Category: Nails
Emotional Metamorphosis
After a few years with Polish Pickup, I’ve noticed that I gravitate towards the same dozen or so makers. I get really excited when I pick out a polish from a maker I haven’t tried before. This is my first polish from Chamaeleon Nails and I’m really excited about it.
I’ve tended to avoid thermal polishes lately because my nails have been fairly short. There’s just no amount of hair & nail vitamins that can keep my nails strong through the winter. But Chamaeleon Nails “Emotional Metamorphosis” has such a strong shift that I thought I would give it a try. I was not disappointed.
It’s giving Glinda & Elphaba, isn’t it? ISN’T IT? (The flakies shift green in sunlight, but it’s hard to see in pictures. Just trust me on this one.) I specifically chose this polish to wear in Vegas last week, knowing I’d be going to see The Wizard of Oz at Sphere. In case you wondered, it was FANTASTIC.
This is two coats of “Emotional Metamorphosis” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
Haunted Vibes
I grabbed Emily de Molly “Haunted Vibes” from July’s REWIND, but it was originally from September 2024’s “Vintage Halloween” Polish Pickup. It’s inspired by ‘The House on Haunted Hill’ – and I was almost indignant that a movie I remember seeing in the theater can be considered “Vintage Halloween”…and then I remembered that I’m old as shit. (It came out in 1999.)
The midnight blue and copper combination is giving Guardians of the Galaxy, isn’t it?
I think I FINALLY figured out the key to getting a good magnetic effect with my neodymium magnet! I had been using the flat side of the magnet, but this time – I used the thin edge, and DAMN what a difference! I need to continue experimenting with it, but I think I NAILED IT. (I am so, SO sorry for that pun.)
This is two coats of “Haunted Vibes” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
Inner Balance
This polish is giving C-3P-HOE!
Baroness X “Inner Balance” is from November’s Polish Pickup and is inspired by the need to balance emotions within ourselves. The gold with silver shimmer is totally spaceworthy AND holidayworthy. It’s also a magnetic polish, but either it’s VERY subtle or I didn’t leave my nail on the rare earth magnet long enough. I think I’ll try again with the neodymium magnet…
This is two coats of “Inner Balance” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
Polish Pickup November 2025 – Mood Rings & Emotions
“Mood Rings & Emotions” was November’s theme for Polish Pickup. I still have my mood ring from the 90s – it came with my Fossil Mood Watch, which I still have somewhere…because I’m a hoarder – and PROUD of it.
This was a light month – is it me, or do all the polishes just look like a variation of one you already have after a few years of Polish Pickup?
Cuticula didn’t offer a base coat this month, so I decided to try KB Shimmer Fillin’ Groovy Ridge Filling Base Coat ($8.50).
I run through top coats rather quickly, so I got Cuticula Limitless Quick Dry Scented Top Coat in “Vampire Blood” ($10).
Chamaeleon Nails “Emotional Metamorphosis” ($14) is a thermal polish (haven’t gotten one of those in a while) inspired by emotional transformations.
Baroness X “Inner Balance” ($13.50) is inspired by the need to balance emotions within ourselves – and it’s a gold/silver magnetic!
I’ve already tried one of these – review coming soon!
Psychedelic Glow
Cuticula “Psychedelic Glow” is from October’s “Optical Illusions” Polish Pickup. It’s inspired by a flower that looks like it’s moving when you stare at the center of it. But to be fair, when you are on psychedelics – everything looks like it’s moving when you stare at the center of it.
“Psychedelic Glow” is a purple jelly base with pink/green/yellow/lime shifting crystal flakes, and black flakes. The shiftiness is amazing – it was hard not to get lost staring into these nails. I will admit that – like all flakies – the edges tended to lift and chip more than regular polish. It was frustrating, but still looked nice with the edge wear.
This is two coats of “Psychedelic Glow” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“. I was in Washington State a few months ago and had a few different Huckleberry-flavored things and I concur that this top coat absolutely hits that Huckleberry scent.
Turkey M&Ms
The past few Thanksgivings, I’ve done variations of ‘Skittles’ Manicures – a different color on each nail. This year, I went with bold cremes in autumn shades – and the result looks more like a handful of M&Ms. Specifically, I’m picturing one of the weird holiday flavor bags…Pumpkin Pie M&Ms, Pecan Pie M&Ms – you get the idea.
This year’s polishes are ALL Sinful Colors. Can you tell I’ve been missing them?
From thumb to pinky, the polishes I used are Sinful Colors “Candy Coated Mint”, Sinful Colors “Bye Felicia!”, Sinful Colors “Hit the Spot”, Sinful Colors “Hot Toffee”, and Sinful Colors “Raisin the Roof.” I used two coats of each, over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
Lost to Eternity
Guacamole. FAIRY guacamole is what this polish is giving me.
The fairy guacamole is Pi Colors “Lost to Eternity.000”, which is inspired by the cover of a Star Trek novelization of the same name. I assume it is a time travel story, since the polish is from August’s Time Travel PPU.
This is my first Pi Colors polish and I found it to be a really nice formula – lots of shimmer and long lasting.
This is two coats of “Lost to Eternity.000” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
Vampire’s Blood
Penelope Luz “Vampire’s Blood” is the final polish I got from September’s PPUWEEN. It’s one of the most amazing magnetic polishes that I’ve tried…
Not only does “Vampire’s Blood” magnetize well, it also changes colors with a top coat. You’ll notice that my pinky is more of a pinkish mauve – that’s the polish without a top coat. Once I added a top coat to the rest of the nails, they turned more of a blood red shade. I used a round rare earth magnet to give a velvet french manicure effect.
This is two coats of “Vampire’s Blood”, magnetized with a rare earth magnet, over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
Cheshire Cat Grin
My first try from October’s “Optical Illusions” – Lemming Lacquer “Cheshire Cat Grin”. This polish is inspired by the optical illusions of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. I loved it so much that I brought it with me to my last pedicure.
This is only the second polish I’ve tried from Lemming Lacquer, but I am really liking their formulas. They go on smooth and they self-level very nicely. I didn’t even need Glitter Grabber!
This is two coats of “Cheshire Cat Grin” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
Diva de los Muertos
I’ve been waiting since SUMMER to try out these Dashing Diva Dia de los Muertos nail decals that I picked up at TJ Maxx over the summer. I used them for Halloween/Dia de los Muertos and got lots of compliments.
I think I’m finally at peace with the fact that every nail decal I use will probably lift. My nail bed is very curvy and those suckers just want to FLY.
I started with Holo Taco Pink Smoothing Base Coat and then two coats of Holo Taco “Milky White Shimmer”. (I forgot how streaky this polish is.) I laid down the stickers and then finished with Holo Taco Glossy Taco Top Coat.