Lacquer Slacker Liz: Elevation Polish Epidote 2

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Elevation Polish Epidote 2

The original version of Epidote was released by indie polish maker Elevation Polish as part of the Stones Throw collection in September 2013. Epidote 2 replaced it in July 2014 having been tweaked by Lulu, the owner/mixologist of Elevation Polish, to include more green and holo pigments. It has a medium-toned rich olivine base containing two sizes of cosmetic grade holographic pigment that produce a beautiful linear prismatic display in direct light and subtle aqua and forest green nuances to the base color at oblique angles in indirect light. This is a gorgeous, sumptuous, lush yellow-green twinkling with sparks from the holo pigment. I don't usually think of olive as a saturated color because it typically isn't, but this one is so vivid, rich and dimensional that it transcends any of the fruit-related associations and goes right to the olivine gemstone.

Application was lovely. The consistency of Epidote 2 is fluid, smooth and dense, with a bit of pull to it and a creamy, self-leveling flow over the nail. A fast drying polish, this one goes on best in thinner to medium coats. Pigmentation is very good with a bit of translucence to the formula that gives it a great degree of light penetration. I used two medium coats for this manicure but in retrospect I think three thin ones would have been better. Still, it has a really nice formula that builds easily to opacity. Cleanup, what little I did, was easy and straightforward. Epidote 2 dries naturally in very good time to a glossy finish.

Photos show two coats of Epidote 2 over Seche Rebuild treatment and Pretty Serious All Your Base basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite. Even though it's overcast here today, just look at that holo flair!

Elevation Polish Epidote 2


Elevation Polish Epidote 2

Elevation Polish Epidote 2

If you would like to see a photo comparison of the original Epidote and Epidote 2, Ashley of Ashley is PolishAddicted has one, here. She says, "Epidote 2 is more green and slightly more saturated than the original. It also has more of a linear holographic finish."

I think this shade is utterly delicious, I don't think I've ever come across another yellow-green holo that is so deep and vibrant and organic. It's rather like a pistachio green on steroids, and an absolutely perfect tribute to its inspiration, the mineral/gem epidote.

Epidote with quartz and axinite. Here you can see two of its forms, as a crystalline gemstone and as a rock-forming mineral. I chose this example for the beautiful landscape-type representation contained in the specimen, which reminds me a lot of Elevation Polish and Lulu, herself!

For lovers of the yellow-greens, Epidote 2 is double plus good -- I'd think it a must-have!

love,
Liz