Lacquer Slacker Liz

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Octopus Party Nail Lacquer Steel Wolf

Steel Wolf was released in late December 2015 by Connecticut-based indie polish maker Octopus Party Nail Lacquer (OPNL) as part of the OPNL/Carpe Noctem Cosmetics Winter 2015 collaboration duo. Dave, partier-in-chief and mixologist of OPNL, describes this as a concrete linear holo with gunmetal flakies, and I agree. It's a medium-toned achromatic grey of the wet cement/battleship variety that's right in the middle of the dark/light spectrum, bearing abundant finely-milled holographic pigment and gently speckled with gleaming metallic flakies in a deeper grey for some subtle visual texture. Equally creamy and dimensional, it has a semi-translucent formula that allows light to penetrate and activate its holographic properties, which produce a luminous blond sheen in bright indirect light. In direct light, there's a compact linear flare with sparkling bands of bright prismatic colors framing a shimmering semi-metallic blaze of hazy silver grey.

Application was great! The consistency of Steel Wolf is fluid, light and creamy with a medium viscosity and a smooth, easy flow over the nail. This is a polish that begins to set up and surface dry fairly quickly, so even coats deftly applied make for the happiest application experience. Pigmentation is somewhat sheer but builds quickly to wearable opacity in two medium coats, although I used three for the photos, which I think added to the creamy aspects of the polish. Cleanup is easy and straightforward. Steel Wolf dries naturally in fairly good time to a smooth, shiny finish.

Photos show three coats of Steel Wolf over Pretty Serious Rock On treatment and Pretty Serious All Your Base basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

OPNL Steel Wolf

Steel Wolf has a sleek, substantial look on the nail with a shimmering, diffusive, dimensional quality provided by the holographic properties that adds a bit of feminine grace to a shade that might otherwise have a more industrial demeanor. It's a delicately engineered linear holo that uses its magical aspects to let the color be the star of the show.

I like it. I like it very much.

xo,
Liz

Friday, January 29, 2016

Superficially Colorful I'm Just A Little Batty

I'm Just A Little Batty was released by Israel-based indie polish maker Superficially Colorful as part of the Halloween 2015 collection at the beginning of October 2015. It's been about a year since I fell in love with the bright colors that I ordered from the Life in Pandora collection and I've been waiting for an excuse to revisit this wonderful brand. When I saw the listing for the Halloween 2015 collection, on sale for $3 off the regular price (still a thing), I didn't think twice.

Jin, owner and creative force behind Superficially Colorful, makes a magical creme linear holo and I'm Just A Little Batty is just that, in black. This is a coal black shade with the plush dimensionality that for me has become her signature. There's nothing flat or harsh about this black, it is fathomless, with a velvety softness to its depth that belies its glossy finish. In direct sun, a faint linear holographic flare in crepuscular prismatic hues floats over a central lick of semi-metallic blackened silver with a diffuse smoky sheen to it. Delicious!

Application was equally delicious. I'm Just A Little Batty has the fantastic formula that I remember from Life in Pandora, with a fluid, creamy consistency and a medium viscosity that is perfectly balanced for painting, producing a blissfully buttery glide over the nail. Self-leveling properties are outstanding, as is pigmentation -- I was go to go after only one coat! This being a holo, though, I felt it best to add a second to make the most of the holographic goodness. Cleanup is straightforward albeit with some pigment travel and trace staining. I'm Just A Little Batty dries naturally in very good time to an unusually glossy finish. Topcoat makes the most of this gloss by amping it up a notch or two, and doesn't affect the holographic properties at all as far as I can tell.

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

Superficially Colorful I'm Just A Little Batty

It's overcast here today so the holographic effects are more muted than they would be otherwise, but I think you get the gist. They serve mostly to dimensionalize the appearance of the black base, key to its plush beauty. Isn't it magnificent?

love,
Liz

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Scofflaw Nail Varnish Fire Imp

Fire Imp was released by Illinois-based indie polish maker Scofflaw Nail Varnish as part of the Winter 2016 collection earlier this month. Described by creator Finch as a red-orange coral, the color is a medium-toned Indian red, a creamy, dense tomato-esque coral with a gently muted quality and a southwestern vibe. Dusted with holographic pigment, it also bears abundant iridescent teal shimmers in perfect contrast to the base. The effect reminds me of the glaucous, waxy/powdery patina you sometimes see on smooth-skinned fruits, only here in sparkling teal and pale violet, giving the polish a certain futuristic bloom that is like what the fruit of Eden's tree of knowledge would be in my imagination -- dangerous fruit! In direct light, there's a subtle scintillating sparkle from the components, a glistening dewiness that freshens the look and plays well with its fruity qualities.

Applications was delicious. The consistency of Fire Imp is fluid, light and creamy with the thin-to-medium viscosity shared by its collection-mates, Diamond Dogs and Heavy Metal Sewing Circle. I've really loved the formula of all three of these polishes. They are on the thin side but possess a beautifully-balanced viscosity that makes them especially easy to work with and not at all runny -- while fast-drying overall, they don't set up and surface dry too quickly at the outset, giving you some time to finesse your application. Ugh, perfect! Amenable to thin or thicker coats, Fire Imp went on best for me in medium coats from a generously loaded brush. It's a sheer polish that builds quickly to wearable opacity in two coats, but I like it better at three, which seems to take best advantage of its holographic properties and shimmer effects. Clean up is easy and straightforward. Fire Imp dries naturally in very good time to a flat, satiny finish that wants a good topcoat to look its best.

Photos show three coats of Fire Imp over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Scofflaw Fire Imp

Although I think the color might work better with warmer skin tones than mine, I love the delicate composition, intensely creamy base and dewy iridescence of this polish. So very pretty -- it just glows!

love,
Liz