Lacquer Slacker Liz

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Colors by Llarowe Pine Boughs

Like Twinkling Lights, Pine Boughs was released this month by Colorado-based indie polish maker Colors by Llarowe (CbL) as part of the Holiday 2016 collection. It is a "tightly scattered" holographic polish in a perfect dark pine green. Abundant finely-milled holographic pigment gives this polish a delicately-grained, velvety look and a shimmering, lit-from-within glow along the axis of light. The color brightens and the glow intensifies in the sun, with a gorgeous dimensional prismatic flush of yellow-green and turquoise that travels up and down the nail at the flex of a finger.

Application was great! The consistency of Pine Boughs is fluid and full-bodied with a medium viscosity and a luxurious, velvety glide over the nail that sets up fairly quickly. Self-leveling properties are outstanding as is pigmentation, delivering completely opaque coverage in a single medium coat. I used two as I always do to improve some of my lines, but it really didn't change the look. Cleanup is straightforward. Pine Boughs dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, flat finish that wants a glossy topcoat to look its best. Topcoat does not inhibit the holographic effects in any way.

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

Colors by Llarowe Pine Boughs

This is a beautifully formulated polish. The amount of holographic pigment is carefully calculated to allow for sufficient dimensionalizing and prismatic effects without any sacrifice to the saturation of the color. The result is a rich, luxuriant pine green lacquer with fantastic opulence and depth on the nail.

I love this look so much! That shimmering, dimensional bloom along the axis of light is one of my favorite of all holographic effects, and it is just stunning in this polish. If you love green on your nails, you need this in your collection. It's wonderful!

love,
Liz

Friday, December 16, 2016

Grace-full Nail Polish Scarlet Sparkles

Scarlet Sparkles was released towards the end of July this year by Australian indie polish maker Grace-full Nail Polish as part of the Rainbow Sparklers collection. It's officially described as a rich red linear holographic polish with red and silver holographic microglitters. The color is a brilliant medium-dark variation of crimson, an intensely saturated and vibrant cool-leaning red with a whisper of rosiness to it. Abundant finely-milled holographic pigment gives it a velvety, dimensional appearance on the nail and creates shifting hues of translucent violet and deep rose in ambient light. Floating within are tiny scattered holographic microglitters, which light up in a bright, warm red as light catches them. The color is almost saturated enough to swallow the holographic flare, which is visible in the sun as an arc of nearly fluorescent violet amidst a veil of bright prismatic sparks from the holographic microglitters.

Application was great! The consistency of Scarlet Sparkles is fluid, light and smooth with a thin-to-medium viscosity and a silky, self-leveling slip over the nail. The microglitters are perfectly-behaved and disperse evenly without issue. Pigmentation is excellent, providing wearably opaque coverage in a single coat, with two coats delivering deepest, richest color. Cleanup is easy with a skosh of pigment travel as you might expect from such a saturated color. Scarlet Sparkles dries naturally in very good time to a shiny, slightly textured finish that is easily smoothed with a single layer of topcoat. Topcoat does not appear to affect the holographic properties at all.

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

Grace-full Nail Polish Scarlet Sparkles

The scattered microglitter sparkle in this polish doesn't translate perfectly to a still image -- in person, it's both more dynamic and more coherent overall. But this is the kind of red I think of when I imagine a Christmas red, well-planted and intense with a generous dose of wow. Those micoglitters give it a beautiful, ruby slippers kind of sparkle in bright ambient light, with a robust, gleaming red flash. Profoundly eye-catching, prepare to be noticed!

love,
Liz

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Cupcake Polish Grace

Grace was created by Texas-based indie polish maker Cupcake Polish especially for inclusion in the recently released December 2017 collaboration polish box from The Holo Hookup, entitled Hollywood Bombshells. Inspired by Grace Kelly, it's officially described as a "metallic silver linear holo." The color is a medium silvery nickel grey with charcoal aspects. Superabundant holographic pigment reads as pale brass from within the base and creates a finely-grained appearance with a gleaming semi-metallic flash. Holographically-generated hues of pale misty azure and silvery olive green nuance and dimensionalize the base in ambient light, which deepens to gunmetal at the sidewalls of the nail. In the sun, there's a brilliant linear prismatic display featuring slender sparkling arcs in all of the rainbow colors surrounding a glistening central lick of brassy silver.

Application was a pleasure. The consistency of Grace is fluid, full-bodied and smooth with a medium viscosity and a plush, self-leveling glide over the nail. Pigmentation is excellent -- it's very nearly a one-coater, but use two for most even opacity and richest display of effects. Cleanup is easy. Grace dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, shiny finish. Topcoat does not inhibit the holographic properties of this polish in any way.

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

Cupcake Polish Grace

This is a rich and sophisticated grey with a particularly dimensional quality on the nail that reminds me of highly polished anthracite. My favorite thing about it is its burnished, brassy silver aspect, which makes it look like some kind of rare magical metal. Very Tolkienian! Smoky and mysterious, it is inherently elegant and catches the light beautifully. Superb!

love,
Liz