Southern SwatchesPolish Pickup "Weird Science" August 2020
*Products shown were provided as press samples in exchange for photos and feedback. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
August's Polish Pickup seems to be taking forever to get here, but it is absolutely worth the wait! The "Weird Science" theme has inspired the talented makers in such a wide variety of ways this month. So many branches of science are represented, from biology to chemistry to geography to physics and so much more!
All of these beautiful products and many more will be available to pre-order Friday, August 7th at 11am Eastern, through Monday, August 10th at 11:50pm Eastern, only at PolishPickup.com!
Cuticula Scented Nail Care
"Chemicals React"
Price: $12.00 | No Cap
Inspiration: An illustration of glowing chemicals in flasks
Description: "Chemicals React" is a blue green jelly jam packed with many different shifting iridescent flakes and silver holo micro flakes. Shown here as 2 coats, plus Cuticula's Limitless Quick Dry Top Coat and Cloud Cover Matte Top Coat.
Thoughts: This polish is packed to the brim with sparkly goodies! I found it to apply very easily in normal coats and dry quickly, leaving a typical flakie bomb texture behind. The darkened teal base color is gorgeous, and the flakie add-ins are stunning both gloss and matte.
Find more from Cuticula: cuticulanailtape.com
Cuticula Scented Nail Care
The Game Changer Duo
Price: $16.00 | No Cap
Description: The Game Changer Duo includes Cinque Treatment Base Coat and Limitless Quick Dry Top Coat which work together to create a nourishing mani that is long lasting and chip free! This month, the duo is scented in ‘Pop Rocks,' a fruity and sugary blend with a bit of a "fizzy" tang!
》Cinque is a nourishing, hydrating, and revitalizing base coat which can be worn as a base or on its own. It contains 5 vitamins, 5 botanicals, and a strengthening ingredient that work together to provide 5 benefits.
Click here for a full list of benefits and ingredients in Cinque Treatment Base Coat.
》Some benefits of Limitless include: a 5 free formula that is non-smearing, non-shrinking, and dries to a rock hard finish.
Click here for a full list of benefits and ingredients in Limitless Quick Dry Top Coat.
Thoughts: I've heard so many amazing things from people who have used Cinque long term and I'm so excited to start using it! As for first impressions, I love the quick drying time and hydrating aspect. Although I do use an acetone additive, upon removal of a normal base coat, sometimes there will be visible dryness of the nail plate. When removing manis using Cinque as a base, I found my nail plate to show no noticeable dryness. Limitless is a wonderful "go-to" top coat that I have always had great results with. The 'Pop Rocks' scent is not overpowering and truly smells like Pop Rocks! If you like sweet, fruity scents, you'll enjoy this one.
Find more from Cuticula: cuticulanailtape.com
Dollish Polish
"Omelette Du Fromage"
Price: $12.00 | No Cap
Inspiration: Dexter's Laboratory
Description: "Omelette Du Fromage" is a classic white crelly, packed with micro glitters black purple orange, green and blue. Shown here as 2 coats, plus gloss and matte top coats.
Thoughts: This is a fun glitter crelly that would make for an excellent background for nail art! The mix of matte and metallic glitters distribute themselves nicely, and dry with a texture typical of glitter polish. The glitters become more prominent as the polish dries. I did find it to be a bit on the opaque side for a crelly, so maker Dolly told me that she would be thinning out the finished product slightly for PPU orders.
Find more from Dollish Polish: dollishpolish.com
Fair Maiden Polish
"It's Glow Time!"
Price: $11.00 | No Cap
Inspiration: The bioluminescent glow of synchronous fireflies
Description: "It's Glow Time!" is a dark teal jelly base with a fierce yellow green shift (aka "glow") that starkly contrasts the dark teal. Shown here as 3 thin coats, plus gloss and matte top coats.
Thoughts: Pictures don't do this polish justice! The shimmer packed base is perfect for displaying the super shifty flakes. It applied easily and built to opacity very nicely. I always rave about Fair Maiden's paddle brush, but it is definitely one of my favorites for easy application. Also, I have to say, the name label design the Maidens came up with this month... so cute!!
Find more from Fair Maiden Polish: fairmaidenpolish.com
Glisten & Glow
"Zealandia"
Price: $12.50 | 315 US Cap | 15 UK Cap
Inspiration: Zealandia, the drowned continent, often classified as Earth’s 8th continent
Description: "Zealandia" is a deep oceanic blue jelly polished filled with color shifting iridescent flakes that shift between green, orange, pink, and purple with a dash of holo micro flakes. Shown here as 3 thin coats, plus Glisten & Glow's gloss and matte top coats.
Thoughts: This dreamy polish is packed with a rainbow of shifty flakes! It applies super smooth and easily with the included premium paddle brush. The true jelly base allows for topper possibilities as well. While it is beautiful glossy, I absolutely recommend trying this one with a matte top coat. It is stunning!
Find more from Glisten & Glow: glistenandglow.com
Glisten & Glow
Cuticle Remover & Oil Pen Duo
Price: $12.50 | 140 US Cap | 10 UK Cap
Description: Glisten & Glow's Cuticle Care Pen Duo features their Cuticle Remover Pen and Cuticle Oil Pen scented this month in 'Kumquat,' a custom blend of a bright and refreshing citrus scent with orange base notes.
》Glisten & Glow’s Cuticle Remover gently softens and removes excess cuticle as well as eponychium skin. It contains distilled water, potassium hydroxide, coconut oil and fragrance. Directions: Apply generously to the cuticle area and let sit for 60 seconds. Next, gently push back with your favorite tool. Finally, wash hands and cuticles thoroughly with soap and water.
》Glisten & Glow Cuticle Oil Pen is a custom blend of Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E oil, grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, argan oil, castor oil, acai berry extract, tea tree oil and fragrance oil. Directions: Apply liberally to cuticle area and underside of nail plate; it can be applied to the nail plate approx 2x’s daily.
Thoughts: This pen duo is always wonderful. While I don't typically have too much cuticle build up, I do notice my cuticles are left feeling soft and refreshed after using the removal pen. The cuticle oil provides long lasting nourishment when massaged into the cuticles. The 'Kumquat' scent is very refreshing, and reminiscent of beautiful, fresh orange blossoms.
Find more from Glisten & Glow: glistenandglow.com
Heather's Hues
"Beat the Heat"
Price: $12.50 | 500 US Cap | 35 UK Cap
Inspiration: Tesla's "rainbow glass" which keeps heat and UV rays out, saving energy in the Tesla electric car
Description: "Beat the Heat" is a solar polish that is a bright orange indoors and purple in the sun. It's kissed with iridescent purple-pink-gold-green shimmer, iridescent flakes in orange-pink-gold-green, and a hint of holo sparkle. Shown here as 2 coats, plus gloss and matte top coats.
Thoughts: Solar polishes are just so fun and a nice little reminder to get outside and get some fresh air. This flakie, shimmery beauty applied easily and dried quickly as well. The opacity is wonderful for a neon, only needing 2 coats for full coverage. I was able to wear it over the weekend while camping, and I found it to sit mainly in the mid pink range when outside. The intensity of the color change is entirely dependent on the amount of UV rays, which vary during the time of day and year, and can change every day. I used a gel curing lamp to take my photos, so they show the full range of color possibilities.
Find more from Heather's Hues: www.heathershues.com
LynBDesigns
"Petri Dish Picasso"
Price: $12.00 | No Cap
Inspiration: Agar gel art
Description: "Petri Dish Picasso" a neon teal crelly with various sized matte glitters in neon pink, blue, green, and yellow, orange and matte glitters in teal and lavender. Shown here as 2 coats, plus 2 coats gloss and matte top coats.
Thoughts: This polish inspiration intrigued me, and led me to do a quick search of agar art, and wow! What a beautiful rabbit hole that was! The teal base is a perfect color for showing off the bright, contrasting glitters. I left the bottle upside down for a few hours before applying, and had no issues with application nor the distribution of the larger glitters. I have a strong c-curve, so I opted for 2 coats of gloss top coat to help smooth and level out the large rounds, but a single coat would probably be fine for most.
Find more from LynBDesigns: lynbdesigns.store
Night Owl Lacquer
"Surreal Lights"
Price: $13.00 | No Cap
Inspiration: The science behind the polar lights
Description: "Surreal Lights" is a black based multichrome that shifts green/teal/blue/purple/magenta with holo dust and crystal chameleon flakes that shift yellow/pink/green. Shown here as 3 thin coats, plus gloss and matte top coats.
Thoughts: This super shifty multichrome is filled with flakies in a rainbow of colors. The dusting of holo flake is also a beautiful touch in this polish. It applied very easily, in nice, thin coats which dried quickly. Opacity built to full coverage in 3 thin coats, but this polish is a perfect candidate for applying over black if you want quicker build up.
Find more from Night Owl Lacquer: nightowllacquer.com
Again, all of these beautiful products and many more will be available to pre-order Friday, August 7th, through Monday, August 10th, only at PolishPickup.com!
About Polish Pickup
Polish Pickup is a monthly pre-order sale offering nail polishes and other handmade items from your favorite indie makers based on a theme voted on by the community. The shop opens at 11am Eastern on the first Friday of the month, and closes at 11:59pm Eastern the following Monday. The website typically opens for preview/wishlisting the Sunday before the sale begins.
For more information, check out the FAQs: polishpickup.com/pages/faq
*Products shown were provided as press samples in exchange for photos and feedback. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*