Cult Nails Iconic

Iconic was released by indie polish maker Cult Nails as part of the Inaugural collection at the brand's launch in 2011. Maria, the owner and creative force behind Cult Nails, describes this polish as a "carefully crafted berry red crème... with stunning gold shimmer and red flakes."

Iconic has a dark vivid red-violet base that, to me, is more of a jelly than a creme. It's laced with ribbons of golden shimmer and scattered warm red metallic flakes. On the nail, it reads as a deep berried burgundy with a degree of translucence that lets in the light and allows the shimmers to glow through the color, giving it a gilded look at certain angles. The light also picks up the shiny flakes, which reflect a bright warm orangey red from the plummy depths. This is an elegantly crafted creation with a carefully balanced mixture of components and colors that is harmonious but not complacent. It has a distinctly artisinal feel to it.

Application was fantastic. The consistency of Iconic is fluid, smooth and slightly oily, with a silky, self-leveling glide over the nail. Component payoff is great. A choice amount of flakes is distributed randomly and smoothly over the nail per brushful without stacking or tumbling and only a few protrusions over the free edge, easily whisked away with a swipe of the brush. Pigmentation is excellent for a semi-translucent polish and the opacity and color are buildable to your personal preference. I used two medium coats and was happy with the coverage and depth of color they provided. Because the color is translucent and varies in tone according to its thickness on the nail, even application is key. In my insouciance I didn't pay enough attention to this detail with resulting variations in tone across my nails. They are slight but I can see them. (Note to self: uneven application is not a feature, it is a bug.) 

Cleanup was easy and straightforward, although the flakes do like to stick. Iconic dries naturally in fairly good time to a smooth, shiny finish. Topcoat helps to pop the colors of the components.

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

Cult Nails Iconic

Cult Nails Iconic

Cult Nails Iconic

Cult Nails Iconic

Cult Nails Iconic

Cult Nails Iconic

Cult Nails Iconic

Cult Nails Iconic

Cult Nails Iconic

Cult Nails Iconic

Cult Nails Iconic

Cult Nails Iconic

I love the dark, understated quality of the red-violet base with its gleaming shardy flakes and clouds of golden shimmer peeking out from within. The combination of cool and warm elements feels especially appropriate for November somehow, like a carefully banked fire ready to spring to life when you come in from the cold. 

Iconic reminds me of those hot coals, and dry red wine in full-bellied stemware and the delicious smell of woodsmoke in the air. It reminds me of cranberry relish and chutney in cut glass bowls and candles on the table and the fleeting brilliance of winter sunsets striping the western sky with pink and purple and orange. 

I love this time of year!

xo,
Liz