Elevation Polish African Violets

I have no idea how this polish came to me. Magic? African Violets from indie polish maker Elevation Polish is a mystery. I can't find when it was released or under what circumstances. In fact, there is no mention of it anywhere online that Google could find other than my own stash list. Nor do I have any recollection of buying it, yet here it is. Perhaps it was a small batch prototype or sample polish that Lulu made just a few of and the Elevation elves dropped it into my box when a polish that I'd ordered was no longer available. That's the only thing I can think of. In any case, lucky me! It's beauty.

African Violets is a deep resonant true violet holographic polish. If you know Elevation, you know that Lulu is a wizard with purples and this was definitely on the receiving end of her magical touch. The holo in this polish is more of what I would call a spotlight holo as opposed to a floodlight. In direct sun the prismatic display is clearly evident, with a central wash of sparkling indigo that is edged by a thin tracing of rainbow colored sparks. In indirect light and shade the deep violet base is speckled with silvery holo bits. It has an inky opulence on the nail, full-bodied and plush in the sun, smoky, sleek and mysterious in dimmer lighting. 

Application was awesome. The consistency of African Violets is fluid and creamy with some pull to it and a smooth velvety flow over the nail. Self-leveling properties are excellent as is the pigmentation, with full opacity in one coat. I used two because I always use at least two coats to vanquish the ridges. I expected cleanup to be messy since this polish is so well-pigmented, but it wasn't as bad as I'd anticipated, with some pigment travel around the cuticle and across the skin but no residual staining. African Violets dries naturally in very good time to a silky smooth but slight flat finish that wants a good topcoat to enhancing its coloring and give it some shine.

Photos show two coats of African Violets over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Elevation Polish African Violets

Elevation Polish African Violets

Elevation Polish African Violets

Elevation Polish African Violets

Elevation Polish African Violets

Elevation Polish African Violets

Elevation Polish African Violets

Elevation Polish African Violets

Elevation Polish African Violets

Elevation Polish African Violets

Elevation Polish African Violets

Elevation Polish African Violets

Elevation Polish African Violets

Elevation Polish African Violets

I love this beautiful smoky indigo purple shade! While dark, it never looks black, even in very low light. For a dark color, it's got a lot of verve. It was a big hit with my personal trainer at the gym, who loves purples. "Oooh, aaah! Sparkly!" 

(source)

My feelings exactly!

love,
Liz