Pollen in Love? I find this second half of the collection pretty ironic right now because I’m basically dying over allergies right now. It could be a combination of allergies and a cold because they seem to be overlapping somehow. I am grateful that I don’t have a cough because once that happens, I know I’m a goner. So yesterday I showed you the first half of the China Glaze City Flourish Collection which you can check out here. Are these just as disappointing? I know you’re on pins and needles, so let’s take a look at the swatches, and I will discuss them at the end.
China Glaze What A Pansy
China Glaze Thistle Do Nicely
China Glaze Strike A Rose
China Glaze Metro Pollen-Tin
China Glaze Grass Is Lime Greener
China Glaze Don’t Honk Your Thorn
Well, sadly these are pretty disappointing as well…3 of them, at least. Strike A Rose, What A Pansy and Don’t Honk Your Thorn are not weird creme mattes–they are more like traditional cremes and apply infinitely more easily. I only needed 2 coats for these three and I found them very nice, actually. I love the purple color of What A Pansy but strangely, my favorite one is Don’t Honk Your Thorn. You may think it’s a boring choice, but it’s actually really stunning in real life. It has a gorgeous silver shimmer that gives it a glowy quality. It looks very classy and work appropriate but not boring. My favorite combination! The other three polishes: Thistle Do Nicely, Grass Is Lime Greener and Metro Pollen-tin had the same thin, streaky and goopy formula that I hated so much in yesterday’s polishes. It’s really quite a shame because Grass Is Lime Greener is my favorite color from this whole collection, but the formula just made it a pain to use. From this 12 piece collection, Metro Pollen-Tin had the absolute worst formula. It was the streakiest thing ever! Now, let’s get into my overall thoughts: I don’t have time for streaky ass polishes. A lot of people recommend applying a coat of white polish underneath these. While I understand this and know of the technique, I am not going to baby a polish that much. These are not traditional jelly neons where they are going to really pop over a white base: these are creme brights that should not require a white base. Also, it’s not that they aren’t heavily pigmented…the formula is just impossible to work with. The polish doesn’t self-level at all so even when you think it looks good, you can clearly see the uneveness of the polish all over your nails. Even after I applied a thick coat of Seche Vite which helped a lot, you can still see how uneven the polish is. I give up! I know that there are people out there who don’t mind difficult formulas if the polishes are pretty enough, but these aren’t super original. As someone who does a lot of swatching, this collection took 3 times the normal time to swatch because I had to fiddle with my application so much…nope, not worth it for me. Let this collection be banished from my presence along with most of the 2013 Summer Neons, The Tranzitions and the Chrinkled Chromes. I have so much love for China Glaze because when my polish obsession first began, I turned to China Glaze for beautiful and affordable polishes so it really pains me to write a crappy review. However, I owe it to all of you to be honest and I hope that it is appreciated. Please, China Glaze–come back to me! Make me happy and giddy again with your superb collections. I am always willing to forgive and forget so I’ll be here just waiting for you to remind me why I fell in love with you to begin with.
This doesn’t have to be said, but I’ve also put up these polishes up on my blog sale in case you’re interested in trying them out. Thanks so much for taking the time to visit today, and I hope that you let me know what you think. If you’ve tried any of these, what are your thoughts? Do you let bloggers influence your shopping or would you rather try things out for yourself? Have a wonderful day, and I will talk to you soon!
P.S. Have you entered my current giveaway for a bottle of China Glaze BFF? No?! Go enter here! 😉
What a Pansy and Grass is Lime Greener are lovely! It sucks about the formula on GiLG, because I love greens like that. Poop! 🙁 Sorry you’re having to deal with allergies – I think I’m getting a cold but I keep chanting to myself “No you’re not, no you’re not”, hopefully that works. 😉
Jessica recently posted..OPI Tickets to Paradise & The Living Daylights jelly sandwich
What I thought were allergies is actually a sucky cold. I am feeling like poop but I made it through work today. If I feel like this tomorrow morning I probably will call in sick. You know, Grass Is Lime Greener is so pretty that I almost want to endorse it. haha
I love these colors, so this is sooo disappointing! I really appreciate your honest review. Sigh. That green and yellow are killing me! And I have nothing like those colors in my collection.
Bummer.
Feel better soon!
Wellllll….you could try them out but just be ready. Thanks! I’m trying to get enough rest so I can get better fast.
Your swatches make them look amazing. Sad to hear formula just wasn’t there.
Lisa N. recently posted..Nabi Angel Blue
Thanks, Lisa.
I think I’ll be picking up What a Pansy. I really like a couple others but I’m not sure the formula would be worth it, I get frustrated easily with streaky polishes.
Elise recently posted..Hi, new followers! Here are some dots. Winter is really rough on…
If you get frustrated easily, then get ready. hehe
Really is a pity about Grass is Lime Greener… I love that color. I know this seems obvious, but does putting some thinner in the goopy ones help at all?
Also, I’ve got another possible dupe, again from Wet n Wild’s Megalast line. On a Trip is probably pretty similar to What a Pansy. Another possible dupe is Zoya Caitlin but I’m less sure about that one. It’s probably too gray-leaning, not as much purple.
I did try some thinner but it didn’t help these much. The formula is just that terrible. Thanks for the dupe recommendations! 🙂
“Pollen in Love?” *side eyes* I do not approve of this collection name. I also find “Metro Pollen-Tin” quite painfully awkward.
I must have a knack for picking out the worst ones because Thistle Do Nicely is my favorite, haha. I guess I’ll console myself with Flip Flop Fantasy.
Well…that’s a shame. Let’s move on and hope for better ChG collections to come!
Flip Flop Fantasy is vastly superior. You know what? I’m gonna hold on to this for a long time. A VERY LONG TIME.
Thanks for the honest review, really I haven’t been moved by a CG collection in a long time. Sucks because some of my favorite polishes are CG (Sea Spray, Aquadelic, Turned Up Turquoise, etc.) but lately it seems like they’ve really lost their flare. I am only mildy interested in some of these colors. Strike a Rose maybe and Don’t Honk but again, nothing to beckon me to hunt them down. Hopefully they’ll redeem themselves, we still have Summer, and thinking way ahead, Fall & Winter.
This makes me so sad because like you, China Glaze has been a favorite brand with some of my favorite polishes, but I have been sorely disappointed in the last year. I hope they can step up their game.
Don’t Honk Your Thorn is GORGEOUS!
Liz recently posted..Zoya Rikki
Right?! 🙂
I’m so bummed to hear about the formula on these. I love the colors so I’ll probably get a few of them anyway and grit my teeth. I did get the cream summer neons from last year and they are also a pain but if I’m careful I can get them to look pretty good.
To be honest, these are a little esier to work with than the summer neons, so I think that you can definitely make these work.
These are so pretty! I might give a few a shot. The names, though. Oy!
Ali’s Dancing Phalanges recently posted..A Cure for the Winter Doldrums
lol…yeah, some of these name are “interesting.” I hope the ones you pick up work for you.
I really appreciate your review of this collection. I own a few CG polishes and plan to expand my collection. I too have no time for a sucky formula. I’ll definitely pass on this one.
Thanks, Kat. I really wish the formula has been better on these because I love the colors.
Cynthia recently posted..Stamping Saturdays #4
Okay, these all look amazing with your skintone! I kind of love all of the polishes
Thank you so much. 🙂
Flawless swatches! I’m loving GILG! ♥
Valesha from Peachy Polish recently posted..Wicked Polish: Swatches & Review
Thank you! 🙂
How does Strike a Rose compare to OPI Live. Love. Carnaval.? I know the formula isn’t as good, just color wise.
Thistle Do Nicely is so gorgeous! Do you know if it compares to the original Flip Flop Fantasy?
Your two favorites were also my favs from this collection!
Bailey recently posted..A Good Pair of Kicks
Thanks for your honest review! I’d rather read about it and know what I’m getting into rather than spend the money & be frustrated with crappy formulas. I agree – I don’t have time to baby a nail polish – I especially hate those 3 coaters. I just ordered 2 LVX polishes based on your other reviews and am excited that they are just one coaters! My fav. lol
Seriously! LVX cremes are freaking amazing. I just love them so much!!!!!!!!! It’s a pity that this collection was so difficult. Even though the colors aren’t like crazy unique or anything, if the formula had been good, I would have been super in love with them.
omg I love Thisle do Nicely and that green that green probably wouldnt’ look right with me but the pink would, so pretty love this collection just sucks about the formula
Amanda (mae) recently posted..NOTD – Don’t Make me Whine
I know, right? Get it together CG!
Thank you so much for the honest review. Your swatches are just gorgeous, and I adore these colours, especially Lime Greener, which I’ve been seriously lusting. I just can’t with streaky, fussy polishes, though. Sad to hear about that part, especially from CG, which was my first polish love too.
Elizabeth recently posted..NailNation 3000 Holo Dreams
I wanted Lime Greener to work so much because I’m kind of in love with the color but I just can’t deal with it because of how streaky and gross it is. Poo to CG. 🙁
Why CG, why keep sending out collections of gorgeous colors with crap formulas?! What a waste. I will probably only pick up Don’t Honk Your Thorn.
If they were ugly, at least I wouldn’t be so sad. I am still sad about the green one. I love the color so much.
well damn… i actually love this whole collection! what a bummer with formula!!! and yes, I do base my purchases solely on bloggers’ reviews. I didn’t buy single neon polish from last year’s summer collection because of complaints of crappy formula. Sheesh… I really really wanted to have these, but it seems that I will spend my hard earned money on something else!
Gosia recently posted..China Glaze “Teal the Tide Turns”
I would like to purchase some polishes.