ILNP Downpour

Like Party Favor, Downpour was released last month by Nevada-based indie polish maker ILNP as part of the Holiday 2017 collection.

Described by creator Barbra as a "holographic nail polish with flecks of blue and purple shimmer against a backdrop of bold indigo blue," Downpour is constructed similarly to Party Favor, with a semi-transparent, jelly-like base bearing superabundant metallic microflake shimmers as well as copious holographic flakies. To my eye, the base color is a dark sapphire, which combines with the blue and purple of the shimmers to create aspects of Majorelle blue, ultramarine, amethyst and indigo. The shimmers also impart a reflective, semi-metallic quality to the finish of the polish. It's a medium to darker look overall, but intense, bold and flashy, like foil gift wrap, and the color reminds me of a stylized rendering of Elizabeth Taylor's eyes. It is densely flecked with silvery holographic flakies, which explode into a blanket of brilliant prismatic sparkle in direct light.

Application was super! The consistency of Downpour is fluid, light and smooth with a medium viscosity and a fluent, self-leveling glide over the nail. Pigmentation is sheer on the first coat but will build to a wearable opacity with the second if you paint in medium coats. However, I think that the addition of a third contributes to the density, vibrancy and energy of the look in a way that just seems to suit the nature of this polish better than two coats does. Just my take! Cleanup is straightforward. Downpour dries naturally in very good time to a smooth, shiny finish.

Photos show three coats of Downpour over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

ILNP Downpour

ILNP Downpour

ILNP Downpour

ILNP Downpour

ILNP Downpour

ILNP Downpour

ILNP Downpour

ILNP Downpour

ILNP Downpour

ILNP Downpour

ILNP Downpour

This rich jewel-tone has just the kind of showy, extroverted sensibility on the nail to make another excellent holiday party polish! That the combination of a semi-transparent base with metallic microflake shimmers can produce such gloriously intense color -- and the ease with which the look comes together as you apply it -- is actually kind of amazing. You would never expect it from the first coat alone -- at least I didn't!

If you like your winter nail colors darker but also bright and bold, this collection definitely has some polishes with your name on them!

love,
Liz