The Holo Taco Cottagecore Collection has arrived, and it's a pastel-perfect dream for spring. This review dives deep into each of the seven new cream shades and the stunning Garden Party Taco topper, exploring their application, opacity, and overall performance. From muted rose pinks to cool sage greens and a unique baby blue, this collection offers a surprisingly versatile range of colors, all boasting Holo Taco's signature high-quality formulas. Prepare to be charmed by unexpectedly smooth applications and impressive pigmentation, even in the palest of shades.We'll uncover whether these delicate hues live up to the hype, examining their unique characteristics and comparing them to existing shades in the Holo Taco lineup. Get ready to discover whether the collection's thicker-than-average creams are a hindrance or a help, and if the much-anticipated chunky glitter topper finally delivers on its promise. This in-depth look at the Cottagecore Collection will help you decide if these pastel polishes are the perfect addition to your spring manicure.
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Nip in the Bud: A Muted Rose Delight
Nip in the Bud, described as a muted rose pink cream, boasts a fantastic formula typical of Holo Taco's crème polishes. It's thicker than some, yet self-levels beautifully, achieving opacity in just one to two coats. While not a shade I personally adore (finding it slightly understated), its delicate appearance makes it a perfect fit for the collection's cottagecore aesthetic and the upcoming spring season.
The formula is truly impressive, delivering a smooth, even finish. This polish is a versatile neutral that would likely suit most skin tones and nail styles. It's a sophisticated choice, even if it's not the most exciting.
I used one coat of Garden Party Taco over Nip in the Bud for added shimmer and dimension. No staining was experienced, but I always recommend a double base coat for those prone to staining.
Time After Time: A Cool Sage Green Surprise
Time After Time, a cool sage green cream, offers a slightly thicker formula. While not overly thick, careful application is advised to avoid brush strokes. It’s a surprisingly smooth and non-chalky polish, despite its light shade.
I initially over-worked the first coat, highlighting the need for gentle application. This is a creamy formula that is easier to remove than many lighter shades. Despite my slightly thicker coat application, it's possible to achieve opacity in two coats.
Again, double up on the base coat if you're worried about staining, as Holo Taco crème polishes are highly pigmented.
Touch Grass: A Dusty Sage Green
Touch Grass, described as a cool-tone grass green cream, is surprisingly easy to apply and opaque in one coat. I disagree with the color description; I feel it's more of a dusty sage green than grass green.
It possesses that same nice, dusty quality seen in other polishes from this collection. No staining occurred, but a double base coat is still recommended due to its pigmentation.
Paired with Garden Party Taco, it creates a stunning look.
Wild Child: A Muted Lavender Dream
Wild Child, a muted lavender cream, has a fantastic formula, although slightly thicker. Despite a slightly heavier first coat, it achieved opacity in one coat. Building up the layers is recommended for a flawless finish.
This light shade was surprisingly not chalky, exceeding my expectations for a pastel cream. The color is accurately described as a muted lavender.
It pairs beautifully with Garden Party Taco.
Skipping Stones: A Pale Baby Blue
Skipping Stones, a pale, cool-toned baby blue cream, was a pleasant surprise. I initially feared a chalky mess due to its pale color, but it applied flawlessly in two coats.
The shade might be described as a blue that leans gray, or vice versa, depending on individual perception. It's a unique and stunning color that complements the collection's theme.
Despite the pale color, this polish has a surprising smoothness and opacity.
Rosemary Kill: A Pale Neutral Pink
Rosemary Kill, a pale neutral pink cream, is another unexpectedly great performer. Its formula exceeded expectations, applying smoothly and evenly in two coats despite its pastel nature.
The color is hard to describe – a versatile neutral that borders on both gray and purple depending on the surrounding colors. It's a sophisticated and office-appropriate shade.
Holo Taco's unique and quirky naming convention adds personality to this otherwise simple polish.
Garden Party Taco: A Chunky Glitter Topper
Garden Party Taco, a scattered reflective flower topper, is a chunky glitter polish that learned from past mistakes. Unlike previous Holo Taco chunky glitters, this one is packed with generously sized, chunky glitters.
The application is smooth and even, unlike other chunky glitters, with minimal placement needed. It incorporates smaller hex glitters, flakes, and holographic elements, adding layers of sparkle.
One to two coats of top coat are recommended to smooth out the larger glitters. Removal requires a longer soak-off time, but this is expected with such large glitters. Overall, a fantastic and improved chunky glitter topper from Holo Taco.
Comparisons and Final Thoughts
Comparing the shades, Skipping Stones is lighter than BB Blue and Vitamin Glow. Wild Child and Lavender are very similar, with Wild Child appearing slightly darker due to the gray undertones. Rosemary Kill’s color is elusive, shifting between pink, gray, and purple depending on its surroundings.
Two shades of green might seem redundant, but side-by-side, they are distinct. I was surprised by the numerous pale and light green creams in Holo Taco's collection, but none are exact dupes of those in this collection.
Overall, this release is a delightful surprise. While I'm not typically drawn to pastel creams, the formulas are exceptionally good, exceeding my low expectations. However, the standout star is definitely Garden Party Taco, a significant improvement over Holo Taco's previous attempts at chunky glitter toppers.