ORLY Plastix: Swatches and Review

When I read the press release for ORLY Plastix, I knew they had to be mine...plastic nails? In vintage colors? Please sir, can I have some more? When I saw the pretty matte bottles sitting in my local Ulta, I picked up all four at once. I hadn't seen them in person yet and I'm a sucker for textures and gimmicks.

image via temptalia.com

Orly says:

ORLY, the company that continually pioneers the Nail Lacquer arena with the most cutting edge colors, technology and textures, introduces the Plastix Collection. Complementing the Fall 2010 runway looks that featured bright neon colors amid shiny black plastic, latex, and rubber reinventions of vintage must-haves, Plastix evokes the vintage classic trend with four new lacquers and a unique new formula that coats the nails with a smooth glossy matte “plastic” finish. The exclusive finish and texture is a first in the nail category, delivering a monochromatic, shiny and rubbery look that takes experimentation to an entirely new level, with the focus being on both the distinctive nail surface, as well as the latest in color trends. The unique look can not be achieved with color alone as the finish is a must for recreating the true “plastic” statement.

My review on these is mixed, but I'll start with my favorite:

Viridian Vinyl, described as a "glossy blue-green" was my favorite of the four colors though the formula was a bit problematic. It's a lovely peacock color, similar to the American Apparel color of that name.

You can see the finish best in these pics--it's almost like a satin matte. As this one was the most watery, and I got a bad brush, I don't know if it really looks how Orly intended. I also found that these took a long time to dry. Maybe it's just because I'm used to a quick dry topcoat, but the "latex" nature of these didn't lend itself to a quick swatching session.

Next up, Retro Red, a "traditional red"--I really liked this color. It reminded me of the perfect red lipstick...smeared all over my nails, of course. This one was shinier than Viridian Vinyl, but the consistency was perfect.

Purple Pleather, a "shiny purple" had a great consistency as well. It's a perfect purple, much like China Glaze Grape Pop, but with a satin finish.

Last is my problem child, Old School Orange. Labeled "classic orange" by the folks at Orly, it was my favorite color but the most difficult to work with. It was sheer and thick, not a good combination. It literally made me think I was dripping latex onto my nails. That said, it was the most "plasticy" of the bunch and it is an awesomely perfect shade of orange. Think orange soda:

All of these were two coats, except for the Old School Orange, which was three. They tend to show every imperfection so use a ridge filler or apply thick coats. Allow for ample drying time as well--they take a while. The polish itself feels a bit like latex paint if any of you have worked with that.

I really liked the bright, retro vibe, but wasn't impressed by the "plastic" finish. Like I said it was a satiny matte, not much unlike the Orly mattes I already have. Do you think you'll pick up this collection or is it a pass?