Butter London Trustafarian Nail Lacquer Review, Photos, Swatches
Butter London Trustafarian Nail Lacquer
Butter London Trustafarian Nail Lacquer ($14.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “delightful sage green [with] a golden holographic finish.” It’s a subtly warmed up light-medium green with yellow undertones and holographic glitter. It reminds me of meadow-y greens for some reason, though I’m sure that brings up a totally different color in your mind! It’s a soft, pale green. Softer than sage but similar in some of the muted qualities of the color. Milani Hi-Tech is the only holographic green polish I could think of, but it’s much darker and less yellow-toned. Do you have any dupe suggestions?
Two coats wasn’t enough (which is what the swatches show)–it’s still noticeably sheer after two coats. I’d have suggest using a third coat if you really want this to sing, because it looks odd with the way it applies at two coats. The holographic shimmer is definitely noticeable as you move your fingers around, though–it’s not subtle or anything like that. If you like holographic shimmer and have always wanted it in a softer green, you might still check this out. Luckily, the consistency of the formula isn’t thick, so using three coats wouldn’t be problematic or impede the wear. I typically get a full week of wear out of Butter London’s polishes with very minor tip wear.
Trustafarian
PPermanent. $15.00.
Butter London Trustafarian Nail Lacquer
Butter London Trustafarian Nail Lacquer
Butter London Trustafarian Nail Lacquer
Butter London Trustafarian Nail Lacquer
Butter London Trustafarian Nail Lacquer
Butter London Trustafarian Nail Lacquer
Nfu Oh 66 is a pale green holo, but it’s more opaque and cooler toned. A nice icy green.
Thank you!
Aww this would be effing PERFECT it it were opaque with two coats! I love the color so much, but I don’t know if I want to deal with 3-coaters!
I know 🙁
This looks like it would be an interesting layering color
It might be!
I ordered a bunch of Butter London polishes including this one. I don’t mind doing 3 or 4 coats, so that never really goes into my judging of a polish. I love their formula. Really pretty.
What’s your favorite BL?
I think that because I went to UC Santa Cruz I just have an absolute aversion to the polish based on name alone. Like I won’t buy bL Wallis either. I’m strongly influenced that way.
I could see that!
Wow! The photo with the flash is amazing!
Thanks, Christine!
Shag from this collection is lovely, none of the rest of them really interested me though.
Hm, will have to check that shade out!
China Glaze “He´s going in circles” looks similar to me, just more opaque. China Glaze “L8R G8R” is much greener and MUCH more holo. But I think they are both d/c anyway.
From the description I wanted this colour the most, but as I like full opacity I would need at least 4 coats and that´s too much, so thank you very much for the review!
I wish I had those old China Glaze shades!
As a note to opacity, BL probably wants people to use this with their base coat, which is a nude/beige and thus doesn’t require quite as many coats to reach opacity.
Thanks for the tip!
Is this a linear holographic? Like Color Club Revvvolution, Fashion Addict and Worth The Risqué? It looks like it but I can’t tell!
Seems more scattered to me!
I now many people ask you this, but is Butter London worth the high price tag? I LOVE painting my nails. I paint probably twice a week. I don’t mind that colors chip and I have to repaint. But most of my polishes range in price from $1-$8 (OPI, Essie) $14 seems like a lot!
Truly, I think high-end polish is worth it for the *shade* if it really is original or just is that one shade you’ve been looking for. The formula of a $30 polish is almost always just as good as a $3 China Glaze. Illamasqua’s polish wears like iron (seriously, I could wear it for 14 days), so that would be an exception. If you have trouble with chipping, I know some readers have problems with Butter London (but like all polishes, some have great luck, others less so – I have no problems myself).
Since I’m revealing my ignorance left, right and center today, let me ask: what exactly is a holographic nail varnish? More precisely, how does it differ from a regular, shimmering, duo-chrome varnish? I’ve Googled some in the past but all I see are essentially duo-chromed colours. Am I supposed to be seeing some sort of Star Trek-like, almost 3-D reflection??
It’s the shimmer – it is essentially a *rainbow* of colors, not just a flash between say blue and green.
Ah, got it. Thank you! 🙂 So, would some of those famous MAC nail varnishes like the ones from the Venomous Villains collections be holographic? The one where it’s red, orange, pink all at once?
Duochrome still. If you see in the flash photo of Trustafarian, you’ll see sparkles that just look like the rainbow. That’s holographic!
This is another holographic one – again the flash photo (last photo) shows it best – http://www.temptalia.com/glitter-gal-lizard-belly-3d-holographic-nail-lacquer-review-photos-swatches
Ugh I love this so much I might actually buy a bL polish.
LOL!
Their selection in the UK is really lacking, for a brand that trades on UK charm! They never have the colours that catch my eyes on blogs, so I’ve never had a chance to buy one.
gotta check out butter london! Julep is also one of my fav
I haven’t tried Julep, but I still haven’t properly investigated the drama they had with bloggers a few months ago, so I have to do that before I even think about reviewing!
This might be fun layered on top of Cult Nails Deal With It. I love holographic colors. I might have to pick this one up. Initially I thought I’d love it, then I was disappointed with it after you mentioned how sheer it is, now I’m sort of thinking it would be fun with layering. I just recently did some fun layering with Butter London Knackered (on top of Essie Trophy Wife), and loved the results.
May haev to try that! Thanks, Phyrra!
I had my heart set on this one when Nordies had their ‘Buy 2, Get 1 free’ promo. I am so glad I passed it up. I love the colour, it’s so lush and bling-y but from BL I do have a certain expectation. I am NOT going to spend that kind of money on a polish I will have to layer over another colour. I’ll pick this up when it goes on sale (if it ever does).
I agree – at this price point, it has to be perfect! Or at least nearly!
Exactly Christine!
Had BL said this is only a layering polish (which seems to be quite popular), then fine. But to shove this out on the market as is, I am a bit shocked. I have some BL that I like to wear a dark polish under but nothing as sheer as this. Sorry BL but yall FAILED on this one 🙁
Too bad about the sheerness, indeed, because I like this color alot. It’s so different.
It’s a shame!
It bears resemblance to a-England’s Princess Sabra, but that is opaque easily in two coats and has a more khaki-yellowish tone. The is softer, though I think I like a-England’s better!
Good to know! Thanks Latoya!
Thanks for the review, Christine! I love my Butter London polishes, but this is going to be one I’ll skip!
I actually love this polish! I didn’t mind adding a third coat at all.
So pretty, I really need to buy a holographic nail polish
I love this color — picked it up before even seeing swatches, and I didn’t mind three coats. I feel like that shouldn’t be the standard amount for a “good” polish. I think the “love it or leave it” votes reflect your poor feelings on the product’s outcome after two coats. Don’t get it.
As long as you’re happy with your product, I’m happy 🙂
I picked this one up so dear SO can gift it to me on my birthday next month! 🙂
I don’t have a problem with painting 3 coats since that’s my standard. 🙂 But I absolutely miss that there are no sunshine pictures of it. Because that’s when the holographic part really comes out to play 😀
And about the price tag, I seriously get where US readers get their expectations from. But BL is 16,50€ here in Germany. OPI is just 0,50€ cheaper which to ME means my expectations are the same as for every other “big company”, no matter if it’s OPI, China Glaze, Essie or BL. I have seen poor quality from all of those companies and I believe Trustafarian will NOT fall into that category.
I’m still excited for my birthday present 😀
I’m wearing this right now, and it’s beautiful. It’s kind of a pistachio green and very subtle unless you’re in direct sunlight. It goes on like a dream, which has been my experience with other BL polishes.
I don’t see what the big deal is with three coats. Everyone applies polish a bit differently, and I often do three coats anyway. That’s absolutely not a deal-breaker to me, and it doesn’t seem to be a deal-breaker on the other nail polish blogs I read. There’s no hard and fast rule that all formulas should only need two coats—that’s personal preference. Why not swatch it at three coats and just mention that? I don’t get what all the fuss is about—and I typically trust your judgment on nail polish.
Three coats can be too thick and cause polish to be more prone to chipping, plus it takes much, much longer to dry 🙂 Most polishes are opaque after two coats – so being opaque in one coat is unusual, just as needing three full coats is unusual. So given all that – a top notch polish should be opaque after two. That’s the nice thing about having a review – you can read it and decide for yourself what you care about/what is or isn’t a deal-breaker.
This looks really fantastic layered over China Glaze “For Audrey.” Also, black nail polish underneath really makes the holo pop. I really don’t mind the sheerness. 🙂
I think this was already mentioned, but you might tend to have better success if you use the BL basecoat. I purchased this color yesterday during the Ulta buy one, get one free sale. Since I started using BL a few months ago I have used their base regardless of what brand polish I use. But as far as this color goes, there are a couple of things I have noticed.
First, it is thin so 3 coats isn’t that big of a deal nor does it take an exceptionally longer amount of time to dry then 2 would (especially compared to other “thicker” polishes by BL or other brands).
2nd, 2 coats were not nearly as sheer as it seems to be on your pics…which could be because of the BL base that I use…or your camera taking very good shots that are more detailed than the naked eye notices.
3rd, (to address the “worth” of the polish based on price)…typically, I get a week out of BL polish with very little tip wear but it depends on the formula (the creamier ones may chip quicker if you’re not very careful with even application or if you apply thick layers). On my toes though I have actually gone a full month with no chipping (after my car accident I couldn’t do my own pedi and I couldn’t go out and it was a month before I could go get one done). If I actively remembered to do the top coat every other day suggestion I read somewhere to prolong your manicure I may get better results. At any rate, for me BL seems to wear better on me than other brands…BUT I’m still hard pressed to say that the $14 regular price tag is “worth” it. I bought 2 bottles at full price…because I needed them for a particular look I was wearing to a formal, but in general I tend to wait until some sort of sale is going on or I can use a coupon or discount to get it…or I cheat and have my nail tech friend get it at her pro prices. I would love it if you ran across sales like Ulta had yesterday but that is the 1st time I have ever caught it like that (usually it’s buy 2 get 1 free…and even that seems rare).
And the sheer versus opaque debate…one way to look at it could be to consider you get a range to play with on this one. Unless you are someone that feels that your polish always has to be opaque or it’s not quality then you have options on those days you maybe want a softer look…and when you want it to really pop you can opt for that 3rd coat (if 2 doesn’t do it for you). You can also opt to layer it. If you think of it that way you may decide that it gives you a little more versatility. Ultimately, it’s a personal preference call like it always is when it comes to beauty products.