Thursday, September 24, 2015

Ella+Mila Honeymoon Bliss

Nail polish etailer Color4Nails recently began carrying Ella+Mila, a self-described luxury polish brand that is 5 free (made without toluene, dibutyl phthalate aka DBP, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin or camphor), vegan and certified cruelty free by PETA. Named after the twin daughters of one of its founders, this eco-friendly, high-end brand is made in the US and touts its formulas as being chip-free, quick dry and high shine.

As I perused the Ella+Mila offerings at Color4Nails, I couldn't help but notice the abundance of pretty pale pink and peach shades, any of which might be perfect for my friend and personal trainer Tory to wear for her wedding on 3 October. The next thing I knew, I was checking out with six Ella+Mila polishes in my cart. When I presented this bounty to Tory, she insisted I take one home with me to feature in a blog post since I'd never tried the brand before. So today I have Ella+Mila Honeymoon Bliss from the Love collection to share with you. 

Honeymoon Bliss is described on the Ella+Mila website as simply "a natural hue with a touch of love." What does that mean, exactly? Well, in this case it means a creamy almond nude very gently tinted with pink, lavender and grey, cool-toned and reminiscent of porcelain somehow. The color is extremely flattering on the nail and not stark in the least, nor does it appear washed out. Rather, it has a dreamy, demure vibe that is simultaneously soft and sleek. 

Application was delightful. For a white-based color, Honeymoon Bliss has an outstanding formula. Its consistency is quite fluid but not runny, light and very creamy. It has a silky, self-leveling slip over the nail and is easy to manipulate with Ella+Mila's round flexible brush. Pigmentation is very, very good. The first coat tends to be just a tad sheer but not streaky if applied with a light touch and an even hand. Two coats builds the opacity to an evenly opaque, eminently wearable level. I am not the most even-handed of painters so I added a third coat for the photos but would happily wear it at two under other circumstances. Cleanup is easy as pie. Honeymoon Bliss dries naturally in good time to a beautiful glossy finish.

Photos show three coats of Honeymoon Bliss over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.


Ella+Mila Honeymoon Bliss


Ella+Mila Honeymoon Bliss


Ella+Mila Honeymoon Bliss


Ella+Mila Honeymoon Bliss


Ella+Mila Honeymoon Bliss


Ella+Mila Honeymoon Bliss


Ella+Mila Honeymoon Bliss


Ella+Mila Honeymoon Bliss


Ella+Mila Honeymoon Bliss


Ella+Mila Honeymoon Bliss


Ella+Mila Honeymoon Bliss

The lavender overtones aren't as visible in these photos as they are in person, especially in low and incandescent light.

I really like this gentle pinkish nude. It elongates my fingers and has such a graceful look that I scarcely recognize my own hands -- my nails look like petals! It might not be as suitable for warmer complexions, but it's just wonderful on my pinkage. It would make a sweet pedicure shade too, I think.

Fuzzy was totally underwhelmed by the delicate nature of Honeymoon Bliss. I tried to explain how perfectly bridal it was, but she was not moved. Red polish, that moves her. Here is a person who's never worn a full manicure once in her life declaring that it's just fine to wear red polish at your wedding. "Why not?" she asked.

Indeed!

love,
Liz

6 comments:

  1. This summer, I could not get enough nude polish! This one is gorgeous. Love it on your nails.
    I have seen reviews of this brand and they are always very favorable. I love the pale pinks and peaches they have. One of these days!
    I gotta ask, who is Fuzzy? Every time I see that name here, my mind brings up an image of a plush toy and that meanders into Calvin and Hobbs territory and so on and so on!

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    1. I love this one too! So did Tory, when she saw it on my nails. She probably would have let me keep it if I'd asked, but that would be gauche. I know where to get it if I really want one for myself.

      *rofl* Fuzzy is my mother's pet name. My niece and nephew call her Fuzzy, so that's how I refer to her in the blog. When I told her that someone had mentioned her in a comment, I mistakenly said that they'd asked whether she was a stuffed animal. "Pretty accurate," she said. Then she went and read your comment herself and informed me it was "plush toy." "You're T.E.'s plush toy," I told her (T.E. is an on-again-off-again boyfriend). We both had a good laugh at that one!

      Believe me, Fuzzy would fit right into the world of Calvin and Hobbes.

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  2. Oh wow...this is so gorgeous. Shades like this usually look horrible on me, UNLESS they're tinged with lavender, which is my natural undertone. True. This reminds me of a less milky-hued version of my beloved OPI Miso Happy With This Color.

    I had to laugh at your Fuzzy comment. My own Fuzzy (Cally) and I were just talking about what we were planning to wear for our friend's New Years Day p.m. wedding. Cally has is all planned out, down to the maribou wrap. And you better believe she'll be rocking some glittery polish too.

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    1. Melissa, you'd love this one! It has just the perfect tinge of lavender to it, even if it doesn't show in the photos. And the formula is fantastic. Color4Nails has it, you should get it! I've never tried Miso Happy, I'll have to keep an eye out for it the next time I'm trolling on ebay.

      It figures that your mother loves glitter nail polish and maribou wraps -- now we know where you and your sis get your spunk! Gosh I love maribou, especially on hats, reminds me of angels wings!

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