Mint nails Overload!

Hello everyone!
Hope you 're all doing well! :)

So, I 'm sure that all of you are aware by now how big a trend pastel nail polish has been this season. We 've all been bombarded with lilacs, pale peaches, some pastel blues and yellows, and, of course, mints - and lots of them!
It's obviously not such a new trend though, MAC Peppermint Patti led the way, followed by Chanel Jade, last spring and fall respectively. And since then, almost every brand has released a mint toned nail polish, from the higher end to the drugstore ones.

Now, it would be virtually impossible for me to get all of them (although I 'm curious as to how Illamasqua Milf and Revlon Minted would compare to the following), so I opted for this little selection:




Minty goodness, huh? Ok, let's break it down:




Barry M No.304 - "Mint Green". One of the very first mint greens - I 'm sure that almost all of the UK ladies own this (and I owe the lovely Lydia a big "thank you" for mine). The colour is a bit to the greener side when compared to the rest. Now, as far as the formula is concerned, it's pretty much a winner in my eyes: it dries fast and leaves no ugly streaks. Yes, it may need a third coat to look like the picture, but it dries so quickly, that it's not an issue. All in all, a great nail polish.




China Glaze "Re-Fresh Mint". This came out with China Glaze's "Up and Away" collection for Spring 2010. Now, personally, I 'm not thrilled about this one. I do appreciate that it goes opaque after two coats, but I strongly dislike the shade: it's like Tipp-Ex with a... "hint of mint" (never thought I 'd quote Carrie Bradshaw here, but whatever)! It's definitely not flattering on my nails, but perhaps someone with a tan/darker skintone could rock this? It could make an interesting contrast, in theory at least.




OPI "Hey! Get in Lime!". This was released a few years back (Brights 2006 I think), and, to my knowledge, it's discontinued. I got mine on ebay, probably for a lot more than what it cost, but still cheaper than what OPI sells for in Greece. It's a lovely mint shade, not too green or too blue. It applies similarly to the Barry M one, in that it's sheer at first and needs 3 coats as well (older OPI formula), but it's so pretty, I 'm willing to put up with it!




Essie "Mint Candy Apple". Released last winter, as part of Essie's "Sweet Time of the Year" collection, this one is the blue-est of the lot. It's almost like a minty turquoise. The application is good, but not perfect: it applies fairly opaque after two coats, but it is somewhat streaky. It's nice to own though, a nice change from the greener mints, and probably one that works for the majority of skintones.


Here's a little comparison:

Index finger: Essie Mint Candy Apple
Middle finger: OPI Hey! Get in Lime!
Ring finger: China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint
Pinky: Barry M Mint Green

Obviously, mint nails are not to everyone's taste, and even if you like the idea, it can be somewhat tricky to find the perfect shade for your undertones - I just hope I 've helped someone with this post.
Apparently the right one for me is a sheer and discontinued one, figures!!!

So, do tell guys, have you tried a mint toned nail polish? :)