New OPI Infinite Shine Formula Explained + Pink Swatches
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I’ve been swatching OPI Infinite Shine since this nail blog began. I love long lasting nail colors and the promise of a manicure that you can wear through the work week and not worry about whether it will go the distance for you.
There are so many things in life to worry about that your manicure’s performance should not be one of them.
For an ideal manicure, in my eyes, it dries quickly and it lasts until you want to take it off.
For me, I usually like to do my nails on the weekend, so having a manicure that lasts at least from one weekend to the next is something that I actively seek out.
I also like the ease of removal for regular nail polish, which is why I gravitate towards OPI’s Infinite Shine System.
OPI’s Infinite Shine collection was originally released with 30-shades, and as a 3 part system, on November 1, 2014.
It is a base coat, called a primer, the color coat, and the top coat, called a gloss. You need to use all parts of the system together, plus good manicure prep, to get the long lasting results promised.
It is marketed as a lacquer-gel hybrid that applies like an air dry lacquer with the rich color and long lasting finish (7-10 day wear) of gel, but without the UV curing or soak free removal.
You could think of it as a gel-effect lacquer system.
The way that you could tell it apart from OPI’s standard lacquer system is in the bottle caps which are silver and the standard lacquer is black.
On January 22, 2024, OPI announced that this line was being reformulated to be better than ever, which we’ll discuss below.
The new Infinite Shine Collection was available exclusively at Ulta for a short period of time, likely due to a contractual agreement, but it is now available across all retail outlets.
This new formulation is vegan, said to have “Pre-Cured Gel Technology” and offer up to 11 days of wear - 1+ day more than the old promise.
The bottles have retained the silver bottle caps, but the bottle lettering is now black (it was silver), which is easier to read and photograph.
Specifically, the gel-like top coat is really nice. It delivers a plumping finish and I reach for it to put on every polish.
In my opinion, though, the most interesting part about the reformulation is the Pre-Cured Gel Technology part.
What Is Pre-Cured Gel Technology?
Pre-Cured Gel Technology means Infinite Shine is made with gel-like polymer chains that are partially pre-formed before you apply them.
When you paint your nails, these polymer chains link together to form a smooth, strong film of color that grips the nail’s surface, similar to gel polish, but without needing a UV or LED lamp.
Here’s how it compares:
Gel polish contains polymer chains that stay inactive until they’re exposed to UV light. The light fully cures the chains, locking them tightly together. This creates a durable coating, but it also makes the polish hard to break down, so it has to be soaked off.
Regular nail polish forms shorter, more flexible polymer chains. These break apart more easily over time, which is why regular polish chips sooner but remove easily.
Infinite Shine uses pre-cured polymer chains that are stronger and more connected than regular polish, giving longer wear and high shine, but not so tightly bonded that they can’t be removed. The chains “unlock” easily with standard nail polish remover.
The result is gel-like strength and shine, with the convenience of simple application and removal - no lamp, no soaking.
So, the reformulation is more chip and scratch resistant than before.
The only difference in the reformulated Infinite Shine Collection is that not all shades previously available in Infinite Shine formulas were carried over.
They carried over just 28 of their best selling shades in the Infinite Shine launch - while keeping them available in various other formulas.
I just swatched the whole Holiday 2025 Collection in Infinite Shine and in addition to the swatches you’ll see in this post, I can confidently say that it lasts longer and is more scuff resistant and scratch resistant than the older line.
Let’s look at a few colors from the new OPI Infinite Shine collection:
OPI Infinite Shine Pretty Pink Perseveres
Shown in 2 coats, this light pastel pink creme is nearly opaque in 1 coat.
Most pastel pink nail polishes require 3+ coats for full coverage.
The majority of pastel pinks I’ve tested require so many coats that half way through the manicure I find I’m having a difficult time keeping a positive mindset.
What I like about this Infinite Shine pastel pink is that it does have a richer color payoff than your average soft pink creme nail polish, which is evident in the fewer coats it needs.
OPI Infinite Shine Werkin’ Shine to Five
Shown in 2 coats, this is a warm, bronzy metallic pink pearl.
What I love about it is that it feels like a soft, demure, work-friendly nail color, but it’s absolutely a stunner in direct sunlight.
A few commonly asked questions about OPI Infinite Shine:
How do you apply OPI Infinite Shine?
How to use OPI Infinite Shine:
Prep your nails for a manicure by removing prior polish, buffing and shaping the nail, and dehydrating the nail plate with isopropyl alcohol.
Apply 1 coat of the primer to each nail. Allow 2-5 minutes for it to air dry.
Apply 2 coats of color - allowing each coat 2-5 minutes to dry in between.
Finish with 1 coat of the gloss, giving it 5-10 minutes to dry before moving onto other tasks.
Dry times: these are estimates.
In warmer or drier environments your coats may dry more quickly than this and in colder or humid temperatures, more slowly. I like to use the soft pad of my ring finger to gently tap the nail to check if it’s dry if I’m not sure before proceeding.
You may also be able to feel the wet polish on your nail as cool as it dries and then notice that coolness vanishing when your polish is dry.
Apply each coat with a bead of polish on one side of the brush, taping it on the top center of the nail and then pulling it down the center of the nail, then each side of the nail - going over the nail in 3 strokes.
Dip your brush back in the bottle and repeat as needed.
How long does OPI Infinite Shine last?
The new formulation promises up to 11 day wear.
For best results, prep your nails well and if you have oily nail beds, double dehydrate your nails with 2 swipes of isopropyl alcohol before applying the polish.
Maintain good after manicure care - avoid using your nails to chip off labels and soaking your nails in water for long periods of time.
What are the benefits of using OPI Infinite Shine?
Chip resistance, scuff resistance, intense shine, damage free removal and best of all, you can use the Infinite Shine base and top coat with OPI’s standard lacquers to lengthen their wear time too.
Does OPI Infinite Shine need a UV lamp to cure?
No - it’s an air dry nail lacquer system with a “gel-like” finish.
Does OPI Infinite Shine damage nails?
No - I have never noticed any nail damage or discoloration after using Infinite Shine in the 5+ years I have been using it, in either the old or new formula.
The base coat does a good job of preventing discoloration especially with darker and blue/teal colors.
Do you need all 3 steps for OPI Infinite Shine to work?
Yes. Using OPI Infinite Shine as a complete system will be your best chance to get the promised results.
In my experience, though, if you run out of the base and top coat, you can technically use OPI Infinite Shine shades with other base and top coats. It will cure to a hard finish, but you may not get the same wear time or performance.
How do you remove OPI Infinite Shine?
You can remove OPI Infinite Shine with regular nail polish remover. I prefer 100% acetone and have used any brand (from low to high end) that is available with success.
All in all, my review of OPI Infinite Shine is that it works and the new formula does last longer and perform better than the old formula, so I am grateful for it.
I know in this case new is relative. It was released 2 years ago and I normally share my first impressions of nail polishes and their formulas.
But for this particular product, I wanted to give it plenty of thought and time before I decided to write about it.
So after nearly 2 years of trials, I can say I have specifically noticed that it doesn’t chip as easily in the usual spots as the prior formula (for me this is on the corners of my thumbs) and it doesn’t crack as easily on the nail tips, though it will show tip wear over time.
I’ve also noticed that it does resist scuffing better, too.
If you’re looking for a long-lasting manicure, without the UV curing, OPI Infinite Shine is one of the collections I reach for regularly.
So while you do ideally want to use the OPI Infinite Shine system as a system, if you are called to use the top coat or base coat with another polish from another brand, I’ve had a good experience doing that too.
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