Category Archives: Swatch Saturday

Swatch Saturday: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer’s Might Not Recover

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Hey reader! It’s Swatch Saturday! Last week’s swatch saw us finish up Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer‘s 2015 Spark in the Dark collection, and what a beautiful collection it was. Everything was wintry and icy and special. This week has us shifting into the collection that came after, the Crooked Hearts collection that was released for Valentine’s Day. I’ve talked before about my love for the BEGL Valentine’s collections because it’s rarely the pink and red shades you’re expecting; this collection is just plain gloomy and I love it. This first polish is called Might Not Recover; I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite top coat.

Might Not Recover is a clear-based microglitter polish with glitters in holo lilac and silver, platinum flakes, and reflective beads. Application was good, and pretty standard for the BEGL microglitter; it’s easy to use, achieves opacity quickly, and needs top coat for smoothness. This one felt especially textured thanks to the reflective beads, but one coat of Seche Vite smoothed it out nicely.

So, another swatch, another great microglitter. I had so much fun wearing this that I kept it on for a couple of days after I did the swatch. BEGL microglitters are always fun to wear because there’s always something interesting going on; in this one, the color is my favorite thing. It’s not a color I see often in glitter, and having a polish that’s mostly made up of it makes me happy. The platinum flakes stand out without being seen; you can see something in there breaking up the purple glitter, but they blend in so well you can barely tell they’re there.

I only regret that the sun wasn’t out to show you how this polish really looks. It’s intense. It’s blinding. It’s what every microglitter should be.

Might Not Recover isn’t in stock in the Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer shop, but a few polishes from this collection still are. Make sure you get them!

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Saturday: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer’s Never Look Back

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Welcome back to Swatch Saturday! Today’s swatch is all about a polish made to spread awareness about depression and raise money for charity. I’ve mentioned the Lighthouse of Hope box previously on the blog; it was a box curated by Julie of Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer for her annual depression awareness fundraiser, and contained eight polishes, all from different makers. $60 of the $80 box went to the charity I Need a Lighthouse. You’ll notice I’m using the past tense; the boxes have all finally sold out! I guess it’s bad news if you wanted one, but the good news is that $1,200 has made its way to a fantastic charity. This polish is Julie’s own contribution to the box, Never Look Back. I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite.

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Special Lighthouse label, too!

Special Lighthouse label, too!

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Never Look Back is a clear-based emerald green microglitter polish. While the emerald green is the main element, there are also pops of blue and purple. Application is easy; the glitters go on easily and build to opacity around two coats. The product consistency is thick but still nice to work with. It does dry with a slight bit of texture, so top coat is necessary for a smooth finish.

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Here’s a note from Julie about the polish:

“I’m constantly reminding myself to look to the future and not dwell on the past. It can be immensely difficult to do so, but it is completely necessary for my recovery. Remember that the future holds amazing things, so don’t dwell on the bad from the past!”

I admire Julie for being so open about her depression and for working so hard to break down the stigmas of mental illness. Even in today’s world, where being open and honest and forthcoming is encouraged, mental illness is still something people have a hard time opening up about, and it shouldn’t be that way. The more we talk about mental illnesses, the less power they have over us, and that’s definitely a good thing.

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So this polish is perfect for the upcoming holidays! I will probably end up breaking it out again for that. There’s so much shine and sparkle to it. I kinda failed to do it justice; I have a hard time focusing on all those tiny magical glitters.

As I mentioned, this box has sold out. Other Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquers are available in their online shop, including this year’s fundraiser polish, My Head’s Above the Rain, of which all $15 of the purchase price goes to the I Need a Lighthouse organization.

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Saturday: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer’s It’s Almost After Midnight

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Happy Saturday! Thanksgiving just happened in America, and I am so wiped from cooking. This was the first year I made the dinner myself, and I did my best to express myself through food; I used a lot of fruits from my own fruit trees and nearly every dessert had some kind of alcoholic ingredient. I wanted my dinner to reflect on me as a person. Unfortunately, the only thing it said about me is that I’m incredibly disorganized, because nothing got finished on time. At least Swatch Saturday is on time! I’m wearing It’s Almost After Midnight from Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer; I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite.

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There’s a teensy bit of ugly bottle syndrome on the bottom.

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It’s Almost After Midnight is a gray polish with blue shimmer and blue flash. Application was very nice; the product consistency, though on the thin side, was very smooth and easy to work with. The first coat was on the sheer side, but it evened out to full opacity at two. It dries down to a satiny finish. The polish isn’t described by the maker as a shifter, but the blue shimmer does appear to shift purple at some angles. I used top coat for extra shine.

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This is the last polish in the Spark in the Dark collection, and it’s a great wintry addition. The blue shimmer is icy, and it’s intense enough to fool one into thinking the polish itself is blue. It’s a very cool (pun) look. I like that it’s a gray base and not black; I love grays for not being as severe as black, which makes it a little more stylish.

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I didn’t get any outdoor photos, because it’s been overcast for days. I bet this is a stunner in the sun, though. The shimmer is really intense in bright lighting.

It’s Almost After Midnight has been discontinued by Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer. The BEGL shop is closed for the moment, but there will be Cyber Monday sales this Monday the 28th. Get you some!

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Saturday on Sunday: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer’s The Years Have Been Short

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Hi! So this weekend we’re doing both weekend swatches in one day, because I was irresponsible yesterday and spent all day shopping instead of blogging like I should have been. Sorry! I’ll post what should have been yesterday’s post now, and today’s post will follow. Let’s get started! My Saturday Swatch is Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer‘s The Years Have Been Short; I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite.

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The Years Have Been Short is a thin white crelly with a mix of fine white and blue glitters. Application was easy; the glitters spread well over the nail while the crelly adds a creamy, glossy finish. The crelly is very thin and the whites of my nails are still visible, even through three coats. Though it’s fine glitter, the polish dries with a coarse texture and top coat is necessary for a smooth finish.

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I’m almost finished with the Spark in the Dark collection! Though I have my favorites from this collection, I think The Years Have Been Short is the most unique of them. It’s like a grown-up cousin of the vintage BEGL First Frost; they use the same crelly base and the same glitter colors, but the glitter is finer and the look is a little more elegant and wintry. I felt super fancy wearing this!

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In the sunlight, you can see how thin the crelly is, which I really love. These photos were taken in direct sunlight.

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The Years Have Been Short has been discontinued by Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer; other BEGL polishes are available in their online shop.

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Saturday: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer’s Counting Down Until I See You

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Happy Swatch Saturday! Today I’m trying out my favorite polish from the Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer‘s Spark in the Dark collection. This is Counting Down Until I See You; I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite. Also, one thing I want to mention: I published my 500th blog post this week! Yay!

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Counting Down Until I See You is a clear-based microglitter polish with gray and pink glitters in various shapes and sizes. Application was easy; the glitter is very easy to distribute on the nail. The product consistency is very easy to work with. The first coat leaves some bare spots, so you could wear this as a dense topper if you wanted to. The second coat fills up the bare spots. The glitter leaves some texture behind, so add a third coat for extra texture if that’s the look you’re going for. I used top coat for smoothness and shine.

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There are some great polishes in this collection, but for me, none of them tops this one. When the collection launched, I expected She’s Electricity to be my fave, because bright pink holos usually are my favorites. However, this polish knocks it out of the park. It’s pink, it’s blingy, and the various shapes and colors add so much nuance. It’s mostly hexes, but there are some squares, and perhaps the most obvious shape is the diamond-shaped glitter hanging out in there. The peppered-in grays are just enough to break up the monotony. I love this polish so much.

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Unfortunately, since it’s been cloudy outside all this week, I don’t get to show you what this looks like in bright direct sunlight. I bet it would be blinding, though.

Counting Down Until I See You is — you guessed — discontinued by Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer. Unforunately. Other BEGLs are available in their online shop.

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Saturday: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer’s Hypothermia

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Happy Saturday, reader! Today’s Swatch Saturday is good. We’re looking at Hypothermia, a special Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer that’s never been sold alone — except during the annual Depression Awareness charity auctions — you always had to buy the winter collection as a whole. Perhaps it will make a return in this year’s winter collection! Here’s three coats of Hypothermia with one coat of Seche Vite. All photos were taken outdoors in direct sunlight.

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Hypothermia is a steely lavender holo with purple shimmers. Application was very easy; this polish has the usual perfect BEGL formula and product consistency and was very nice to work with. Depending on your application technique, you may only need one coat of this polish for a completely opaque look; others should stop at two. The shimmers, are easily detected in this polish, though it does blend in easily with the holo effect. The polish dries with a somewhat glossy finish; I used top coat for extra shine and holo emphasis.

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So, yeah. Hypothermia is a BEGL classic, and if you don’t own it, you’ve gotta get it. It’s the perfect purple for winter; it’s a deep, greyed-out shade, but the holo effect is strong if you’re lucky enough to get some sun. I definitely recommend grabbing this the next time it becomes available.

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From left to right: Direct sunlight, cloudy conditions, direct light again, but tilted for shimmer visibility

As I mentioned, Hypothermia was never sold separately outside of special events and was a gift with purchase of previous winter collections. Keep an eye on BEGL news to see if this lovely comes back. Other BEGL polishes are sold in their shop.

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Saturday: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer’s Wanna Fall In Love Tonight

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Swatch Saturday is here again! We had so many special manis this month that I almost didn’t have time to swatch. Almost. The lovely BEGL I’m wearing this Saturday is Wanna Fall in Love Tonight; I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Gelous.

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Wanna Fall in Love Tonight is a purple polish with an allover golden shimmer. Application was good; the color is well-pigmented and glides on easily, achieving opacity in two coats. The product consistency was very nice as well, being thin enough to manipulate without being floody or streaky. The one issue is that one may end up with brushstrokes in the shimmer if one isn’t careful. The polish dries with a matte finish; I used top coat for shine.

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Indie polish is all about shimmers right now, and I feel like BEGL was ahead of the curve with polishes like this. I love constrasting colors, and having purple and gold in one polish is seriously exciting. It’s a minimalist kind of polish; it says all it needs to while saying very little.

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This polish seriously glows in the sun. The golden shimmer really comes alive and just warms up the whole look. It’s very nice. These photos were taken in direct sunlight.

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Wanna Fall in Love Tonight has been discontinued by Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer; other BEGL polishes are available in their online shop.

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Saturday: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer’s Never Danced Like This Before

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It’s Swatch Saturday!! For the first time in two weeks! It’s been so long since I did an actual swatch that I think I forgot how. To ease myself back in, I’m wearing a stunning sapphire holo from Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer. This is Never Danced Like This Before; I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite. All photos were taken outdoors in direct sunlight.

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Never Danced Like This Before is a deep blue linear holo with matching flakies. It leans indigo in some angles. Application with this polish was a dream; the product consistency was very easy to work with, and the first coat was practically opaque. Yes, I said one coat! I say practically because on some nails, there were still some bare spots that needed a second coat, but it was very nearly there. I definitely did not need the third coat I used. I’m really impressed with it! The polish dries quickly with a smooth, semi-matte finish; I used top coat for shine and protection.

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So this polish is seriously amazing. The jewel-like blue, the holo, the extra sparkle from the flakies, the ease of use… There is nothing about this polish that isn’t perfect. The color is trendy and flattering for anyone. The only catch is that it’s discontinued, and I am so, so sad for anyone who didn’t get a chance to pick it up. Polishes like this are why I buy everything BEGL makes, even if I think I don’t want it, because I know I’ll regret it later.

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As I mentioned, Never Danced Like This Before is discontinued by Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer. Other BEGLs can — and should — be purchased from their online shop.

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Saturday: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer’s Bound to the City Life

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Happy Saturday, reader! I don’t say this often, but I am in love with today’s polish. It’s just so glittery! This is Bound to the City Life from Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer; I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite top coat.

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Bound to the City Life is a deep indigo jelly with fine holographic glitters. Application was very easy; the product consistency is on the thinner side, but is still able to support the glitter well. The first coat was a deep blue, but still needed additional coats for opacity and deepened color. Though a jelly, it does eventually reach a squishy but opaque shade of blue. The glitter is very fine, leaving very little texture when dry. The polish does dry with a glossy finish; I still used top coat for extra smoothness and shine.

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Bound to the City Life is the blue cousin to Noticing Face, another polish I wore recently and loved a lot. I love how deep the color is; it’s dark and dramatic, but obviously still quite blue. Everything about it is pretty perfect. These are absolutely my favorite kinds of polishes, and BEGL always nails them (hah, because polish).

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Outdoors, the blueness and the jellyness is most apparent. You can see all the way through it. Every bit of glitter is visible and sparkling, but the things you don’t want to see — visible nail lines, for example — are not visible at all. These photos were taken in direct sunlight.

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Bound to the City Life has been discontinued by Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer; other BEGL polishes are available in their online shop.

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Saturday: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer’s Sirens Are Made For Water, Not Snow

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Happy Saturday, reader! Today’s swatch is another Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer Siren, Sirens Are Made For Water, Not Snow. It’s a summery take on a winter theme. I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite top coat.

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Sirens Are Made For Water, Not Snow is a bright blue creme with a strong purple flash. Application was good; product consistency was on the thin side for a BEGL, but was still easy to use. The first coat was worryingly thin and streaky, but it did even out by the third coat. It’s still somewhat sheer; you can see a faint visible nail line in some photos. The purple flash shows up best in low lighting, but can be seen in any lighting condition, so long as the polish is facing the light. The polish dries with a smooth but satin finish; I used top coat for shine and protection.

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I think this photo has the best flash capture.

I think this photo has the best flash capture.

I love when BEGL does a polish that’s seasonally unconventional. They do it pretty often and it’s one of my favorite things about the brand. Of course they’d do a super bright blue for January, right? I kind of relate to it. By the time January rolls around, I’m thinking about spring. I’m thinking about halter tops and swimming pools and green leaves on trees. I am not a winter person and every year I dread its arrival. I totally get what this Siren is about.

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The purple flash in this polish was really difficult to capture. It definitely looks best in lower lighting; in my office, it’s very strong. In the studio, it’s there, but kind of latent. In bright sunshine, it’s almost completely washed out. To me, though, the flash is just bonus; I’m completely in love with the blue creme itself. The following photos were taken in direct sunlight.

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Sirens Are Made For Water, Not Snow was released in a numbered limited edition and has since sold out. Other Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquers are sold in their online shop, though they are still on a break.

I bought this polish myself.