Literary Lacquers Lurid Fog

Lurid Fog was released by indie polish maker Literary Lacquers as part of the 2014 Community Collection in November 2014. This polish represents a collaboration with polish blogger Jen of xoxo, Jen. "Lurid Fog" refers to the choking fog of coal smoke mixed with mist that plagued 1880s London in the British novel New Grub Street (1891) by George Gissing. You can see Jen's review of Lurid Fog and the rest of the 2014 Community Collection here.

Amy, the owner and creative force behind Literary Lacquers, describes Lurid Fog as "a slate grey linear holo with a strong purple shimmer from two different sized pigments." The particulate and tiny flake shimmers in this polish are amazingly light-responsive and give it an all-over violet glow. As long as light can reach it, no matter how indirect or oblique the angle, this polish will read as a medium dusky heathered violet with grey undertones. But put it in the shade and bam, it's a straight medium slate grey. In direct sun the holographic display is athletic and nicely delineated in a beautiful flame-shaped prismatic flair with a central flash of violet accented by glimmers of royal blue from the violet flake shimmers, which are iridescent, throwing sparks of royal blue and even turquoise when the light hits them just right. Sounds like there is a lot going on here, but the shimmer components integrate with the grey base in a particularly careful and well-constructed way to produce a look on the nail that is coolly mysterious, understated and elegant.

Application was primo Literary Lacquers. The consistency is fluid, full-bodied and smooth with some pull to it that is especially noticeable with the first coat. Subsequent coats have a more buttery glide over the nail. Self-leveling properties are very good and pigmentation is buildable. As with other Literary Lacquers polishes, the first coat is quite sheer but coverage comes together rapidly beginning with the second coat. Wearable opacity can be achieved in two coats but three coats provides much richer color with more dimensionality. Cleanup is easy and straightforward. Lurid Fog dries naturally in good time to a glossy finish.

Photos show three coats of Lurid Fog over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Literary Lacquers Lurid Fog

Literary Lacquers Lurid Fog

Literary Lacquers Lurid Fog

Literary Lacquers Lurid Fog

Literary Lacquers Lurid Fog

Literary Lacquers Lurid Fog

Literary Lacquers Lurid Fog

Literary Lacquers Lurid Fog

Literary Lacquers Lurid Fog

Literary Lacquers Lurid Fog

Literary Lacquers Lurid Fog

Literary Lacquers Lurid Fog

Literary Lacquers Lurid Fog

Literary Lacquers Lurid Fog

This polish reminds me so much of peacock freshwater pearls! Peacock is an iridescent effect caused by light refracting through the layers of nacre on the curved surface of the pearl. Optical interference creates the complexity of the color. Typically, peacock pearls with have a base color that is either a dark grey-green or a dark blue-grey with overtones of pink, purple and/or gold that appear to float within the nacre as light catches it. Lurid Fog's coloring and appearance are very like that of dusky violet peacock pearls.

violet freshwater peacock pearl rounds from Hong Kong (source)

As pretty as Lurid Fog is by itself, I imagine it would also make a great base for a violet glitter topper. Oooh, like one of Shimmer Polish's offerings, applied gradient-style, Jovie or Cassandra or even Wendy maybe. One of these days, when my patched nail grows out,  I'm going to try a glitter gradient manicure over a complex holo. I'm curious about how it would turn out!

love,
Liz