ALU’s 365 of Untrieds – Nicole by OPI Fresh Squeezed
365 of Untrieds is my personal challenge to weed through the polishes in the ALU stash that I’ve been wanting to try but just haven’t gotten around to.
Three years ago, Rihanna stopped traffic on the Grammy red carpet when she paired an electric blue dress with nails adorned in traffic cone orange, kicking off the orange nail polish trend of Summer 2008. Well orange is back people. It’s one of the biggest trends for Spring/Summer 2011 though this time around it’s more about brights than neon. I’ve worn a lot of orange polishes in the past so I wasn’t sure I would find anything that I haven’t at least tested on one nail and then I came across Nicole by OPI Fresh Squeezed. Fresh Squeezed came out last year when I was all up in my turquoise phase and couldn’t get into it but, its time has come. |
Formula & Application: Nicole by OPI is a 3-Free brand. The bottle shape is distinctive with its bulbous base and long, tapered, matte plastic cap. The round brush reminds me of the old OPI brushes, pre pro-wide.
This particular polish applied somewhat thin and watery which resulted in a semi-opaque coverage even after three coats. I can still see VNL (visible nail line) in most lighting so I can’t really classify this color as opaque. In spite of the opacity issue, the brush and polish work very well together giving great control over placement on the nail.
Nicole by OPI Fresh Squeezed is a reddish orange, jelly type polish peppered with metallic orange flecks of glitter. The glitter is pretty tonal which helps the base hue stay true but because it’s metallic it dances in the light, the nail polish equivalent of “jazz hands.” The color itself is a bit more nectarine than tangerine or true orange. That hint of red in the base lends itself to being classified as a soft melon but it’s a bit too radioactive to be considered cantaloupe.
Bottom Line: I love the color but the opacity issue bothers me. I don’t know if Nicole by OPI could pack more pigment into this one and maintain its lovely application but I wish they would have tried. VNL after three coats is a no-go for me, especially since this is the type of shade I would wear on my toes. VNL on toes, I don’t think so.
365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: Unfortunately, it’s heading to my SHARE bin.
Nicole by OPI nail polishes are available at mass retailers including Meijer, Target and Walmart. Nicole by OPI retails for $7/ea for a .5oz bottle.
Thoughts on NbO Fresh Squeezed? Would you give up a polish because of VNL, layer it or just deal with it as is? What’s your favorite orange polish? Do you plan to embrace the orange trend this summer?
Disclosure: A product sample was furnished by Nicole by OPI. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
i like the color but vnl are a no go go for me.
if i wanted vnl’s then i would go bare nail *gasp*
If I really like the colour but it has VNL, I just use the polish for layering.
I’m not drawn to this particular orange, so it gets a pass from me.
Love the swatch though! Great way to help me decide if I ‘need’ it.
WOW. Now that’s a bright orange but I get what you mean about the opacity. I’m looking for the perfect red orange bright for summer and I don’t want a million coats to have to achieve that perfect opacity.
Exactly!
I own this colour and I love it, but I agree that the opacity leaves a lot to be desired. I like using it over other creme or neon oranges, it adds a really pretty shimmer.
Love this color. Reminds me of the Pure Ice color “Really Rio” that I bought recently. I didn’t realize what a fan of orange I am until I bought it. Especially the oranges that lean towards tangerine.
I bought this from Target when it was on sale for only two dollars. I thought it was a great deal since that’s cheap for Nicole by Opi and I had been wanting an orange color in my collection. But after putting a swatch on my finger, I didn’t fall in love with it even though I wanted to. I know now that orange isn’t my color, but not something I hate. It was just not for me.
I have this one and had issues with the VNL too… I usually don’t mind it, but something about this color… it just looks like you didn’t do it right. The glitter makes it unique, so I’m keeping it, but I think I’m going to have to wear it over an orange creme from now on!
So glad to see your daily posts!
Looks to be a dupe of MAC Imperial Flower….?
I have them both and they aren’t dupes. The shimmer is similar color but it looks different because Imperial Flower is a lot more saturated and red, and a bit darker.
I have VNL on my toes right now
Love this color!!
I detest VNL! I’m also not a huge fan of orange or Nicole by OPI, I mean the price difference is barely there, so why not get the real deal?
Lovely colour, but NO orange can beat my top two oranges, OPI DS tapestery and China Glaze Orange Maramlade.
I’m wondering if Life Preserver will beat it, once I get it, but tapestery being a holo and Orange Marmalade glass flecked polish … doubt it. 
I LOVE CG Life Preserver. Hope you do too when yours arrives. I passed over it a few times in looking at the collection. Then it grabbed me. I have used a few sheer colors over it for a change up as well and have had tons of fun with it.
I’m hanging on tight to the Life Preserver too! The cremes in the spring collection wear like a dream.
If I liked the color enough, I wouldn’t give it up because it was sheer.
I just slap on a couple of coats of Essie Limo-Scene first, and it’s allll good. B)
And idk what it is with Nicole and these types of colors…I have something similar by them, Dreamcatcher, and it’s super sheer too. Like six coats to opacity. -__-
Funny, because I didn’t have any VNL issues with mine, and I only wore two coats. Everyone is different I guess.
I also have this one. I haven’t worn it yet but I have swatched it and it is very sheer. Maybe it’s just my bottle, but, mine had yellow and pink shimmer in it. It’s super pretty too!
Love the colour but I don’t like the opacity. =| 3 coats and you still see the nail line? Wow!
I have this polish…in my untrieds,as well. I don’t mind the VNL with most polishes,so for me it’s a keeper! I am loving the orange trend!
I have Fresh Squeezed and I love it. A lot of Nicole by OPIs have an opacity issue, but I deal with because they apply so nicely. And you can always layer them over a similarly colored base!
I’ve wanted this colour for a while now. It’s really nice and I’m into orange right now too!
I like the ‘texture’ final look. I am not crazy about the VNL.
I really like this color! Even though there is VNL it could be used for layering.
I personally don’t mind VNL on some shades. This one’s no exception.
I loove oranges! I think that’s the color, that I always end up wanting when looking at a nail polish display..
And at the same time I loove VNL.. Sometimes opacity drives me crazy! haha..
I have been following the 365 of untrieds and I love it!! So keep it up, I look forward to the new posts. Im not too sure about this color, orange isnt for me but I have liked everything you’ve shown so far. Thanks!!
What’s VNL?
Oh I posted the definition above but you must have missed it. VNL = visible nail line, meaning you can see the “whites” or free edge through the polish.
I’ve been wearing Essie Vermillionaire, it’s the most awesome orange. I can’t believe I let it sit for so long with out giving it a go.
My orange of choice is OPI Atomic Orange its a super bright creme but not crazy neon. This post has inspired me to layer it with some of my sparkly topcoats and shimmers. I love that orange is having a moment, I’ll def be wearing it this spring and summer. And I think it will look great with black crackle come halloween
Too bright for me to be a more than maybe 3 times dipped into for my toes. Over all I am not a biggie fan typically of Nicole – never have been since it’s inception though bought quite a few of them when they first came out and they donated $ for each bottle purchase to ? I don’t recall what the charity was. I have had some fun with some of their chunky glitters in this past year, but not my go to polish line to make sure I don’t miss getting a bottle or 2 from every collection like I do with some of the others.
I love this color! It is my favorite and “go to” orange!
Oooh I love this color hope its still available to buy. VNL isn’t a dealbreaker for me unless its a creme nail polish with no glitter. I love me some glitter!
That looks perfect for a syrup manicure, especially since you said the brush gives a lot of control. Maybe I will look for a bottle of this, as I missed out on Butter London’s chuffed and am wanting to try orange syrup nails – perfect for summer!
Hahaha I got this color from target for $3 about 2 months ago. You have to apply 2-3 coats to get it that really bright orange. I really like it, but I recommend putting a top coat over this one because it chips really easily
I love my “it’s a Bird ,it’s a Plane ,it’s OPI” if I don’t care VNL I use my oldskool Revlon “Lava Blast”
I’m in love with Nicole Opi “I’m a Pool for You”. The color is so pigmented and packed with microglitter. I’m sad to hear “Fresh Squeezed” isn’t the same. I find the brush a little wide for painting little toenails. It’s also hard to get polish into the corner of the nails.
I absolutely love this orange, so it’s a shame it’s not 100% opaque even after multiple coats. I think I would just suck it up and wear it anyway if I were to buy it!