Saturday, November 15, 2014

Lucky 13 Lacquer Elementary, Dear Data

Note: The name of this polish is Elementary, Dear Data, with comma, but for the purposes of easier writing and reading I'm going to omit that comma in the body of this review. 

Like Dixon Hill Private Investigator, Elementary Dear Data was released by indie polish maker Lucky 13 Lacquer as part of the Star Trek: The Next Generation collection. This polish was inspired by the Star Trek TNG episode of the same name, memorable for Geordi's inadvertent creation of a holodeck version of the classic Holmes adversary, Moriarty, who plumbs the mysteries of holodeck simulation and is able to reach beyond its limits to briefly gain control of the Enterprise's computer. I loved this episode and still enjoy catching it every now and then on BBC America even after seeing it many, many times over the years. Something about the holodeck program creating a being sentient and aware enough to explore the limitations of personal reality really waxes my skis.

Elementary Dear Data, the polish, is a medium-dark rich slatey grey linear holographic polish. It reminds me of the color of the flannel bags that Geoffrey Beene Grey Flannel cologne comes in, but with a slightly warmer cast, as if it has some deep sable undertones to it. It's like Essie Smokin Hot, but with taupe undertones instead of purple, a warmish dark grey with a luxe, creamy appearance and feel on the nail. It's a perfectly gorgeous color for fall and winter. The holographic properties are somewhat subdued in this polish, but the holo pigment makes the color rich and dimensional. Direct sun, which sadly was in short supply today, elicits a muted linear prismatic display, which infuses the base color with a bloom predominated by gold and pale blue. 

Application was luscious. As with the other two Lucky 13 holos I've featured recently, creator Jess has produced a superbly applying formula for Elementary Dear Data -- fluid but not runny, smooth and creamy with an easy self-leveling flow over the nail. It has a bit of bouncines to it almost like a jelly but it goes on with a creme's smoothness and body. Just fantastic! Pigmentation is buildable -- fairly sheer on the first coat with wearable coverage in two coats and rich, completely even and opaque color in three. I used three coats for this manicure and that's what I would recommend to get the most out of this color. Cleanup is easy and straightforward. Elementary Dear Data dries naturally in good time to a smooth shiny finish. 

Photos show three coats of Elementary Dear Data over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite. Another overcast day here prohibited any good pics of the holo display in this polish.


Lucky 13 Elementary, Dear Data


Lucky 13 Elementary, Dear Data


Lucky 13 Elementary, Dear Data


Lucky 13 Elementary, Dear Data


Lucky 13 Elementary, Dear Data


Lucky 13 Elementary, Dear Data


Lucky 13 Elementary, Dear Data


Lucky 13 Elementary, Dear Data


Lucky 13 Elementary, Dear Data


Lucky 13 Elementary, Dear Data


Lucky 13 Elementary, Dear Data

I'm thinking that Elementary Dear Data is what you would call a jelly holo. The formula has the bouncy squishiness of a jelly along with the sheer pigmentation, and the holo pigment takes full advantage of them to inform the appearance with depth-producing speckles that refract light within the polish even when the prismatic effects are not in play. Gives it a beautifully dimensional presence, I think.

Elementary My Dear Data is not a grey for holo lovers, it's a holo for grey lovers. If you enjoy deep, interesting grey polishes, this one is for YOU!

love,
Liz

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