I’ve mentioned in other posts now, but I love a Halloween release. It’s when mainstream brands choose to take chances, and experiment with different colors and finishes! I always wish we just had even more brands join the Halloween train! Luckily, China Glaze is always here for us with a new and interesting release for the holiday.
This year’s release is the ‘Xtra Stellar’ collection, and features 6 alien-themed polishes. We have some duochromes, some shimmers, a holographic and a matte finish, and overall it makes for a fun group of shades.
And as always, y’all already know I grabbed these from polishpick.com. Still my favorite, and still such a great price.
Now, let’s let these colors speak for themselves and dive into the individual swatches!
Up first we have one of the duochromes. This is ‘Holee Shift!’, and it’s a fitting name for the polish! This is a deep steel gray shimmery base that flashes to a bright pinky-purple. And it was an easy 2 coat formula.
As you can see there are definitely some brushstrokes after it dries. Because of this, I suggest painting as straight as possible – or if you’re looking for an absolutely smooth finish, you can sponge on the final coat as well!
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Up next, what might just be my favorite shade of the bunch. This is ‘She’s So Extra Terrestrial’, and it’s a bright aqua blue scattered holographic shade. It’s dense enough that it does almost look like a linear finish. Two easy coats for this one, and such a smooth formula to paint on!
She’s So Extra Terrestrial Live Swatch
Shades like this absolutely COME ALIVE in the sunlight as well!
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Next up, we have ‘Purpletonium’. This is a deeper purple shimmer that dries to a satin matte finish. It had a more sheer 1st coat, and will definitely need multiple coats. It’s pretty well opaque in 2, though I did end up adding a 3rd to cover up any last patches. The base color did deepen up a touch with that 3rd coat as well.
As you can see it does dry with more of a satin matte finish. Because of this, the polish does dry more quickly, so the 3 coats aren’t bad to work with.
And of course, I showed it topped with a glossy top coat. It makes it a little more deeper, as well as really bringing out the shimmer and glitter to it.
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Up next we come to our 2nd duochrome. This is ‘Little Green Invaders’, and it’s some more shifty goodness. This goes from a bright green shimmer, over to an olive green all the way to an almost bronze shade. A little more of a sheer 1st coat, but it’s fully opaque in just 2 coats.
Little Green Invaders Live Swatch
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‘Now or Nova’ is a deep, shimmery red shade. Perfect for being a saucy vampire, or just for any sort of vampy mood. And an easy 2 coat formula here, no complaints!
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And last up, we have ‘Keep it Realm’. This is a deep purple base with shimmer that flashes from purple to a bright red. So lovely and just like the others, an easy 2 coat formula!
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And that’s the collection! As mentioned above, I love a Halloween collection, as it’s when mainstream brands go a little out of the ordinary and experiment! Give me more interesting polishes!!
All of these had easy 2 coats formulas. ‘Purpletonium’ was the only one that might need a 3rd, but it dried quickly so those 3 coats were easy and went by quickly. No complaints and some lovely shades here!
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Upcoming Posts
Sinful Colors Made on Mars Halloween 2021 • Holo Taco Multichromes • Color Club Halo Ice Collection • OPI The Celebration Collection Holiday 2021 • China Glaze Jewels Royale Holiday 2021
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