Ever since it was announced that COVERGIRL was partnering with the latest installment of The Hunger Games movie franchise, Catching Fire, I’ve been on the edge of my seat to see what it would bring in terms of nails. COVERGIRL released teaser images of a couple The Hunger Games: Catching Fire inspired looks but there was no actual details on the nail polish until now.

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You all know how I flipped for the first set of The Hunger Games nail polishes from China Glaze so I was curious to see what COVERGIRL would bring to the nail table for this epic film series. Continuing the trend of releasing seasonal/limited edition shades in mini Outlast Glosstinis, COVERGIRL’s The Capitol Collection, introduces nine sparkling shades inspired by the film.



Formula & Application: COVERGIRL Outlast Glosstinis are 5-Free (Formaldehyde, DBP, Toluene, Formaldehyde Resin & Camphor) and come in a mini version of the full-size square bottle, similar to Chanel bottles. And like Chanel bottles (and their full-size counterparts), the outer black plastic cap is removable, revealing a ribbed, round cap. Thankfully, the mini size doesn’t mean a mini brush. The same round, short, medium width brush with flexible bristles from the full-size version made it to the mini bottles. The stem is just shorter.

This is the first time I’ve worn a COVERGIRL polish with a foil/fleck finish and unlike the uber-pigmented cremes, these are a bit more sheer with a thinner texture. Midnight Magic from the core lineup has a similar finish and pigmentation.

They flow easily on the nail, offering excellent control and self-leveling capabilities, drying with a super glossy finish. And even though they are sheer, they are buildable, becoming opaque with three coats. There is one exception, Scalding Emerald, which really needs four coats.

Despite its name, COVERGIRL Black Heat is actually a blackened forest green packed with gold and green metallic flecks. I liken it to Ciate Twilight though Black Heat is a touch darker. It has a creamier feel than the rest of the polishes due to its dark base.

COVERGIRL Flamed Out is an electric orange glass-fleck. It’s a little deeper, and more tangerine than say, Color Club Sparkle and Soar but they’re cut from the same cloth.

COVERGIRL Inferno is a warm maroon with gold and bronze metallic flecks. It’s got a similar feel to OPI DS Indulgence or Music Hall Curtain Call without the overall bronze-y finish. The maroon peeks out through the flecks to maintain its redness.

COVERGIRL Pyro Pink is more intense in person that it photographs. It’s an icy fuchsia glass fleck with pops of pale blue and magenta. I really don’t have anything like it in my collection.

COVERGIRL Rogue Red is a fiery orange-y red with golden metallic flecks. Zoya Kimmy has a similar base color and finish to Rogue Red but I wouldn’t call them dupes. Rogue Red is a bit warmer overall.

COVERGIRL Scalding Emerald has an extremely sheer smoky base filled with blue, green, gold and bronze metallic flecks. They create an overall look that reminds me of MAC Green Brown Pigment. I just wish it wasn’t so sheer. I used four coats on my ring finger and three coats on my other two fingers and you can see my nail through the color.

COVERGIRL Seared Bronze is a muddy bronze filled with brownish-red and gold metallic flecks. It’s pretty much a dead-on dupe for OPI Warm & Fozzie so if you missed out on that shade, here’s your chance.

COVERGIRL Sulfur Blaze is a golden yellow foil metallic shimmer. It has a similar finish as Color Club Daisy Does It only Daisy is much softer and lemon-y in comparison.

COVERGIRL Violet Flicker is a grape slushie type hue with flecks of royal purple and azure blue. I keep feeling like I’ve seen a color like this before but for the life of me, I can’t think of what it is. Any ideas?

The Capitol Collection also includes six Lipslicks Smoochies Sizzle Glosses, Flamed Up Mega Curl Mascara and six patterns of COVERGIRL Nail Stickers. Each design has a clear background so you can layer it over your polish to add flames, arrows etc.

Bottom Line: As much as I love a smooth sparkle, and I really do, I wish there was more diversity in finishes in this collection. That being said, there are some standout colors here. Black Heat is simply stunning and Sulfur Blaze and Flamed Out represent the franchise really well while delivering hot pops of color. Even though reds aren’t really my thing, I’m struck by Inferno. Scalding Emerald didn’t live up to expectations due to its sheerness. The rest are solid but not my jam.

COVERGIRL The Capitol Collection Outlast Glosstinis are limited edition and available now at drugstores and mass retailers nationwide. To find a retailer near you, visit COVERGIRL.com. They cost anywhere between $2.99-$3.79/ea for a .11oz bottle. The Nail Stickers retail for $6.99-8.99, depending on the retailer.

So what do we think of this latest installment of The Hunger Games nail polishes? Did the Captiol Collection live up to your expectations? Which colors do you plan to pick up?

COVERGIRL created looks based on each district using The Captiol Collection and existing products. They’re unveiling new districts from now through October 7th in the Capitol Beauty Studio with instructions on how to get each look. Visit COVERGIRL.com/Catching-Fire for more.

Disclosure: Samples were provided by reps for COVERGIRL though I couldn’t contain my excitement and bought four shades as soon as they were on shelves. Affiliate links appear via a third party link service. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.