Happy Sunday! I was actually a bit early this month with the Hella Handmade Creations August 2025 video, and now I’m getting the post up before the shop opens too! Miracles do happen!
We have 30 items to share this month! Check out my YouTube video to see them all swatched/demonstrated!
For the fine details, I do use Apres Gel X Nails in Extra Short Stiletto which are clear nails. I do not use blurring base coats or anything to increase opacity of the nails – and it shows during my YouTube videos especially. With the clear nails, if you can see through the tip still – then odds are you will also see VNL through the polish I have on. If you cannot see through them, then opacity was likely reached.
I did get a new camera at the end of March – so I’m still learning it’s quirks. We didn’t go super fancy – but fancy for me. I had a trusty Nikon L830 for 10 years and I am now using a Nikon Z30. It’s all new territory – so if you see a weird blur spot or .. anything – I’m working on it.
I work during the day in a medical office, and on weekends I enjoy day time shenanigans with my son – so most of my swatching is done at night in studio lighting.
I used a latex base coat for all of these photos that I bottle myself, and for the glossy photos I did Monarch Lacquer Hi-Def Shine Top coat (sent as PR and I’ve also purchased.. and that’s an affiliate link). For all textured polishes, I did use Glisten & Glow Glitter Grabber (PR) and Monarch Lacquer top coat over it.
For my lighting setup, since I use artificial lighting due to my day job, involves 2 Neatfi XL Lamps from Amazon (affiliate link) as well as this Daylight Company Duo Daylight Lamp (affiliate link).
Let’s jump on in and take a look.
1422 Designs | People Hearing Without Listening
Theme: 1422 Designs continues their ‘Music with a Message’ series with a polish inspired by “The Sounds of Silence” – by Simon & Garfunkel.
Description: People Hearing Without Listening is an orchid jelly base packed with purple to pink to gold shifting shimmer and holo silver flakes.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 100
Alchemy Lacquers | Water Lily
Theme: Alchemy Lacquers continues their ‘Barbie Dolls’ series with the 5th polish in the series. “The Water Lily Barbie is a stunning doll inspired by Claudet Monet’s famous series of “Water Lilies” artworks and it’s one of my most favorite dolls.”
Description: Water Lily is a periwinkle crelly base with orange to gold to green to blue shifting iridescent flakes.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 200
All Mixed Up Lacquers | Heart of Gold, Mouth of a Sailor
Theme: All Mixed Up Lacquers continues their ‘Positively Sarcastic’ series!
Description: Heart of Gold, Mouth of a Sailor is a soft, dusty taupeish grey jelly base with intense pink to gold shimmer shift in different lighting and angles.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 300
Arcana Lacquer | Domestic Witchery
Theme: Arcana Lacquer continues their ‘Cozy Gaming’ series with a polish inspired by magic that helps with domestic tasks such as cooking, gardening, and cleaning!
Description: Domestic Witchery is a light lavender base with blue/green/purple shimmers and micro holo flakes.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 120
BCB Lacquers | This Mask Is My Badge
Theme: BCB Lacquers continues their ‘The Spiderverse’ series with the second polish inspired by Gwen Stacy-Ghost!
Description: This Mask Is My Badge is a purple base with a purple/blue shifting shimmer and a red/orange/gold magnetic pull.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
I used a velvet magnet on the index and pinky nails, and catseye magnet on middle and ring nails.
Price: $13.75 | Cap: 300
BCB Lacquers | Cuticle Oil in ‘You Want In?’
Theme: BCB Lacquers continues their ‘The Spiderverse’ series with a cuticle oil inspired by Gwen Stacy-Ghost!
Description: “You Want In?” Cuticle Oil has scent notes of: Greens, Cassis Leaves, Violet and Aloe Vera.
Oil is in a 6mL click pen container with a TWIST off cap.
To my nose – this is a sharper floral scent.. like white floral. Its pleasant, but not the “sweet” floral I think I’ve grown used to with BCB cuticle oils.
Price: $8.50 | Cap: 100
Cracked Polish | Nonsensical World
Theme: Tumble headfirst into a dreamy haze of soft lilac and shimmering blue. Nonsensical World is your invitation to fall in love with indie polish all over again. This is the last month of our Indie Polish Rabbit Hole theme. Inspired by that giddy spiral of discovering mesmerizing finishes, magic, and uplifiting and encouraging creators. This shade captures the wonder of finding your people (and your polish obsession). Don’t miss your chance to chase the shimmer down the rabbit hole.
Description: Nonsensical World is a soft, dusky greyed out lilac crelly base with blue shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 350
Cuticula | Closest Thing We Have to Magic
Theme: Cuticula continues their ‘Books to TV or Series’ theme with a polish inspired by Aquamarine!
Description: Closest Thing We Have To Magic is an aqua base with aqua/blue/green iridescent flakes and a scattering of green sparkly shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: None
Cuticula | Trident of Neptune (Encore)
Theme: For their Encore, Cuticula has chosen a polish from 2020, inspired by Aquaman!
Description: Trident of Neptune is a deep blackened plum crelly base with aqua and gold metallic flakes.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: None
Dam Nail Polish | We Are Hunters
Theme: Dam Nail Polish begins a new series inspired by the movie, ‘KPop Demon Hunters!’
Description: We Are Hunters is a purple jelly base with pink/gold/green shifting shimmer and a mix of silver and light blue reflective glitters.
I used 3 thin coats, glitter smoother and a glossy top coat for these photos.
The base is slightly darker than my photos show.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 300
Hearts & Promises | Malachite
Theme: Hearts & Promises continues their ‘Crystals & Gemstones’ series
Description: Malachite is a deep emerald green jelly based linear holo.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 200
Indie Polish by Patty Lopes | Turbulence Burning
Theme: Indie Polish by Patty Lopes wraps up their ‘Famous Painters’ series with polishes inspired by Salvador Dali’s “The Burning Giraffe!”
Description: Turbulence Burning is a blurple jelly base with blue/purple aurora shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 100
Indie Polish by Patty Lopes | Giraffe
Theme: Indie Polish by Patty Lopes wraps up their ‘Famous Painters’ series with polishes inspired by Salvador Dali’s “The Burning Giraffe!”
Description: Giraffe is a clear based topper with a mix of iridescent flakes that shift violet to blue to green, as well as multichrome flakes that shift gold to copper to bronze.
I used 1 coat over Turbulence Burning and a glossy top coat for these photos. Final photo shows 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 100
Jen & Berries | The Showstopper
Theme: Jen & Berries wraps up their ‘Great Britist Baking Show’ series with a polish loosely inspired by a Galaxy mousse cake Showstopper!
Description: The Showstopper is a cornflower blue jelly base with pink/gold and blue/green large particle shimmer and scattered holographic flake sparkle.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.75 | Cap: 350
Lurid Lacquer | Sartorial Dilemmas of the Winged Male
Theme: Lurid Lacquer continues their ‘A Court of Tropes and Cliches’ series inspired by the age old question: how the heck do those winged hotties put their shirts on?
Description: Sartorial Dilemmas of the Winged Male is a bright blue base with large particle aurora shimmer that shifts from blue to purple and silver light reflective glitter.
I used 3 thin coats and 2 coats of glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $14.50 | Cap: 750
LynBDesigns | You Go Gill!
Theme: LynB Designs continues their ‘Virtual Aquarium’ series with a polish inspired by the Annularis Angelfish!
Description: You Go Gill has a deep rusty red base with blue to purple shifting shimmer and added holo sparkle.
While the base is described as rusty red, it looked very violet to my eye with all the shimmers and holo packed within.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 150
Moon Shine Mani | Mushu
Theme: Moon Shine Mani continues their ‘Dragons’ series with a polish inspired by Mushu from Mulan!
Description: Mushu is a violet jelly base with red/orange/gold/green shimmer, multichrome flakes and gold flakes.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 200
Nailed It! Nail Polish | I’ll Show You Lightning
Theme: Nailed It! Nail Polish continues their ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ series with a polish inspired by Azula!
Description: I’ll Show You Lightning is a deep maroon jelly base with blue to purple magnetic pigment and a strong red to gold shifting shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
I used a velvet magnet on the index and pinky nails, and catseye magnet on middle and ring nails.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 300
Pahlish | Marnie’s Ranch
Theme: Pahlish continues their ‘Stardew Valley’ series with a polish inspired by Marnie’s Ranch!
Description: Marnie’s Ranch is described as a neon red jelly base packed with copper to pink to green shifting iridescent flakes.
On me this is more of a red leaning orange neon base. It’s a bit redder in person than my photos show
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $14.00 | Cap: None
Pampered Polishes | Lock You In My Fungeon
Theme: Pampered Polishes continues their ‘Wreck It Ralph’ series with a polish inspired by King Candy!
Description: Lock You In My Fungeon is a sheer maroon jelly with gold flakes, silver holo, and gold holo.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: None
Penelope Luz | Wisteria
Theme: Penelope Luz continues their ‘Flower Symphony’ series with polishes inspired by wisteria!
Description: Wisteria is a purple jelly base with lilac magnetic pigment.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
I used a velvet magnet on the index and pinky nails, and catseye magnet on middle and ring nails.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 300
Penelope Luz | Sinensis
Theme: Penelope Luz continues their ‘Flower Symphony’ series with polishes inspired by wisteria!
Description: Sinensis iss red/gold aurora pigment topper with micro silver holo glitters.
I used 1 coat over Wisteria for these photos. Final photo shows 3 thin coats alone.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 200
Psyche Minerals | Purple Crayon
Theme: Psyche Minerals continues their ‘Children’s Books’ series with a polish inspired by Harold and the Purple Crayon!
Description: Purple Crayon is a purple jelly base with a magnetic multichrome pigment that shifts between green to blue to violet to pink with purple reflective glitter.
I used 3 thin coats, glitter smoother and a glossy top coat for these photos.
I used a velvet magnet on the index and pinky nails, and catseye magnet on middle and ring nails.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 275
Red Eyed Lacquer | Acetone Antidote in “Donphan”
Theme: Red Eyed Lacquer brings us their Acetone Antidote this month!
Description: Acetone Additive is an additive for your remover to protect your skin from the harshness of acetone. It contains oils to help protect and moisturize your nails, skin, and cuticles during polish removal. Plus, no more ashy, dry skin! Simply shake up the vial and squeeze into your polish remover. I generally add more than usual due to my remover usage with swatching, but I recommend shaking it and pouring 1/4 of the vial in and adding more if you feel you need more.
Scented in custom blend of creamy coconut and watermelon.
Ingredients: Distilled Water, Marula Oil, Argan Oil, Polysorbate 20, Fragrance
Price: $8.00 | Cap: 50
Red Eyed Lacquer | Donphan
Theme: Red Eyed Lacquer continues their ‘Pokemon’ series with a polish inspired by Donphan!
Description: Donphan is a medium-dark grey crelly with a pink/red/gold shifting shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $12.50 | Cap: 100
Rogue Lacquer | Llama Face
Theme: Rogue Lacquer continues their ‘Emperor’s New Groove’ series!
Description: Llama Face is a sandy tan crelly base with gold pink orange shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: None
Sassy Sauce Polish | The Wetter the Better
Theme: Sassy Sauce Polish continues their ‘Shoes’ series with a polish inspired by a photo of a mermaid shoe!
Description: The Wetter the Better is a green to aqua to blue shimmer base with purple reflective glitters and holo dust and blue black UCC flakes.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 300
Wicked Lacquer | The Swing Ride
Theme: ‘Carnival of Chaos,’ with the first polish inspired by swing rides! From the maker: “As I reach 50 this year I look back on my fears and things I didn’t do in my younger years. My first theme touches on Carnivals. While my friends were having fun I was the one that was solid on the ground. These Rides screamed death trap to me! Now I look back and wonder maybe they’re not that bad?!”
Description: Swing Ride is a blue jelly base with holo and fun carnival colored glitters.
I used 2 thin coats and 1 thicker coat, glitter smoother and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 100
Witchcult Nail Lacquer | Tangy
Theme: Witchcult Nail Lacquer continues their ‘Animal Crossing’ series with a polish inspired by the villager, Tangy!
Description: Tangy is a tangerine crelly base with a green/gold shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 100
Zombie Claw | Rotten to the Core
Theme: Zombie Claw continues their ‘Zombie’ series with a polish inspired by a grungy vibe for a zombie!
Description: Rotten to the Core us a warm brown jelly base with electric red-gold shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.75 | Cap: 100
Hella Handmade Creations | August 2025
Lots of purple tones again – which I love… but I do like the mix of goodies this month!
Shop Opens: August 14th at 12:01 EST | Shop Closes: August 21st at 11:59 HST
Where To Buy: Hella Handmade Creations Shop
Thanks for looking, and don’t miss the video!
