are similar or dupes to other ChG polishes. Like Fade Into Hue reminds me of Electric Beat.
Who am I kidding?!?! I'll probably get the whole darn collection. I'm such a China Glaze Addict!
Budding Romance reminds me a lot of Victorian Crush by Jessica. If you have this, would really appreciate a comparison! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't own that Jessica unfortunately :(
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely be doing a post, I'll add that one to my list!
ReplyDeleteI really like the Passion for Petals and the first green one also intrigues me!
ReplyDeleteSnap My Dragon looks really similar to OPI The Color Of Minnie. Dandy Lyin'-Around looks like it might be a more opaque version of NOPI It's All About The Glam. Sunday Funday and Zoya Robyn also look close.
ReplyDeleteThoughts?
Even though, I don't NEED all of these, I still want them. LOL! Thank you for the lovely swatches, as usual.
So happy this collection won the twitter vote! I know they won't dupe themselves so quickly but Sunday Funday reminds me of Hanging in the Balance from the Cirque Du Soleil collection. Also, I need that poopy green.
ReplyDeleteLife is Rosy looks similar to the Squarehue "Wartime Romance." Did you get the January and February boxes?
ReplyDeleteI haven't gotten my February box yet but if I get it by the time I do my comparisons I'll include it!
ReplyDeleteI'll add them all to my list to compare!
ReplyDeleteOmg Keep Calm and Paint On got me really excited haha. Need that...also love Mimosas! Thanks for the swatches!
ReplyDeleteThere are some great shades in here, especially that dirty green!
ReplyDeleteCould you compare Pink Promise to Opi - Japanse Rose Garden, Afrodite's Pink Nightie or Color Club - Hold 'em? Think they are almost the same!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI actually don't think I own any of those, sorry!
ReplyDeleteOoo, do you know how similar Budding Romance is to Illamasqua Hectic? Hectic is discontinued and I've been dying to find a dupe.
ReplyDeleteThey are all so pretty!
ReplyDeleteCan you compare mimosas with Essie tart deco and haute at hello?
ReplyDeleteHow does Budding Romance compare to Trendsetter and Zoya Shawn color-wise?
ReplyDeleteJust when I told myself I wasn't going to buy any more nail polish! I will definitely be checking out Keep Calm, Paint On and Mimosas Before Manis! Love your swatches:)
ReplyDeleteI literally always wait for your swatches before purchasing polishes! Keep Calm, Paint On will be mine based on your review! :)
ReplyDeleteI heard that there is a holographic collection coming out by China Glaze called Hologlam. I was wondering if you have information about it? I guess they are being sold in Singapore, but I'm hoping they will come to the US soon!
ReplyDeleteAll I know is that it should be out in March...hopefully it'll start popping up online soon. I saw nail wheel swatches in person and they look awesome!
ReplyDeleteI'd also appreciate a comparison of Sunday Funday and Robyn! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYay I couldn't wait to see your swatches for this collection!!! I think they're nice, but I'll probably pass on all of them, not exciting enough :P Mimosa's before mani's is pretty though. Keep calm, paint on might be similar to China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint just with shimmer :)
ReplyDeleteI really want a couple of these, but no one has by me yet. Wow, looked at Nail Polish Canada - not really a great deal. Very surprised.
ReplyDeleteI love Dandy Lyin' Around but how does it compare to China Glaze Frosty?? They look pretty similar.
ReplyDeleteAnd what about picture polish white wedding? That also looks similar to Dandy Lyin' Around
ReplyDeleteCan you do a comparison of Sunday Funday and Zoya Robyn?
ReplyDeleteso many of these remind me of colors in either the zoya or opi spring collections--could you compare across the collections?
ReplyDeleteSnap my Dragon kind of reminds me of OPI's The Spy Who Loved Me. I lol'd when you mentioned the grammar fail on Mimosas. That kind of stuff drives me nuts. If any polish companies need a polish-name-grammar-checker, I would so rock that job!
ReplyDeleteKeep calm, paint on just entered my must have list!
ReplyDeleteI really like Fancy Pants! I might have to pick up Keep Calm, Paint On as well. Too bad on the grammar fail of Mimosas Before Manis because it's such a pretty color! (Although speaking of grammar, "it's" is only short for "it is" or "it has", and never indicates possessiveness. So it'd be "on its own" or "worked to its advantage" in your posts. ^^) I love your swatches. I always look to you before I buy.
ReplyDeletePinkie promise and artificial sweetener by orly
ReplyDeleteCan you do a comparison of Sunday Funday and Fingerpaints' Blue Raspberry Taffy? and Fade into Hue with Electric Beat and Color Club Hydrangea Kiss? I probably will still buy them,cause you know i have a problem but it would be nice to know just how close they are :)
ReplyDeleteGreat swatches, I definitely be getting some of these!
ReplyDeleteLove "Snap My Dragon".
ReplyDeleteCan you compare Dandy Lyin' Around with ChG Frosty? And Revlon Snow Bunny (If you have it) Thanks :D
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! I'm loving all the spring polishes.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I thought it was done I would scroll and see another awesome color! I especially LOVE Budding Romance
ReplyDeletePassion for petals vs my chihuahua bites by OPI
ReplyDeleteYay I've been waiting for swatches of these to start popping up for so long! :D These look lovely, I'm definitely gonna need to get at least half of them.
ReplyDeleteAs for comparisons, I'd love to see Fade Into Hue compared to Electric Beat since they seem quite similar. And also Sunday Funday versus OPI No Room For The Blues, if possible. Can't wait for the comparison post! Thanks for the great swatches :)
Amazing Colorss!
ReplyDeleteAs like all nail polish appliques, it works like a sticker that adheres
ReplyDeleteto your nails with the warm of your hand and it's easily taken off by
peeling off. No damage is done to your nails and it's a snap of fingers
to get pretty nails done with design for the week!
http://bit.ly/WhwaFQ
I'm kind of amazed at how much I love this collection! Just took a look at your swatches of the OPI Euro-Centrale collection and I much prefer this one. For me the stars are Fancy Pants (reminds me of a lighter, more violet version of Rescue Beauty Lounge Piu Musso) and Mimosa's Before Mani's (because I'm a sucker for pale orange shades). The paler pinks I can do without but for the most part, this whole darn collection is a WIN. Thanks for your beautiful swatches!
ReplyDeleteI am not too impressed with the shimmers but the swatches are lovely! I think I might pass on the collection, though.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually like that green for some odd reason. lol. Reminds me of sweet peas or pea soup!
ReplyDeleteCan you compare between snap my dragon with OPI I'm All Ears / If You Moust You Moust? And also sunday funday with cg hanging in the balance or opi ogre the top blue
ReplyDeleteI'll add it to my list, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'll add it to my list!
ReplyDeleteIt's not very close to either of them. I probably won't compare them on the nail but I'll include a bottle shot so you can see when I post comparisons :)
ReplyDeleteI'll add them to my list, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI don't own No Room For The Blues :( I'll add Electric Beat to my list!
ReplyDeleteI don't own that polish, sorry!
ReplyDeleteI don't own the Revlon but Frosty is on my list...it reminds me a lot of it to (I think that's why I wanted it, I love Frosty!)
ReplyDeleteI'll add it to my list, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI don't own that Finger Paints polish but the other 2 are on my list!
ReplyDeleteI'll add it to my list!
ReplyDeleteI don't own either of those, sorry!
ReplyDeleteIt's on my list to compare!
ReplyDeleteIt's a different shade of green but I'll add it to my list :)
ReplyDeleteI'll add it to my list! I'm pretty sure I own Hectic, I think!
ReplyDeleteI don't own that polish, sorry!
ReplyDeleteHanging In The Balance is on my list to compare!
ReplyDeleteI *think* I might have destashed that NOPI but I know I have all the others. I'll add them to my list!
ReplyDeleteI'll add these to my comparison list, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI don't own that Essie, sorry
ReplyDeleteI'll add them to my list, thanks!
ReplyDeletePerhaps that's just me, but in those pictures, Snap My Dragon reminds me a lot of that red polish that was in the OPI Skyfall Collection...
ReplyDeleteAngora Cardi is a much darker, dustier purple color, not as pink as Life Is Rosy. I am wearing Angora Cardi just now.
ReplyDeleteI liked this collection, I picked up 6 colors only. I didn't see wearing the green color. My favorite ones are Mimosa's before Mani's and Snap my Dragon.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the info. I want to buy Angora Cardi, it looks great on my skin (unlike China Glaze 5th Avenue), but I thought it wouldn't hurt to see if this one might be a dupe. I'll just have to get Essie.
ReplyDeleteYay!! thanks for doing these swatches, i've been looking for them all day and you're the only one i have found to have all 12!!
ReplyDeleteGosh I didn't think I would want anything from this collection until I saw your swatches! I'm wondering if you could compare Mimosa's before mani's with OPI Are We There Yet? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHello! Could You compare Life Is Rosy and 5th Avenue. It seems to close with 5th Avenue, Misa Runway Diva and Misa Bellacious. And Pink-ie Promise looks like Misa Go For The Pinks or Misa Be My Lover. Do You think so? Thanks
ReplyDeleteI have already done comparisons for this collection, looks like I also don't own any of the polishes you mentioned sorry
ReplyDeleteI have to say I found the formula on the shimmers to be very problematic. I bought 4 of this collection, all shimmers, and they all bubble like crazy despite allowing full dry time between coats. The brushes also seem to hold onto gobs of polish that drip down at the most inconvenient moments. I love the colors but I'm disappointed with the formula.
ReplyDelete