China Glaze Cirque du Soleil (Pic Heavy)

*This is going to be probably one of the most comprehensive posts I've ever done here, so be prepared for information overload!

I have not been impressed with China Glaze the past few years. There collections have not moved me, and if I do pick up something new from them it's usually months after the fact. When I started seeing bottle pics of the Cirque du Soleil collection I got really excited. I loved the combination of colors. It was bright, fun, and whimsical. I heard a lot of people say these were dupey colors. I had a feeling they might of been, but I still wanted them. This collection just spoke to me...lol..it did! I ordered 9 of the 12 from an Victoria Nail Supply on Tuesday, and I received them by Friday! The polishes I did not pick up were Whirled Away, Def Defying, and Get Carried Away. I know some of these were standouts to you all, but I did not see myself using them. The rest of the colors I did purchase.

This is how this post is going to work--(lol I'm dorky and have an agenda!)

1. Swatches and review

2. Color comparisons on nail wheels

3. Finals thoughts

Swatches and Review:

Bend Over Backwards

Bend Over Backwards is glowing slightly orange-toned red shimmer.

This is beautiful shimmer. It really glows. The application was smooth and easy to apply. I used 2 coats here. 

It's a Trap-eze

It's a Trap-eze is a white cream base with muilt-colored glitter mixed in.

I found this a bit tricky to work with. This was 3 coats. I felt that the base was heavier than the glitter, this made it difficult to get an even application between coats because the glitter sat up higher than the base. (I hope that makes sense!) 

Surreal Appeal

Surreal Appeal is a bright pink-toned coral creme.

This is a beautiful color and a great coral. The application was good on this one too. 

Hanging in the Balance

Hanging in the Balance is a bright cerulean blue creme.

I had difficulty photographing this one. It a little darker than is shown here. This a very saturated blue. The formula on this was somewhat thin, and I found it flooded my cuticles easily if I was not careful.

Igniting Love

Igniting Love is a bright slightly orange-toned red creme.

Great rich bright red color with this one. The formula was perfect on it!

Running in Circles

Running in Circles is super sparkly bright green glass fleck.

Stunning. Gorgeous. You need this one, it sparkles and shimmers so brightly!

Escaping Reality

Escaping Reality is a neon raspberry creme.

A great neon shade. I wouldn't classify it as like highlighter neon, if you know what I mean, it's not eye blaring bright. The formula on this was good.

Water You Waiting For

Water You Waiting For is a mixture of micro aqua, medium blue, and indigo glitter in sheer blue base.

This is another beauty. I love the combination of the cool colored glitters. This was 3 coats and the formula was easy to work with.

Creative Fantasy

Creative Fantasy is a neon grape jelly.

The color is awesome, but this formula is one of the worst I've come across in a polish. It is sheer, uneven, and very very messy. This took 4 coats, and 5 coats on my ring finger and index finger to reach opacity. It's ridiculous. It does dry matte, I don't care for that so I added top coat.

Comparisons: 

These comparisons are done on nail wheels using colors I found in my collection that looked either similar or dupey to the colors in the collection. These are just the polishes I have, if you do not see something you think is similar that doesn't mean it isn't similar, it's just I do not have it.

Bend Over Backwards

L-R: 
China Glaze Riveting, China Glaze Bend over Backwards, and Sinful Colors Serena & Chloe

There are no dupes or similarities among these three. Bend Over Backwards is more red-toned and has a condensed shimmer.

Escaping Reality

L-R:
Sinful Colors Cream Pink & China Glaze Escaping Reality

SC Cream Pink was the closest color I had in my collection to Escaping Reality. The difference here is Cream Pink has a shimmer, while Escaping Reality is a creme. I would say that this color is probably easily dupeable, I just don't have a comparable color in my collection.

Surreal Appeal

L-R:
China Glaze Sugar High, China Glaze Surreal Appeal, Avon Coral Reef

China Glaze Sugar High is more pink than Surreal Appeal. I think Avon Coral Reef and Surreal Appeal are dupes, but the China Glaze formula was easier to work with, and would probably be easier to find.

Water You Waiting For

L-R:
Nicole by OPI Kendall on the Katwalk & China Glaze Water You Waiting For 

The only difference between these two is the darkest glitter in NOPI Kendall on the Katwalk is slightly more purple than the darkest color in Water You Waiting For which is more blue. The only way I noticed this is if I practically had my nose up to this polish, from a distance I could not tell a difference between the two.

Creative Fantasy

 L-R:
Urban Outfitters Bandeau, China Glaze Creative Fantasy, and L.A. Girl Disco Brites Hustle

Urban Outfitters Bandeau and L.A. Girl Hustle are both a tinge darker than Creative Fantasy. The formulas on the Urban Outfitters and the L.A. Girl are FAR FAR superior to the China Glaze. I'd recommend purchasing the Urban Outfitters or the L.A. Girl (you can find it on Cherry Culture) instead of Creative Fantasy if you like this color.

Hanging in the Balance

L-R:
Color Club Chelsea Girl, China Glaze Hanging in the Balance, and OPI Ogre the Top Blue

Again, these were hard to photograph. OPI Ogre the Top Blue is a tinge lighter than Hanging in the Balance, but at a distance I was not able to tell a difference at all. Color Club Chelsea blue is lighter is more neon than the others.

Running in Circles

L-R:
Zoya Ivanka & China Glaze Running in Circles

Zoya Ivanka is more sheer and more of a blue-toned green. China Glaze Running in Circles is not sheer and is more of a true green.

Igniting Love

L-R:
Sinful Colors Energetic Red, China Glaze Igniting Love, and Essie Too Too Hot

Honestly, in real life I could not tell the difference at all between these 3. If you have either the Sinful Colors the Essie, or even a color you think is similar you do not need Igniting Love.

Final Thoughts: 

Clearly, many of your suspicions about these being dupey colors were correct. The only color you did not see a comparison of was It's a Trap-eze simply because I have nothing remotely similar.

• I'd say out of the ones I reviewed I'd be comfortable telling you to get Running in Circles and It's a Trap-eze for sure. 
• I'd say maybe on Surreal Appeal and Bend Over Backwards because while I do not have (I'm not counting the Avon because it's not as easily accessible) exact dupes, I'm not convinced these are really unique.
•  I'd say if you love Creative Fantasy if at all possible try to find the Urban Outfitters or L.A. Girl color instead because you will be happier with the formula.
• If you already have NOPI Kendall on the Katwalk you can pass on Water You Waiting For
• Escaping Reality, Hanging in the Balance, Igniting Love are really dupeable, if you have a ton of nail polish you probably already have colors like these. You can pass on them. 

Am I disappointed I got these in hindsight? No not really. I really like this as a cohesive collection, and despite the bad formula on Creative Fantasy I liked the formula on the others. Most likely, I'd get rid of the dupey counterparts and keep this China Glaze ones. It was really fun doing a post like this, but really time consuming!!! I hope you all liked this post, and it helped saved you money!

You can find more comparisons on The PolishAholic, she also has the colors I did not purchase.

Happy Tuesday!