There were rumors that OPI The Show Must Go On was a dupe of MAC Bad Fairy. Within minutes of reading that, I rushed to place my order sight unseen. That’s very uncharacteristic of me – normally I like to see swatches before I buy polish so I know exactly what I’m getting. And how foolish – it’s nowhere near a dupe. Darn! Being overanxious bit me in the butt.

While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this color, it just doesn’t do a thing for me. I look at it and shrug my shoulders. I feel like I’ve seen it loads of times before. My heart races when I wear shades that reinvent the color wheel.

Red lovers will probably really like it, but it’s not my cup of iced tea. Check out my swatches and see my in-depth review to see why OPI The Show Must Go On gets a pass from me.

OPI The Show Must Go On Swatches & Pictures

 

 

Claims: TRUSTED, but Product: BUSTED (because color doesn’t excite me)

√ Provides glitz & glamour

Key Notes

• Name: OPI The Show Must Go On
• Collection: OPI Burlesque Collection
• Colors in OPI Burlesque Collection: The Show Must Go On!, Bring on the Bling, Glow Up Already!, Extra-va-vaganza!, Simmer & Shimmer, Show It & Glow It!, Sparkle-icious, Rising Star, Take the Stage, Let Me Entertain You, Ali’s Big Break & Tease-y Does It
• Amount: 15 mL
• What I Paid: $5.24 USD
• Where to Buy: Trade Secrets, salons & Trans Design

OPI The Show Must Go On Review

The bottle excited me because I could see a pinkish-reddish and orange duochrome. On the nails, though, it’s another story. Yes, you see those colors, but it’s not nearly as dramatic. In most lights and angles, OPI The Show Must Go On looks just pinkish red.

I don’t usually wear red nail polish, but when I do, it’s 1) a red jelly with red glitter, 2) a bright cherry creme, or 3) a vampy red. So OPI The Show Must Go On is a far departure from what I’m used to. It’s the red that has no gusto. Sure, it tries to show personality with the shimmery foil finish that’s hella sparkly. But the color is like a lemur pretending to be a lion.

OPI is known for putting out tons of reds in almost every collection. This is an unnecessary red. Had it been brighter or darker, it may have won me over. But this was too much middle-of-the-roadness that it makes me fall asleep!

To be fair, I can’t knock it down completely. The formula on this baby was perfection. Smooth and opaque. One coat covered completely, but I prefer applying no less than 2 coats. Also, the formula was thin without being watery and hard to manage. This polish practically painted itself! Very impressive!

But that’s where the praise begins and ends.

Nail polish should give the wearer a thrill or make you want to keep staring at your nails. OPI The Show Must Go On had the curtains pulled and, trust me, you won’t hear any calls for an encore! Since putting this on, I’ve been more excited about what color I’ll wear next. Not a good sign!

This is 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 Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Pros Free of Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formadehyde & Toluene Smooth formula for effortless application Dries fairly quickly Shimmery foil finish catches the light in even dim light

Cons Dime-a-dozen color you’ve probably seen before

Final Verdict: 6.5/10

If you’re a fan of reds or traditionally feminine colors, you’ll probably like OPI The Show Must Go On. But for me, the shows over and I’m snoring loudly. This color isn’t unique in any way and I don’t like the way it looks on my skin tone. Two thumbs down for color, but two thumbs up for the awesome perfect formula that applied like a dream.