Emily de Molly Flatline

Emily de Molly Flatline is a light taupe grey ultra holo with strong purple overtones. To be honest, I don't really see taupe or grey, I'd call this light purple. The formula is fantastic and the holo flare is stunning. Flatline is completely opaque in two or three coats. The application is very easy and the polish dries very fast. Flatline is easy to remove and doesn't stain your nails.

For the photos in this post I've applied a thin top coat over two coats of Flatline. Some people say that you shouldn't wear a top coat with linear holographic polishes because top coats make the holographic effect weaker. I've never noticed that, my holos usually look the same after I apply my top coat. My guess is that this has something to do with the thickness of a top coat. Many people like thick top coats, they use it to get that squishy gel look. On the other hand, I prefer very thin top coats so the layer on the top of the holo polish is fine and probably doesn't affect the holo flare too much.

Emily de Molly Crystal Crown

Emily de Molly Crystal Crown is a very pale grey creme holo with gold to green shifting shimmer. The formula is awesome, the application was very easy. The polish is opaque in two or three coats depending on application. Apply two thin coats, if you prefer a sheer look. I applied two coats of Crystal Crown and a top coat for the photo above. The polish dries fast and smooth on the nail.

I adore this one! I thought it to be white, even though pure white holo isn't possible. That's why I purchased Lunar Haze first and was disappointed. Don't get me wrong, Lunar Haze is very beautiful but I expected it to look like Crystal Crown looks in real life. After trying Lunar Haze out I decided that I needed Crystal Crown. And Crystal Crown is exactly the grey holo that I've wanted for a long time!

Emily de Molly Garnet Fire

Emily de Molly Garnet Fire is a dark red with copper/bronze/gold flakies. The formula was thicker than I'd like, and the application wasn't that easy for me. I even had to correct the polish on two fingers with a brush dipped in acetone, and I don't like doing that at all. I don't know, if that's because of pigment, flakies, or thickness but I would certainly try adding nail polish thinner. The color is beautiful, and I liked those flakies, surprisingly, so I'll keep trying to tame Garnet Fire. The polish is high pigmented so you can get away with just one coat. I'd suggest applying two very thin coats to minimize any mishaps. The polish dries fast and smooth on the nails, flakies do not make the surface rough. I still applied a top coat to make the color more vivid.

The pic was taken near a window with just a little hint of sunlight.

Colors by Llarowe Bananas and Krispy Kremes are Better Than HBO

Colors by Llarowe Bananas and Krispy Kremes are Better Than HBO is a bright almost neon green/yellow holographic with yellow and green flame. The formula is pretty nice, and the brush wasn't as bad as in Hot Buttered Rum so the application was more or less easy. This polish dries fast and semi matte. I suggest using a top coat, if you prefer glossy polishes. Bananas and Krispy Kremes are Better Than HBO is completely opaque in two coats but it's possible to apply it in just one coat, if you nails are thin and/or short.

This color is stunning! This polish would stay in my collection, even if it stained my nails and the formula was awful. I love yellow-toned greens very much but I don't have a lot of them in my collection.

Emily de Molly Spell Check

Emily de Molly Spell Check is a dark purple holo with strong pink to gold color shifting shimmer. I haven't seen the gold shift, to be honest. No matter how I twist my hand, all I see is pink. The formula was a little bit thicker than I'd prefer but the application posed no problems. Spell Check is opaque in 1-2 coats depending on application. If you are not going to take macro pics, one coat will be enough in most cases. Spell Check dries super fast. As I was applying this polish, I had a little accident. I thought that everything would be ruined but the polish turned out to be intact, no fingerprints, no dents. Spell Check is magical, both in color and in its properties.

Press 'read more' to see other photos of Spell Check~

Cadillacquer Dream On

Cadillacquer Dream On is part of Summer 2014 Love The Music collection. It's now discontinued but you may find one in a blog sale. Dream On is a green holo with gold shimmer. The formula is similar to that of other Cadillacquer polishes I own. It's too thick for my taste plus the brush is a nightmare. Most people do like this brush, though. I suppose, my nails are just not wide enough. The polish is opaque in two coats and pretty glossy on its own. Dream On dries fast and smooth on the nail. It can be removed easily and doesn't stain your nails. The color is amazing, I adore it. The issue of thickness can be mitigated by using nail polish thinner, if you prefer thin formulas. The brush is the main issue for me. I really like Dream On so I'll try to find a spare brush that fits the bottle.

The photo on the left is taken in natural light on an extremely overcast day. This kind of lighting makes colors appear duller and bluer. The photo on the right is taken in electric lighting. Somehow it made my skin look totally weird but the color of the polish is more or less accurate for that kind of lighting. In real life the polish will probably look darker and less vibrant.

Cadillacquer Wolf Trap

Wolf Trap is a deep green holo with small white and green flakes. I can't say anything of value about the formula. I've tried Dream On, Hiraeth, and Ink before, and they were very thick. Wolf Trap also looked like it had this gooey thick formula when I swatched it on a plastic display so I've added thinner before using Wolf Trap.  And even with the added thinner the polish was much thicker than I prefer. The brush is also awful. It's just too big for my nails. Big brush plus thick formula equals a total mess for me. The polish is opaque in one or two coats depending on the application and dries pretty fast. It's relatively easy to remove the polish given that it has has lots of flakes mixed in.

To tell the truth, I sort of like Cadillacquer. I look at the pictures in the reviews and they are simply breathtaking. Unfortunately, the reality is much more bleak. Wold Trap is supposed to be a holo. I can't see the holographic flare bloggers show in their photos even with all the lights turned on. Wolf Trap doesn't look like those beautiful pictures at all. The same goes for my other 3 Cadillacquer polishes. And if you take into account my troubles with formula and brush, it'll be much better to admire Cadillacquer from afar.

Emily de Molly LE 42

Emily de Molly LE 42 is a purple holo with a strong green to pink color shifting shimmer. The shimmer is quite hard to capture, sadly. You can see the green shift of the shimmer near the highlights. The formula is amazing as always. The polish is completely opaque in one thick coat or two thin ones. I prefer using thin coats to apply shimmery polishes as it reduces brush strokes. The polish doesn't stain and removes easily.

LE 42 is a limited edition polish just like LE 38. It's no longer available for purchase directly from manufacturer but you may find it in blog sales.

Celestial Cosmetics Unicorn Fields

Celestial Cosmetics Unicorn Fields is a rich green linear holo. The formula is quite good, very similar to Electric Sphere. The polish was easy to apply and dried pretty fast, too. I used two coats of Unicorn Fields for full opacity. The color is vibrant and vivid but the polish didn't stain my nails. This is the second Celestial Cosmetics nail polish I've tried, and so far I like them a lot. The formula is not absolutely perfect for me but it's very close. The brush is awesome. I have a feeling that Emily de Molly polishes have the same brush, just the cap is different. I'm looking forward to trying other Celestial polishes.

The photo above was taken on a cloudy day so the colors appear duller than they really are. Please, press 'read more' and check other pics~

Emily de Molly Lunar Haze

Emily de Molly Lunar Haze is a light grey holo with very slight beige undertones and orange overlay. The description on EdM store page says it also contains iridescent purple microflakes but you don't really see them. I magnified the image four times and then I did manage to discern them. The polish has a good formula and applies smoothly on the nail. It is completely opaque in two coats. I've experienced no staining when removing the polish. Overall, Lunar Haze is as good as other EdM holos.

I like this particular shade of grey very much. This grey is also definitely not boring. Even without light there is a slight holo flare plus that orange overlay looks wonderful in the shade. 

Press 'read more' for other photos~

Colors by Llarowe Last Harvest

Last Harvest is an emerald green linear holo. The formula is pretty nice, the application was super-easy. It's also non-staining which was a relief after the Gemini Rising experience. The polish is completely opaque in two coats. You can probably get away with one thicker coat but the color won't be as vivid then.

I really liked Last Harvest. It wasn't as thick as Hot Buttered Rum so I had no issues at all. The brush in Last Harvest was also fine unlike brushes in some CbL polishes I owned. I had to de-stash those polishes without trying them out because the brush was an unmitigated disaster. I feel that the overall quality of Colors by Llarowe polishes is somewhat irregular. I adore the colors but not knowing what to expect is a big no for me. I have five CbL polishes now and I don't think this number will grow anytime soon.

My camera still objects to working properly and I'm trying to make it work. In the meantime, I'll be mostly posting just one photo per post. 

Dance Legend Aviator

Dance Legend Aviator is a blue holographic jelly from the Sparky collection that was released about a year ago. The formula was disappointing, I expected more from a jelly. The polish was very thick and tricky to apply. I think I've read about some manufacturing error resulting in caps being not tight enough. This could be it, I guess. I am also not a big fan of Dance Legend brush, it's super weird and somewhat crooked. 

For the photo above I used two thick coats of Aviator. The color looks rich and deep because the coats were extremely thick. If Aviator was as thin as other polishes from Sparky collection that I own, you'd probably get this look with three to four coats. The polish dries fast and smooth on the nail. Aviator is very pigmented but it didn't stain my nails. I really like the color and the holographic particles but I think I'm going to de-stash it.

Emily de Molly Scorched Earth

Scorched Earth is a burned orange linear holographic polish with gold shimmer. The formula is nice and smooth. The polish is completely opaque in two coats. With a suitable base coat and one coat of the polish, the coverage is also even but a bit sheer. Scorched Earth dries fast and smooth on the nails. I had no issues with staining both times I wore this polish.

This color is amazing! I'm usually very wary of reddish or pinkish colors as they can make my fingers look weird. I even stopped trying to find a pink polish that will look good. The best thing about Scorched Earth is that it is between red and orange so my issue with odd skin coloration is not as strong. And the color is so bright and vivid, I adore it!

Press 'read more' to see other photos~

Emily de Molly Perfect Oasis

Perfect Oasis is a blue linear holo with purple undertones. Those purple undertones are pretty visible on the photo above. I managed to catch the bright blue side of Perfect Oasis on the macro photos that can be found, if you press the 'Read more' link. The formula is similar to other Emily de Molly holographic polishes, I adore it. The polish is completely opaque in two thin coats. It dries fast and smooth on the nail, you'll have no issues with removing it. 

The color is so stunning, I'm very sad that my camera can't capture it. The photo above is how the polish looks in the shade even though it was taken under white electric lighting. The photos turned out to be too red. The first two macro photos show what you can expect from Perfect Oasis in bright lights or in the direct sunlight. And then there's another macro shot in the natural lighting. I got carried away a bit, I guess.

Press ' read more' to see other photos~

Colors by Llarowe Hot Buttered Rum

Hot Buttered Rum is a nude scattered glow holo with golden yellow flame. The formula was extremely thick. Maybe, I was just unlucky because I've seen reviews mentioning three thin coats. Well, with Hot Buttered Rum that I received you won't be able to manage that. The application was hell. The brush was bigger than my nails with all the polish stuck in it. One coat is more than enough because the polish is just so thick. It's also pretty lumpy and doesn't even out. Orly Sec'n Dry, the top coat I use, helped a lot because of its hard brush that sort of goes through the upper layer of the polish and forces it apart. This can be annoying with jellies like last week's Gothic Veil but with metallic or thick polishes it can be an amazing tool.

The polish took a very long time to become completely dry. That is also because of its thickness. Not a very flattering color for me also. In the white electric lights as seen on the left photo it looks nice but in a darker or warmer environment it looks dirty. This whole polish is so frustrating. I own a total of seven different CbL polishes, I've tried two of them so far. I think I'm done with this brand, it's obviously not a very good choice for me. I'll review the other five polishes, of course.

The photo in the right is a macro that I've taken with my phone and a clip-on lens. I do not have a DSLR camera, so I couldn't take those beautiful close-up photos where you can see all the glitters. The camera I have is very simple, it just doesn't do that. Thankfully, you can buy a set of clip-on lenses for your phone that more or less work. I'm pretty happy with this first macro tryout~

Dance Legend Gothic Veil

Gothic Veil is black jelly with holographic flakies that is a part of the Wow Prism series. I adore almost every Wow Prism polish. The formula is very thin, I just love it. For me it is very easy to apply the polish close to the cuticle. If you are not so sure about formulas that are this thin, you should try to apply your first coat as thin as possible. Thus you'll minimize the probability of staining the cuticle. The polish is opaque in two thin coats or in one thick coat. I've tried applying Gothic Veil in one coat for my right hand, and it worked perfectly. But, again, I don't advise you to try it, unless you are sure that you can manage it with this thin formula.

The polish dries fast and smooth on the nail. It does contain holo flakies but they are not glitter-like. The are easy to remove and don't stick to your nails. Perfectly safe to use. Be sure to completely dry the polish before applying any top coat or apply it very gently. I rushed it and you can see on the photos how the top coat brush made the polish uneven.

The left photo was taken with a camera, the right one was taken with a mobile phone. White balance is a nightmare~

Emily de Molly Viridescent

Viridescent is a light green linear holo with golden sheen. The formula is a bit thicker than usual but that's expected because Viridescent is a creme polish and not a jelly. For a pastel creme, it is very easy to apply. It's completely opaque in two thin coats. The holo isn't exactly strong. Most of the time I don't really see the holographic effect. In my opinion, it looks more like shimmer. In the direct sunlight or under bright electric light you, of course, will see the linear holo. The polish didn't stain and was easy to remove.

The left photo is taken under electric lights. The right one is taken in the shade.

Colors by Llarowe Gemini Rising

Gemini Rising is a very bright green linear holo. The color is stunning, amazing, gorgeous, and all those other similar adjectives you can find with the help of thesaurus. Definitely the best green color in my collection. The formula is thick but manageable and it is possible to apply this polish in just one coat. I've applied two coats for extra saturation. I wore this polish for a week, and nothing happened to it at all. I mean, literally nothing, it stayed where it was. That's an impressive durability for a holographic polish.

So where's the catch? Gemini Rising stains like hell. The stains are bright yellow and they stay with you. I've tried a nail polish remover without acetone, then the polish remover with acetone. I've tried citric acid. I've tried toothpaste just for the sake of it. Awful. My nails are yellow on their own because I always use colored nail polish. But never have I ever gotten such vivid stains.

The Colors by Llarowe brush is another point worth mentioning. As for me, it's even more terrifying that those lemony stains. The brush is gigantic, and my nails are pretty small and curved. The brush in Gemini Rising was more or less okay, but in my other CbL... well, I wouldn't call it a brush. Witch's broom, that's what it was. Perfectly round brush with a diameter of more than a half cm. That's bigger than my thumb nail!

As usual, press 'read more' for more photos~

Emily de Molly Land of Confusion

Emily de Molly Land of Confusion is a light green strong linear holo. The formula is great, I've applied the polish in two coats. The polish dries fast and smooth on the nail. I've experienced no staining. 

I suppose, you could you apply more coats to make Land of Confusion appear brighter and more saturated. As for two pretty thin coats, the color is subtle. Maybe, that's the difference between batches. Emily de Molly polishes are hand-mixed and most swatches I've seen are of the version from 2-3 years ago, while I've bought mine a month ago. Or, maybe, the pigment faded. To be honest, I like that vivid old version better, there's no way I could ever get that color with my version of Land of Confusion.

Press 'read more' for other photos~

A-England Dragon

A-England Dragon is medium green scattered holo. This shade of green is simply gorgeous! The formula is awesome, it's super-easy to apply Dragon in just one coat. The polish is fast-drying and smooth. I've experienced no staining or any difficulty with removing the polish in all three years of owning Dragon.

Dragon is one of oldest and most treasured polishes in my collection. The shade of green is stunning! It's soft, not too light or too dark, with the occasional golden holo flash. I have one word for it, perfection. Press 'read more' to see two more photos~