Ulta3 Autumn/Winter 2011
Is it really Autumn already in the Southern hemisphere?
It's hard to believe. Probably because we spent all summer, well… actually waiting for it to arrive.
But yes, the days are starting to get cooler, I've spotted a few yellowing leaves on the trees, and news of a new Ulta3 nailpolish collection trickled down the grapevine (aka Vogue Forums). Which can only mean that the seasons have turned.
Being completely disinclined to spend weeks stalking the handful of Melbourne pharmacies that stock Ulta3 (like I did with the Spring/Summer collection), I just bit the bullet and ordered them online.
So, no more weather talk. On to the swatches.
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First up, Gold Rush Fever.
I've never been able to find a gold that looks good on me. Jessica Palladium looked horrible. Ulta3's Precious – which is a gold with bronze shimmer – was also a sight to cause sore eyes.
So although I expected to hate Gold Rush Fever, I was very surprised to find it very wearable. I think this is a perfectly balanced gold – not too cool, not too warm – so works perfectly with my pink skin tones.
Although, sadly this photo doesn't really support my words.
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So, on to one of the superstars of this new collection then.
Twilight Fever
The only reason I'm prepared to overlook the tragic naming of this polish is because it's stunning. Stun-ning.
Every man and his dog has made a Paradoxal dupe – Sportsgirl, Australis, Nine West, just to name a few – and I think they've all seemed pretty ho-hum in comparison to the real deal.
But even in the bottle, it's apparent Twilight Fever is a standout copy. It has more purple/red shimmer than all the others, which tend to lean more to taupe.
I can't bring myself to pay Chanel prices for nailpolish, given my 2-day boredom threshold, so I'm very pleased that Ulta3 jumped on the bandwagon with such success.
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Pacific Fever
I know aqua nailpolish was very fashionable for summer, but I am just not the aqua type. Even though I've been embracing blues and greens, I drew the line at this rather garish colour.
So I expected to hate this. Especially the pale blue shimmer through it.
While I don't hate it, I would say it's my least favourite of this collection. I keep thinking of mermaids whenever I look at it. And feel about 10 years old.
It might grow on me, but I think this will be one I give away to a niece.
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Royal Fever
Royal Fever is the anomaly of this collection.
We've got a shimmer… shimmer… shimmer… oh look, a creme… shimmer… shimmer…
Weird.
Personally, I think they should have put Royal Fever in the Spring/Summer collection in place of the god-awful Frog Prince.
But anyway, it's here and I like it.
Royal Fever reminds me a bit of OPI's Funkey Dunkey, but a bit darker. Indoors, it's actually a tad too dark for my taste. I'm thinking I might franken it down a shade with some Lily White.
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Blossom Fever
Blossom Fever didn't really rock my boat in the bottle. I tend to distrust nudes, and it doesn't look all that exciting. But I'd heard positive things about the pink/red shimmer, and it didn't disappoint.
This has the most subtle shimmer in the collection, but it really does lift it from being just another pale, boring nude to an exceptionally pretty polish. Even if you're the only one that can appreciate it.
I'm very excited to have found another nude that works for me.
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I've saved the best til last.
Midnight Fever is the sexiest nailpolish Ulta3 have created so far.
Indoors or outdoors, this is deeply beautiful colour.
It's like crushed up sapphires in a royal blue base.
It's the colour of the dress you want to be wearing when everyone else is in LBDs.
Midnight Fever is just dripping pure glamour, and makes me feel all grown up.
If you only get one nailpolish from the Fever collection, definitely make it this one.
xx Kiki
thanks for the swatches. yet to get my hands on them! I agree with you on royal fever… it’s the odd one of the collection and yes it would of been better to replace frog-prince!
I like pacific fever but find it strange it’s released now when summer is over
iowntoomuch – Thank you… I think you should order them online and save the hassle of scouring chemists for them. And I agree, why release an aqua after summer is over? It’s not a winter colour.
OMG I love Twilight Fever, Blossom Fever & Royal Fever but I love Pacific Fever the best. I have heaps of blue & aqua polishes but none of them have shimmer. I WANT IT NOW!
Yasmin – That’s so awesome you finally have an aqua with a shimmer. Hope you find it soon
Woah they look amazing! Pacific fever and blossom fever are FAB! Whereabouts did you order them online from?
Lilac – I got mine from Pulse Pharmacy online. They don’t have it listed with their other Ulta3 colours yet, but I did a search on each new name, and they came up. Postage is $6.50.
Thanks for the swatches! I was totally in love with Twilight Fever and then I saw Midnight Fever. I must own that… I must. I also quite liked Royal Fever. I prefer the darker colours really, especially for Autumn, but all the colours in that collection are fab.
Suze – You’re welcome, hon
Twilight and Midnight are my absolute favourites. I can’t tell you how stunning they both are IRL.
Midnight fever is stunning! I need to get it, stat!
By the way, you Melburnians may have missed out on summer this year, but here in Perth, we’re still having temps in the mid to high 30s! Bring on winter, I say!
Danielle – I’m so glad everyone else is loving Midnight too. So jealous you guys got a proper summer. Melbourne’s was the wettest ever recorded. It was obnoxiously humid. So glad it’s over!
Twilight Fever and Midnight Fever look pretty much identical to the old Revlon Dark Magic or Midnight or whatever collection they had a few winters ago. I LOVE them.
Can you please tell me where online you buy these and what the delivery time is like? I have been trawling the chemists for new polishes, but they haven’t updated
Emma – I never saw Revlon Dark Magic but by chance I saw Revlon Midnight in a chemist the other day and swatched it (naughty!) and you’re right, practically identical to Midnight Fever, but a tad lighter. Interchangeable really. I bought mine from the Pulse Pharmacy website and they delivered in about 5 days. I hear your pain about trawling chemists that rarely update, and I figured the extra $7-ish extra I paid was totally worth the saved hassle.
You can order Ulta 3 nail polishes from http://www.pulsepharmacy.com.au
Not sure if they have all the new colours up yet, but I did search on their website & they have Pacific Fever so they probably have them all. If not you could email them as I know their online store is attached to their Bridge St Store in Richmond & that’s where the stock comes from. So they can probably add it to your order if its in the store but not online.
http://www.pharmacydirect.com.au also has Pacific Fever in stock.
Yasmin – Thanks for those links. I didn’t realise pharmacydirect also stock Ulta3. Good to know. I was quite annoyed when I went into the Bridge Rd store last week and asked for them and they said they didn’t, and I KNOW they did because they were online. Lazy SAs probably couldn’t be bothered finding them out back … grrr.
Midnight Fever has just made my list. It looks like the blue version of Black Plum, which is crushed garnets, to my eye. And yes, I am now desperately searching for a dress in that colour for an upcoming dinner party (where I know everyone will be wearing LBDs). Absolutely stunning.
Andrea – Totally agree it’s like the blue version of Black Plum. And Waterlily is the purple version. They’re like 3 of a type. I hope you find a matching dress to wear to your dinner party
Wow, your swatches are amazing! So much better than mine, lol. Isn’t Midnight Fever stunning? By far my favourite.
aelie – Thankyou
I really didn’t expect to like such a dark colour, but it’s just magnificent.
Fantastic swatches. Royal fever looks way better on you than it did on me! In fact they all look great on you. I’ loving midnight fever too, which is odd, because I usually don’t like such dark colours, its usually gold, gold, gold for me. Speaking of which, if you want to do a swap with Jessica Palladium, just let me know.
Kitties26 – Thank you
I always put a topcoat of Ulta3′s non-chip on all my swatches which I love cos it’s so shiny. Do you only do 2 coats? I always do 3 (or 4 for Blossom Fever) coats because the depth of colour makes so much difference to my eye. I emailed you about Jessica Palladium 
You’re right, Midnight Fever is gorgeous. I’ll take a peek at the website now..
l’envers – Don’t forget you probably need to do a search for it by name
Wow, I was only trawling through an Ulta3 bin today but it was all last season’s colours in there.
I only really like Twilight Fever – might get it to see if it saves me $50 when my Paradoxal runs out!
I’ve gone away from Ulta3 these days and for cheap polishes wear Mode – the last on them is bloody amazing. And twilring the stand aroound – for me – seems so much more civilised than trawling through the bins. ha ha
Hope you are well, doll!
Scout – Hello! I remember you saying you’re a bit over Ulta3. I’ve got a couple of Modes but haven’t worn them yet. Good to hear they’re another good quality cheapie. But all the places I’ve seen them have bins that you have to trawl through! I need to email you… hope you are well too, hon
Great swatches! I wish i could be as neat as you.
I’m in love with Midnight Fever…
Justine – It’s lots of practice!
And the clean up method on my cuticles.
On that notr, how do you keep your polish line so neat Kiki, especially around the top of the nail / cuticle area? It looks like one, smooth, continuous line!
l’envers – It’s partly lots and lots of practice has given me a pretty steady hand, but I also use a brush and acetone to clean up the cuticle area. I have been meaning to do a vlog about that for aaaaages… I promise I will
Yes please. I avoid polish on my hands because I can never get this part right. My toes are too far away to see this detail
Any other tips you have would be great, thanks Kik!
your swatches are really top notch! you must have a steady hand.
i think i meed royal fever in my life.
holly – Thank you very much
I hope you find royal fever. It will be a great one for autumn/winter.
Really love Royal Fever & Midnight Fever.
Midnight reminds me of OPI Russian Navy which is what I’m wearing atm. I’m shamefully chipping it off as I type – my gardening yesterday did nothing for them! Cannot wait to get home to remove it properly and give myself a mani.
Reezy – Just looked at swatches of Russian Navy – it’s gorgeous! Does it also have a touch of red in it? Please, please tell me you weren’t deliberately chipping it off? I know it’s tempting, but sooo bad for nails
Yep, Russian Navy has specks of red. It’s my fave at the moment.
Busted! Yes chipping off at my desk with the evidence all around.
I couldn’t handle it
Ooh, I love the purple shades! Nice for Winter.
Julia – Yep, I’ll be wearing this one in winter for sure.
Hi Kiki. Thanks for the review. Glad you like the collection!
Tania – Thanks for the link on FB
It’s the strangest thing. I recently bought Midnight Fever for my toes, and it’s a navy creme, not a shimmer like in your post. And it’s my first ultra3 purchase too. Not good!