Polish Pickup December 2022 Maker's Choice Swatches and Reviews

I'm back tonight with the final Polish Pickup for the year. Can you believe it?! From some rumblings around some Facebook groups, it sounds like there will be some changes to PPU next year, and I'll be interested to see how that goes. I'll make sure to post about that when it comes straight from the headquarters since perhaps some of it could be rumors. As I said in my last post, Issa from Starlight Polish is back and she has a new shade for this month's PPU. This month's theme is Maker's Choice which I think is a perfect way to end the year because I'm sure brands have prototypes that they love that just haven't fit with any theme, and they can use it here. The website just opened for wishlisting, but also make sure to join the Polish Pickup Pack Facebook Group as swatches pop up left and right there as well. 

The shop officially opens at 11:00 AM ET Friday, December 2nd and ends on Monday, December 5th at 11:59 PM (but if a polish has a bottle limit and sells out before the end of the pre-order, it's gone, unless you get lucky and the cap gets raised...which is rare) on the PPU website. Shall we get to some swatches? 

Noodles Nail Polish Hanukkah Nights (3 coats)

Inspiration: Hanukkah decor

Price: $11.50

Bottle Limit: None

website | Facebook Fan Group | Instagram

I just want to say how happy I am that there is a Hanukkah polish. I'm all about inclusivity, and not everyone celebrates Christmas, so give us all the variations! Hanukkah Nights gives us awesome glitter shapes, and I'm here for it. It's a pale blue crelly base with white/silver/blue glitters with white stars and blue moons. I went ahead and flipped the bottle for about a half hour before applying it to let the stars and moons sink to the top of the bottle. I used 3 thin coats for my photos while with the third I focused on dabbing the larger glitters on. Use thin coats, otherwise it can get too thick and you may get wrinkling when it dries. I would definitely recommend a glitter smoothing topcoat if you have one to make sure it evens it all out. 

Starlight Polish Verdant Scales (2 coats)

Inspiration: I haven't been in the best place the last few months, so for this month, I decided to create a polish that made me happy.  I felt like making a green, and winter makes me think of dragons, so Verdant Scales was born.  

Price: $16

Bottle Limit: 250 bottles

Website | Instagram | Facebook Group | Facebook Page

As someone who also had some tough months throughout the pandemic, I empathize with Issa. I'm so glad she's back to making new polishes, and I hope this creative outlet helps her even more. Verdant Scales is a green jelly with gold to bronze to green shifting old school UP sibling pigment, a touch of holographic shimmer, and scattered glitter, in both green to gold iridescent and green holographic. I did my best to show the shifting shimmer, but it's even more evident in real life. Don't be alarmed by it being a jelly; this one is still quite pigmented, and I got away with using just 2 coats for my swatches. Despite having a little glitter in there, just a regular coat of topcoat should be enough for a smooth finish. 

There you have it, folks! I'm making sure to set aside some money for PPU this month, because I know all of us will be partaking in all these Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales going on. Have a great one!

 

*These polishes were provided by the company or PR representative. All reviews are based solely on my opinion. For more information, please see my full disclosure at the bottom of the site*

Starlight and Sparkles Thanksgiving Weekend Sale and Exclusive Polish

 *press sample*

Hello hello! It's been a hot minute, but I am so happy to have Issa from Starlight and Sparkles back from a little hiatus from making new polishes. Not only that, they are back with a Thanksgiving Weekend sale and a new exclusive shade (only available during the sale)! Here's all the info you need to know about next week: 

"Since our first Thanksgiving Weekend sale, Starlight and Sparkles has made a Snow Day polish each year as a limited edition gift with purchase. This year's polish, Snow Day 2022, is inspired by warmth and welcome, coming in from the cold and enjoying a cozy, crackling fire.

It will only be available as part of the Thanksgiving Weekend sale, which will be running from Wednesday, November 23rd to Tuesday, November 29th on the Starlight and Sparkles site.  

Starlight and Sparkles Thanksgiving Weekend Sale:

All products are 10% off (discount reflected in cart)

Free domestic shipping for orders over $35.00

Orders over $50.00 receive a 15mL bottle of Snow Day 2022 (exclusive polish for the Thanksgiving Weekend sale)

Orders over $75.00 also receive a 15mL bottle of Crystal top coat and a 15mL bottle of Obsidian

Orders over $100.00 also receive a mystery polish, and each additional $40.00 purchased will add another free mystery polish

Mystery polishes may include: prototypes, unique batches or single polishes made for this event, or unreleased (future) colors.  No order will contain duplicate mystery polishes unless specifically requested.  

No code required.  Value for offers is calculated after 10% discount.  Only available at www.starlightandsparkles.com."

The more you buy, the more free gifts you receive. And with how expensive shipping is right now, free shipping at just $35 is a welcomed reprieve. Shall we get a closer look at this years special polish? 

Starlight Polish Snow Day 2022 (1 coat) over Morgan Taylor Little Black Dress (2 coats)

Snow Day 2022 is a clear based topper with a mix of red and gold shimmer and flakes, meant to add a pop of warmth and sparkle over any color. Of course I used this over a black base so you can see all the extra goodies in this one as best as possible, but it truly can be worn over anything. It had the perfect density of flakes in just one simple coat and you can use regular brush strokes with it instead of having to dab it on. The flakes sit flat against the nail, so one coat of topcoat will easily smooth it all out. 

Starlight has a wide variety of polishes and special effect toppers (see my previous posts here) so make sure to check out the store and to start a cart. Don't forget, the sale starts next Tuesday! You can find out more about Starlight and Sparkles on their website, Etsy page, Instagram, Facebook Group, and Facebook page.

*These polishes were provided by the company or PR representative. All reviews are based solely on my opinion. For more information, please see my full disclosure at the bottom of the site*

Polish Pickup November 2021 Game Night Swatches and Reviews from Noodles Nail Polish and Starlight and Sparkles

 *press samples*

    How is it November?! It seems like it was April a few weeks ago. Before you know it, we will be falling back for daylight savings time (which I hate)! This is a very special week for me because I have the week off! I don't have much planned, except my parents will be coming on Wednesday and I haven't seen them in months. Can you believe the November Polish Pickup starts this Friday? This month's inspiration is Game Night, and I'm one of those weird people who doesn't like board games. I know! My husband, on the other hand, absolutely loves them. 

    New to PPU? If so, here's how it works: Definitely join the Polish Pickup Facebook Group. You don't necessarily need to actively participate in the group, but it will give you a look at the polishes that will be available in the coming month. PPU themes are chosen by the people, often a few months in advance (brands need time to find their inspiration and test their polish). Any indie brand that has been around for at least a year can participate and each has their own specific inspiration picture and polish for that month. All you need to do is go to the Polish Pickup site during the pre-order window (the first Friday-Monday of the month) to make all of your purchases of these exclusive polishes. There's no need to pay for multiple shipping charges; since this is a pre-order, all polishes get sent to Polish Pickup and they send you the polishes you ordered. Yup, it's that simple. *Shipping Price Update 2021* Orders weighing up to 7 oz will still ship to the US for $3 while all other US orders will ship for $5 (more for international and they just had to increase the pricing to Canada). Since all orders are pre-orders, shipping will take place about 3 weeks after the end of the pre-order.

    PPU starts Friday, November 5th at 11:00 AM ET and ends on Monday, November 8th at 11:59 PM (but if a polish has a bottle limit and sells out before the end of the pre-order, it's gone, unless you get lucky and the cap gets raised...which is rare) on the PPU website. Shall we get to some pictures? 

Polish Pickup September 2021 Trick or Treat Swatches and Reviews

 *press samples*

Wait, you mean to tell me it's September already? And did I hear recently that I should be buying Christmas presents NOW because things are going to be a mess near the end of the year? I'm just not ready for any of that! Please tell me I'm not the only one. I just got back from San Francisco a couple days ago for work, and I also forgot how hard a 3 hour time change messes with your sleep. I haven't been out of the Eastern Time Zone since 2019! This month's PPU theme is aptly Trick or Treat.  Wishlisting is up now on the website and I'm blown away by the variety of inspirations. New to PPU? If so, here's how it works:

Definitely join the Polish Pickup Facebook Group. You don't necessarily need to actively participate in the group, but it will give you a look at the polishes that will be available in the coming month. PPU themes are chosen by the people, often a few months in advance (brands need time to find their inspiration and test their polish). Any indie brand that has been around for at least a year can participate and each has their own specific inspiration picture and polish for that month. All you need to do is go to the Polish Pickup site during the pre-order window (the first Friday-Monday of the month) to make all of your purchases of these exclusive polishes. There's no need to pay for multiple shipping charges; since this is a pre-order, all polishes get sent to Polish Pickup and they send you the polishes you ordered. Yup, it's that simple. Oh, and shipping is a flat-rate of $3 to the US (more for international and they just had to increase the pricing to Canada). Since all orders are pre-orders, shipping will take place about 3 weeks after the end of the pre-order.

PPU starts Friday, September 3rd at 11:00 AM ET and ends on Monday, September 6th at 11:59 PM (but if a polish has a bottle limit and sells out before the end of the pre-order, it's gone, unless you get lucky and the cap gets raised...which is rare) on the PPU website. Shall we get to some pictures? 

Polish Pickup The Elements (Earth, Air, Fire, and Water) August 2021: Swatches and Reviews

 *press samples*

How is it August already? August is traditionally my busiest month of the year for my job, and the whole delta variant thing really has me scared, despite being vaccinated. I'll have to be around groups of people, but at least they are requiring social distancing and masks for everyone. After last month's Polish Pickup Rewind, makers are back with all new shades inspired by The Elements (Earth, Air, Fire, and Water). Wishlisting is up now on the website and I'm blown away by the variety of inspirations. New to PPU? If so, here's how it works:

Definitely join the Polish Pickup Facebook Group. You don't necessarily need to actively participate in the group, but it will give you a look at the polishes that will be available in the coming month. PPU themes are chosen by the people, often a few months in advance (brands need time to find their inspiration and test their polish). Any indie brand that has been around for at least a year can participate and each has their own specific inspiration picture and polish for that month. All you need to do is go to the Polish Pickup site during the pre-order window (the first Friday-Monday of the month) to make all of your purchases of these exclusive polishes. There's no need to pay for multiple shipping charges; since this is a pre-order, all polishes get sent to Polish Pickup and they send you the polishes you ordered. Yup, it's that simple. Oh, and shipping is a flat-rate of $3 to the US (more for international and they just had to increase the pricing to Canada). Recently they also opened a UK site which you can find here. Since all orders are pre-orders, shipping will take place about 3 weeks after the end of the pre-order.

PPU starts Friday, August 6th at 11:00 AM ET and ends on Monday, August 9th at 11:59 PM (but if a polish has a bottle limit and sells out before the end of the pre-order, it's gone, unless you get lucky and the cap gets raised...which is rare) on the PPU website. The website is now open for wishlisting, so go check out this month's offerings STAT. My wallet hopes I can bring my list down a little bit.

Noodles Nail Polish Colors of the Wind (3 coats)

Inspiration: Pocahontas Song "Colors of the Wind"

Price: $12

Bottle Limit: none 

website | Facebook Fan Group | Instagram

Up first we have Colors of the Wind by Noodles Nail Polish. You know I'm a sucker for glitter and flakie polishes. It's a deep violet crelly (leaning jelly) with matte red/pink/lavender glitters, lavender holo glitters, and violet/red/orange color-shifting flakes. I used 3 thin coats for my photos, and it dries with some texture due to the glitter, so either use 2 coats of thicker topcoat, or a layer of glitter-smoothing topcoat followed by a quick-dry topcoat to smooth it all out. That topcoat will also bring out that squishy look from the polish. 

Starlight and Sparkles The Breeze and the Storm (1 coat) over 2 coats of black

Inspiration: the element of air, which can be as gentle as a softly blowing breeze, or as powerful as a howling storm. It can also combine with other elements (water, fire, and earth) to incredible effect. As someone who loves to play element-wielding mages in RPGs, people really underestimate the power and flexibility of air, which is why that is my inspiration for this polish!

Price: $9

Bottle Limit: 150 bottles

Website | Instagram | Facebook Group | Facebook Page

Up next we have a beautiful effect topcoat from Starlight and Sparkles. The Breeze and the Storm is a topcoat full of turquoise and teal shimmer, and delicate green and blue translucent micro flecks. This is one of those polishes that will look great over a variety of base colors, but I used black since it shows the shimmer the best. I used 1 coat for my swatches, but 2 coats will intensify the effect even more. 

Starlight and Sparkles Five Elements Page Marker Set

Inspiration: the idea of the five classical elements – air, fire, water, earth, and aether.

Price: $11

Limit: 65 sets

You're gonna laugh at me, but the first thing I thought of when I saw the page marker set was the infinity stones from the Marvel Universe. Oops! The Five Elements Page Marker set has five page markers, each with a different colored faceted glass stone, in a silver-colored frame. The five pieces are yellow (air), red (fire), blue (water), green (earth), and clear (aether). These are simple, but simply adorable.  

These sets use rectangular paper clips, stainless steel rings, silvery iridescent glass beads, and faceted glass stones. Due to the shape of the paperclip, the charms can’t freely slide all around the paperclip, and I find these type of paperclips to be quite secure, able to reliably hold quite a few sheets, and I usually find they’re less likely to leave paperclip imprints in the page they’re attached to. I use these for my recipe books, organize ink swatch cards, and in books I'm reading. 

There you have it, folks! Don't forget to start your wishlist now. The Starlight and Sparkles items have a low cap, so you may want to add it to your list and check out early to make sure it doesn't sell out. What are you picking up this month? Have a great week! 

*These polishes were provided by the company or PR representative. All reviews are based solely on my opinion. For more information, please see my full disclosure at the bottom of the site*

Polish Pickup May 2021 Guilty Pleasures Swatches and Reviews

 *press samples*

Hi everyone! How is it May already? It both feels like March and August at the same time. I got my second vaccine recently, and I'll be officially protected on Cinco de Mayo. If that's not a reason to get some delicious Mexican food, I don't know what does. I had a few side effects for the second one, but they weren't severe, and they went away quickly. Even if it was worse, I'd still get the vaccine in a second. This month's Polish Pickup theme is Guilty Pleasures, and boy do I have plenty of those. Well, most of these pleasures should be guilty, but I have 0 cares given if someone thinks they're silly. Wishlisting started today, and I'm embarrassed to say I have 10 items already waiting to go into my cart. Oops! New to PPU? If so, here's how it works:

Definitely join the Polish Pickup Facebook Group. You don't necessarily need to actively participate in the group, but it will give you a look at the polishes that will be available in the coming month. PPU themes are chosen by the people, often a few months in advance (brands need time to find their inspiration and test their polish). Any indie brand that has been around for at least a year can participate and each has their own specific inspiration picture and polish for that month. All you need to do is go to the Polish Pickup site during the pre-order window (the first Friday-Monday of the month) to make all of your purchases of these exclusive polishes. There's no need to pay for multiple shipping charges; since this is a pre-order, all polishes get sent to Polish Pickup and they send you the polishes you ordered. Yup, it's that simple. Oh, and shipping is a flat-rate of $3 to the US (more for international and they just had to increase the pricing to Canada). Recently they also opened a UK site which you can find here. Since all orders are pre-orders, shipping will take place about 3 weeks after the end of the pre-order.

PPU starts Friday, May 7th at 11:00 AM ET and ends on Monday, May 10th at 11:59 PM (but if a polish has a cap and sells out before the end of the pre-order, it's gone, unless you get lucky and the cap gets raised...which is rare) on the PPU website. Time for swatches!

Noodles Nail Polish Crazy Plant Lady (3 coats)

Inspiration: Being a crazy plant lady. Do I need more plants? Nope. Am I going to buy more plants? YEP. 

Price: $12

Bottles Available: No limit 

 

website | Facebook Fan Group | Instagram

Up first we have Crazy Plant Lady, which, in my house, is more like Crazy Plant Man. My husband does all of the outdoor planting while I enjoy gazing at the beauty in our yard. I'm more of an indoor succulent person to be honest. I absolutely love how Natalie from Noodles Nail Polish combines flakies with glitter. Now pair that with a bit of holo and a beautiful mint green base and we have Crazy Plant Lady. The official description is a sheerish mint green holo base with green/gold/copper/blue UCC flakes, lime green/yellow/pastel green glitters, and a touch of holo/green/gold microflakes. I found that it dried with texture (more from the flakes than the glitter) so I went ahead and used a coat of Glitter Grabber from Glisten and Glow followed by a coat of quick-dry topcoat. I used 3 thin coats for the swatches above. 

Starlight and Sparkles Gilded Phoenix (1 coat) over 2 coats of Zoya Raven 

Inspiration: Inspired by Gilded Phoenix is a gilt-y pleasure inspired by unicorn pee polishes being quite a few people’s guilty pleasure!

Price: $14

Bottles Available: 150

Website | Instagram | Facebook Group | Facebook Page

We got a unicorn pee topper!!! I feel like it's been a hot minute since we've gotten a really good UP topper/polish. If you don't know what UP pigment is, it's a green to red color-shifting pigment that is extremely hard to find. As far as I know, the pigment is no longer made, which makes polishes containing this pigment cost more. Gilded Phoenix isn't just a plain UP topper, it contains a fine sprinkling of gold shimmer and microflakes. The Starlight and Sparkles bottles are a full 15 mL, so you are getting plenty of pigment here. I find these toppers work best over darker bases (the shift just isn't as apparent). I used one thin coat of Gilded Phoenix for my swatches, so this bottle is going to last a long time. Oh, and it dried with no texture, so a thin topcoat works well with this one. 

Starlight and Sparkles Sparkly Things Page Marker and Charm Set

Inspiration: Inspired by the love for sparkly and color shifty things that most indie polish lovers share!

Price: $14

Number Available: 40

I feel so seen by Issa from Starlight and Sparkles! Give me all the sparkly and color shifty things. Things are a little different this month as there are 3 page markers and 3 charms instead of having 5 page markers and 1 charm like previous months. The rivoli crystals shift color depending on the lighting and the angle they're looked at. The three colors of crystals are: light lavender that shifts to light blue, an iridescent lilac-to-celadon, and vibrant teal to purple.

These sets use rectangular paper clips, stainless steel rings, silver-tone lobster clasps, silvery iridescent glass beads, 12mm rivoli crystals, and silver-plated rivoli settings. Due to the shape of the paperclip, the charms can’t freely slide all around the paperclip. I consider these type of paperclips to be quite secure, able to reliably hold quite a few sheets, and I usually find they’re less likely to leave paperclip imprints in the page they’re attached to. I like to use the charms on all my zipper pulls or make some necklaces or charm bracelets. 

There you have it, folks! A few of these items have a cap, so it's best to add your items to the cart the night before the sale goes live. You need to have an account and sign in first before adding your wish listed items to the cart. Easy peasy. What do you think? What are you picking up this month? 

*These polishes were provided by the company or PR representative. All reviews are based solely on my opinion. For more information, please see my full disclosure at the bottom of the site*