Orly Dark Shadows Collection, Mysterious Curse

Hi guys! Obviously I am still alive since I'm posting. :) Feeling better, yet still a work in progress.

I meant to post this on Monday, but that whole brush with death thing not only messed up my ability to take some daylight pics, but I banged up my nails a bit. I didn't have the energy to re-swatch this one, so I did the best I could with what I had.  Please forgive my cuticles - I'm in desperate need of some cuticle remover! Plus I wasn't all that concerned with moisturizing on Monday, although I needed it after playing in bleach without gloves (bad! I know!)

Out of the 4 polishes in Orly's new Dark Shadow's Collection, this is the only polish that jumped out at me, and even then it's probably because I have been meaning to pick up Royal Velvet for awhile now, and Mysterious Curse is really nothing more than Royal Velvet with a neato new name.

Despite this being what I consider the perfect shape-shifting blurple polish, I had some serious issues with this girl. Not only was the application slightly nightmarish (bubbles anyone?), but the formula was horrendous (runny to start, then so thick that I had to dump in a ton of thinner and it was STILL gloppy as all get out!)!! I'm usually a big fan of Orly, but this really left a bad taste in my mouth. I hear Royal Velvet has a much better formula, so if you really dig this color, pick up RV. It will save you a serious headache.

These swatches are 2 coats of Mysterious Curse over Seche Recondition, 1 coat of Seche Vite to even out the surface after bubbling, then one more coat of Mysterious Curse and a final top coat of NYC In A New York Minute Top Coat (Not a bad top coat, although I still prefer a deep dry top coat). I used several different types of lighting since I had no access to daylight. Not the best swatches out there, but you get the idea, right?

It's really too bad the formula on this polish was so bad. I adore this color, and even got several compliments on it while in the ER! I'll have to pickup a bottle of Royal Velvet to compare formulas. I'd love to wear this color again, but not if I have to deal with the bubbly glue-like formula!

Next up: The world's worst staining nail polish, Zoya Surf, Maybelline Color Show, and some Nail Art for a new product and great cause!

Hope you're all having an awesome Wednesday and are all breathing easy.

Happy Polishing!
-Kimber