▼

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

'Good' Emerald Sparkle versus 'Bad' Emerald Sparkle

A *lot* of people have been asking me about the two different versions of Emerald Sparkle, and I totally didn't realize I actually had pictures of both.
Here's the 'good' Emerald Sparkle. This bottle happens to be the 2009 release, but it's identical to the original 2008 release. Note how it's bright green glitter in a very deep, dark vampy green jelly base.

Here's the 'bad' Emerald Sparkle. This is also from 2008, but after the original release. When it first came out, it was a limited edition and everyone went bananas over it and it sold out in... how long did it take? Days? Hours? Either way it sold out very quickly. Word from China Glaze was that there wouldn't be any more produced since it was limited edition for holiday. Then, a few weeks later, there was some new stock of Emerald Sparkle at the various etailers and beauty supplies and it looked like this. The glitter is the same color, but it's in kind of a murky medium bluey-green base. Not a deep green jelly like the original. The glitter in this one didn't look as sparkly either. For what it's worth, I haven't seen this version since I bought it in late 2008. I have purchased several bottles since then (gotta have backups, man!) and they've all been the 'good' version.

Eventually I'll dig out the bad bottle and the good bottles and do a side by side, but this set of two pictures speaks for itself. There are two versions of Emerald Sparkle in existence. There's only officially been one version, and the off batch was attributed to uneven batch mixing, or so I've heard.

Sometimes companies do release inconsistent batches, it's really not totally unheard of. The main one that comes to mind is the notorious OPI My Private Jet, of which I own two slightly different versions but have seen in person a third variation and have also seen pictures of at least one additional variation. I don't know why or how it happens- formula was slightly off during production? Pigments were discontinued? Who knows... But it's very odd, and sometimes a bit frustrating.

I swear I own two different versions of Ruby Pumps and Purple Panic as well. *cue Twilight Zone theme*
at

44 comments:

  1. HeavenNRJDecember 2, 2009 at 12:45 AM

    Is Nr 28843 written on both polishes? How can we spot the difference before ordering? I guess etailers don't understand the "difference in undertones" thingy. :) Basically, it's pure luck, right? :) And I'm already waiting for mine to arrive... I really hope it's not the one with the "bluey-green base"... :/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Megan (A Polish Problem)December 2, 2009 at 12:47 AM

    Thank you so much for this. For some reason, I was convinced I had the "bad" ES. Now, that I see your pics, I see mine is actually the "good" ES. Yay! Thanks again. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownDecember 2, 2009 at 12:47 AM

    zomg, now that is a biiiiig difference. i would be pretty pissed if i got the "bad" version expecting the delicious radiance of the "good" ES. i'm not gonna lie tho, it's still not bad lookin :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. AstasiaDecember 2, 2009 at 1:01 AM

    Scrangie Thanks for this post! i'm searching for the good emerald sparkle and you have explaing me the diffrence between the two version.
    In effect i have seen on another polish blog the "bad" version and i don't understand why it was SO different from yours...
    Now i have understand!
    Thanks!
    Astasia

    ReplyDelete
  5. NatalieDecember 2, 2009 at 1:35 AM

    Wow, that's a HUGE difference!

    You mentioned My Private Jet...I've seen at LEAST 4 different versions of that color.

    ReplyDelete
  6. MaestraDecember 2, 2009 at 1:39 AM

    Yay, I have the good version! Thanks for posting this.

    ReplyDelete
  7. NoraDecember 2, 2009 at 2:11 AM

    Thank you for clearing this issue, I am lucky I got two of the good version, never seen the bad one.

    ReplyDelete
  8. emmajoyDecember 2, 2009 at 2:14 AM

    If you hadn't compared them side-by-side, the "bad" version actually doesn't look that bad! But I'm glad I have the "good" version. Thanks for this!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beauty ShedDecember 2, 2009 at 3:04 AM

    wow the 'good' emerald sparkle looks stunning especially on your nails, it looks like a really festive colour !!

    ReplyDelete
  10. AgentKayDecember 2, 2009 at 5:48 AM

    Man, that's a huge difference! The "bad" version actually looks more turquiose, almost like Watermelon Rind in your pics - it's pretty but nothing compared to the "good" version.

    I actually had to resort to ebay a few months ago before it was re-released (I got impatient :p) and it is still sitting as an untried. I hope mine is the "good" version... will have to try it this weekend :)

    Thanks for the pics - your swatches are just delicious as always!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm Just a GirlDecember 2, 2009 at 6:07 AM

    I own three different versions of Purple Panic...and it irks me to no end. I'm just happy that I bought the 'good' Emerald Sparkle...I can't wait to do my Christmas mani!

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousDecember 2, 2009 at 7:18 AM

    I'm not sure which one I like better! The original looks cool, but I think the 'bad' one looks even better! :D

    ReplyDelete
  13. ColetteDecember 2, 2009 at 7:24 AM

    That's more of a difference that I expected. I'd seen a comparison before that showed 2 version with 2 different numbers on the label (HERE at Nail of the Week) & I thought I had the "bad" version, but those 2 were nearly identical & yours shows the real bad version. Thanks for the swatches =)

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousDecember 2, 2009 at 8:19 AM

    and i was wondering my ES turned out looking so UGLY..

    ReplyDelete
  15. KatieDecember 2, 2009 at 8:48 AM

    Now I feel like I have to dig up my Emerald Sparkle to discover which one I have, and whether or not I need to order the 2009 Emerald Sparkle. You always inspire me to greater heights of indebtedness. :p

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousDecember 2, 2009 at 9:45 AM

    Yay! I have the good one too, but the "bad" one isn't all that bad...it's just not as festive. I also have the good MPJ, and boy am I hanging on to that one for as long as possible!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Pink SithDecember 2, 2009 at 9:47 AM

    Humm. Now I wonder which one I have. I might have the bad one. :-(

    ReplyDelete
  18. ScallionDecember 2, 2009 at 10:01 AM

    I coincidentally just bought ES and I have it on my nails right now! Yes, I have the "good" version. However, if I had seen that drab version I wouldn't have bought it. I wanted the green version of Ruby Pumps and that's the way it looked when I picked up the bottle at the store. And that is what I got when I put it on my nails. I love it!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. jackieDecember 2, 2009 at 10:43 AM

    Yay! I have the good version! About MPJ... I got the ugliest version of them all, let me tell you. Blugh! Ugliest weird color ever

    ReplyDelete
  20. wixbettyDecember 2, 2009 at 11:01 AM

    Add Flying Dragon to your list of inconsistent formula botch, I mean, batches...

    The newer version, spotted at Sally and other BS, is closer to fuchsia than the deep, vibrant royal purple that caused such a stir.

    (Good thing I stocked up when it was still purple! My precious...)

    ReplyDelete
  21. LauraDecember 2, 2009 at 11:24 AM

    I've got the sinking feeling that I have the "bad" version... I'm going to be antsy all day before I can go home and check my bottle. :(

    ReplyDelete
  22. Liz (iceomatic's nails)December 2, 2009 at 11:41 AM

    Thank you for doing this. That "bad" emerald sparkle is totally getting a lump of coal for Christmas! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. MonaDecember 2, 2009 at 1:10 PM

    i swear i have the bad emerald sparkle

    ReplyDelete
  24. ShatteredDecember 2, 2009 at 1:58 PM

    I pulled mine out - I managed to get a "bad" one. I got it from either 8ty8 or head2toe last year, from the Christmas 2008 collection.

    It's pretty, I do like it, but crap, now I NEED to buy a new bottle! The jelly is just too pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  25. ElizabethDecember 2, 2009 at 2:41 PM

    Oh ahaha. Yea I've seen many MPJs... the most recent I saw is like.. an ugly purple with muddy glitter..

    ReplyDelete
  26. EnchantedDecember 2, 2009 at 5:10 PM

    The first pix looks so incredibly glossy. love the look.

    ReplyDelete
  27. KazDecember 2, 2009 at 6:53 PM

    There are most def. 2 versions of Purple Panic. I had the purple one, gave it away, remorse set in, twice I've rebought it and TWICE it's been pink. Poop.

    Also, My Flying Dragon is a reddish purple. I want my old one back too. I gotta be more careful swapping polishes away thinking they are replaceable!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Soraia CasalDecember 2, 2009 at 10:09 PM

    OMG! They are so different that I actually thought you could buy a polish called 'Good Emerald Sparkle' and another called 'Bad Emerald Sparkle' lol

    ReplyDelete
  29. KristaDecember 2, 2009 at 10:58 PM

    I'd talked myself out of wanting Emerald Sparkle, but that first picture may change that.

    The second picture just looks matte-d to me. Which is still pretty, but muted sparkle never made sense to me.

    ReplyDelete
  30. AnonymousDecember 2, 2009 at 11:37 PM

    My friend and I have different versions of Purple Panic. I bought both of them at the same Ulta, but hers is more pink while mine is more purple, weird.

    ReplyDelete
  31. SannaDecember 3, 2009 at 5:00 AM

    I don't know why this happen sometimes. If they try to make the same polish and it doesnt turn out exactly as the original, I think the should give it a different name.

    ReplyDelete
  32. NinaDecember 3, 2009 at 2:51 PM

    The bad Emerald Sparkle kinda looks like Watermelon Rind. I bought my ES at Sally's last year, I got the good kind, thankfully. I do have the crappy non-holo version of MPJ and I hate it so.

    ReplyDelete
  33. MelDecember 3, 2009 at 10:03 PM

    Gosh, I got the bad version. Now I have to purchase the better one.

    ReplyDelete
  34. ainamakeupDecember 3, 2009 at 10:16 PM

    Thanks! I'm glad I picked up the "good" version! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  35. MoLoDecember 4, 2009 at 12:43 AM

    I KNEW IT! I knew there was no way that the awesome polish I had seen all over the internet was the same flat thing in my Helmer!

    ReplyDelete
  36. cidellDecember 5, 2009 at 2:03 PM

    I bought mine off eBay last year after I couldn't find it at the etailers. Totally the 'bad' ES.

    ReplyDelete
  37. StefDecember 6, 2009 at 12:35 AM

    I just bought my bottle of Emerald Sparkle on Wednesday and it's the good one! Yay! It's an amazing color, I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  38. AnonymousDecember 6, 2009 at 12:29 PM

    Darnit, I just received my ES in the mail a few days ago and did a quick test of it and I thought that it looked a little off. I'm pretty sure I got the BAD version. So sad. I knew something seemed wrong with it.
    Thanks for making this post Scrangie!

    ReplyDelete
  39. AnonymousDecember 6, 2009 at 6:58 PM

    Hi, I live in Taiwan and happen to see this article. I only(?) have less than 20 nail lacquer; 2/3 are OPI and 1/3 are CG. Guess what? I have all the color you mentioned here, even Purple Panic! Gotta find some time to check each bottle. Haaa~

    ReplyDelete
  40. AnonymousDecember 7, 2009 at 10:25 AM

    I've just put in my order to 8ty8 before your comparison post... now waiting for parcel to arrive (Singapore)... hopefully I'm getting the GOOD version! LET IT BE MY X'MAS GIFT... aaawww...

    Jacque

    ReplyDelete
  41. Amber Lucas A Mused BlogDecember 8, 2009 at 4:01 PM

    omg. I bought the "bad" one back in Sept. I was so disappointed. now I know why. UGH!!!!!!

    Amber

    ambersmouthwash

    ReplyDelete
  42. Misti KDecember 31, 2009 at 6:52 PM

    Damn it, I have a bad Emerald Sparkle!

    ReplyDelete
  43. MegJune 13, 2014 at 9:55 AM

    Oh I was so thrilled to find this guide as I have long wanted to collect this but was afraid after I heard there was a "bad" one. IN fact every time I look up every polish- my first concern is whether there is a Scrangie swatch and review! Thank you and congratulations on the NY Times article! Thank you also for bringing attention to the effects of depression- which is something I have dealt with all my life <3

    ReplyDelete
  44. UnknownNovember 21, 2014 at 8:48 AM

    Thanks for sharing. Any idea where I can buy the "real" china glaze emerald sparkle online?

    ReplyDelete

Please be respectful. Refrain from using my comments for unsolicited advertising. If you would like me to check out your blog or product, please email me. Thank you!