Pool Party, Flip Flop Fantasy, Sun Worshipper;
Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, Kiwi Cool-Ada, Towel Boy Toy
China Glaze Poolside Collection: Review, Photos, Swatches
Poolside is a summer collection that includes six shades of neon lacquer. As with most neons, application isn’t the easiest, but China Glaze has certainly improved the formula from the last round of neons they did. Similarly, the finish is mostly matte, but I used a glossy top coat to give it the glossy look (but if you prefer something more matte, then just opt to go without a top coat).
Both a benefit and a potential issue, these polishes dry faster (like matte polishes do), so keep that in mind. All of the shades had a runnier consistency than I’m used to from China Glaze, so I went with a thinner first coat to lay down a “base” in a sense, before layering on two more coats (about medium in thickness — it’s easy to over-apply).
Please note, Poolside will not be available until April 2010. (You may see it start showing up online at etailers in March, though.)
China Glaze recommends, “Like most neon polishes, the first layer will look extremely opaque and thin. You will need to build up to desired coverage and always remember to let each layer dry completely before applying the next. This will help prevent streaks and missing patches of color on the nail bed.”
- Pool Party is a brightened hot pink. This applied in three coats for an opaque, smooth look.
- Flip Flop Fantasy is a neon coral — I’d say it’s a little more coral-pink than the pictures show, but it’s about that dark. Three coats on this one was good enough to give me a solid and smooth look.
- Sun Worshipper is an orange-y yellow — aptly named — that just glows. This is my favorite shade from the six, because it’s something different and really vibrant. Three coats for smooth, opaque coverage.
- Yellow Polka Dot Bikini is neon, highlighter yellow. I had the most trouble applying this one, and I think if you take your time and build up to about four coats, you’ll get decent results. It’s ultra bright, though! This kind of cool greenish-edge of highlighter yellow is not so flattering on my skin tone, unfortunately!
- Kiwi Cool-Ada is a brightened neon green. It’s brighter than grass, that’s for sure! Like Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, application was a little fussier than the other shades. I think a slower, more precise application might be key, as well as layering two thinner coats as the first two, then building up to four.
- Towel Boy Toy is a brightened sky blue with soft blue pearl. This is the only shade that has any shimmer in it, but this was the shade that applied the easiest (in fact, it was easy!). Pictured is just two coats, but a third wouldn’t hurt. This was my second favorite, but I’d say some of that comes from how easy it was to apply.
Application Troubles?
Temptalia readers shared their suggestions on perfecting the neon manicure/pedicure…
- Samantha suggested applying a thin coat of white polish on before you apply the color itself. April agreed, while Phyrra recommended Color Club’s Milky White for the perfect base coat for these brights.
- DVC and Charlotte agreed that lots of thin coats may not be the way to go–two or three coats should do the trick, neither too thin nor so thick it’s hard to work with.
- Roslyn finds a sheer, pearly top coat helps make them pop a bit more.
What are your favorites?
See more photos & swatches!
Pool Party, Flip Flop Fantasy, Sun Worshipper;
Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, Kiwi Cool-Ada, Towel Boy Toy
China Glaze Pool Party Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Pool Party Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Pool Party Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Sun Worshipper Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Sun Worshipper Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Sun Worshipper Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Yellow Polka Dot Bikini Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Yellow Polka Dot Bikini Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Yellow Polka Dot Bikini Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Kiwi Cool-ada Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Kiwi Cool-ada Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Kiwi Cool-ada Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Towel Boy Toy Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Towel Boy Toy Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Towel Boy Toy Nail Lacquer
OMG! i need them all! Pool Party & Flip Flop are beautiful! I cant wait till they come out!
wowza, the first three are blinding my eyes… but they’re so pretty! i’ll just have to wear shades when i rock ‘em
LOVE flip flop fantasy, sun worshipper and towel boy toy! I have seen the pink, green and neon yellow before in other polishes, but the three i mentioned before are so unique and gorgeous! can’t wait to wear them on my toes.. By the way, christine, your photos of the polishes are absolutely gorgeous; awesome photography!
OMG these look amazing! I love neon polish. This makes me excited for summer.
I’m really impressed by China Glaze, here of late. Up and Away and now Poolside? Fantastic.
Highlighter yellow & green are a big no no for me, even for summer. Pool party & Towel Boy Toy look great though.
I would love to try Flip Flop Fantasy and Pool Party!
i love them all! gonna get most of them, but probably not the blue one. i have an exact dupe from h&m
*sigh* I am so tired of this snow and freezing rain. Flip Flop fantasy is definitely going to be my summer pedicure choice of color.
omg your nails look amazing!! I told myself I wouldn’t spend anymore money, but now I HAVE to get the rest of the China Glaze polishes! So far I only have Flip-Flop Fantasy, but now I want them all!!! Thanks for the review
Whoa! For some reason I’m so into the neons. I’m normally a dark polish gal!
OMG!!!!! I am so excited, I loooove summer, just for all the bright colours that go into hybernation during the winter. I looove the blue and the pink, and will possibly get the green as well
:D:D
wow! could never pull those off at work.
O_O I really have to stop coming by here! (You know I wouldn’t LOL)..Here we are again, another collection to add to my overfilled China Glaze nail polish rack…I need more fingers!
Oh my eyes, my eyes!
WOW! Sun Worshipper is AMAZING!! I love the valium blue as well even though it’s not as rare a nyance as the orange!
lovely swatches christine…thanks for growing through all the trouble of swatching each shade and removing them for the next…we really appreciate it! if u dont mind me asking…what nail polish remover do u use…as if i use a remover too often my nails get dry and brittle and break off easily..hope u could help me out…thanks for always replying..hugs
No problem, Sum!
I use Zoya Remove+!
LOVE pool party and flip flop!
Orange and blue must be mine! Why in Italy China Glaze is almost impossible to find? :_(
Vale
I definitely want Sun Worshipper. Gorgeous.
I want these polishes soooo bad already and these pictures are not exactly making it easier to resist
Everything just looks so amazingly bright and pretty <3
WOW :O
I think I have died and gone to nail polish heaven. I want them all, though I don’t wear nail polish much, especially now that I’m painting heaps.
OMG these are gorgeous! *-* I hope to find them here in Italy, btw, thanks for the swatches and review! =)
TY for the swatches! I’m most interested in Flip Flop Fantasy, although I really like Sun Worshiper too because it’s so unique. I like Pool Party a lot too, but it seems dupey to other colors I own, and while I think Kiwi Cool-ada is interesting I don’t think I’d ever wear it…
wow these are LITERALLY blinding… still blinking away the brightness… I just posted this pic on the makeup board on MUA and everyone (including myself)are in love with the coral shade!
I want them allllllllllll! I also love how bright yet shimmery the blue is!
I like a few of these colours (Flip Flop Fantasy, Sun Worshipper), but I don’t like the fact that they are neon. They seem almost… harsh? Especially that bright yellow one. Does anyone know of any similar shades (from any brand really) that are not neon?
Love all the new colors!!! this are amazing, too bad they’ll be available until April, wanted to start using them right away!!!
Good God. You know you’re getting old when a fashion trend is being recycled. *gasp* *cries*
Christine, how do you paint your nails so perfectly?? Can you do a tut puhlease!
I’ll try!
I like bright colors, but neon polish isn’t really my thing. The blue one is pretty though – I may check that one out.
The colors look so pretty!! I kind of want them all, especially Towel Boy Toy!
Hello Temptalia! I love love love this polish and can’t wait to try it this summer! Not sure Chicago is ready for it at this point.
Towel Boy is a definite ‘must have’ for me. 2nd favourite would be Pool Party
Aaaahh, my eyes, my eyes! Not SFW at ALL!
The first 3 are my favorites. I don’t think anyone could look good with Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, though…
O_O I really have to stop coming by here! (You know I wouldn’t LOL)..Here we are again, another collection to add to my overfilled China Glaze nail polish rack…I need more fingers!
I love Sun Worshipper and Towel Boy Toy! Kiwi Cool-ada is nice too
I love Sun Worshiper, Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, and Kiwi Cool-ada! Might get the Kiwi Cool-ada for my sister since she loves bright in your face make you blind greens!
I want pool party and flip flop fantasy now!
Flip flop fantasy and Sun worshipper are my faves . I hope 88 beauty has this collection early : )
Yep, I am going to have to get all of these lol!
Highlighter colors!
love love love towel boy toy
Beautiful swatches! Can’t wait for this collection to come out.
How do you get such an even coating of nail polish? I NEVER can! It always looks streaky and messy. Also, do you have any tips on painting your non-dominant hand? Haha, I’m just starting to paint my nails often and it’s very hard for me! I’d be very happy if you replied to this (:
Just let it be streaky and thin on the first coat, then do a medium coat for second and third
Also, I like to “rock” my hand from side to side to paint the edges – easier for me that way!
I’m in love!!! I must have them ALL! Especially Sun Worshipper. Christine, where can I purchase them when they are available?? Thanks!
Sally’s, etailers, in April!
sun worshipper is going to be on my nails and my toes! i wish thre was an eyeshadow this color because its ridiculously gorgeous!
when does this launch?
April!
Your pics totally made me go out and buy some yellow polish. My pinkys are hot pink though.
Christine,
do you know if any of these stain the nails like my Paper Chasing from China Glaze, which completely stained my nail a nasty yellow even with a base coat and top coat? and any tips for getting rid of that nasty yellow from Paper Chasing?
What base coat are you using? You could also try laying down a layer of white nail polish to mitigate staining, too.
deff will try the white…but I was using the China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat…it might have been just the deep green formula..idk.
does anyone know where these are available right now?? its april but i havent seen them anywhere yet.
Yes – 8ty8beauty has ‘em!
Hi Christine,
Would you mind giving me the direct link to purchase the collection on that site? I searched for it on 8ty8beauty but I couldn’t find it.
http://www.8ty8beauty.com/nail_polishes/cg-b.htm
8ty8beautysupply already have them. I have Sun Worshipper already. I plan on purchasing the rest soon. Beautiful collection of colors.
Thank you Kathie
I’ll go have a look there now.
Your welcome D. Love your site Christine. Thanks for all of the updates on collections.
Thank you, Kathie
The Towel Boy Toy is the prettiest one, the others are okay.
I bought Kiwi Cool-Ada today
I love the name! It had a kinda tricky formula, but with a little practise (I messed it up the first time so I removed and did it again) and four layers it’s fine ^^ It looks smooth and I like the bright color, and the part-matte finish. I would definatly buy it again!!
I think I have to go back to buy more of these Poolside polishes, I really need more money…
thank you so much for this review! it was really helpful in deciding which polishes to buy!
I love China Glaze. I’ve been using the brand for 2 years now. I just got Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. Ultra bright colors are a little more difficult to apply. I used a thin coatvof light grey then 2 coats of Yellow Polka Dot Bikini and it looks great!