Tuesday 24 June 2014

Sally Hansen 420 Pacific Blue Swatch and Review (Comparison of 2009 and 2014 formula, and bonus nail art!)

OK guys, I read my post yesterday and thought it was a bit grouchy. But that's because I woke up with a fever today and all the phlegm town and ugh. But you know, it's way better now than later this summer (#becauseweddings) so I am going to just update here and then power through the day. And by powering through the day, I actually just mean sleeping on the couch watching World Cup and most likely falling asleep. I'm kind of bummed out I'll miss out on Cheap Tuesday burgers but you know what, I won't miss out on Cheap Polish Tuesday because this one is apparently a big deal. This is Sally Hansen Pacific Blue (which can be found for $2-3 at most drugstores).

(Wait there's two?) I'll get to that in a sec.

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue Swatch

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue Bottles

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue Bottles

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue Bottles

Admittedly, I was never an original owner of Sally Hansen Pacific Blue until recently. Either of them. But last week the nail polish community (as passionate as they are), exploded over seeing that their beloved 2009 formula of Sally Hansen Pacific Blue was reformulated. Not only was it reformulated, but the colour was completely redone.

Here's why the 2009 permutation was so loved:

+ one coater blue
+ non-staining blue
+ perfect medium toned blue
+ considered a "gateway polish"
+ rumours of a marijuana scent

Alright well I can never pass up a non-staining blue - that shit is almost unheard of. So I had to try it myself. Also a one coater? OK we'll see about that one. Here's my one coat swatch of the 2009 formula of Sally Hansen Pacific Blue with no top coat:

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue Swatch

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue Swatch

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue Swatch

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue Swatch

Let's take a look at the new 2014 formula. Apparently it's "disgusting and runny and terrible". Here's two coats of the *new* Sally Hansen Pacific Blue:

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue Swatch

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue Swatch

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue Swatch

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue Swatch

If you haven't caught onto the differences, here's a comparison swatch. One coater 2009 original Pacific Blue creme on my index and ring, and two coats of the *new* 2014 Pacific Blue:

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue Swatch

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue Swatch

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue Swatch

CLAW of CTHULHU'S VERDICT: OK guys I get it. The 2009 Pacific Blue polish is awesome - it's just like you said - a non-staining, one coater perfect medium toned blue creme. I am definitely biased towards creme polishes. They're so versatile for use of nail art. I can see why it was called a "gateway polish" to get into the hobby because the formula is very sleek and allowed for so many creative endeavors into the hobby. Did it smell like marijuana? Ehhhh I dunno about that. I think if you look hard enough for it, you can smell it but it doesn't smell like straight up marijuana. (Yes I would know this because BC Bud, you know.)

Now the 2014 formula... Guys, let's be real. It's not as shitty as you guys are making it out to be. I don't like it. It's not my kind of blue, it's definitely not something I would go out of my way to buy. The formula is a two coater - which is honestly pretty standard for most of the polishes I own! I'm not a huge fan of polishes that have a hint of shimmer to them either. I definitely don't care for it much and the 2014 formula will never be a good nail art polish.

My personal final stance is mostly indifference. As an Essence fan, we see polishes in their line come and go, and some of them being great formulas as well. I feel that Sally Hansen should have gone one of two routes: 1) Completely discontinue Sally Hansen Pacific Blue 2009 formula; or 2) Continue producing Sally Hansen Pacific Blue in its 2009 permutation and introducing the "2014 Pacific Blue" as its own entity. Not 420 Pacific Blue. That really sucks for fans of Pacific Blue who are really gung ho. I would be pissed off too.

As a bonus, generally one coaters fare well as stamping polish and I think Pacific Blue did fairly decent over top of white, at least. I think that was pushing it a bit. Still, it reminds me of those white and blue chinaware! I used Nailz Craze NC03 and NC06 for these.

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue Nail Art

Sally Hansen Pacific Blue Nail Art

For whatever reason, I actually ended up buying two back-ups of Pacific Blue (2009 formula) (I feel like I shouldn't have to clarify that one haha). If I had to be honest with myself, I truly buy stuff when I am stressed out and the next month is definitely stressful.

What do you make of the great Pacific Blue debacle? Do you feel like people are making something of nothing? Is Pacific Blue one of your gateway polishes?

13 comments:

  1. ugh i think your blog ate my comment :( trying this one in case.

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  2. yup. anyway i am kinda too lazy to type my long saga about pacific blue up again but... love that nail art, super pretty!

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    1. Aw it's a shame - I always love hearing your take on things. Stupid Blogger. I want to install another commenting system but I would lose all my old comments. :<

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  3. I hadn't gotten to owning Pacific Blue until the drama just because I already have soooo many of those blues and since it was permanent I didn't have a drive to buy it like other polishes. Then when the drama came up I scooped up two bottles (will probably get a few more my next paycheck because I'm crazy...) because it's a color I know that I will always LOVE.

    The only problem I have with this is that instead of discontinuing the color or at least issuing a "warning" that it was about to be changed they just did it. Then it took them pretty long to issue an explanation. Their explanation was also extremely weak if you ask me. Super saturated blues are ALWAYS trendy, that's why there are sooo many dupes for this. /rant. I don't really plan on getting the new version because I already have a dupe for it in my stash most likely. :p

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    1. Do you know the outcome of this whole drama? It looks like it was swept under the rug after they posted a "We hear you out" post on Instagram.

      But you're right - the colour is a classic - it's something I'll always love too. (I ended up buying 3 bottles total, whoops.) The new colour is pretty plain and boring and doesn't interest me. I love a solid CREME. No shimmer, no nothing. Give me my classic.

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  4. I like both blues but I can see how you prefer the older one. Beautiful stamping!

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    1. It's so rare to find a decent stamping polish from off the shelf. I still find that nothing prints better than Konad. So crisp.

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  5. I don't own this polish, but I can see how die-hard fans would be upset. These 2 are not the same at all. I agree with you to either discontinue the original altogether, or continue it and name this new one something else. But to keep the same name is just wrong, especially when the colour is different.

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    1. I think you'd love it Chantal! You should totally pick one up if you spot it. :D

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  6. Hey Mel! I read you often I just don't always comment :P
    About this whole Pacific Blue thing, at first I was like oh come on it's not that big of a deal....like you've said all brands do this, they change formulas, discontinue colors, etc However I do think it's annoying and it's nice to see everyone come together and protest!
    I just bought Pacific Blue (original) last weekend and yes it's great. So I might even end up doing a mani for the collab :D
    I loved the nail art you did!!!

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    1. Aw thanks - I appreciate all the comments everyone leaves even if I don't respond to them right away (in this case... almost 2 months... sigh, bad nail blogger, bad).

      Did you ever find the outcome to this story? I did a quick Google but didn't find any official word from Sally Hansen.

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  7. The fact that they're called 420 just cracks me up. But err, yeah, I love the colour and I'm impressed by how it doesn't stain!

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    1. I love that people thinks it smells like 420 BLAZE IT. It doesn't really... Unless you look for it, I think.

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