How is it already April? I’m a bit relieved it’s already April, that means all the household birthdays are over for the year (Nick was January 7th, Jacob was February 17th an I was March 22nd) but it also means tax season is almost over and I’ll have more time and can take PTO days again for my enjoyment rather than because Jacob or myself were sick.
So tonight we’re initially looking at 41 items (wow) but one is still in route, so I’ll have 42 before the shop opens and I’ll squeeze the missing one in last minute. I’m missing Serum No 5 which will be a glow in the dark thermal.
I’m gonna do my usual thing, then we’ll move onto why everyone is really here. Let’s see my spiel first (in case someone who isn’t aware of PPU stumbles upon this post)
Before I get into this, we’re going to talk about this new Facebook group and I’m going to describe it’s concept. The group is Polish Pickup. Polish Pickup offers a fun, interactive experience that allows you to submit theme ideas, vote for your favorite theme, and selectively purchase your favorite polishes every month. It’s NOT a box though. I think when it formed that was the major misconception of it.
Now, I love polish boxes, however, some purchasers shared their frustration in only wanting 1 or 2 polishes from a box and needing to unload the polishes in the box they didn’t want. So essentially they were paying $40 and up for 1 or 2 polishes and hoping they could sell the polishes they weren’t interested in.
Polish Pickup is different. While the concept of picking themes and voting isn’t new, instead of buying the whole box, you can shop online for JUST the single polishes you want. There can be many indie makers involved with the theme, but you only have to pay for the exact polishes you wanted rather than 4-8 polishes you may not have been interested in.
Then every month the theme and makers change and you get a whole new set of polishes to pick and choose from. So while it has a box like feel (with the voting and themes) it doesn’t carry the box commitment.
This set of polishes will be available from April 6th at 11am EST through April 9th at 11:59pm EST.
Let’s jump in, this is gonna be a long one – so settle in! If there are specific ones you want to see and you are at a computer, just hit Ctrl F at the same time and type the brand you are looking for in the little box that appears.
Ready? Let’s do this!
6 Harts – Heart of the Milky Way
Inspiration: Hubble image from the heart of the Milky Way galaxy
Description: Heart of the Milky Way is a dusty, pink toned nude creme based polish with gold micro flakes, coppery shimmer and scattered holographic. I used 2 coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
This is a great nude shade that works on a variety of skin tones.
Price: $10.00
No Cap
77 Nail Lacquer – A Star Is Born
Inspiration: The Lagoon Nebula
Description: A Star Is Born is a deep indigo blue base with red sparks, purple to red to orange to pink shifting shimmer and blue to green shifting iridescent micro glitters. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $11.50
Cap: 150 Bottles
Alter Ego Nail Enamel – Altarf aka Beta Cancri
Inspiration: From the maker: “I am Cancer and while its constellation is one of the least visible I saw it’s brightest star is the most colorful and that is Altarf also known as Beta Cancri. I looked at Hubble’s website and read there are no photos of it but it is described as bright orange.”
Description: Altarf aka Beta Cancri is a bright yellow leaning orange base with reddish copper micro flakes and a very fine gold shimmer throughout. Very different from anything I own and reminds me of those orange and red flecks gumballs I used to love as a kid! I used 2 coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $7.50
No Cap
B Polished – Astrum
Inspiration: Barnard 68
Description: Astrum is a blackened sapphire scattered holographic with a blue to purple to gold multichrome shift that’s a bit on the subtle side. It also has holo, silver, copper flakes, as well as red to copper to purple to blue shifting flakes AND white, red and blue glass flecks. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
This polish is so dead on for the inspo pic I was floored!
Price: $12.00
Cap: 200 Bottles
B Polished – Fizzy Lemon-Lime Make It Dry Drying Drops
Inspiration: Green Nebula
Okay so what is it? This is a quick dry setting liquid is the finishing step to any manicure. This liquid creates a protective layer that resists surface smudges and hydrates dry cuticles with jojoba and coconut oil. Apply 1‐2 drops per nail after top coat.
I received a dropper of this back when B Polished first launched. It was in a different dropper style, but I much prefer this one. I used all of mine up after receiving it and it does help to dry your polish quicker, especially if you prefer non quick dry top coats. Plus it smells like lemon lime.
Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, d-Limonene, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba oil)*, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) oil, Litsea cubeba, Cymbopogon martinii (Palmarosa) oil*, Lavandula x intermedia (Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia)*. May Contain: Fragrance
Price: $5.00
Cap: 100 Bottles
Blue Eyed Girl Lacquer – Monster In A Turbulent Star
Inspiration: the NGC 2264 cone nebula as captured by the Hubble telescope
Description: Monster In A Turbulent Star is a bright orange leaning red scattered holographic with larger particled linear holographic pigment, aqua shimmer, turquoise glass flecks, gunmetal and gold microflakes and green to aqua aurora shifting pigment. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
My photos are showing this a bit on the brighter side. Warmer reds are brighter on my cool toned complexion. In person this is toned down and a touch deeper.
Price: $12.00
No Cap
Bluebird Lacquer – Space Madness
Inspiration: Ren and Stimpy’s famous cartoon of the same name
Description: Space Madness is a silver holographic while warm to an aqua holographic while cold thermal with green shimmer, as well as pink and blue micro sparks and multichrome flakes. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $12.00
No Cap
Bluebird Lacquer – UFO Bath Bomb
Inspiration: Mars Attacks!
Description: This is a UFO shaped bath bomb scented in ACK ACK ACK! If you ever wondered what that smells like, it’s citrusy from oranges and lemons and some kumquats.
Ingredients: organic shea butter, apricot oil, aloe butter, jojoba and hemp oil, carefully combined to give your skin a luxurious experience.
Price: $5.00
No Cap
Cameo Colours Lacquers – Bubble Nebula
Inspiration: NGC 7635, also called the Bubble Nebula.
Description: Bubble Nebula is a deep oxblood jelly base packed with red shimmer that has a very subtle green shift, scattered holographic, and multisized silver, red and silver holographic flakes. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $12.00
No Cap
Chirality Nail Polish – Galactic Core
Inspiration:The Galactic Centre of the Milky Way
Description: Galactic Core is a vampy shifter! This beauty shifts from blue to purple to red to gold and has blue to violet to green to gold shifting shimmer mixed in. I used 2 coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
The shift is quite strong in person, and I have this on my toes now! Don’t worry – I don’t post toe pics so you’re safe
Price: $11.00
No Cap
Color Infinity – Bare Your Sol
Inspiration: Photo of the sun by NASA
Description: Bare Your Sol is an intensely vibrant red tones orange linear holographic with yellow gold shimmer. The linear holo is harder to catch in this shade, so it’s not the prominent effect, but you can see a nice little arc in it in person. I used 2 coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
My camera isn’t orange friendly sometimes with brighter colors and pulled a touch more red than this is in person, so it is slightly more toned down orange.
Price: $8.50
No Cap
Contrary Polish – Cocoon Galaxy
Inspiration: The Cocoon Galaxy, photo by NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope
Description: Cocoon Galaxy is a dusty denim blue magnetic polish with pink shimmer, holographic micro flakes and antique gold magnetic shimmer. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
This isn’t an “in your face” magnetic and the effect is more subtle. You will receive a magnet to use with it, so if you don’t already have one – don’t worry – you won’t have to purchase it separately. Each purchase will come with a cat eye or neodymium magnet.
Price: $13.00
No Cap
Contrary Polish – Solar Flare Tinted Lip Balm
Inspiration: NASA pic of a coronal mass ejection
Description: I am so excited Carrie did another tinted lip balm!! Solar Flare is an orange-red tinted lip balm with a lemon flavor, and it gives a sheer wash of color on the lips.
I don’t have lip photos for this. It’s my tax season and nearing the end gets a little nerve wracking, and I tend to chew on my lips when things are intense at work, so my lips look like hell at the moment BUT I have been using this since I received it and it’s just as good as the first. I’m cool-toned, and this warm toned shade looks incredible on.
Ingredients: Beeswax, Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, Castor Oil, Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter, Grapeseed Oil, Red 40, Red 6, Flavor Oil, Stevia, Lauryl Laurate
Price: $6.00
No Cap
CrowsToes – Well, Isn’t That Just Fu@#ing Marble-ous
Inspiration: From “Men in Black” when the Medical Examiner discovers the Arquillian Galaxy Spinning within the Marble in Orions’ Collar.
Description: Well, Isn’t That Just Fu@#ing Marble-ous is a greyish navy blue jelly base packed with an assortment of flakes and microglitters in shades of blue, red, pink, purple, teal and orange. There’s some gold flashes within the assortment as well and a scattering of holo. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
You might need 2 coats of top coat for a smooth finish. The flakes and glitters play relatively well, but depending on the thickness of your polish coats, it is possible to need more than 1 coat of top coat.
Price: $12.00
No Cap
Delush Polish – Jupiter Recognize
Inspiration: the breathtaking images of the whirlpool galaxy.
Description: Jupiter Recognize is a vibrant purple base packed with shifting pink glowing shimmer as well as silver and red holographic flakes and microglitters. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $11.95
No Cap
Dollish Polish – Drop It Like It’s Hoth
Inspiration: Planet Hoth
Description: Drop It Like It’s Hoth is an icy aqua blue base with intense turquoise shimmer as well as lapis, emerald and turquoise micro flakes and shred glitters. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $12.50
No Cap
Ellagee – Drops Of Jupiter
Inspiration: Inspired by images of Jupiter taken by the Juno spacecraft
Description: Drops of Jupiter is a translucent blue iridescent base with blue shimmer and a mix of glitters in blue, bronze, silver holographic and copper. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
You may need 2 coats of top coat for a smooth finish.
Price: $11.00
No Cap
Ellagee – Universe In A Bottle Keychain
Inspiration: galaxies
Description: This is a mini bottle of polish and the inside is coated with a shifty, galaxy inspired shade. The polish is dry inside. It’s attached to a silver toned ball chain and standard key chain loop.
Price: $8.00
Cap: 100 Keychains
Fair Maiden Polish – Interstellar
Inspiration: A bursting night sky in golds, aquas, greens and blues
Description: Interstellar is a softer blue based linear holographic multichrome that shifts champagne gold to green to aqua, as well as holographic glitters in copper, silver and gold. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos
Price: $11.00
No Cap
Girly Bits – Felt With The Heart
Inspiration: The Little Prince.
“I created a polish inspired by The Little Prince which is a lovely story about learning the importance of looking beneath the surface to find the real truth and meaning of things. It teaches us to see with our heart instead of just with our eyes.”
Description: Felt With The Heart is a sparkling turquoise with a foil like finish that contains a ton of holographic pigments, gold flakes, blue flakes and green to blue to gold color shifting flakes. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
May require 2 coats of top coat for a smooth finish
Price: $13.00
Cap: 250 Bottles
Great Lakes Lacquer – Going, Going, Already Gone
Inspiration: The Pillars of Creation. These beautiful formations in space are probably already long gone by now, as they are 7,000 light years away from us, hence the name
Description: Going, Going, Already Gone is a greyed out seafoam green with color shifting shimmers that shift from orange to green to red, as well as different types of iridescent flakes that go from pink to purple to blue to gold to green, and a scattering of holographic sparkle. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $12.50
No Cap
Heather’s Hues – 1,000 Wishes Upon Stars Cutie-cle Balm
Inspiration: Moon and Stars
Description: A moisturizing cuticle balm that has a light fruity floral fragrance. It has notes of champagne, star fruit and peonies and is mellowed out with amber, almond creme and sugared sandalwood. It’s a dupe for the A Thousand Wishes Bath & Body Works fragrance.
Ingredients:
Price: $6.00
Heather’s Hues – The Moon & The Stars
Inspiration: moon and star themed moodboard photo
Description: The Moon & The Stars is a blurple linear holographic jelly base filled with pink to green to gold iridescent shimmer, holographic flakes and glitters, blue to violet to aqua multichrome flakes and iridescent blue-violet to pink flakes. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00
No Cap
KBShimmer – Hubble’d Together
Inspiration: Hubble photo of Jupiter
Description: Hubble’d Together is a teal jelly base loaded with holographic micro flakes, unicorn flakes that shift pastel pinks, greens, blues and gold. It’s a glow in the dark too! I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
This is a sheerer shade.
Price: $10.00
No Cap
Lilly Anne’s Garden – Rainbow Galaxy Lotion
Inspiration: Rainbow Galaxy
Description: Misty of Lilly Anne’s Garden heard you all when you said the lotion was too thick for a bottle, and she has switched up to a jar! This 2 oz jar of lotion with a delicious tropical fruit Rainbow Sherbet scent! It has zesty lime, pineapple, orange and raspberry and it’s mellowed out with vanilla.
ingredients: Distilled Water, Emulsifying wax, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol (and) Sorbic Acid, Fragrance.
Price: $5.50
No Cap
LynBDesigns – Simply Crabulous
Inspiration: Crab Nebula
Description: Simply Crabulous is a deep, warm purple crelly base with red to gold to green violet shifting flakes and a touch of holographic shimmer. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $12.00
No Cap
LynBDesigns – Universal Calm Aromatherapy Diffuser
Inspiration: Crab Nebula
Description: This is a personal diffuser/inhaler with a blend of lime, orange, lemon and grapefruit citrus essential oils to make a calming and uplifting aroma. It’s about the size of a lip balm, so it’s easy to carry in a purse or pocket and use when needed.
I’ve been using this a lot this tax season.
Price: $5.50
No Cap
Moon Shine Mani – Ludicrous Speed!
Inspiration: the film Spaceballs
Description: Ludicrous Speed! is a teal base with shimmer that shifts from purple to pink to gold to green, as well as holo flakes and orange to pink to green shifting flakes. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
I did experience a small issue with the holo flecks “balling” up for me in this polish, and I let the maker know. She is swapping out those flakes for another kind – so the polish will still look the same, but shouldn’t have the balling up I had.
Price: $11.00
No Cap
Native War Paints – Nothing’s Gonna Change My World
Inspiration: Across the Universe by The Beatles
Description: Nothing’s Gonna Change My World is an ink blue jelly base packed with blue to violet to red to orange chameleon shimmer, silver holographic micro glitter and scattered holographic. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $11.00
No Cap
Pahlish – The Twisting Nether
Inspiration: the Twisting Nether in the World of Warcraft universe
Description: The Twisting Nether is a bright blue jelly with a mix of holo flakes, red to green pigment, and mixed chameleon flakes . I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Personal geek out moment: I’ve been playing World of Warcraft since I was pregnant with my son. I had extreme morning sickness and couldn’t even drive – so his father suggested I play so I had something to do during the day. This was in September of 2005. I still play regularly. When I saw Shannon based a polish on WoW – I was ecstatic!
For the Horde.
Price: $11.00
No Cap
Poetry Cowgirl Nail Polish – Flammable Sea
Inspiration: Saturn’s moon Titan
Description: Flammable Sea is a seafoam green packed with silver holographic glitters, iridescent chameleon glitters and strong copper shimmer. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
My photos are very warm leaning, but this is a slightly more muted base in person.
Price: $12.00
No Cap
Pretty Jelly – I Am Groot
Inspiration: Baby Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy
Description: I Am Groot is a turquoise green metallic flake polish with holographic flakes and red to orange to gold multichrome flakes sprinkled in. I used 2 coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $11.00
No Cap
Quixotic Polish – To The Moon and Back
Description: To The Moon and Back is a blackened jelly base full of purple, red, blue and green color shifting shimmer accented with green/blue shifting iridescent flakes. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $11.50
No Cap
Sassy Pants Polish – Space Pants
Inspiration:
“Inspired by one of my favorite Saturday Night Live skits, Mafia Meeting. This confrontation between mobsters is interrupted by a singer’s (Peter Dinklage) performance about his “Space Pants”. Special appearance by Gwen Stefani.
Description: Space Pants is a black jelly based scattered holographic loaded with various holographic pigments, micro glitters and shreds, as well as a sprinkling of larger silver holographic hex glitters. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $12.00
Cap: 100 Bottles
Scofflaw Nail Varnish – Life On Mars
Inspiration: David Bowie’s iconic look in the music video
Description: Life On Mars is a burnt red-orange base with scattered holographic and flakes, as well as vivid aqua blue shimmer and microglitters. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Again, my camera picked up a lot of the red aspects of this polish and its slightly more muted in person.
Price: $12.50
No Cap
Shinespark Polish – Maveth
Inspiration: inspired by planet Maveth from agents of SHIELD.
Description: Maveth is a baby blue to cornflower blue to lavender multichrome shifter with a linear holographic and scattered holographic flakes. I used 3 thin coats an a glossy top coat for these photos.
Some of the flakes balled up a little for me. They aren’t super obvious, but if you use thicker coats you might get more of them than I did.
Price: $10.00
Cap: 200 Bottles
Starlight Polish – Fires Of Creation
Inspiration: Fires of Creation
Description: Fires of Creation is a blackened blue base with red to green shifting unicorn pee pigment (original stuff, not the aurora pigment) as well as blue to green shifting shimmer, scattered holographic pigment and flakes, bright blue micro flakes, and iridescent micro glitters. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
The deep blue base was the perfect backdrop for the unicorn pee pigment. In person it really pops!
Price: $18.50
Cap: 350 Bottles
Supermoon Lacquer – Heavenly Bodies of Light
Inspiration: Since my brand already does quite a few space-themed polishes, I really wanted to think outside the box on this one! ‘Heavenly Bodies of Light’ is inspired by NSYNC’s song, ‘Space Cowboy’ from their sophomore album ‘No Strings Attached’ which was released back in 2000. A photograph of them performing the song, as well as video from their HBO concert special at Madison Square Garden, was used when figuring out the color for the polish. NSYNC is, hands down, my favorite boy band – and group in general – of all time. I was definitely one of those fangirls that had her walls plasters in magazine pages that had their photos on them. I was able to see them perform live in concert four times before they disbanded and was also lucky enough to meet and get the autograph of my favorite member, Chris Kirkpatrick.
Description: Heavenly Bodies Of Light is a deep teal based scattered holographic with green to blue to red to purple color shifting shimmer, red and white sparks, red to gold and green to purple aurora pigment, as well as iridescent, silver and gold holographic microglitters. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00
No Cap
Top Shelf Lacquer – Light ’em Up
Inspiration: the view of the Northern Lights from space. Such a unique view of this natural light show.
Description: Light ’em Up is a shifty multichrome polish that shifts from a bright emerald green to turquoise blue with hints of purple. It is loaded with chameleon flakes that shift from pink to orange to green. The base is also scattered with tiny holographic glitter. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00
No Cap
Vibrant Vinyls – Galactic Unicorn Fast & Hard Scented Quick Dry Top Coat
Inspiration:
“inspired by a silly space unicorn that always makes me giggle. I have crafted a brand new scent, exclusive to the Polish Pickup called ‘Galactic Unicorn’.”
Description: This is a quick dry top coat that I quickly fell in love with! I used it for all photos in this post. To me the scent was almost like a tart cotton candy with a hint of apple. It was juicy and delicious! The actual description is: a fun, playful blend of bubblegum, fluffy cotton candy, juicy apples, & pears swirled together with sugared candy lemon drops and rounded out with a hint of Madagascar vanilla.
You can use this top coat over wet or dry polish. I also used it over my Easter Stamping nails and it didn’t smear my stamping (photo below)!
Price: $6.99
Cap: 200 Bottles
Vibrant Vinyls – Galactic Unicorn & Comet Me Bro Strip Me Softly Acetone Additive Duo
Inspiration: a silly space unicorn
Description: Strip Me Softly leaves your skin looking hydrated and quenched after polish removal. Simply add it to pure acetone or any polish remover you like to combat the usual dryness it causes.
With this listing you will receive TWO Acetone Additives (Stripe Me Softly bottles) in the following scents:
‘Galactic Unicorn‘ – A fun, playful blend of bubblegum, fluffy cotton candy, juicy apples, & pears swirled together with sugared candy lemon drops and rounded out with a hint of Madagascar vanilla.
‘Comet Me Bro‘ – This is what I imagine a really attractive male
astronaut might smell like. This fragrance blends fresh greens, warm wind, fresh air, pepper, musk, and oakmoss rounded out with mahogany and water.
You can use these in pure acetone remover OR any remover really. I personally use them in Zoya’s Remove + (Comet Me Bro is in use now) and since trying additives 2 years ago, I never go without them.
INGREDIENTS:
Glycerin – Wonderfully moisturizing for the skin.
Jojoba Oil – Closely resembles skin’s naturally produced sebum. Absorbs quickly, retains moisture, & heals.
Grapeseed Oil – Easily absorbed, light & gentle. Antioxidant & Anti-inflammatory. Nourishing Vitamin E, proteins & minerals. Purified Water – Required for the ingredients to mix with remover. Fragrance Oils
Price: $6.99 for BOTH
Cap: 200 sets
April 2018 Polish Pickup | Across The Universe
WE MADE IT! Well almost – one polish is enroute still, so I’ll add that soon. Hoping USPS releases it tomorrow.
Whew – it was a big month and once again, the makers all brought their A game with some fabulous creations to choose from. I only had minor comments about a couple polishes, overall everything was really wonderful.
Where To Buy: Polish Pickup Shop
Shop Dates: April 6th at 11am EST through April 9th at 11:59pm EST
Shipping Price: $3.00 Within US (regardless of how many you buy!)
The Polish Pickup Shop now has WISHLISTS! If you see things you like, you can go to the shop and start adding to your wishlist! Not everything is up quite yet, but it will be soon.
Make sure you check out the group to see more swatches, and Delanie’s Swatch The Box for live viewing of about 55 of this months polishes!
8 comments
You are amazing. The amount of work you put into this is unreal and yet you have a job and child. I’ve chosen 6 of these from your list but I could pick 20 easily.
Thank you so so much Marcia!
I really like the Scofflaw, CrowsToes and Great Lakes! Hats off to you, this a massive undertaking.
Those are beautiful picks! Thank you Tanya!
Killed it AS USUAL. Thanks again <3
Thank you for your wonderful review! All your manis and photos are spectacular!
My gosh, how can these indie polish companies get any more creative and crazy (but fun!) with themes, colors, inspiration images, formulas, and products????? I just joined the group last month, received my order which delighted me to no end, and have placed my order for April. I’m hoping for more pastels and neons come summer. :D
Wow… I admire you once again. So much work and so beautifully done!
So much to drool over as well…