Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Lido de Paris was initially released by Texas-based indie polish maker Cupcake Polish as part of the Las Vegas Showgirl collection at the Colors & Cocktails event for indie polish makers and bloggers during Cosmoprof North America Las Vegas in July this year. The collection was released for general sale in Cupcake Polish's big cartel store at the beginning of August.

This polish has a medium-dark grey linear holographic base bearing superabundant silver flakies as well as silver holographic microglitters. At the outset, the color appears to be an achromatic flannelly kind of grey along the lines of Davy's grey, with a smooth slatey softness to it. But it generates an astounding prismatic display in direct sun with a prominent blue-green cast surrounding the flame-shaped linear flare, so I think that the grey must have some similar tones in it, which would classify it as more of a gunmetal grey. In any case it's not the least bit stark or severe. What it is, is double plus sparkly! Between the linear holo effects, the reflective silver flakies and the holographic microglitters firing off sparks in prismatic colors at all times, it's a true dazzler. I adore the pairing of the soft, gentle grey with the blazing sparkle, there's some kind of interdisciplinary aspect to it that is intensely pleasing to me. 

Application was great! The consistency of Lido de Paris is thicker than some for suspension purposes but still fluid and eminently paintable. Though dense with components, it has a smooth, self-leveling flow over the nail, with no tumbling or stickups or other naughtiness from the flakies and microglitters, and is fairly easy to manipulate with Cupcake Polish's round flexible brush. Pigmentation is very good. With the opacity-facilitating components, full even coverage is attainable in two thin coats, although the polish went on best for me in medium coats. Cleanup is best done as you go along, before the flakes and microglitters have a chance to adhere, and is fairly straightforward if done that way, with very little pigment travel or residual staining. Lido de Paris dries naturally in fairly good time to a mostly smooth finish with a slightly discernible pebbly texture that smooths out with topcoat. 

Photos show two coats of Lido de Paris over Pretty Serious Rock On treatment and Pretty Serious All Your Base basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Cupcake Polish Lido de Paris

Still images don't do proper justice to this polish. The presence and effects of my beloved silver flakies, in particular, do not translate accurately in my opinion. In person, their keen reflectivity gives Lido de Paris a pronounced all-over gleam, the way silvery scales do for a fish. It's similar to the effect of an extremely glossy or gel topcoat in that it makes the polish look wet, elevating the already remarkable showiness factor a few more notches. The photos also make it look darker and heavier than it feels in person. The silvery gleam and reflectivity of those flakies give this polish a certain fleet-of-foot quality that is sleek and nimble. 

Even with its more flamboyant aspects, this quicksilver grey is very elegant and easy to wear. I like it. I like it a lot.

love,
Liz