OPI – Mariah Carey Holiday 2013 Collection ‘the reds’

OPI’s Mariah Carey Holiday 2013 Collection, consist of not 12, but rather 18 limited edition lacquers – with 6 of them coming in the brand’s Liquid Sand formula (which I personally love!). I’ve broken it down to three separate groups, in order that they can be appreciated that much better, starting with ‘The Reds’ of part 1 shown here today.

OPI – Mariah Carey Holiday 2013 Collection

All I Want for Christmas (is OPI) – a rich red crème (the perfect Christmas red!) with blueish undertones in the base making it slightly cooler hued, in a formula with excellent flow & coverage. Highly flattering against all skin tones, the application was completely self-levelling and with a high-gloss shine at the finish. Note that it could be lightly staining, so do not skip base coat. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

OPI – All I want for Christmas (is OPI)

OPI – All I Want for Christmas (is OPI)

Visions of Love – a cooler-toned deep burgundy/dark chocolate crème hue with dark berry undertones, in a formula that was simply spectacular – super easy flow and perfect opacity. Self levelling and über-glossy at the finish, this shade is nothing short of luxurious vampiness. Seriously. May be lightly staining, so do not skip base coat. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

OPI – Visions of Love

In my Santa Suit – a cool-toned red hue with magenta undertones in the base and pearlized shimmer throughout, giving the center of the nail that “glowing” effect. Another excellent and easy application – self-levelling & with no visible brush strokes, leaving a shiny finish (not glossy) behind. Such a festive shade – I love how it totally resembles moiré satin ribbon! Non-staining upon removal. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat (top coat necessary here to really bring out the depth)

OPI – In my Santa Suit

Sleigh Ride for Two – a unique mix of deep raisin/plum base hue with an inner ultra-fine pearlized shimmer, that comes off as simultaneously filtered (as though seen through fogged glass) and glowing (like the shimmer is trapped just beneath the surface layer). Self-levelling and brush stroke-free, there’s a velvety look to this shade and while it’s not as glossy as the crèmes, there’s a nice shine just the same. Top coat totally brings out all its depths, and another plus is that it’s non-staining. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

OPI – Sleigh Ride for Two

Cute Little Vixen – a cool leaning magenta base hue with purple undertones in the base, filled with pink & silver finely ground glitter and pearlized shimmer throughout that gives this shade a gleaming look. Self-levelling and with a brush stroke-free application, once again top coat is necessary to bring out all its depths. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

OPI – Cute Little Vixen

Underneath the Mistletoe – a deep ruby base with some brownish tints, filled with pink & silver glass-flecked glitter particles in a jelly-like formula. Gorgeously glowing & kind of squishy-looking (in a good way), the flecks look like they’re floating at the surface level — this also reminds me of raspberry jam! Self-levelling in application, this was the least glossy of the 6 – definitely needs top coat to really bring it out. Could be lightly staining, so do not skip your base. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

OPI – Underneath the Mistletoe

OPI certainly knows how to do “red”, and of the six shown here, the stand-outs for me were the 2 crèmes (although Visions of Love is my hands-down favourite), Sleigh Ride for Two (because I’m a total sucker for anything “dusty-looking”), and Underneath the Mistletoe (it’s squishy…need I say more? It’s also the pedi shade I wore when I met Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, post found here), and even though I wasn’t too partial to In my Santa Suit or Cute Little Vixen, I can’t deny how pretty the finish looks – just not for me.