The End of the OPI Ulta Exclusive Holiday Sets?

Sadly, it looks like there won't be an OPI Ulta Exclusive set for 2014. I am so disappointed! I've collected these since 2006 and look forward to them every year. I've scoured their ads and checked in store to no avail, but if you know something I don't and have seen a set for this year, please let me know! (Note that the Mini Holiday Stars set is *not* an Ulta excusive, just a mini set for the Gwen Stefani Holiday collection.)

 

Here are some photos of the past sets I have in my collection.

 

2006

Ulta's Gift of Color

with free cell phone charm

note no mention of OPI printed on the front

Is That For Me?, What I've Always Wanted!, Cheery Cherry

2007

Ulta-Mate Celebration

with free holiday purse

Merry, Merry!, Candy Cane Cutie, Hip Hop Holly

(so very sad I've misplaced two of these!)

2008

Ulta Season's Sparklings!

free shimmer wristlet

Berry Brilliant, Season's Sparklings, Pretty Plum-tious

2009

Ulta Tiny Tinsels

Berried in Gifts, Amethyst Twist, Silver Bells

2010

Ulta Holi-daze

All the Berry Best, Gift of Gold, Plum Full of Cheer

2011

Deck Your Nails

first time "Ulta" doesn't appear to be part of the mini collection name

Speak for Your-Elf, A Sparkle Yule Love, How's It Snowin'?

2012

Stuff My Stocking

(this is the first year the color names aren't printed on the front)

Last Minute Shopper, Skip the Gift Wrap, Gift Cards for Everyone!
 

 

2013

Cheers to the Holidays

incREDibly Festive, Gift Tag... You're It!, Checking My List

OPI incREDibly Festive topped with OPI Gift Tag... You're It!

OPI incREDibly Festive (3 coats)

topped with
OPI Gift Tag... You're It! on pointer and ring fingers
and
Nicole by OPI Extra Snowflakes Please on middle and pinkie fingers

(incREDibly Festive and Gift Tag...  You're It are from the 2013 OPI ULTA Exclusive! Cheers To The Holidays 4pc Mini Set)

I wasn't very pleased last week when I tried Gift Tag... You're It over Checking My List. It was hard to get an even coverage of the glitter and I didn't feel like it was very holo.

In that post, I commented that I knew OPI knew how to do a fabulous holo glitter since I had Nicole by OPI Extra Snowflakes Please and loved it. So I thought I would do a mani with both and compare the two.

Of course, Extra Snowflakes Please totally wins. See how uneven the glitter on the ring and pointer fingers is? I even tried a second coat on my ring finger to even it out, but that made it even worse.

Just one coat of Extra Snowflakes Please is perfect- so so much better.

OPI incREDibly Festive

OPI incREDibly Festive (3 coats)

from the 2013 OPI ULTA Exclusive! Cheers To The Holidays 4pc Mini Set

incREDibly Festive is a pretty nice red crelly. At two coats it was somewhat sheer but a third coat covered my nail line, but still left it a big squishy looking.

I'm still really underwhelmed with this year's Ulta OPI mini set. Have you tried it?

2013 Ulta OPI Holiday Minis

2013 OPI ULTA Exclusive! Cheers To The Holidays 4pc Mini Set

(currently $6.95 on www.ulta.com)

OPI Checking My List (2 coats)

topped with

OPI Gift Tag... You're It! (1 coat)

When I picked this up I was excited to see OPI do a holo glitter topcoat that reminded me of two of my favorites, CoverGirl City Lights and China Glaze Fairy Dust. I chose the pink shade to do my first mani with this set.

I found the formula of Checking My List to be sub-par for OPI... it was watery and patch and at 2 coats it was pretty uneven. But since I planned on topping it with the glitter, I moved on.

I am sad to say that Gift Tag... You're It! won't be replacing, or even joining, City Lights and Fairy Dust as a fave. It was a bit hard to apply. Almost a gel-like texture, the glitter didn't apply evenly. Nicole by OPI did a fabulous holo glitter topper a few years ago in their holiday mini set called Extra Snowflakes Please and it is great, so I am surprised they didn't just duplicate the formula here.

Also of note is that there is no mention of Ulta on the box..... it's the first year I've noticed that.

Ulta OPI Holiday Minis 2006-2012

Over the weekend, I picked up this year's Ulta OPI holiday mini set. I have had a chance to snap a pic, but I remembered that last year I took pics of all the sets I had. Does anyone know if they did these sets before 2006?

2006

Ulta's Gift of Color

with free cell phone charm

note no mention of OPI printed on the front

Is That For Me?, What I've Always Wanted!, Cheery Cherry

2007

Ulta-Mate Celebration

with free holiday purse

Merry, Merry!, Candy Cane Cutie, Hip Hop Holly

(so very sad I've misplaced two of these!)

2008

Ulta Season's Sparklings!

free shimmer wristlet

Berry Brilliant, Season's Sparklings, Pretty Plum-tious

2009

Ulta Tiny Tinsels

Berried in Gifts, Amethyst Twist, Silver Bells

2010

Ulta Holi-daze

All the Berry Best, Gift of Gold, Plum Full of Cheer

2011

Deck Your Nails

first time "Ulta" doesn't appear to be part of the mini collection name

Speak for Your-Elf, A Sparkle Yule Love, How's It Snowin'?

2012

Stuff My Stocking

(this is the first year the color names aren't printed on the front)

Last Minute Shopper, Skip the Gift Wrap, Gift Cards for Everyone!

NOTD: OPI Skip the Gift Wrap and mini set wrap-up

Just in time for Christmas, I finally finished swatching the Ulta OPI Stuff My Stocking mini set.

 

OPI Skip the Gift Wrap

2 coats

 

This was the last shade I tried and I think it's my favorite. It is very glow-y and a perfect Christmas green.

OPI Gift Cards for Everyone!
(setting sun shot)
2 coats

OPI Last Minute Shopper
2 coats

 

2012 Ulta OPI Stuff My Stocking holiday mini set
(Last Minute Shopper, Skip the Gift Wrap, and Gift Cards for Everyone!)

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!

Ulta OPI Holiday Mini sets 2006-2012

As I was putting my 2012 Ulta OPI holiday mini set away with my others, I realized I have all the sets from 2006 thru 2012. Did they do sets before 2006? I will have to visit Mr. Google and check.

2006

Ulta's Gift of Color

with free cell phone charm

note no mention of OPI printed on the front

Is That For Me?, What I've Always Wanted!, Cheery Cherry

2007

Ulta-Mate Celebration

with free holiday purse

Merry, Merry!, Candy Cane Cutie, Hip Hop Holly

(so very sad I've misplaced two of these!)

2008

Ulta Season's Sparklings!

free shimmer wristlet

Berry Brilliant, Season's Sparklings, Pretty Plum-tious

2009

Ulta Tiny Tinsels

Berried in Gifts, Amethyst Twist, Silver Bells

2010

Ulta Holi-daze

All the Berry Best, Gift of Gold, Plum Full of Cheer

2011

Deck Your Nails

first time "Ulta" doesn't appear to be part of the mini collection name

Speak for Your-Elf, A Sparkle Yule Love, How's It Snowin'?

2012

Stuff My Stocking

(this is the first year the color names aren't printed on the front)

Last Minute Shopper, Skip the Gift Wrap, Gift Cards for Everyone!