November 14, 2011

Cherimoya Pebble Beach: Review

Hi everyone!  Today I finally have the last part of my Cherimoya review series!  This is going to be kind of long, so I'm not going to go into the details of the formula/smell/application etc since they are basically identical to the rest of the polishes they sent me.  You can read about all of that in the other reviews! So, I'll get started now! 

The Cherimoya Pebble Beach collection is a no-fail gradient "system."  Colors have been selected to blend together to create an easy, and flawless, gradient!  It takes absolutely zero effort.  I promise you!  No sponging, to blending, no clear coats.  It is absolutely perfect and takes no more time than you usually take to paint your nails!  I have three sets to show you, and I definitely want to buy (most) of the rest of them when they become available.  These polishes are gorgeous foils, and I'll show them to you separately at first before I show them "blending" together.  First set I will show you is the Aquamarine set.  This is my personal favorite, and the one I feel is matched best.  So, here we go! 

PB04
This is the lightest Aquamarine shade.  A very light, almost lime green shade.  

PB12
Step 2. This is the same color, in a slightly darker shade.  Gorgeous again. 

PB20
Step 3 is more blue, with a little bit of that lime shimmer in it.  This is my favorite from this set! 

PB28
Step four is a navy color.  This doesn't look like it will blend well, but it does! I promise! Also very pretty on it's own.

Now to show the steps to blending.  It really is simple.  I don't have a picture of step one, because that's just the base color.   You put on your base color, then add step 2 a little above the cuticle to get this:
 
You don't even have to wait for them to dry!  I wait a few minutes, otherwise you will kind of create a ridge where the brush hits the wet polish.  If you want to go faster and have a super thick top coat, you don't have to worry about that! 
Here is step 3:
I wish I could get better photos, but the foil makes it hard to capture!  Again, going about 1/4 of the way up the nail (or really, as far as you want...).  A different picture is below that kind of shows how it gets hard to tell where one begins and the other ends: 
Step 3

Finally, you add step for to the tips of your nails to get this:
I really, really like the way this set looks.  And it's super easy! 

The next set I have is the Topaz set.  This one is a little different.  First I will show you the separate steps, then I'll explain what I mean.  Maybe you'll even figure it out for yourself. :)

PB08
This is step one.  I only used one coat, and you can see it's a little patchy.  It is so light! A very pretty tan foil.  (that is really a little lighter than this pic shows).

PB16
This is a unique shade. It is a darkish brown with green shimmer in it, that I could NOT capture! I love love love this polish and I see me wearing it on it's own quite often! 

PB24
A pretty basic copper.  

PB32
Another copper, although it leans a little bronze.

So, did any of you see my problem?  I personally think the way these are labeled is a little off.  In the next pictures, I have switched steps two and four on my middle finger and pinky.  On my index and ring fingers, I used them in the order that they are numbered.
Step 2


Step 3

Step 4

In photos, it doesn't look like that big of a deal.  IRL however, I don't like using them the way they are numbered.  The beauty of this system though--You can do whatever you want! 

Finally, the last system is the Amethyst system.  I feel the same about this as the Topaz set.  Again, I'll let you decide since that's the point!  
PB05
These are a lot darker than the other sets from the get-go.  This is a medium dark pink/magenta/purple shade. I'm a pink lover, so I love it! (since I love pink so much, you can just assume that I like the rest of these too. So I don't have to say it three more times!)

PB13
This is a darker fuchsia.  The purple is totally gone from this one!

PB21
And... the purple is back.  See the problem I'm going to be talking about? 

PB20
Step four.  A gorgeous (dark) purple foil.  

Here is step two.  Again, I used them the way the are "supposed" to be used on my middle and pinky fingers, and the way I like them on the index and ring fingers:
Step 1
I switched steps 2 and 3 for these.  

Step 2

Step 4
I just think these look best with steps 2 and 3 switched around.  On the index and ring fingers it looks like the polishes go from light, to dark, back to light.  Again, that's your choice! 

So, what do I think of these?  I really like the concept.  I like gradient nails, but I really don't like taking the time to sponge the tips, and I've never even had the guts to try the other methods! That being said, I will be buying the other sets.  I wish I could tell you more information, but their website is STILL down (to update the new collections?).  So, I haven't been given prices, or locations you can pick these up at or anything.  That disappoints me because I am really in love with this brand!  

The few gripes I have are that, well, these aren't paired the way I would use them.  I should be okay with that, because, well, I'm not an expert or anything so I'll have to get over it! Also, I hate how the polishes are numbered.  I think it would be easier if they were numbered by set (i.e.: Step one amethyst was PB01, step two was PB02, step three PB03, step four was PB04) instead of each collection having the first step numbered first, then the second, and so on. I think that will be a little confusing when looking up product information.  If any of that made sense.  lol  

Overall, if you gradients but don't like the work, or even if you just like foils, I would keep an eye out for these!  They are high quality, just like the rest of the brand, and they are gorgeous on their own.  I WISH I could give you more information, but unfortunately I can't.  I'm hoping I will be able to tell you more soon!  Until then, you can keep trying their website for yourself.  

I would love to hear what you think about these!  Will you be getting any when they are available?  Do you think they are completely ridiculous?  What do you think?!?!  Thanks for looking! 

*These sets were sent to me for review. However, all opinions are expressly my own!*

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