I rarely get to splurge on beauty products for myself these days, so I always look forward to treating myself to a beauty Advent calendar each Christmas. This year, for the second year running, I chose the OPI Celebration Collection Advent calendar, a gorgeous little calendar bursting with mini nail polishes.
I'd intended to try something different this Christmas, but I knew I wanted another nail polish calendar, and wasn't impressed by the nail shades in the Essie, Ciate, or Barry M calendars at all. Too many boring nudes I'd never wear. OPI has the best selection of colours for my taste out of the limited selection of nail polish Advent calendars available this year, so here I am with an OPI Advent calendar beside me, ready to review for you guys for the second year in a row.
I'm so excited to tell you about it, and give you a full look at the contents.
So, the OPI Celebration Collection Advent Calendar is this year's offering from high-end nail polish favourite OPI. As usual, it's brimming with mini OPI nail treats in a range of bold and sophisticated colours to discover as you count down to Christmas, including twenty-two mini nail polishes, and three mini nail treatments. Inside, you'll discover festive reds and pretty pinks, bold blues and icy whites, and more in between, with ten brand new colours from this year's Celebration Collection Christmas range, and lots of old favourites, too.
Here's a full list of the mini OPI polishes and treatments you'll find in the calendar:
♥ Abstract After Dark- a shimmery midnight purple.
♥ All is Berry & Bright- a rich berry creme.
♥ Alpine Snow- fresh, crisp white, perfect for French tips.
♥ Big Apple Red- bright, shiny red!
♥ Big Bow Energy- a charming creme pink.
♥ Gelato on Your Mind- icy-cool pastel blue.
♥ I'm Really An Actress- a shimmery burgundy red.
♥ I'm Not Really A Waitress- a vivacious chianti red.
♥ LED Marquee- a vibrant holographic blue.
♥ Lincoln Park After Dark- midnight meets purple.
♥ Maraschino Cheer-y- bold creme red.
♥ My Color Wheel is Spinning- a holographic violet.
♥ Mylar Dreams- holographic fuchsia.
♥ OPI ♥ to Party- a rich burgundy creme.
♥ Paint the Tinseltown Red- a bold holographic red.
♥ Ready, Fete, Go- vibrant holographic teal.
♥ Ring in the Blue Year- vibrant cobalt blue creme.
♥ Snow Day in LA- a frosty pearl white.
♥ Strawberry Margarita- bright pink.
♥ Strawberry Waves Forever- strawberry glitter.
♥ Tickle My France-y- naughty nude.
♥ Turn Bright After Sunset- a dark holographic cosmic hue.
♥ Nail Envy Bubble Bath- a tinted pale pink nail strengthener.
♥ Rapid Dry Top Coat- a quick dry top coat with high shine protection.
♥ Start to Finish- a 3-in-1 base coat, top coat, and strengthener.
There are so many beautiful nail colours included in this calendar that I can't wait to try, from the vibrant holographic teal, Ready, Fete, Go! to the holographic violet, My Color Wheel is Spinning, the bold cobalt blue creme, Ring in the Blue Year, and of course, all the reds, because I will never not love a red nail polish. The calendar doesn't quite cover a whole spectrum of colours, with OPI once again choosing to fill their Advent calendar with reds, pinks, and dark purple polishes, but they have toned it down a little this Christmas, and added in a few blues and greens, which gives a little more variety. Don't get me wrong; I love red, pink, and purple nails, but there's such a thing as overkill, and I'm pleased to see more colour options in this year's calendar.
My only real bug-bear with the selection- and it's only a little one- is that there are several nail shades that were also in last year's Advent calendar, such as Alpine Snow, Lincoln Park After Dark, and Strawberry Margherita, which is a little disappointing as a returning customer. I would personally have preferred to see a whole new selection so I could dip my toe (nails) in lots of new shades. However, the colours are gorgeous, and I can understand why they were included, as some of OPI's best-sellers of all time. I'm sure plenty of OPI fans will be pleased to find these classics in the calendar.
If you're expecting the calendar to be filled with full-size OPI nail polishes; you're going to be disappointed. All twenty-five bottles are miniature-sized, and they really are mini at just 3.5ml each. However, you still get several manicures out of each bottle, and it's a great way to try lots of OPI nail shades before committing to full-sized bottles, which we all know can be pretty pricy. They're also an ideal size to pop in your bag or suitcase to use on the go, and less likely to dry up or separate before you reach the bottom, which usually happens before I finish a full-sized bottle of nail polish.
As for the packaging, the Celebration Collection calendar is made from thin, but reasonably-sturdy recyclable card, and this year features a simple red and white design which reminds me of creased metallic foil. It opens like a book to reveal twenty-five unique nail-polish shaped cardboard windows, each numbered in order to make finding the right one a piece of cake each day- no matter how many drinks you put away at the Christmas party the night before! The design is festive and tasteful, understated but attractive, and the box won't take up too much space as it's not too big and can be folded shut.
Overall, my first impressions of the OPI Celebration Collection Advent calendar are almost entirely positive. I love most of the contents, the variety of nail colours has improved, it's not been bulked out with cheap tat like some Advent calendars, the packaging is attractive, and the price is reasonable. While I haven't tried any of the nail polishes yet, as I'm saving that pleasure for Advent, I've always been pleased with the quality of OPI nail polishes in the past, and have no reason to think this set will be any different. If I didn't trust the quality, I wouldn't be splurging on one of their calendars for the third time in five years!
I can't wait to start opening the windows this December, and will do my best to give you a peek at what polish or treatment I get each day of Advent over on Instagram. Make sure you stop by if you'd like to follow along.
The OPI Celebration Collection Advent Calendar retails for £70, but can be found much cheaper from various retailers, so make sure you shop around for the best price. OPI currently appears to have the lowest price online in the UK at just £45.44 in their Cyber Monday sales.
Have you treated yourself to a beauty Advent calendar this year, or have you gone with something a little traditional?
