It’s nearly opaque in one coat, but two are needed for full opacity. It dries down to a fairly shiny finish, and it looks really rich and intense on the nail. The consistency is not too thick or too thin, so it flowed flawlessly across the nail. This was really a dream to use–application was so, so easy. Cult Nails’ formula wears like iron–I get a full seven days with very minor tip wear but no chips. If you’ve been holding out for just the right red cream polish, this is one of the best I’ve come across.
Absolutely flawless--this formula is beyond phenomenal. It's so fluid, pigment-packed, and Cult Nails' formula has always been very, very durable on me.
Product
10/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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Cult Nails Enticing Nail Lacquer ($10.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “very sheer pale milky pink.” It’s also supposed to be “buidlable to an almost opaque finish.” It’s a soft pale pink with subtle yellow undertones. It’s semi-opaque after two coats with a hint of visible nail line. There’s also an incredibly fine white shimmer that almost disappears in natural light. I don’t have an extensive collection of sheerer shades, but my first instict would be to look in Essie’s catalog of colors. Essie French Affair is darker, cooler-toned. Nubar Pink Lily is a little starker, because it’s opaque, but the colors are quite close, though Pink Lily is a cream finish. China Glaze Encouragement is also similar–to me this is the closest–and the major difference is this has larger shimmer. China Glaze Something Sweet is a bit darker and is a cream finish.
For sheer color, just one coat is appropriate, and if you want a little more color, two coats is appropriate. I imagine you could get to fully opaque color with a third coat, but I think the formula is just a little thicker, so three coats is where you may start to feel the thickness. There’s a subtle yellow undertone running through it, so it has a very soft, romantic edge to it and should work on both cool and warmer complexions. It’s a nice shade for springtime as well as for those seeking work-friendly colors. Cult Nails’ formula typically wears a full week without chipping and has only very minor tip wear.
There's a subtle yellow undertone running through it, so it has a very soft, romantic edge to it and should work on both cool and warmer complexions. It's a nice shade for springtime as well as for those seeking work-friendly colors.
Product
9.5/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9.5/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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Cult Nails Manipulative Nail Lacquer ($10.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as an “opaque pale blue with a hint of green” with a cream finish and subtle shimmer. It’s a dusty aqua blue with bluish-white shimmer. It really does hide in certain light, but with enough light, the shimmer is noticeable. OCC Pool Boy is similar but brighter, more vibrant. Nubar Blue Hydrangea is bluer. It’s actually really cool to see Cult Nails put out shades that I haven’t seen on the market–it just seems more often than not they’re creating a shade that meets an unmet need (though I certainly haven’t seen every shade by every brand ever made, so there may be closer dupes out there).
It’s opaque in two coats, and the formula was absolutely flawless–not too thick or too thin, flowed fluidly across the nail, no drag, pull, or pooling to the edges. Cult Nails’ formulas tend to wear a full week on me with no chipping and very minor tip wear. It’s a gorgeous color for summer; would look really lovely on toes for those days at the beach or at the swimming pool (I have a thing for aqua/blue-polished toes against a blue pool).
It's actually really cool to see Cult Nails put out shades that I haven't seen on the market--it just seems more often than not they're creating a shade that meets an unmet need.
Product
10/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
Cult Nails Scandalous Nail Lacquer ($10.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “pastel coral” with a jelly finish, which is buildable in color. It’s an orange-coral with a just-muted quality to the overall color. The bottle looks a bit brighter than how it appears on the nail. There’s an inkling of pink in the color, but it’s hard to see. I think against skin tones with pink undertones, it will be more apparent, but paired with my warm undertones, it pulls more orange. I don’t have any similar shades with a jelly finish, which is such a distinctive finish that similar hues don’t look the same because of that difference alone. Essie Tart Deco is a little paler, creamier. Barielle Blossom is much lighter.
There’s visible nail line after two coats (which is what I have on in the swatches), and three coats is nearly opaque–a hint of nail line comes through at certain angles. According to the brand, it’s “almost opaque” at two to three coats, which seems to be what I experienced. I think Maria does an excellent job at setting expectations with her shades. This dried a lot quicker than most polishes for me; I just applied it while editing the photos to ensure color accuracy, and it was mostly dry on its own after a couple of minutes–no top coat or anything–you’ll pick up fingerprints, so it wasn’t 100% dry, but enough to maneuver. The formula is of the typical thickness for a jelly; it had that slightly gel-like consistency. Cult Nails’ formulas tend to wear a full week on me with no chipping and very minor tip wear.
It has a really lovely squishy look to it, and I love that it's buildable--you can have the more common translucent jelly-look, but you can also go opaque without having to do four layers.
Product
10/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
Cult Nails My Kind of Cool Aid Nail Lacquer ($10.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “purple/gray” or “gravender” as Cult Nails calls it. It’s a light-medium grayish purple with sparse white shimmer that’s opaque in two coats. I’d say the closest shade I have to it is Rescue Beauty Lounge Insouciant, which is a few shades darker and less gray. Shades like Nubar Purple Aster and Zoya Marley are much lighter.
The formula is excellent–it wears really well without bubbling, chipping, or streaking. The lacquer applies evenly and flows well on the nail, and after a week, there is minimal tip wear. One of the best things about the brand is that you’re supporting an independent company and truly making someone’s dream come true–and when you have a great back story with a quality product? It doesn’t get any better.
My kind of Cool Aid is soft, wearable but not just a nude or beige--there's that purpleness to it that gives it an airiness. In two coats, it's opaque, and the formula is a dream to work with!
Product
10/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
5/5
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!
Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
