Contrary Polish Green Apple

Green Apple was released a little over a month ago by Missouri-based indie polish maker Contrary Polish as part of the Cotton Candy Mattes collection. I bought this collection with the intention of swatching the polishes matte, as created, but I'm finding that I like them better with a glossy topcoat. So that's how you'll see them here.

This polish is described as a "minty green with fine gold shimmer." The base color is actually a light cyanic shade of blue along the lines of Crayola's sky blue -- it's only due to the shimmers mixing their lemony gold color with the base that the polish appears green. It's a cool green that's kind of like a pale, milky variation of jungle green, a poolside sort of shade that also reminds me of green turquoise. The shimmers create a luminous, lemony, lit-from-within glow along the axis of light and add a dimensional, almost pearly silkiness to the look.

Application was dreamy. The consistency of Green Apple is fluid, light and creamy with a medium viscosity and an even, buttery, self-leveling slip over the nail, a fabulous formula that all but paints itself on and is a true pleasure to finesse with Contrary's flattened-style brush. Pigmentation is sheer and requires three coats for wearable opacity, but you can get away with two on shorties. Cleanup is easy. Green Apple dries naturally in good time to a smooth, matte finish. The presence and effects of the shimmers are much more prominent with topcoat than in the natural matte state. 

Photos show three coats of Green Apple over KBShimmer Love You Strong Time treatment and KBShimmer Fillin' Groovy basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Contrary Polish Green Apple

Contrary Polish Green Apple

Contrary Polish Green Apple

Contrary Polish Green Apple

Contrary Polish Green Apple

Contrary Polish Green Apple

Contrary Polish Green Apple

Contrary Polish Green Apple

Contrary Polish Green Apple

Contrary Polish Green Apple

The camera is somewhat unforgiving with visible nail line in this polish but I assure you that in person you really have to be looking for it to notice it. I'm not usually one for sheerish polishes, but the translucent formula here creates a depth and dimension when layered over itself that is just exquisite, like the luminosity of milky sea glass or very delicate porcelain. It's quite striking, and plays beautifully with the milky quality of the color.

If you'd like to see how Green Apple looks with its natural matte finish, here are three blogs with reviews of the entire collection that show them matte and shiny both: Manicured & Marvelous, Addicted to Polish and Cosmetic Sanctuary. 

love,
Liz