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
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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 Hypnotic Collection Review, Photos, Swatches
Cult Nails Hypnotic Collection is now available, and Temptalia readers can take $5 off $40+ orders with code TEMPTALIA, good through 8/31. There are four shades in the fall collection, and each bottle contains 0.5 fl. oz. and costs $10. The shades include: Awakening (dusty teal), Enigmatic (purple base with a brown hue), Hypnotize Me (sheer green jelly with glitter), and In a Trance (olive green to muted gold).
Awakening is a dark, smoked teal-blue with a cream finish. I needed three coats for opaque color, because the consistency is on the thinner side. It has a dustier appearance (so it looks more muted, less intense) compared to MAC Deep Sea and Rescue Beauty Lounge Teal. It’s like a teal version of MAC Blue India.
Enigmatic is a plum purple with hints of brown and red flecked with silver and plum shimmer. I needed two coats for opaque color. The brown hues of the shade disappear under brighter light. China Glaze Urban Night is a bit lighter and doesn’t have any shimmer.
Hypnotize Me is a very barely green-tinted base with iridescent blue and green glitter. It’s supposed to be sheer, and if you want a more cohesive result, it’s probably best as a layering shade. The texture is extremely thick–it’s very much like jelly or jam or even like hair gel (thick of the type in a tub). Because of the overall thickness of the formula, you have to be careful applying the color. I only did two coats, because I didn’t want to go too thick.
In a Trance is a olive green with tarnished gold shimmer. It was opaque in two coats, and the formula was just right–not too thick or too thin. To me, this was the standout shade of the four, particularly because of how easy it was to apply. The base color is similar to Rescue Beauty Lounge No More War. It’s not quite as bright or as green as China Glaze Peace on Earth.
In a Trance had the best formula, while Awakening was a little sheer (needed three coats) and Hypnotize Me is extremely thick (not gloppy necessarily, but it truly has the texture of a gel). I like the concept of Hypnotize Me but would appreciate a thinner consistency overall. In the past, I’ve tested out several shades from Cult Nails, and the wear is great–a good week with minor tip wear (with a proper base/top coat).
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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Founder, Maria Morisson, on the inspiration behind the collection, “I looked for no specific inspiration for this collection. Instead, I simply allowed the colors to pull me in… to hypnotize me. With each release, I try to introduce several unique color choices while offering shades that range from basic to fantastic. Each of the colors in this collection entranced me in their own way while I perfected what I wanted to bring you.”
In a Trance Reminiscent of an aged skeleton key, this color shifts from olive green to muted gold with an enchanting shimmer
Enigmatic Indoors, the purple base takes on a brown hue and lets the silver shimmer steal the show; in sunlight, it draws flashes of red, blue, pink and purple sparkle
Awakening Muted or dusty teal that has a rich crème finish
Hypnotize Me Sheer green jelly with vibrant blue and green glitter; can also be layered for a shade, finish, and effect that is quite hypnotic all on its own.
Cult Nails lacquers are available for sale online at www.cultnails.com. Each 0.5 fl. oz. bottle sells for $10 USD. During the pre-sale event, the Hypnotic Collection will be sold only as a set for $30 USD, a savings of 25% off the regular price. Cult Nails™ lacquers are DBP, Formaldehyde, Toluene, and Camphor free and are not tested on animals.
Cult Nails Let Me Fly Nail Laquer ($10.00 for 0.5 fl. oz.) is described as a “dusty turquoise shimmer with gorgeous silver shimmer.” It’s a dusty teal-blue with silver shimmer that’s opaque in two coats. The formula was really nice on this one; not too thick or thin with even flow and great coverage. I’ve had good luck with wear on Cult Nails’ line so far (I’ve tested three or four shades in full)–getting about a week’s worth of wear without chips.
It's a really stellar formula with opaque color in two coats. If you like the idea of a blue or teal for summer but don't find some of the brightness of those summery shades to your taste, this muted version might work.
Product
10/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
4.5/5
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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 Always Winning Nail Laquer ($10.00 for 0.5 fl. oz.) is described as a “sheer metallic olive green layering polish with gold and holo glitter.” It’s an olive green with a metallic shimmer threaded through the base color topped off with lots of gold glitter, along with pieces of glitter that look multi-colored in brighter light (see the photo taken with flash). I did three coats in the swatches, and you can see it’s more semi-opaque, but two coats gives you a sheerer look. The formula was on the thinner side but easy to work with, and the glitter spread evenly without having to work at it.
When it comes to a glittery shade like this one, it’s best to let your remover soak on the nail for a little bit and then removing. I just use felt soaked in Zoya Remove+ and press it against the nail for 5-10 seconds, and then I do one pull. I’ve had good luck with wear on Cult Nails’ line so far (I’ve tested three or four shades in full)–getting about a week’s worth of wear without chips.
I like the idea of a sheer metallic, because I think it works to minimize some of the brush strokes often apparent with more metallic finishes. The inclusion of glitter also varies up the finish so you get the metallic finish without the brush strokes.
Product
9.5/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
4/5
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!
Cult Nails Captivated Nail Laquer ($10.00 for 0.5 fl. oz.) is described as a “coral jelly polish packed with intense gold and coral glitter.” It’s a pink-coral jelly base with molten gold and coral glitter that spreads really evenly and easily over the nail. It’s best to wait for each coat to dry so that you don’t disturb the existing glitter. I used three coats for a more opaque look, but it has a nice translucence when done with two coats–it’s truer to the squishy, jelly finish with two coats. The formula is very thick; it reminded me of the consistency of hair gel, actually.
Captivated is a limited edition shade, and I know that Maria (creator and founder of Cult Nails) let me know that quantities were dwindling when she sent these for review. I wore Captivated for a week without chipping, and removal is on par with other glitter polishes–it’s best to let your remover soak on the nail for a little bit and then removing. I just use felt soaked in Zoya Remove+ and press it against the nail for 5-10 seconds, and then I do one pull.
This shade totally screams summer--coral, pink, gold, and lots of glittery fun. I didn't think the thicker, gel-like formula would work, but it actually made application easy and the glitter spread evenly.
Product
10/10
Pigmentation
9.5/10
Texture
9/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
4.5/5
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!
