Tonic Polish Happy Beginning

Happy Beginning was released in August this year by Iowa-based indie polish maker Tonic Polish as part of the Unicorn Pee collection. It's the only one of the six polishes in the series that doesn't contain magical "unicorn pee" colorshifting shimmers, intended instead as the perfect squishy jelly base for unicorn pee toppers. The color is a very clean, bold medium-darkish cobalt blue, which the jelly formula allows plenty of light to penetrate, illuminating and intensifying it in degree with the strength of the light in which it's viewed. It's bright enough to be vivid, especially in direct sunlight, and dark enough to be a true cobalt.

Application went surprisingly well, all things considered. The consistency of Happy Beginning is fluid, full-bodied and very smooth with a medium viscosity and a silky, self-leveling slip over the nail, a beautiful formula that is easy to control and manipulate with Tonic's flattened, flexible brush. Pigmentation is sheer, but wearable opacity can be had in two coats, especially for shorties, with fullest opacity and deepest color in three. Cleanup is straightforward -- a touch of pigment travel, not unexpected, but only a little trace staining. Happy Beginning dries naturally in good time to a slightly flat finish that wants a glossy topcoat to look its very best.

Photos show three coats of Happy Beginning over basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Tonic Polish Happy Beginning

Tonic Polish Happy Beginning

Tonic Polish Happy Beginning

Tonic Polish Happy Beginning

Tonic Polish Happy Beginning

Tonic Polish Happy Beginning

Tonic Polish Happy Beginning

This polish is a blast to wear, morphing as is does from a sleek, fathomless dark blue in low light and shade to a radiant, expansive, vivid cobalt in direct light, with the delicious squish factor beloved by jelly polish enthusiasts. The intensity of the color makes my eyes happy! An excellent base for your unicorn pee toppers -- it will really bring out that red shift -- and a beautiful, bold, dramatic blue all by itself, too.

love,
Liz