Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Like Did You Know You're My Hero, You Make Me Smile was released in April 2016 by Colorado-based indie polish maker Colors by Llarowe as part of the Tribute to a Wonderful Friend subset of the Spring 2016 collection. Officially described as a "bright almost neon pinky red coral soft linear holo with blue/purple shimmer," the base color is a creamy, dense, slightly magenta-leaning variation of deep pink with strong raspberry overtones that give it a rosy aspect and a general appearance similar to Pantone's paradise pink. Ultrafine holographic pigment creates a finely-grained visual texture with an effervescent quality that nicely complements the vibrant, effusive character of the color, and infinitesimal blue/purple particulate shimmers generate a delicate, transparent violet overlay. In the sun, there's a shimmering, diffuse holographic display, somewhat scattered by the particulate shimmers, with a vestigial prismatic bloom that travels up and down the nail with the light.

Application was most agreeable! The consistency of You Make Me Smile is fluid, full-bodied and creamy with a medium viscosity and a lush, velvety, self-leveling glide over the nail that has a tiny bit of pull to it. Pigmentation is excellent. With a generous hand, evenly opaque, wearable coverage can be had in one coat, although as with most holos I think two thin-to-medium coats better maximizes the holographic effects. Cleanup was remarkably easy for such a saturated color, with a smidge of pigment travel but little to no residual staining. You Make Me Smile dries naturally in very good time to a silky smooth, flat finish that wants a glossy topcoat to look its best. Topcoat enhances the effects of the shimmers and does not interfere with the holographic properties in any way.

Photos show two coats of You Make Me Smile over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

Colors by Llarowe You Make Me Smile

This polish is so appropriately named -- that rich, vivid, lush deep pink is euphoric! It reminds me of lipstick and tulips for some reason, although in my experience the color is denser and more magenta-leaning than real pink tulips. It must be the bright, exuberantly feminine splash of color in the middle of what passes for winter here in central NC that's got me going... but that's not to say that You Make Me Smile is necessarily or unusually spring-like. Personally, I think that it's got plenty of oomph to hold its own with jewel-tones and makes for a lively, high-spirited alternative to darker, more wintry shades. An excellent choice for Valentine's Day!

love,
Liz