Like most metallic shimmer colors, this chips easier than a cream (but I am hard on polish any time). The color is very unusual, it is almost a cool gold, not quite tan, undertone with a warm (not cool) silver metallic flash in the light. It goes on streaky, so needs two or three coats, although the streaks don't show when it's flashing silver, just when the base color shows. It is NOT gray. The base color is more prominent with just one coat.