Category: orly

Orly ‘Après Ski’ Winter 2024 Collection – Swatches & Review

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Oh hi there, it’s me! With my 2nd post of this week!! Of the year even!! Look at me go!

If you missed my previous post – in fact my first post of 2025 – it had a nice little novel to start it (you all know how much I like to yap). As the author of said post, I do recommend reading the whole thing, but I’ll give a little quick summary here. First I go over how many life changes I’ve gone through while keeping this blog, and it’s all very sentimental. But I also talk about how this blog was the item to get pushed to the back burner this past year, and how I truly want to remedy that in 2025. We’re going to work to get to a ‘3 posts a week’ schedule, and there’s just so much nail polish and makeup content on the way (yes more makeup review!!). This blog has been kicking for this long, there’s no way I’m abandoning it before my true 10 year anniversary.

In my time of not writing here, I did build up a nice little backlog of swatches and photos and little thoughts. I’ve been posting away on Instagram still, (if you want to follow me there too, that would be nice), yet those collections didn’t receive their complimenting blog. Instagram is fun for the moment, but the blog comes in for the archive. I see you all searching up OPI’s Fall 2022 collection in our year of 2025, I know how much you all like an archive. So in the work of filling in the gaps, we’re looking at recent mainstream brand releases first.

A mainstream brand like Orly!! That’s right, today we’re looking at Orly’s winter collection, from this past winter 2024 (I know that doesn’t seem too far off, after all it is still winter, but I have plenty of other much older collections to get up here).

This is their ‘Après Ski’ collection – yes add that little accent mark in there, be fancy, pretend you’re on a posh ski vacation as you wear these shades. Orly says to “embrace the magic of winter with crisp cremes and luxe glitters that capture the essence of the season”, and that’s a great little summary for this color palette. We have their normal 6 piece release, with 4 cremes and 2 gorgeous glitter shades in a variety of neutrals accompanied by a few rich pops of color. The names are all themed after the idea of hitting the slopes and then cozying up at the fireplace after. It’s the fantasy we all need to make it through these long cold months.

As always this collection is available on Orly’s website. Now let’s dive on into the swatches!

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Orly ‘Terra Nova’ Fall 2024 – Swatches & Review

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Chicago has the AUDACITY to keep trying to sneak in 70+ degree days, and considering we’re now in the first day of November, that’s absolutely preposterous. I remember being a child growing up in Michigan, working to fit Halloween costumes over snowsuits some year. It’s FALL, I want to be CHILLY. I shall continue to complain until it’s consistently cold, and then of course I’ll complain when I’m fully sick of winter, and yes, I will always do this every single year.

Maybe, this is happening because I still have some fall collection reviews to get up. There’s some holes that need to be plugged in still, so the warmth is trying to force it’s way back in. It’s guilting me for sitting on these gorgeous fall swatches, and not giving them their time to shine on the blog. They deserve to be preserved, moving from Instagram onto the archive, able to search at any point. Yes, I’m adding more meaning and poetry to blogging about nail polish.

Alright I’ll stop waxing poetic, and start yapping about these nail polishes.

LET’S FINISH UP THESE FALL REVIEWS. And today, we’re looking at Orly’s fall release for 2024. It’s called ‘Terra Nova’ and let me tell you, they’ve given us a gorgeous color palette, featuring both more “traditional” fall shades, as well as other rich and pigmented colors. The shades all feel bold, yet cozy on the nails, and they’re all perfect for the season.

These are available at BeyondPolish.com. (As always, code: GingerlyPolished will get you 10% off individual items. It is affiliated so I’ll get a small little commission, but as always no pressure to use it!). They’re also available on the Orly website.

Now let’s get on into the swatches!

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Orly ‘Melting Point’ Breathable Spring/Summer 2024 Collection – Swatches & Review

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We’re continuing right on with swatching up some gorgeous summery shades, and these next ones truly bring the HEAT. It’s technically a collection for both spring and summer, but it feels like allllll summer on the nails. As you can see from the title, today we’re looking at a newer collection from Orly called ‘Melting Point’. It’s a set of 6 super glowy shimmery shades that are described as “mesmerizing molten shades”.

This collection is in their ‘Breathable’ line which they label as “treatment + color”. Orly says it’s a 1-step nail color, with no base or top coat needed, as well as being infused with good things such as Argan oil and vitamins for “healthier looking” nails. Now with any sort of “special” formula like this, I’ll be honest and say I can’t truly speak to its benefits. With swatching, I’m constantly changing up my nail color, so I can’t speak to any sort of longevity or nail improvement. I don’t know if I would fully skip top coat with these ones, especially if you really want that sparkle to shine and pop on the nails. Overall, they felt like normal lacquer being applied, and I’m just here for the beautiful colors. They only release 2 of these Breathable collections a year, so this is the one for Spring/Summer 2024.

These are, as always, available on the Orly website. They’re also available on the Beyond Polish website (Code: GingerlyPolished gets you 10% off individual items. It is an affiliate code so I would get a little commission, so no pressure to use it! Just trying to get you some savings and I love Beyond Polish).

Enough talking, we’re diving on into the swatches!

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Orly ‘Cloudscape’ Summer 2024 Collection – Swatches & Review

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OH hey there! You want to talk about some summer nail polish, don’t you? Let’s do that and continue on with the summer releases!

And we’re getting right into it. Today we’re looking at the ‘Cloudscape’ collection from Orly for their Summer 2024 release. We have 5 cream shades, from softer pastels to bright bold pops, and then one shimmer. This color palette does just feel very summer to me, so it’s perfect if you’re wanting to build up a little summer capsule outside of neons.

These shades are of course available on the Orly website. They’re also available on Beyond Polish’s website for a tiny discount – you can also use my code GingerlyPolished for 10% off individual items (it is affiliated so I’ll make a small commission but no pressure to use it! I just want to get you some savings).

Now let’s get on into the swatches!

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Orly ‘Aqua Aura’ Spring 2024 Collection – Swatches & Review

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Well hello there! Listen, if you’ve been reading any of my other posts that are finally popping up recently, you’ll have seen that my posting schedule was knocked a touch out of orbit after my fiancé and I adopted a dog. His name is Huey and we already love him lots, but of course, we had to adjust a routine a touch. He has been settling in and truly relaxing, so now I’m getting back into posting again, and ACTUALLY catching up on my post backlog. Okay yes, you’ve already heard me say I’m catching up far too many times, so let’s ACTUALLY continue doing that.

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Even though the weather is failing to catch up, we’re fully surrounded by spring collections over here in the nail world. In fact, we’re BEHIND on the spring posting (see the Huey mention above). Sure, to me it feels like a new season isn’t truly kicked off until I swatch the latest OPI release, but right behind that is the arrival of Orly’s newest pink box. So let’s officially kick off the spring season.

So yes, duh, we’re looking at Orly’s newest collection for Spring 2024. It’s called ‘Aqua Aura’ and it’s got a soft, almost whimsical color palette that Orly says is “inspired by gentle waters”. There are soft shimmery blues and pinks, like softly flowing water, as well as coppers and whites, to cover the warmth of the sun on the waves. We have 1 creme finish, and then 5 shimmers, all here to evoke the soothing elements of flowing water.

These are of course available from the Orly website – both individually, as well as in a little bundle option in a Color Pass box. Now it’s time for the swatches!

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Orly ‘Twas the Night’ Winter 2023 Collection – Swatches & Review

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oh HEY there! You’re probably (not) wondering where I went and why I’m only now posting a winter collection in February. If you didn’t read my last post, here’s a quick summary: I’ve been swatching more than ever on Instagram, and also there was no motivation, so the blog got shifted to the back burner. But now I’m here, I’m back, I’m posting, and determined to make this blog even more consistent and better than ever this year! Okay grand!

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Alright, spring collections are in full swing over on my Instagram – and don’t worry they’re coming here too, but we gotta catch up on some backlog, and keep it all in order and get these winter collection reviews up first. I already have the content, and these shades are still available, we’re not just throwing a post away and forgetting about them. I’ve mentioned I do want this blog to be a resource to look back on, maybe even years from now, to just peruse past releases.

So let’s talk about Orly! Orly’s release for Winter 2023 was their ‘Twas the Night’ collection. It of course features 6 colors. Orly has this cute little tagline for them: “Ready to give the holiday season a spin? This magical collection is where it will begin.” and I think it’s so accurate, because this really does have you covered with some classic holiday shades. It just feels like the holidays (or whenever you want to wear these shades, we’re not stopped by seasons). It’s cozy, it’s a little magical, it’s perfect. These are of course available on the Orly website.

Now let’s dive on into the swatches!

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Orly ‘Plot Twist’ Fall 2023 Collection – Swatches & Review

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The weather has absolutely been SWINGIN’ here in Chicago and it truly cannot make up its mind. We had some little peeks of gorgeous fall weather for a week or so, and I was thriving in those 60s and low 70s. HOWEVER. Now we once again have some rampant 85 degree weather days on the horizon, THEY JUST WON’T LET GO, and I’m going to need it to stop.

But if you’re like me, and not letting that residual hot weather stop you from wearing all of the pumpkin orange and cozying up in a chair with a good mystery paperback, this release is for you.

That’s right, as you can tell by the title, we’re looking at Orly’s newest seasonal set for Fall 2023. It’s the ‘Plot Twist’ collection, but the color palette is anything but. We have 5 creams and then 1 deep shimmer, and all of these colors are going to feel familiar. They feel cozy, they feel comfortable, like an oversized sweater or the above mentioned well-read mystery book. Maybe there’s not actual twist here in colors, but we’ll act surprised anyways.

If you’re intrigued, these polishes are available as always on the Orly website as well as on Beyond Polish (though some of the shades there are sold out there).

Now let’s get on into the swatches!

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Orly x Adam Lambert ‘High Drama’ Collection – Swatches & Review

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When Orly sent out the preview for this collection I was just sent BACK IN TIME. Back to listening to the entire “For Your Entertainment” album as a freshmen in high school, most likely leaning my head against the car window and imagining I was in a music video. You know, things we all did. So of course I was excited for this full circle moment as a 28 year old.

If you can’t tell by the album mentioned above, this newest Orly release is a collaboration with Adam Lambert. If you’re not familiar with Adam, he was the runner up of season 8 of American Idol, way back in 2009. Since then he’s been consistently releasing music, as well as touring with Queen as their fill-in lead singer (my mom and I will be seeing them in October!).

So now, as Adam is releasing his newest album, ‘High Drama’, we have the Orly collaboration to celebrate. It’s also called the ‘High Drama’ collection, and takes inspiration from the album and cover itself for the color palette.

We have 6 shades in this set – with 1 entirely new shade created by Adam himself, and then 5 previously existing shades that he loved. I mention further down when each of those 5 shades was previously released, and whether it was in the regular lacquer or the Breathable formulation. This is all to make sure you don’t get any accidental overlap if you already own those shades.

These are available from the Orly website, both in a bundle, and individually. So let’s get on into the swatches!

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Orly ‘Great Escape’ Summer 2023 Collection – Swatches & Review

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My boyfriend and I are pretty active people – traveling a lot and constantly doing things (more like he’s very active and keeps me continually leaving the apartment, which I appreciate). With that and all of our previous planning, we ended up being busy/traveling 3 weekends in a row – with a Taylor Swift concert, a bachelorette party and then a visit to Washington D.C. Now. I do love being busy and I love all of these things. BUT I was also so excited when we had a free weekend finally. And I had big plans of being cozy on the couch and finally catching up on blog posts, as that was the thing to fall by the wayside over the busy month.

Then I fell asleep and watched YouTube videos and TikToks all day. Listen, sometimes the productivity is just doing absolute nothing.

But now I’m here, I’m rested, and it’s time I finally get all these summer collection reviews posted on up. (They’re always swatched on Instagram first, so be sure to follow me there, but I know it’s easier to reference and search later on the blog). This review is just the first of lots of catch-up posts on the way so if y’all subscribe you’ll get all of those updates sent right to you. Or just keep coming on back to see what’s new.

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Now for this next summer collection! This is ‘Great Escape’ and it’s Orly’s summer release. Just like Essie’s release, we get a “non-traditional” summer color palette with this one, and I’m always here to encourage that. We’ve got some oranges and some blues, and one lovely little chartreuse. This set features 2 cream shades, and then 4 more frosty shimmer shades.

Just like any other release, they’re available on the Orly website individually or in nice little bundles. You could also receive this currently when signing up for the Orly Color Pass – which I had for years before I was so lucky to receive PR from the brand. I absolutely loved the Color Pass when I had it – it’s where you pay upfront and then receive the 4 seasonal collections throughout the year, along with other goodies in every single box. Super nice if you’re planning on buying all the sets anyways. You can also just buy each collection box individually as well. We love the options!

Alright, enough with the purchasing options, I know you want to see what the shades look like before even deciding. Onto the swatches!

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Orly Breathable ‘Sweet Retreat’ Spring/Summer 2023 Collection – Swatches & Review

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Being lucky enough to receive PR from a brand means I’m able to try products that I normally wouldn’t purchase on my own – I’m already trying so many other products, some shades are just outside my budget, so they were outside of the blog scope. And that includes this lovely little candy-coated and inspired set of shades from Orly!

This is the ‘Sweet Retreat’ collection, and it’s the Breathable release for Spring/Summer. It seems instead of 4 seasonal releases, the Breathable line doesn’t release as often, and just goes with 2 collections a year. And this newest release features 6 lovely cream shades, all in bright and warm colors! Perfect for the sweet candy theme.

As mentioned, this collection is within the Orly ‘Breathable’ line. For what the difference is between the Breathable line, and their regular lacquer line, Orly says “our Breathable formula is a 1-step nail color, no base or top coat needed! It prevents chipping and peeling for and is infused with Argan Oil, Pro Vitamin B5 and Vitamin C longer lasting manicures and stronger, healthier looking nails.” So you’ve got some more nourishing nail ingredients there, as well as the idea of a “1-step nail color”. With these “extra” ingredients, these retail for 50 cents more a bottle on the Orly website.

Now, I never wear my polishes more than a couple days with all of the swatching I do, so I can’t speak to any of the claims on longevity or nail health. Today, I’ll just be speaking to the formula and application of the shades themselves. Though I’m curious if anyone else has tried these for longer and can comment on the claims!

These are available on the Orly website – both in a nice little bundle or individually.

Let’s get right on into the swatches!

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