COVERGIRL The Capitol Collection Outlast Nail Glosstinis for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Ever since it was announced that COVERGIRL was partnering with the latest installment of The Hunger Games movie franchise, Catching Fire, I’ve been on the edge of my seat to see what it would bring in terms of nails. COVERGIRL released teaser images of a couple The Hunger Games: Catching Fire inspired looks but there was no actual details on the nail polish until now.
COVERGIRL The Capitol Collection Glosstinis
You all know how I flipped for the first set of The Hunger Games nail polishes from China Glaze so I was curious to see what COVERGIRL would bring to the nail table for this epic film series. Continuing the trend of releasing seasonal/limited edition shades in mini Outlast Glosstinis, COVERGIRL’s The Capitol Collection, introduces nine sparkling shades inspired by the film.
Formula & Application: COVERGIRL Outlast Glosstinis are 5-Free (Formaldehyde, DBP, Toluene, Formaldehyde Resin & Camphor) and come in a mini version of the full-size square bottle, similar to Chanel bottles. And like Chanel bottles (and their full-size counterparts), the outer black plastic cap is removable, revealing a ribbed, round cap. Thankfully, the mini size doesn’t mean a mini brush. The same round, short, medium width brush with flexible bristles from the full-size version made it to the mini bottles. The stem is just shorter.
This is the first time I’ve worn a COVERGIRL polish with a foil/fleck finish and unlike the uber-pigmented cremes, these are a bit more sheer with a thinner texture. Midnight Magic from the core lineup has a similar finish and pigmentation.
They flow easily on the nail, offering excellent control and self-leveling capabilities, drying with a super glossy finish. And even though they are sheer, they are buildable, becoming opaque with three coats. There is one exception, Scalding Emerald, which really needs four coats.
Despite its name, COVERGIRL Black Heat is actually a blackened forest green packed with gold and green metallic flecks. I liken it to Ciate Twilight though Black Heat is a touch darker. It has a creamier feel than the rest of the polishes due to its dark base.
COVERGIRL Black Heat
COVERGIRL Flamed Out is an electric orange glass-fleck. It’s a little deeper, and more tangerine than say, Color Club Sparkle and Soar but they’re cut from the same cloth.
COVERGIRL Flamed Out
COVERGIRL Inferno is a warm maroon with gold and bronze metallic flecks. It’s got a similar feel to OPI DS Indulgence or Music Hall Curtain Call without the overall bronze-y finish. The maroon peeks out through the flecks to maintain its redness.
COVERGIRL Inferno
COVERGIRL Pyro Pink is more intense in person that it photographs. It’s an icy fuchsia glass fleck with pops of pale blue and magenta. I really don’t have anything like it in my collection.
COVERGIRL Pyro Pink
COVERGIRL Rogue Red is a fiery orange-y red with golden metallic flecks. Zoya Kimmy has a similar base color and finish to Rogue Red but I wouldn’t call them dupes. Rogue Red is a bit warmer overall.
COVERGIRL Rogue Red
COVERGIRL Scalding Emerald has an extremely sheer smoky base filled with blue, green, gold and bronze metallic flecks. They create an overall look that reminds me of MAC Green Brown Pigment. I just wish it wasn’t so sheer. I used four coats on my ring finger and three coats on my other two fingers and you can see my nail through the color.
COVERGIRL Scalding Emerald
COVERGIRL Seared Bronze is a muddy bronze filled with brownish-red and gold metallic flecks. It’s pretty much a dead-on dupe for OPI Warm & Fozzie so if you missed out on that shade, here’s your chance.
COVERGIRL Seared Bronze
COVERGIRL Sulfur Blaze is a golden yellow foil metallic shimmer. It has a similar finish as Color Club Daisy Does It only Daisy is much softer and lemon-y in comparison.
COVERGIRL Sulfur Blaze
COVERGIRL Violet Flicker is a grape slushie type hue with flecks of royal purple and azure blue. I keep feeling like I’ve seen a color like this before but for the life of me, I can’t think of what it is. Any ideas?
COVERGIRL Violet Flicker
The Capitol Collection also includes six Lipslicks Smoochies Sizzle Glosses, Flamed Up Mega Curl Mascara and six patterns of COVERGIRL Nail Stickers. Each design has a clear background so you can layer it over your polish to add flames, arrows etc.
COVERGIRL The Capitol Collection Nail Stickers
Bottom Line: As much as I love a smooth sparkle, and I really do, I wish there was more diversity in finishes in this collection. That being said, there are some standout colors here. Black Heat is simply stunning and Sulfur Blaze and Flamed Out represent the franchise really well while delivering hot pops of color. Even though reds aren’t really my thing, I’m struck by Inferno. Scalding Emerald didn’t live up to expectations due to its sheerness. The rest are solid but not my jam.
COVERGIRL The Capitol Collection Outlast Glosstinis are limited edition and available now at drugstores and mass retailers nationwide. To find a retailer near you, visit COVERGIRL.com. They cost anywhere between $2.99-$3.79/ea for a .11oz bottle. The Nail Stickers retail for $6.99-8.99, depending on the retailer.
So what do we think of this latest installment of The Hunger Games nail polishes? Did the Captiol Collection live up to your expectations? Which colors do you plan to pick up?
COVERGIRL created looks based on each district using The Captiol Collection and existing products. They’re unveiling new districts from now through October 7th in the Capitol Beauty Studio with instructions on how to get each look. Visit COVERGIRL.com/Catching-Fire for more.
Disclosure: Samples were provided by reps for COVERGIRL though I couldn’t contain my excitement and bought four shades as soon as they were on shelves. Affiliate links appear via a third party link service. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
Violet Flicker looks a lot like ORLY Galaxy Girl to me.
You know, I think that’s the color I was thinking of. THANK YOU! Though I have NO idea where my bottle went.
I love the colors and I really love that Cover Girl nail polishes are affordable.
Agreed! I’m so glad they took the time to retool their polishes. The old ones in the triangular bottles were, putting it mildly, not great.
Oh WOW! I am going to be making a HUGE Cover Girl purchase! All of these are amazing, and I love the Outlast polish formula. Pretty sure I’ll pick up a couple of the lippies, too!
I have yet to play with the lippies. I’m not much of a gloss girl though I do like the Smoochies Lipslicks tinted lip balms.
I’m so bored by these. It has nothing to do with your application or photos, just the polishes. I’ve had three of them since last week and just… blah. I prefer the CG collection. The makeup is weak too; a lot of it is just permanent collection stuff jammed into a Hunger Games display.
I appreciate your honest feedback. I haven’t seen full displays yet. Just one small one so I didn’t realize there was a lot of perm products being used. Though considering that they created specific beauty looks for each district, it makes sense to use perm colors so people can create them long after the LE products are gone. Even some of the nail looks incorporate core colors.
would LOVE to see black heat next to china glaze wagon wheel. i have that on my nails now and they seem like they might be close, without the flecks.
You’re right, they are similar with the exception of the flecks. I pulled it when I was looking for dupes and because of how fine the shimmer is, the overall look is more golden olive than Black Heat.
I literally gasped when I saw inferno. I must have it.
Wait til you see it in person. EVEN BETTER! I’m wearing it right now and don’t want to take it off.
I went out to find it at lunch and no luck. So I will hunt for it this weekend.
No kidding! It looks even better on than I was hoping! I grabbed it and about five others lol, the black, green, bronze, violet, pink and Inferno.
Violet Flicker actually reminds me of Orly Fowl Play if the flakies were glass fleck instead.
Black Heat and Flamed Out look a lot like polishes from the first Hunger Games collection (Smoke and Ashes and Riveting). I realize they’re not actually dupes but it still seems like a weird move.
Definitely getting Inferno, personally the rest of these are either not up my alley or too close to something else I already have (though shout out to Warm & Fozzie–it’s still one of my favorites and I’d recommend anybody pick this up if they missed it).
Interesting observation. I don’t have Fowl Play so I haven’t seen it in person but thanks for sharing. I would definitely love to hear the back story of how this collection was created/concepted.
It does look similar to Fowl Play, good call. I have both now and will have to do a side by side. I personally love most of these, mostly because I don’t have other dupes (besides that one perhaps) and love the small size and affordable price! Really fun collection for me. I don’t recall seeing the stickers or decals which is weird though, will have to check another Rite Aid or CVS. Some I went to only had a ‘mini ‘ display where another store had a larger setup.
I happened onto this swatchfest of the new Hunger Games selection rather late after finding some of these colors at my local Fred Meyer last night, and had to comment. I love the look of them so far but haven’t painted with them yet. I didn’t much feel the need to get Black Heat when I saw it but am now hoping to be able to go back for it. I get what Marie is saying in a sense, as both Black Heat and Smoke & Ashes are black bases, but Smoke & Ashes has a blue-green colored fleck that I was mildly disappointed in, as it didn’t POP as much as I had hoped. After seeing the swatch of Black Heat, I REALLY want it now!!
I think I’m more excited about the decals! Esp Red Hot Rebellion and Seared Bronze. I think they’d look great over black heat, my pick from the collection. But overall a nice theme.
I agree! I need to hunt down the stickers. I just hope they’re thin and flexible enough to lay flat on my oddly curved nails.
Been wondering about these. Thank you for the great pictures of these. Sadly, the ones I wanted, I have close enough dupes for.
You’re welcome! And even though they’re uber-affordable, I’m sure your wallet appreciates the dupes.
Michelle, could Violet Flicker be reminding you of China Glaze Grape Juice?
Wish I could have seen your meet ‘n’ greet in Cleveland!
That’s what I originally thought of but the base color is so different. And I wish I could have met you too!
I’m honestly not a fan of this collection. I feel like I’ve seen a lot of these colors before :/ Great swatches though!
Thanks Beth! I get what you’re saying. This type of finish has been used a lot in the past few years by OPI, ORLY, China Glaze and Zoya, among others so it’s hard to make a truly innovative color at this point.
Black Heat is so intriguing. Wow.
I was so disappointed when I saw these in person, but I like Seared Bronze after seeing your swatch! I’ll probably pick that one up since I don’t have the OPI one.
Is it just me or do the oranges, especially Flamed Out, look exactly like China Glaze Riveting from the Capitol Colors collection?
I’m just not feeling the nail polishes (this coming from a nail polish junkie and someone who bought 8/12 colors from the Capitol Color collection. YEA.
I must say, these are ok, but the China Glaze collection was so much nicer and a lot more diverse.
Is Black Heat similar to OPI Live and Let Die?
I wish I had that color to compare but I missed out on the Bond collection last year.
I was thinking either OPI Live and Let Die or Laura Mercier Bewitched? From your photos Bewitched looks like a cooler version of this idea, perhaps with a darker base? Just picked up 3 of these and I have yet to pull out comparison shades. Love the ones I got so far- Scalding Emerald was good at 3 coats for me. Inferno and Black Heat- pretty. Thinking of going back for some others. Nice collection!
Just pulled Live and LEt Die for a compare. I’d say that Live and Let Die has a cooler, pine green base, more opaque with cooler greenish flakes that flash gold at times. Black Heat has a smokier, sheerer, more jelly warm base with the larger flakes, gold and green just as Michelle described. The end result- Black Heat way warmer toned, OPI cooler, more piney green than forest green. Hope it helps.
Thank you!
Scalding Emerald is my favorite. I don’t have anything like it and I could put up with the sheernesss.
I am fine with the sheerness- it was ok 4 me at 3 coats. Thing about the sheerness- for me it was what allowed for a sort of multichrome color payoff. Sheerness allows light to reflect and in some lights it will flash different color, or different at the edges. Surprised and impressed at the complexity of this polish at a drug store price point.
I really like Black Heat and Inferno (and might consider Violet Flicker), but a lot of these seem like they’ve been done before (the orange and the yellow in particular). Too bad Scalding Emerald is so sheer, because it’s a very interesting polish. Your swatches are so pretty, though.
Thanks Cat! I agree, the colors aren’t overly original. But we are pretty jaded after the China Glaze collection, that was such a hit.
I like this collection. I think the colors are fun. I already bought Rogue Red and Sulfur Blaze. I am planning on getting some others too. I do wish they had bigger bottles though. Has anyone found the decals yet? I have been to CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Target and only some have the new colors and none have the decals. I think the flames would look really awesome over some of the colors.
I’m looking for the decals too. I WISH I knew where to find them.
Hey There
Do you know when these colors will be available locally in the Cleveland area? I can’t wait to try them. I’m wondering if Violet Flicker is similar to Julep Ciara at all.
They’re out now. I’ve seen them at all the major drugstore chains. The CVS at Cedar & Green had all the nail polishes while some of the smaller displays only have a few.
OMG, I want everything!
I actually have Riveting from the China Glaze (anyone else notice CG could be either China Glaze OR Cover Girl??) collection on right now and Red Rogue looks very very similar. I don’t really love any of these colors. They all just seem a little…off. And I agree the repetitive finish is boring. I feel China Glaze put a lot more thought into theirs with the variety of finishes and tying the colors in with the districts…
*Rogue Red. My bad
Has anyone been able to locate these in Canada yet? I’m in Toronto and have been rather obsessively checking each shopper’s drug mart I drive past, but so far, no luck–and I’m eager for the Games to begin
Hopefully someone can help. I’m still on the hunt for the stickers.
I hadn’t planned on getting any of these, but now I somehow have 7 of them and back ups of 4 of those.
I would never wear them alone, too sheer…and the bottles are seriously TINY. However, I tried them over black and dark brown, then mattified and was in awe of how pretty they look. (Hence the back ups) There is something really special about how all the colors pop when I used the matte top coat. My favorites are Inferno, Emerald, Searing and the Violet one.
Love, love, love these! Huge fan of this type of finish! Being totally honest though, if I had to name a con of the “Glosstinis”, it would have to be the price point. Don’t get me wrong, $2.99 – $3.79 is very reasonable…if you were getting a “normal”, or at least a bit bigger, sized bottle of polish. I realize sizes are all over the place nowadays, but I usually consider .50oz (15ml) “full size”. With these at .11oz (3.5ml) it’s just a tiny bit over 1/5 of a “regular” bottle. Just feel like price could be a bit less for such a small bottle. Still love the colors though! So bummed I missed meeting you!!!
I get what you’re saying about the size and I’m sure if you calculated it out, it’s not the best value compared to a full-size bottle. I just like the mini size and that they’re a cheap thrill.
“Seared Bronze” is my favorite of the bunch…and I never looked twice at the Muppets collection (I wasn’t as big a collector then…I since regret that. Rainbow Connection…! Thank goodness for the JulieG dupe. Actually, some of these polishes look very similar to some of my JulieG’s like “Beach Bonfire” and “Pink Tiara.”) I don’t know if I NEED most of these because I have so many similar things,hmm! Love the nail stickers, though! Perfect for a movie premiere! 105 is my favorite.
I have yet to find the stickers anywhere. It’s driving me crazy. I’ve seen three different displays and none of them had the stickers or a space for the stickers. UGH!
yeah, up here in canada many drugstores have the displays–but the space in the displays where the nailpolish should be are just stocked with colours from the ordinary outlast nail line! No glosstini’s in sight, and DEFINITELY no stickers. and none of the SA’s seem to have any idea what i’m talking about when I ask. I’m beginning to become concerned that this collection is going to bypass us entirely
They have an endcap at Walmart with just the polishes, and they are $2.97 each there. I already picked up Violet Flicker and Scalding Emerald. (Also bought a backup bottle of Scalding Emerald because I am in love with it!) Based on your swatches I am going to snag Pyro Pink and Inferno as well. IMO, Scalding Emerald is worth the 4 coats!!! I’ve worn it as a manicure 3 times already! I love the mix of colors and the slight duochrome effect!
I haven’t found these anywhere in colorado. The only hunger games item I have found is the mascara. I’m very disappointed.
the only place I’ve able to find them in Atlanta is at CVS.
Walgreens. They are also doing a deal to where if you spend $20 on Covergirl you get a free movie ticket to Catching Fire.
Beyond being disappointed that a brand that isn’t cruelty-free is doing the Hunger Games collection, I think it’s pretty weak in comparison to the one China Glaze did. Black Heat looks nice (I have a Halloween color very close to it but I can’t think of the name) but the rest are really uninspired.
There is a Covergirl coupon for $1.50 off two CG nail products. That should help the wallet
So sparkly I love them! Black heat is my favourite, and I think it reminds me a lot of Maybelline’s Twilight Rays.
Thanks for your swatches!
While I totally get that it isn’t your thing, I was really pleased that they’re all the same texture so I can try some layered combos. I finally got my hands on the remaining 6 I was missing this evening and want to try a flame-inspired ombre with the yellow, orange and red… fun to be able to try it out without spending $30+ on just 3 polishes.
Michelle, Thank you for the great swatches! I have 6 of the polishes from this collection. I didn’t think I needed Inferno, but now that I’ve seen your swatches… I DO!! I just used Scalding Emerald last night and I wonder if they changed the formula or something. Mine was almost opaque with one coat. I put two on just to even things out. So odd! I can’t wait to try Black Heat. It’s so stunning!
Interesting that yours gave that kind of coverage. I wonder if the sample bottles are different. Hmm…
Really enjoyed reading your reviews on these. I had purchased Scalding Emerald and Violet Flicker just because I am a huge fan of greens and purples. After reading your review I went out and purchased the rest. Scalding Emerald is a little sheer but was able to get a really cool Ombre look with it.
https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/p480x480/1380211_10153400172810422_757777681_n.jpg
Very cool! Thanks for sharing your picture.
Agreed! I
I’m wearing Rogue Red now and I had to use a matte top coat on it because it was so bright and shiny. I hated it but liked the color effect. It’s much better with the matte finish.
I’m wearing Rogue Red right now and I love the color and the application was a dream, but I’m finding it’s not super durable. I properly base and top coated and still had noticeable tip wear within 24 hours and within 48, some cracking and chipping. Granted, I’m fairly hard on my nails, but I was hoping the “Outlast” was more substance, less hype! It’s not severe, not is it a deal breaker, just a slight disappointment.
Bummer about the cracking and chipping. Considering that it’s built to be worn without base or top, it’s disappointing to hear that it wore so poorly for you. I’ve always had good luck with the COVERGIRL Outlast polishes. Heck, I wore my Browns manicure for almost a week with no real tip wear.