Great Lakes Lacquer Lavender Light

Lavender Light was released by Michigan-based indie polish maker Great Lakes Lacquer as part of The Sunset Dissected collection earlier this month. Described as a medium lavender with pink to gold color-shifting glass flecks, I would call this color a medium-light lavender-esque violet that's slightly milkier and more blue than a floral lavender, something along the lines of a tropical indigo. It is similar in hue to the creme from Pahlish's February duo, Mother Yackle, here in a creme/jelly hybrid formula with the addition of copious glass fleck shimmers that shift from cool pink to pale gold depending upon viewing circumstances. The glass flecks are delicate but not particularly shy, and gleam from within the base as light travels over them, giving the polish a dewy, glistening aspect. Unfortunately, my photos were taken late in the afternoon and don't show this effect very well, but it's there in person.

Application was a delight. The consistency of Lavender Light is fluid, light and smooth with a thin-to-medium viscosity and a nearly effortless self-leveling glide over the nail. It likes to go on in thin to medium coats and is easy to manipulate with GLL's flattened flexible brush. Perfect! Pigmentation is very good. A bit of sheerness with the first coat builds easily to evenly opaque coverage in two medium coats or three thinner ones. I used three coats for the photos. Cleanup is easy and straightforward -- the glass flecks enjoy loitering in the sidewalls but can be persuaded to move along eventually. Lavender Light dries naturally in good time to a beautiful glossy finish. 

Interestingly, something in this polish does not play well with quick dry topcoat and/or vice versa. As I applied my customary Seche Vite, random nebulous dark/light streaks and patches appeared and did not dissipate upon drying. The exact same thing happened when I swatched Pahlish Mother Yackle back in February. I redid today's Lavender Light manicure using Pretty Serious Crystal Coat as my topcoat: same thing, a little less obvious than with Seche Vite but still there. No other reviewer mentions coming across this issue. Since it happened with two polishes of very similar hue, I'm wondering whether the same pigment was used in their respective formulas. Anyway, avoid using le Vite with this polish -- a less carcinogen-filled topcoat will work better.

Photos show two coats of Lavender Light over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Great Lakes Lacquer Lavender Light

Great Lakes Lacquer Lavender Light

Great Lakes Lacquer Lavender Light

Great Lakes Lacquer Lavender Light

Great Lakes Lacquer Lavender Light

Great Lakes Lacquer Lavender Light

Great Lakes Lacquer Lavender Light

Great Lakes Lacquer Lavender Light

Great Lakes Lacquer Lavender Light

Great Lakes Lacquer Lavender Light

Great Lakes Lacquer Lavender Light

Pigmentation issues aside, I absolutely love this color, it's a perfect spring violet/purple for me. I love that my florid skin tone does not wash it out, as happens with so many paler spring purples and other pastel-like shades that folks love to wear during this season. My pinkage is a heartbreakingly unsuitable host to these colors, much as I would love to wear them. But Lavender Light is vibrant enough to get along beautifully with the pinkage while maintaining a decidedly spring vibe. Hooray!

(source)

You can see how Mariah pulled this color from a sunset, no? Inspired!

love,
Liz