We thought we'd never find a match to Shu Uemura Nail Enamel Supplement Mineral in Gold Zest, $16, a beautiful, shimmering light gold. But OPI's India Collection came through. Curry Up Don't Be Late!, $8.50, is a near-exact copy, sans seaweed extracts and the "tri-color confetti pearls" that give Shu Uemura's gold a subtle kaleidoscope effect. (Both polishes are formaldehyde- and toluene-free.)
From time to time, brands launch limited edition colors like MAC Nail Lacquer in Boom!, $10, which sell out almost immediately. No need to panic in this case. Sephora Brand Nail Polish 52 (right), $4, comes in a smaller bottle but looks almost exactly the same after two coats. (Shhh.)
Despite treks to stores throughout the city, we couldn't find an inexpensive, exact color copy of Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Blue Satin, $19. OPI Nail Lacquer in Russian Navy, $8.50, was the closest match that was still available on shelves, but it wasn't quite blue-black enough. All hope is not lost, though; Dior Vernis in Poison Blue, $19, is a near perfect match, lacking only Blue Satin's virtually nonexistent shimmer. The catch: It's a limited-edition color, equal in price to the lovely Chanel shade. (Alas, some things never change.)
Tired of waiting for another shipment of high-end, exclusive polish? We found plenty of other spring/summer debuts to rave about -- and searched high and low for budget-friendly look-a-likes. Try these comparisons on for size, then post your look-alike suggestions on our community page.