Cult Nails Morning Glory

I've got another Cult Nails polish for you today -- Morning Glory. Morning Glory was released by Cult Nails as part of its In the Garden collection in March/April 2013. It's a deep saturated magenta with a wax effect/satin finish. The wax effect finish reminds me very much of the matte coatings used in book and magazine production. It has more of a burnished luster than a traditional matte finish. You can wear it this way or add your favorite glossy topcoat for a different take on this darkling berried shade.

After reading that the wax effect shares with matte finishes the tendency to emphasize rather than disguise flaws in the nails bed, I took a cue from the awesome Christine of Temptalia and doubled up on my basecoat, Butter London's Nail Foundation. One of the reasons I love using this particular basecoat is the fact that it really does have pretty good ridge-filling properties and even on my ruffles potato chip nails two coats will give you almost as smooth and even a canvas as you could want. 

Thus girded, I took up my bottle of Morning Glory and found it to be a graceful, user-friendly one-coater. The consistency is fluid and very dense but not unwieldy and the pigmentation is of course excellent. I used two coats, the second only to gussy up some lines and cuticle arcs on the first that needed it. Cleanup is easy but needs a little extra zhuzhing due to the high pigment concentration. Morning Glory dries naturally in very good time, developing its signature waxy finish as it does.

Photos show two coats of Morning Glory over Seche Rebuild treatment and two coats of Butter London Nail Foundation basecoat with no topcoat. Mortifications du jour: 1. You may notice traces of yesterday's bright green manicure in the most inopportune spots. Apparently my removal of Deal With It lacked some necessary extra zhuzhing. I hang my head in shame. 2. I got my index finger caught in the latch on the gate to the pen right before I took these pics, which left a nice purple pinch mark on the top knuckle and caused a small chip in the polish on the tip of that nail. This sort of folderol isn't rare around here but I don't usually photograph the aftermath. You just got lucky today, I guess. *wink*

Cult Nails Morning Glory, natural wax effect finish

Cult Nails Morning Glory, natural wax effect finish

Cult Nails Morning Glory, natural wax effect finish

Cult Nails Morning Glory, natural wax effect finish

Cult Nails Morning Glory, natural wax effect finish

Cult Nails Morning Glory, natural wax effect finish

Cult Nails Morning Glory, natural wax effect finish

And then because I could, I added a layer of HK Girl to see what kind of gorgeousness Morning Glory could get up to with a glossy topcoat.

Cult Nails Morning Glory with glossy topcoat

Cult Nails Morning Glory with glossy topcoat

Cult Nails Morning Glory with glossy topcoat

Cult Nails Morning Glory with glossy topcoat

Cult Nails Morning Glory with glossy topcoat

Cult Nails Morning Glory with glossy topcoat

Cult Nails Morning Glory with glossy topcoat

As you can see, although the color itself doesn't change much from waxy to glossy, the presentation totally changes the look. In my opinion, the wax effect finish would be most beautiful on fingers that are more graceful, longer and less gnarly overall than mine are, so for me I think the glossy look is better. The wax effect finish has a strong presence and is very modern, chic and sophisticated. In any case, the color is freaking awesome -- sumptuous, bold and feminine. I love it. In dim light, it takes on a dark purplish blood red look. Very cool.

love,
Liz