Tag: Indie
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“.
Stinking Corpse
Cupcake Polish “Stinking Corpse” is another polish from May’s “Tropical Forest” Polish Pickup. It’s inspired by the world’s smelliest flower – the Stinking Corpse Lily. Even though Houston has its own corpse lily, I wasn’t able to make it to the Houston Museum of Natural Science when she bloomed in 2023. Here’s to hoping I get to smell her when she blooms again in 3 to 10 years.
“Stinking Corpse” is a beautiful combination of deep wine red shimmer nail polish with scattered holographic micro flakies – I love a shimmer, but adding the holographic flakies makes it really out of this world.
This is two coats of “Stinking Corpse” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Electric Jaguar
Lumen Lacquer “Electric Jaguar” is giving GOTH LISA FRANK.
“Electric Jaguar” was one of my first picks when I was picking out polishes from May’s “Tropical Forest” Polish Pickup. It’s NOT magnetic – it’s a dramatic multichrome that shift from red to green to gold to amber. The main shades are red and green, but somehow it’s not giving Xmas. It’s completely wearable.
This is two coats of “Electric Jaguar” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Polish Pickup May 2025 – Tropical Forest
So, we’re calling four new polishes a “light” month now, yes?
May’s theme was “Tropical Forest” and brought some of the most stunning polishes I’ve ever seen. It was hard to decide, but I’m excited to try all of them.
Lumen Lacquer “Electric Jaguar” ($13) is inspired by a jaguar moving through the forest.
Hit the Bottle Polishes “A Realm of Kingfishers” ($13.50) is inspired by sacred kingfishers that the creator’s garden yearly. It’s magnetic!
Cupcake Polish “Stinking Corpse” ($13.50) is inspired by the stinking corpse lily (someday, I’ll get to smell one in person).
Whatcha “Lilac-Breasted Roller” ($13.50) is another magnetic polish inspired by the…checks notes…lilac-breasted roller. If you have not seen this gorgeous African bird, I suggest you Google it NOW.
A nice bunch of polishes…how do I choose?
Power Number
…I feel like I’ve been stuck in the early 00’s lately – binging One Tree Hill with Lily, which also means revisiting the music and fashion – so why not revive another millennial trend? CRACKLE POLISH is back y’all.
Fresh from April’s Polish Pickup, we’ve got Colores de Carol “Power Number“. It’s a teal multichrome shimmer crackle – it’s got EVERYTHING, and it crackles like a sonofabitch.
I started with Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and a single coat of Atomic Polish “Sour Apple Rings”. I topped with a thick coat of “Power Number” and I admit, that it got patchy as it shrunk, so I may have filled in a few bald spots to even out the finished look. I finished with Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Stargazer Lily
Leave it to Beaux Rêves Lacquer to create another polish that is nearly impossible to photograph accurately.
Beaux Rêves Lacquer “Stargazer Lily” is from April’s “Celebrate!” Polish Pickup. It’s another magnetic polish and is a sister polish to “Blooming Azalea”.
Since I used the Velveteen Magnet, there isn’t a clear line to see the magnetic effect, but since I’m using a ring light, you can see a pink to blue transition on my nails. Since I was velvetizing, I did not bother with DRK Nails Magic Effect.
This is two coats of “Stargazer Lily” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Persephone’s Pomegranate
Zombie Claw “Persephone” was one of my picks from February’s “Fables & Folklore” Polish Pickup and is inspired by Persephone eating pomegranate seeds. I like the IDEA of eating pomegranate seeds, as well as the taste – but in real life…it’s such a pain in the ass.
I was struck by how similar in tone this polish is to Julep “Persephone”. I wonder how they’d look together?
This is two coats of “Persephone” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Cheesecake & Candlelight
If cheesecake is involved, it’s automatically a celebration. Even if I wasn’t veering dangerously close to Golden Girls territory – at the ripe old age of 49 – this would be a universal truth.
Royla Lee “Cheesecake & Candlelight” is from April’s Polish Pickup and is inspired by the Golden Girls and their nightly cheesecake ritual. Truth be told, I CANNOT WAIT to live with my girlfriends and eat cheesecake and talk shit about the ugly neighbors. Of course, I’m a Dorothy – and I’ve got my friends slotted accordingly. In fact, the more the merrier – I know at least 6 or 9 Golden Girls that might be interested after their husbands (mysteriously?) pass away…
This is my first Royla Lee polish and it is quite nice. Like most chromed shimmer polishes, I did get a few visible brushstrokes, but they weren’t hideous. I ended up taking a lot of “thumbs up” pictures while I was in San Francisco the weekend before last, so I’m glad I was wearing such a pretty polish.
This is two coats of “Cheesecake & Candlelight” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Polish Pickup April 2025 – Celebrate!
Celebrations! is April’s Polish Pickup theme. Who doesn’t love a good celebration?
With all the magnetic polishes I am collecting, I got a neodymium bar magnet ($3) and an SJ 3Designs Velveteen Magnet ($12). I’m excited to try both.
By Vanessa Molina “Easter Egg” ($13.50) is a magnetic polish inspired by Easter and the eggs that come with.
Royla Lee “Cheesecake & Candlelight” ($13.75) is inspired by one of my favorites – The Golden Girls.
Colores de Carol “Power Number” ($13.50) is a CRACKLE polish…not sure of the inspiration.
Baroness X “Empty Orchestra” ($13) is another magnetic polish, inspired by…an empty orchestra pit? I cannot remember exactly.
Beaux Rêves Lacquer “Stargazer Lily” ($12.50) is inspired by my FAVORITE flower and is a sister polish to “Blooming Azalea”.
I cannot wait to bust out the magnets!