Sage Subtle Shimmers

When the subtly shimmery sage green Sew Psyched came out with Essie's Fall 2010 collection, I was psyched to discover it was pretty much a dupe for Rescue Beauty Lounge 360 Diddy Mow. (Reading back over that entry, I realize that I never did get a full size of Little Brown Dress, but I did get one of Sew Psyched—so much for my powers of prediction, even when it comes to my own behavior.) Months after Sew Psyched's introduction, I came across Sonia Kashuk Fatigued and found that was pretty close as well. Now it looks like there are two more to add to the cohort from recent line relaunches: L'Oreal Safari Chic and Revlon ColorStay Spanish Moss.



When I saw these two new sages in the store, I was pretty sure they'd be close to the three I already had at home. I suppose a sensible person would have decided that meant the new ones could stay in the store, but when it comes to nail polish, we've established I'm not that sensible. I wanted to get the new ones to make sure I wasn't missing something. In my grandiose way of justifying things, I decided getting Safari Chic and Spanish Moss was a public service. If I did the comparison, then someone who didn't have access to RBL or Essie or Sonia Kashuk but wanted the color could know whether the L'Oreal or Revlon were good substitutes. Yeah, that's it, a public service. Maybe next time I'll decide I need to prepare for a possbile global nail varnish shortage (not that I've heard one's coming, of course).

When it came time to swatch the new ones, I put each on one nail and Sew Psyched on the other two nails. All the polishes were two coaters, and pretty much interchangeable otherwise as far as I'm concerned.



Left to right above, that's Safari Chic, Sew Psyched, Spanish Moss, and Sew Psyched again.



Top to bottom above, it's Spanish Moss, Sew Psyched, and Safari Chic. There are subtle differences in the level of shimmer and the darkness of the color among these, but any of them nicely fill the subdued shimmery sage slot. I haven't decided which I'll keep when I do my destash. Right now, the Essie is the front runner of these three for me, because of the name, since I do sew (quilts, not clothes, but still).