Lacquer Slacker Liz

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Emily de Molly Cracks in the Walls

Cracks in the Walls was released by Australian indie polish maker Emily de Molly in August 2015. This is a pale sandy tint of silver grey, sort of a greige or pale silvery taupe -- a classically neutral color until you make a linear holo out of it and it evolves into something much more complex and magical. It has the slightly tarnished, smoky aspect of titanium with creamy nude undertones. Abundant finely-milled holographic pigment effects a glowing, pearly, semi-metallic look, and washes the base with delicate misty hues of violet, blue and pink. Floating within are the tiniest of silver holographic microglitters, so small that you don't even see them until the light hits them, igniting minute prismatic sparks with a starry twinkle over the nail. In direct sun, there's the brilliant fully-delineated holographic flare that you would expect from a silvery holo, amped with extra sparkle from the microglitters.

Application was dreamy. The consistency of Cracks in the Walls is fluid, light and creamy with a medium viscosity and a smooth, even glide over the nail. It is amenable to thin or thicker coats and self-levels beautifully. Pigmentation is sheerish but buildable, rendering opaque coverage in two to three coats. Cleanup is easy and straightforward with a touch of stickiness on the part of the microglitters. Cracks in the Walls dries naturally in very good time to a silky smooth finish. Topcoat does not inhibit the holographic effects in any way.

Photos show three coats of Cracks in the Walls over Pretty Serious Rock On treatment and Pretty Serious All Your Base basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Emily de Molly Cracks in the Walls

I am totally digging the lustrous quality and shifting hues of soft grey/nude-tinted linear holos such as this that seem to be appearing in number on the indie market over the past six months or so. Though similar, each is has its own distinct luster and orient, the way that pearls do, with degrees of reflectivity and iridescence. Cracks in the Walls, with its unusual inclusion of tiny twinkling microglitters, is a particularly lovely variation of the genre. In low light especially, the shading of the color around the prismatic flare had this fetching, delicately-scorched quality that just sends me!

love,
Liz

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Scofflaw Nail Varnish Heavy Metal Sewing Circle

Like Diamond Dogs, Heavy Metal Sewing Circle was released earlier this month by Illinois-based indie polish maker Scofflaw Nail Varnish as part of the Winter 2016 collection. This is a particularly striking complex shimmer polish with a deep purpled-red burgundy jelly base bearing superabundant flecky bronze shimmers and a dusting of holographic pigment. The combination of the burgundy base with the bronze shimmers produces a fantastic burnt umber/cordovan color, a dark, sleek, burnished fusion of purple, red and brown that reminds me of fine, highly-polished cordovan leather. The glistening shimmers read variously as red, wine and bronze from within the base and create a scintillating twinkle in direct light, where there's also a scattering of bright prismatic sparkle from the holo pigment. A gleaming, near-metallic bronze flash adds a sense of meticulously-maintained opulence and an elegant, sort of statuesque vibe.

Application was fantastic. The consistency of Heavy Metal Sewing Circle is fluid, light and creamy with a thin-to-medium viscosity and a smooth, self-leveling flow over the nail. This is a user-friendly polish that likes to go on in thinner coats and is easily manipulated with Scofflaw's round flexible brush. Pigmentation is very good, rendering wearably opaque coverage in two coats. I added a third to one nail to fix an edge, and then felt compelled to add a third to the rest of my nails as well. You kind have to do that with jelly-based polishes. It created an ever-so-slightly richer, deeper, more densely opaque appearance, I thought. Cleanup is surprisingly easy -- a little bit of pigment travel but no trace staining, huzzah! Heavy Metal Sewing Circle dries naturally in very good time to a mostly smooth finish with a just a hint of discernible texture, easily smoothed by topcoat. Topcoat also enhances the presence and effects of the components, especially the beautiful bronze flash.

Photos show three coats of Heavy Metal Sewing Circle over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Scofflaw Heavy Metal Sewing Circle

Heavy Metal Sewing Circle reminds me quite a bit of the now-retired Arcane Fire by Cirque, albeit with a darker, more purpled base color and bronze rather than gold shimmers. But they both have that insanely gorgeous, spangled glow where the light makes impact in a shimmering explosion of gleaming flecks before shading dramatically to sleek darkness around the edges of the nail.

From what I remember of Arcane Fire, Heavy Metal Sewing Circle has the better formula, and I think it's the more sophisticated of the two. Just a beautifully rendered, elegant and distinctive shimmer polish!

xo,
Liz

Monday, January 25, 2016

Emily de Molly Understatement

Understatement was released by Australian indie polish maker Emily de Molly in December 2015. This has a jelly base in an incredibly well-pigmented, very dark ruby that carries abundant tiny gold ultraholographic microglitters. Gorgeous, dramatic and not understated in the least, it reads as deep cool red on the nail and blazes with tiny sparks in all of the rainbow colors in bright direct light. It looks like the ruby slippers Dorothy would wear if she went out clubbing with her entourage. Sassy!

Application was pretty fabulous. Understatement has got to be one of the most well-pigmented jelly polishes I've ever experienced. The consistency is fluid, light and smooth with a thin-to-medium viscosity and a easy, self-leveling glide over the nail. It just about delivers opaque coverage in a single coat! I used two coats because I always do. As you can imagine, cleanup is something you're not going to want to have to do a lot of because of the incredible pigmentation. But this isn't a game changer as it's quite possible to effect decent cleanup and minimal to no trace staining with care and patience. Understatement dries naturally in very good time to a slightly sandy finish that wants a layer or two of topcoat to look its best.

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

Emily de Molly Understatement

This is an amazing sparkly red with an equally amazing formula. If you like your sparkles done holo style, this is for YOU!

love,
Liz