Nail Lacquers & Treatments

Lotions | Strengtheners & Preparation | Base Coats | Finishing & Topcoats | Other Products | The Colours | Lacquer Finish | The Collections

In this section I will not attempt to describe every product in OPI's range. However, that products that are listed are great for giving yoursef professional manicures from home. I have only rated the products that I have personally used. I do not intend to cover the pedicure range at this time because I have never used it and it would be fairly costly to post internationally.

Please note that some items are available for purchase in alternate sizes/quantities. I have chosen a common size in order to simplify price comparison.

Lotions| top

Avoplex Cuticle Exfoliating Lotion - 30ml
"Alpha Hydroxy Acid formula eliminates dry, rough skin and replenishes essential moisture and lipids."

This product is super gentle, in fact, I'd argue that the effect is too subtle. I think that you're meant to use this once a day to keep you cuticles thin but healthy. Fortunately, you use very little at one time so the same bottle lasts a long time.

Personally, I think it works best when used while pushing back cuticles. Rub it in to soften them, use your cuticle pusher and/or cuticle remover, and then rub on some more exfoliator. The exfoliator is fantastic at removing the residue of cuticle that seems to cling to the nail after pushing the cuticles back.

Avoplex Cuticle Replenishing Oil - 15ml
"Replenishes essential moisture and lipids to nourish dry cuticles"

"Apply daily around cuticle and underneath the nail. Helps eliminate hangnails."

The healing property of this product is fantastic. You simply cannot achieve a professional manicure at home without conditioning your cuticles. This treatment product is definitely one of our top picks!

Avoplex Lotion 120ml
"Smoothes and replenishes"

"Enjoy the moisture replenishing benefits of OPI's Advanced Avocado Lipid Complex for the entire body! Soothes and conditions dry skin while a UV inhibitor protects skin from the harmful aging effects of the sun. Excellent for use with natural or artificial nails."

This non-greasy lotion has a fantastic texture that glides over the skin and then soaks right in leaving your hands glowing and feeling refreshed. Just what you want from a hand cream.

Avojuice Skin Quenchers 200ml
“Like a fruit-smoothie for skin, Avojuice Skin Quenchers are packed with real, good-for-you fruit extracts and an entire menu of soothing, nourishing ingredients designed to give your skin a drink of moisture. Avojuice Skin Quenchers feel like no other body lotion or cream – the first "juice" quencher for skin, they’re silky and "juicy", with a texture that skin just drinks up! With awesome fragrances, luscious colors and fun, fruity packaging, Avojuice Skin Quenchers promise to be irresistible!”

This moisturiser is good enough to eat! It glides on smooth not oily and keeps your hands in peak condition. It comes in 8 great fragrances: Cran and Berry, Berry, Grapefruit, Pear, Peach, Coconut Melon, Tangerine & Key Lime.

Strengtheners and Preparation | top

Nail Envy 15ml
"Maximum Strength Formula. Provides the highest level of protein cross-linking for harder, longer, stronger natural nails. Ideal for weak, damaged nails."

There is nobody that this product wouldn't benefit. Give it a try; my nails would still be short without Nail Envy! Simply the best nail hardener on the market.

Chip Skip
"Just one coat of this exclusive patented formula applied prior to base coat or nail lacquer helps prevent chipping!"

"Just one coat of ChipSkip on clean, bare natural nails helps prevent nail lacquer from chipping. Brush onto clean nails before the basecoat. ChipSkip gently removes traces of natural oil from the nails as it evaporates, leaving behind a dry surface to help subsequent layers adhere better. Use with any nail lacquer, ChipSkip ensures exceptionally long-lasting manicures and pedicures."

Nail Envy Matte 15ml
"Same formula as Original, but with a natural-looking matte finish. Great for men, too!"

What more can I add? I adore the finish of the matte formula. It's similar to a pearl finish to a photograph; creates a beautiful sheen. However, I would not recommend using the matte formula as a top coat!

Nail Envy Sensitive & Peeling 15ml
"Formaldehyde-free Formula. Protects nails with antioxidant Vitamin E, emollient-rich Kukui Nut Oil, and soothing Aloe Vera."

"Proven Nail Envy performance with Vitamin E, Kukui Nut Oil and soothing Aloe Vera! OPI' s exclusive Tensile Strength Technology increases nail keratin cross-linking with Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein. Treats sensitive nails to soothing Aloe Vera. Anti-oxidant Vitamin E and Kukui Nut Oil protect against peeling for longer, stronger, break-resistant natural nails"

Nail Envy Soft & Thin 15ml
"Fortifies soft, thin nails with extra calcium and sea minerals."

"Proven Nail Envy performance with fortifying Calcium and sea minerals! OPI's exclusive Tensile Strength Technology increases nail keratin cross-linking with Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein. Fortifies soft, thin nails with Calcium and sea minerals for longer, stronger, break-resistant natural nails."

Nail Envy Dry & Brittle 15ml
"Moisturizing formula protects with antioxidant vitamins E & C."

This one's great if you suffer from nail edges that flake and split. However, I alternate between using the Original & Dry formulas so that I maintain maximum strength.

Natural Nail Strengthener 15ml
"Natural Nail Reinforcer. Builds in layers of protection for natural nails."

"Works as a superb base coat. Enriched with essential Keratin Amino Acids."

Swiss Guard Cleanser 120ml
"Antiseptic Hand Wash Gel Kills germs and bacteria without water. Perfect for travel."

This is a neat little product, however, for home use it probably isn't essential. The gel has a fun, tingling zing about it. Fantastic for using on kiddies, or when you give a friend a manicure.

Base Coats | top

Acrylic Base Coat- 15ml
"Stain-Resistant Formula. Prevents staining of acrylic nails and promotes a long-lasting manicure."

"Fortified with extender wear polymers to promote the long-lasting color of your polish. Extremely fast drying."

Natural Nail Base Coat 15ml
"Extended-Wear Formula. Enriched formula prevents staining of natural nails and promotes a long-lasting manicure."

"Enriched with Keratin Amino Acids, Natural Nail Base Coat aids in polish adhesion. It prevents polish from staining the natural nail."

Ridge Filler 15ml
"Nail Surface Smoother. Contains natural silk to gently smooth out uneven natural nails."
"Fortified with natural silk to gently smooth out uneven natural nails prior to application of OPI Nail Lacquer."

Start-to-Finish 15ml
"This single high-performance product fills a multitude of nail care needs. Available in original and formaldehyde-free formulas."

"A breakthrough, three-in-one nail treatment that combines a base coat, top coat and natural nail strengthener in one high performance product."

Finishing & Topcoats | top

Correct and Clean Up Pen
"The easy way to clean nail lacquer off cuticles for great-looking nails!"

This polish remover pen is refillable (with polish remover) and comes with two nibs formed like those in a felt pen. The remover soaks through the nib while you press against lacquer mistakes. The pen is especially good for cleaning around the cuticle area and can also be used for a quick French manicure to clean up the white lines.

OPI Top Coat 15ml
"High-Gloss Protection. Prevents smudges while drying to a smooth, high-gloss, protective shine."

RapiDry Top Coat 15ml
"Dries to a tough, long-lasting, non-yellowing, high-gloss shine in minutes"

This is a very popular OPI product, perhaps the most popular top coat in the range. Personally, I was never that fussed on it - I find the texture is a bit too sticky and hard to apply smoothly. Also, I find that it picks up the lacquer colour very easily. But it does dry fast. I've met fellow OPI users who adore this top coat, so you probably will too.

RapiDry Spray 120ml
"Spray on freshly applied polish to cut down drying time and prevent smearing. Can also be used between manicures to revitalize shine. Dries in 60 seconds to a smooth hard finish. "

This spray can speed up drying time - always a great thing. It also gives a nice finish to a manicure and feels nice on the cuticles. I couldn't say just how much it speeds up the process, but it is noticeable.

Drip Dry Drops 9ml
"Dries Nail Lacquer to the touch in 60 seconds. Nail Lacquer is totally dry in 5 minutes! Treats cuticles with Jojoba and Vitamin E"

This product is the latest OPI offering and does the job of the RapiDry Spray and then some. A few drops of this product straight on top of a wet manicure can dry it thoroughly within 5 mins! I can't wait to try this one.

Other Products | top

Lacquer Thinner 60ml
"Don't toss that old, thick and gooey nail polish! A few drops of this visionary elixir will restore any nail lacquer to its original consistency. A little goes a long way."

The OPI lacquer thinner replaces the ingredient in OPI lacquer that keeps it fluid. This ingredient does evaporate over time and can make a lacquer gluggy and hard to apply smoothly. With this product there is no reason you can't use your favourite colours all the way down to the bottom of the bottle years and years after purchase.

Hand And Nail Maintenance Kit
A fantastic place to start. This kit is full of trial size products so that you can try some of OPI most essential products.

It includes: 30ml Swiss Guard Antiseptic Hand Wash; 30ml Exfoliating Cuticle Treatment Moisture Replenishing Lotion; 7. 5ml Cuticle Oil; 3. 75ml Nail Envy Strengthener; 30ml Polish Remover with Aloe Vera; Pack of 2 Toe Separators; Small Cuticle Pusher; Small Nail Clippers; Small Natural Nail File. Plus step-by-step Manicure and Nail Care Instructions; Hand and Nail Care Products Brochure; Clear Makeup Bag and 12pc Lint Free Nail Wipes.

Colours, Codes and Charts | top

The Colours

Finally, to the fun part: colour!

OPI colours are beautiful. It's pretty darn hard to find a colour that isn't to your taste in OPI's range. But, everyone is partial to different colours. Can't resist a dark, vibrant pink? Or maybe you believe nails should be painted just one colour - red. Perhaps you like the practicality and style of a neutral.

In addition to OPI's 90 lacquers which form the Classics collection, OPI releases a major seasonal collection at the beginning of summer and again at the beginning of winter. And then there are numerous limited collections that come out during the year just for the fun of it!

The Classics collection is constantly changing. At the beginning of a new seasonal collection the best of the replaced seasonal collection retires to the Classics collection and a couple of old colours are discontinued. It's a lot like fashion.

Each seasonal collection contains 12 new colours to accessorise the latest fashions. Remember - OPI is produced in the USA, so that's in the northern hemisphere. Expect a new collection sometime in February (the summer collection) and again in August (the winter collection).

In both fashion and nail polish collections, the northern hemisphere is actually 6 months ahead of us down here in Australia. This means that an OPI winter collection will be released at the beginning of our summer. The great thing about this is that these colours will be perfect in the near future so you can always stay ahead of the latest colour trends.

Each season, Suzi (fashion & art director of OPI) chooses her 3 favourites. These colours are considered to be THE colours of the season and are labelled "Suzie's Picks". OPI also produces these colours in a lipstick and lip liner to match the nail colour.

Lacquer Finish

Each colour is also classified as being one of the several finishes - Shimmer, Frost, Creme or Sheer.

Shimmer colours are extremely fashionable these days. Shimmers have a glitter running through them, at the end of the scale shimmers are those colours you can't describe because they are so changeable. You know it's a shimmer when from one angle you would swear the lacquer was one colour, but you look again and it's something completely different.

Frosts can be much harder to define. In light colours, frosts have a luminesce glow about them. They are one colour only - the glittery, sparkly nature of them is not like a shimmer, which may be a red with a faint gold glitter in it.

Creme are classic and appear more often in winter collections. An OPI creme makes your nails look a million dollars, the effect is so glossy and thick. You're nails look permanently wet. Cremes are a "flat" colour, in the best possible way.

Sheers are really most suited to neutrals and are typically found in colours intended for French manicures. As you would imagine from the name, sheer colours are more transparent by design.

The Collections

Trying and collecting OPI colours is heaps of fun. You'll spend more time admiring your freshly painted nails than ever before. I've been collating as much information and examples of OPI colours as possible. Because it is so difficult to find great examples of the nail lacquers on the web, we’ve tried to make it as easy as possible for everyone else. The colour charts available on this website have been sourced from all over the web. Mainly from a Japanese website: www.colorshop-jp.com. Our future plan is to start building a photo collection of us wearing all the colours I can physically get my hands on and will post them on this website. If you own OPI, please email me some photos! Use the ones posted here as a guide (lighting, pose etc).

Classics Collection
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2006
25th Anniversary Collection: Limited Edition
Flip Flop Fabulous: Limited Edition
Designer Series: Special Collection
Princess Charming Collection: Limited Edition
Mexico Collection: Summer Collection

2005
Wrapped Up in Red: Limited Edition
Chicago Collection: Winter Collection
The Brights Collection: Special Collection
Ford Mustang Collection: Limited Collection
Soft Shades Honeymoon Edition: Limited Edition
All Shook Up: Limited Edition
Japanese Collection: Summer Collection

2004
Holiday in Harmony: Holiday Collection
Canadian Collection: Winter Collection
Tuxedo: Limited Collection
Summer Splash: Holiday Collection
Sheer Romance Heart & Soul: Limited Edition
Greek Isles Collection: Summer Collection

2003
Broadway Collection: Limited Edition
British Collection: Winter Collection
Legally Blonde 2: Limited Edition
Bridal Collection: Limited Edition
It’s Summer For Shore: Holiday Collection
Las Vegas Collection: Summer Collection

2002
Sheer Romance Collection: Limited Edition
European Collection: Winter Collection
Surf Party: Holiday Collection
South American Collection: Summer Collection

2001
Christmas Holidays: Limited Edition
World Collection: Winter Collection
Italian Collection (Collezione Italia): Summer Collection

2000
New York City Collection: Winter Collection
Far East Collection: Summer Collection

1999
Hollywood Collection: Winter Collection
Wild West Collection: Summer Collection

1998
New England Collection: Winter Collection
Painted Desert Collection: Summer Collection

1997
Route 66 Collection: Winter Collection
South Seas Collection: Summer Collection

1996
Rocky Mountain Collection: Winter Collection
Caribbean Collection: Summer Collection

1995
Winter Resort Collection: Winter Collection
American Collection: Summer Collection

1994
Scandinavian Collection: Winter Collection
Mediterranean Collection: Summer Collection

1993
Alpine Collection: winter Collection
Paradise Collection: Summer Collection

1992
Unamed Collection: Winter Collection
Unamed Collection: Summer Collection

1991
International Collection: Winter Collection
Carnival Collection: Summer Collection

1990
Unamed Collection: Winter Collection
Unamed Collection: Summer Collection

1989
Classic Collection Launch