Cirque Velvetine

Velvetine was released in September this year by NYC-based indie polish maker Cirque Colors as a limited edition (LE)  polish, part of the Maison collection. Officially described as "a slate blue with glowing copper shimmer," the base color is a medium cloudy blue-grey along the lines of cool grey with a very subtle lavender tinge. It's packed with ultrafine copper shimmers that read as orangey pink through the base and create a luminous misty swath of it along the axis of light. A light sprinkling of holographic particles adds a delicate sparkle to the look.

Application was lovely. The consistency of Velvetine is fluid, light and smooth with a medium viscosity and a silky, self-leveling slip over the nail, a superb formula that is on par with Cirque's best. Pigmentation is sheerish but builds to wearable coverage in two coats. A third coat adds extra density to the look of the polish and I think it's worth the trouble. Cleanup is easy. Velvetine dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, shiny finish. Topcoat really brings out the luminosity of the shimmers.

Photos show three coats of Velvetine over KBShimmer Fillin' Groovy basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite. Apologies for blurriness, it's heavily overcast here today.
 

Cirque Velvetine

Cirque Velvetine

Cirque Velvetine

Cirque Velvetine

Cirque Velvetine

Cirque Velvetine

Cirque Velvetine

Cirque Velvetine

This polish has a certain sophisticated grunginess that strikes me as particularly urban and hip. The orangey-pink copper shimmer effects remind me of glowing taillights reflected by wet asphalt, as though captured from a city street in the gloaming of a wet, foggy day -- very Manhattan in November! The twinkling prismatic particles add an ethereal touch, giving it a dreamy quality. It's the kind of polish that will catch you unprepared, a beautifully-constructed, moody, off-center look with a core of mystery and a chic, rebellious edge.

love,
Liz