Sunday, January 24, 2016

Scofflaw Nail Varnish Diamond Dogs

Diamond Dogs was released by Illinois-based indie polish maker Scofflaw Nail Varnish during the first week of this month as part of the Winter 2016 collection. Creator Finch describes it as "a vivid sky blue with gold and bronze flakes and a delicate violet shimmer, named after David Bowie's iconic album...." Prescient, no? The medium-toned Carolina blue creme/jelly hybrid base, while creamy and translucent, has a gently weathered, somewhat nautical quality on the nail. Abundant variously-sizes flakes in bronze and gold float within, contrasting deliciously with the blue and gleaming brightly as light travels over them, and iridescent violet microflake shimmers add a glistening aspect to the polish, twinkling in shades of pale violet and blue. 

Application was wonderful! The consistency of Diamond Dogs is fluid, light and smooth with a silky, self-leveling glide over the nail. It likes to go on in thin coats and is easy to manipulate with Scofflaw's round, flexible brush. The components are very well-behaved and lay flat to the nail without stacking or stickups and only occasional protrusions over the free edge that are easily taken care of with a tip-wrapping swipe of the brush. Pigmentation is sheer but buildable, with wearably opaque coverage in two to three coats depending upon painting style and nail condition. Furrowed and polish-stained as they are, my nails required three. Cleanup is easy and straightforward, with a bit of clinginess on the part of the components. Diamond Dogs dries naturally to a smooth finish with a barely discernible hint of texture. Topcoat accentuates the presence of the components and adds a becoming gloss. 

Photos show three coats of Diamond Dogs over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite. Once again my finger tips are scruffy and disheveled, my apologies!


Scofflaw Diamond Dogs


Scofflaw Diamond Dogs


Scofflaw Diamond Dogs


Scofflaw Diamond Dogs


Scofflaw Diamond Dogs


Scofflaw Diamond Dogs


Scofflaw Diamond Dogs


Scofflaw Diamond Dogs


Scofflaw Diamond Dogs


Scofflaw Diamond Dogs


Scofflaw Diamond Dogs

This is my first experience with Scofflaw and I am impressed. There's a certain painterly quality to the look of Diamond Dogs that has a wonderful artisinal, crafted sense to it, and you know how I feel about speckled polishes. Love! From what I've seen, though, the color has a brighter, cleaner and more vibrant appearance on richer skin tones than mine, more of the true sky blue color as Finch describes and less of a Carolina blue -- I'm afraid that my pasty pale pinkage does not really do it proper justice. Take a look at Jenny's photos of it in her review of this collection on Lavish Layerings and see if you don't agree.

I managed to snag two other polishes from the same collection in addition to this one, and look forward to trying them!

ttyl,
Liz

2 comments:

  1. Aaaaahhhh, I'm dying! I love this polish! Staaaahp it! LOL, just kidding!
    Scofflaw has been one of those brands that I gave up on trying to get a while back. I never seem to be able to get to the site on time to buy anything! I guess if I made more of an effort - was more obsessive about one of their polishes, I would make sure I got it, though. I was looking at those swatches of the Winter collection and, dang, every one of them is gorgeous! Hahahah, is there a black market somewhere for them? (LOL, since they are all sold out) My hopes are that they will show up on Storenvy or eBay, at an increased price of course. Or I could tell myself I really don't need them and save money. . . :D
    Given Scofflaw's propensity for making crelly polishes with those types of glitter, I keep hoping to see them do a polish that is a dead-on dupe of Cirque Hatch. I fiddled around too long and missed out on getting that polish and have regretted it since, especially when I see a photo of it being worn.

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    Replies
    1. Hatch is retired? Argh! I was curious about that one, so many folks loved it that I wanted to try it for myself and see what all the hubbub was about. I guess I won't be doing that now.

      Scofflaw has been hanging out on my peripheries for a long time, but like you I always seem to miss the new releases. I got tuned into the Winter collection by the swatches on Ida Nails It/Lavish Layerings/Cosmetic Sanctuary/etc and actually set an alarm on iCal so I would remember the release date. I would think that Finch will restock this collection at least once at some point in the near future.

      Finch's creations put me very much in mind of some of the work Nikole has done with Hare. There's an eclecticism and a crafted sense to both maker's formulations, and they seem to share a similarly keen curiosity and playful intellect with a wry sense of humor.

      I am in despair about Hare here lately. In the wake of Llarowe's refocusing, Hare opened up a non-etsy online shop and had a big pre-sale on what was to be a new collection inspired by Janis Joplin with restocking of older polishes as well. I placed a sizeable order. That was months ago now. We've heard from Nikole only once during this time, apologizing and promising that the orders will be filled. But they haven't been and with no further word forthcoming I am fearful that this amazing, beloved indie is going through death throes. I so hope that I am wrong.

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