Avon Knows The Way To This Girl’s Heart – New Nailwear Pro Greens!
My first beauty related memory involves Avon. The five-year-old me was very outspoken and not afraid of anything. I’m sure that doesn’t surprise anyone. So when I got my hands on an Avon catalog for the first time and landed on the page of flavored lip balms I decided that I needed to place an order.
I immediately dialed the “Avon Lady” to order every flavor of lip balm they made. When she asked for my payment info I dropped the phone, ran to the kitchen and asked my mom to “see her credit card.” ALU Mom is way too trusting because she just handed it over without hesitation. She probably assumed I was playing some game. Unfortunately for me, the Avon rep called back a few minutes later to verify my order with my mom who didn’t seem all that surprised that I had took it upon myself to make my first Avon purchase. In the end I was allowed to choose one lip balm flavor, Root Beer, but it was the launchpad for my obsession with beauty. It’s been a long time since I place an order with Avon. Not since they launched those holographic polishes a few years back. They applied so funky that it turned me off the brand but when I heard they had a couple new greens launching for summer I had to check them out. I mean, how can I pass up a green? I’m happy to report that they did not disappoint. See for yourself! |
Formula and Application: I wasn’t really expecting much from these polishes, preconceived notions and all, but they really impressed me. The formula is thin and flows well, the pigmentation is spot on and it applies nice and even. The brush is a little long but very flexible which makes it easy to fan out for a nice thin application. Seriously, what more could you ask for? The polish is free of the Big 3 and Formaldehyde Resin though it does contain Camphor which can be an irritant for some.
Jade is more creme de menthe than jade green. It’s a mint that doesn’t have any blue leaning tendencies and isn’t a giant streakfest (bonus!). It’s a really gorgeous color that is a little darker than most of its mint green predecessors. While the application was wonderful I would have enjoyed a bit more pigment. I ended up applying three coats though others may get away with two.
The only thing that bothers me is the name. I mean, who hasn’t heard of Chanel Jade at this point? Giving this color the same name just seems copycat-ish and Avon can do better. Even though OPI made a Creme De Menthe many moons ago, I would have liked that name for this polish much better than Jade.
In looking for a color twin I came up short but I did find a decent comparison for you. If you were unable to get your hands on OPI Damone Roberts 1968, Avon Jade would be an excellent, though slightly deeper, substitute. In person, the differences aren’t as drastic.
Olive Green threw me for a loop. Based on the name I was expecting a more yellow based green but I was pleasantly surprised to find this dusty, forest-y polish inside the Avon box. I suppose I think of olive as relating to a typical Spanish Manzanillo but I’ve seen much darker varieties similar to this shade at my local grocery store olive bar. The color actually dries a bit darker than this photo shows but it was REALLY hard to capture the true color. It’s really rich.
Now even though the lighting makes these two look a bit different on camera, as my pal Steph from Steph’s Closet originally pointed out, Olive Green is a dead on dupe for RBL Orbis Non Sufficit. Talk about an amazing low cost discovery, especially since you know I don’t give out the “dead on dupe” distinction easily. Seriously, as much as I love the RBL formula, if the price has scared you away from owning ONS you must get yourself to Avon.com.
Avon Nailwear Pro Nail Enamels retail for $5/ea and can be purchased online from Avon.com or your local Avon eRepresentative.
Who else is loving these colors? What do you think of the Avon formula? What are your favorite colors from the line?
Disclosure: Product samples were provided by representatives for Avon. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
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I just ordered these from my “Avon Lady.” You should mention that right now you can get two for only $5.99! If you buy one, you get the second for only $.99
Im really liking the Jade! But I agree with you on the name.. they could have been more original!
Gorgeous. And now I think I need to place my first ever Avon order!
I definitely need Jade now! I had never known about Avon nail polishes, but I’m definitely going to look into other shades as well
I’m really tempted to get these!
TY for the comps! I’m passing on the Olive since I already have ONS…but I loooove the Jade! I have DR1968, but I can totally justify the slightly deeper tone of the Avon. I just love your pics–so helpful
Great post… my love of makeup and beauty products too began with Avon. My Aunt was an “Avon Lady” and I remember my Grandmother ordered me a whole bunch of makeup, including, and I remember it well, blue mascara.
so excited for olive!
First off, I love your website! Secondly I do have a question for you about your Avon polish experience. I have ordered quite a few in the past and always come across the same problem where in a few days it peels and chips. I have even tried using OPI’s Chip Skip along with a base coat and top coat and it still chipped within a day or two of wear. Did you come across this type of problem?? Any input would be helpful. Thanks!!
I haven’t gotten either of those greens yet, but this post is making me think I should!
I just got early bottles of the three new nailwear pro colours from Avon a light grey called Urban Grey, a powdery blue called Vintage Blue, and a mid tone lavender called Luxe Lavender. I am really into the Urban Grey, as it is light enough to pass as a summer colour.
What a great review.
Might have to look into getting them.
Susie
I think i’m done with minty/jade greens, i have enough of those but i’m definitely going to try to hunt down olive green!!! thanks for the swatches
Ack! I need those greens! Get me to the phone right now!
Have you ordered their other new green shade “Limeade”? It’s a gorgeously light shimmer shade in their Speed Dry+ formula and I’m loving it. Seems Avon is releasing it with Campaign 14. Depending on which campaign your representative is on, you should be able to order it. It will be available on my eRep site next week: http://www.youravon.com/annabaxter
I hope these will be available in Finland too! Gorgeous colors <3
I have some Avon nail polishes. They last pretty good with me. I’m liking the greens. I like the dark green, becuase I think it will go a lot better with my skin tone. But I may just have to try the Jade color to see how it looks.
Pretty greens! I used to beg my mom to order me stuff from the avon catalog when I was little–maybe I have to start that up again!
Like you, my previous foray into Avon nail polish had not gone very well. Well, I just got these in the mail yesterday (I also ordered “Lagoon”, which is on my toes right now) and I was really impressed by them as well! I tested them both on my fingers and for me “Olive Green” is a one-coater, which is golden in my book.
What? NP companies shouldn’t call their JADE GREEN NAIL POLISH shades “Jade” because Chanel already did it? Might as well phone up all the companies that named their sparkly reds some variation of “Ruby Pumps” or “Ruby Slippers”…
Ohhh! The Urban Grey, Vintage Blue, and Luxe Lavender sound really cool! Do you know when they’ll be available?
Gonna have to get the greens for sure!
Love your story, too cute;-)
If it’s fun, original names you want, Avon is the very LAST place to look. Their color names are so dull, so banal, it’s almost painful. I’ll never forget, years ago, they had a long-wearing lipstick called Prolonged Plum. PROLONGED PLUM, people. Doesn’t that sound like a makeup experience you’d rather get over with quickly?
Avon also has a problem with knowing which colors are which. That Olive shade is more of a forest green. They don’t understand that “ruby” connotes a cool red, “crimson” a warm one, and so on.
Second only to Avon in naming inability is Revlon, which subscribes to the notion that everything must be alliterative. Magnificent Mauve, Iconic Iris, Top Tomato… compared to these brands, labels like Maybelline and Cover Girl use names that are practically Shakespearean.
Thanks — that’s a rant I’ve been meaning to get off my chest (and fingernails) for a while!
These are really beautiful!
I’m getting them!
Jade looks great! I also loved the Avon flavored lip balms. I had 3, chocolate, root beer & strawberry. Until my little brother ate all of them, the entire stick like candy. I’m still a little mad about that lol.
i’ve never ordred nail polish from Avon….i’ll try to find their contacts in my city..thanx 4 the informative review
I’m loving Jade but I agree about the name…
I’m wondering how close Olive Green is to Butter London’s British Racing Car?
I’m glad to see they are getting good reviews. I want to order more from Avon, since they don’t test on animals.
Thanks for the swatches! I wanted Orbis Non Sufficient and Opi Damone Robers 1968 and now I can get both and save some money. I just ordered mine on-line and currently Avon.com has a special going of buy one get one for 99cents on nail polish. Yay!!!
Off to call MY Avon Lady…(My mom!!! :))
I just ordered mine along with a few other colors since they’re having their BOGO $.99 deal. Can’t wait for them to come in the mail!! Thanks a bunch for the swatches!!
Also, if you enter the promo code SUMMER10 , you get free shipping on your orders of $10 or more. Hurry though, the offer expires 6/17/10.
How close is the Avon Jade to the Chanel Jade?
I have them both. I even tried using the Olive Green one coat and then layering the Jade on top. I wanted to see if I could mimic some of the jade pieces that I adore. My favorite Avon shade is Rave. It’s not a color that pops but the shimmer in it seems to reflect different colors with whatever you wear or whatever lighting there is.
As for the naming that seems to be a bone of contention to some. I don’t think that anyone is trying to ride anyone’s coat tails. I think that during the testing process where different people apply the polish and compare and are asked what does this color make u think of…? Apparently the majority said Jade.
While we polish lovers enjoy the witty names that some can come up with. Marketing will show that simple makes for spontaneous shopping. How many times have you looked at a name and thought, “Huh, I did not picture that at all.” But when you look at the RubySlippers you think of Dorothy’s shoes hence RubySlippers. But hey you can rename them whatever you want once you get them home. *winks* LOL
I don’t know — looking at the colour, Jade looks like a much more fitting name for that shade than the Chanel one. My parents owned some Jade carvings that were that exact shade. The Chanel one never looked like Jade to me. Of course, considering the various colours & shades Jade comes in, a company could do a whole “Jade” line and have it range from pale green-white to nearly black, with lavender and other variations tossed in… Hmmm. That would actually be an interesting collection.
Oooohhhhh that would be an VERY interesting collection to see!
I love those greens. The Jade is lovely, and would be a perfect color to wear this summer
Ahhh, I remember getting Avon catalogs as a kid and me planning out all that I was going to get.(Even though I had no money and no way was I going to get them.) I did this with lots of other places too. I was never a girly princess type of little girl though. Guess I shouldn’t be surprised by my love of it now.
First, IN LOVE with your website!!! Second, I love that you looked to Avon. It’s been my little secret for a couple of years, when looking for low cost alternatives in polish. They’ve really stepped it up in the past year and have been hitting some dead knock offs in color. They recently released a violet/lilac color which is really close to Essie’s Lilacism. I own both the Essie polish and the Avon polish. I also recently bought a new grey, which is the exact shade I’ve hunted for for months.
Ordered the Jade & it arrived today! So glad I got it as it was the highlight of my day. Every time I was feeling down, I looked at it & it made me smile, so thank you!
On the other hand, I also ordered Lagoon, a stunningly beautiful blue but that stayed wet and gooey even after putting Seche Vite on top. Anyone know why it would do that & Jade didn’t? They were both extremely hot after UPS dropped them off. I let them cool prior to using…Don’t know if that had anything to do with it?
I just ordered these and they arrived last night. I’m really loving jade. I’ll try olive green this weekend. Love them!!!
I have both of these and have been very impressed! Lately I’m all about Avon polishes. They’re very inexpensive, easy to apply, don’t take long to dry, and wear very well! What more could you want?
Midnight Plum is a great Avon polish, as well as Warm Black(discontinued).
On a side note. The only polish I have EVER used an entire bottle of was Avon Speed Dry “Carnival” (in high school….LOL)
These are soo pretty but Green isnt for me:( I was curious if you have Avons Gunmetal nailpolish to swatch? I would like to see how it looks on, before calling my “Avon lady”….
Thanks!!
Sorry, I don’t have that color. I rarely order from Avon but had to try their greens
Hi, there! I’m SUUUUUUPER late, but, I just came across a swatch of Orly’s Wandering Vine (don’t own it) and wondered how it compared to Avon’s Olive Green (own it). Have you compared them? If not, would you, please?
Hi Jessika! Unfortunately, I no longer own Avon Olive Green so I can’t compare them for you. Sorry
Hi, Beautiful! No worries! I decided to buy the Orly one anyway; you can never have too many greens in your stash, can you?! LOL! Thanks for responding:). XOXOXO