New to Me Brand – Firecracker Lacquer!

Dec11

Provided for Honest Review

When the lovely Kendahl from Firecracker Lacquer reached out to see if I would be willing to review some of her existing line polishes I was flattered and said yes right away!  I’ve noticed the brand but as you all know as much as we treat nail polish like pokemon (Gotta catch ’em all!) there are tons on the market and I hadn’t gotten that far yet.  I was totally excited to try them out and I have four fabulous shades for you today!

First up I have Canary Cavalcade:

Firecracker Lacquer - Canary Cavalcade

Firecracker Lacquer – Canary Cavalcade

Canary Cavalcade is an bright canary yellow (how appropirate right?) creme filled with a golden microshimmer.  It’s bright and sunshiny yellow and makes a great base under glitter toppers too!  I’m sure I’ll use this a lot in nail art as I don’t usually have a lot of yellow in my collection!

Firecracker Lacquer - Canary Cavalcade

Firecracker Lacquer – Canary Cavalcade

I didn’t have any application issues with this one.  It was a tad streaky on the first coat but that resolved itself with subsequent coats and leveled out very nicely.  I have very prominent nail lines so I did need three coats plus topcoat though I think that folks with shorter nails or less prominent nail lines will be perfectly fine with two.

Polishes used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Firecracker Lacquer – Canary Cavalcade; Digital Nails – Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That Topcoat.

Comin’ up now is Crawlin’ Queen!

Firecracker Lacquer - Crawlin' Queen

Firecracker Lacquer – Crawlin’ Queen

Crawlin’ Queen is a lovely medium gray crelly with hot pink, teal, and white matte and satin glitters.  It’s squishy and I love the color combination.  I admit it I’m always drawn to gray crelly glitter polishes.  I also admit that right now I want ALL THE GRAY POLISH.  It’s totally a thing with me right now!

Firecracker Lacquer - Crawlin' Queen

Firecracker Lacquer – Crawlin’ Queen

The crelly base on this one is perfect.  Opaque in two coats but still squishy and gorgeous.  The glitter spreads out nicely but is a bit on the sparse side but I think that this is by design and while I don’t find it off-putting I do admit that for my taste I sometimes prefer more glitter however, for those folks who aren’t as fond of a lot of glitter will love the ratio in this one.  Application was totally awesome and picture shows two coats plus topcoat.

Polishes used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Firecracker Lacquer – Crawlin’ Queen; Digital Nails – Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That Topcoat.

Oceans Deep is the next polish I’m going to show you:

Firecracker Lacquer - Ocean's Deep

Firecracker Lacquer – Oceans Deep

This is a deep dark blackened teal green (more on the green side than blue almost straight green) jelly polish with blue, copper, and green iridescent microglitter.  This is one of my favorites of the group I got.  When it comes to grays, greens, blues, teals I’m a total sucker.  Plus I love jelly polishes.

Firecracker Lacquer - Ocean's Deep

Firecracker Lacquer – Oceans Deep

The jelly consistency means that the first coat goes on and doesn’t look like much but then additional coats and it just comes to squishy life.  I love the shiny sparkly bits of glitter that float throughout.  The glitter spreads out quite nicely and give a lovely subtle shimmer and shine.

Polishes used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Firecracker Lacquer – Oceans Deep; Digital Nails – Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That Topcoat.

Last but certainly not least is They All Float Down Here

Firecracker Lacquer - They All Float Down Here

Firecracker Lacquer – They All Float Down Here

I freely admit this is my favorite of the group.  This is a soft pink crelly with hot pink, blue, red, pastel yellow, and orange satin glitters.  It’s like clown make up in a bottle which I kind of think was the idea.  It’s fun and while it was part of her Halloween Horror Movie Collection I still find it cheerful and delightful!

Firecracker Lacquer - They All Float Down Here

Firecracker Lacquer – They All Float Down Here

Application was delightful on this one.  The glitter spreads and disperses very nicely and the base starts out sheer but builds up very nicely.  The leveling is great particularly for a crelly glitter polish which can be touchy at best.  Pictures show two coats plus topcoat.

Polishes used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Firecracker Lacquer – They All Float Down Here; Digital Nails – Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That

Overall I’m very happy with these polishes and I can’t wait to see what else she has coming down the pipeline for the winter.  You can get Firecracker Lacquer in her Etsy shop and make sure that you check out her Facebook and Instagram so that you can keep up with all the new stuff she comes up with!

Gothic Gala Lacquers – Holiday Gift Sets!

Nov16

Provided for Honest Review

I have a great gift idea for you to give the nail polish fanatic or novice this coming Holiday Season!  Gothic Gala Lacquers has put together a perfect gift set and it will be perfect for Secret Santas, Office Gift Exchanges, or even for family and friends!

Each set includes two bottles of nail polish and a 2oz bottle of her new moisturizing nail polish remover, Magia Gotica and you can choose the scent!  The scents that will be available will be Bayberry, Orange Spice, or Unscented.  Also you will have a choice of mini-sized polishes or full-sized polishes!

The Mini sets are going to be priced at $7.00 + Shipping, Full-Sized Sets will be $17.00 + Shipping.  They will be on Pre-order starting November 17th and will begin shipping on November 24th!

Whew let’s get down to the pretty polish pictures shall we?  First up is Holiday Leaves:

Gothic Gala Lacquers - Holiday Leaves

Gothic Gala Lacquers – Holiday Leaves

Holiday Leaves is a perfect emerald green metallic polish.  It’s a very very holiday type of color and I’m already planning nail art for the upcoming Holiday Season!  Really a beautiful color.  I want more colors in this style now.

Gothic Gala Lacquers - Holiday Berries

Gothic Gala Lacquers – Holiday Leaves

The formula on this one is gorgeous.  Metallic-foily polishes are sometimes tricky in their application and appear brushstrokey but this one has none of that!  I found that it leveled quite nicely and has a great finish!

Polishes used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Gothic Gala Lacquers – Holiday Leaves; Digital Nails – Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That.

Next up is Holiday Berries:

Gothic Gala Lacquers - Holiday Berries

Gothic Gala Lacquers – Holiday Berries

This is simply the most gorgeous red polish.  It is a beautiful shimmery jelly red polish with a tightly scattered large gauge gold holographic pigment running throughout.  It sparks through in the light and is so awesome!

Gothic Gala Lacquers - Holiday Berries

Gothic Gala Lacquers – Holiday Berries

The application on this one was as divine as I hoped.  The jelly finish means that they level out beautifully and I didn’t have any problems with them flooding my cuticles or any other such nonsense.  Loving these both so much.  Pictures on both polishes are two coats plus topcoat.

Polishes used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Gothic Gala Lacquers – Holiday Berries; Digital Nails – Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That.

The Magia Gotica nail polish remover is quite nice.  I received it in the Orange Spice scent which was delightful.  It didn’t dry my skin and it actually left my cuticles moisturized, in the pictures it looks as if I’ve put a little cuticle oil on but I actually did not, the only thing used was the polishes and the remover.  I need all the babying I can get for my skin in the winter so I’m delighted with this and plan to get some more soon!

Bonus!  I did a quick and dirty bit of nail art to see how the two polishes played together just testing it out.  I was happy enough with the result to show you that these two polishes will be awesome together in nail art uses!

Gothic Gala Lacquers - Holiday Leaves and Berries

Gothic Gala Lacquers – Holiday Leaves and Berries

Don’t forget these go on pre-order tomorrow and you’ll want to snag up one for yourself and some for gifts!  You can order the Holiday gift sets at Gothic Gala Lacquers’ website.  Also there is some exciting stuff happening so be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram as well!

New Indie Brand Alert! Mystic Muse Nail Lacquer – Autumn Reflections Collection

Nov8

Provided for Honest Review

Hello readers!  I have a new indie brand to show you!  Mystic Muse is a new brand that recently debuted.  They are really focused on offering sophisticated, classic style polishes that will become staples in collections everywhere.  Mystic Muse is also gearing up to become the brand for luxury indies.  I received the Autumn Reflections Collection and their Crystal Clear Topcoat to try out and I’m going to share them with you naturally!

First up is Autumn Reflection:

Mystic Muse - Autumn Reflection

Mystic Muse – Autumn Reflection

Autumn Reflection is a shimmery orange jelly packed with red metallic and holographic microglitter.  I love that this isn’t just a jelly with microglitter but it’s also shimmery.  Gives it more interest and depth.  It is a perfect fall shade too!

Mystic Muse - Autumn Reflection

Mystic Muse – Autumn Reflection

This is a jelly polish so it goes on very sheer but it does built up to opacity.  The application was very nice, no dragging or balding.  These pictures show three coats plus Mystic Muse Crystal Clear Topcoat.

Polishes used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Mystic Muse – Autumn Reflection; Mystic Muse – Crystal Clear Topcoat

Next up is probably the most perfect dark red creme polish I have ever used in my entire life, Cranberry:

Mystic Muse - Cranberry

Mystic Muse – Cranberry

Now I called this a creme but it might be closer to call it a crelly.  It’s a bit squishier than a standard creme.  This one is a stunner.  I have never been a fan of dark red cremes because they can sometimes be a nightmare to apply and clean up after so I steer clear normally but this one really has me digging on the color and finish!

Mystic Muse - Cranberry

Mystic Muse – Cranberry

The other reason that I think that this might be better classified as a jelly is the application.  It applies a bit sheer in the first coat but second coat is fully opaque.  It was beautifully self-leveling and is really bar none one of the best creme/crelly polishes I’ve ever applied.  Seriously, this is the dream creme and I find myself wishing I had like 20 other colors in this same formula!  This is two coats plus topcoat.

Polishes used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Mystic Muse – Cranberry; Mystic Muse – Crystal Clear Topcoat

Next up is Fall Foliage:

Mystic Muse - Fall Foliage

Mystic Muse – Fall Foliage

Fall Foliage is a perfect copper metallic foil polish with a golden microshimmer.  It catches the light beautifully.  The golden shimmer gives it some added depth!

Fall Foliage

Fall Foliage

The application of this was perfection.  I usually dislike straight foil polishes because they can be too brushstrokey but this one had a perfect foil finish.  Also of note, this polish stamps pretty well too!  Pictures show two coats plus topcoat.

Polishes used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Mystic Muse – Fall Foliage; Mystic Muse – Crystal Clear Topcoat

Next I’m going to show you Bonfire:

Mystic Muse - Bonfire

Mystic Muse – Bonfire

This one is going to be the hardest to describe!  It’s a grayish purpley (grurple?  Can we make that a thing?) antique silvery base with a strong red shimmer.  It’s absolutely lovely.

Mystic Muse - Bonfire

Mystic Muse – Bonfire

I blurred this picture a bit to show you the shifty quality it has.  It just seems to glow from within which I love.  The application of this one does require a little bit of patience as the strong shimmer tries to show brushstrokes.  It can be minimized and I haven’t used any other tricks than a patient hand to apply this.  Otherwise the formula was just as delightful as the others, smooth application without any major issues.  Pictures show two coats plus topcoat.

Polishes used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Mystic Muse – Bonfire; Mystic Muse – Crystal Clear Topcoat

Next up is Chestnut:

Mystic Muse - Chestnut

Mystic Muse – Chestnut

Chestnut is the deeper darker sister to Fall Foliage.  It’s a deep brown metallic polish with red/orange undertones and a golden microshimmer.  Again where there was a danger of falling flat the shimmer gives it added depth.

Mystic Muse - Chestnut

Mystic Muse – Chestnut

This one had flawless formula and application.  It looks truly gorgeous on.  Another fun fact, this one stamps like a dream!  I used it in a mani this week that I got so many compliments on!

Polishes used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Mystic Muse – Chestnut; Mystic Muse – Crystal Clear Topcoat

Last but not least, Night:

Mystic Muse - Night

Mystic Muse – Night

And then the heavens opened and I could hear choirs of angels singing in exultation.  This is my holy grail super dark gray almost black polish!  I have been searching for the perfect ALMOST black polish since black polishes are usually pretty harsh on me and don’t flatter my skin tone at all.  I want black polish for bases or for super chic manis but I have never found one that I loved until I met Night.  Oh yes I’m going to reach for this one again and again and again!  It’s a dark dark charcoal gray with silver, green, and purple microshimmers.  You can’t really see anything but the effect of the shimmers unless you’re looking super close up but the shimmers just give it a sheen and richness.

Mystic Muse - Night

Mystic Muse – Night

Love.everything.about.this.polish.  ‘Nuff said.  Seriously though, formula was awesome.  Application was amazing.  Two coats have perfect opacity and while it dries shiny on its own when you add the Crystal Clear Topcoat it’s like freshly polished glass!

Polishes used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Mystic Muse – Night; Mystic Muse – Crystal Clear Topcoat

So since this is a new indie I’ll give my overall thoughts!  I really thought that the collection was well coordinated, the names and colors fit the theme quite well.  There are several different types of finishes which I found to be very pleasing as well.  I will say that these are more traditional colors but the formula is fantastic.  Absolutely none of these caused me any problem and I would definitely recommend them.

The topcoat dries super fast and super shiny and it didn’t smear nail art or shrink when I used it.  It doesn’t really smooth glitters very well (I used it on a couple of different polishes to get an idea) but as a finishing high shine topcoat I’ll definitely grab it for holos or cremes because it really did dry lightning fast.

There is huge potential in this brand and they are aiming to fill a niche in luxury, high-end, indie polishes that have a sophisticated air.  I find that the price point is a wee bit high but the formula alone makes me overlook that.  Plus, in professional situations where I might not want your run of the mill polish but I can’t be over the top these will fit the bill perfectly.  Also, they have the benefit of being vegan and cruelty free as well.

You can get Mystic Muse at their website.  Don’t forget to follow them on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with all of the promotions and pretty pictures as well!

 

The Fifth of November – Gothic Gala Lacquers

Nov4

Provided for Honest Review

Hello my lovely readers!  I have a fun new collection based on the movie, V is for Vendetta from Gothic Gala Lacquers called Fifth of November.  I have seen the movie but I wholly admit that I don’t remember much of it.  It’s a good thing I know polish though!  Also you’ll have to excuse the small cut on my finger, I got a little wild with a knife while slicing vegetables several days ago and I’m still healing.

First up is Remember, Remember:

Gothic Gala Lacquers - Remember, Remember

Gothic Gala Lacquers – Remember, Remember

Remember, Remember is a dark pink, almost red, metallic polish.  It applies and reads almost like a jelly polish and has a silver shimmer throughout.  This gorgeous shimmery shade is definitely one that makes a great base for nail art or glitter toppers and I’m sure I’ll be reaching for it again.

Gothic Gala Lacquers - Remember, Remember

Gothic Gala Lacquers – Remember, Remember

These pictures show two coats plus topcoat.  These pictures show the barest amount of VNL but in person it didn’t show, I didn’t even realize it was there until I was editing the pictures, probably something with the light and the almost jelly finish that the polish has caused it to show up.  The application was smooth and easy and despite the bright pigments it was easy to clean up around the cuticle.

Polishes used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Gothic Gala Lacquers – Remember, Remember; Digital Nails – Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That Topcoat

Next up I have E-V:

Gothic Gala Lacquers - E-V

Gothic Gala Lacquers – E-V

E-V is a gorgeous medium gray crelly with pink metallic microglitter and white matte micro glitter.  Floating amongst that are white matte and pink metallic dots.  I’m a fan of glitter crelly polishes so I always love to see them show up in packages!

Gothic Gala Lacquers - E-V

Gothic Gala Lacquers – E-V

I swatched this one twice because the first time I had a little trouble, the formula seemed a little thicker than I would have imagined for a crelly-based glitter polish.  I reached out to Samantha and we discussed it because it was definitely thicker than the testing she had done.  I have had this happen with other crelly-based glitters after I used them, I always swatch polishes on paper when I get them and I may not have closed the bottle tightly so I added some thinner and tried again.  The second time around I had no issues at all so I believe that I was right in my assessment that air affected the initial application.  Bottles from the maker should be in line with the way I’m showing the polish after I thinned it.  The dot glitters are a teensie bit sparse but didn’t take a lot of trouble to get out onto the nail.

Polishes used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Gothic Gala Lacquers – E-V; Digital Nails – Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That Topcoat

The next in the collection is Vendetta:

Gothic Gala Lacquers - Vendetta

Gothic Gala Lacquers – Vendetta

Vendetta is a black jelly polish filled, virtually packed, with red microglitter and magenta microflakies.  The microglitter and flakies really liven up the jelly base and keep it from being too flat.  This makes it a very wearable polish for me when a lot of black polishes are not.  I could use this for a base for nail art or even wear it alone without hating how it looks on me, and I can’t say that about a lot of black polishes.  Black cremes, mattes, or plain black jelly polishes just will not work for me.  So I like having options like this one to use when I need black polish!

Gothic Gala Lacquers - Vendetta

Gothic Gala Lacquers – Vendetta

The application on this one was gorgeous.  Lucious even!  Even though it’s a jelly polish it’s fully opacque in two coats and it dries super shiny on its own but once you put on a high shine topcoat it really just becomes even more amazing.

Polishes used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Gothic Gala Lacquers – Vendetta; Digital Nails – Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That Topcoat

Last but not least my FAVORITE of this collection is Fifth of November:

Gothic Gala Lacquers - Fifth of November

Gothic Gala Lacquers – Fifth of November

This is a PERFECT autumn shade.  I adore it so much.  It’s a coppery shifty base packed with bronze or gold flakies to give it depth and dimension. It reminds me a bit of a dying fire with a few sparks left in it.  Simply gorgeous. Because of the shifty qualities of the polish and the flakies there are flashes of purple and bronze and copper.

Gothic Gala Lacquers - Fifth of November

Gothic Gala Lacquers – Fifth of November

Application was easy breezy on this one.  I really thought that E-V would be my favorite because it’s my usual style and the type of polish I normally gravitate toward but this one really caught me off-guard with its elegant perfection!  No catches, drags or bare spots in application and it’s fully opaque in two coats!

Polishes used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Gothic Gala Lacquers – Fifth of November; Digital Nails – Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That Topcoat

Fans of the movie will probably better be able to see the inspiration in the polishes.  Knowing Samantha I know that it’s there and I had grand plans of trying to watch the movie again before I swatched the collection, but school and time got the better of me!  The Fifth of November collection will be debuting, fittingly, on November 5th (that’s tomorrow folks!).  You can buy Gothic Gala Lacquers on her website.  I know she’s got some awesome stuff planned for the holidays so you should definitely stay tuned!  To keep up with all the news, sales, sneak peaks, and upcoming collections you should definitely be following Gothic Gala Lacquers on Facebook and Instagram!