ALU’s 365 of Untrieds – OPI Cool in the Pool
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.
There used to be a time, before nail polish blogs and before the vultures on eBay realized they could stalk message boards to learn which polishes are hard-to-find, when you could score some really great treasures online for a decent price. One of those scores was when I bid on the entire OPI Summer Splash collection from Summer 2004 and got it for a song. I was only after Pooltime Lime but if I could get the whole set for next to nothing, why not? OPI Cool in the Pool is one of the polishes from that collection and I feel like I’ve been hanging on to it because it is rare, not because I love it, which just sounds greedy. I haven’t cracked open the bottle until now because deep down inside I know it’s probably not for me. Let’s see if I was right. |
Formula & Application: This polish was created before OPI changed to a 3-Free formula. While many of old-timers still look back on the old formula fondly, this is not a representation of what it is we loved. It’s thin and watery and semi-sheer. Thankfully OPI has stepped up their game and significantly improved the 3-Free formula since its debut.
OPI Cool in the Pool is a pearly pale blue. It’s so frosty and icy that it doesn’t look overly blue. It feels like it would make more sense in winter than in summer but I suppose that’s more a sign of the times when it was created. Because of the abundance of pearl in its base, this color does show brush strokes. Combine that with the fact that it’s not opaque after three coats and I’m sure you can guess how I feel about it.
Bottom Line: Unless you are a collector trying to complete the Summer Splash set, I wouldn’t hunt this one down. The formula isn’t great and the color is fine but not wow worthy.
365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: Unless ALU Mom wants this (she loves frosts) this one will hit the SHARE bin.
OPI Cool in the Pool is a discontinued color. Your best bet in finding it is on eBay or some random dusty nail salon.
Does anyone else have a bottle of Cool in the Pool in their stash? Thoughts on the color? If this was in your collection, would you keep it an layer it or share with a friend? Do you have any polishes you know aren’t your style but you keep them anyway because they are hard-to-find?
Disclosure: I purchased this polish myself. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
Hm, I wonder if this is one of those polishes too opaque to layer but too sheer to wear on its own. I hate those! I would definitely share this too, but now I’m wondering what a frost looks like with a matte top coat…
This looks exactly like Sky from the sadly discontinued line from Revlon called Street Wear.
Wow, you just reminded me that I have 2 Street Wears (Gun Metal and Forest) from back in the day.
If I had this polish, I would never wear it. It doesn’t seem unique enough for layering.
I want this polish!
I love the colour.
It looks like it could be a good “cooling” pedicure.
I don’t own it, but I don’t like it either, so that’s okay.
You did a good job with the application.
Can you believe I just read your profile! I’m terrible!! I love your blog and you’re an accountant to boot! Awesome! Anyhoo…I love that blue by OPI in the Texas collection!! I forget the name! Boooo!!
A~
I actually have this color, and I use it for a blue french manicure. I do the tips OPIs ‘teal the cows come home’ and one light layer of Cool in the pool over it.
On its own though? Pass.
Ummm. I have till the cows com home and I need to change it up. I think I will dig into some of my old frosts to see what I come up with. Thanks. I am so not into glitter coat overlays all the time and working hard to get them off. I have been on a kick using Essie Kisses & Blises as an overlay coating on lots of things. Works only on certain shades however. I always have to play first before I mess up a fully done first pass mani.
I own this shade of OPI. To be honest with you, I haven’t even tried it and yes, I found it in a dusty salon. I keep it just for the collector novelty and thanks to this blog have little faith in it making me happy, lol. There are several other colors I keep because they are rare or beef up my OPI collection but will never wear. Two that come to mind are Quebec and Call and Here Today Aragon Tomorrow. I just can’t let go…
I use Here Today Aragon Tomorrow on my toes and my boyfriend’s toes. He really likes it. But I think his new fav is the really dark one from OPI Swiss fall 2010 – William Tell OPI on his toes now.
I’m beginnig to really enjoy your Untried series – it promises at least one post a day! I check in first thing in the morning to see what colour you’ve got for us today… it’s really fun, even though I probably won’t try this one. Shows all the possible dirt under my nails.
I’m really enjoying the 365 posts too! it’s something i look forward to every day. and i appreciate how much work it is to keep up! i can barely post once a month on my own blog. keep up the great work! as for this polish, meh. i dont like frosts that much either…im donating the few i have to the Zoya exchange!
Me too! I am loving that you are writing more. I want swatches every day however! I know … you have a full life without us nagging you!
I am posting swatches every day. That’s the point of the 365 of Untrieds.
It’s too streaky for me. When I first saw the pic of the bottle I thought it would look like What’s with the Cattitude (one of my favorites) and then I was disappointed to see it on your nails looking so sheer. Also, I don’t like the idea of using a non 3 or 4 free formula.
I have many old polishes from days of old formulas and I won’t part with 99% of them! But then I am a laboratory scientist. I have eons of yrs behind me working around what they took out of polishes and other toxic chemicals far worse like xylene.
Hmm i’ve never been a fan of frosts.. it still looks nice on you though
I think the color looks beautiful, in the bottle at least, but it wouldn’t be opaque enough for me. I’d probably use it as decoration, because it would fit perfectly to my wallpaper
I actually really like it!
Hmm, I’m definitely not in love with this color. It looks pretty in the bottle, but on the nail you’re right, it’s nothing special. It might also be because I’m deciding I don’t really like frosts all that much either (though it depends on the color/polish).
Do you think you’re going to do a blogsale with your unwanted ones?
You can find it in “some random dusty nail salon” haha! I’ll avoid it!
Very nice & pretty color
Oh wow I’ve never even heard of this color!
Are you not going to do any other posts for a year besides these? You havent shown new colections in ages – I always like your swatches and hope you are not giving up posting new collections!!
No, I’m going to review collections as well. It hasn’t exactly been ages. More like a couple weeks. I have one going up tomorrow.
@RORY – i have been holding on a nail polish for 10 years! and is Revlon’s Street Wear as well. the color is called BLOOD 15. I love it!
I actually kind of like it. Huh. I’d probably layer it over a red for a neat purple.
Just wondering, did ALU Mom end up snapping this one up? Or is it still up for grabs? I’d love to take it off your hands, so name your price…
Hi,
I come across old formula nail polish all the time, and they seem watery to me. Is that normal? Also, when I shake them sometime I don’t hear the metal balls.? Any info about these older (black label) polishes would be greatly appreciated.