Indie Polish Lovers

[JC327]

Quote: Originally Posted by AgathaLaupin /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Speaking of Valentine's polishes, I have these on the way and can't wait!

Love You to Death from Black Sheep Lacquer (pic from her etsy shop)



and

Shattered Heart from KB Shimmer (pic from her shop)



Between those and a Windestine I got last year that has hearts I should be set for some cute Feb nails!  

Beautiful colors!

 

[AgathaLaupin]

Quote: Originally Posted by lochnessie /img/forum/go_quote.gif

I'm currently wearing Black Sheep Lacquer's "Lips Like Sugar" - I got a mini in my subscription box this month, and just ordered a full size today (which I'm, er, planning on gifting...). This is a swatch from her store's website! 



I'm currently wearing it over white, so it looks really bright when the polish is cold (dark) and just a nice gold shimmer when it's warmer. I'll probably try it over a nude or light pink next time instead of white. I'm loving thermal polishes right now - it's so much fun when I go outside (or when I'm freezing in my office)!
I totally placed an order with Black Sheep after you drew my attention to this one (and, you know, threw a couple others...and a sub...in my cart as long as I was there...cough cough mumble mumble) and I am DYING with anticipation for it to get here! It will be my first thermal and I love the pics I've seen of it. My nails are pretty long for me right now and I'm trying to be extra careful not to break any so I can hopefully get that rad french mani look from the temp difference, fingers crossed.

Does she usually take long to ship? I placed my order on the 5th and haven't heard a thing. I'm getting super antsy!

 

[lochnessie]

Quote: Originally Posted by AgathaLaupin /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  I totally placed an order with Black Sheep after you drew my attention to this one (and, you know, threw a couple others...and a sub...in my cart as long as I was there...cough cough mumble mumble) and I am DYING with anticipation for it to get here! It will be my first thermal and I love the pics I've seen of it. My nails are pretty long for me right now and I'm trying to be extra careful not to break any so I can hopefully get that rad french mani look from the temp difference, fingers crossed.

Does she usually take long to ship? I placed my order on the 5th and haven't heard a thing. I'm getting super antsy!
I think she normally crosses the border to ship to US customers a few times a week? My shipping experience has only been with the subscription box, but she's been pretty consistent with that so far, shipping out within the first few days of the month. I received a tracking number for my box this month on the 2nd, it actually shipped out on the 6th (from WA), and arrived to me in VA on the 9th. 

While you're waiting for your order, here are my pictures of this month's box and my still-drying mani using Fire & Ice under the spoiler!

Spoiler

Here's my box + order I received this month! I purchased Fire & Ice (the brighter blue with glitter) and Lips Like Sugar (pink); the grey/blue holo, the mini, and the cuticle oil were from the box. They were wrapped in a cute cellophane bag (and padded)!



I just finished doing a mani (excuse the shiny, oily cuticles and poor cell phone quality!!) with her 3-stage Fire & Ice thermal - my fingers are somewhat cold, so they're hovering between the blue and red-ish stage. I'm loving the color change + larger glitter + holo microglitter combination! This is 2 coats of Fire & Ice over an undie of Bondi Central Park Blossom.

ETA: Even with my shorties, I normally see some sort of french-tip/gradient effect, so I'm sure you'll be fine with your nails! 

 

[lochnessie]

Recent nail mail that I've been meaning to post!

First, indies I've received over the past month, not including my Black Sheep Lacquer box posted above:



Pomegranate Lacquer, Hit Polish (my first and last order), Eighty4, LynBDesigns, PolishTBH, Fickle Fairy Potions, and Avant Garde Lacquer (sadly, she shut down her shop recently, too).

Some more detailed pics/thoughts about some brands under the spoiler: 

Spoiler

With my first impressions, I'm loving eighty4 - the light blue cream (Powder Puff) goes on very smooth; the two thermals (Chameleon and Two Moons) change very quickly and have a good formula for a thermal, and the medium-blue color (Envied) has a surprising amount of holo once it's on a nail. 



Pomegranate Lacquer was running an awesome sale ($4 per bottle with shipping included!). I got Cuddles (a coral/rose pink shimmer)  and Lust in the Library (purple cream) on my first order, and loved those so much that I went back and got Royal Velvet (blurple shimmer) and Mermaid's Tail (teal cream with silver shimmer; unfortunately, the shimmer doesn't show up much on the nail). This was another indie that I hadn't heard of before, but I'm quite impressed with the polishes I've tried.



LynBDesigns does some awesome stuff, and seems a little more well-known. Here's what I got from her, including a free LE with purchase, Old St. Nick. It's a white cream with pink and green microshimmer - perfect for Christmas, but not so obviously Christmas that I can't wear it at other times of the year.



I immediately wore Ragdoll. Here's my mani with an awkward claw, trying to show off the awesome blue/teal shimmer in the polish:

We had some discussion a page or two ago about Fickle Fairy Potions. Further thoughts/pics under spoiler:

Spoiler

First of all, good (and cute!) packaging - there's bubble wrap under the tissue paper, and they were shipped in a bubble envelope.



I still haven't gotten around to trying the polish (too many untrieds, ahh!), but here's a picture attempting to show the goopyness of Prim & Proper. I still think a little bit of thinner should do the trick, though!



Here's a swatch/bottle shot of Angel Eyes - the holo's awesome in person!

In conclusion, I need to do a lot of manis before I can justify purchasing more polish! Never mind the Zoya, Dashing Housewife, Literary Lacquers, or Cult Nails orders that are on their way...  *whistles*

 

[Christa W]

Quote: Originally Posted by lochnessie /img/forum/go_quote.gif

  In conclusion, I need to do a lot of manis before I can justify purchasing more polish! Never mind the Zoya, Dashing Housewife, Literary Lacquers, or Cult Nails orders that are on their way...  *whistles*
I am loving your Eighty4 and want to get more myself.

I am in a similar situation.  I keep telling myself I will get to them but I have only worn 3 of the 12 polishes I won from LLarowe and I still have so many polishes I haven't used.  I was a good girl and didn't buy too many Sephora by OPI's at Big Lots today but only because I don't get paid until Friday.  Zoya's should be here Tuesday (maybe tomorrow and I only got 3, that's good right???)

Still waiting on a shipping confirm from Geek Chic/Button Masher Lacquer.  I am going to email them I think...

What's a girl to do???  Oh wait buy more polish!!! That's what I did because it's different than what I just got.  Pfft.  Polish addict logic!!!

 

[AgathaLaupin]

Quote: Originally Posted by lochnessie /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Recent nail mail that I've been meaning to post!

First, indies I've received over the past month, not including my Black Sheep Lacquer box posted above:

 

Spoiler

I immediately wore Ragdoll. Here's my mani with an awkward claw, trying to show off the awesome blue/teal shimmer in the polish:

Ragdoll looks awesome! I have an order on its way from her! I have been a lil out of control with my purchasing in the new year...

 

[JC327]

Quote: Originally Posted by lochnessie /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Quote: Originally Posted by AgathaLaupin /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  I totally placed an order with Black Sheep after you drew my attention to this one (and, you know, threw a couple others...and a sub...in my cart as long as I was there...cough cough mumble mumble) and I am DYING with anticipation for it to get here! It will be my first thermal and I love the pics I've seen of it. My nails are pretty long for me right now and I'm trying to be extra careful not to break any so I can hopefully get that rad french mani look from the temp difference, fingers crossed.

Does she usually take long to ship? I placed my order on the 5th and haven't heard a thing. I'm getting super antsy!
I think she normally crosses the border to ship to US customers a few times a week? My shipping experience has only been with the subscription box, but she's been pretty consistent with that so far, shipping out within the first few days of the month. I received a tracking number for my box this month on the 2nd, it actually shipped out on the 6th (from WA), and arrived to me in VA on the 9th.

While you're waiting for your order, here are my pictures of this month's box and my still-drying mani using Fire & Ice under the spoiler!

Spoiler

Here's my box + order I received this month! I purchased Fire & Ice (the brighter blue with glitter) and Lips Like Sugar (pink); the grey/blue holo, the mini, and the cuticle oil were from the box. They were wrapped in a cute cellophane bag (and padded)!



I just finished doing a mani (excuse the shiny, oily cuticles and poor cell phone quality!!) with her 3-stage Fire & Ice thermal - my fingers are somewhat cold, so they're hovering between the blue and red-ish stage. I'm loving the color change + larger glitter + holo microglitter combination! This is 2 coats of Fire & Ice over an undie of Bondi Central Park Blossom.

ETA: Even with my shorties, I normally see some sort of french-tip/gradient effect, so I'm sure you'll be fine with your nails!

Love your nails!

 

[JC327]

Quote: Originally Posted by lochnessie /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Recent nail mail that I've been meaning to post!

First, indies I've received over the past month, not including my Black Sheep Lacquer box posted above:



Pomegranate Lacquer, Hit Polish (my first and last order), Eighty4, LynBDesigns, PolishTBH, Fickle Fairy Potions, and Avant Garde Lacquer (sadly, she shut down her shop recently, too).

Some more detailed pics/thoughts about some brands under the spoiler:

Spoiler

With my first impressions, I'm loving eighty4 - the light blue cream (Powder Puff) goes on very smooth; the two thermals (Chameleon and Two Moons) change very quickly and have a good formula for a thermal, and the medium-blue color (Envied) has a surprising amount of holo once it's on a nail.



Pomegranate Lacquer was running an awesome sale ($4 per bottle with shipping included!). I got Cuddles (a coral/rose pink shimmer)  and Lust in the Library (purple cream) on my first order, and loved those so much that I went back and got Royal Velvet (blurple shimmer) and Mermaid's Tail (teal cream with silver shimmer; unfortunately, the shimmer doesn't show up much on the nail). This was another indie that I hadn't heard of before, but I'm quite impressed with the polishes I've tried.



LynBDesigns does some awesome stuff, and seems a little more well-known. Here's what I got from her, including a free LE with purchase, Old St. Nick. It's a white cream with pink and green microshimmer - perfect for Christmas, but not so obviously Christmas that I can't wear it at other times of the year.



I immediately wore Ragdoll. Here's my mani with an awkward claw, trying to show off the awesome blue/teal shimmer in the polish:

We had some discussion a page or two ago about Fickle Fairy Potions. Further thoughts/pics under spoiler:

Spoiler

First of all, good (and cute!) packaging - there's bubble wrap under the tissue paper, and they were shipped in a bubble envelope.



I still haven't gotten around to trying the polish (too many untrieds, ahh!), but here's a picture attempting to show the goopyness of Prim & Proper. I still think a little bit of thinner should do the trick, though!



Here's a swatch/bottle shot of Angel Eyes - the holo's awesome in person!

In conclusion, I need to do a lot of manis before I can justify purchasing more polish! Never mind the Zoya, Dashing Housewife, Literary Lacquers, or Cult Nails orders that are on their way...  *whistles*
Great picks and RAgdoll looks great on you.

 

[sleepykat]

Quote: Originally Posted by Christa W /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Quote: Originally Posted by lochnessie /img/forum/go_quote.gif

  In conclusion, I need to do a lot of manis before I can justify purchasing more polish! Never mind the Zoya, Dashing Housewife, Literary Lacquers, or Cult Nails orders that are on their way...  *whistles*
I am loving your Eighty4 and want to get more myself.

I am in a similar situation.  I keep telling myself I will get to them but I have only worn 3 of the 12 polishes I won from LLarowe and I still have so many polishes I haven't used.  I was a good girl and didn't buy too many Sephora by OPI's at Big Lots today but only because I don't get paid until Friday.  Zoya's should be here Tuesday (maybe tomorrow and I only got 3, that's good right???)

Still waiting on a shipping confirm from Geek Chic/Button Masher Lacquer.  I am going to email them I think...

What's a girl to do???  Oh wait buy more polish!!! That's what I did because it's different than what I just got.  Pfft.  Polish addict logic!!!

There's a certain excitement to having a bunch of Untrieds. It's like I will always have something new and exciting. That being said, I understand that it's not normal to keep buying polish when one has hundreds of Untrieds, but this is what I do at this point in time.

 

[AgathaLaupin]

Quote: Originally Posted by sleepykat /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  There's a certain excitement to having a bunch of Untrieds. It's like I will always have something new and exciting. That being said, I understand that it's not normal to keep buying polish when one has hundreds of Untrieds, but this is what I do at this point in time.
LOL. The other day I was asking my husband if something I do is weird, and his response was "Um...You have hundreds of bottles of nail polish and labelled swatch sticks of all of them, so if I was going to say something about you was not normal, it wouldn't be [whatever the thing I was asking about was, I can't even remember now]. The polish stuff is what's abnormal..."

This is one of the things I love about MUT. It can't be THAT weird, look how many of us there are! Polish hoarders unite! buahahahaaaaaa

The other thing about polish for me, I really like organizing things but I'm a super disorganized person (like, it's not possible for me have my living space physically organized ever, it's horrible), so this is like one area of life where I can successfully be crazy-organized and methodical and still manage it. So that's the other part of the fun that makes me justify having so. many. untrieds.

Okay, I'm done rambling...

 

[Christa W]

Quote: Originally Posted by AgathaLaupin /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  LOL. The other day I was asking my husband if something I do is weird, and his response was "Um...You have hundreds of bottles of nail polish and labelled swatch sticks of all of them, so if I was going to say something about you was not normal, it wouldn't be [whatever the thing I was asking about was, I can't even remember now]. The polish stuff is what's abnormal..."

This is one of the things I love about MUT. It can't be THAT weird, look how many of us there are! Polish hoarders unite! buahahahaaaaaa

The other thing about polish for me, I really like organizing things but I'm a super disorganized person (like, it's not possible for me have my living space physically organized ever, it's horrible), so this is like one area of life where I can successfully be crazy-organized and methodical and still manage it. So that's the other part of the fun that makes me justify having so. many. untrieds.

Okay, I'm done rambling...
Are you my twin sister???

 

[DragonChick]

Quote: Originally Posted by Christa W /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  DAMMIT!  LLarowe is adding CrowsToes, Girly Bits, Glisten & Glow and Colors by llarowe to the A Indied Box!!!  I want it SOOOO bad.  I can never convince my boyfriend this is a justifiable household expense. /cry

Wait, I missed this announcement?!?!?!? *checks site* It looks like they've announced Contrary Polish as well. Now I'm curious to see which of the initial indies are staying and which are going, but that hasn't been announced yet. And I really, really hope that there's more variety than glitter toppers that were starting to become A Thing.

 

[Christa W]

Quote: Originally Posted by DragonChick /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Wait, I missed this announcement?!?!?!? *checks site* It looks like they've announced Contrary Polish as well. Now I'm curious to see which of the initial indies are staying and which are going, but that hasn't been announced yet. And I really, really hope that there's more variety than glitter toppers that were starting to become A Thing.
She said they were all staying.  Just expanding the brands.  I think because they make exclusives for the box maybe they want a break to create new stuff.

 

[DragonChick]

Quote: Originally Posted by AgathaLaupin /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  LOL. The other day I was asking my husband if something I do is weird, and his response was "Um...You have hundreds of bottles of nail polish and labelled swatch sticks of all of them, so if I was going to say something about you was not normal, it wouldn't be [whatever the thing I was asking about was, I can't even remember now]. The polish stuff is what's abnormal..."

This is one of the things I love about MUT. It can't be THAT weird, look how many of us there are! Polish hoarders unite! buahahahaaaaaa

The other thing about polish for me, I really like organizing things but I'm a super disorganized person (like, it's not possible for me have my living space physically organized ever, it's horrible), so this is like one area of life where I can successfully be crazy-organized and methodical and still manage it. So that's the other part of the fun that makes me justify having so. many. untrieds.

Okay, I'm done rambling...

I think you're my twin as well!

I can't remember the entire conversation with the bf, but we were talking polish and and he mentioned the words "your polish collection", I tried to convince him that it's merely acquisitions and he started laughing. I have yet to tell him that the Helmer I picked up a few months ago is full and that I need to get a second one. Oops.

 

[Christa W]

Quote: Originally Posted by DragonChick /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I think you're my twin as well!

I can't remember the entire conversation with the bf, but we were talking polish and and he mentioned the words "your polish collection", I tried to convince him that it's merely acquisitions and he started laughing. I have yet to tell him that the Helmer I picked up a few months ago is full and that I need to get a second one. Oops.
ZOMG we are triplets!!! 

 

[lochnessie]

ZOMG we are triplets!!! 

Make that quadruplets! Not only am I always organizing my shelves and swatches, I'm compulsively updating my spreadsheet of how many times I've used a polish, how much I paid, etc.

 

[Christa W]

Quote: Originally Posted by lochnessie /img/forum/go_quote.gif




Make that quadruplets! Not only am I always organizing my shelves and swatches, I'm compulsively updating my spreadsheet of how many times I've used a polish, how much I paid, etc.
I thought about adding retail value so I could add an insurance rider in case God forbid something happens to this collection.  I lost cosmetics once that were stolen from my mom's car and I didn't get very much back. 

 

[lochnessie]

I thought about adding retail value so I could add an insurance rider in case God forbid something happens to this collection.  I lost cosmetics once that were stolen from my mom's car and I didn't get very much back. 

Oh, wow, I hadn't even thought about that! That's a really good point, though. Fortunately, most of the polishes I've purchased have been online, so I have an email documentation trail of them, too. That's horrible about the things that were stolen! Recently I've been trying to use the total amount I've paid as a way to talk myself out of buying more polish. It works sometimes? I'm proud of myself for resisting LynB's sale - my cart was full for days!

 

[Christa W]

Quote: Originally Posted by lochnessie /img/forum/go_quote.gif




Oh, wow, I hadn't even thought about that! That's a really good point, though. Fortunately, most of the polishes I've purchased have been online, so I have an email documentation trail of them, too. That's horrible about the things that were stolen!

Recently I've been trying to use the total amount I've paid as a way to talk myself out of buying more polish. It works sometimes? I'm proud of myself for resisting LynB's sale - my cart was full for days!
So out of curiosity what would you put as a price on something that's an indie that you can't get anymore?  I have a ton of older stuff I can possibly get on Ebay but not many.  What would I ever list those at?

 

[lochnessie]

So out of curiosity what would you put as a price on something that's an indie that you can't get anymore?  I have a ton of older stuff I can possibly get on Ebay but not many.  What would I ever list those at?

That's a very good question... I've just been keeping track of what I paid for a particular polish, not its actual value. I wouldn't even know where to begin on the value of a discontinued/never going to find again polish. The idea that a lot of my polishes are irreplaceable is kind of scary. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />