Colors by Llarowe Gemini Rising

Gemini Rising was released in May 2014 by Colorado-based indie polish maker Colors by Llarowe as part of the incredible 35-polish Summer 2014 collection. This green linear holo, famous for its color, infamous for its staining, is AH-MAZING. No online swatch photo can prepare you for it. The color is a super vibrant, pristine, saturated medium kelly green that literally effervesces with holographically-generated light play on the nail. You know how holographic pigment gives the polish a finely-grained, Pointillist look? Well, with this one those tiny pigment particles just glow. It's like seething fiber optic velvet, incredibly dimensional and dynamic. The linear effects are of the analogously-hued variety with hints of cerulean, malachite and olive and tiny gold sparkles. Truly stunning in any kind of light.

Application was fantastic, nearly perfect -- or would have been had I not somehow managed to catch a couple of tiny fibers in my topcoat. It's just one of those small but ever so hateful hazards that come with the territory and didn't have anything to with the paintability of the polish, which is lovely. The consistency is fluid, light and smooth with a thin-to-medium viscosity and a perfectly even, silky, self-leveling slip over the nail that is easy to control and likes to go on in thin coats. Because of its potential to stain, I heeded the cautionary words of other bloggers and started with a double layer of basecoat. Pigmentation is excellent. The only thing that prevents it from being a one-coater is a tiny bit of translucence to the first coat, which builds effortlessly to completely opaque coverage and full bottle color with the second. Cleanup is easy but this polish does leave a hint, barely noticeable but there, of trace staining. Gemini Rising dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, slightly flat finish that wants a good topcoat to look its best, which does not affect the holographic properties at all. 

Photos show two coats of Gemini Rising over a double layer of basecoat, topped with Seche Vite (and a few fibers -- hopefully you won't notice them).

Colors by Llarowe Gemini Rising

Colors by Llarowe Gemini Rising

Colors by Llarowe Gemini Rising

Colors by Llarowe Gemini Rising

Colors by Llarowe Gemini Rising

Colors by Llarowe Gemini Rising

Colors by Llarowe Gemini Rising

Colors by Llarowe Gemini Rising

Colors by Llarowe Gemini Rising

Colors by Llarowe Gemini Rising

I wish I could say that my photos do justice to what this is like in person but they do not. The green is so lush and vibrant and dimensional, it takes your breath away. I thought I was prepared for the fabulousness but I was wrong. I am dedicating the rest of the day to admiring this polish. What else can I say? It's phenomenal!

Gemini Rising is no longer available from Llarowe, but you may come across it in a blog or destash sale or on Storenvy. I'll update with a postscript if I experiencing staining with the double basecoat, but dare I say it's worth a little staining to spend some time with this green splendor on your nails? I never thought I would, about any polish, but yes. This one is worth it.

love,
Liz

p.s. No staining at all with two layers of basecoat! I applied a little nailbutter to my nail environs before taking it off, and had zero staining to fingers upon removal as well. Hooray!