As a Cali girl I honestly couldn't not buyOPI's California Dreaming 4PC Mini Set when I spotted it at Ulta; but it was kiiiind of a letdown for me. Don't get me wrong, the formulas were brilliant, and the shades beautiful; but I found that all four colors included were far too similar {with a couple feeling more apropos for fall}. Take a looksee below!
This Is Not Whine Country is a Merlot Cream. Kicking this post off with swatches of one of my least favorite colors from the collection. Don't get me wrong, This Is Not Whine Country would be perf for fall; but as a summer shade? Just not feeling it. I'm also not feeling the formula. Such. A. Pain> It's thin and sticky, making it nearly impossible to get a truly even coat. Plus, even with a trio of layers, VNL is still visible. Womp womp. This is 3 coats.
Malibu Pier Pressure is a Cotton Candy Pink Cream. Fact: Pinks like Malibu Pier Pressure are basically a summer essential - they're simply too hot and bubbly not to add to your mani mix! I was a liiiittle bit surprised at how many coats this baby needed to get full coverage; but the formula was easy to work with and the end result is so girly and fun that I can't complain. A word of warning: this one dries matte, so you need a great top coat to score that killer shine! This is 3 coats.
Santa Monica Beach Peach is a Punchy Orange Cream. Don't let the name fool you, Santa Monica Beach Peach is the farthest thing from a peach shade, and I'm kind of not okay with that. In general, I'm not huge on orange shades; but this one in particular is a fail for me, because it doesn't even feel like a summer orange. Rather, the red undertones give it a fall feel {much like This Is Not Whine Country}. Formula was fab though. This is 2 coats.
Time For A Napa is a Bubbly Hot Coral Cream. I alwaysalwaysalways gravitate towards pink-leaning corals when the temps rise, so Time For A Napaimmediately caught my eye - and not just because the name is too cute for words! This bad boy right here was made for the beach! Though the color of Time For A Napa is overall bright, it applies v thin, so you do need multiple coats to avoid VNL. The good news? It's a low-maintenance mani, and stays intact for up to five days. Huzzah!This is 3 coats.
