Pahlish Violet Gumdrops

Violet Gumdrops was just recently released by indie polish maker Pahlish as part of the Winter 2014 collection. Shannon, the owner and creative force behind Pahlish, describes it as a "deep violet-blue linear holographic with a mix of gold, copper and pink metallic flakes." This is a dark violet polish with finely milled holographic pigment and small shardy platelet shimmers. The holo and shimmer effects are exquisitely balanced, with neither outshining the other but instead contributing equally to a unique look. The color is almost extravagantly lush, with the holographic pigment contributing a beautiful sapphire blue bloom in indirect light. Speckling this are the flaky shimmers, which sparkle delicately and are easily visible on close inspection. From afar, they provide additional depth and subtle visual interest. Gorgeous in the bottle, this polish is equally so on the nail.

Application was a delight! The consistency of Violet Gumdrops is fluid, silky smooth and dense, with a lovely balance of fluidity and viscosity for painting. It has a velvety glide over the nail and excellent self-leveling properties. Pigmentation is also excellent, with wearable opacity in one coat. I used two to finesse some lines left wanting after the first coat and ensure full rich bottle color. Cleanup is surprisingly easy for such a well-pigmented polish, with no trace of staining left behind. Violet Gumdrops dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, shiny finish. Topcoat enhances the colors of the base and components.

Photos show two coats of Violet Gumdrops over treatment and basecoat with a thin topcoat of Seche Vite.

Pahlish Violet Gumdrops

Pahlish Violet Gumdrops

Pahlish Violet Gumdrops

Pahlish Violet Gumdrops

Pahlish Violet Gumdrops

Pahlish Violet Gumdrops

Pahlish Violet Gumdrops

Pahlish Violet Gumdrops

Pahlish Violet Gumdrops

Pahlish Violet Gumdrops

Pahlish Violet Gumdrops

Pahlish Violet Gumdrops

Pahlish Violet Gumdrops

I think this is just a stunning polish! Since we've got heavy cloud cover today I haven't even seen it in direct sun, but I love it so much in indirect light with the soft blush of prismatic sapphire merging with the violet base and the flaky platelet shimmers glowing throughout that I doubt direct sunlight could improve on it. I wish it had a different sort of name, though. Violet Gumdrops seems too whimsical for this speckled, dramatic, richly colored polish. 

What name would you give it, if you could?

love,
Liz