Smitten Polish The First Lobster

The First Lobster was released by Missouri-based indie polish maker Smitten Polish in December 2013 as part of the Love Actually collection, a series of polishes inspired by the 2003 British Christmas-themed romantic comedy film Love Actually, written and directed by Richard Curtis. It's a fire-bright vermilion linear holographic polish, a brilliant orange-red with aspects of coral and bittersweet, very lush and intense. The holo pigment is abundant and finely-milled, giving the polish a reflective semi-metallic appearance with omnipresent shading and effects. The prismatic flare has a glowing central flame-shaped flare of violet edged by swaths of shimmering orange and red that are dotted with bright sparks of green and blue, the whole floating over a lick of gleaming semi-metallic blood orange. In all circumstances and respects, this is an absolutely brilliant polish!

Application was fabulous. Even though my bottle may be going on two years old, the consistency is just as fluid and smooth as you could want. It's on the thinner side but not at all runny, with a silky flow over the nail and very good self-leveling properties. Pigmentation is excellent. Although I'd advocate two coats for maximum richness of color and holographic effects, wearably opaque coverage can be achieved in just one medium coat. Cleanup is easy and straightforward. The First Lobster dries naturally in very good time to a smooth shiny finish. Topcoat does not in any way diminish the polish's powerful holographic properties. Nice!

Photos show two coats of The First Lobster over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite. It's once again overcast here today (also unseasonably warm and very humid, ugh!), so no sun shots, unfortunately.

Smitten Polish The First Lobster

Smitten Polish The First Lobster

Smitten Polish The First Lobster

Smitten Polish The First Lobster

Smitten Polish The First Lobster

Smitten Polish The First Lobster

Smitten Polish The First Lobster

Smitten Polish The First Lobster

Smitten Polish The First Lobster

Smitten Polish The First Lobster

Smitten Polish The First Lobster

Smitten Polish The First Lobster

Smitten Polish The First Lobster

Smitten Polish The First Lobster

Smitten Polish The First Lobster

Glorious! And it's even brighter in person that my photos show in this overcast light. You can't help but get a little zing of happiness and gratitude looking at this polish. It makes you feel like you've just received a wishlist gift from someone who knows you well. 

Sadly, The First Lobster is long discontinued, although creator Noelie did bring it back for one brief restock in 2014 due to popular demand. I found this bottle on StorEnvy, for not a whole lot less than it cost new. In hindsight I'd have bought it even at full price, which would be around $11.50. It's just that special! Anyway, if you come across this in your visits to various blog and destash sales, grab it. It won't disappoint you.

love,
Liz