ALU’s 365 of Untrieds – China Glaze Cha Cha Cha from the Island Escape Collection
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.
By the time you read this I will be off to celebrate my birthday with my family at one of my favorite places in Ohio, Put-In-Bay on South Bass Island. I’ve mentioned the Lake Erie destination in previous posts and if you’re ever in the vicinity I HIGHLY suggest you visit. It’s the Key West of the North. Even though I’m away, the Untrieds won’t be on hiatus. Not to worry. Today I revisited the China Glaze Island Escape collection with the other color that really drew me in, Cha Cha Cha. The green nail polish lover in me will never be fully satiated so I never EVER get tired of seeing new greens. Especially when they resemble a certain fan fave that deserves way more Os than China Glaze bestowed upon it, Mooooooooooooonpooooooooool. Nail board girls, you know what I’m talking about. |
Formula & Application: China Glaze is a 3-Free brand with a round brush that is both medium in length and firmness with enough give to allow for ease of control. The cap is slightly tapered and made of smooth plastic that is comfortable to hold.
Cha Cha Cha is a metallic shimmer that applies a bit sheer with a thin, smooth texture. It’s very easy to manipulate so precise application is pretty foolproof. Because the pigmentation isn’t completely perfect I ended up using three thin coats to get it completely opaque.
China Glaze Cha Cha Cha is a golden lime green shimmer. The gold metallic shimmer means you will see slight brush marks in the finish but it’s pretty minimal and something you would have to look for to see.
Of course I know what me fellow OG China Glaze fans are thinking. Is this a dupe for the illustrious China Glaze Moonpool? That magical, mythical green that caused many a nail polish fanatic to swoon. Alas, while Cha Cha Cha may have had Moonpool as its goal shade, it falls a bit short. Moonpool is much darker with less gold shimmer. Again we’ve been denied a Moonpool dupe. I included Wet n Wild Jade just to show you depth of Cha Cha Cha.
Bottom Line: While I’m sure a lot of nail peeps who missed out on Moonpool would love to find a dupe, I’m selfishly happy that it’s not because it gives me a reason to hold on to it without feeling like a guilty hoarder. The golden sheen is really gorgeous and perfect for summer. It plays with the light and adds a lot of interest to what could be a pretty average color.
365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: Do I really have to say it? STASH!
China Glaze Blue Iguana is available now with the rest of the Island Escape collection. China Glaze nail polish can be purchased at retailers like Sally Beauty Supply and ULTA and online at Head2ToeBeauty.com, TransDesign.com and 8ty8Beauty.com. Polishes retail for $3-6/ea, depending on the vendor, for a .5oz bottle.
How do we feel about Cha Cha Cha? Did you pick up a bottle already? If not, do you plan to? How many of you would love to see Moonpool resurrected from the China Glaze graveyard? Have you found a Moonpool dupe?
Disclosure: A product sample was provided by China Glaze. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
Looks a bit like Zoya Midori as well, doesn’t it?
Oh and happy birthday ^_^
I had my doubts on picking up this collection even after all the reviews and swatches but in the end I will probably cave to my indecisiveness and get it because I do enjoy a good green in my polish collection! :). Nice swatch!!! You are my go to for all nail polish reviews because you provide dupes!!! Thank you
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! And moonpool is gorgeous, I don’t understand why companies don’t re-release these awesome colors. But I guess when NARS did it with Zulu people stopped talking about it, haha.
I like it but it seems like there would be quite a few dupes out there for it.
Have a wonderful birthday night out from a fellow Ohioan!
Where does china glaze retail for $3.00? I’ve only seen it for more.
The sites she listed, head2toebeauty and 8ty8beauty, China Glaze averages around $3 each.
OMG IT’S GORGE!!!!!!
This color is really gorgeous
I went to Sally Beauty today for Tweezers and $18 later I had a bunch of stuff including Cha Cha Cha. LOL I LOVE nail polish, but I don’t usually do greens unless it’s St. Patrick’s Day or a wreath design at Christmas. China Glaze Cha Cha Cha called to me like a siren song. I rushed home and applied 2 glistening coats. Not sure what to do next
I feel like it needs a design in another color.
What a lovely green, absolutely great for summer and spring!
Happy b’day a bit early. I had also sort of passed on this summer CG collection in my mind…but I am starting to cave also as Gabriela is. I think I need to see swatches of all the shades to really make up my mind – seeing the bottles only did not do it for me. If I were a green gal like you, I would nab this one. But alas, I can do with a smattering of greens in my collection. I mostly end up wearing the dark greens I have on my toes and like some of the khaki sort of greens I have long as they are not chalky looking…like I really am liking Da Bush by Essie – and Sew Psyched (again by Essie). Then I have some Zoya greens for some GREEN event. There are 2 other greens I have (Serena Wms. first duo release this year for the Aussie Open I think it was – fun summer toe shade)& don’t know the other one without getting it all out now. My passion seems to be all the ‘right’ reds and the ‘right’ fuchsias or purples. But I do have a smattering of pretty much everything in my way too big collection (least that is what everyone who is not a polish hound tells me). I don’t think you can ever be too thin, too rich or have too many polishes you LOVE! I can live without a zillion pair of shoes that I know many women cannot. I know what style and heal height I can wear and mine HAVE to be comfy from the get go. Polish is a lot cheaper passion than is shoes anyway I always say in defense of my ‘habit!’
I haven’t picked this one up yet, it’s a bit too sheer for my liking. That being said, it’s hard as always to resist your amazing swatches, I just might have to give it a chance
Gorgeous,and dare I say – prettier than Moonpool!
Gorgeous swatch but I can’t help but wonder if this is a dupe for Zoya Midori. You must have Midori in your stash! I volunteer to go on a fact-finding mission at lunchtime…TO THE MALL!
This reminds me of green Jolly Ranchers.
I had promised myself to be reasonable and not buy any more polish for at least a few weeks… that resolution went to pots after I saw this swatch and I now have the entire Island Escape collection coming my way
First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! And then, can you tell me if you like this mani?
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f396/solaccursio/pollice.jpg
I did it yesterday and well… I LIKE it!
Reminds me of Zoya Midori. A lot.
I’ve never been a green nails girl…but your fabulous pictures have convinced me on this one. I need some bright summery polishes and I just ordered it!
A belated Happy Birthday to you! And though I’m not really collecting these days, ChaChaCha belongs in my collection. Thanks for the post and the dupes!
I think I will definitely have to get Cha Cha Cha! That is a pretty color, it has been awhile since I had a green-unless it was turquoise. I bought Blue Iguana Monday and I love it, it went on sheer for me, so I added 2-3 more coats. Then I put China Glaze Crackle in Crushed Candy over it. It turned out very nice. Can I ask how many times a week you change your polish color?
Oh, gosh. I want the entire Island Escape collection. The green was a color I wasn’t sure if I wanted or not, but now I’m sold
It reminds me of a Sally Hansen’s Xtreme ‘Green with Envy’
And have fun in the Key West of the North (Key West is my favorite place in the world, so I imagine Put-in-Bay is just as wonderful) ^.^
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Please Enjoy!
This is gorgeous, but I’m not sure I would have given it a second thought if I hadn’t seen your swatches- I have so many light greens (I agree with 2MuchNailPolish about it resembling Zoya Midori). But the swatch tipped the scales.
And YES! I really wish China Glaze would listen to their customers and re release MoonPool!!! I still lust after that one…
I need another Helmer. Bad.
Saw this and had to run out and buy it. Now it’s begging me to try it.
I was just perusing this collection a few hours ago and already regret not picking up both greens. I got Papaya Punch-gonna look great on my toes this weekend. A little brighter on the nail than in the bottle-wish it had a little white in it. And it might before the weekend is out…in the mood for creamsicle.
I think I like Cha Cha Cha a bit better than Moon Pool because it’s brighter, though not by much. Nevertheless, I found a bottle of CG Limonyte that completely killed my lemming for Moon Pool or Cha Cha Cha lol. Do you have that one?? I’d love to see a swatch bewteen MP, CCC and L
And Happy (albeit belated) Birthday!!!! **hugs**
Well, Happy Birthday! I ordered all the glass flecks from this collection as soon as they became available (I am not much of a creme girl) and this one is SUPER! Although I don’t have Moonpool (I was still working in an office back then) I DO have the Colorama dupe and Cha Cha Cha reminds me very much of that favorite. Love all greens!
It reminds me greatly of Zoya Midori … could you perhaps throw in that comparison too? I love the colour, but would hate to buy an almost-dupe, there are too many greens out there I need yet to buy …
Thank you!
Would this color look good with medium skin? I am afraid to try it, but it looks so lovely on you. I already have Blue Iguana, Seniorita Bonita, 108 degrees, now it looks like I will have to buy this one also!! Thanks you. I have been where you are going and it’s beautiful there. Can you send us any pictures? I’m from Cleveland also, a suburb. Thanks.
Love this! Have you tried Chasing Paper by CG? It is darker in color;the application attributes are the same as you described. I don’t comment much, but I do enjoy your blog.
Oh yes, that’s a great color. I reviewed it when the Kicks collection launched a couple years ago. Thanks for coming out of the shadows to comment.
I have Cha Cha Cha on my toes right now, but I must say, I prefer darker colors on my toes. However, the color is beautiful, and I think this color will look better on my fingers. I think the formula is great; I like it when the polish is thin!
I don’t have moonpool but wet n wild sage in the city looks very close to it. Possible comparison idea?
how close is this to opi just spotted the lizard? could you post a picture of them together?
Sorry Ydelle, I don’t have that color to compare with.