Christian Louboutin Beaute Spring 2015 Nail Coffret ($90.00 for 3 x 0.20 fl. oz.) is an interesting concept. For a luxury price point, the coffret was actually something that I felt fit with the brand and what you might expect from a luxury brand. The box is heavy duty cardboard, and it’s certainly more of a keepsake/display piece if you liked the design. The bottles half the size of a full-sized bottle, and from a price per ounce perspective, it’s $150/oz. compared to $125/oz. for a full-sized bottle–or three shades for less than the cost of two. The downside, though, is that two of the three shades had issues with application and overall results. It wasn’t even much of a surprise, as the issues were with the two lighter shades, and the issues are ones I’ve often seen with these types of colors–one hoped that at this price point they would have been perfected. I get a week of wear with this brand’s formula with minor tip wear, which is average for me.

Now, a word on packaging… The bottles needed to be more securely placed and/or included a styrofoam piece that fit over the top of the bottles within the interior of the box. I understand that they may have chosen not to do something like this so you would get that “wow!” factor when you opened it. Instead, they relied on the bottles being held in place tightly, and to a degree, they are, as each has a ribbon that will enable you to lift them out of their slots, but my order arrived with one bottle having slid out and smashed open (the interior of the box has its own artsy design now!). I get to say Neiman Marcus was A+ in customer service, as I called right after opening the box and seeing it, and they immediately offered to replace and reship the order (I’m not even a big NM shopper, and I do not have their credit card). The replacement order arrived, and a different bottle came loose this time, but thankfully, it didn’t knock into any of the other bottles, so nothing was broken. I consider this a brand issue, as the interior of the box had too much open space and the bottles themselves were just not secure, but the actual box arrived without any dings or scratches (which is where Neiman Marcus’ packaging efforts would have played a role).

Salonu is described as an “opaque cement white.” It’s a light, muted buttery yellow with a cream finish. The consistency was thicker, and it was prone to streaking. The first coat had noticeable streaking, and unfortunately, a second coat didn’t manage to cover and smooth everything out. It didn’t self-level, so the thicker texture made it harder to work with. It did dry down to a high-shine finish, at least. NARS Anarchy (LE, $20.00) is more beige. MAC Near Beth Experience (LE, $16.00) is yellower, darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

True Blue is described as a “periwinkle blue.” It’s a medium-dark, purple-tinted blue with a hybrd cream and jelly finish with a glossy shine. It had mostly opaque coverage after two coats, but there was a slight translucency to it like you’d expect with a jelly finish, yet it didn’t have the real plushness of a jelly finish. The consistency was thinner but was easy to apply evenly. Dior Sailor (LE, $24.00) is bluer. Cult Nails Wack Slacks (P, $12.00) is darker. MAC Breezy Blue (LE, $16.00) is similar. MAC Blue Gaze (LE, $16.00) is similar. Illamasqua Force (P, $17.00) is brighter. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Pond (P, $10.00) is brighter. China Glaze Manhunt (LE, $7.50) is darker. Deborah Lippmann I Know What Boys Like (LE, $19.00) is similar. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Hot Chick is described as a “vivid yellow.” It’s a brightened, light-medium yellow with a cream finish and a very light sheen–one of the less glossy Louboutin polishes I’ve tried. It had mostly opaque coverage, but it went on with heavy streaking. The texture was a little thin to work with. Cult Nails New Day (LE, $12.00) is lighter. Cult Nails You’re My Dandy Lion (DC, $12.00) is darker. NARS 15 Minutes (LE, $20.00) is similar. Chanel Mimosa (LE, $27.00) is brighter, darker. Butter London Jasper (P, $15.00) is slightly lighter. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

See more photos & swatches!

Christian Louboutin Beaute Spring 2015 Nail Coffret

Christian Louboutin Beaute Spring 2015 Nail Coffret

Christian Louboutin Beaute Spring 2015 Nail Coffret

Christian Louboutin Beaute Spring 2015 Nail Coffret

Christian Louboutin Beaute Salonu Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute Salonu Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute Salonu Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute Salonu Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute Salonu Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute Salonu Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute Salonu Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute True Blue Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute True Blue Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute True Blue Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute True Blue Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute True Blue Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute True Blue Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute True Blue Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute Hot Chick Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute Hot Chick Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute Hot Chick Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute Hot Chick Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute Hot Chick Nail Colour

Christian Louboutin Beaute Hot Chick Nail Colour