Emily de Molly Crystal Crown

Crystal Crown was released by Australian indie polish maker Emily de Molly as a stand-alone polish in November 2015. This is a linear holo in a very pale tint of grey, basically an off-white. Finely milled holographic pigment endows it with a mother-of-pearl opalescence and abundant tiny gold-to-green color-shifting shimmers give it a diaphanous golden sheen. In direct sun, there's a delicate, sparkling linear holographic flare in the pastelled prismatic palette common to light-colored holos.

Application was amazing. The formula of Crystal Crown is similar to that of Poser, with a fluid, light, super creamy consistency, a thin-to-medium viscosity and a propensity to go on in thinner coats. Self-leveling properties are outstanding for a white polish. Pigmentation is sheer and buildable. A touch of streakiness with the first coat evens out as it builds, with completely even opaque coverage in three coats. Cleanup is easy and straightforward. Crystal Crown dries naturally in very good time to a beautiful glossy finish. Topcoat plays up the presence and effects of the shimmers and does not appear to inhibit the holographic properties in any way.

Photos show three coats of Crystal Crown over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Emily de Molly Crystal Crown

Emily de Molly Crystal Crown

Emily de Molly Crystal Crown

Emily de Molly Crystal Crown

Emily de Molly Crystal Crown

Emily de Molly Crystal Crown

Emily de Molly Crystal Crown

Emily de Molly Crystal Crown

Emily de Molly Crystal Crown

Emily de Molly Crystal Crown

Emily de Molly Crystal Crown

Emily de Molly Crystal Crown

Emily de Molly Crystal Crown

With Crystal Crown, I believe that Hayley has effectively lassoed a more than reasonable facsimile of that fabled unicorn of holographic polishes, the perfect white linear holo. The nominal, carefully achromatic grey tint actually accentuates the illusion of whiteness by dimensionalizing it, giving it the body and sleekness that allows it to read as white while gracefully preempting any hint of starkness or chalkiness.

Next to a pure white, Crystal Crown is clearly grey. But in bright indirect light especially, it has a manifestly white demeanor that evokes the luminosity and fluent smoothness of freshly Zambonied ice at the skating rink. Could this be the polish you've been looking for?

love,
Liz