Ulta3 Spring/Summer 2010
I know others have swatched this collection already, but I thought I'd do it too for the fun of it.
Although, I'm sure my nails hate me and are going to make me pay.
6 swatches in one day – apart from taking forever – is so not good for your nails.
Anyway, enough rambling, more pictures!
***
First up, Party Shoes.
This is a true bubblegum pink.
My camera washed it out, but this is as bright as you imagine it will be from the bottle. Probably brighter.
I expected this to be a more dense creme, like Watermelon, but I actually found it quite watery.
This was 3 coats, and I still wasn't crazy about the coverage. I was a bit disappointed in Party Shoes, sadly.
***
Then there's the very cute named Frog Prince.
If you saw me raving about Scandal Love-Holic a few posts back, you might think Frog Prince looks very similar.
It's really not. This is lighter and brighter, and a little bit yellower than Love-Holic. It doesn't have the same depth or lush-ness.
About the only occasion I could imagine wearing this would be to some kind of St Patrick's Day celebration. And then take it straight off.
More a novelty nail polish, which is disappointing.
***
Purple Pumps.
There's really only one word for Purple Pumps.
Magnificent.
This is a star of all the Ulta3 polishes, not just this collection.
It's a pink purple, more than a blue purple, so it's very bright. I'd almost call it a magenta.
I think it's a show stopper.
***
Carrot Top.
I really do like the names in this collection.
Carrot Top is a lovely creme (well, they're all cremes) that applies beautifully and is a very vibrant, mid-depth orange.
Apparently it's very similar to Ulta3's Fire, which I don't have so I can't compare, but it may be a tad lighter.
Some say Fire is a teensy bit more red.
I love oranges, so I know I'll be wearing this one this summer.
***
Cocoa Bean.
Cocoa Bean, and the following colour Earl Grey, were far and away the most popular colours in this collection.
I could not find them for love nor money.
I won't embarrass myself by saying how many pharmacies I went to looking for them. Let's just say I was obsessed. For weeks.
And then two absolutely lovely women from Vogue Forums read about my woes, and offered to send me bottles they found. Thank you so, so much Jaclyn and Grace. You are just wonderfully kind!
Unfortunately, I wasn't all that crazy about Cocoa Bean.
I love the idea of neutrals, but try as I might, I just can't get excited about them on me. I think if I worked in a corporate environment and wore more 'dressy' clothes, I'd really get into them, but they just don't suit my style at the moment.
I also think this is a doppelganger for the old Ulta3 Neutral that they discontinued, but without the gold shimmer through it.
I think it does need that gold shimmer, at least for my tastes.
But I just know this would look amazing on a lot of people.
***
And last of all, Earl Grey.
Oh dear, the skin around my nails was really suffering by this last swatch. So stretched and tight! Poor hands.
Now this is a neutral I think I could actually pull off. It suits my skin tone much better than Cocoa Bean.
It's not just another old light grey. There's a hint of something (bergamot? haha) that warms it up a bit.
***
So overall, Purple Pumps and Earl Grey were my favourites.
If you have any from this collection, I'd love to hear which were yours.
Or if, having seen these, are there any you want to get now?
xx Kiki
Would love to get my mitts on Purple Pumps!
Earl Grey is fantastic isn’t it? It’s my favourite.
Still waiting on a vlog about how you do your nails missy!
Thanks for these amazing swatches! I actually found Ulta3s for the first time today, after hearing about them for so long! The pharmacy I went to had soooo many, I stood there for ages choosing!
Definitely sense an obsession beginning!
xx
Hello from another Ulta3 collector. Having seen your lovely swatches here i have decided to definitely look for Purple Pumps and maybe Party Shoes & Earl Grey too. Unfortunately i really hate the orange, brown & green, lol.
I just discovered your blog and I’ve really enjoyed it. I live in Geelong and I too love op-shopping and I’ve recently discovered Ulta 3. I’ve got over 40 bottles in my collection so far, and I’m a member at the pharmacy I get them from so they cost me only $1.60 each!
I’ve posted a picture of my collection on the milk glass plate I keep them at this link:
http://antheam.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/things-that-make-me-smile/
Thanks for helping me choose colours!
Hurray you finally got your hands on earl grey/cocoa bean! My bottle of cocoa bean is still untried… I semi-regret buying it so don’t know whether I should just save it to give to someone else haha.
As someone who *always* has chipped polish if I ever wear it, I usually go without. But you’ve kind of inspired me to to my nails more regularly, and properly, and not let it chip. The Purple Pumps is amazing.
I’ve just picked up a bright pinky/orange in another brand, I might have to go put it on right now.
Is the Ultra3 brand at any old pharmacy? Might have to go check it out tomorrow!
Love these swatches and a great review too! I personally love Frog Prince but I agree that it has limited wear. I wore mine around Christmas time and got heapppps of comments/compliments about it, but I’m not sure I could happily pull it off the rest of the time, especially as I work in a semi-corporate environment! For me it’s probably going to be a fun polish for toes rather than tips.
That’s where Earl Grey and Cocoa Bean are brilliant additions to my collection – they’re safe at the same time as being a little unusual, so in my line of work at least, they’re workplace friendly. I wasn’t sure either colour suited my skin tone at first, but I’ve since worn them a few times and they’ve definitely grown on me.
I haven’t bought any of the others, simply because I already own OPI Mod-ern Girl which looks pretty close to Carrot Top, and pinks and purples don’t really suit my style…even though they look amazing! I wish I could do my nails as neatly as you!
Firstly, love the blog & swatches
It’s a great resource!
Secondly – did you top coat your purple pumps? Because mine is horrible! Its a very matte colour that applies streaky & dries in about 2 seconds, making it virtually impossible to get an even finish.
Yours looks so perfect, I think I must have a different formula! Something to look out for though – check before buying!!
Emma – Hope you find purple pumps. You will need a top coat (I use Ulta3 non chip) to get that shine because it’s a (not nice) matte.
I know, I know… my vlog. Need to nab my sister’s video camera!
aelie – I can’t believe you showed such restraint with just two bottles!
No, actually, part of the fun of discovering Ulta3 is going back and rummaging through the bins regularly. Enjoy!
Laine – Hi Laine
The brown and the green were my least favourites too, but the orange is actually very wearable. But I’m a big fan of orange.
Anthea – Hello, and welcome! So great to meet a fellow milk glass lover! How beautiful is it?? And opshopping is my obsession. Love your plate – I’ve never seen that style in a large size like that. Thanks for visiting – I will be reading your blog too
Fred – Oh, don’t give it away until you’ve tried it! You never know, it may look great on you. I always say you can’t judge a nailpolish by the bottle. Or other people’s swatches, ultimately, because everyone’s skin tone is different.
Mikaela – Hi! So nice to see you. I love your blog. And so happy to have inspired more nailpolish love <3 Don’t forget that purple pumps needs a top coat (ulta3 non chip is fantastic) You can get Ulta3 at Terry White, Pulse and Bloom pharmacies. But also worth checking out random chemists and BP servos, where they’re sold as NYC brand. Good luck!
MsUnreliable – Oh yes, Christmas would be another good occasion for Frog Prince! And I totally agree that colours you’re uncertain about can grow on you. Happens to me often. OPI Mod-ern Girl is gorgeous. I think I want that now! It seems duskier than Carrot Top.
Re my nails, that comes from TONNES of practice, plus clean-up (all important. That is definitely not free-hand). Gah! I need to do that vlog
Wilhomeena – Thanks, and so glad you found it useful! Yes, I always apply a top coat to all my swatches, except the ones that are super shiny on their own (I really need to include that in my posts). I forgot that purple pumps and frog prince were very matte. I find that top coats also have a way of evening out streakiness. I don’t think it’s your formula – mine was like that too. Thanks for the reminder – I will update the post.
[...] you don’t know Kiki, you should definitely take a look — she has the most amazing manicure skills, is a whiz in the kitchen and, praise the powers that be, likes decluttering (unlike Valerie, who [...]
I always love your swathes, very helpful and you are so neat!
Justine – Aw, thanks hon. It’s not that I paint neat so much, I always do a cleanup.