Press Samples for Hella Handmade Creations
January 2021

I’m still not used to typing out 2021. I know we’re not even 2 weeks into the new year but it already feels like it’s been a month and I’m exhausted. I’m trying to get a lot done this week because this Saturday I get my first dose of the Covid vaccine and I don’t know how I’m going to feel afterward. Since I do work in a medical office now, we got approval and here we are.

Anyways, that’s my new news… let’s move onto why you’re here – I have 11 polishes from the Hella Handmade Creations January 2021 shop to share with you!

I see a bit of a color scheme going on here.

Okay so my nails are still short. That will change soon, but right now they are still filed shorter than usual, the middle nail is still a dip powder/gel hybrid (almost grown out!) and man does my skin wrinkle a bit when it’s chilly.

For the fine details – for all photos shown – I used Vapid Lacquer Commitment Issues Peel Off Base, Atomic Polish Quick Dry Top Coat  and Atomic Polish Matte Top Coat. I purchased the Vapid Lacquer Commitment Issues, but the Atomic Polish Top Coats were both gifted to me in a swatcher pack with no expectations of a review or feature.

I do use artificial lighting for my photos. I get the most done at night, so I swatch a lot at night. My current setup uses GlamCor Pro LIghts and I use the Ultra X Model and this Daylight Company Duo Daylight Lamp (affiliate link).

I’m actually a few days early with these photos (I know.. I was shocked too) but let’s jump in and see what we’ve got! I will be showing them all with glossy and matte top coat.

Black Dahlia Lacquer | Starman

Theme: David Bowie

Description: Starman is a medium, dusty indigo crelly base with metallic green micro fleck shimmer that shifts blue to purple. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.

In person this shade has a “dustier” appearance and is a touch more grayed out.

Price: 11.50 | Cap: None

By Dany Vianna | City of Stars

Theme: Mix Tape Series

Description: City of Stars is a deep blue crelly base loaded with micro glitters in gold, red and blue, as well as holographic flecks. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.

Price: $12.00 | Cap: 100

Cuticula | Shatter Me

Theme: Lindsey Stirling

Description: Shatter Me is a slightly lavender tinged charcoal crelly base with iridescent pink to orange shifting flakes, silver flakes and rose gold flakes. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.

Dries down with a mild texture. I used 1 coat of top coat to smooth, but you might need 2 coats depending on on the thickness of your top coat.

Price: $12.50 | Cap: None

Esmaltes da Kelly | City Lights

Theme: Brazil

Description: City Lights is a topper with iridescent flakes, as well as gold, green and galaxy gold glitter. I used 1 coat over Fancy Gloss Got Milk? for these photos.

At the time of swatching I had a brain fart. This is a set with EDK Rio de Janeiro (which will be shown next since you can also get it alone) so keep in mind, both EDK’s shown in this post can come in a set.

Price: $22.00 | Cap: 100 Sets

Esmaltes da Kelly | Rio de Janeiro

Theme: Brazil

Description: Rio de Janeiro is a warm purple jelly base with holographic glitters ranging from micro to medium. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.

Dries with a light texture, may need 2 coats of top coat for a smooth finish depending on how much glitter you pull up.

You will be able to buy this shade separately or as a duo with City Lights.

Price: $11.00 | Cap: 100

Great Lakes Lacquer | Agni Kai

Theme: Avatar the Last Airbender series

Description: Agni Kai is a slightly orange leaning red jelly base loaded with copper to gold to green to aqua shifting iridescent flakes, as well as matching shimmer. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.

In person this is a slightly softer red.

Price: $13.00 | Cap: None

Heather’s Hues | Blessed Be The Fruit (Thermal)

Theme: A Handmaid’s Tale

Description: Blessed Be The Fruit is the first shade in Heather’s Hues new series! This is deep, warm brown (cold) to bright orange leaning red (warm) thermal base with scattered holo and red to pink micro flecks added in. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.

Price: $12.50 | Cap: None

LynBDesigns | Dinna Fash

Theme: Outlander

Description: Dinna Fash is a soft bronze jelly based multichrome with green to pink to purple shimmery shifts and a subtle linear holo effect and a light sprinkling of holo flecks. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.

The shimmer shift is more obvious in person, but it has a soft transition. The green in my photos is intensified a little due to my lighting, but overall this is a nice shade that falls into the neutral with oomph category for me.

Price: $13.00 | Cap: 100

Pampered Polishes | Erotic Friend Fiction

Theme: Bob’s Burgers

Description: Erotic Friend Fiction is a deep, inky blue jelly base with pink to green to gold aurora shimmer, holo flakes, and holo micro bar glitter. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.

This is a well done shade that is more beautiful in person. The bar glitters give it a nice sparkle effect that isn’t too loud and perfectly compliments the inky blue base.

Price: $12.50 | Cap: None

Penelope Luz | Merlin

Theme: King Arthur

Description: Merlin is a deep blue jelly base with iridescent flakes that shift green to blue to pink to orange. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.

2 coats was almost enough for this, and if I didn’t do thin coats it might have been – however the depth achieved with 3 was totally worth it.

Price: $13.00 | Cap: 200

Red Eyed Lacquer | They Have 9 Kids

Inspiration: Sandlot

Description: They Have 9 Kids is a magenta leaning red jelly base with silver to blue shifting iridescent flakes. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.

In person this is about 2 shades deeper. Jelly base + swatcher lighting = lightened up shade when light passes through it.

It’s amazing matte though – both ways is beautiful but matte is amazing.

Price: $12.50 | Cap: 100

Hella Handmade Creations | January 2021

Overall it’s a cool toned month for me. There are a couple warmer shades sprinkled in, but blues and flakes win.

I didn’t have any application issues with any of the polishes provided. Also – they all looked pretty snazzy with matte top coat.

Available: January 14th at 12:01 am EST until January 21st at 11:59 pm HST (Hawaii Standard Time)

Where To Buy: Hella Handmade Creations Shop

The site has been up for viewing, so you can head on over there and see what else is being offered this month!

Will you be grabbing anything this month?