PURCHASED

HAPPY FALL Y’ALL. I always love a new season of nail polishes, and I have to say Fall is always my favorite for any sort of beauty. It’s always vampy, and bold and rich and I just love the shades, the oranges, the greens. And August-Septmber always kicks off the fall season in the nail world – even if the outside weather is not quite matching. (It’s supposed to get back up into the 80s here in Chicago and I NOT happy with it).

Weather aside, of course, I always love to dive into the newest seasonal releases with OPI’s collection.

This year for Fall 2023, OPI’s release is the ‘Big Zodiac Energy’ collection. It’s the traditional 12 bottle release, and as you might guess, they’re inspired by the 12 zodiac signs. Astrology is very popular, and whether or not you fully believe in it, we’re just here for fun and sparkly nail polishes. In the past I have loved any sort of collection that uses it for inspiration – they’ve usually always included rich jewel colors and sparkles and shimmer, and I’m glad to say this OPI set was no different! If you’re not a glitter lover, this set won’t be for you. We don’t have any creams in this set, it’s all shimmery goodness.

I purchased these from polishpick.com as I always do. They are also available from beyondpolish.com (and you can use my code GINGERLYPOLISHED for 10% off any individual items there. It is affiliated, so I do get a small commission, but as always no pressure to use it!).

Enough talk, let’s jump right into the swatches already!

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We start right out with the first sign of the season (I googled Zodiac signs order and this is what it gave me, okay), with the chaotic Aries. Listen, my very favorite horoscope I’ve ever read was that Aries “often have a lightbulb-shaped head”. Sorry to all you Aries out there.

ANYWAYS. Well, if anyone says that to you, you can say ‘Kiss My Aries’, like this nail polish shade. (I’m sorry). This shade is a bright ruby red shimmer, with the most delicate of silver shimmer running through it. It feels like it’ll also be a perfect Holiday red (in fact, the first half of this set gave me vibes of a strong Christmas color palette).

This had a lovely formula, with a smooth 1st coat. There was a touch of nail line peeking out still after that 1st coat, but a 2nd easily covers and made it fully opaque. I didn’t notice any brushstrokes with this shade, even being more metallic.

Kiss My Aries – Live Swatch

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Next up we have ‘Taurus-t Me’. This one was such an interesting shade – in fact OPI really does experiment with some unique (for them) finishes and colors in this set, and I’m never mad at that. This is a more sheer, lighter, cool-toned dense green shimmer with just a few golden sparkles all throughout. Really reminding me of Tiana as well, for all you Disney fans.

Since it is a dense shimmer in a clear base, it’ll be a more sheer look overall. This was 3 coats built up, and you can see in the right angles, you’ll still get a tiny bit of nail line. And you know, I wasn’t mad at that. That’s right, I’m a changed woman and I now like a sheer finish every so often. But of course, it’ll depend on your own preferences, and maybe this shade just isn’t for you. If you’re looking for a more built up, opaque look, you could also sponge this shade onto the nails.

Taurus-t Me – Live Swatch

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‘Gemini and I’ (do you see what I mean with the Christmas feel, especially with these first 3 colors) is a super light, pearly shimmery shade, with just the lightest touch of champagne to it. I think this is a shade that can pull differently depending on your skin’s undertones, and on my cool, pink coloring, it’s looking more warm and golden.

I believe this is meant to be a more soft and delicate finish and look, so it’s a touch more of a sheer formula. In my photos at 3 coats, it’s showing as fully opaque, but outside of bright direct lighting, there could be the tiniest bit of nail line peeking through. But it’s a great little neutral and palette cleanser, if you’re not feeling those vampy deeper tones for fall.

Gemini and I – Live Swatch

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Well of course my little crow brain was immediately pulled to this next shade as I was pulling it out of the box, I mean, just LOOK at that sparkle. This is ‘I Cancer-tainly Shine’ and it CERTAINLY does. This is a clear base just JAM PACKED with silver holographic glitter all throughout, so you can truly have a disco ball on your nails.

Again, being a clear-based shade, it requires some building up. But I was thoroughly impressed for how opaque it looks on the nails with 3 coats. Maybe there’s the tiniest bit of nail showing, but the sparkle and glitter will fully distract from that and doesn’t let it show through. The glitters are small enough in that clear base that it smooths out any texture you could have with that 3rd coat.

I Cancer-tainly Shine – Live Swatch

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You know, I bet you can guess what zodiac sign this one is for even without seeing the name. This is ‘The Leo-nly One’ and it’s a bright yellow gold metallic on the nails, inspired by the mighty lion. It’s so bright and it almost glows on the nails.

Now this shade did surprise me in that it’s a much thinner and more sheer metallic than I would expect – but I think that helps with any brushstrokes (though they’re not completely unseen) and really helps it glow on the nails. It builds up pretty well in 2 coats, though I did choose to add a 3rd to further brighten up the shade and cover any last ridges I had peeking out. As always, it’ll depend on your own application and preferences. With my bright lights and how zoomed in my photos are, you do see some brushstrokes, but most won’t be noticeable in day-to-day wear.

The Leo-nly One – Live Swatch

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Now this next shade was another one I was so intrigued by, based on its appearance in the bottle. This is ‘#Virgoals’ and it’s a warm-toned almost coppery-orange brown base filled with the brightest of green shimmer. It’s so shifty, and it was such an interesting color combination.

A lot of the shades in this set are more sheer, dense shimmers, and ‘#Virgoals’ definitely fit into that category. I think this one was more sheer to really let that shimmer show through, but of course depending on your own application it could still feel a tiny bit thin after 3 coats. I wasn’t seeing any nail line in my own swatch, but I could see it being something to keep in mind if you have longer nails.

#Virgoals – Live Swatch

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Next up we have ‘Feelin’ Libra-ted’ (I know it’s a play on “liberated” but for the life of me I cannot pronounce that smoothly). This is a warmer toned pinky-purple jelly base filled with a soft purple shimmer as well larger iridescent glitter. Very ethereal (is that how Libras are?).

This is the one true jelly formula of the set – again probably to really those flakes peek through, and I would say it could be the most noticeably uneven on the nails. This was 3 coats built up, and there’s still a touch of nail line, and in this lighting at different angles, it does look like there’s different depths of color. So this is an interesting one and, you know the drill, it’s going to depend on your own preferences and application!

Feelin’ Libra-ted – Live Swatch

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Now after that more sheer shade, we then get into the most pigmented shades of the bunch. First up, we have ‘Scorpio Seduction’. There are 2 similar blues in the collection, and this one has a much larger shimmer to it. It’s a deep sapphire blue base, with that bright aqua blue shimmer, and it’s truly a sparkling jewel on the nails.

Now don’t get discouraged with the 1st coat of this one. It has a touch of jelly base, so it’s a little more sheer and uneven on the 1st coat. BUT, that 2nd coat really just brings it ALIVE. It easily covered and made it fully opaque and just stunning, I loved it. Absolutely one of my favorite shades of the set!

Scorpio Seduction – Live Swatch

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Now we finally get to my own Zodiac sign, Sagittarius. Yes I’m a December baby. This is ‘Big Sagittarius Energy’ (I don’t know if I fully embody this, I’m sorry, I like to stay at home blogging) and it’s a rich, burgundy red metallic shimmer. It’s so gorgeous and vampy, and maybe it could make me feel seductive.

This had a super rich and pigmented 1st coat, with only a tiny bit of unevenness. The 2nd coat then evens it all out and makes it opaque and stunning. There’s just a few brushstrokes showing, but overall they’re not super noticeable.

Big Sagittarius Energy – Live Swatch

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‘Feelin’ Capricorn-y’ is next up, and it’s such an interesting finish and formula (for OPI, I know indie brands are always producing wildly unique formulas). This is a jade green jelly base filled with silver shimmer and a bright pink flash to it. I just love the dustiness of the green base, and that contrasting pink shimmer is gorgeous!

Since it is a more jelly base, it does take some building up the shimmer. This was 3 thin coats that I layered up, and it’s opaque on my nails. Maybe you can see a tiny bit of nail line on the pinky nail, but overall it’s smooth and I love the look!

Feelin’ Capricorn-y – Live Swatch

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Next up we have the other rich blue shade. This is ‘Aquarius Renegade’, and it’s a much smoother and delicate shimmer than ‘Scorpio Seduction’ above. It’s a cooler toned and more dusty blue base with a subtle silver shimmer all throughout.

This one was STUNNING, with the most pigmented formula of the collection, with it being practically opaque in just 1 coat. I always use 2 coats for every swatch, but that 2nd one was barely needed.

Aquarius Renegade – Live Swatch

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And last but certainly not least, we have ‘Pisces the Future’, and this does feel fitting for a fish zodiac sign. This is a super pearly bright aqua blue shimmer. It also has the most subtle blue glitter throughout, and just feels like a polish a mermaid would wear.

It’s a more sheer formula, but I was able to build it up with 3 thin coats. Each coat was smooth, so it could be worn with fewer coats for a more sheer and ethereal finish.

Pisces the Future – Live Swatch

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And that’s the set! Maybe it might not feel quite traditionally fall in color palette, but I do always appreciate when mainstream brands step out and do something new, with unique formulas and finishes! I can’t speak to whether these “match” the zodiac signs they’re inspired by, but overall we have a nice little range. Some are more sheer shimmery formulas, but there weren’t any that I found unworkable and they were all smooth to paint on! (Much different from the previous summer formula, thankfully).

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