Lacquer Slacker Liz: October 2016

Monday, October 31, 2016

ILNP Homecoming

Homecoming was released in August 2014 by Nevada-based indie polish maker I Love Nail Polish (ILNP) as part of the Fall 2016 collection. Creator Barbra describes this as a deep purple holo with gold flakes. The color is a deep Spanish violet with aspects of navy and indigo, dark enough to appear almost black in low light save for a glint of visible violet where the light hits. It is suffused with tiny golden microflakes, which gleam brightly as light travels over them and give the polish the appearance of being dusted with pure gold. A degree of translucence to the formula allows these microflakes to create a subtle but opulent dimensional gold-flecked glow within the base. Finely-milled holographic pigment generates nuanced hues of ultramarine and indigo in ambient light, and in the sun there's a slightly dispersed linear prismatic display predominated by bright, sparkling arcs of indigo, azure and red that frames a glistening semi-metallic underlay of silvered tyrian purple.

Application was fantastic. The consistency of Homecoming is fluid, light and smooth with a thin-to-medium viscosity and a fluent, self-leveling slip over the nail. Pigmentation is very good, with a bit of sheerness to the first coat building quickly to completely even opaque coverage with the second. Cleanup is easy. Homecoming dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, shiny finish.

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

ILNP Homecoming

This polish was gifted to me not long ago by my generous polish faerie friend Marisa in Missoula, MT. I have to thank you, my dear, because I probably never would have tried this had you not sent it and I love it! The mysterious deep violet with its lavish gilt microflakes has an opulent air on the nail that is precious and almost regal in its sensibilities. So classy!

love,
Liz

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Superchic Lacquer Awkward Turtle

Awkward Turtle was released in late September by California-based indie polish maker Superchic Lacquer as part of the Urban Dictionary collection, the fourth of five that I purchased from this awesome series of superholos. I looked up the Urban Dictionary's definition of awkward turtle but for the life of me cannot visualize the gesture as it is described there. I even looked at a video of the ASL gesture for platypus since it is supposed to be the same, but don't see how that reconciles with the Urban Dictionary description of the awkward turtle gesture. Is this really a thing?

The polish, on the other hand (ha!), is absolutely a thing! Officially described as an olive green, this is another one where the holographically-generated nuances make it tricky to see the true base color. It's a medium-dark variation of olive, less brown and brighter than what I usually think of for that shade, closer to a Florida avocado kind of color. In any case, it's rich and robust and the holographic effects are fantastic. In ambient light, there's a demi-flare with a sweet cerulean-tinged heart edged by arcs of spring green, misty golden olive and turtle green. Direct sun generates a brilliant analogously-hued linear display featuring bright ribbons of indigo, azure, spring green and golden olive fringed with a mix of orange and red sparks that frame a gleaming blaze of semi-metallic golden green and shade to deep turtle green at the edges of the nail.

Application was great! The consistency of Awkward Turtle is fluid, creamy and dense with a medium viscosity and a lush, self-leveling glide over the nail. This one felt a little denser than the other Urban Dictionary polishes I've tried, with a good bit of pull to it, but still obviously shares the same formula. Pigmentation is outstanding, another one-coater, although I again used two coats for my manicure. I dunno, there always seems to be room for improvement on that first coat! Cleanup generates less pigment travel than the others and only a hint of trace staining. Awkward Turtle dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, ever-so-slightly flat finish that loves a good topcoat to look its glossy best. Topcoat does not interfere at all with the holographic properties.

Photos show two coats of Awkward Turtle over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Superchic Lacquer Awkward Turtle

Superb holographic effects and gorgeous saturated color -- can't beat that with a stick! Hopefully you're not still on the fence about these Urban Dictionary holos. Get 'em if you can! Even if you have similar holos already in your collection, you should try at least one of them just to experience the pigmentation and formula. My favorite of what I've tried so far is Rum-Billie, but Awkward Turtle is a very close second.

love,
Liz

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Lavish Polish Nudie Booty

Today's lacquer is Nudie Booty from California-based indie polish maker Lavish Polish. The provenance of Nudie Booty is shrouded in mystery, but I do know that it's been around since March 2014 at least. So, an oldie but a goodie!

Nudie Booty is -- surprise! -- a nude holographic polish. The color is a light semi-translucent beige with a kiss of grey and maybe the barest wink of pink to it, resulting in a beautiful pale creamy latte or tea-with-milk kind of shade. Abundant finely-milled holographic pigment adds a delicate twinkle of pale gold in bright ambient light, and in the sun there's a sweet scattered prismatic display with tiny sparks in opalescent hues of pale blue and green.

Application was stellar. The consistency of Nudie Booty is fluid, light and creamy with a thin-to-medium viscosity and a silky, even, self-leveling slip over the nail -- a creme/jelly hybrid sort of formula that is a delight to work with. A little goes a long way with this polish, no need for a heavily loaded brush. Pigmentation is very good for a formula with built-in translucence, delivering wearable opacity with the barest skosh of visible nail line in two coats. I used three for the photos, but it didn't change the appearance of the color. Cleanup is easy. Nudie Booty dries naturally in very good time to a beautiful glossy finish.

Photos show three coats of Nudie Booty over KBShimmer Love You Strong Time treatment and Pretty Serious All Your Base basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Lavish Polish Nudie Booty

When I saw this polish in Lavish's online shop, my exaggerated covet response went into overdrive. Buy ALL the nude holos! Adding fuel to the fire was Emely's note in the description: "It's a must have because to appreciate the beauty of this you have to see it in person." Ok, then! It certainly is beautiful and very graceful as well. It has a delicate, lucid quality and is ungrudgingly flattering -- the perfect character shoe for your nails!

love,
Liz

Friday, October 28, 2016

Superchic Lacquer Trap Queen

Like Rum-Billie and Deadpool, Trap Queen was released in late September this year by California-based indie polish maker Superchic Lacquer as part of the Urban Dictionary collection. According to its page in the Urban Dictionary, a trap queen is a "bomb-ass female," a loyal, respectful and wise woman, both street smart and book smart, superior to pettiness and bitches, down to do what is needed for her friends, family and man. I'd aspire to that!

Officially described as a deep raspberry linear holo, Trap Queen is a medium-dark but extremely vibrant variation of red-violet with a strong magenta lean. It's so powerfully holographic that it is actually difficult to discern the true base color on the nail! Lush holographically-generated hues of glowing violet, mulberry, fandango and Pantone magenta shade the base in ambient light, and there's a brilliant semi-metallic raspberry underlay with an intense raspberry flash under incandescent light. Direct sun creates a vivid, sparkling prismatic display predominated by twin ribbons of violet and bright red spangled with prismatic sparks that frames a central blaze of silvered raspberry and shades to an inscrutable deep red-violet around the edges of the nail.

Application was amazing. Trap Queens has the same magnificent formula as the other Urban Dictionary polishes. Its consistency is fluid, creamy and dense with a medium viscosity and an easily-controlled, velvety, self-leveling glide over the nail. Pigmentation is outstanding, delivering completely even opacity and full bottle color in one coat. I used two to ensure the non-appearance of my nail ridges, but it made no difference in the color that I could see. Cleanup is a delicate process due to pigment travel and trace staining, but it's definitely do-able. Trap Queen dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, shiny finish. Topcoat does not appear to affect the holographic properties in any way.

Photos show two coats of Trap Queen over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Superchic Trap Queen

These were all taken in natural indirect light. You can see how responsive and athletic the holographic effects are, even out of the sun, just fierce! The base color is gorgeous -- exuberent and feminine -- and the formula is to die for. A fantastic polish!

ttyl,
Liz