WHEW. Can you tell from time in between new posts that I’ve been experiencing some writer’s block over here? Well, I HAVE. Though maybe it’s hilarious to you to put “writers block” in the same arena as “blogging about nail polish”. But, maybe joking about it will help me finally break through that wall of pressure I always put onto myself for these posts. After all, no one will ever talk about if I’m not witty enough in these opening paragraphs, about how I craft the perfect little quips for each polish and description. You’re just here to know about the formula of some nail polish and I’m here to show you, and well I can always do at least that.
But in general, that’s just my personality, I love to put some unrealistic expectations on myself, and then avoid posting in general and losing any sort of true timeliness I could’ve had for a collection review. It’s fun!! Thank you for listening to my brief therapy session, I just had to get it out, and now I’m done. Let’s finally talk about nail polish, shall we?
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For summer 2024, along with a 12 piece regular lacquer release, OPI also graciously bestowed upon us 9 more new shades in their Infinite Shine formula. The regular lacquers were all in a cream finish, so it was only fitting that the complementary Infinite Shine release featured all shimmer.
Now, what’s different about the Infinite Shine line, you ask? On their website OPI describes it as “Our shiniest shine ever in a long-lasting nail polish formula that delivers up to 11 days of gel-like wear.” So yes, it’s supposed to be nice and shinier and longer lasting than regular polish.
And “gel-like”. No, it is not gel. There are no lamps here, it dries on its own, it’s not attached to your nail. That’s always just a little marketing term they love to use. Maybe they are shinier, but it’s easy enough to apply a top coat. And I can’t ever speak to claims of wear as I’m never wearing polishes for long because of, you know, the swatching. So all I can say about it from my perspective is that it’s OPI’s slightly more expensive line with the fancy shiny caps. If the colors and formulas speak to you, buy them on a nice little discount from the two sites I mention below. I’m just here for the shimmer.
Now, speaking of that many times aforementioned shimmer – we have 9 polishes here, in a nice little range of shades, almost like a tropical rainbow. Each one has the same golden shimmer running through it. It gives all the shades a warm glow, its brings them all together into a cohesive set, and it feels like the sun’s just shining onto your fingers. It’s fun all around.
You can find these shades available on polishpick.com as well as on Beyond Polish – if you do shop through Beyond Polish you can use my code ‘GingerlyPolished’ for 10% off individual items (it is affiliated so I would earn a small commission so no pressure to use it!)
So let’s get on into these swatches (finally).
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Up first we have ‘Feelin’ Myself’. (I’m going to refrain from putting in lines like “you’ll truly be feeling yourself in this shade” for every single polish alright). This one is a bright, almost coral toned pink base filled with so much of that golden shimmer.
And we start our set out with a lovely formula! This was an easy 2 coats to opaque, and it paints on so smoothly and evenly. It’s so gorgeous, and it already had me so excited for the rest of the shades.
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Next up we have ‘Self Looove’ (yes, please include all 3 of those o’s, it’s very important to me). This one has that same golden shimmer I mentioned (too many times already), but this time in a rich cherry red base.
We have another easy 2 coat formula with this shade. In fact, it was even more opaque and smooth than the pink above, and painted on so well. I mean, who doesn’t love a bright warm red for summer?
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Here we have a bright citrus orange base filled with golden shimmer, called ‘You’re the Zest’. I can never be mad at an orange and gold combination, in fact, I would like them all thank you.
Repeating myself here, we have another easy 2 coat formula with this one. No notes!
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Now, we get to ‘Funshine’, and listen I would’ve been mad if we made it through a whole set of golden shimmery shades without some mention to sunshine. So thank god, we have a bright sunshine yellow shimmer shade. It does feel almost more cool-toned, with maybe the tiniest hint of green to it. That shimmer obviously disappears a little into that similar colored base, but we still have all the sparkle and glow.
Since this one has a lighter colored base, it was the only one that I felt I needed 3 coats to build up. You might be set with just 2 thicker coats here. But overall I liked that 3rd coat to come in and layer up that color even more. It could just be my ridged nails, but it seemed to further smooth out any last patches.
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‘Limelight’ is another shade where I’m sure you’ll be able to guess the color from the name. Yes! It’s a bright yellowy toned lime green shimmer with that same golden shimmer. Once again, that golden shimmer gets a little lost without more of a color contrast, but we still get that sparkle.
This base is deeper than the yellow above, so we’re back to it being opaque in 2 coats. I did choose to add a 3rd coat onto my own nails to further build up the color – but as always it’ll depend on your own preferences and application.
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We’re about to get on into the blues, but before that, we have a good little turquoise to transition us over. This is ‘Sheen Stealer’ and it gives us that shade right in between green and blue. It’s a green toned blue? A blue toned green? Hard to fully nail down but either way I love these types of colors, and it only ever makes them even better when they’re paired with a golden shimmer. I feel like a gorgeous mermaid lounging by a lagoon with this on my nails.
This was one that was fully opaque in just 2 coats. I didn’t feel the need to add a 3rd, even on my ridged nails. It was smooth and lovely overall, and just look that color.
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Now into those blues. First is ‘On Cloud Fine’, and this is the lighter of the two. It’s very much a sky blue, a cooler toned blue with that same golden shimmer, maybe one might call it aqua (I’m just wanting to make it sound even more summery really).
This has the same formula as the others, being pretty well opaque in just 2 coats. Once again I did add a 3rd coat. It’s a brighter base color, and so those can sometimes need another layer on my ridged nails to get the full effect. But it’s gorgeous overall, and I would do even more coats for it (okay probably not but you get what I mean).
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The 2nd blue is ‘I Deserve the Whirl’ (and I love that silly little shade name). This one is much deeper than the previous shade, but that golden shimmer, of course, helps pair them together, like a beautiful little couple covering your blue wants.
Just like the others, this was opaque in just 2 coats. It has a nice pigmented base and it’s smooth to paint on overall.
I Deserve the Whirl – Live Swatch
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Then we end with the purple of the collection. This is ‘My Own Bestie’ (and we should all be our own besties, I said I wouldn’t do the quips for all of them, okay) and it’s a warmer toned, almost mauve-y purple base with the same golden shimmer, duh, they wouldn’t get rid of the golden shimmer for just one shade.
And this shade rounds out the collection with another lovely formula. There are some patches after the 1st coat, but a 2nd smooths it all out and builds up the color. Overall it’s so pretty and it’s fitting for a final shade – it can fit for both summer and into fall.
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And that’s the set! I do love when a collection has one element that runs all throughout every polish. It’s a theme, and it just automatically makes it look so planned and cohesive – and I mean these colors work together so well anyways.
The formulas are lovely – there were just a few that I used 3 coats for, but otherwise most are opaque in just 2 coats. They painted on smoothly and evenly, and I had no complaints! I mean, just look at that shimmer, who wouldn’t want some golden shimmer for summer?
Are you interested in any of these shades?
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Upcoming Posts
OPI x Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary collection • Holo Taco Vacation collection • Orly All You Need is Red trio • Sally Hansen Insta-dri Holo-glow collection • Ella Mila Jellies
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