Hey friends! Before we get in to today’s blog post, I just wanted to pop in and say THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for checking out my destash. I am still going through emails (and waiting on some more packing materials to be delivered) but just wow. I didn’t expect that many emails to come through so please be patient with me while I go through everything.
That said, this blog post is for the October Polish Pickup. The theme for October is Sidekicks. I *think* I am expecting at least one more polish for this month’s shop so this might not be everything. As I am sure y’all know, that hurricane is making a real mess of things. I hope everyone reading this is safe (and dry!).
So the October PPU goes live this Friday on the Polish Pickup website. As always, I will have links and sale details at the end of the post. My live swatch video is currently uploading so I will update this post once it’s done!
Live Swatch Video
Polish Pickup aka PPU is a monthly collaboration of indie polish and other handmade product makers based on a chosen theme. There’s a new theme with new products each month from dozens of makers. Items are available the first Friday – Monday of each month for pre-order.
All Mixed Up Lacquers – Fur-ociously Cringey
Inspiration: Cringer/Battle Cat (Adam/HeMan’s companion)
Description: a Olive Green (cold state) to Clear (warm state), orange/red/gold shifting shimmer, red/orange/gold UCC flakies and red/pink/orange/gold/lime crystal chameleon flakies
Price: $12.50 for 15ml | Cap: 200
Fur-ociously Cringey had a wonderful formula. The thermal aspect started changing on me right away. I found the warm state is a super pale green shade and the cold state is an olive green.
The flakie spread out very evenly without giving off any texture. The base colors paired with the flakies and shimmer, give this polish a very autumnal look on the nail. Coverage was pretty good in 2 coats but I opted to give this one a third to make sure that the warm state was completely opaque. Shorter nails will likely be good in 2 coats.
My photos show Fur-ociously Cringey in 3 coats plus glossy top coat. Nothing in here will dry texture and removal won’t be overly difficult.
All Mixed Up Lacquers
15ml, 5 Free, Cruelty-Free
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group
Bee’s Knees Lacquer – You’re My Best…Man
Inspiration: Our favorite vampire familiar, Guillermo De La Cruz
Description: A deep red base with gold to green to blue shimmer and ruby red light reflective glitter
Price: $13.50 for 15ml | Cap: None
You’re My Best…Man had a good but thick formula. I wasn’t terribly surprised at the thickness since BKL reflective polishes tend to be on the thicker side. I didn’t have any issues with application so it wasn’t too thick for me.
I really liked how the shimmer pairs with the base color and the reflective glitters. The base was very pigmented but I didn’t experience any staining with this polish.
The reflective glitters do give this polish some texture so I opted to pair it with a glitter smoothing top coat (KBShimmer Smooth Moves) before going in with my quick dry top coat. I was able to see the red reflects in the glitter out in natural lighting.
My photos show You’re My Best…Man in 2 coats plus 2 coats of top coat. Removal for this polish will be on the more difficult side, I used a peel off base coat but the soak off method will also work well to get all of those glitters off with minimal mess.
Bee’s Knees Lacquer
15ml, 5+ Free, Vegan & Cruelty-Free
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group
Cameo Colours Lacquers – War Machine Rox
Inspiration: Iron Man’s sidekick, War Machine
Description: A super shiny foil flecked black base, packed full of scattered holo sparkle, red micro flakes, and silver holo micro flakes..
Price: $11.50 Cap: 105 bottles
War Machine Rox had a fantastic formula. This polish was just slightly on the thicker side but in the “this is opaque” kind of thickness and not hard to work with thick. All of the components spread out very evenly and easily without giving off any noticeable texture.
I found this polish to be very holographic out in the sunlight. I could tell indoors that it was going to be fairly holographic but out in the sun it was super holographic.
My photos show War Machine Rox in 2 coats plus glossy top coat. Removal won’t be overly difficult but it will be pretty messy.
Cameo Colours Lacquers
15ml, 5 free, Vegan & Cruelty-Free
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group
Color Spectrum Polish – Hakuna Matata
Inspiration: Timon & Pumba from Lion King
Description: A brown base with a green to gold multichrome magnetic strike, gold shimmer and purple glitters.
Price: $12.50 for 13ml | Cap: 115
Hakuna Matata had a wonderful formula. It starts off pretty sheer and I honestly didn’t think it was going to reach full opacity but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it did in fact reach full opacity for me.
The multichrome in here was very color shifty and I was really digging how it looked in that brown base. The overall look gave this polish a very swampy green almost prugly vibe that I really loved.
I didn’t have any issues getting this one magnetized using a ring magnet for my swatches and an arch magnet (I think that’s what they’re called?) for my live swatch video.
My photos show Hakuna Matata in 3 coats plus glossy top coat. My pointer finger and pinky show the polish unmagnetized. Nothing in here will be difficult to remove and I didn’t have any problems with staining.
Color Spectrum Polish
13ml, 7 Free, Vegan & Cruelty free
Website | Etsy | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group
Crystal Knockout – In Sprite of It All
Inspiration: Sprite from the Legend of Zelda cartoon
Description: A purple to white crelly thermal with matte pink dot glitters, pale pink micro glitter, and iridescent color-shifting flakes in pink, aqua, violet, and green.
Price: $12 for 15ml | Cap: None
In Sprite of It All had a really great formula. It was on the thicker side but I found application very easy. The glitters and flakies spread out very evenly as well.
Those glitters do give this polish some texture so I opted to pair this with a glitter smoothing top coat before going in with my quick dry top coat. That may or may not be necessary but it worked for me.
The thermal aspect in here started changing for me right away. I actually had this polish on for several days and found that there was a third color state that my photos don’t show. I was also seeing a periwinkle leaning blue shade in between the white warm state and purple cold state.
My photos show In Sprite Of It All in 3 coats plus 2 coats of top coat. I think this one will be a 2-3 coater depending on your nail length and preference on VNL.
And here is some bonus nail art featuring this polish! I did this during one of my weekend livestreams. I cannot remember everything that was used but the video for this stream is up over here if you would like to check it out. I go live every Sunday at 3PM Eastern time over on my YouTube channel.
Crystal Knockout
15ml, 5 Free & Cruelty Free
Website | Etsy | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group
Fair Maiden Polish – That’s So Fetch
Inspiration: Mean Girl sidekick Gretchen Weiners
Description: a plum-black base loaded with magenta orange flake. The polish is MAGNETIC! You could get a nice crisp duo chrome magnetic effect (magenta/gold).
Price: $12 for 15ml | Cap: None
That’s so Fetch fantastic formula. The base didn’t feel overly thick or thin and I didn’t have any application issues. The magnetic pigment in this polish reacts really strongly for me using both a ring magnet and the arch magnet. I really liked this one magnetized.
The flakies do not dry down textured and you will lsee them best when this polish is magnetized. You can see them easily when the polish is unmagnetized but IMO they look best magnetized.
Depending on personal preference this will be a 2-3 coater depending on personal preference. My photos show this one in 3 coats plus both glossy and matte top coats.
Removal won’t be overly difficult and this looked amazing with a matte top coat.
Fair Maiden Polish
15ml, 5 Free & Cruelty Free
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group
Hearts & Promises – Side Of Ranch
Inspiration:
Description: a very light green tinted crelly base with gold/green/copper UCC flakies and green shimmer
Price: $13 for 15ml | Cap: 300
Side Of Ranch had a really great formula. The base didn’t feel overly thick or thin and I didn’t have any application issues. The shimmer in here is one of the pearly, kinda soft but still strong shimmers.
When wet, this one has a lot of brush strokes for the most part they all disappear as the polish dries. However, if you look for brush strokes through the shimmer you can see them.
This polish starts off fairly sheer and a little patchy so you will want to build it up. If you aren’t super picky with shorter nails, you might be ok in 2 coats. If unevenness bugs you this will likely be a 3 coater.
My photos show Side Of Ranch in 3 coats plus glossy top coat. Removal won’t be overly difficult.
This polish reminded e a lot of The Ghost With The Most by NeverMind Apothecary (from Polish Pickup September 2022). They aren’t dupes but they are fairly really similar. The flakies seem different between the two.
Hearts & Promises
15ml, 5 Free
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group
Heather’s Hues – It’s All Right Pascal
Inspiration: Pascal, from Tangled
Description: a green jelly with a pink to gold shimmer, green to gold iridescent flakes and pink holo dust
Price: $12.50 for 15ml | Cap: None
It’s All Right Pascal had a great jelly formula. Since this one is a jelly, you will want to build it up to get the most opacity. So this shade of green is not usually my thing but paired with the shimmer and the flakies? Um yeah, I really liked it!
There are some larger flakies in this polish but they do not dry with texture. One coat of top coat smoothed this one out perfectly for me. The holographic gave this a nice sparkle too.
My photos show It’s All Right Pascal in 3 coats plus both glossy and matte top coats. I did have some VNL with this polish, I don’t think that will be an issue for those of you with natural nails. I will note that the only time I saw my natural nails VNL was in my macro shot. My eyes weren’t seeing it in person.
Removal for this won’t be overly difficult. I wouldn’t suggest scrubbing it off but if you wanted to, it shouldn’t be too bad.
Heather’s Hues – WiTS in Jellyfish Bubbles
Inspiration: the jellyfish from SpongeBob
Description: a unique blend of citrus, almond, and apricot with mixed berries, leafy greens and warm vanilla.
Price: $7.50 for 2 ounces| Cap: 50
The fragrance of this month’s lotion reminds me of a red fruit punch (or maybe tropical punch?) drink that I had as a child. It is super fruity and smells delicious. I was *this* close to buying some Kool-Aid at the grocery store earlier because I had that flavor on my mind.
Heather’s Hues
15ml, 5 free, Vegan & Cruelty Free
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group
KBShimmer – Pump It Up
Inspiration: pumpkin spice
Description: a muted, squash-colored orange shade with rusty undertones. In brighter lighting, holographic sparkle bounces off pumpkin-inspired orange tones, while lower lighting brings out caramel hues. In direct light or under flash, reflective pigment comes alive with sparkling shades echoing your favorite fall drinks.
Price: $12 for 15ml | Cap: none
Pump It Up had a beautiful formula. I was kinda surprised since usually KBShimmer’s reflective polishes tend to be pretty dang thick, while this was on the thicker side it wasn’t anywhere near as thick as I have come to expect for this brand.
However, this one is a bit sheerer and jelly-like in application so you will want to build it up to get opacity. I found to reach full opacity, I needed 3 coats. If you don’t mind VNL and not having quite the same depth of color as in the bottle, coverage is pretty good in 2 coats.
The reflective glitter and holographic glitter combination give this polish a super duper sparkly finish. Like next level sparkly finish. I wasn’t super pumped (pun intended) about the base color of this polish but the glitter mix is what got me liking this one. The glitters do give this one a lot of texture so I did pair it with the KBShimmer Smooth Moves glitter smoothing top coat before my quick dry top coat.
My photos show Pump It Up in 3 coats plus 2 coats of top coat. Removal will be extremely difficult, soak this one off or use a peel off base coat.
KBShimmer Sugar Scrub in Sweet Cider
Inspiration: cider
Description: Crisp and perfectly ripe apple notes quickly blend with vanilla and spun sugar for a sweet, cider-like scent. I can almost taste the Granny Smith apples cut and waiting for warm melted caramel to envelop them. A sparkly, light cider in color, this scrub is the perfect scent to usher in a new season!
Price: $10 for 9 ounces | Cap: none
This month’s scent smells just like the inspiration. As someone who is *kinda* obsessed with all things apple during the fall, I do wish this had stronger apple notes. But I do like the fragrance overall.
Also ignore that my nails are super patchy. I tried to be lazy and only use 2 coats of my milky white base and it looks not great haha
KBShimmer
15ml, 5 free, Vegan & Cruelty Free
Website | Etsy | Amazon | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group
Night Owl Lacquer – Hei Hei Kind Of Day
Inspiration: Hei Hei from Moana
Description: a teal base filled with red/orange/gold shimmer and copper reflective glitter.
Price: $13 for 15ml | Cap: None
Hei Hei Kind Of Day had a great jelly formula. The base didn’t feel super thick despite having a ton of glitter in it but this one is a jelly so you’re going to want to build it up.
This is another polish that I was really digging the base color + shimmer + glitter combo. Also, I LOVE that this polish was inspired be Hei Hei. I freaking love that chicken!
The reflective glitters do give this one some texture so I did pair it with a glitter smoothing top coat. I was able to see the copper reflects in person out in natural lighting.
My photos show Hei Hei Kind Of Day in 3 coats plus 2 coats of top coat. While coverage was even in 2 coats, the third coat deepened the base color as well as making this opaque.
Removal will be on the more difficult side if you scrub this off. So don’t do that when the soak off method is available.
Night Owl Lacquer
15ml, 5 Free & Cruelty-Free
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group | TikTok
Poetry Cowgirl Nail Polish – Wonder
Inspiration: Robin, from the Batman & Robin original 1960’s TV show
Description: A gold flakie base loaded with emerald and red glitter shreds and black micro glitters
Price: $11.50 for 15ml | Cap: None
Wonder had a fantastic formula. This polish SCREAMS Christmas to me. There is just something about the color combination that was just very holiday. However, I will say I do think that it also fits the inspiration colors well. The colors do remind of me of the old school Robin.
The glitter shreds in here all spread out very nicely and evenly but they do give off a tiny bit of texture. This polish arrived late so I was rushing the swatch with one thick coat of top coat. This polish would benefit from a glitter smoothing top coat but it won’t be 100% necessary.
This polish is sheer enough that I think in 1 coat it would be an interesting topper. If you want to build this one to reach full opacity, it is going to be a sold 3 coater. Coverage is passable in 2 coats.
My photos show Wonder in 3 coats plus a thick coat of glossy top coat. Removal will be a little but on the more difficult side so I wouldn’t recommend scrubbing this polish off.
Poetry Cowgirl Nail Polish
15ml, 5+ free, Cruelty-Free
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group
Restored By Polish – Better Together
Inspiration: The brand owner’s sidekick Krista
Description: a pink leaning coral packed with an array of color shifting iridescent flakies.
Price: $12.50 for 12ml | Cap: 100
Better Together had an excellent formula. The base felt a little bit thick but I was told by one of the brand owners that swatcher bottles were all thicker than customer bottles will be.
The base color for this polish was really difficult to photograph accurately. I will say it was a very pink/salmony leaning coral. I love colors like this so much all year round so I don’t want to hear anything about this being a summer color. Neons for pedicures chase away winter blues!
The flakies all spread out very evenly without giving off any texture. They also look amazing with a matte top coat!
My photos show Better Together in 3 coats plus both glossy and matte top coats. Coverage was pretty ok in 2 coats but the third coat does deepen the base color to what I was seeing in the bottle.
Restored By Polish
12ml, 10 Free, Vegan & Cruelty Free
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Sassy Sauce Polish – 2 Snaps
Inspiration: a photo of Thing from the Adam’s Family in a holiday tree.
Description: A grey base crelly loaded with a strong green/blue/pink/purple shifting shimmer and similar shifting UCC flakies. This polish has many faces in different lights
Price: $13 for 15ml | Cap: 600
2 Snaps had a really fantastic formula. The shimmer in here is super strong and super glowing. To be perfectly honest once you start adding in your second coat you barely really see the gray base but like wow the shimmer is very very beautiful.
I was seeing all of the described colors in person with pink coming in at extreme angles. The flake is all spread very evenly and easily without any texture. And they look amazing with a matte topcoat.
I swatched this polish in 3 coats plus both glossy and matte top coats. I think it will was a tiny bit sheer in 2 coats but if you don’t mind VNL it might be passable in 2 coats.
Sassy Sauce Polish
15ml, 5 Free & Cruelty-Free
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group
Twisting Nether Lacquer – Zero
Inspiration: Zero from A Nightmare Before Christmas
Description: a white crelly base with black flakies, black to red ucc flakies and red-orange shimmer
Price: 13.50 for 15ml | Cap: 200
Zero had a pretty good formula. The base was slightly on the thicker side but not at all overly thick. It is a milky white so you will want tobuild it up to get the most opacity.
I was pretty surprised that the base applied very evenly for a milky white. If you want a softer look, this looks great in just 2 coats. The third coat does bring you to full opacity.
The flakies all spread out very evenly without giving off any texture. And this polish looks amazing out in the sun. I don’t know why I didn’t take any outdoor shots but I do have some natural light footage over in my live swatch video.
My photos show Zero in 3 coats plus glossy top coat. This will probably look good matte too but when I swatched this, I clearly didn’t think of that. Removal won’t be difficult either.
Final Thoughts
I don’t know why I always forget to do final thoughts for my PPU blog posts. I liked how there was a big variety of inspirations and finishes/colors.
Night Owl Lacquer’s inspiration was my favorite of the bunch, followed by Heather’s Hues Spongebob reference.
My favorite polishes from this release were the Crystal Knockout (I really liked the colors and nail art), Night Owl Lacquer (the inspo!!) and Heather’s Hues gets an honorable mention (cause of those big ol flakies!).
Polish Pickup
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Sale Information
These items, and more, will be available starting this Friday October 7th at 11AM on the PolishPickup website. They will be available for pre-order through the following Monday. Internationally shipping is available and this is also a UK site for those of you outside of the US.
For more information on shipping, the pre-order and all things related to Polish Pickup be sure to check out the main website. And of course, don’t forget to check out my live swatch video for this release to see both application and how these polishes look moving around. Thanks for reading and have a good one!
