ILNP 1Up

1Up was released by boutique polish maker I Love Nail Polish (ILNP) as part of the Summer 2015 Ultra Holo collection at the beginning of this month. It's named for the green 1-Up Mushrooms in the Super Mario Bros games series. In the game, consuming one of these mushrooms gives the player an extra life, and apparently they were the first extra-life granting items in video game history. Who knew?

I'm a little at a loss for words to describe this green ultra holo. 1Up is, by far, the most nuanced of the ultra holos that I've tried, meaning that the effects of the holo pigment create numerous subtle hues in the base color, giving it a rich dimensionality that I find extraordinarily beautiful. Barbra describes the base as lime, and Kellie of KellieGonzo takes that a little further when she describes it in her review of ILNP's Summer 2015 Ultra Holos as a "summery lime rind green," which I quite like. Generally, it's a light-to-medium yellow-leaning green with sparkle-speckled shadings of grass, mantis, moss, fern, forest, bright peridot, lime, olivine and bottle greens... a jewel-like melange of bright and lively shades interwoven with richer, more substantial tones. The prismatic display in direct sun will take your breath away -- bold, sparkling bands of brilliant electric blue and bright lime segue to a luxe glittering golden yellow dotted with pinpoint sparks of red and orange before giving way to dusky olivine around the edges of the nail. But the polish is just as fascinating in indirect light. It's a veritable feast for the eyes, I tell you! A feast!

Application was wonderful. Another superb user-friendly ILNP formula with a fluid, light, smooth consistency and a nearly effortless silky glide over the nail. Self-levels like a dream. Pigmentation is buildable; 1Up is slightly more sheer than the other ultra holos I've worked with and the first coat gives little indication of the richness to come. Two coats deliver wearable opacity for shorter nails, but I think three coats are best. Cleanup is easy and straightforward, although these larger holographic flakes are similar to other flake shimmers in that they seem to like to hang around, in the sidewalls especially. I've found them slightly more tenacious upon removal as well. 1Up dries naturally in good time to a smooth, shiny finish. Topcoat does not diminish the holographic effects in any way. 

Photos show three coats of 1Up over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite. 

ILNP 1Up

ILNP 1Up

ILNP 1Up

ILNP 1Up

ILNP 1Up

ILNP 1Up

ILNP 1Up

ILNP 1Up

ILNP 1Up

ILNP 1Up

ILNP 1Up

ILNP 1Up

ILNP 1Up

ILNP 1Up

ILNP 1Up

These photos were taken right as a thunderstorm was rolling in, so no direct sun and yet -- look at that holo! I forgot to mention the intense turquoise/aqua that insinuates itself into the middle of the roil of greens at every opportunity. Such a lush effect!

Yesterday I said that Closure was my favorite of these ultra holos. Well, 1Up sure is giving it a run for its money. 

love,
Liz