Tag: Fingernails
Rift
Say what you want about crackle polish – it’s the one early 00s trend that I just cannot give up.
I only grabbed one of the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri x Stranger Things polishes – “Rift” which is supposed to be the red one. I was expecting a red crackle, but I should have done more research before I started. According to the internet, it’s a ‘crackle jelly’ – meaning that the color is left under the crackle. Since I used a pink polish as my base, it’s hard to tell that this polish is slightly redder than the base polish alone. I’ll have to give it another try over a white or gray polish to get the full effect.
This is two coats of Dreamland Lacquer “Pink Pajama Party” and one coat of “Rift” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Froot Loops” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
Vintage
It’s giving BAJA BLAST!
I don’t buy many mainstream polishes these days…but when I do, they’re on clearance at Ulta.
Orly “Vintage” is a lovely neon teal, but it leans a bit green on me – almost like a mint green? On the screen, it leans more blue and I was assuming that it would be a closer match to my living room paint…but alas, that green gives me more of a Baja Blast type color. That’s fine, I love Baja Blast. The formula was very smooth and only the slightest bit of streakiness, which is hard to avoid in creme polishes.
This is two coats of “Vintage” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Froot Loops” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
TGIF
…and another one from Sherry the GOAT…Canmake Tokyo “TGIF”. This polish even matches my car! In person, the polish has a bit of a purple glint, but the camera doesn’t want to see it.
This is two coats of “TGIF” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Froot Loops” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
The Shadow on the Moon
Sassy Cats Lacquer “The Shadow on the Moon” is my first polish from Sassy Cats Lacquer and color me impressed! It’s a beautiful, velvety magnetic polish that I picked up from December’s Maker’s Choice. It’s inspired by Oogie (The Nightmare Before Christmas).
I actually ended up wearing this polish for nearly three weeks straight. I used it before a week-long trip to Oregon to see my big sis…and forgot to take a picture. So as soon as I got home, I used it on my nails again for the picture…but I liked it so much that I left it on for over a week again. I also brought it to my last pedicure – it’s beautiful unmagnetized as well.
Doesn’t it remind you of Scarlett O’Hara’s green velvet curtain dress?
This is two coats of “The Shadow on the Moon” magnetized with my neodymium bar magnet, over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Froot Loops” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
Miss Blossom
It’s been so long since I’ve received “nail mail” other than my PPU orders…I received a Xmas package full of nail polish and Barbie stickers from ones of my besties – I am but a simple girl and those two things are the way to my heart.
The first polish from the package is Ducato “Miss Blossom”. According to the interwebs, Ducato is sold at places like Miniso, Teso, Daiso – you know, the “-so stores”. “Miss Blossom” is a sheer peach with just a hint of sparkle. It’s perfect when you want nude nails that are not nude – almost like control top pantyhose? Remember those? What the FUCK were we thinking?
This is two coats of “Miss Blossom” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Froot Loops” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
Actually Romantic
My first Pahlish is Pahlish “Actually Romantic” from December’s Polish Pickup.
“Actually Romantic” is inspired by ‘Actually Romantic’, a song from Taylor Swift’s most recent album. For those of you who are not chronically online, the song details Tay Tay’s amusement at a fellow songstress constantly talking shit about her and musing about living rent-free in her head. The songstress in question is thought to be Charlie XCX, who released a song on Brat that was thought to be about Taylor. As Charlie once opened for Taylor, it can be inferred that drama may be influenced by Charlie’s marriage to one of Matty Healy’s 1975 bandmates. Matty Healy, of course, being the brief yet fiery romance that inspired Taylor’s previous album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department.’
I will be fifty years old in a few weeks. I have a masters degree and a career…and I just wrote the above paragraph without having to research it first. Help.
This is two coats of “Actually Romantic” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Froot Loops” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
The Winter of My Discontent
2025 SUCKED…and 2026 isn’t looking much better.
I thought a bright blue polish would cheer me right up, so I picked Bluebird Lacquer “The Winter of My Discontent”. This polish is from December’s Polish Pickup and is inspired by the struggle to get through 2025.
Not thermal, not magnetic – just a pretty little scattered holographic polish. It’s sheerer than I expected, but still nice coverage in two caots.
This is two coats of “The Winter of My Discontent” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
Mermaid Scale
It was so nice to come home from Vegas to package of nail polishes from one of my work besties! Of course, I had to pick the sparkliest one for my Xmas nails…
This is Canmake Tokyo “Mermaid Scale”. I have LOTS of Mermaid-themes polishes and I was happy to add this one to my collection. I believe that Canmake Tokyo is sold at places like MINISO and DAISO – I’ll have to look for more. It is not clumpy at all and smoothed out really nicely – I’m a fan.
This is two coats of “Mermaid Scale” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
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“.