Lacquer Slacker Liz: Vapid Lacquer

Showing posts with label Vapid Lacquer. Show all posts

Monday, October 23, 2017

Vapid Lacquer Apparition

Like Vampires Don't Sparkle, Apparition is a long-standing Halloween shade from Texas-based indie polish maker Vapid Lacquer, originally released in 2014.

Described as a light grey creme/jelly hybrid bearing three sizes of silver holographic glitters as well as colorshifting shimmers, the color is a smooth, semi-translucent Gainsboro grey with a very subtle pink-lavender glow that is blanketed with a net of delicate silver glitters that twinkle in pasteled prismatic hues in ambient light. They brighten to full-on rainbow sparkle in the sun, where the colorshifting shimmers reveal themselves as a mist of tiny, glistening lavender and pink microflakes along the axis of light.

Application was wonderful. The consistency of Apparition is fluid, light and creamy with a medium viscosity and an easy, biddable, self-leveling slip over the nail, a delightful formula that goes on incredibly fluently and evenly for a white-based shade. Pigmentation is very good, slightly sheer on the first coat but building easily to wearably opaque coverage with the second. Cleanup is straightforward with a bit of stickiness on the part of the glitters. Apparition dries naturally in very good time to a shiny finish with just the tiniest bit of discernible texture, easily smooth with topcoat.

Photos show two coats of Apparition over basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Vapid Lacquer Apparition

I am biased to love this delicious little grey twinkler because of the formula, which is simply superb. How can you not love a polish that actually feels like it wants your manicure to be perfect? It's beautifully-constructed as well, all the elements are in perfect proportion. If you've missed this one in the past, make a mental note to pick it up next year -- it's the kind of polish that just makes you feel really happy and fortunate to be a polish enthusiast.

love,
Liz

Friday, October 13, 2017

Vapid Lacquer Polarize

Polarize by Vapid has been around since 2015 at least and I believe it's part of the core line. It's described as a navy holo, but I think that it's more vibrant and accessible than that, like something along the lines of pigment blue or a medium-dark phthalo blue. As with all of Vapid's holo, the prismatic effects are rich and linear, giving the polish a deep ultramarine heart supplemented by holographically-nuanced shades of Pacific blue and luminous dark cerulean with sea green sparks in ambient light for a bold, oceanic sensibility. We're currently under overcast skies here in central NC today, but I expect to see a linear prismatic display predominated by arcs of blue and green in the sun.

Application was wonderful. The consistency of Polarize is fluid, light and smooth with a thin-to-medium viscosity and a fluent, silky, self-leveling slip over the nail. Pigmentation is outstanding, a true one-coater, although I did add a second coat to finesse lines left wanting on the first. Didn't alter the color, though! There's a bit of pigment travel during cleanup, as you might expect from a dark, saturated blue, and just a hint of trace staining -- nothing major. Polarize dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, shiny finish. Topcoat does not inhibit the holographic properties of the polish in any way.

Photos show two coats of Polarize over basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Vapid Lacquer Polarize

This deep blue somehow manages to retain its essential blueness even in low light, perhaps due to the remarkable glowing cerulean aspect I mentioned earlier, which I'm sad to see doesn't show up nearly as well in my photos as it does in person. Polarize puts me in mind of deep ocean waters, but calm, not storm-tossed. There's a majestic quality to it, a sense of power and mystery in benevolent repose.... *lol* Or something like that -- you'll see what I mean when you try it! Suffice to say that it's a beautiful shade, graceful and elegant in the way of dark blue polishes, with some evocative touches courtesy of the holographic effects. Love!

xo,
Liz

Monday, October 9, 2017

Vapid Lacquer Grape Stomp

Grape Stomp is venerable Vapid Lacquer fare, originally released in 2014 with a reformulation in 2015 and a dirty version with extra holographic microflakes in 2016. The polish you'll see here today is the current iteration, a "regular" (ie non-dirty) purple holo that I thought was part of the core line but I don't see it listed as core, hmm. It has every core holo quality though -- excellent, eminently-paintable formula, rich color, linear holographic effects.

Not to be confused with Mistrust, Grape Stomp is a strongly-pigmented blue-leaning purple, actually a variation of violet along the lines of (surprise!) grape with aspects of color wheel violet and Majorelle blue. Deep but brilliant and saturated, it's richness is enhanced by the holographic effects, which give it an indigo heart framed by a wide, glowing ribbon of ultramarine in ambient light. In the sun there's a brilliant azure flare edged with bright red sparks.

Application was fabulous. The consistency of Grape Stomp is fluid, light and smooth with a thin-to-medium viscosity and a fluent, even, self-leveling slip over the nail. Pigmentation is excellent. Evenly opaque on the first coat, it reaches full bottle color with the second. Cleanup is straightfoward, with a tiny bit of pigment travel and surprisingly little trace staining. Grape Stomp dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, shiny finish. Topcoat does not inhibit the holographic effects in any way.

Photos show two coats of Grape Stomp over KBShimmer Fillin' Groovy basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Vapid Lacquer Grape Stomp

A gorgeous true violet holo -- the color is absolutely stunning, dark but vivid and bold with a luminous quality that makes practically jump up off of the nail. Wear this when you want your nails to be noticed because they surely will! As you know, violet is one of my favorite colors for fall (even if it is 80+℉ with 85% humidity outside at the moment) and this one is especially glorious! Love!

xo,
Liz

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Vapid Lacquer Vampires Don't Sparkle

Vampires Don't Sparkle is a venerable Halloween shade from Texas-based indie polish maker Vapid Lacquer, having been released originally in 2014 from what I can tell. When it returned for 2017 with Vapid's restock this month along with several spooky cohorts, I just had to pick them up.

Described as "a deep, dark blood red shimmer," Vampires Don't Sparkle has a vampy, blackened-style burgundy or deep crimson base along the lines of Oklahoma crimson. It's filled with finely-milled red particulate shimmers that create a satiny, garnet-colored sheen along the axis of light that shades to very dark burgundy at the sidewalls, giving the polish a gorgeous, plush dimensionality on the nail.

Application went very well. I always have to fight a feeling of intimidation with dark polishes because of my potential for making a mess, but Vampires Don't Sparkle has a very tractable formula. The consistency is fluid, full-bodied and smooth with a medium viscosity and an even, self-leveling glide over the nail that likes to go on in medium coats. Pigmentation is excellent. Although I used two coats for this manicure, the polish was evenly opaque and at full bottle color with the first. Cleanup was easier than I expected, with a touch of pigment travel but little to no residual staining, huzzah! Vampires Don't Sparkle dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, satiny finish. Topcoat adds a becoming gloss and accentuates the dimensionalizing effect of the shimmers.

Photos show two coats of Vampires Don't Sparkle over basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Vapid Lacquer Vampires Don't Sparkle

My first thought upon applying this polish was just how classically beautiful it is. The color is luxuriously rich and the way the shimmers rise and brighten along the axis of light heightens that sense of opulence and gives the polish a sensuous velvety plushness on the nail that totally draws you in. Despite the blackened sensibility, it retains a burgundy glow in low light. Makes for a sexy, glamorous manicure with beaucoup wow factor, perfect for date night or a special occasion, excellent for the holidays.

love,
Liz

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Vapid Lacquer Whatz-Her-Face

Whatz-Her-Face was originally released back in 2014 by Texas-based indie polish maker Vapid Lacquer and has been reformulated a couple of times along the way to its present iteration as one of creator Krys' core-line linear holos. The color is a splendid dark red-violet shade along the lines of Crayola's jazzberry jam, a rich, deep, purple-berry color with strong aspects of Mardi Gras purple. Powerfully holographic, it has that wonderful delicately-grained visual texture that you see in holos, and displays a glowing heart of electric violet edged with deep red in ambient light. Analogous, nuanced hues of mulberry, wine, and byzantium further enrich and dimensionalize the look, and there's a stealthy, semi-metallic underlay of silvery red-violet that adds a ruby flash in certain circumstances. We are overcast with light rain here today, but I'm sure that the prismatic display in the sun is glorious.

Application was a pleasure. The consistency of Whatz-Her-Face is fluid, full-bodied and very smooth with a medium viscosity and a plush, even, self-leveling glide over the nail with a bit of pull to it. Pigmentation is excellent, possibly a one-coater for some. I used two for this manicure. Cleanup is straightforward with a tiny bit of pigment travel but little to no trace staining. Whatz-Her-Face dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, shiny finish. Topcoat does not mess with the holographic effects in any way.

Photos show two coats of Whatz-Her-Face over basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Vapid Lacquer Whatz-Her-Face

One of my favorite non-blue nail colors, this beautiful, bold red-violet shade is just to die for in my opinion, I adore it! The sheer opulence and richness of it about sends me into raptures! It has the passion of a red and the mystery of a purple, I think, and there's a sense of luxury to it that makes for a very glamorous, high-end kind of manicure. Superb!

love,
Liz

Monday, August 14, 2017

Vapid Lacquer Fire Starter

Fire Starter was released last September by Texas-based indie polish maker Vapid Lacquer as part of the Fall 2016 collection. Described as a cool-leaning red shimmer, the color is a deep, voluptuous fire engine red within which smolder abundant ultrafine metallic shimmers. They give this polish a classic, dimensional "lit from within" look, brightening the color to a glowing pigment red along the axis of light that shades in a smooth gradient to an almost blackened appearance toward the edges of the nail, with a sleek, satiny, semi-metallic sheen overall. Breathtaking!

Application was great! The consistency of Fire Starter is fluid, dense and very smooth with a medium-to-thicker viscosity and a lush, full-bodied, self-leveling glide over the nail that has a tiny bit of pull to it. The shimmers can show brushstrokes, but the depth of color and illuminative effects are such that they are just not that noticeable unless you are looking for them. Pigmentation is outstanding. Although I used two coats for this manicure, the polish displayed evenly opaque coverage and full bottle color on the first coat. Cleanup requires some care, with pigment travel and trace staining as you might expect from such a saturated, well-pigmented shade. Fire Starter dries naturally in good time to a smooth, shiny finish. Topcoat accentuates the ember-like glow of the shimmers.

Photos show two coats of Fire Starter over KBShimmer Love You Strong Time treatment and KBShimmer Fillin' Groovy basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Vapid Lacquer Fire Starter

Oh baby! Bold and unapologetically seductive, this sleek, shimmering lacquer is your consummate vampy red, with the kind of smoldering depth that any red-loving polish enthusiast would happily drown themselves in. Absolutely gorgeous!

love,
Liz