With Easter just a bunny hop, skip, and a jump away, it’s only fitting to share OPI SoftShades 2016 Collection swatches!

Start dreaming up fun spring manicures and pedicures because the OPI SoftShades 2016 Collection officially launches in April, according to the press release I posted earlier this month. (For the colour story, click that link to get all the juicy details.)

As the name would suggest, the colours are pastel, and I found that they were heavily white-based. However, they still had just enough saturation to keep them from looking washed out.

A lot of lighter shades like these tend to require three coats to reach full opacity, and these were no exception.

The formula on all of them were consistent in that they were smooth and easy to apply. The first coat was streaky, but the coverage builds up effortlessly with the second and third coat.

Based on my quick swatches, my favourites are the green (This Cost Me a Mint) and yellow (One Chic Chick). However, I’ll wait to reserve final judgement when I wear them as full manicures. (Later, I’ll do at least one in-depth review on here with multiple photos of a single shade, as per usual.)

A special mention needs to be given to It’s in the Clouds because I was expecting a stark white, but it’s a bit softer…hehe, like a cloud. 😉 Usually I’m not crazy about white nail polish, but I liked the way this one looked. I think it’s because it’s ever-so-slightly off-white, yet it still looks clean and fresh.

Overall, my first impression is that these colours are a nice change of pace from OPI’s SoftShades collections from previous years. Instead of sheers, we have cremes that can be built up for full coverage, which is what I prefer. Also, all the colours make me think of cute Easter eggs!

Edit (March 25, 2016): Scroll to the bottom of this post to see comparison swatches of OPI It’s a Boy! and OPI What’s with the Cattitude?. It was requested by Jessica, one of my awesome readers.

There are six shades in the OPI SoftShades 2016 Collection:

• It’s in the Clouds
• One Chic Chick
• Stop It I’m Blushing!
• This Cost Me a Mint
• It’s a Boy!
• I Am What I Amethyst

OPI SoftShades 2016 Collection Pictures

So cute! PR sent me the nail polishes in this exclusive collectible box. I love that the model has blue-Care-Bear hair!

 

OPI SoftShades 2016 Collection Swatches

OPI It’s in the Cloud

OPI One Chic Chick

OPI Stop I’m Blushing!

OPI This Cost Me a Mint

Click here to see my OPI This Cost Me a Mint Swatches & Review!

OPI It’s a Boy!

OPI I Am What I Amethyst

OPI It’s a Boy! vs. OPI What’s with the Cattitude?

One of my readers was curious about how these two blues compared. I did quick swatches, and you can see below that they’re extremely different, so you can justify owning both.

OPI It’s a Boy! is heavily white-based and pale, whereas OPI What’s with the Cattitude? has a lot more saturation. Hope this helps!

If you want to see an old review I did of OPI What’s with the Cattitude? back in 2011, click the link.

Disclosure: The OPI SoftShades 2016 Collection nail polishes and special collector’s box were press samples provided by PR. I purchased OPI What’s with the Cattitude?.

Which are your favourites in the OPI SoftShades 2016 Collection? Do these colours make you think of spring? If you could add one extra colour to this collection, what would it be?