Saturday, October 17, 2015

ILNP First Class

First Class was released by boutique polish maker I Love Nail Polish (ILNP) as part of the Fall 2015 collection early this month. It belongs to ILNP's "Precious Metals" category of polishes, which carry superabundant ultra-thin metallic flakes that give them extra sparkle and a rich foily finish.

Although creator Barbra describes First Class as a bright silver holo, I think that it's more varied and complex than that. The teeming silver flakes, which I love, are indeed bright and highly reflective, but the base that carries them is deeper and richer with a slightly tarnished, smoky quality, an old silver if you will. The combination of the base color with the flakes gives the polish a variable dappled quality of the kind you see in foil polishes, with a lustrous pebbly visual texture to the finish that evokes highly-polished, hand-hammered silver. Unfortunately, we have overcast skies and rain here today so I can't give you a full description or photos of First Class' prismatic display in direct sun, but I expect that it is fully linear with a dazzling sparkle. The holographic effects do produce beautiful subtle blue and violet nuances to the polish in bright indirect light, and in low light there's a fetching scintillating sparkle from the silver flakes that travels up and down the nail.

Application was mostly quite agreeable excepting the cleanup. The consistency of First Class is fluid, light and smooth with an easy, self-leveling flow over the nail. Although dense with flakes, they are perfectly behaved and present no difficulties at all to application, no tumbling or stickups or protrusions over the free edge. Pigmentation is outstanding, thanks in part to the highly reflective nature and abundance of these flakes. With a careful hand, wearable coverage can be achieved in one coat, although I prefer two to avoid any hints of sheerness. Cleanup is somewhat frustrating, as silver flakes go everywhere! Suffice to say that you will want to apply this polish as cleanly as possible to avoid the shimmery veil of tiny rogue flakes that casts itself con brio about the nail environs at the touch of acetone. First Class dries naturally in very good time to a silky smooth, shiny finish. 

Photos show two coats of First Class over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite. 


ILNP First Class


ILNP First Class


ILNP First Class


ILNP First Class


ILNP First Class


ILNP First Class


ILNP First Class


ILNP First Class


ILNP First Class


ILNP First Class


ILNP First Class


ILNP First Class


ILNP First Class

I love the way the holo effects turn the edge of that central pale flush of blue and violet to a subtle taupey color -- it adds to the tarnished effect and gives First Class beautiful dimensionality over the nail. And I also love the foily aspect of the finish that keeps the silver color from looking too flat and reflective. Even in very low light, there's a bright glistening quality to the finish as light plays over the silvery flakes at the surface.

This is definitely a polish for those who love to wear silver on their nails. It's a lovely variation of the straight up metallic silver holo, more wearable in my opinion, with lots of visual interest from the interaction of the holo and silver flakes. 

love,
Liz

5 comments:

  1. I dithered back and forth whether to get this polish when I was placing my order. I was feeling really guilty about having already bought so many polishes from the fall collections. I was SO good on the first day of ordering. Then, the next morning, I opened an email from Barbara (ILNP) saying I could order more and the orders would be combined. I was already feeling the opposite of buyer's remorse so I didn't put up any fight and followed the site link in a very lemming-like manner, albeit NOT con brio. I knew what was awaiting me - yep, more dithering. I hemmed and hawed about this polish. I finally talked myself out of it. I already have two silver flakie polishes. I could see, though, that this one had a different look to it - that old silver / tarnished look. But I still nixed it, thinking maybe later. I think that time has come! Thank you for the illuminating review and for all the wonderful photos - such a help in trying to make my mind up! (Who knows how much of that is just my lemming persona reactivated!)

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    1. Clever Barbra, she got you!

      If you already have some silver flake polishes in your stash, you may want to look at some silvery grey or deeper grey holos. A England has some beautiful ones. Have you tried A England yet?

      I'm glad you enjoyed the review!

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    2. I've been drooling over aEngland polishes/swatches for years! I want them so much but, for some reason, have resisted getting them. There are several that make my heart go pitter patter every time I see them! One day . . . !

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  2. This looks just like tarnished silver. Very classy!

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    Replies
    1. The grey holo base in this is genius, it makes the polish. It's the holo that gives it those beautiful tarnished nuances.

      I like this one but I LOVE its golder sibling, Clockwork. And that's coming from someone who doesn't wear gold. First Class is a cold polish. Clockwork is warmer and very soft for a metallic. I'll have a post up for it tomorrow.

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