Emily de Molly Modern Luster

Modern Luster was released by Australian indie polish maker Emily de Molly as a stand-alone polish in September 2015. Described as a watermelon pink jelly with copper and lime gold shimmers, the color is a bright medium-toned rosy cerise with a milky translucence reminiscent of strawberry-type hues. On me it leans very cool and pink, but I suspect that will vary the wearer's skintone as well as the circumstances in which it is viewed. The jelly formula allows plenty of light to permeate and light up the tiny shimmers, which sparkle like crazy in the sun and give the finish a trembling dewiness in low light and shade. It's a high-spirited, vivacious shade with a certain sense of fragility to it that is difficult to describe.

Application was a delight. The consistency of Modern Luster is fluid, light and creamy with a medium viscosity and a silky, self-leveling glide over the nail. This is an excellent, user-friendly formula that is easy to finesse with Emily de Molly's flattened, flexible brush, which I love. Unlike the typical relatively bushy flattened-style brushes used by many indie polish makers, this one is sleek and compact, fanning out beautifully to produce a nice clean line in close quarters, such as near the cuticle. Modern Luster has a relatively sheer, translucent formula that must be built to opacity over multiple coats. It may be possible to obtain wearable opacity in two medium to thicker coats, but three thinner ones are better for ensuring most even coverage. Cleanup is easy and straightforward with very little pigment travel and no residual staining to speak of. Modern Luster dries naturally in very good time to a smooth shiny finish. Topcoat enhances the presence of the shimmers.

Photos show three coats of Modern Luster over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Emily de Molly Modern Luster

Emily de Molly Modern Luster

Emily de Molly Modern Luster

Emily de Molly Modern Luster

Emily de Molly Modern Luster

Emily de Molly Modern Luster

Emily de Molly Modern Luster

Emily de Molly Modern Luster

Emily de Molly Modern Luster

Emily de Molly Modern Luster

Emily de Molly Modern Luster

Modern Luster's lovely rosy pink reminds me one of the many varieties of rose that Fuzzy has established here and there in the yard over the years. This particular rose is a newcomer of less than a year, donated unexpectedly by Fuzzy's landscaper, Jose. Its otherwise unknown provenance lead her to dub it Jose's Rose, and to her chagrin its blossoms turned out to be a bright reddish pink (Fuzzy is not keen on pink-flowering plants, or pink in general). Fuzzy's color preferences notwithstanding, it's a vigorous, healthy shrub rose with long-lasting expansive blooms. It is positioned amongst camellias and tree hydrangeas next to a brick walkway that leads to the old summer kitchen, which happens to be part of the path that Chi and I take to the pen first thing in the morning. When Jose's Rose is in bloom, it's like getting a good morning greeting from Gaea, to see it there, which is a very fine thing to start your day with.  

Not unlike this polish!

love,
Liz