Pretty, Pretty Polish: Mary Jo Matsumoto Pacific Coast Highway Nail Color Collection Review

I have never met a polish I didn’t love. To show my adoration to luscious lacquers? Well, between you and me, I displaced an entire drawer of denim in order to create a residence specifically for my very large collection of polishes. There’s dark and sophisticated from OPI and Essie; bright and glittery from Forever 21 and China Glaze; and an abundance of unique shades from Illamasqua, mark, and Orly.

Regardless, I never feel as if my collection is complete. Thus, I was thrilled when I learned that Mary Jo Matsumoto, an incredible clothing designer, blog-mistress of Trust Your Style, and an individual I am happy to call my friend, announced that she was releasing a 6-Piece Polish Collection inspired by California’s Pacific Coast Highway. And even more so when I had the chance to select a duo of decadent hues to try for myself – Laguna Shimmer from the Beach View Collection, and Trestles from the Solid Waves Collection.

Above I am wearing Laguna Shimmer, which is a sparkly, glitter-based turquoise. This, I believe, is meant to be a top coat over a darker color (such as Trestles); however, I am obsessed with sparkly polishes, so I decided to make it the main event. This is three coats. From experience, I find that Turquoise can be a tough nail color to pull off; however, this color has a very radiant icy-hue to it that makes it universally flattering. NOTE: The picture does not do this polish justice. In real life, it has this inner glow that is extremely captivating and hard to tear your eyes away from.

Here I am wearing Trestles, which is a navy shimmer. Unlike Laguna Shimmer, Trestles does not have a glitter base; rather, it has a subtle shimmer mixed into the darker shade, which really comes alive in certain light. I personally find darker nail colors perfect year-round as they have this sophisticated look to them; plus, they partner really well with cocktail rings and other forms of jewelry. This color I would say is slightly comparable to OPI’s Russian Navy; however, I find that Trestles has far more sparkle and shimmer to it. This is one coat (I’m serious ONE coat).

Above I am wearing one coat of Laguna Shimmer over one coat of Trestles. This is actually one of my favorite combinations as it reminds me of a midnight sky speckled with stars.

Though I only tried two colors from the six-piece collection, I was very, very impressed with both. My typical nail regimen is to use three coats (for colors, not just glitter-based polishes), and to top that with one coat of Seche Vite to add shine, protect the color, and make the manicure completely smooth. The formula of these did not require that at all.

For Trestles, one coat was thick enough to beautifully cover the entire nail without any type of streakiness or clumping; and it had enough shine on its own to not require a top coat of Seche Vite. Laguna Shimmer, when used as a top coat, only requires one coat to add shimmer; however, if you want to make it a glittery color all its own, three coats will do the trick. As for Laguna Shimmer… you would think that, as a glitter-based polish, a top coat of Seche Vite would be required. It wasn’t. Despite the fact that it looks like glitter, Laguna Shimmer does not have the grainy texture that a lot of glitter-based polishes possess; therefore, it didn’t require a coat of Seche Vite to add smoothness.

POSITIVES:
♥Very little product is required to make a huge impact. ♥
♥High quality formula. I didn’t experience chips of any sort for the multiple days that I wore each color. ♥
♥Excellent tip-wear. No touch-ups were required. ♥
♥Long-lasting color. Despite the fact that I did not use a top coat, I felt that both colors remained just as bright and fresh as they looked the first day the polish was applied – no dulling. ♥

FASHIONISTA VERDICT:
High-quality, eye-catching, and simple to apply; this is, without a doubt, one of my new favorite brands of polish. A little birdie told me that a new collection will be released for Valentine’s Day. Who do you think will be first in line to indulge in the romantic new hues? That would be me!
♥5 / 5 Hearts♥

What nail color are you currently rocking?


Fashionably yours!

*NOTE: These products were sent to me for review; however, the opinions expressed are entirely my own.*