Nail polish is colour therapy in a bottle.
Whenever I need my spirits lifted, I reach for neon nail lacquer, but sometimes a more subdued shade like this does the trick.
OPI Mermaid’s Tears is a gorgeous aqua, seafoam-green creme polish that’s on a similar wavelength as China Glaze For Audrey, but not a dupe.
This came out with the OPI Pirates of the Caribbean Collection, and it was one of the colours that had lots of people buzzing.
At first I wasn’t going to get this, but the more I thought about it (and saw it on others), I couldn’t resist! 😛
Mermaid’s Tears will have you crying for joy – this is bright and cheerful without being loud. The colour gets attention like a pretty lady, but without the catcalls from the construction workers.
OPI Mermaid’s Tears Pictures
OPI Mermaid’s Tears Swatches
All swatches have:
- No base coat or top coat!
- 2 coats of OPI Mermaid’s Tears
Direct Sunlight
Direct Sunlight
Direct Sunlight
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Natural Light
Natural Light
Flash
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Natural Light
Direct Sunlight
Claim: TRUSTED
√ Sea foam pale pastel green
Key Notes
- Name: OPI Mermaid’s Tears
- Collection: OPI Pirates of the Caribbean Collection 2011
- Colors Available in OPI Pirates of the Caribbean Collection: Stranger Tides, Skull & Glossbones, Mermaid’s Tears, Steady As She Rose, Sparrow Me the Drama, Planks a Lot & Silver Shatter
- Amount: 15 mL (0.5 fl. oz.)
- What I Paid: $6.80 USD
- Where to Buy: Trade Secrets & select beauty-supply stores & salons
OPI Mermaid’s Tears Review
Colour
Mermaid’s Tears by OPI is a pretty sea-foam green that is soft yet vibrant at the same time. It’s a colour that’s easy to wear and that looks great on every skin tone and any age. I’ve never seen anyone look bad wearing a colour like this!
Finish
I think that the creme finish makes it look fresh and more sophisticated than if it was chock-full of glitter. Plus the shade is so gorgeous on its own that it doesn’t need any pomp and circumstance to get attention.
It dries shiny even without a top coat – take a look at my swatches (they’re all without a top coat)!
Application & Formula
Polishes like this are a dream to wear not only because they look great, but they apply perfectly! The formula is very smooth and opaque, so you get flawless coverage effortlessly.
You need two coats to achieve full opacity, and the dry time is average.
Ingredients
Sorry, I really wish that I could provide you with a full list of ingredients, but (once again), the label was removed before I bought it.
The good news, though, is that all OPI polishes have the new formula that’s free of Formaldehyde, Toluene, and DBP – the Big-3 chemicals.
OPI Mermaid’s Tears vs. China Glaze For Audrey
I’m sure that this is the question on your mind because Mermaid’s Tears looks very similar to For Audrey. I’ve previously reviewed and swatched China Glaze For Audrey, so check it out if you’re interested in a comparison.
Mermaid’s Tears looks like it has more green. For Audrey has more blue to it. But the overall look on your nails is similar – very clean and lively.
Both polishes apply perfectly, but if there was a fight to the death between the two polishes (Oh no!), I think that For Audrey would come out victorious. Why? It costs less, plain and simple. Otherwise, these two are BFFs.
Pros
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Cons
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Final Verdict: 10/10
I think it’s safe to say that we can all agree that this polish is da bomb, yo! It’s sometimes hard to find a universally-flattering polish, but OPI has done it!
Do you feel guilty wearing this polish because of all the tears that innocent mermaids have shed? 😛 Would you buy OPI Mermaid’s Tears even if you already have China Glaze For Audrey?
This was the first I got from the POTC collection. And I am obsessed. I adore it. Such a fantastic colour!
Kelsy recently posted: haul. my goodness. orly cosmic fx, zoya mod matte.
Hey Kelsy!
Yes, it’s an amazing colour. I’ll definitely be wearing this again when I want something bright but not too loud. 🙂
I don’t have this one yet… But this colour “family” has been a favourite of mine recently… It looks so pretty on you!!!!
I like how you post the colour in all the light conditions… Really helps to get a true feel for the shade. 🙂
Have a great weekend!
Marta recently posted: Street Racing on ChitChat Nails
Hey Marta!
Thank you! 😀 I think this colour looks amazing on pretty much everyone. This colour family is so flattering!
I’m glad that you appreciate the photos in various lighting. Hehe, sometimes there’s just literally a 10-minute window of sunlight in the morning, and I find myself scrambling out of bed in a frenzy to snap photos of my nails.
Hope you’ve had a great weekend, too! 🙂 I had an amazing time.
I didn’t realize it was so close to For Audrey. I kind of want it now. 😛 It was probably the only other color I wanted from the collection apart from silver shatter and I was going to grab a bottle but the Fairview Trade Secrets was sold out of it (yes, I have It’s my Year! :D).
Those swatches are pretty impressive with no top coat and still sooo shiny! 🙂
Hey Carmela!
Only kind of? 😛 Get it! GET IT! (So much for being a nail polish guardian angel, right? I’m holding that pitchfork. That halo above my head? Stolen! :P)
WOO HOO – I’m so happy to hear that you got hold of It’s My Year! You’ll love it.
Yes, I was surprised by how shiny it was on its own because I hardly ever go without wearing a top coat. But I wanted to test it out. Plus I ended up doing some nail art on top of it, so I didn’t want to use 2 coats of Seche Vite.
I will…if I find it. 😉 But not going out of the way to get it like with It’s my Year tho. That one was a must-have and it’s even better than in person! So excited to try it. 😀
Hahaha, so enablers have pitchforks? I guess my hubby’s holding one too, then. 🙂
Hey Carmela!
Let me know how you like it when you give It’s My Year a try. 🙂
You spend so much time on your blog, and I love your reviews. This polish is great! I have it in my stash. I need to break it out and use it! Thanks for sharing.
imfeelingnailventurous recently posted: Wet N Wild Blue Wants to be a Millionaire + OPI Skinny Jeans
Hey imfeelingnailventurous!
It makes me smile like crazy knowing that you love my reviews. 😀 I spend so much time on my blog because not only do I reallllly love beauty products and testing them out, but finding out more about others who have the same passion is so much fun! Very rewarding!
Gorgeous on you! I have this but haven’t pulled it out since the beginning of Spring….you have inspired me to dig it out 🙂
Maribeth recently posted: Julep Maven "Sneak Peek" Nail Polish Box: Zoe and Samantha Pictures And Review
Hey Maribeth!
Yes – dig it out! A beauty like this definitely needs to see the light of day more often.
What a lovely color! I love pink and coral polishes but am trying to branch out a little more…looks like this awesome shade of green is a good place to start!
Hey Jessica!
Yes, it is! 🙂 Hope you’ll love it.
I’m actually trying to branch out into loving more pink and coral polishes. Most pinks don’t look right on me, but I’m determined to find some that work. And for a long time, I just overlooked coral polishes, but they’re so pretty. I need more in my collection. Yes, need, not want. 😉
Love this polish! I’m so glad I caved and bought it! It’s a color I can never get enough of. I didn’t realize it was close to For Audrey but then again I don’t own it (yet).
Katie recently posted: Color Club Gossip Column
Hey Katie!
I’m glad that you caved and bought it, too! Looks great on everyone! 😀
I have & love this polish, what a lovely green. I actually really enjoyed the whole Pirates collection and I’m planning to get down and dirty with Skull & Glossbones come fall. Mermaid’s Tears is such a chic summer shade to me, I love wearing it while shopping on a sunny day.
In case you might not know, because I didn’t and I adore greens, lol: Mermaid’s Tears is really, really close to Orly Ancient Jade (little did I know until I had both!) although Orly Ancient Jade is a tiny touch brighter and has like, the smallest extra drop of blue. Not exact dupes but really close. As far as I can tell they are like a single shade apart!
Hey CiCi!
Hehe, I like how you said that you’re gonna get “down and dirty with Skull & Glossbones”. 😛 I love that polish name.
Oh, yeah. Forgot to mention that in the post. I heard that Orly Ancient Jade is pretty close, but I don’t have that one. Thanks for mentioning it because I’m sure readers will find it very helpful!
Which do you prefer? Orly Ancient Jade or OPI Mermaid’s Tears. I know, this is a tough choice, but I’m curious if you think one has a better formula than the other.
This is such a pretty color on you, Mary! You can totally work pastels, I’m so jealous!! 😉
Ruthe recently posted: Santa Barbara + Summer Haul
Hey Ruthe!
I’ve never seen this colour look bad on anyone! It’s a universally-flattering polish!
I’m sure that you can rock pastels, too! 😀 It’s just a matter of finding the right colour. (Isn’t it always? :P) Hehe, and if you want to know of a pastel I cannot rock, it’s mint green. Even though I love it, it gives me a major case of lobster hands. Without the polish, my hands don’t really look red, so it’s strange how mint green can do that. Oh, and lots of pastel pinks look wrong on me, too.