Cirque Saint Cloud

Saint Cloud was released by NYC-based indie polish maker Cirque Colors as part of the limited edition Speckled & Sparkled collection at the end of March this year. Creator Annie describes it as "a silver-lavender sterling foil holographic," one of six foil polishes formulated with ultrafine sterling silver pigment that make up the "Sparkled" half of the collection. 

From photos I've seen, this color seems to lean to violet or purple, depending upon your skintone. On me, it leans more to purple, so it's more of a languid lavender, with lilac and pink overtones, as opposed to a lavender mist. Bearing superabundant sterling silver pigment, this polish is full of light and shadow, with a highly reflective, metallic finish that is alive with twinkling foily flecks. The holographic effects are mostly visible only in bright direct light, where they generate a spray of tiny prismatic sparks, but if you look closely you'll see glimmers of prismatic hues in bright ambient light as well.

Application was lovely. The consistency of Saint Cloud is fluid, light and smooth with a medium viscosity a near-effortless float over the nail. It prefers to go on in thin coats and is remarkably easy to manipulate with Cirque's round flexible brush. Pigmentation is excellent. It's so reflective that it almost creates the illusion of one-coat coverage. Two will deliver full, even opacity, and any incurred brushstrokes disappear for the most part as the polish dries -- thinner coats will help avoid those, btw, the thinner the better. Cleanup is easy and straightforward, although you may have to chase down some of those silver flecks. Saint Cloud dries naturally in very good time to a silky smooth finish.

Photos show two coats of Saint Cloud over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite. 

Cirque Saint Cloud

Cirque Saint Cloud

Cirque Saint Cloud

Cirque Saint Cloud

Cirque Saint Cloud

Cirque Saint Cloud

Cirque Saint Cloud

Cirque Saint Cloud

Cirque Saint Cloud

Cirque Saint Cloud

Cirque Saint Cloud

I am generally wary of pale lavender/lilac shades because I feel like they seem to wash out against my coloring, but this one kind of grew on me. I love that even though it is shiny and reflective, it leveled out beautifully without revealing my nail ridges. The lavender and silver pigments are perfectly balanced in this polish, and it has a gorgeous burnished glow in low light. I imagine it would be magical in candlelight.

ttyl,
Liz