Cirque Vaporwave

Vaporwave was released this month by NYC-based indie polish maker Cirque Colors as part of the Kawaii collection. Creator Annie describes it as "a cornflower blue holographic with a flash of pink"-- exactly so! The base color is indeed a medium cornflower, which incorporates the cool pink hue of superabundant finely-milled shimmers to give the look a lavender aspect, with a misty bloom of pink along the axis of light. I think that there may be two particle sizes of holographic pigment in this -- a very fine one that produces a holographic flare of bright azure and blue-green in the sun, and a slightly larger one that adds scattered twinkling prismatic sparks throughout.

Application was primo. The consistency of Vaporwave is fluid, light and smooth with a medium viscosity and a fluent, silky, self-leveling slip over the nail that is amenable to thin or thicker coats and is altogether a joy to finesse with Cirque's rounded, flexible brush. Pigmentation is very good. It appears rather sheer on the first coat but builds surprisingly easily to wearably opaque coverage with the second. I added a third to see if it would make a difference and I believe it did add a bit of density to the base color and the shimmers, but that may be a trick of the mind. Cleanup is easy. Vaporwave dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, shiny finish. Topcoat does not inhibit the holographic properties in any way. 

Photos show three coats of Vaporwave over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Cirque Vaporwave

Cirque Vaporwave

Cirque Vaporwave

Cirque Vaporwave

Cirque Vaporwave

Cirque Vaporwave

Cirque Vaporwave

Cirque Vaporwave

Cirque Vaporwave

Cirque Vaporwave

Cirque Vaporwave

Cirque Vaporwave

Cirque Vaporwave

This is an unusual holographic polish, and beautifully done. The abundance of shimmers overtakes the holographic effects in ambient light and gives the polish a sort of satiny sheen, which shows no brushstrokes at all btw. It's a soft, silky kind of look that's well in keeping with the softness of the cornflower color. In the sun, the blue brightens noticeably, losing its lavender aspect. The shimmers brighten as well, creating a central lick of glistening pink that is framed by the prismatic flare. But my favorite detail of this polish are those scattered prismatic sparks, twinkling like tiny stars from within the base. So pretty!

love,
Liz