China Glaze Anchors Away Part 1

This is part 1 of 2 of the Spring 2011 China Glaze collection called Anchors Away.  Click here for part 2!  It's a total of 12 new shades and they are all amazing in their own way!  Today I'm going to show the Knotty Nauticals.  These are the 6 brighter shades of the collection.

This is the Knotty Nauticals set.  First off, how cute is that name?  It's kind of one of those you want to face-palm on, but it's just so punny!  LOL... anyway.

Lighthouse, 3 coats.  It's sheer, but has a glass fleck to it.  It's a golden yellow, like goldenrod to me.  It's pretty, but it's just not my thing.  I like the pale yellows better.  But if you like the darker golden yellow, this is perfect for you!

Life Preserver, 2 coats.  This is listed as a "poppy creme."  I don't buy it.  This is orange.  It's not quite as orange as a real life preserver, but it's still orange.  I heard someone say it had a coral aspect to it.  It's orange.  LOL.  Now I don't have a super critical eye for color, but I don't think I'm oblivious to subtle differences either.  This is a redder orange that a real life preserver, but it's still orange.  It's too orange for me to say it's coral.  I personally do not like this shade, but I'm not a fan of orange in general.  Aside from that, it applied great, good coverage and opacity.  It's good with 2 coats, but too sheer to be a 1 coater I think.

Starboard, 2 coats.  This is a very vivid green creme.  Applied well, good opacity, but needs the 2 coats.  It's like a "kelly green."  It's grass like to me.  Again, this is not really my thing.  I don't choose these bright greens for a full mani unless I'm doing something on top of it.  Or if it's St Patty's day.  Which, I must say, is coming up... so keep this one handy girls!

First Mate, 2 coats.  Now we're talking!  This is a bright yet darker blue creme.  I LOVE IT!  It's a perfect nautical blue.  Good coverage, nice pigmentation... wow.  This is definitely in-your-face blue.  And I know for most colors I like the subtle shades, but I don't mind a bright blue and this is great!

Ahoy! 3 coats.  This is another glass fleck color in a great hot pink shade.  It's a little sheer again, like the yellow.  To me, definitely needs 3 coats unless you're layering.  It reminds me of strawberries, but it's definitely a pink, not a red.  It's a great summer color I think.  It would make a good watermelon mani, haha.  Add some Atlantis on the tips and you'll be good to go!

Hey Sailor, 2 coats.  Bright red creme.  I have to say, I thought I wouldn't like this on, but I love it.  And really, I could have gotten away with 1 coat if I'd been more careful.  This is an amazing color, great coverage, nice and opaque.  I love it.  It's a perfect red.  I'd say it's a little on the orange side, but it's pretty.

BTW, no top coat on any of these polishes.  They are super shiny on their own!  And with them being so easy to apply, you don't really need the top coat except for staying power.  I was VERY pleased with these polishes.  I'm not a fan of all these colors, like I mentioned, but application was perfection.  Even the sheer shades went on like a dream.

Note: All items featured in this post were purchased by me.