Top 5 Indies: The Browns

*Some of these polishes were Press Samples

Top 5 Indie Polishes: The Browns

It's meeeeeee! I will be back in the swing of things fully by July 18th (my fiber optics gets installed finally and I will actually be able to access the blog without sticking out my tongue, holding one arm up, closing one eye and hopping on one leg to make this super slow temporary WiFi work. And the only reason I could do this post is because I'm pulling swatch photos I'd already done. Making any cropping and watermarking photo program work on this WiFi is a joke. So, Warning: Varying Nail Lengths Ahead.

For now, I'm quite a sight as I attempt to show you my top 5 favorite brown indie polishes. I'm doing a link-up with several other bloggers and the prompt is "Top 5 Indies" - well you know me, I can't possibly pick FIVE indies. I tried doing 5 all-time favorites ever, 5 by one brand, 5 just released this year, nothing was narrowing my choices down to under 10. So I finally decided to pick my top 5 favorite browns - not all of them DO browns. There's really a serious shortage of brown polish all up in the nail world in my opinion so this will be easy. Ha. I was still only able to narrow it to 7. And that was hard.

I will leave the link to my original post for each one so you can check out availability and formula etc. if you want.

So meet me after the jump...

Literary Lacquers: Limited Edition Fundraiser Polish - Luggage for Your Journey

Press Sample

  Fundraiser Polish 

*This product is Cruelty Free 

♥

Sir Terry Pratchett Inspires Limited Edition Nail Polish as Fundraiser 

for Alzheimer's Research UK.

The polish will be sold as a pre-order only 

from October 10, 2014 through October 17, 2014.

Literary Lacquers

Luggage for Your Journey

Continued after the jump...

Darling Diva CUSTOM - You're Grounded!

Custom

 *This product is Cruelty Free 

♥

Today I have a gorgeous custom polish Carrie over at Darling Diva made for me to celebrate 3 Million pageviews on Pointless Cafe! It's called You're Grounded! Which is perfect. It's a coffee shade. Get it? Grounded? (hehehe)

I will be having a giveaway soon of a few bottles of this and a VERY limited amount may or may not show up as VERY LE on her shop site.

Darling Diva Polish

You're Grounded!

I. Can't. Even.

Continued after the jump...

Zoya Naturel Deux (2) Collection - Swatches, Review and Some Nail Art

Press Sample 

*These products are Cruelty Free 

♥

Remember when I said the Zoya Naturel Collection was one of my favorites Zoya ever did just because they're awesome neutral-ish cremes? Well they've taken it a step further with the release of the Zoya Naturel Deux (2) Collection!

Zoya Naturel 2 Collection

These are a bit darker than the first Naturel Collection and just perfect for my skin tone even though a couple of them are warm shades. These are meant to transition from late summer to early fall.

Before I swatched them though I had to play around with them a bit! So I did a toothpick marble. Naturally.

I used Emilia, Spencer and Aubrey with a coat of top coat.

Swatches and Review after the jump...

6 Hart Polish: Bad Bad Lulu Brown and Mountain Nights - Swatches and Review

Press Sample 

*This product is Cruelty Free 

♥

6 Harts Polish

Bad Bad Lulu Brown & Mountain Nights

Tonight I'm especially happy to be showing you two polishes I got to see manifest from pea-sized ideas to fruition and I have to say they both turned out better than I expected. And I know Courtney and was expecting bottles of gorgeous already. She really outdid herself on these two.

Bad Bad Lulu Brown was made for a mutual friend and brown-lover and Mountain Nights was inspired by a photograph of Courtney's beautiful Montana sky. I think she captured it perfectly.

Continued after the jump...

Chirality Polish: Wraith

Nothing to Disclose

*This product is Cruelty Free 

♥

Chirality Polish

Wraith

Wraith is from the Ghosts of Chirality Collection and it's a warm-toned brown loose linear holo with a bit of purple/red in the base. This one was on my wish list because I adore browns and this one really stood out to me. And as with every Chirality polish I own, the formula was amazing. Two coats and no top coat for the photos. No issues to report at all. Creamy and smooth.

This was one of the lovely polishes from my wishlist that I received in a Secret Spring Swap. ♥

Swatches after the jump...

Above the Curve Valentine's Day Collection 2014: You Java Me Crazy

Press Sample 

*These products are Cruelty Free 

♥

Above the Curve 

Valentine's Day Collection 2014

I know this is a bit later than I wanted it to be, but this collection (for Valentine's Day) from Above the Curve is just lovely and I think the polishes work all year as well as for Valentine's Day. Plus they're still available in their shop. So I have swatches for you!

There are lots of photos, so except for the collage above, I'm splitting up the post.

To see Truly, Madly, Deeply and Circle of Love click here.
To see All You Need is Love Wine click here.

Continued after the jump...

piCture pOlish Bewitch - Swatches and Review

Nothing to Disclose

*This product is Cruelty Free 

♥

piCture pOlish

Bewitch

piCture pOlish Bewitch by Aire the Obsessed is, at first glance, a brown. No, an aubergine. No wait! It's so complex! It actually is a purple jelly base loaded with shimmer and micro-flakes. The generous helping of golden shimmer cast a gorgeous brown tint. There are bits of copper, lavender and even teal micro-flakes...and if you don't believe me, check out the macro at the end!

Continued after the jump...

Girly Bits: Flowers in Your Hair - Swatches and Review

Press Sample 

*This product is Cruelty Free 

♥

Girly Bits

Flowers in Your Hair

Flowers in Your Hair is part of Girly Bits' Concert Series - inspired by The Lumineers - and it's brand new (released November 6, 2013)!

Continued after the jump...

Femme Fatale Holographics: Deepstone - Swatches and Review

Press Sample 

*This product is Cruelty Free

♥

Tonight continues a 10 polish series starring holographic polishes from Femme Fatale Cosmetics and I can't tell you how excited I am about this! If you've been reading long, you already know I love holos. But these aren't "just" holos...they're more complex than that.

Tonight I'm showing you Deepstone.

Femme Fatale Deepstone

Continued after the jump...

Nail of the Day: Above the Curve Friday the 13th

Nothing to Disclose 

*This product is Cruelty Free 

♥

I'll just apologize in advance for showing this one since it was a One Day Only polish from Above the Curve - on Friday the 13th. And it's aptly named Friday the 13th!

Continued after the jump...

Drop and Run Swatch - Sinful Colors Leather Loose

Nothing to Disclose  

*This brand is now owned by Revlon

who is no longer Cruelty Free

Quick drop and run swatches of Sinful Colors Leather Loose, one of the new Leather Luxe Collection...with and without top coat.

NOTE: these do not like Poshe top coat - I will need to try a plain top coat. It sort of "wrinkles" after it dries.

This is what it did...

If you enjoyed this post, please take a second to "like" it! Thanks!

.

Dior Galaxie #992 - Swatches and Review

Nothing to Disclose

*This product may not be Cruelty Free 

♥

Tonight I have one more new Dior polish for you. This time it's Dior Galaxie #992, which is one of 3 new polishes in the Mystic Metallics Collection for Fall 2013.

The other two, Destin (taupe metallic) and Mystic Magnetics (teal green magnetic), haven't made it to me yet. These are the types I need to see in person. Pretty sure I'll get Destin and pretty sure I won't get Mystic Magnetics (if that's for sure the name) but I've surprised myself before.

Galaxie #992 is a deep, rich raisin shimmer. The shimmer is clearly visible on the nail in most lighting, but in the shade at arm's length, it just looks like a purple-toned brown creme. The formula and application were perfect. No issues to report at all and if I had to run out of the house in a hurry, I feel like I could get by with one coat but it's best with two coats and a top coat. All photos are with two coats - some with top coat (Poshe) and some without.

Continued after the jump...

piCture pOlish Demeter - Swatches and Review

Nothing to Disclose 

*This product is Cruelty Free 

♥

Tonight, as I await the arrival of the new piCture pOlish Collaboration shades to wing their way to me, I thought I'd show you what may be my favorite piCture pOlish to date - Demeter.

Katie over at Harlow & Co. created this shade with the gals at piCture pOlish last year and it's just STUNNING.

More photos and my review after the jump...

a-England Briarwood

Nothing to Disclose 

*This product is Cruelty Free 

♥

Tonight I have the 5th polish in the Burne-Jones Dream Collection - Briarwood. To see the other four in the collection see my Burne-Jones Dream Collection post here.

Briarwood is described as a deep, vampy red scattered holo polish. While I definitely see the red undertones, this one appears more brown to me. It's a warm, coppery brown scattered holographic with red undertones to my eye.  The red definitely comes out more in artificial lighting.

a-England Briarwood

Continued after the jump...

Nail of the Day: Chanel Particulière #505

Personal Collection

*I don't believe this product to be Cruelty Free 

♥

I'll leave you tonight with a quick Nail of the Day post on a polish I've had for quite a while. It was recently pointed out to me that I've used over half a bottle of this polish and never done a proper post on it - just it. I've included it in a few comparison posts so I didn't even realize! Since it's part of the permanent collection and widely available, I thought I'd give it a quick shout-out tonight.

Particulière is a grey-based taupy brown creme and it's one of my favorite polishes ever. Perfect formula, although I sort of bunged it up a little with my top coat tonight. Bah! Still gorgeous though.

Chanel Particulière

Chanel Particulière

Chanel Particulière

Do you have this one yet? It's been out a few years. If not. GO!

♥

If you enjoyed this post, please take a second to "like" it! Thanks!

.

Emily de Molly Ground Control - Swatches and Review

Press Sample 

*This product is Cruelty Free 

♥

What better way to perk up a Monday than with a linear holo? I have another great linear holo from Emily de Molly to show you! Ground Control.

Emily de Molly - Ground Control

Ground Control is described by the maker as follows:

"Ground Control" is a 3 free hand-blended, custom nail polish. 
(Toluene, Formaldehyde and DBP Free)

BASE - Medium brown with grey undertones
GLITTER - N/A
OPAQUE - in 2-3 coats depending on application.

I love browns, so of course I loved it right away. The formula and application was fantastic and I have no issues at all to report. Smooth and creamy. I've used NO base coat, only 2 coats of color and no top coat for the photos. (Note: Poshe top coat didn't diminish the holographic properties at all.)

Continued after the jump...

Colors by Llarowe - Burnt Sugar

Press Sample 

*This product is Cruelty Free 

♥

Over the coming week I have several brand-spanking new polishes to show you from Colors by Llarowe. I've picked out one of my favorites to show you first. I love holo and I love brown, so naturally, this is going to be one of my favorites because it's both.

These polishes begin launching on May 26, 2013 at Llarowe. Proceeds from the sale of this polish and a few others I'll be showing you soon go to the ASPCA.

Burnt Sugar is a rich, warm-leaning brown linear holographic polish. My skin is very pale and leans mostly cool, but if the warm colors are saturated enough or have a cool "flash" they really work. It's very saturated and the rainbow in the linear holo do both for me so I think it's a color that would suit both warm and cool skin tones.

I had no issues with formula or application. It was perfectly opaque in two easy coats and it dries super shiny. I didn't use a base coat or top coat for the photos.

Colors by Llarowe Burnt Sugar

Colors by Llarowe Burnt Sugar

Colors by Llarowe Burnt Sugar

Colors by Llarowe Burnt Sugar

Colors by Llarowe Burnt Sugar

Colors by Llarowe Burnt Sugar

Colors by Llarowe Burnt Sugar

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

What do you think? See how it can lean warm AND cool? I can't wait to show you the rest of them.

Colors by Llarowe polishes, including this one, begin launching at Llarowe on May 26, 2013. You can like Llarowe on Facebook and follow Llarowe on Twitter for more information and launch times.

♥

If you enjoyed this post, please take a second to "like" it! Thanks!

.

6 Harts Polish Bat Crap Crazy

Personal Stash

NOT a PR Sample 

*This product is Cruelty Free 

♥

Good evening! If you follow on Facebook or Twitter, you've seen this gorgeous polish - I posted a preview several days ago. If not, you're in for a treat. 6 Harts Polish created one of my favorites of the year, so far. Bat Crap Crazy. And the NAME! LOL! Love it.

I used  2 coats of Bat Crap Crazy with one coat of top coat for the photos and had no issues with formula or application.

6 Harts Polish Bat Crap Crazy

I do love me a great brown and the shimmer really makes it gorgeous.

6 Harts Polish Bat Crap Crazy

6 Harts Polish Bat Crap Crazy

6 Harts Polish Bat Crap Crazy

6 Harts Polish Bat Crap Crazy

6 Harts Polish Bat Crap Crazy

What do you think? Have you tried any polishes from 6 Harts yet?


6 Harts Polish can be purchased through the 6 Harts Polish Etsy Store here and retail for $8 for full-sized bottles. You can also check her out on Pinterest here and be sure to "like" on Facebook here to stay up-to-date on everything.

♥

If you enjoyed this post, please take a second to "like" it! Thanks!

.

Thrifty Thursday! Starring Milani Dark Coffee

♥

It's Thrifty Thursday again! Tonight I have Milani Dark Coffee to show you. I've used it in some nail art because it's a great brown but so far hadn't worn it as a full mani.

Dark Coffee is a medium to dark brown creme that I can't quite peg as warm or cool - it can really look either way on me depending on the lighting and what I'm wearing. It looks warm to me but I'm a cool-leaning neutral and I love it on me. The formula is great and I've used two coats for opacity and no top coat for the photos. It dries to a high shine.

Milani Dark Coffee

Milani Dark Coffee

Milani Dark Coffee

Milani Dark Coffee

Milani Dark Coffee

What do you think of this one? I love browns so it wasn't a stretch for me but for those who don't generally gravitate to browns, this may be one to try.

Milani polishes are available at MilaniCosmetics.com and at retailers and e-tailers throughout the US and retail for around $4.49.

♥

If you enjoyed this post, please take a second to "like" it! Thanks!

.