Cuticula - February 2018 Polish Pickup - Cotton Candy Frosted Cake Nail Tape & Timeless Top Coat

Today I have Cuticula's February 2018 Polish Pickup contribution to share with you!

The theme of this month's Polish Pickup is "Sugar Rush" and sales will start February 2nd at 11am and end February 5th at midnight.

First, a little background on what Polish Pickup is.

Polish Pickup is a group on Facebook that is an interactive experience that allows you to submit theme ideas and then everyone votes for their favorite choice.

After the winning theme is chosen and announced different nail polish brands will create polishes, nail art items, or bath and beauty products, based off of the chosen monthly theme, that will be available for preorder on the Polish Pickup website for the first Friday of each month at 11 AM EST.  

It stays open for four days, until the following Monday at Midnight EST.  At that point, all the products available are gone, and won't be back as everything is Limited Edition for that month.

Since all polishes are pre-ordered, they will ship a minimum of 3 weeks after sale commencement.

If that didn't sound awesome enough, get this:  Polish Pickup ships for a flat fee of $3 in the US and Canada.  They also can now ship internationally at cost!

Now, on to the Cuticula!

Cotton Candy Frosted Cake Scented

 Nail Tape & 

Timeless Top Coat

Cuticula did it again, Cotton Candy Frosted Cake is such a delicious scent, you are definitely going to want to have!  

Cotton Candy Frosted Cake is described as a scrumptious blend of rich, decadent white cake laced with sweet fluffy cotton candy and topped with creamy sugary cotton candy frosting. 

The first thing that hits my nose is a mix of the cotton candy and the frosting.  It's a deliciously sweet blend, but not at all overpowering.  It's a perfect, subtle scent, that will waft up while you're working and make you wonder what yummy treat you forgot you ate earlier.

 Cotton Candy Frosted Cake will be available in both the Nail Tape & Timeless Top Coat. 

 

The Scented Nail Tape is a baby blue with some tiny glitters.  The glitters are pink, blue with some holographic sparkles mixed in as well.  

Nail Tape is used for various things, but what I primarily use it for is creating nail art.  What you do is, you apply it around your cuticles like I have shown above prior to doing any art, or even just to aid in clean up when applying your nail polish.  Once it dries, it acts as a barrier between your skin and whatever nail art you are doing.  Once you remove it, the skin underneath is clean from all the nail polish, which saves your skin from constantly being abused by acetone, which can be extremely drying, and is very helpful in these winter months.

Also, the peel on Cuticula is like no other latex I have used.  It always peels off in one clean pull, it doesn't leave anything behind like the Amazon brand I used to use prior to finding this.  It is SO satisfying.  Check out almost any video on my Instagram and you can see for yourself.

After stamping, but before peel.

After peeling off the Nail Tape.  You can see the majority of the mess is gone, only leaving a small amount of clean up to be done.  This is a huge time saver when doing a watermarble design especially.

The finished product, after clean up, and after applying Timeless Top Coat in the Cotton Candy Frosted Cake scent!

Timeless Top Coat is a 5 Free, Scented Top Coat.  While it is not marked as a quick dry top coat, I find that it dries to the touch in about 3 minutes.  

That said, don't go digging through a drawer, or opening cans just yet.   It is dry enough so you can play with your phone, type on a computer, take pictures of your amazing manicures, those kinds of easy activities.  Within 40-45 minutes, you are ready to go though.  

My routine is I usually paint my nails, top coat, take my pictures, clean up my messy nail art area, and then go jump in the shower, and go to bed.  That all usually takes me about 40-45 minutes and I haven't had the top coat fail me yet.

It's super shiny, doesn't dull holo or flakie polishes, and does not cause shrinkage.  I use it for nail stamping all the time too.  I get a nice bead of the top coat on the end of my brush and float it over the polish and haven't had any complaints.

Since I think I rambled a bit, I'll give one last reminder, Polish Pickup sales will go live February 2nd at 11am and end February 5th at midnight.


Links:

Polish Pickup 
Shop:  https://www.polishpickup.com/
Polish Pickup Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/polishpickup/
Polish Pickup Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/polishpickuppack/

Cuticula 
Shop: http://cuticulanailtape.com/shop-cuticula/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cuticulanailtape/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CuticulaScentedLiquidNailTape/?fref=ts

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/141406026467715/

Supermoon Lacquer - Which Tastes Sweeter - February 2018 Polish Pickup

Today I am very excited that I have The Howling Boutique's Supermoon Lacquer's contribution to the February 2018 Polish Pickup to share with you!

The Howling Boutique's Supermoon Lacquer has chosen 'Which Tastes Sweeter' and it is inspired by the werewolf themed young adult novel Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause. This was the maker, Mardi's absolute favorite book as a kid and remains one of her favorites to this day! She also advises not to judge the book by its movie counterpart as she heard it was horrible and the book is definitely anything but.

The theme of this month's Polish Pickup is "Sugar Rush" and it starts February 2nd at 11am and ends February 5th at midnight.

First, I'll give you some background on what Polish Pickup is.

Polish Pickup is a group on Facebook that is an interactive experience that allows you to submit theme ideas and then everyone votes for their favorite choice!  

After the winning theme is chosen and announced different nail polish brands will create polishes, or bath and beauty items, based off of the chosen monthly theme, that they will have available for preorder on the Polish Pickup website for the first Friday of each month at 11 AM EST.  

It stays open for four days, until the following Monday at Midnight EST.  At that point, all the products available are gone, and won't be back as everything is Limited Edition for that month.

Since all polishes are pre-ordered, they will ship a minimum of 3 weeks after sale commencement.

If that didn't sound awesome enough, get this:  Polish Pickup ships for a flat fee of $3 in the US and Canada.  They also can now ship internationally at cost!

Which Tastes Sweeter

Which Tastes Sweeter is described as a scattered holographic multichrome that shifts in color from reddish-brown to green to teal, with copper and gold sparks, red/orange/yellow and red/copper/green chameleon shimmer, red-to-gold, bronze-to-green, and red-to-green color shifting shimmer flakies, rose pearl flakies, iridescent red-to-green color shifting microglitter, and holographic copper and gold microglitter.

The formula is amazing, depending on your application it could even be a one coater. Shown in my swatches is two coats plus a glossy top coat.

This will have a cap of 240 bottles.

Price is $13

Mardi knocked this out of the park, I feel the polish matches it's inspiration spot on and is gorgeous.  That green shift gets me every time.  I wore this for several days and still didn't want to take it off.

Don't forget this polish has a 240 cap, so definitely set those reminders for February 2nd at 11am to be there when the site goes live and grab this beauty.

Links:

Polish Pickup 
Shop:  https://www.polishpickup.com/
Polish Pickup Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/polishpickup/
Polish Pickup Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/polishpickuppack/

The Howling Boutique's Supermoon Lacquer

Website: http://www.thehowlingboutique.com

Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/TheHowlingBoutique/

Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/TheHowlingBoutique/

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/thehowlingboutique/

Etsy Store: http://thehowlingboutique.etsy.com

Colors by Llarowe - Polish of the Month - February 2018 - What's Love Got To Do With It?

Today I have the Colors by Llarowe Polish of the Month for February 2018 to share with you, and it is a real beauty!  

This red stunner is called "What's Love Got To Do With It?" and it is the most perfect red shade for February and Valentine's Day.

I myself don't celebrate Valentine's Day, any present giving holiday gives me extreme anxiety and I tend to just try and stay away in general.  Me and my boyfriend just buy eachother little gifts throughout the year when we see something that makes us think of the other, and I kind of love it that way.  Spontaneous and thoughtful.

But, just because I don't celebrate doesn't mean I can't appreciate a perfect red polish when I see one, and this is definitely it.

Enough of my ramblings, you're here for the polish, so let's get to it! 

What's Love Got To Do With It? is a one time offering pre-order polish that will be launched on February 1, 2018, and will sell for $11.00.

The pre-order will be open for one week, from February 1st at 12pm MST until February 8 at 12pm MST.  This polish will only be available for purchase during the 1st week of the month and then will not be offered again. 

What's Love Got To Do With It? is described as a red cherry base with scattered holo with pink and blue shimmer and micro flake.

The formula was excellent, it applied very smoothly, evenly, and was opaque in 2 coats.

I also did some stamping because that song was stuck in my head the entire time I was wearing this polish.  So the music notes and hearts went perfectly I thought.

Don't forget this is a preorder and once it's gone it's gone, so set those alarms for a time between February 1st at 12 MST and February 8th at 12 MST to go grab this beauty.

**These polishes were sent to me in exchange for an honest review which I hope you have enjoyed reading!**

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1850 Artisan Polish - Debut Collection 2018

Hi everyone!  Today I am thrilled and honored to share with you a collection from a new Indie brand, 1850 Artisan Polish.

This is her debut collection and it is amazing.  If this collection is any indication, I just know there are great things ahead in her future.  

A little bit about the maker and polish:

"My name is Nikki and I am a California girl who loves the beaches and the mountains in this beautiful place. As a polish enthusiast, I love making unique colors that reflect what I see around me. The ocean, the trees, the beaches, the blue sky, the bright lights of my big city…it all gives me inspiration for the colors I mix.

All of the polishes in my shop are hand mixed by me in small batches. I use high quality cosmetic grade pigments, glitters, and micas in my polishes and all of my ingredients are considered vegan. 1850 Artisan Polishes are 5-Free, which means they are free from formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde-resin, and camphor."  -- excerpt from the website.

This collection will officially launch on Saturday, January 20th at 7:00 am PST / 10:00 am EST.  You can check out the website for lots more swatches too!

Speaking of swatches, go get a snack and settle in because I've got a lot of pictures to share with you!

City Lights At Night

City Lights At Night is described as black jelly with a multitude of different holographic colors.  

This polish was scooped off the city at night and bottled for everyone to enjoy.  3 coats are recommended for optimal coverage with a glossy top coat.

Shown in my swatches are 3 coats plus Fast Track, 1850 Artisan Polish Glossy Quick Dry Top Coat.  City Lights At Night had an excellent formula that was smooth and easy to apply.

It really does look like twinkling lights from a city at night, doesn't it?  This polish was wonderfully sparkly and definitely eye-catching.  I got some nice compliments when I wore it.

Dichotomy

Dichotomy is described as a thermal scattered holographic that is a shimmering iced lavender when warm and a metallic deep royal purple when cool.  

"This polish is more than one kind of wonderful and celebrates the dichotomy of incredible women everywhere" - Nikki

Shown here in my swatches are two coats plus Fast Track, 1850 Artisan Polish Glossy Quick Dry Top Coat.  Dichotomy has a wonderful formula that was very smooth and easy to apply.

warm state

transition

Duplicity

Duplicity is described as a multichrome thermal that has a sophisticated and subtle shift from sunset peach and pink when warm to a svette plum and gold when cool.

Shown in my swatches are 2 coats plus Fast Track, 1850 Artisan Polish Glossy Quick Dry Top Coat.  Duplicity has a wonderful formula that was very smooth and easy to apply.  

cold state.  Isn't it beautiful?

warm state

transition state

High Rise

High Rise is described as a fuchsia leaning ruby red jelly that absolutely glows with unicorn aurora pigment. The shimmers shift from red to gold and even green at some angles. 

This polish is the skyscraper of the 1850 Artisan Polish collection and I can completely see why.  I am so enamored with it.  

My swatches show 3 thin coats plus Fast Track, 1850 Artisan Polish Glossy Quick Dry Top Coat.  High Rise has an amazing formula which was very smooth and easy to apply.  In my swatches, you may notice some visible nail line, but this was not noticeable in person. 

Hollywood

Hollywood is described as a metallic electric violet pink with scattered silver, fuchsia, and turquoise holo.

Shown in my swatches are 2 coats plus Fast Track, 1850 Artisan Polish Glossy Quick Dry Top Coat. 

Hollywood's formula was excellent and was smooth and easy to apply.  Looking back, I probably would have done 1 more thin coat to hide the nail line more, I didn't notice when I was applying the polish.  Two or three coats would be based on your personal preference.

Lovely

Lovely is a soft pink creme that is a staple for polish lovers everywhere.  This lovely color is an understated nod towards the shells you find on the beach last summer.

I have a few similar pinks in color, but I must say, none have a formula that is this good.  They're usually thin and apply patchy, but Lovely is just that, Lovely.  I applied 3 thin coats and they went on buttery smooth and self-leveled perfectly.  I topped it with Fast Track, 1850 Artisan Polish Glossy Quick Dry Top Coat. 

Next up is not a color, but a mashup of Lovely and Hollywood.  I thought they'd compliment each other quite nicely, and I really enjoyed the combination.

Shown is 1 coat of Hollywood over Lovely plus Fast Track, 1850 Artisan Polish Glossy Quick Dry Top Coat. 

Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica Pier is a shimmering rose gold with multi-colored sparkle that is reminiscent of the sunset at the Santa Monica Beach.  This gorgeous polish sparkles AND is easy to remove.

In my swatches, I captured more of the golden tone, but in low light or shade that rose gold was very apparent and totally gorgeous.  I absolutely love this one.

Shown is 2 coats plus Fast Track, 1850 Artisan Polish Glossy Quick Dry Top Coat. 

Pacific Coast Highway

Pacific Coast Highway is described as an eye-catching deep blue metallic with a flash of violet.

Shown is two coats plus Fast Track, 1850 Artisan Polish Glossy Quick Dry Top Coat.   The formula was excellent, it applied very smoothly and easily.

Wild Blackberries

Wild Blackberries is described as a deep berry with a gold shift that has a sprinkling of blue shimmer throughout. 

This was the first polish I wore and It's so pretty.  I absolutely loved that blue shimmer contrasting the deep berry.  I couldn't stop playing with my hands.

Shown is two coats plus Fast Track, 1850 Artisan Polish Glossy Quick Dry Top Coat.    Excellent formula, it went on very smooth and easy.  

will you just look at that shimmer?  unf.

Taupe-iary

Taupe-iary is described as a unique lavender leaning taupe creme that is set apart by a soft copper shimmer.

Shown here is two coats plus Fast Track, 1850 Artisan Polish Glossy Quick Dry Top Coat. I really liked those shimmery copper flecks.  This polish is so pretty and it had an amazing formula too.  It was very very smooth and easy to apply.  

Hummingbird

Hummingbird is described as a mesmerizing, shifting, shimmering,  polish that moves from turquoise to purple with red and gold on the edges.

Mesmerising is the perfect word to describe this polish.  It's absolutely jaw-dropping.  The shimmer is out of this world.  The formula was equally as amazing, very smooth and easy to apply.

Shown is two coats plus Fast Track, 1850 Artisan Polish Glossy Quick Dry Top Coat. 

Last up, the secret star of the show is 

Fast Track - 1850 Artisan Polish Glossy Quick Dry Top Coat

Fast Track is a FIVE FREE quick dry top coat for the demanding polish enthusiast who must have high shine, no shrinkage, and a lightning-fast drying time.

As you can tell from the fill line I've used this top coat quite a bit since I received it, and I really like it.  It dries fast, hard, and is very shiny.  

I also did a stamping test.  I stamp a lot, and smearing is a HUGE factor for me when I chose a top coat. 

I stamped over Santa Monica Pier.

As you can see in the macro there was no smearing of my design, which made me very happy.  The top coat did not shrink either, nor did it dull any of the holo polishes I tried it with. 

I'm fussy when it comes to top coats, and I have to say this one is a home run.  You should definitely give this a try, I know you'll like it.

Some final thoughts:

Had I not known this was 1850 Artisan Polish's Debut Collection, I never ever would have guessed by the polish.  Each and every one had a great formula, was unique and beautiful.  The presentation was awesome too, everything arrived wrapped so nicely and securely.  I also really liked the bottles and the polish brush she chose.  I cannot wait to see everything else she creates, I just know it will be just as amazing.

Don't forget to set a reminder, for the launch Saturday, January 20th at 7:00 am PST / 10:00 am EST!

~Polishes were provided in exchange for a review.  ALL opinions are my own. ~

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