Top 10 of 2012: Best Nail Lacquers

I really don’t know how I managed to keep this list to ten, because I feel like I fall in love with a new polish every week. There were SO many more amazing polishes that aren’t on this list, though. I tried to go across brands and put together a list of ones that really struck me or were more original.

• Hare Holiday Hoopla — glittery gold and red
• NARS Night Porter — deep forest green
• Chanel Malice — rich, decadent red
• Lacquistry Wattle Over With That Stuffing — green, gold, copper
• Deborah Lippmann Ray of Light — flakies in a purple jelly
• Cult Nails Princess — Cinderella blue
• Zoya Song — intense blue
• KB Shimmer Candy Cane Crush — peppermint for your nails
• Illamasqua Creator — silver over black
• Lynnderella Undead Red — red, purple, blue

What’s was your favorite nail lacquer of 2012?

Deborah Lippmann Ray of Light Nail Lacquer

Deborah Lippmann Ray of Light Nail Lacquer ($18.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as “indigo” and it has a “3D holographic” finish. It’s a rich, deep blue-purple that really does rather close to indigo, though perhaps it’s a little closer to violet. It has holographic flakes that are really well-mixed with the base color. The holographic flakes shift from green to orange to copper to red, though it’s a subtler shift–it tends to look more coppery-red overall. I don’t know of a polish that has both this base color with the holographic flakes in it. SpaRitual Illume has the closest base color, but it is purpler, less blue-toned. ORLY Lunar Eclipse is more of a blue-violet hue, but it’s so much brighter that it looks very different in comparison. SpaRitual Twinkle is also a bit similar, though it’s bluer, and richer–it doesn’t have the jelly-like quality of Ray of Light that makes it look a bit muted. You could try a violet/indigo base color and a holographic top coat perhaps. You won’t quite get the really integrated, smooth look of this shade, but you will probably come close.

Ray of Light was opaque after two coats of polish, though the consistency was a little thicker than ideal and thicker than Deborah Lippmann’s polishes in general. I was surprised it didn’t pool around the edges given the consistency, but it applied fairly easily and evenly.  I wish the formula was a little closer to perfection at this price point, but at least the shade isn’t one I can think of five cousins right away.  A little thinner would likely help the consistency, if you have it on hand.  Deborah Lippmann’s formulas wear really well on me–I get a week of wear with very minor tip wear but no chipping.

The Glossover

LE	Ray of Light A
	I like that it's not something I have in my collection, but the formula is on the thicker side, which is disappointing. The color coverage is excellent, and I didn't have any problems during application, despite the thicker consistency.
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 10/10 Application 4.5/5
	Where to Buy
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Deborah Lippmann Ray of Light Nail Lacquer

Deborah Lippmann Ray of Light Nail Lacquer

Deborah Lippmann Ray of Light Nail Lacquer

Deborah Lippmann Ray of Light Nail Lacquer

Deborah Lippmann Ray of Light Nail Lacquer