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Hello beautiful friends! It’s been a little while and I’m glad to be back with some Polish Pickup goodies in tow. August’s theme is At The Carnival and as always, the makers have brought their A game! I’ve got 12 fantastic products including two for Indie Pickup. Don’t fret, all will be revealed in this single post. As usual, we’ll do a quick recap of how The Pickups work then we’ll look at all our preciouses.

Polish Pickup is a fun Facebook Group where members submit and vote for one theme for the month. Afterward, indie makers create a polish or product based on the decided theme. Members can make purchases through the Polish Pickup website during the four-day shopping window, where you can pick as little or as many items as you desire. The flat rate shipping price of US $3.00/CAD $5.00 is the cherry on top. Evidenced by its rapid growth, PPU is a very clever concept that has introduced me to many new indie brands, as well as given a wider stage for smaller, well-loved ones.

Recently Indie Pickup has been following the same sale and shipping schedules as Polish Pickup and this month, posts from makers are being combined in the Polish Pickup Facebook group. Indie Pickup was created to house most of the extra non-polish items that came along after the explosive growth of Polish Pickup. All your Pickup products in one place!

Cameo Colours Lacquers – Fluffy Sugar High

Cotton Candy!

Cameo is taking on one of my favorite sweet treats, cotton candy! Warm, light, sweet and melty! Just the thought is making me kind of giddy. Fluffy Sugar High is a coral pink crelly chock full of holographic micro flakes with a mix of shimmers that move between pink and gold, violet, blue and indigo. Wrapping up this delightful bundle is a sprinkling of holographic sparkle. I’ve found that most polishes inspired by cotton candy usually lean toward the pastel side of things but I’m really digging Cameo’s bolder take here!  It’s really fun for Summer! The polish applies without issue and dries smooth to the touch. I’m wearing two coats with a glossy topcoat.

$11.00 //  95 bottles available

Cameo Colours Lacquers: Shop //  Instagram //  Facebook //  Fangroup

Dany Vianna – From The Top Of The World

View From the Top of the Ferris Wheel

Dany is giving us a gorgeous view with From The Top Of The World! The base here is an indigo crelly mixed in with  duo chrome shimmer crystal Ultra Chrome Chameleon flakes and regular Ultra Chrome Chameleon flakes. The flakes in here, oh my; they really speak to me! Just the contrast from the depth of that indigo and the pops of color makes for a flawless combination for me. I found that the polish dried a bit darker than when first applied, to the point that I started checking if it had thermal properties. Nope, the color in the base just intensifies a bit. I have no complaints about application, the flakes are not overwhelming but are easy to find and lay well. I’m wearing two coats with a glossy topcoat.

$12.00 //  75 bottles available

Dany Vianna: Shop //  Instagram //  Facebook //  Fangroup

Great Lakes Lacquer – Creatures Of Night Brought To Light

I have no idea who Mommy Fortuna is but I owe her my thanks for inspiring Mariah to create this bottle of magic. I’m a sucker for a vampy multi-chrome and this one hits all the right notes. Creatures of Night Brought to Light starts with an alluring midnight violet base which has been infused with multichrome shimmer shifting from red to orange to bronze. The polish applies slightly sheer on that first coat but builds to intensity nicely and evenly. I can easily see this being worn as a topper. That glow you guys; there’s some kind of magic in it, I swear!  I’m wearing three coats with a glossy topcoat.

Jior Couture – At The Kanaval

Sacha’s Caribana Costume

When us West Indians hear the word “Carnival”, we usually imagine bright costumes, loud music and parting in the streets. Case in point, Sacha’s At The Kanaval! Scroll down to see her smashing costume that inspired this beauty. This polish carries tones of blue, green and turquoise shifting  effortlessly in a linear holographic multichrome base. Added in are a mix of pink, red and  gold multichrome micro glitters. There is so much going on here in the best way! It’s so sparkly and the pops of color really come off fiery to me! Also, there’s some glowy goodness that my camera just couldn’t handle so I tried to capture it better with a low(er) light picture. On first coat, it is on the sheer side but builds to opacity evenly. This is another I can see being used as a topper. I’m wearing three coats with a glossy topcoat.

When I read the theme: ‘At the Carnival’ my West Indian brain read it as ‘Kanaval’ 🤣 I went with a gorgeous Caribana costume. – Sacha, Jior Couture

$12.50 //  no cap

Jior Couture: Shop //  Instagram //  Facebook //  Fangroup

JReine Cosmetics – Marigny Madame’s

Carnival in The Marigny

UP // Aurora

Jill has two offerings this month, one for PPU which we’ll look at first, and following this, a topper for IPU. Once again, she finds New Orleans as her well spring of inspiration, this time focusing on Carnival in The Marigny, a nearby neighborhood. Marigny Madame’s is one for the flakie lovers. It has a teal blue jelly base to which both green to blue sister UP and green to blue to violet Aurora shimmer has been mixed in.  Added in is a hefty helping of shifting flakes. I struggled capturing the true glory of this one. It is SO much more shifty and glowy in person. My camera failed to capture the violet shift which were really effortless to achieve. If my pictures put you in the “maybe” column on this one, be sure to check out other swatches of it for a helpful shove!

Regarding the application, the flakes are endless in here but they behave well and lay smooth. I’m wearing two coats with a glossy topcoat.

$13.00 //  no cap

JReine Cosmetics: Shop //  Instagram //  Facebook //  Fangroup

JReine Cosmetics – Good Gris Gris

Carnival in New Orleans

Aurora

Jill contribution for IPU is a clear based matte topper filled with aurora shimmer shifting red to green and some lovely shifting flakes. Again, she draws inspiration from Carnival in New Orleans. I decided to wear this topper in one coat over a black. The splotches you see are intentional; they’re from a paint splatter stamped design.

I will confess, I always have a little tinge of fear with matte polishes. My very first mattifying polish wasn’t a very good one and although I have had a few experiences with some bad behaved matte polishes, my overall experiences have been really good ones afterward. Swatching Gris Gris, I seriously held my breath and waited for clumping and cloudiness, but none of that happened. Apart from my dramatic relief, it’s a true stunner! Like, clutch pearls stunner. This is one coat.

$11.50 //  no cap

JReine Cosmetics: Shop //  Instagram //  Facebook //  Fangroup

KB Shimmer – Mirror Mirror In The Stall

Paper-framed Mirrors from the 80’s and 90’s

Aurora

Well, well, just look at this pretty little number! Mirror Mirror In the Stall has sparkly silver base which is loaded with micro holographic flakes and and aurora shimmer that moves from gold to pink to green. The movement in this polish is so glorious and it is so much more showy in the sunshine. I tried my best to capture all the color in there, but seriously, somethings just need to be held by the naked eye. I had no issues with polish application, this one dries smooth to the touch. I’m wearing two coats with a glossy topcoat.

When I was a kid, going to little town fairs and carnivals was the highlight of my summer. I remember begging so hard to play the games set up in carnival stalls for a chance to win and make those shiny band mirrors mine! – Kristy, KB Shimmer

$10.00 // no cap

KB Shimmer: Shop //  Instagram //  Facebook //  Fangroup

Moonflower Polish – It’s Not About The Parakeet!

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic – Equestria Girls – Rollercoaster of Friendship Special

Aurora

Nadia has the hottest polish in my swatch set and it’s extra special, not to me, but to my boys. They’re fans of the My Little Pony TV show and quickly recognized the video clip that served as inspiration. It’s pretty hilarious and of course they proceeded to wander around the house repeating the phrase like drunk parrots.

It’s Not About The Parakeet has a reddish orange shimmery base with peeks of red to green aurora pigment and some iridescent green micro flakes. As expected with Nadia’s polishes, this one is dual purpose, doubling as a stamping polish which I show in my swatches below. I had no problems with working with it in that capacity. In my regular swatches, I’m wearing two coats with a glossy topcoat.

The current tv show and generation of MLP toys are from the Friendship is Magic series….In one of those, Sunset Shimmer and friends are at a new theme park. During the event, she’s trying to prove that the games are rigged and gets caught up in the moment, getting more and more frustrated as time goes on. Eventually, the guys running the booth offer her a parakeet plushie so she can quit and go on her way. At which point she throws it aside and yells “it’s not about the parakeet!”. It’s a hilarious clip and my daughter and I crack up every time we see it.

$12.50 //  75 bottles available

Moonflower Polish: Shop //  Instagram //  Facebook //  Fangroup

Necessary Evil Polish – Scream-O-Coaster

Tamara’s Ride on the Big Dipper at The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Tamara drew inspiration from her own childhood memories of screaming on the Giant Dipper at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Scream-O-Coaster (I love that name!) has a rich and creamy red base with pops of color from copper shimmer and scattered holographic pigment. It’s so simple and absolutely stunning. On its own, its highly pigmented and has a nice shine. I would wear this as one coat for my daily use but for these pictures I’m wearing two coats with a glossy topcoat.

$11.00 //  no cap

Necessary Evil Polish: Shop //  Instagram //  Facebook //  Fangroup

Painted Polish – Twister On The Tides

Twister Water Slide on Carnival Cruise Ships

Cue nonsense words from me cause thats what polishes like these make me do! Lexi went the extra creative route with the theme, drawing inspiration from the ‘Twister water slide on Carnival Cruise ships. The base for Twister on the Tides is a yummy bumblebee yellow crelly to which cobalt blue color shifting flakes are added. The contrast here is so bold, with extra pops of color from those flakies. I’m wearing two coats with a glossy topcoat.

$12.50 // 320 bottles available

Painted Polish: Shop //  Instagram //  Facebook //  Fangroup

Vapid Wax – Carnival By The Sea

Carnival by the Sea

Wrapping up this post is some yummy wax.  Jenn is drawing on inspiration from southern sea spray and juicy melon with Carnival by the Sea. This scent is described as popcorn and familiar scents of the carnival treats and eats with the salty mist of the sea, and a wave of watermelon to bring that southern summer sweet! On cold sniff, the first scent I notice is a blend of sweetness and popcorn. After melting, the watermelon really takes center stage with the popcorn and saltiness lingering.

Carnival by the Sea is colored light blue and comes in a 3 oz clamshell block. I spotted a tiny bit of micro-glitter settling at the base of my melter while enjoying.  If you love the warm scent of popcorn and juicy, sweet watermelon, this will be a treat for you!

Jenn’s wax is a collaboration with Del of Fat Cat Pawlished!

$5.00 for 3 oz of wax  //  no cap

 Vapid Wax:  Shop  //  Instagram // Facebook // Fangroup

What a fun array! Remember, this is only a snippet so check out the Facebook page for more!

All items available from on Friday, August 2nd, 11 am EST, to Monday, August 5th, 11:59 pm EST from Polish Pickup Online

Polish Pickup:  Store  //  Facebook  //  Instagram  //  Facebook Group

What are you most excited to grab this month?