OPI Holiday 2013 Mariah Carey - The Look: My Favorite Ornament, Visions of Love, I Snow You Love Me

The OPI Holiday collections are always a fun mix of the classic (lots of red and burgundy shades) and the bling-tastic (glitter....glitter as far as the eye can see). This year is no different, and as the collection was inspired by Mariah Carey, the reds seem all that more saturated, and the shimmers all that more sparkly.

I had a chance to try three shades from the collection that are also sold as a three-pack gift set of full-size bottles called The Look: My Favorite Ornament (champagne glitter), Visions of Love (rich burgundy) and I Snow You Love Me (holographic confetti).

My Favorite Ornament - This is, BY FAR, one of my favourite glitters. It is incredibly saturated with champagne gold glitter, so much so that a single coat is almost enough. (I'm wearing two on the pictures below.) Yet it doesn't feel thick or clumpy. The glitter is just that fine and dense. Application was easy as well, I just made sure my first coat was dry. This can by worn with or without a topcoat, depending on your preference, but if you like a traditionally glossy finish you'll need to do several layers. I did just one coat here, to emphasize the sparkle.

It doesn't look too dimensional in the bottle, but applied to the nails it has an almost holographic depth. Under light, it's like looking at millions of teeny tiny diamonds. It glows.

Utterly gorgeous.

(Wear time was surprisingly good too, three days without a chip, which for me is equal to probably a week on anyone else.)

Visions of Love: This is a blackened burgundy. At one coat it looks like merlot, with two it's vampy and rich. At three, like I have in these pictures, it's near black. This is not an innovative shade, but a well-done classic, with a smooth, medium texture, a glossy finish and generally good application. The slightest tendency to pool a bit at the cuticles, but not in a way that stands out for a shade like this.

It also makes for a great base for...

I Snow You Love Me: Round holographic confetti in a fairly thick clear base. I love the way these catch the light and transform a classic shade into something funky. Unlike a lot of chunky glitters, this lies flat and smooth to the nail.

The biggest challenge for a shade like this getting an even distribution of the confetti on the nail. I did have to go fishing, and rested the confetti I caught on the inner lip of the bottle. Once I had a few collected that way, I could pick them up with the brush. It's a bit of work, but the effect is fun, especially if you're only going to do an accent nail. It can be a discreet and office-friendly way of adding some holiday cheer to your manicure.

Availability: Currently at Trade Secrets and salons in Canada, as well as at www.nailpolishcanada.com. The suggested retail price for the The Look is 24.95$ CAD, and prices for individual bottles of the Holiday collection are about 8.95$ CAD.

Pros: Gorgeous, glowing glitter on My Favorite Ornament, and easy to apply. Good wear. Well-done classic for Visions of Love. Beautiful, well-behaved holographic confetti. Good variety of shades in the pack, classic to vivacious.

Cons: Getting the confetti applied evenly takes some work, especially if you are looking for a particular placement. Thicker base can make edges look a bit gloopy if you're not careful.

(Items provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated. All opinions are my own.)