Formula X Alchemy II Nail Lacquer ($14.00 for 0.40 fl. oz.) is described as a “platinum-infused … champagne rose shimmer.” It’s a medium-dark, golden bronze with copper, blue, and gold flecks of micro-glitter and larger shimmer. Chanel Delight (LE, $28.00) is lighter (85% similar). MAC Tropical (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Burnt Topaz (LE, $35.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). MAC Fierce Entrance (LE, $16.00) is lighter (80% similar). China Glaze Harvest Moon (LE, $7.50) is darker, brighter, warmer (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

It is a follow-up to last year’s Alchemy, which was a very interesting shade overall. This year’s iteration is much darker and warmer, but the multi-colored shimmer/sparkle is the similar. The base color is much more pigmented, though, and it was opaque after two coats. The texture wasn’t too thick or too thin, so it applied easily and spread across the nail without pooling along the edges or streaking. I wore it for seven days with minor tip wear. The only thing I’m a little bummed about is how quickly the price increased–$1.50 in a year–which is significant.

Formula X Alchemy II Nail Lacquer

Formula X Alchemy II Nail Lacquer

Formula X Alchemy II Nail Lacquer

Formula X Alchemy II Nail Lacquer

Formula X Alchemy II Nail Lacquer

Formula X Alchemy II Nail Lacquer

Formula X Alchemy II Nail Lacquer

The Details

Formula x Kat Von D Nail Polish Collection

Formula x Kat Von D Nail Polish Collection

Formula x Kat Von D Nail Polish Collection

Formula x Kat Von D Nail Polish Collection

Formula x Kat Von D Nail Polish Collection

Formula x Kat Von D Nail Polish Collection

Formula x Kat Von D Nail Polish Collection

Formula x Kat Von D Nail Polish Collection

Formula X Infamous Nail Lacquer ($12.50 for 0.40 fl. oz.) is described as a “teal and purple metallic.” It’s a steely gray that leans slightly teal along the edges and shifts to a muted violet. It has more of a metallic shimmer running through it. MAC Submerged (LE, $16.00) is much bluer. KBShimmer Rollin’ with the Chromies (LE, $8.75) is more shimmery. Color Club Portfolio (P) is purpler. Deborah Lippmann Wicked Game (LE, $19.00) is much lighter. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

In the bottle, I thought it might be a possible dupe (or at least, similar to!) for Chanel Sweet Star, but it’s not (way, way darker). The duochrome is strong and noticeable, which is always a treat, though there are some visible brush strokes from the more metallic shimmer/finish. It dried down to a naturally high-shine finish, so it doesn’t need a top coat to shine. It was mostly opaque after two coats, but there was a hint of the nail line coming through depending on the type of lighting/angle of my nails.

Formula X Infamous Nail Lacquer

Formula X Infamous Nail Lacquer

Formula X Infamous Nail Lacquer

Formula X Infamous Nail Lacquer

Formula X Infamous Nail Lacquer

Formula X Infamous Nail Lacquer

Formula X Infamous Nail Lacquer

Formula X Alchemy Nail Lacquer ($12.50 for 0.40 fl. oz.) is described as a “platinum-infused, mixed metal shimmer.” It’s a dirty, antique gold base with silver, gold, and copper micro-glitter. It almost seemed like sparkle, because the particles seemed even finer than most micro-glitters. Tom Ford Beauty Silver Smoke (LE, $32.00) has a similar base color, but it isn’t glittery–it’s more metallic, so it’s not what I would consider a worthy dupe. See comparison swatches / view dupes. If you know of potential dupes, please share in the comments’ section!

This was a total impulse buy, but the promotional image really made me curious about it! I’ve had good luck with Formula X, so I kept my fingers crossed. It’s an interesting shade, and I think the multi-colored micro-glitter makes it different than other potential dupes (that I know of, of course!). I also felt like it was a festive, holiday-esque shade that wasn’t your typical interpretation (metallic golds, reds, etc.) of the season. I wish it was more pigmented, though, as it is only semi-opaque and not the “full coverage” described. It’s the type of formula that can be layered with up to three coats comfortably or two thicker ones. It dries down faster than the average polish to a shiny, metallic finish–not really glossy, just reflective. The wear time was consistent, and it lasted well with only very minor tip wear for seven days (no base/top coat).

Formula X Alchemy Nail Lacquer

Formula X Alchemy Nail Lacquer

Formula X Alchemy Nail Lacquer

Formula X Alchemy Nail Lacquer

Formula X Alchemy Nail Lacquer

Formula X Alchemy Nail Lacquer

Formula X Alchemy Nail Lacquer

When I think about blues for summer, I think of brighter hues from sky blue to pool blue. Here are some of my top favorites this summer… Please share yours with me in the comments!

1. Cult Nails Nakizzle’s Shizzle — a sky blue cream
2. Color Club Over the Moon — a holographic sky blue
3. Zoya Rocky — a muted, sky blue
4. Illamasqua Noble — a bold, bright blue cream
5. Formula X Photoelectric — a brightened blue with a hint of teal

Formula X Cherry Blossom Top Coat ($12.50 for 0.40 fl. oz.) is described as a “clear top coat infused with petal pink glitter particles in assorted shapes and sizes.” It’s a mixture of small and medium uneven bits of pink-tinged white glittery bits and then large flower-shaped glitters in a clear base. I don’t know of any dupes, but if you have any ideas, I’ve love to hear them!

I applied one coat of Cherry Blossom over Dior Front Row (769), except for my thumbnail, which I applied two coats of Cherry Blossom alone. The good news is that it doesn’t feel like a fishing expedition to get the larger flower-shaped glitters onto the nail, as I averaged one per nail without trying, but they do require some careful application and tend to apply best by patting the brush against the nail, rather than sweeping it across the nail like a regular polish. The smaller bits of glitter apply fine either way, and there’s good density in a single coat. It dries down pretty quickly, and the consistency was surprisingly not too thick or too thin. The flower-shaped glitters do not always lay flatly against the nail, due the curve of my natural nail and the size of the glitters, but they don’t seem to curl. Since they don’t lay flat, though, you need at least one layer of very thick top coat to help them flatten and smooth out, or else they will catch and lift up from the nail. It’s interesting, and I don’t have anything like it, but it’ll require some extra patience and doesn’t wear as long or as well as other glitter top coats.

Formula X Cherry Blossom Top Coat

Formula X Cherry Blossom Top Coat

Formula X Cherry Blossom Top Coat

Formula X Cherry Blossom Top Coat

Formula X Cherry Blossom Top Coat

Formula X Cherry Blossom Top Coat

Formula X Cherry Blossom Top Coat

Formula X Cherry Blossom Top Coat

Formula X Cherry Blossom Top Coat

Formula X Cherry Blossom Top Coat

Here are my current favorite shades of fuchsia and pink to wear this summer! I hope you’ll share your favorites with me in the comments

1. Marc Jacobs Beauty Oui! — a fuchsia-shimmered magenta
2. Illamasqua Stance — a bright, magenta cream
3. Essie The Girls Are Out — a cool-toned, fuchsia pink
4. Zoya Bobbi — a pink-shimmered, pinky-red
5. Formula X Spectrum — a pinky-red jelly-cream

Formula X A Little Sexy Nail Lacquer ($10.50 for 0.40 fl. oz.) is described as a “pearl light periwinkle.” It’s a softened, medium-dark periwinkle blue with a metallic finish. It was opaque in a single coat (which is what is shown in the swatches), but the consistency is noticeably thick. The metallic finish is very unforgiving if you don’t let it completely dry on the first coat before applying additional coats, and it tends to look best with a single coat, because it has the least amount of visible brush strokes. Illamasqua Cameo (P, $17.00) is brighter, no shimmer (cream). Chanel Sky Line (LE, $27.00) is much lighter but had a metallic finish/slight muted quality to it. China Glaze Modify (LE, $7.50) is similar without a top coat. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Formula X Inspiring Nail Lacquer ($10.50 for 0.40 fl. oz.) is described as a “pearl light turquoise.” It’s a light-medium, aqua-teal with a metallic finish. This was mostly opaque after a single coat, and it looked the best with one coat of polish as the consistency was also on the thicker end of the spectrum, which made minimizing brush strokes difficult if you had more than one coat. I also had slight bubbling on two nails. Essie Naughty Nautical (LE, $8.00) is greener, darker. MAC Salad Dressed (LE, $16.00) is darker, more muted, less shimmery. Illamasqua Venous (LE, $17.00) is darker, less shimmery. Dior St. Tropez (LE, $24.00) is slightly darker, less shimmery. Zoya Zuza (P, $9.00) is darker, more shimmery. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Formula X A Little Sexy Nail Lacquer

Formula X A Little Sexy Nail Lacquer

Formula X A Little Sexy Nail Lacquer

Formula X A Little Sexy Nail Lacquer

Formula X A Little Sexy Nail Lacquer

Formula X A Little Sexy Nail Lacquer

Formula X A Little Sexy Nail Lacquer

Formula X Inspiring Nail Lacquer

Formula X Inspiring Nail Lacquer

Formula X Inspiring Nail Lacquer

Formula X Inspiring Nail Lacquer

Formula X Inspiring Nail Lacquer

Formula X Inspiring Nail Lacquer

Formula X Inspiring Nail Lacquer