*Disclosure: Press samples – I received these polishes for free in exchange for swatch photography. All reviews and opinions are my own.*
Hello! It’s that time of the month – PPU is right around the corner!
Polish Pickup is a monthly collaborative indie shop where makers submit products, typically polish, around a specific theme. This month’s theme was maker’s choice, so makers were able to create off of their own inspo choices. The PPU shop will be open for preorder on the Polish Pickup site from March 4 at 11am ET to March 7 at 11:59pm ET.
I have 14 polishes and 4 IPU items to share with you today, so let’s get into it!
BCB Lacquers: Dark Moon
Dark Moon is described as a magenta holo with a touch of pink/orange shimmer. It is inspired by the Dark Lady in Sailor Moon.
Dark Moon had a really smooth and even formula. It self-leveled well and had no brush strokes, although it did dry flat.
Shown is two coats plus glossy top coat.
Dark Moon will be available for $13 with a cap of 300.
BCB Lacquers: Eucalyptus Lemon Whipped Sugar Scrub
Eucalyptus Lemon is an invigorating and refreshing whipped sugar scrub
with notes of Eucalyptus, Spearmint, Lemon, Citrus Zest. The scrub has white and brown sugar for extra exfoliation. The base is tinted with mica to give it the mint color and shimmer! Throughout the scrub & on top of the scrub you will see green and gold jojoba beads.
I love BCB’s whipped sugar scrubs. They always smell fantastic and aren’t too harsh on my skin, and Eucalyptus Lemon is no different.
The Eucalyptus Lemon Whipped Sugar Scrub will be available for $9 with a cap of 75 for a 2oz jar.
Cupcake Polish: Very Peri
Very Peri is described as a periwinkle nail polish packed with reflective glitter and a tiny bit of holographic glitter for extra sparkle. It inspired by the Pantone 2022 color of the year.
Very Peri had a smooth and even, slightly lighter formula that dried gritty and flat. This polish is quite reflective – it is quite literally packed with reflective glitter.
Shown is two coats plus a glitter smoothing top coat, followed by glossy top coat, in normal studio lighting and with flash.
Very Peri will be available for $13 with no cap.
Cuticula: Before The Last Petal Falls
Before The Last Petal Falls is described as a subtle steel blue base packed with holographic flakes, red/black/green flakes, and orange/gold glass flakes. It is inspired by Beauty and the Beast’s Enchanted Rose.
Before The Last Petal Falls had a smooth and even formula, with its flakes coming out densely and flat.
Shown is two coats plus glossy top coat.
Before The Last Petal Falls will be available for $13 with no cap.
Cuticula: Mic Drop Base Coat in Pink Gum Drops
This month’s Mic Drop is scented in ‘Pink Gum Drops’. Pink Gum Drops is described as Sparkling sugared berries with pink cotton candy. A delicious fruity blend of strawberry and raspberry top notes with a splash of sugared plum, dusted with sparkling, sweet sugary bottom notes.
This 3-in-1 Base Coat contains Ridge Filler, Sticky Base Coat, and Strengthening Base Coat. The base coat also doesn’t have too thick of a formula.
Shown is two coats on its own, which is great if your nails need a break!
Mic Drop will be available for $9 with no cap.
Dam Nail Polish: That IS America’s (Butt)
That IS America’s (butt) is described as a full coverage reflective glitter bomb with red, silver, and blue glitters – there are some silver and blue star glitters along with larger red and silver hex glitters. It is inspired by Steve Rogers wielding Thor’s hammer, a play on the ‘Famous Steves’ theme that never gets selected.
That IS America’s (butt) had a pretty dense glitter formula, so if you used it as a topper it would be pretty covering of your base polish. The bigger glitters and starts come out easily, but it is quite textured – even after a glitter grabbing top coat and top coat, I had some texture.
Shown is two coats plus a glitter smoothing top coat, followed by glossy top coat, in normal studio lighting and with flash.
That IS America’s (butt) will be available or $13 with a cap of 300.
Dreamland Lacquer: Just Squiddin’ Around
Just Squiddin’ Around is described as a mix of reflective and holographic microglitters with a strong aurora shift from teal-green to blue to purple. It is inspired by the adorable bobtail squid.
Just Squiddin’ Around definitely applied like a microglitter, with a smooth and even but slightly lighter formula. The polish dries very gritty and flat, so you’ll need to pair it with top coat. To be honest, the reflective in this polish is a bit more subtle, which probably means the concentration of reflective glitters is lower.
Shown is two coats plus a glitter smoothing top coat, followed by glossy top coat, in normal studio lighting and with flash.
Just Squiddin’ Around will be available for $12 with a cap of 500.
Glisten & Glow: Amethyst Skies
Amethyst Skies is described as a purple polish loaded with a blend of reflective pigment.
Amethyst Skies had a smooth, jelly based formula that applied evenly. The polish dries gritty and flat, but is also super glittery and velvet-y in all lighting. The polish leans more warm and grape-y purple than in my photos, and I would consider this polish to have a high density of reflective glitters.
Shown is two coats plus glossy top coat (I should have used a glitter smoothing top coat because the polish later ate up more of the top coat) in normal studio lighting, and then with flash.
Amethyst Skies will be available for $13 with no cap.
Glisten & Glow: Top Coat
Glisten & Glow is also offering their award winning fast drying glossy top coat during this month’s PPU! It’s one of my favorite top coats as well, and if you haven’t tried it or are looking to get some more, I highly recommend it.
Glisten & Glow’s top coat will be available for $8.00 with no cap.
Jen & Berries: I Dreamed That I Was Racing
I Dreamed That I Was Racing is described as a light aqua crelly with aqua shimmer, black and holographic flakies. It is inspired by Julie Mao after being taken over by the protomolecule in the expanse.
I Dreamed That I Was Racing had a smooth and even formula.
Shown is three coats plus glossy top coat.
I Dreamed That I Was Racing will be available for $12.50 with a cap of 150.
Kathleen & Co: From The Ashes I Rise
From The Ashes I Rise is described as a bright red jelly base with three different color glowy iridescent shifting flakes. It is inspired by a Phoenix rising from the ashes.
From The Ashes I Rise had a smooth formula, with a high density of flakes that lied even and flat.
Shown is two coats plus glossy top coat, followed by matte top coat.
From The Ashes I Rise will be available for $13 with a cap of 500.
Lilypad Lacquer: Seize The Moment
Seize The Moment is described as a lavender crelly with pink/orange/green multichrome flakes and green/gold/pink iridescent flakes. It is inspired by a lavender hibiscus flower.
Seize The Moment had a smooth formula with medium-dense flakes that lied flat.
Shown is three coats plus glossy top coat.
Seize The Moment will be available for $14 with a cap of 150.
Nailed It: Moonbeam
Moonbeam is described as a dark cobalt blue base packed with copper/gold/green and pink/violet/gold crystal flakies, and a touch of holo flakies. It is inspired by a sign and saying for the maker’s son, combining an inspo of the Moon and honoring her son.
Moonbeam had a smooth jelly formula, with flakes that were highly dense and flat. The flakes aren’t as dense as Nailed It’s typical flakie bombs, but they are still quite densely packed in.
Shown is three coats plus glossy top coat.
Moonbeam will be available for $13 with a cap of 300.
Polished For Days: Believe In The Magic
Believe In The Magic is described as a black jelly base with blue and purple shifting iridescent flakes and gold reflective glitter. It is inspired by the Disneyland Castle in wintertime.
Believe In The Magic had a smooth and even formula. Its flakes come out quite densely and flat, and the polish does dry very gritty so I should have used a glitter smoothing top coat.
Shown is two coats plus two coats of glossy top coat in normal studio lighting, and then with flash.
Believe In The Magic will be available for $13 with no cap.
Red Eyed Lacquer: Well, She Can’t Be All Bad
Well, She Can’t Be All Bad is described as a spring green crelly with gold/green/copper shimmer and holo flakies. It is inspired by the Green Fairy from Sleeping Beauty.
Well, She Can’t Be All Bad had a smooth and even, slightly sheerer jelly formula that self-levels well. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this polish on my nails – I typically turn away from greens/yellows and everything inbetween, but this one was very flattering on me.
Shown is three coats plus glossy top coat.
Well, She Can’t Be All Bad will be available for $12.50 with a cap of 200.
Red Eyed Lacquer: Da Balmer in What’s A TSP?
This month’s Da Balmer comes in the scent What’s A TSP?, which is described as a sweet blend of fresh pomegranate and citrus that creates natural juicy tones for this sweet heart delight. Creamy undertones of berry and musk are sweetened with vanilla and sugar crystals. It is inspired by the Green Fairy from Sleeping Beauty making a birthday cake.
Soooo this was my first time using Da Balmer, and I’m in love! This month’s scent is wonderful and the type of slightly fruity/fresh/sweet scent that I like. Da Balmer also sinks into the skin very nicely, and I’ve used it in a lot of dry areas to moisturize without having to slather on too much lotion.
Da Balmer in What’s A TSP? will be available for $7.50 with a cap of 100 for a 1oz jar. I believe this is the last Da Balmer in PPU for a while, so make sure to get it while you can!
Rogue Lacquer: Adventures In Wonderland
Adventures In Wonderland is described as a pink/gold UCC flake with chartreuse metallic flake bomb, with micro holo flakes and silver reflective glitters. It is inspired by Alice in Wonderland.
Adventures In Wonderland had a very dense and opaque formula, so it would be quite dense if used as a topper. This polish was quite unique in my opinion – there’s a really fun mix of glitters and flakes that I’ve never seen before.
Shown is two coats plus glossy top coat in normal studio lighting, and then with flash.
Adventures In Wonderland will be available for $12.50 with no cap.
Wildflower Lacquer: Rainbows are Visions
Rainbows are Visions is described as a dusty sapphire blue jelly base with red to gold to green shifting shimmer, blue, purple, pink crystal flakes, a variety of UCC flakes, and subtle linear holo. It is inspired by the Muppets.
Rainbows are Visions had a slightly thicker jelly formula, and its flakes were dense and flat.
Shown is two coats plus glossy top coat.
Rainbows are Visions will be available for $13.50 with a cap of 600.
So many gorgeous goodies this month! Let me know what you’ll be picking up, and thanks for reading!
XOXO,
Lauren