Picture Polish Riviera

Riviera was just released this month by Australian boutique polish maker Picture Polish as one of six new Collaboration shades. It was designed by Sabrina of the French blog NailArtSakura and nailartsakura on Instagram, inspired by her love for the Mediterranean Sea, specifically the look it has during the month of March: "at that time it is cold, the wind blows, it takes on this very dark tint."

This polish has a translucent but dark and saturated blue jelly base that reminds me of traditional royal blue -- not the modern brighter hue commonly thought of as royal blue but the older, inkier, more mysterious version of the shade. It is similar in sensibility to Atlantic blue, oceanic, keen, fathomless and evocative, and you can almost feel those March winds as you paint. Abundant silvery holographic flakes lie semi-submerged in the inky depths, creating a shimmery turquoise sparkle as light travels over them, and direct sun elicits a scattered field of bright blue and green sparks.

Application was a pleasure. The consistency of Riviera is fluid, light and smooth with a medium viscosity and a fluent, silky, self-leveling slip over the nail that is easy to control and finesse with PP's flattened, flexible brush. Pigmentation is very good. It's translucent, so there may be streaks or some unevenness on the first coat but by and large these disappear with the second. However, you'll want to be as even as possible with your layers to avoid any areas of sheerness. Look at it in the sun if in doubt and add an extra coat if you need to (ask me how I know). Cleanup was fairly straightforward -- watch out for surreptitious pigment travel. Riviera dries naturally in very good time to a beautiful glossy finish.

Photos show two coats (had I followed by own advice it would have been three) of Riviera over basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Picture Polish Riviera

Picture Polish Riviera

Picture Polish Riviera

Picture Polish Riviera

Picture Polish Riviera

Picture Polish Riviera

Picture Polish Riviera

Picture Polish Riviera

Picture Polish Riviera

A lot of dark blues are somewhat reserved and formal in their elegance, but this one is full of drama and character -- the translucence of the jelly base sees to that beautifully. The sparkling flakies are like sunlight glancing off deep, wind-ruffled waters, and the color is crisp, clean and deliciously inky. Gorgeous!

You can read Sabrina's post about Riviera and see her photos of the polish and its inspiration, the Mediterranean Sea, here (translation by Google).

love,
Liz