Tag: Indie
Nothing to Hide
Do I have a new favorite polish? Maybe…
DRK Nails “Nothing to Hide” is from January’s “Masquerade” Mardi Gras themed Polish Pickup and it is SHIFTY AS FUCK. Duochrome, trichrome…is it a quadrachrome? Let’s just say multichrome. It hits nearly all of the colors of the rainbow. The violet and green are the strongest, but the gold and copper are in there, too. Definitely taking this one to my next pedicure appointment.
This is two coats of “Nothing to Hide” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
Orion
This is actually the SECOND time wearing Ahmya Cosmetics “Orion”. I wore it about a month ago on my marathon Dallas/Long Beach trip, but forgot to take picture before I left town…a polish so nice, I wore it twice.
The pictures still don’t do this polish justice – the way the light catches the shimmer, my nails seemed to be glowing like a Patronus. (And it goes without saying, fuck JKR.)
I got “Orion” in July’s REWIND, but it was originally from December 2022.
This is two coats of “Orion” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
Totem
Baroness X “Totem” is the final polish to try from June’s “Vacation Destinations” Polish Pickup. This gorgeous magnetic polish is inspired by the tiki statues in the South Pacific. It reminds me of my favorite mug to drink hot tea out of – a green tiki mug I picked up on a Royal Caribbean cruise earlier this year. (Yes, I realize that there are no tikis in the Caribbean – but there was a cool Tiki Bar on the boat.)
I was lazy this time – I just painted my nails with the tips laying over my husband’s rare earth magnet. It gave a cool “cat’s eye” effect. Maybe I should try the viral “fishing lure” nails trend with all these magnetic polishes?
This is two coats of “Totem” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
Polish Pickup July 2025 – Rewind
It’s July again…or at least it WAS July. July means REWIND in Polish Pickup Land, a time to snatch up any polishes you may have overlooked in previous months! It’s a small order this month, but I got some good ones…
DRK Nails “Happy 2025” ($13.50) is from December 2024’s Maker’s Choice, which I missed!
Ahmya Cosmetics “Orion” ($13.50) was originally part of November 2022’s “Tis the Season” – that was before I got so obsessed with PPU.
Emily de Molly “Haunted Vibes” ($13.50) is from September 2024’s “Vintage Halloween” and is a spooky magnetic polish.
Thanks to Orange Man’s tariff war, polish prices are going up and up and up. Even so, I would rather have 3 indie polishes than 4 OPI or 8 Sally Hansen…
Neon Lights
I know I say I hate yellow nail polish, but there is something about Cadillacquer “Neon Lights” that spoke to me…it’s from June’s “Vacation Destinations” Polish Pickup and is inspired by NYC’s Times Square. (I’ve only seen Times Square from the inside of a cab, while traveling across Manhattan and I felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people.)
I did feel like a straight up clown while wearing this polish…but I was a goddamn sexy Pink Lemonade clown.
This is two coats of “Neon Lights” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under a coat each of Glisten & Glow Glitter Grabber and Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
A Realm of Kingfishers
“A Realm of Kingfishers” is giving “An Unkindness of Ravens”, no? If you know, you know.
Hit the Bottle Polishes “A Realm of Kingfishers” is from May’s “Tropical Forest” Polish Pickup. It’s a shimmery magnetic polish inspired by the sacred kingfishers that populate the creator’s garden yearly. I love the way the golden magnetized section plays against the steel blue base. I’ve never spied one here in Texas – I probably live too far inland.
I used the narrow edge of my neodymium magnet again, this time straight down the middle of the nail, but I wasn’t quite precise, because the magnetized portion isn’t dead center on every nail. Oh well.
This is two coats of “A Realm of Kingfishers” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
Polish Pickup June 2025 – Vacation Destinations
Is there anything more “June” than this month’s Polish Pickup theme? Nothing better than a Vacation Destination…
I don’t usually pick up the body products, but I was drawn to Unicorn Magic Skincare Deluxe Coconut Milk Hand Creme in “Dole Whip” ($9.75). It smells EXACTLY like Dole Whip…I’ve been hooked since I visited the Dole Plantation in Hawaii. I may have bought an extra one for someone…
I knew I would be getting Atomic Polish “Shantay You Stay” ($13.50). It’s inspired Las Vegas, home of RuPaul’s Drag Race Live! I was lucky enough to see it on my birthday in 2020 – highly recommend. Doesn’t it remind you of a flamingo?
Ahmya Cosmetics “Snap, Crackle Splash” ($13.50) is a magnetic polish inspired by fireworks on the beach.
Baroness X “Tiki Totem” ($13.50), another magnetic polish, is inspired by tiki statues in the South Pacific.
Cadillacquer “Neon Lights” ($14) is inspired by NYC’s Times Square. This polish seems just as overwhelming as I found Times Square to be – I cannot wait to try it!
Lots of BRIGHT polishes to try this month. Wait, it’s already next month….fuck.
Easter Egg
I must have taken a dozen different shots trying to capture every facet of By Vanessa Molina “Easter Egg” – every angle is a different look! Those shifty magnetic polishes…
“Easter Egg” is the last polish I needed to sample from April’s “Celebrate!” Polish Pickup. It’s – of course – inspired by Easter. It’s a magnetic polish containing green/magenta/copper/purple variations, with Aurora Pigment and glitter Galaxy. It’s like the northern lights, the milky way and a zombie rising from the dead, all wrapped into one.
I used the neodymium magnet on these again, but instead of just resting my finger on the flat side of the magnet, I held the narrow edge catty-corner over each nail and got a really nice stripy lightning effect.
This is two coats of “Easter Egg” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Synchronous
I don’t know how I managed to skip over Envy Lacquer “Synchronous” – it’s been patiently waiting for me since last October’s “Natural Phenomenon” Polish Pickup!
“Synchronous” is inspired by the synchronous firefly display in the Appalachian mountains. I’ve never seen it, but I imagine it’s a sight to behold. We just get regular loner fireflies here in Texas – but we call them lightning bugs. (Ask me about Louie the Lightning Bug and maybe I’ll sing his song for you.)
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a neon shimmer like this. It’s sheer, but opaque? How even?
This is two coats of “Synchronous” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Empty Orchestra
I snagged Baroness X “Empty Orchestra” during April’s Polish Pickup. Did you know that ‘karaoke’ literally means ’empty orchestra’ in Japanese? You’re welcome.
This is another beautiful magnetic polish and I think I am finally figuring them out! I used my brand new neodymium magnet as I used my husband’s magnet – I just painted my nails while resting them on the magnet and got the ombre french manicure look. I LOVE this polish so much…How long until I can try it again?
This is two coats of “Empty Orchestra” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.