Literary Lacquers: As You Wish Valentine Trio

Press Sample

Literary Lacquers was inspired this month by the Princess Bride book. Amy, the artisan behind the brand, created two new core shades plus a limited edition glitter topper which will launch on February 2 at 2pm Central. The three polishes are known as the 'As You Wish' valentine trio. While I have not personally read the book or seen the movie, I am definitely a fan of these polishes!




Princess Buttercup
A white matte polish dotted with light pink glitter and shimmer for an overall pinkish effect on the nail. It is a bit sheer, so I used three coats for photos. The formula was fantastic, not streaky or clumpy at all. I've shown it below both ways - in its original matte finish, and with a glossy topcoat.









The Man in Black
A black matte polish dotted with pink glitters, shimmers and coppery flake. The formula was smooth and easy to apply. I wore two coats for the photos and am also showing it with a glossy top coat and heart on each nail from the glitter topper.









Mawage - Limited Edition for sale through Feb.
A clear based glitter topper with holo silver and pink hex glitter and pink heart-shaped glitters. There are plenty of hearts in this polish, but they will settle since they are heavier. A quick fix is to prop the bottle upside down for a few minutes so they settle nearer the top. I had no issues getting hearts out once they were nearer the top. I used four coats because I wanted to see how it looked without a base color. I quite like it, but in hindsight I think I'd sponge it on instead when wearing it without a base color.





You can get yours on Feb 2, at 2pm Central in the Literary Lacquers online store. To stay in the know, join the Literary Lacquers facebook group, where we have fun activities and a book club!

1850 Artisan Polish: Taupe-iary

I stumbled on a new to me brand that launched their first collection January 20th. 1850 Artisan Polish boasts a 5-free and vegan formula that's made in California.

Taupe-iary, just one of Nikki's launch polishes is a beautiful taupe shade filled with shimmers that give a sort of dusty or speckled appearance. I absolutely love that finish and have dreamed of a collection like this, I've just not ever seen another shade besides Misa Grey Matter - yet here it is!





Formula was fantastic, buttery smooth, non-streaky, it did not pull or clump. It does have the plastic/crayon-like odor that some polishes have, use caution if that bothers you. Two coats with her Fast Track topcoat, which is also fantastic! The topcoat does not have any noticeable odor other than what is expected. Shipping was super fast, arriving 2-3 days from the launch date and in cute packaging with a very sweet hand written note.

After wearing it for a bit, I stamped it with an MDU polish and Konad plate m57. A reinvention of a nail art look I did in 2011, but reversed.




Check out all the other shades in the debut collection, and pick a few to try for yourself!

Cupcake: What a Girl Wants

From the Vault!

Cupcake's What a Girl Wants was a polish I won from Crystal's Charity Auctions group on facebook. It is quite a bit darker than the example image in the auction, but I love it nonetheless. :)
Shown is two coats with topcoat. Since it is a glitter, there is a textured finish. If you prefer it to feel like glass, add extra topcoat. :)





The base of this is a blackened purple and it has a navy shifting shimmer and loaded with clear holo glitters.

KBShimmer | Rock This Way

Press Sample

For most children, there is nothing better than a sweet treat. A cool popsicle on a hot day, a handful of candy coated chocolates at the movie theater, candies that turned your mouth a rainbow of colors, candy is king. Pure sugar, vibrant blue color, and berry flavoring, all crystalized on a stick, rock candy and the blue mouths of children that love it is the inspiration for KBShimmer’s first Polish Pick Up shade.




Rock This Way
a vibrant blue raspberry, cobalt blue color. Holo glow flakes float among this bold shade, while blue shimmer adds a pop of brightness to this sweet lacquer. With full coverage in two coats, this 5-free shade is not one to miss for blue polish fans!

The formula was fluid and effortless to apply. Shown is two coats.






I was ecstatic when I saw the included rock candy lollipops in my blogger kit! In my childhood, I would save up my allowance in case we went to a store that had them.

I may or may not have promptly eaten these after their photo shoot was finished. :D




The Polish Pick up launch is set for February 2-5 at polishpickup.com. Don't miss this beautiful blue holo glow shade!

Smitten Himalayan Blue Poppy

Another from the vault!

Himalayan Blue Poppy is a bright blue creamy linear holo. Two coats.





Beautiful aqua shade from the now renamed Dreamland brand.

BLUSH Lacquers | Pocketful of Cherries

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Blush Lacquer's contribution to the upcoming Polish Pick up is inspired by the Dark Cherry Granita.
It releases February 2-5 at polishpickup.com

Pocketful of Cherries
A dark burgundy/maroon base with a shifting green to pink shimmer and scattered holo pigment. Two coats.





And a couple bonus nail art shots! I found a stamp of tiny cherries and stamped them in a pale green shade to match with the green shimmer in the polish.




The polish base color definitely changes depending on lighting. In dim or warm toned light, the base looks chocolatey. In other lighting I see a vivid pink shimmery tone, and under my lamp with daylight bulb it looks cherry like the inspiration image. Such a beautiful polish! Mark your calendar, you need this. :)

Girly Bits: February COTM

Press Sample

Girly Bits offers us a monthly selection of limited edition polishes which are available for purchase from the 1st until the end of the month. February's polishes are fantastic, let's have a look!




You Look Mauvelous is a medium dusty purple crelly base, with red metallic flakes and grey metallic flakes.
This polish is a little trickster. It looks pastel in the bottle but absolutely is darker on the nail. I'm loving the formula for this crelly because it is buttery smooth, even with the flake in there. Shown is two coats with topcoat.





Dark Reflection is a maroon/dark wine shimmer with green to blue shifting iridescent flakes.
Such a vampy shade, perfect for Valentine's Day. The formula on this one did need a float type of stroke on the second coat to ensure it didn't pull. Two coats shown with topcoat.







And bonus nail art shots!

I created this look by stamping with Girly Bits Love Yourself First and then topping it with Girly Bits Shift Happens.






For this next one, the stamping was done with Jolie Rose Gold and then topped with Girly Bits Shift Happens.





Pam is so creative, I always look forward to seeing what she makes. Plus, these polishes are 5-FREE, vegan, and cruelty free so you can feel good about the purchase.
And remember that if you're in the U.S., there's a group order on facebook that will start on the first of each month where you can save on shipping too!

Launch date: February 1-28
Shopping Link: Girly Bits Cosmetics
Early Bird Special: Pick up the duo from the Duo Early Bird Promo listing at a discounted price of $1.00 off each bottle from the 1st until the 10th. After that, they will continue to be available for purchase individually at full price only.