Wednesday 23 January 2019

OPI Nutcracker Nail Polish Collection Review and Swatches

Just a few months ago I streamlined my nail polish collection from over 200 bottles down to just 20 and that drawer in my storage had started to look a bit empty, then this incredible package from OPI Nails arrived and it couldn't have been more timely. To celebrate the launch of the Disney The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, OPI has collaborated with Disney for an OPI Nutcracker Nail Polish Collection to bring shades of royalty to your nails.
OPI Nutcracker Nail Polish Collection Review and Swatches
OPI Nutcracker Nail Polish Collection Review and Swatches
Watching Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet is a holiday tradition for many, the posters are up across London and on poster sites across the tube, so this collaboration has been done quite timely. I am an absolute Disnerd and am looking forward to seeing the film as soon as I am released from work for the year and the synopsis sounds just amazing: All Clara wants is a key - a one-of-a-kind key that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift from her late mother. A golden thread, presented to her at godfather Drosselmeyer's annual holiday party, leads her to the coveted key-which promptly disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world. It's there that Clara encounters a soldier named Phillip, a gang of mice and the regents who preside over three Realms: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers, and Land of Sweets. Clara and Phillip must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrant Mother Ginger, to retrieve Clara's key and hopefully return harmony to the unstable world.

The OPI Nutcracker Nail Polish Collection consists of twelve limited edition nail colours as well as three beautiful looking glitter shades that I have my eye on. The polishes are available in the original OPI Nail Lacquer formula and are £13.50 each for 15ml, as well as their Infinite Shine 2 formula which is £14.50 and within the range, you can find the following shades:

OPI Black to Reality – This is my favourite shade within the box and it is one I would happily wear all year round. A beautiful deep red, almost plum shade which looks magnificent with one coat, but even more fabulous with two.

OPI Berry Fairy Fun – This is a metallic purple shimmer which hosts a pinky purple sparkle to it.  It is one of those shades which needs a good 2-3 coats to really get the full effect of the sparkle, but I've found it is one which seems to dry much quicker than some of the other shades within the collection.

OPI Toying With Trouble – If you don't have a pink polish within your stash, then this is the one! Admittedly, I am not a pink polish kind of girl, but this one I absolutely adore.  Best described as being more of a fuchsia pink than a hot Barbie pink, it applies like a dream and looks amazing with just one coat. 
OPI Nutcracker Nail Polish Collection Review and Swatches
OPI Nutcracker Nail Polish Collection Review and Swatches
OPI Envy The Adventure – Green isn't usually a shade I would opt for but it really is one of the nicest greens I have come across and it makes a perfect shade for Spring if like me you are not too big a fan of pastel shades.

OPI Candied Kingdom – If you like your bright red polishes then this is the one! It is a beautiful neutral toned red and surprisingly you need just one coat to get that perfect opaque coverage and it doesn't dry streaky which is another tick in the box.

OPI March In Uniform – If a navy shade is more your thing, then this polish wil be calling your name as it really is a stunning deep navy. I had expected this one to be quite streaky, owing to previous experiences with another brand who has a navy shade, but surprisingly it isn't and even with one coat it looks absolutely stunning.

OPI Dreams Need Clara-Fication –  Again, another beautiful shade for spring as it is a really pretty pastel blue shade.  To me, it is a little on the thin side when it comes to the formula which means you need to apply at least two coats, but it is worth it because it is so pretty.
OPI Nutcracker Nail Polish Collection Review and Swatches
OPI Nutcracker Nail Polish Collection Review and Swatches
OPI Lavendare to Find Courage – This is a really pretty pastel, white based lilac shade which I have grown to really like and have worn twice since the package arrived. A definite Spring/Summer shade if you prefer a lighter polish but it does need at least two coats. 

OPI Dancing Keeps Me On My Toes – This is a shade which can be worn on its own or over another polish and I absolutely love it. On its own, you need 2/3 coats to get that full glistening white snow white shade which is almost metallic. Over another polish, just the one shade.

OPI Dazzling Dew DropThis is a yellow gold shade which has a glint of silver sparkle within it. Two coats are needed for full opacity and I didn't expect to like this shade at all, but it is really pretty and perfect for an accent nail!


OPI Ginger’s Revenge – The first shade to catch my attention as I removed them all from the box.  Best described as a deep, dark berry red, it is just absolutely stunning and the perfect shade for this time of the year and you only need one coat!

OPI Nutcracker Nail Polish Collection Review and Swatches
OPI Nutcracker Nail Polish Collection Review and Swatches
I have absolutely loved getting to know this collection and having the opportunity to try out some of the shades over the festive season, never have I wanted to change my nail polish colour as often as I have done with these colours.  I love that there are some shades that you can change with the seasons and some that you can wear all year round too. 

Also included within the box is the OPI Start to Finish 3 in 1 which works amazingly well as a base coat to not only protect your nails but you can also use it as a top coat and nail strengthener. Formaldehyde-Free it is infused with Wheat Protein and Calcium, the high-performance treatment can be applied before nail polish to prevent staining of natural nails, after nail varnish for mirror-like shine and protection against chipping, or as a strengthener to promote harder, stronger nails.


Do you have a favourite shade within the OPI Nutcracker Collection?








*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.
Everything written here is done so by the blog owner and it may appear elsewhere.
All content and images © Beautyqueenuk unless otherwise stated. Blog design by Beautyqueenuk