ILNP Sunkissed

Sunkissed was released earlier this month by Nevada-based indie polish maker ILNP as part of the Summer Jellies 2017 collection. This is my first experience with one of ILNP's Jellies, which are scattered-style holos designed with an especially translucent jelly formula to allow for maximum light penetration. It wasn't until I saw this particular color that I felt inclined to purchase a polish that was intentionally so sheer, but judging from the play they get on Facebook they appear to be very popular with ILNP enthusiasts and collectors.

This color, though - it's marvelous, like sunburn for your nails! Officially described as a watermelon red, it's like a convergence of softened, weathered reds -- Venetian red, Indian red -- with an invigorating dose of raspberry and a soupçon of bittersweet. If I had to pick a somewhat similar shade, it would probably be a translucent variation of Indian red, but it's more conventionally pretty and much livelier than that, especially since it's absolutely packed with holographic components in a variety of configurations, from particles to flakes to tiny, delicate shreds. These holographic elements give the polish a heathered appearance and dimensionalize the look with a mobile, warm, sparkly prismatic flush in almost all viewing circumstances. There is considerable interior illumination as well from the holo bits themselves, minute sparks in every color of the rainbow twinkling ubiquitously from the depths. In the sun, the flush becomes more obviously gradated, the way that a loose linear flare is, although it's almost overpowered by the dense blanket of brilliant, scattered prismatic sparkle.

Application was fantastic. The consistency of Sunkissed is fluid, light and smooth with a medium viscosity and a fluent, even, self-leveling slip over the nail, an eminently-paintable formula that's exactly on par with the excellence we've learned to expect from the brand. Pigmentation is sheer. However, the density of holographic components contributes in no small part to the polish's ability to cover, and I was able to get an even, wearably opaque look in two medium-to-generous coats. I added a third for the photos and to build up the color a bit more, and I think it did make a difference. The only place where there is noticeable sheerness is the tips, even though I wrapped them with each coat. 

Cleanup is easy, but looses copious amounts of components to roam freely about the nail environs, most of which disappear with a good handwashing. Sunkissed dries naturally in fairly good time -- I couldn't really judge this properly because I used thicker coats -- to a smooth, shiny finish.

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

ILNP Sunkissed

ILNP Sunkissed

ILNP Sunkissed

ILNP Sunkissed

ILNP Sunkissed

ILNP Sunkissed

ILNP Sunkissed

ILNP Sunkissed

ILNP Sunkissed

ILNP Sunkissed

Well! I'm smitten! As I said, the color is marvelous: an earthy, weathered, translucent red freshened with raspberry. It's a unusually soft color for summer, but possesses that appealing sunburn-over-a-tan sensibility that is inherently summery, like it just got back from a day of deep sea fishing or sailing or hanging out at the lake or the beach. The warm, low-key red is a perfect showcase for the profligacy of holographic sparkle and dimensional prismatic effects, couching their splendors in a most lucid and satisfying way. LOVE!!

xo,
Liz