Tag: Polish Pickup
Lilac-Breasted Roller
Whatcha “Lilac-Breasted Roller” is from way back in May 2025, the “Tropical Forest” theme.
The slight lilac spark in this polish was impossible to photograph – I kept feeling like I almost got it, but it just did not make it into the shot. Another gorgeous magnetic polish, which is pretty much all that I’m buying these days. I will note that the magnetic particles in this polish do not want to stay put – I used the thin edge of my magnet and had a very thin line, but it spread as it dried. They still turned out to have nice contrast, so I’m not even mad.
This is two coats of “Lilac-Breasted Roller” , magnetized with a neodymium magnet, over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Froot Loops” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
Speak Out
I’ve never seen Erin Brockovich, but I think she wore a red sparkly bra? I guess that is how this polish is inspired by the film, Erin Brockovich?
DRK Nails “Speak Out”, from February’s “Cute but Deadly” PPU, might be my new favorite red sparkly nail polish. I even took it with me to my last pedicure!
This is two coats of “Speak Out”, over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Froot Loops” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
Polish Pickup February 2026 – Cute but Deadly
I managed to miss January’s Polish Pickup “Y2K Comeback”, so I felt compelled to make up for it in February…there were lots of cute (but deadly) polishes to choose from.
I only ordered six polishes, so I was surprised to find a 7th polish in my package. It was another bottle of Phoenix “Succulents”, labelled ‘Batch 2’. This bottle is suspiciously pinker, so I’m guessing the pink was missing from the first batch? Amazing customer service!
Envy Lacquer “Are they made with real Girl Scouts?” ($13) is inspired by the Wednesday Addams’ quote. How could I resist?
Glisten & Glow “Mischief, Mayhem & Soap” ($14) is a magnetic polish inspired by Brad Pitt in Fight Club.
DRK Nails “Speak Out” ($13.60) is inspired by Erin Brockovich. I’ve never seem it, but this is a sexy polish.
Baroness X “Leprechaun” ($13.50) is inspired by the cute AND deadly Leprechaun…they must not mean the one from the films, because he is not exactly cute.
Jior Couture “Quirky Quokka” ($15) is inspired by the quokka’s penchant for throwing their offspring at predators to make a quick escape.
BCB Lacquers “Set Your Heart Ablaze!” ($13.75) is a solar polish inspired by Mitsuri Kanroji from the show Demon Slayer – my niece dressed up as her for Halloween one year!
Lots of polishes to try…I need to get back to painting my nails twice A WEEK instead of once…
Succulents
I was taking my contacts out and I was SHOCKED to find that this polish is the exact same color as my eyes – greyish green. I remember fighting with my mom in high school when I was filling out my initial driver’s license application. She was adamant that my eyes were blue and I argued that they were green. As a child, my eyes WERE blue – but by the time I was 15, they had turned green. She “compromised” that my eyes are might be grey…but I put green on my application.
Anyway…this is Phoenix “Succulents” from last December’s Maker’s Choice. It’s a greyish green magnetic polish, with a hint of pink. I could have swore there was more pink to it, but it’s very faint. Regardless, it’s a gorgeous polish.
This is two coats of “Succulents” , magnetized with a neodymium magnet, over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Froot Loops” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
Trapped in Time
Life…uh…finds a way.
Colores de Carol “Trapped in Time” is inspired by a mosquito trapped in amber – you know, from Jurassic Park. It’s my last pick from August’s “Time Travel” Polish Pickup and I should have tried it first – it’s so gorgeous and multi-dimensional. It’s a strong magnetic polish, which heightens the depth of the polish so that it looks like there just might be something stuck in it. I feel like I have ant nail stickers somewhere…wouldn’t that be hilarious? Or I guess I could just go outside and find a real mosquito…ew.
One caveat – this polish stained my nails something fierce. No sheer polishes for me any time soon.
This is two coats of “Trapped in Time” , magnetized with a neodymium magnet, 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“.
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“.
Polish Pickup December 2025 – Maker’s Choice
Maybe I splurged a little bit on December’s Maker’s Choice…the polishes were so good though!
Pahlish “Actually Romantic” ($14) is inspired by the Taylor Swift song of the same name – fuck off Charlie XCX.
Colores de Carol “Dreaming North” ($13.75) is a magnetic polish inspired by the Aurora Borealis.
Bluebird Lacquer “The Winter of my Discontent” ($13) is inspired by the struggle to get through 2025. PREACH.
Phoenix “Succulents” ($13.50) is another magnetic inspired by…duh…succulents.
Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Froot Loops” ($10) was a grab because I needed more Cuticula Base Coat…too bad I just used up my “Froot Loops” Top Coat.
Finally, Sassy Cats Lacquer “The shadow on the moon” ($13.50) is also magnetic and inspired by Oogie. Who is Oogie?
Choices, choices….
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“.