RGB Sea vs. Hard Candy Envy – Reader Request!
Today we’ve got RGB Sea vs. Hard Candy Envy and I think we might have finally found dupes!
Both are deep, murky and shimmery greens so let’s check them out a little closer.
RGB Sea, Hard Candy Envy (with flash)
RGB Sea, Hard Candy Envy (no flash)
RGB Sea, Hard Candy Envy (with flash)
RGB Sea on ring & pointer, Hard Candy Envy on pinky & middle
Both colors are very dark, blackened emerald greens with lighter green shimmer. Both look pretty dark and almost black in low light.
The shimmer is extremely similar in both colors but Envy might have just a tiny bit more. It’s really not noticeable though unless you really look close.
One other small different is that Sea appears to be a little more blackened around the edges, you see more of the green shimmer with Envy when you look at the nail straight on.
The formula is where the biggest difference occurs (and the price–more on that later).
RGB Sea is buttery smooth, opaque and fabulous. It definitely feels like the more expensive polish and covers in just two coats.
Hard Candy Envy is much more watery and uneven. It does get completely opaque in three coats, but the quality isn’t as nice as Sea.
RGB Sea on ring & pointer, Hard Candy Envy on pinky & middle
Hard Candy envy on middle, RGB Sea on pointer
Final Verdict:
There are very small differences between these two colors that you would really have to search hard for to find. I think for most people these colors can be considered dupes for all intents and purposes and it probably isn’t worth it to get both.
There is also the pricing difference which I mentioned earlier. RGB Sea is $14.00 (but feels more high end and applies better) whereas Hard Candy Envy is just $5.00 (or thereabouts) but the formula requires 1 extra coat and isn’t as “luxurious”.
Winner:
This is a hard one for me because while I like a bargain, I also like higher end formulas a lot, so for me, Sea wins this one!
What do you guys think? Are these close enough for you guys to not get both?
-Kelly
Welcome! My name is Kelly and Vampy Varnish is a animal friendly beauty blog.
This color makes me nostalgic… It’s like a velvet Christmas dress I wore when I was little. I’d personally use either!
Haha, same here. Maybe we had the same dress!
Mary´s last post…OPI Stranger Tides Swatches & Review
I love greens like these! They definietly look almost exact to me….! I might give HC a try since its cheaper
Shimmer´s last post…Revlon Sunshine Sparkle Pictures & Review
What an awesome comparison! I love higher-end qualities as well, but I do remember a time when Hard Candy was considered “high-end”. I think I’m going with Hard Candy this time, since the price difference.
I don’t have access to Hard Candy. =[
Vijaya´s last post…Now I know My ABCs
Try looking at WalMart. They have a small amount of them at one 30 miles from me (closest WM to me). I was surprised to see it there as I also remember the days when HC was a line you found at Nordies!
I’d go with the HC one. They are so similar and while I know what you mean about a nice formula, I’m so sick of spending tons on nail polish and once it goes over $10 I kind of have to ask myself why I’m paying so much.
Jen´s last post…ELF Translucent Matifying Powder
Thank you so much for doing this! I seriously appreciate it! As much as I love a bargain, I’d rather pay for the high end stuff that works well. Thanks again!
I actually prefer the way the Hard Candy looks just a little bit more. But just slightly, as they look nearly the same. I would much rather have the cheaper polish too, because I know I would regret spending more for the same color, even if the formula is better.
Jessi´s last post…Im Conflicted
Sweet dupe.
Thanks so much for doing this dup. Always great to know. I am with you in that I have a better feeling about Sea and how it looks. It has less of that Xmas look to it – a tish less dark/bright green in it. It’s coming across a bit more updated and subdued – glitter and grunge in the same take.
Thanks for the dupe alert!! I love this green to so I will have to make a visit to my local Walmart hehe
To me, I say DUPE!!! It takes a super discriminatory eye like yours to see the very subtle differences. However, a well-behaved polish IS a pleasure.
Kimberly´s last post…The Ugly Series- Part 3- What Vampires Wear
I’m leaning toward Envy because it seems to have more pretty green shimmer, which I can’t get enough of. I wonder how close they are to Zoya Suvi, which I actually own but have yet to use. They look similar in the bottle.
Nice comparison! I’ve already splurged on Sea…but as close as these are, I may have been able to overlook the slight wateriness of the Hard Candy and purchased that one instead!
Ooooh! I have Envy (bought it after reading a review on your site – ha!) and I love it! This color is just total win.
i dont know about hard candy, but another plus to RGB sea is that it also lasts FOREVER! i got a pedi with it and i kid you not, there was not a single chip or scratch until 10 days later. maybe it had something to do with the nail salon, but im pretty sure the high quality of the polish brand was the main factor.
also, a heads up to people who want to get RGB instead of hard candy…rgb is free shipping anywhere in the US! (:
The colors look identical to my eyes. I like them both!
Phyrra´s last post…Beauty Blogs Backstage for May – LiAnn of Sparklecrack Central
how do these compare to deborah lippmann’s “don’t tell mama”? i’ve been debating on getting that, but since there is a cheaper dupe out there, it’s making me hesitate getting it.
Hi maryelle,
If you read my review of RGB Sea I mention the comparison to Don’t Tell Mama
RGB Sea looks much lighter in the bottle, but once swatched they both look identical, although the shimmer of Sea seems to be …smoother…
Another interesting comparison would be between Guppy 64 and BB Couture Bandito (or Laced Corset or Outlaw~depending on which ones you own!!)
Ops! Sorry! I forgot I had already asked for a similar comparison in your previous VS post….
Both of them are really pretty- though I see what you mean about there being slightly more shimmer in the HC.
Here is my rationale regarding the price difference- I figure that the better formula RGB would actually end up costing about the same as the Hard Candy, because you use less coats- so if it’s something you will use a lot, it would be worth it; if you’d only wear it twice a year, maybe not so much…
I just bought another Hard Candy polish recently. The first one I bought, and I loved it. I did have to use 3 coats, but the first chip was after three days of wear, and most polishes I use chip after the first or second day.
At my local walmart all HC polishes run $4.
Wow, these ARE really close!
Gotham Polish´s last post…Let me take you down to Strawberry Fields
Is this still available at walmart? I didn’t see it today when I stopped by:/
Good dupe but do prefer the higher end.
I’m loving these colors, but I would definitely for the the higher-end one, too.
Fiona´s last post…Roc Enydrial Repairing Lip Care Review & Pictures
The colors of both of these nail colors are so similar it’s hard to tell what’s what? I am with you RGB Sea wins and love this nail color it’s very beautiful and looks gorgeous on your nails, Kelly, love it.
Love,
Mc Huggs
Definitely close enough not to get both for me. Thanks for the comparison!
Kitty´s last post…Mattese Elite Cream Dream