Oh hi there, it’s been a while again. But we SHAN’T DWELL ON THAT. You’ve been waiting long enough, I’m not going to give long explanations and lay out plans to not have it happen again – I’m just going to try my best. So let’s talk about some polish.
Now, I do say this every year, every season, and I shall repeat it again now: it doesn’t truly feel like a new nail polish season until I swatch up OPI’s collection. Therefore, it’s officially summer, as we look at OPI’s ‘My Me Era’ for Summer 2024! OPI describes this collection as “here to celebrate self expression with a bold color palette”.
If that sounds appealing AND you’re a cream nail polish lover, AND you’ve been missing those rich, bold creams from OPI, this collection is truly going to be for you. That’s right, we have 12 cream finishes in this set, ranging through the color spectrum. We got a little something for everyone here. Though I do question looking at all of these, is that little something summer? It’s a nontraditional seasonal palette here, and a lot of shades lean more autumn in my opinion – but I’m also team “wear whatever shade you want whenever you want” so I wouldn’t stop you. Just something I note.
These are, as always, available from Beyond Polish (you can use my affiliate link or my affiliate code “GingerlyPolished” for 10% off individual items. I will get a small commission from each sale so no pressure to use it!) They’re also available from Polish Pick.
Now let’s get on into the swatches!
We’re starting right out with the namesake of the collection. This is ‘My Me Era’ and it’s a bright coral shade. This one is a touch of a shapeshifter, with swatches on others and on the OPI website looking more like a bright coral pink. But on my cool pink undertones, I’m instead getting more of that orange popping through – as always I can only show you how a polish looks on my specific skin tone.
But as mentioned above, I am so happy to report that the beautiful OPI cream formula that we had been missing in the last few collections has returned to us (imagine if it didn’t in a cream focused collection, I might’ve lost all hope). This was an easy and smooth 2 coats to opaque – it built up so well and importantly it felt like that thicker formula. It evened out the ridges in my nails and was so smooth and nice to control on the nails, so as you can tell already a great start.
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Next up in the red lineup, we have ‘You’ve Been RED’. This and the next red are very similar, with this one being more bright tomato red. It’s much brighter overall than the 2nd red shade, differentiating them. (And obviously giving you a reason to get both).
Every nail brand has their color and OPI’s is red – every cream red I’ve had from them has had a fantastic formula, and this is no exception, they just have it down. It’s super pigmented so it’s easily opaque and smooths out my ridges in just 2 coats. Now because it is that pigmented red it can be a touch messy upon removal or it can get into the cuticles, so just go nice and easy with this one. Be careful and you’ll be rewarded with this stunning nail look.
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Now for the 2nd red, we have ‘Stop at Nothin’. This one is much more of a burnt orange brick-toned red. It’s still bright and bold on the nails, but it has that “rustiness” to make it distinct from the shade above. This is the first shade of the set that was feeling more autumn to me, especially with that almost muted color.
It has another easy and smooth 2 coat formula here, just like ‘You’ve Been RED’ above, like I’ve said, OPI knows their reds.
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Now we continue along right into the orange. This is ‘Feelin’ Fire’ and it’s a stunning yellow toned medium orange. It’s so bright and it feels like a little tangerine on the nails
This one is a touch uneven on that 1st coat, but the 2nd comes in and makes it fully opaque and smooth.
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Now we get into the 2 yellows. This first one is ‘Lookin’ Cute-icle’ (I always love a cheesy name). It’s more muted and dusty than the next one – it almost has a mustard tone to it, so it’s another that would be perfect for fall.
This was opaque in just 2 coats, which is always so impressive with a yellow. You do see me adding a 3rd coat in my swatch video – as mentioned I have very ridged nails that can just be more textured, so I often add an additional coat to smooth any that are still peeking out. If you have smooth nails, you’ll be set with just 2 coats.
Lookin’ Cute-icle – Live Swatch
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Now ‘(Bee)FFR’ is much brighter than ‘Lookin’ Cute-icle’. It’s a lighter buttercup yellow shade, and this pair of yellows is much more distinct than our pair of reds above. This shade feels so summery and it’s a perfect sunshine yellow.
This does have a more uneven first coat – which I do always expect with yellows, as they can be more finicky. But this surprised me and it was pretty well opaque with just 2 coats. Just like the shade above I did add a 3rd for my ridged nails, but for those with smoother nails you’ll be set with 2 coats.
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Continuing on we’re now at ‘Pricele$$’ (yes, please use its formal name with the 2 dollar signs). Most of these shades come in pairs, so we do have 2 greens to swatch up. This one is much lighter, and it’s a warmer yellow-toned green shade. Like a lil lime rind perched on your cocktail drink.
This had another lovely and easy 2 coat formula, and painted on so smoothly with no issues!
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Now we get to ‘Midnight Snacc’, and there’s no getting this green mixed up with the previous one. This one is a super deep forest green cream shade and it can look almost black in some lighting. Again, maybe not the “traditional” pick for a summer color, but I’m never mad at a bold color – especially when my nails are shorter.
This one had a touch of jelly to its formula that I wasn’t expecting, so it had a squishy look for the 1st coat. A 2nd coat does come in and smooth it all out and it deepens up the color to match the bottle. It was another smooth formula, and I have no complaints.
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As I was just saying all the colors come in pairs, these last 4 shades all stand on their own. Starting with ‘Dream Come Blue’ we have a bright medium toned blue shade. This one is so bright on the nails, but still feels softer than say a cobalt blue. It can be more approachable if you want to venture into brighter colors for the summer.
This one did have a pretty streaky 1st coat, which I was surprised by after all of the other smooth formulas. But a 2nd coat comes in and helps smooth it out and really build up that color. I did end up adding a 3rd to further brighten up the color and to smooth out my ridges so 2-3 coats for this one, depending on your own application and preferences.
One thing I did notice is this shade really smelled quite strongly – much more like chemicals than the normal nail polish smell. I’ve noticed that before with bright blues, so it must be something in the specific pigments. Luckily it doesn’t linger on the nails, but I just wanted to make a note of it.
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‘I Can Buy Myself Violets’ might win the prize for my favorite name from this set. This shade is a warm, almost pink toned bright purple cream shade. It’s bold and it’s perfect for laying by the pool
Once again this has an easy 2 coat formula, and I had no complaints!
I Can Buy Myself Violets – Live Swatch
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For these last shades, we have some neutrals to balance out all of those colors. First up we have ‘Purrride’, even that name just feels sultry. This is a warm toned chocolate brown cream shade – again maybe not the most typical summer shade, but to me brown nails (and also any other color) can be worn all year.
This one starts out with an uneven 1st coat, but the 2nd coat comes in and deepens up the color and fully smooths it all out. Overall it looks so rich and squishy on the nails, it’s just gorgeous.
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Last but certainly not least, we have ‘As Real As It Gets’. This is an off white cream, with just the tiniest drop of putty beige to it. That drop of color just makes it softer and less stark than a full white polish, and just more wearable. It’s a true palate cleanser perfect for any occasion.
And this finishes out the collection with another solid formula! It impressed me for a white and it was opaque with just 2 thicker coats. I do have those said ridged nails, so I did add a 3rd to smooth out any patches, but overall it painted on easily and I can’t complain!
As Real As It Gets – Live Swatch
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And that’s the set! Though there’s some nontraditional summer colors in there, I was just most excited for the return of those gorgeous OPI cream formulas! I’ll take any OPI color anytime if they’re as smooth and even as these were. Can you tell I’m a true cream lover? So yes, I’m so glad to say I can recommend any of these colors!
Are you interested in any of these shades?
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Orly Cloudscape Summer 2024 • Essie Summer 2024 • Sally Hansen x GLAAD Pride 2024 collection • Orly Breathable Melting Point Spring/Summer 2024 • ILNP Cabana Summer 2024
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