Colors by Llarowe Emerald Illusion

Emerald Illusion was released on the first of May this year by Colorado-based indie polish maker Colors by Llarowe as the May 2017 edition of the brand's popular Polish of the Month (POTM) series. POTMs are only available from Llarowe for a 24 hour period beginning on the first of their respective months, but you can sometimes get them later from one of Llarowe's international stockists. I missed Llarowe's window for this one, as usual, and was happy to find it recently at Harlowe & Co, where it is still available.

Officially described as "a vivid teal jelly base multichrome that shifts from teal to deep blue to emerald green with emerald green shimmer," Emerald Illusion has a brilliant, saturated, medium-dark blue-green base filled with multichromatic pigment with a blue-green-purple shift spectrum as well as abundant metallic shimmers in bright malachite green. This mix results in a bevy of mobile, shifting peacock hues on the nail, ranging from a deep, bold, oceanic midnight blue with hints of indigo at its edges through all kinds of blue-greens and teals to sea green to radiant, shimmering emerald green, with a gleaming semi-metallic finish. It's pretty spectacular! In direct sun, the color reads more green or blue-green depending upon the angle at which it's viewed, shifting at the sidewalls to a deep blue and glistening with delicate net of twinkling sparkle. 

Application was amazingly good -- the formula of Emerald Illusion is about as perfect and paintable as they come. The consistency is fluid and super smooth with a medium viscosity and a fluent, even, buttery glide over the nail. Self-leveling properties are phenomenal from the get go, my ridges were completely camouflaged with the first coat. Pigmentation is very good, requiring two coats for full opacity. Cleanup is easy. Emerald Illusion dries naturally in good time to a smooth, shiny finish. 

Photos show two coats of Emerald Illusion over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Colors by Llarowe Emerald Illusion

Colors by Llarowe Emerald Illusion

Colors by Llarowe Emerald Illusion

Colors by Llarowe Emerald Illusion

Colors by Llarowe Emerald Illusion

Colors by Llarowe Emerald Illusion

Colors by Llarowe Emerald Illusion

Colors by Llarowe Emerald Illusion

Colors by Llarowe Emerald Illusion

Colors by Llarowe Emerald Illusion

Colors by Llarowe Emerald Illusion

The shifts in this multichrome are even more dramatic and showy in person than you see in the pics, and the colors are richer and cleaner and more saturated -- especially the greens, which feel a little diluted here. For a better idea of the range of colors, check out Alicia's excellent pics in her review of Emerald Illusion on Delishious Nails.

Today's the first of August, POTM day at Llarowe, and Leah Ann will be featuring another fabulous emerald shade, a holo this time. It will be available for 24 hours beginning at 12pm Mountain Time, here. Don't miss it!

love,
Liz