Lacquer Slacker Liz: Cupcake Polish Royal Reindeer

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Cupcake Polish Royal Reindeer

Like Berry Christmas, Royal Reindeer was released last month by Texas-based indie polish maker Cupcake Polish as one of four November 2016 limited edition custom polishes created exclusively for members of the Hella Holo Customs (HHC) Facebook group. Descibed as a purple linear holo with red microglitter, the color here is a lavish medium amethyst enriched by superabundant holographic pigment of a moderate mill size that gives the polish a sparkling Pointillist appearance and generates shifting hues of ultramarine, azure, red violet and misty lavender in ambient light. It is sprinkled with tiny bright red microglitters that stand out beautifully against the amethyst and flash as light travels over them in a gorgeous twinkling effect. In the sun there's a brilliant linear prismatic display predominated by bright arcs of azure and red, dotted with larger red sparks from the microglitters.

Application was most agreeable! The consistency of Royal Reindeer is fluid, smooth and slightly fluffy with a medium-pushing-thick viscosity and a plush, self-leveling glide over the nail. It likes to go on in medium coats and is easy to manipulate with a firm hand. Pigmentation is excellent, it's very nearly wearable in one medium coat but two delivers most even opacity and richest color, plus extra glitters! Cleanup is easy. Royal Reindeer dries naturally in very good time to a gently textured finish that is easily smoothed by a single layer of topcoat. Topcoat does not inhibit the holographic properties in any way.

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

Cupcake Polish Royal Reindeer

The holographic effects are powerful and very responsive and the colors they generate are so vibrant! I love the size of the holo pigment particles here, they really draw light into the polish and create a more painterly overall look. I haven't always been fond of holos with glitter in the mix, but I think this one works beautifully and neither component distracts from the effects of the other. The twinkling effect of those red microglitters is actually one of my favorite things about this polish -- I've been flexing my fingers all day, admiring it!

Delicious eye candy!

love,
Liz