Swatches--OPI Jinx

I adore this polish! A beauty supply store near my work had some OPI minis on sale for $2.50, so I picked up this little beauty, OPI Jinx. I love everything about Jinx, so I am going to glut this post with photos and say very little. Feast your eyes!
*I purchased this product with my own money.*

I only showed Jinx in these photos without top coat, as that's how the Liquid Sand polishes are designed to be worn. However, she does look lovely with top coat as well. The full size is available at drugstore.com for $9.00 at this time.

*I purchased this product with my own money.*

Review and Possible Dupes--China Glaze 'Traffic Jam' vs. OPI 'Casino Royale'

China Glaze 'Traffic Jam' was a little beauty I bought at T.J. Maxx for a couple bucks. Recently, I bought OPI 'Casino Royale' from an individual on polishsale.livejournal.com. They didn't seem similar online, but when I saw the bottles next to each other I was afraid that I had gotten a duplicate shade.

China Glaze 'Traffic Jam' (left), OPI 'Casino Royale' (right)

As you can see, in the bottle, they look quite similar. The China Glaze looks perhaps a little brighter.

China Glaze 'Traffic Jam'

OPI 'Casino Royale'

On the nail, totally different polishes. 'Traffic Jam' is a delicious-looking raspberry shade, while 'Casino Royale' is a deep, red-toned purple.

Sally Hansen Salon Manicure Base Coat

I used one coat of Sally Hansen Salon Manicure Base Coat and two coats of each of the polishes. China Glaze 'Traffic Jam' had an excellent formula, went on very easily. OPI 'Casino Royale' was pretty smooth as well, but the first coat was streaky. I had a little bit of trouble with both wanting to flood my cuticles, but it was slight.

Julep Freedom Polymer Top Coat

I tried a new (to me) top coat this time, borrowed from my closest friend: Julep Freedom Polymer Top Coat. It does not help your polish dry, but the top coat itself dries quickly. It's pretty rock hard in five minutes. You are supposed to apply it after your polish is dry. It smooths everything out and feels really strong, kind of like gel but not as glossy. I was happy with it.

China Glaze 'Traffic Jam' (sad acetone spots)

'Traffic Jam' and 'Casino Royale' were both very difficult for me to remove. I am guessing that they are both full of pigment, because my hands looked like I had been picking berries. Even when I went to clean up my cuticles, there was color left behind. (I accidentally got a drop of acetone on my middle finger and my pinkie above.)

OPI 'Casino Royale' (melted pinkie polish)

My pinkie finger above is an example of what not to do. I didn't wait long enough for my polish to dry before applying the Julep Freedom Polymer Top Coat, and it seems to have melted my polish. Blah!

China Glaze polish retails for around $7.00, but varies a lot by location. I find that Sally Beauty usually has a good selection. 'Traffic Jam' was part of a limited edition Metro collection, I believe, so you might not see it in stores. It is available online for $3.25 at head2toebeauty.com.

'Casino Royale' is part of OPI's Skyfall collection and is still widely available. OPI polish retails for about $9.00 and is sold in many stores and salons. I find that ULTA usually has a good selection.

Anyhow, both beautiful shades and I am happy to have them both. What do you think? 

*I purchased these products with my own money and I am not affiliated with any of the brands or web sites mentioned above.*

OPI Liquid Sand 'Can't Let Go'

For January, I ordered a Glossybox, another subscription service that sends you beauty samples for a fee. My favorite product in it was the nail polish, of course. The Liquid Sand line by OPI is one of many incarnations of textured polishes that are a big trend right now. 

Bottle shot in the shade

I am not the trendiest person, so you won't see every beauty fad on my blog. I wasn't a fan of the crackle nail polishes, or the caviar bead manicures, or the flocking manicures. The swatches that I have been seeing of the Liquid Sand have appealed to me, though, so now I have my own.

Shade

This particular shade is from a Mariah Carey collaboration with OPI, so it is named after one of her songs: 'Can't Let Go'. 

In the sun

The texture of the Liquid Sand polish to me is like extremely fine sand paper. It is gritty, but not chunky at all. It dried to the touch in a short amount of time, but remained a little squishy under the surface for a little while. OPI recommends that you not use top coat, so as to get the real effect of the Liquid Sand texture.

Closeup of the bottle

'Can't Let Go' is a lovely purple, leaning more blue or more red depending on the lighting. I found it to lean more blue overall. It contains large and small glitter, which I think plays nicely off the matte, gritty texture.

Full sun

I was very happy with 'Can't Let Go'. The only thing that I don't like about it is that the tiny pockets in the texture seem to collect any dust or makeup you may come in contact with; however, it washed off when I washed my hands. 

I also purchased the blue shade in the OPI Liquid Sand/Mariah Carey collection: 'Get Your Number'. I haven't tried it yet, but it looks like it will be even more sparkly than 'Can't Let Go'.

  

Blurred to show the true sparkle

With flash

What do you think? Would you wear a textured nail polish?

*I am not affiliated with or compensated by any of the brands mentioned above.*