Lacquer Slacker Liz: November 2015

Monday, November 30, 2015

Pahlish Ghost in My Lungs

Ghost in My Lungs was released by Arkansas-based indie polish maker Pahlish as part of The Hidden Door collection earlier this month. This collection is a series of four complex holographic polishes in autumnal hues named for lyrics from Florence and the Machine, a British indie rock band lead by singer Florence Welsh that formed in London in 2007.

Creator Shannon describes this polish as a "blackened olive holographic with molten gold shimmer." It's a fantastic medium-dark smoky olive, slightly silvered by holo pigment and bearing abundant golden flake shimmers. The combination of the holographic and shimmer effects gives this polish an utterly gorgeous rich, verdigrised appearance with shifting hues of olive, steel blue and cerulean speckled by gleaming golden flecks with a golden-green semi-metallic flash overall. In direct light there's a sparkling linear prismatic flare dominated by ribbons of bright green and blue with trailing orange sparks surrounding a central lick of semi-metallic golden olive. There's a sensuous, protean quality to this beautifully-composed polish that is at once organic and luxurious, discreet and ornate.

Application was delicious. The consistency of Ghost in My Lungs is fluid, light and loamy with an easy, self-leveling spread over the nail. The golden flake shimmers tend to splay Pahlish's flattened flexible brush somewhat, but this does not interfere with application. It's a fast-drying polish and overstroking will cause some tumbling of the flake shimmers -- I found it went on best in medium to thicker coats. Pigmentation is very good with completely even opaque coverage in two coats. Cleanup is easy and straightforward. The golden flakes are a little sticky, but not limpet-like and you won't have to chase them down. Ghost in My Lungs dries naturally in very good time to a smooth finish. Topcoat enhances the presence and effects of the shimmers and does not appear to diminish the holographic properties in any way.

Photos show two coats of Ghost in My Lungs over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Pahlish Ghost in My Lungs

Stunning, no? Shannon does these shimmer holos so well, I never tire of them. Fuzzy was quite taken with it and studied it for several moments before issuing her verdict: "Decadent!" She's right. The sumptuous nuances of blue flecked with gold and the gleaming golden green sheen are almost viscerally opulent. Such a beauty!

love,
Liz

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Picture Polish Bridget

Bridget was released by Australian boutique polish maker Picture Polish as one of the Opulence line of polishes at the end of March 2014, and is considered a remake of the now discontinued Ozotic 621. It is a splendid medium-dark fiery yellow-based red, a vibrant chili pepper shade bearing holographic pigment in a range of sizes from tiny particles to larger flakes. The variably-sized holo pigment produces a range of effects. In almost any light the smaller size gives the polish a dimensional glowing bloom of red-orange freckled over with sparkling flecks that read as gold through the layers of red. Direct sun produces a brilliant scattered display in bright sparks of red, orange, yellow and pink.

Application was lovely. The consistency of Bridget is fluid, light and smooth with a silky slip over the nail and excellent self-leveling properties. It possesses a beautifully-balanced viscosity for painting and is easy to manipulate with Picture Polish's flattened flexible brush. Pigmentation is very good with completely even opaque coverage in two coats. Cleanup is fairly easy with some pigment travel but very little residual staining. Bridget dries naturally in very good time to a smooth shiny finish.

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

Picture Polish Bridget

This polish is named for Bridget Jones, the "modern day heroine" of the 2001 British romantic comedy film Bridget Jones's Diary based on Helen Fielding's novel of the same name, which is itself a reinterpretation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

I love this glowing warm red with its gorgeous holo bloom that it shares with others in the Opulence range. I've featured two other Opulence polishes here in the past, namely Lizzie and Pandora, and loved them also so I think I may need to add some others to my collection. Eyre, Bette and Bardot, and possibly Peacock. And Monroe. Hmmm, this has the makings of a spree!

love,
Liz

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Cupcake Polish Berry Good Looking

Berry Good Looking was released by Texas-based indie polish maker Cupcake Polish as part of the Berry Patch Summer 2015 collection in June this year. Described simply as "a purple linear holographic polish," this is an medium-toned intense electric or extreme violet of near neon proclivities. It is profoundly holographic, in some circumstances almost to the point of overpowering the base color. Brilliant shades of deep magenta, violet, purple and amethyst shade and nuance the base color and in direct sun there is a gorgeous linear prismatic display dominated by sparkling bands of blue and red that frame a blaze of glittering semi-metallic red-violet. In low light, a bright layer of transparent red-violet surrounds a shifting central glowing flame of electric indigo that seems to float over the base, within which twinkle infinitesimal sparks of red. The holo effects are visible in some respect in almost all circumstances, with new, constantly shifting swaths of color at every movement of the hand.

Application was great! The consistency of Berry Good Looking is fluid, creamy and dense, with a plush flow over the nail and very good self-leveling properties. The polish is not thick, but it behaves somewhat like a thick polish -- it has a some pull to it and went on best for me with a well-loaded brush. Pigmentation is excellent with impressive coverage on the first coat and completely even opacity after two. I added a third to fully camouflage my nail ridges, as this polish has a bit of that semi-metallic aspect that strong holos will show sometimes, which is not kind to nail bed irregularities. Cleanup was fairly straightforward with a bit of pigment travel but little residual staining. Berry Good Looking dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, shiny finish.

Photos show three coats of Berry Good Looking over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Cupcake Polish Berry Good Looking

Berry Good Looking was the darling of online indie polish enthusiast community this past summer. I remember seeing countless manicures posted on Facebook. I have to say, it's pretty darn spectacular, especially on the heels of so many dark fall polishes. There's so much energy to this puppy! Really perks a body up!

love,
Liz

Friday, November 27, 2015

Octopus Party Nail Lacquer No Wane

No Wane was released by Connecticut-based indie nail polish maker Octopus Party Nail Lacquer (OPNL) as a stand-alone, pre-order polish at the end of October. Creator Dave describes it as "a dark cobalt linear holographic with copper sparks," but oh, it is so much more than the sum of its parts. The base color is heavily silvered by holographic pigment -- Dave uses SpectraFlair in this polish -- so that it has the appearance of a deeply dimensional steel or glaucous blue. SpectraFlair is a highly diffractive holo pigment of exceptional quality, and its effects are profoundly light responsive and athletic, visible to some degree in almost all circumstances. Direct sun elicits a blazing delineated prismatic flare with an inner ribbon of intense cerulean blue surrounding a central lick of pale semi-metallic sea green and edged by slender sparkling bands of aqua, green, yellow, orange and red. The outer three colors seem to intermix in certain circumstances to produce a caramel-colored border to the flare that gives it a stunning, slightly singed appearance before shading to deep steel blue towards the sidewalls of the nail.

No Wane also carries a sprinkling of what looks to be tiny metallic copper flake shimmers that gleam brightly amid the shifting blue tones of the polish as the light hits them. The effect is remarkably elegant and complementary. Someone need to design a gown based on this polish, pronto! It's like fine silk taffeta in a smoky, shimmering blue-grey randomly studded with glistening copper sequins.

Application was a delight. The consistency of No Wane is fluid, creamy and dense, with a silky slip over the nail that has a slight pull to it and excellent self-leveling properties. It has a beautifully balanced viscosity for painting, likes to go on in thin to medium coats and is easy to manipulate with OPNL's slender round flexible brush. Pigmentation is also excellent, with impressive coverage in one coat and completely even opacity in two. Cleanup is easy and straightforward. No Wane dries naturally in very good time to a gorgeous glossy finish. Sweet!

Photos show two coats of No Wane over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Octopus Party Nail Lacquer No Wane

In an August interview with Nail It! magazine, Dave mentioned No Wane as one of his current favorite creations, and I can see why.

Dave can "do" nail polish in any color or finish, but personally I think he is most in his element producing ambiguously-hued shades like this one, where the color is the result of careful combinations of elements, singular, changeable and difficult to pin down but ultimately profoundly beautiful and sophisticated. I only wish they were easier to snag! Hey Dave, can you set me up with a running account sort of thing where I automatically receive every polish you make? I will give you my left breast, my first born and unfettered access to my bank account. Whaddaya say?

Kidding! Well, kind of....

love,
Liz