Elevation Polish Volcán el Palomo

Like Valle de la Luna and Douglas's Love, Volcán el Palomo was released last month by Minnesota-based indie polish maker Elevation Polish as part of the Chillin' in Chile collection. It's described in the shop as a dusty denim blue low density holo with silver platinum microflake shimmers, but I think that it's more a dusky variation of blue-grey similar to RAF blue or steel blue. More denim-esque than truly denim. It has a creamy appearance on the nail, and the shimmers and holo pigment serve as modest adornments to the look. At close quarters, scattered silvery microflakes gleam brightly as light travels over them and the holographic particles add a subtle dusty quality to the color. I wish I could see this in direct sun as I'm sure it would elicit some prismatic sparkle, but we're heavily overcast and rainy here today.

Application went very well. The consistency of Volcán el Palomo is fluid, light and smooth with a thin-to-medium viscosity and a fluent, silky slip over the nail. It likes to go on in thin coats but sets up fast so I recommend a more generous hand if you like to finesse your application as it gets a little balky once it begins to dry. Self-leveling properties are very good as is pigmentation, netting evenly opaque coverage in two coats. Cleanup is straightforward. You may have to chase down a few silvery microflakes, but it is otherwise issue-free. Volcán el Palomo dries naturally in very good time to a smooth shiny finish. Topcoat will smooth out any lingering unevenness in the coverage as well as enhancing the presence of the silver microflake shimmers and adding a becoming gloss.

Photos show two coats of Volcán el Palomo over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Elevation Polish Volcán el Palomo

Elevation Polish Volcán el Palomo

Elevation Polish Volcán el Palomo

Elevation Polish Volcán el Palomo

Elevation Polish Volcán el Palomo

Elevation Polish Volcán el Palomo

Elevation Polish Volcán el Palomo

Elevation Polish Volcán el Palomo

Elevation Polish Volcán el Palomo

This polish is named for the eponymous Chilean stratovolcano located in the Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins Region administrative region, a constituent subdivision of Chile situated slightly above the midpoint of the country's elongated shape. Volcán el Palomo is known for its double calderas, vast ice flows and neighboring formations of granite needles, the Agujas del Palomo.

Volcán el Palomo with Agujas del Palomo in the foreground (source)

And speaking of denim nail polish, Elevation's Melbourne from the Street Graffiti collection of June 2015 is probably my most favorite denim-look lacquer by any polish maker ever, a cloudy dark blue shimmer with a wonderful flecky visual texture. It's much closer to an indigo than Volcán el Palomo, which I think is more azure-based. I guess Melbourne has been discontinued as it's not listed anywhere on the site. But if you're a fan of denimy polishes and you ever come across it in a blog or destash sale, grab it -- it's awesome!

love,
Liz