Even though I own several Orly polishes, Orly It’s Not Rocket Science was the first one I had to try right away shortly after receiving the package in the mail. I’m a total green nail-polish lover, so this color was right up my alley.

This beauty made its debut in the Orly Cosmic FX Collection (for Fall 2010) that I blogged about recently.

One look at my swatches and you’ll totally understand why I’ve fallen in total lust with this unique shade. Come check it out!

Orly It’s Not Rocket Science Swatches

(Wondering what the polish looks like with a houndstooth Konadicure? Check it out my Orly It’s Not Rocket Science Konadicure swatches here!)

 

 

Key Notes

• Name: Orly It’s Not Rocket Science
• Collection: Orly Cosmic FX
• Colors in Collection: Space Cadet, It’s Not Rocket Science, Lunar Eclipse, Halley’s Comet, Galaxy Girl & Out of This World
• Amount: 18mL
• What I Paid: $5 USD
• Where to Buy: Sally Beauty Supply, Orly, Trans Design & Head2Toe

Orly It’s Not Rocket Science Review

The formula was thin and somewhat watery, which is to be expected with Big-3 Free (and in this case Big-4 Free) ones. It flowed on the nail easily, and I didn’t have any application issues.

The first coat was sheer and somewhat streaky, but after the second (and final) coat, I achieved total opacity. (I rarely do third coats unless the polish is extremely sheer.) However, you can get full opacity with one thick coat.

Wondering if this polish dries gritty? Nope! It’s smooth, so you don’t have to reach for your favorite thick top coat. I applied one layer of top coat to protect my manicure and help it last longer.

The good news is that it dries relatively shiny even without a top coat, so if you’re in a pinch, you could skip this last step (even though I highly recommend that you always use a top coat if you plan on wearing the same shade for more than a few days).

I totally love the color – it’s this antique green with light greenish-gold flecks that really catch the light. In direct sunlight, you totally have blingy nails. But in artificial and dim lighting, I was ecstatic to discover that it still boasts strong sparkle! This is a fun green to wear, and you’ll keep staring at your nails throughout the day. (Be careful when driving, ladies!)

Check your polish stash before snatching it up because you may have a color dupe or something similar:

• China Glaze Zombie Zest
• Spa Ritual Optical Illusion

And in case you’re wondering what I wore under and over the nail polish:

• 1 coat of Nail Tek Foundation III (Ridge-filling Base Coat)
• 1 coat of Creative Stickey (Base Coat)
• 1 coat of Diamont Seal & Shine Topcoat

Pros Gorgeous color Sparkly in all lighting No formaldehyde, Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) or Formaldehyde Resin

Cons More expensive than regular Orlys Limited-edition color with risk of selling out fast

Final Verdict: 10/10

This is my kinda green! If you’re a fan of greens, this is a must-have! And if you want to see what this color looks like with 1, 2, or 3 coats, click here for swatches in my post on the Orly Cosmic FX Collection.

Do you plan on buying Orly It’s Not Rocket Science? What are your favorite greens?