It’s that time of the year again! Spring collections are plentiful and I am always ALWAYS excited to see what China Glaze has to offer. When I saw the display for these polishes, I nearly expired because I wasn’t expecting them to be available just yet, especially because I still haven’t been able to find the Sea Goddess Collection…but that’s whole other story! As usual, this collection is a 12 piece collection made up of two sets so I will be swatching each set in a separate post. Since the formula and my application was exactly the same for every polish, I will show you the colors first and then I will share my thoughts. Let’s take a look at the China Glaze City Flourish Collection, shall we?
China Glaze At Vase Value
China Glaze In A Lily Bit
China Glaze Lotus Begin
China Glaze Peonies & Park Ave
China Glaze Petal To The Metal
China Glaze Spring In My Step
Ahhh….where to start with this collection? The colors are absolutely gorgeous and very Spring appropriate, but the formula. There are no words. These are definite application beasts. Like full on Satan urine in a bottle. Do you remember how horrible the formula of the neon collection from last year was? (You can read my review here.) Well, this is like round 2 of that collection. I had hoped that these polishes were straight cremes, but they are more like satin/mattes because the don’t dry shiny and tend to dry really quickly. Because of how quickly they dry, if you overwork them, they will get goopy and stringy. All of these polishes were streaky nightmares so I decided to take the same approach with all of them: 2 thin coats and a third thicker coat to smooth them out. Despite my best efforts, they were still uneven and gross-looking so I applied a thick coat of Seche Vite to try to smooth everything out. While they did even out, do you really want to baby a polish this much? As I recall, some people seemed to not have that many issues with last year’s polishes (uhm, yeah…), so maybe once again it’s just me who can’t get these to work. You may say that my swatches don’t necessarily speak to the problems I had with the formula, but trust me…they are pretty freaking difficult. I just wish they weren’t so damn pretty! Damn you, China Glaze!
I am still waiting for that next China Glaze collection that will blow my socks off like the On Safari Collection. Sadly, I think I will have to keep waiting. If you’re not phased by my review, you can purchase these polishes on my blog sale so check them out. Tomorrow I hope to have the other half of this collection done, and I am really hoping against hope that they are better but I won’t hold my breath. Don’t forget to let me know what you think of these polishes. Will you be picking these up? Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Too bad about the formula.. The colors are so awesome 🙁
I know! It makes it even sadder.
Geez, I hadn’t even heard of this collection. Normally I know exactly what’s coming out but this is brand new to me 🙂 The colors are really pretty but that’s a real bummer about the formula. What is going on? The Essies were pretty too but based on your review I won’t be getting any of those either. At this point I’m not really wanting to put a ton of work into a polish no matter how pretty it is.
Erin-Paint Those Piggies! recently posted..OPI Swatch Spam-4 polishes
I hadn’t heard much about this collection so I was so excited when I found it. Sadly, I just can’t deal with the bad formula either. Total sadness.
Oh my gosh, At Vase Value, In a Lily Bit, and Lotus Begin are sooo pretty. I think I’m going to need these, even though the formula is sucky. Which, btw, is all I’m hearing about CG polishes lately! Man, I wish they’d get their act together.
Jessica recently posted..OPI Tickets to Paradise & The Living Daylights jelly sandwich
It just makes me so sad that they keep putting out these weird polishes with crappy formulas. These are workable…if you’re willing to be patient.
The colors are really lovely, but it sounds like they are not worth the trouble. Too bad, I love the look. Hey – the means more money to spend on a different collection! Notice I did not say more money to save…
hahaha! I love the way you think.
A lot of these look really similar to the colors they had in the Avant Garden collection last year. I do love the first and last ones you’ve shown here, though. Shame about the formula.
Yeah, the formula is pretty disappointing and there are definitely similar colors with a better formula.
Such great colors!
Lisa N. recently posted..Nabi Angel Blue
Yes, they are beautiful.
I was grinning my way all through your swatches, and then I swear I had to choke back a tear when I read your review… they’re too damn pretty to have such application problems! I may have to get a couple of these anyway… and I can’t wait to see your swatches of the rest of the collection 😀
I also have *still* not managed to get hold of even one of the On Safari collection; I’ve been lusting over Kalahari Kiss for goodness knows how long haha!
Rebecca recently posted..Barry M: Peach Melba & Maybelline: Bronze Me Up
Don’t mind me butting in here, but you can order the On Safari collection here.
http://www.victoriasnailsupply.com/onsafari.html
Amy recently posted..China Glaze Howl You Doin’
Since she’s in the UK, they probably won’t ship to her. 🙁
Cynthia recently posted..China Glaze City Flourish Collection Spring 2014 – Peonies & Park Ave
This is the exact problem! I wish when I was in the States I’d made the most of the beautiful range of polishes out there! Though I did just find some of them on amazon for prices that I don’t think are too extortionate! 🙂
Rebecca recently posted..Barry M: Peach Melba & Maybelline: Bronze Me Up
Poo to shipping restrictions!
You can still get that at http://www.transdesign.com or http://www.head2toebeauty.com . 🙂
Well, hopefully you’ll be able to find some of them at reasonable prices.
I was excited when I saw your swatches. Now you’ve warned me about the formula, not so much…
Vic recently posted..Turn me into someone like you
I hate ruining the excitement around a collection. 🙁
These really do seem like the second coming of last year’s summer neons…they look so, so gorgeous on you, but…the formula. Sorry you found a collection so early and had to have that excitement dashed. 🙁
I like your “uhm, yeah…” comment, hahaha. I still haven’t tried the one I made myself buy at your guy’s place because I am just too scared. I will never be able to look at it without thinking of Nicole’s warning about firebombing houses, LOL!
I know that you will want to firebomb someone once you use The Highlight Of My Summer. In fact, I challenge you to use it and share your findings. I TRIPLE DOG DARE YOU.
Really too bad about the formula… on the plus side, there are probably tons of dupes for these colors with much better formulas. I can tell you right off the bat that Wet n Wild Megalast in Candy-licious is VERY close to Peonies & Park Ave., at least, based on your swatch. And it has a great formula.
Bad formula on more expensive polishes really bums me out.
Even knowing how horrid the formula is… I still want them… I got the neons from last summer to work for me… so… they can’t be too bad… right?
I am a masochist.
Shelby Lou Nails recently posted..It Starts: Valentine’s Day Mani with Love, Angeline & Vivid Lacquer
Hey, I think that if you know what you’re getting yourself into, it won’t be THAT bad. At least you’ve been warned. 🙂 If you made the summer neons work, these are a little more manageable.
These are so pretty and your camera is so good at peach/orange! I would love to know what camera and lighting you’re using for your shots. Mine refuses to do any shade of neon or peach/orange and I’m flirting with the idea of getting another camera that can shoot those colors well.
Jen recently posted..Serum No. 5: Poppy Fields
I use traditional daylight white bulbs and have a regular point and shoot sony camera. I think that playing with the white balance is the most important thing in my set up.
Thank you for the reply! I use a similar set up (two lamps), white balance and a sony dsc-wx50 point/shoot. I’ve tried both cfl daylight bulbs and led daylight bulbs. It might be time for a new camera for me, its just difficult for me to take the leap since mine is under a year old. Do you mind letting me know what model yours is?
Jen recently posted..Serum No. 5: Poppy Fields
It’s a Sony Cybershot DSC-W650. I got it at Walmart for around $100, I think. I’ve had it for over a year and have put it through the ringer and still works great.
Thank you so much! 🙂
Jen recently posted..Serum No. 5: Poppy Fields
Colors are gorgeous!! Don’t know if I’m up for the fight with a bottle of polish though.
Sadly, I feel the same way…not worth all the work.
Great colors, but the formula makes me hesitate.
Helena recently posted..Just a quick post!
If you have similar colors, I would definitely pass. They are pretty and some will say they are worth the effort.
Cynthia recently posted..Stamping Saturdays #4
It’s too bad bout the formula because 11/12 shades are fabulous on your skin tone. Almost like they were custom made for you.
Awww…thank you!
Cynthia recently posted..Stamping Saturdays #4
Wow! I would buy this set those are some awesome cremes! The beige isn’t my style but I could learn to love it too.
The colors are beautiful…the formula not so much. I really love the beige and it isn’t as horrible as the others.
Cynthia recently posted..Stamping Saturdays #4
WHY CAN’T PASTEL POLISHES JUST FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE WONDERFULLY FORMULATED?!?! Ain’t nobody got time for “Satan urine in a bottle”. They are beautiful but I’m definitely NOT going to buy them. I feel like I’ve learned my lesson with pastel polishes and will probably rarely ever buy another one, from any brand!
Bailey recently posted..How to Clean a Peanut Butter Jar
Argh. I didn’t listen last time and just HAD to buy several from the neon collection. I totally regretted it. Makes me so sad since I would seriously buy ALL of these in 10 seconds flat. You make them look so damn pretty!!
The colors are so pretty but if the formula really is that bad then I’m gonna pass on this collection. The bright(ish) side is that the colors aren’t that unique so you can probably find similar polishes from other brands with some effort. But it still feels tragic. Sigh.
Btw “Satan urine in a bottle” cracked me up. 😀
Yue recently posted..Ystävänpäiväräpellykset
Totally agree that there are easier dupes out there. It just makes me sad cause I love CG so much.
hahahaha I literally laughed out loud with your Brokeback Mountain quote there… LOL This sucks so bad that the formula sucks so bad… Because they really are gorgeous!
Amanda (mae) recently posted..NOTD – Don’t Make me Whine
I know. 🙁 total sad panda over here.
I have never been a big CG fan and looking at these that won’t change anytime soon…. This reminds me of Essie’s the art of spring collection but with a bonus babyblue and candypink. mwêh…moving on….
Crystaliciousss recently posted..Yves Saint Laurent Flower Crush palette
Well… good day after 2 months without reading my mails, blogs or anything that reminds me off my life as the nail polish hoarder I am.
If the formula is as bad as the last summer’s collection, then I guess is time to move on from China Glaze. I mean, why in heck they do this amazing colors if the formula will suck that much. I mean, I can only use the same manicure for 2 days and I know for the average nail polish addict that looks more than fine, but c’mon, we are paying for the polish almost $5, so it should last a little longer..
However, i guess i wouldn’t mind receiving petal to the metal as a bday present, that’s why I’m sharing this entry with few people who are asking me lately what I want for this special day, but after that.. no more ChG for this baby (unless I read they are doing better long-lasting-non-nightmare formulas!)