ILNP Sticks and Stones

Sticks and Stones was released at the beginning of September this year by Nevada-based indie polish maker ILNP as part of the Ultra Holo segment of the Fall 2017 collection. Officially described as "a gauntlet grey holographic nail polish with a subtle brown undertone," the color is a sleek, silvery, medium-toned, achromatic grey shade along the lines of Spanish grey. Powerfully holographic, it exhibits some sort of prismatic display virtually all the time, from slender ribbons of muted rainbow colors to a mobile, encompassing flush with a delicious, bronzey "toasted" aspect. The flare in the sun is textbook holo, a dazzling, fully-linear display featuring every prismatic hue that frames a glistening, semi-metallic lick of golden grey and shades to pewter at the sidewalls of the nail.

Application was wonderful. The consistency of Sticks and Stones is fluid and creamy with a medium consistency and a deliciously silky, self-leveling glide over the nail, a fantastic, eminently-paintable formula that is exactly on par with what I've learned to expect ILNP. *lol* It never gets old, though, you know what I mean? The delight is always fresh. Pigmentation is very good -- two coats nets evenly opaque coverage and full, rich color. Cleanup is easy. Sticks and Stones dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, shiny finish. Topcoat doesn't affect the holographic properties at all.

Photos show two coats of Sticks and Stones over basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

ILNP Sticks and Stones

ILNP Sticks and Stones

ILNP Sticks and Stones

ILNP Sticks and Stones

ILNP Sticks and Stones

ILNP Sticks and Stones

ILNP Sticks and Stones

ILNP Sticks and Stones

ILNP Sticks and Stones

ILNP Sticks and Stones

ILNP Sticks and Stones

ILNP Sticks and Stones

The incredibly athletic holographic effects really ramp up the drama and liveliness of this silky medium grey, an elegant neutral that is usually somewhat reserved. Here, it has an almost playful quality -- the ever changing prismatic configurations are a delight to the eye and there's a silvery sleekness to the look of the polish on the nail that's especially agile and energetic. Beautifully done!

love,
Liz