Cadillacquer 9 Crimes

9 Crimes was released by Swiss indie polish maker Cadillacquer last spring as part of Madeleine's very first collection, Do You See What I see, and is a personal favorite of hers. The inspiration for most Cadillacquer polishes springs from popular culture: movies, TV, music, games. 9 Crimes is named after a favorite song and it's also an episode title from the HBO series True Blood, another favorite. This polish was the primary catalyst for my Cadillacquer spree last month. Of course I was also entranced by some of the subtle shimmers from the Breaking Bad collection as well as several of Madeleine's other glitter crellies, but I'd been lemming 9 Crimes ever since I laid eyes on it last summer and if I were only allowed to buy one polish from Cadillacquer, it would have been this one.

"9 Crimes has a grey/purple base color with gold shimmer and various sized silver glitter," says Madeleine. The color is a beautifully crafted blend of grey and violet resulting in a rich soft slate shade, medium to medium-dark in tone. In it are suspended silver glitters in three sizes, medium, small and tiny, as well as a gorgeous sprinkling of sparkly golden metallic shimmer. It's a well-balanced combination of components that in combination with the sleek soft base color make for a very classy, sophisticated and graceful look.

This polish truly applies like a dream, it is unbelievably well-behaved and user friendly. I had absolutely no issues and needed very little cleanup. Of particular note is the glitter distribution, which was just about as perfect as any glitter polish I've ever used -- all the more impressive as 9 Crimes is not glitter heavy. It's thoroughly blended and the suspension properties of the crelly base are just plain outstanding. Three different sizes of glitter spread out randomly but evenly across each nail with no clumping or stacking whatsoever. I didn't even get any that protruded from the free edge, which I nearly always do when applying a glitter polish. Application bliss!

9 Crimes dries naturally in good time to a smooth glossy finish with only infinitesimal texture from the glitters. I applied a smoothing layer of Gelous anyway, just because I could mostly, and finished it with a thick topcoat of HK Girl. As I was applying the topcoat, I was thinking: I wonder if this is too much topcoat? Well, in retrospect, it was. *sigh* I have moderation issues.

Photos show three coats of 9 Crimes over treatment and basecoat with one coat of Gelous and a topcoat of HK Girl. I used medium coats and only applied the third because MACRO. I would have been perfectly happy with two for normal wear.

Cadillacquer 9 Crimes

Cadillacquer 9 Crimes

Cadillacquer 9 Crimes

Cadillacquer 9 Crimes

Cadillacquer 9 Crimes

Cadillacquer 9 Crimes

Cadillacquer 9 Crimes

Cadillacquer 9 Crimes

Cadillacquer 9 Crimes

Cadillacquer 9 Crimes

The silver glitters in take on a matte look when they get a veil of the grey base over them that is a nice contrast with the sparkly glitters at the surface. The golden shimmers are much more overt and sparkly in direct light than I could show in the photos. My expectations for 9 Crimes was high and I am not disappointed. It's gorgeous! And like the other Cadillacquers I've tried, eminently wearable and flattering. 

love,
Liz