I have a confession to make. Ever since I started using Vinted to buy polishes, I don’t usually visit my local stores to check them anymore. Perhaps it’s also due to the fact drugstore polishes are much less interesting when you start collecting indies, but regardless: it’s just not my place to be anymore. Exceptions are made, however, when there’s a sale going on. Because one can never stock up on basic creams, right? Today I’m reviewing three polishes I bought at Kruidvat, and one even looks like a dupe!
First up: 149 Vanilla Chai. This colour is somewhere between a soft peach and a warm nude. Funnily enough, it looks a bit more nude-y and light in the bottle, but it seems to dry somewhat darker. I like it, though! Where I was initially afraid that it would make a bit of a hotdog-manicure, the way it dried made me love it. It reminds me of gelato.
Coverage is rather good! These are two coats over a base, without any topcoat applied. I’m used to colours like these having a more streaky and sheer finish, but this is really alright! I see some sheer patches around the cuticle, but that’s about it.
Next is a shimmery polish with a shift: 164 Elsa’s Favourite. This sheer, light blue base is filled with duochrome shimmers in the same hue, as well as a cool pink. The name definitely suits this polish; I think it would make a great icy topcoat on a pastel blue base!
These are again two coats over a basecoat. It’s definitely semi-sheer, and you can still see the tips shining through. I’d prefer to wear colours like these over another polish, to make sure it’s opaque enough to my liking.
Last but not least: 167 Love It Or Leaf It. And oh boy, do I love this one! It’s a tough colour to describe, but I would call this a sage green, of slate green. It’s a dusky green that looks absolutely STUNNING, and would make such a gorgeous fall colour. Colours like these make me fall in love so easily, haha!
And again, this is only two coats over a base. It’s opaque, shiny, and well-formulated. I really can’t complain about this polish!
And yes, it’s a dupe for another one of my favourites: Essie 510 Feschionista! In the two pictures above, Catrice is on my index and ring fingers, and Essie on my middle finger and pinkie. They look so similar! Feschionista is somewhat darker, and perhaps a tad more blue, but I would definitely call Catrice’s polish a good alternative for this discontinued Essie. What do you think?