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Cult Nails Midnight Masquerade Collection Review, Photos, Swatches

Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Midnight Masquerade Collection ($24.00 for 3 x 0.50 fl. oz.) consists of three full-sized polishes. Note, there are only 500 sets available, and the colors must be purchased together as a set of three to take advantage of the pre-order pricing. The set is $24 between now and November 14th, and any remaining polishes will be sold individually at full price ($12 each). Cult Nails’ formula is one of my favorites, because it’s long-wearing, pigmented, and a lot of the shades have a naturally high-shine finish (no need for a top coat).

Masquerade is described as a “green [with] color shifting micro-glitter that blends from emerald to gold to magenta.” It’s a cool-toned green with a bluish tinge and then the color-shifting micro-glitter that sparkles from gold to rose gold to magenta to green. It’s a total joy to wear, really, because at any angle, you’ll see the micro-glitter dance, sparkle, and change. It was mostly opaque after two coats, but if enough light catches underneath my nail, it shows a little visible nail line. The consistency was on the thinner side, so be sure to wipe off excess so that you don’t over-apply in a single coat. The dry down was somewhat shiny but a top coat would be recommended. I couldn’t think of a dupe for this.

Midnight Mist is described as an “olive toned base with an intense copper/golden shimmer.” It’s a muted, olive brown with very fine copper shimmer. The finish almost looks metallic, but the shimmer is fine enough that it reads more like a pearled finish. There were very, very slight brush strokes sometimes visible, depending on the angle. It was opaque in two coats. Chanel Mysterious (601) (P, $27.00) is darker, cream. Rescue Beauty Lounge Scrangie 2.0 (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Ripley (P, $10.00) is greener, more metallic. SpaRitual Lithophonic (LE, $10.00) is much darker. Rescue Beauty Lounge Turn It Around (LE, $20.00) is similar but a warmer, greener hue and the shimmer is larger. Cult Nails In a Trance (LE, $12.00) is warmer, greener, less shimmery. See comparison swatches.

Ms. Conduct is described as a “rich taupe creme.” It’s a deep, dark taupe with neutral-to-cool undertones and a high-shine, cream finish. It has impeccable glossiness even without a top coat. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin, and the color was fully opaque in nearly one coat (but I used two coats in the swatches). Urban Decay Gunmetal (LE) is similar. Chanel Western Light (LE, $27.00) is darker. Zoya Codie (P, $8.00) is darker. See comparison swatches.

Masquerade

LELimited Edition. $12.00.
A
A
9.5
Product
9.5
Pigmentation
8.5
Texture
10
Longevity
5
Application
94%
Total

Midnight Mist

LELimited Edition. $12.00.
A
A
9.5
Product
10
Pigmentation
8.5
Texture
10
Longevity
4.5
Application
94%
Total

Ms. Conduct

LELimited Edition. $12.00.
A
A
10
Product
10
Pigmentation
9
Texture
10
Longevity
5
Application
98%
Total

Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Masquerade Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Midnight Mist Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Ms. Conduct Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Ms. Conduct Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Ms. Conduct Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Ms. Conduct Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Ms. Conduct Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Ms. Conduct Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Ms. Conduct Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Ms. Conduct Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Ms. Conduct Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Ms. Conduct Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Ms. Conduct Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Ms. Conduct Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Ms. Conduct Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Ms. Conduct Nail Lacquer

20 Comments

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LAURE MARTIN Avatar

Hello, Christine.
My name is LAURE MARTIN, and I’m from Brazil. Glad to be here. This is my first comment.
I have a denunciation. Please, take a look at this page: [hidden]
She has stolen your review.
I respect you so much, I enjoy your blog so much, I like you very much, and I don’t understand how some people have the courage to do that.
Christine, you spread smiles, you add just a lot of smiles everyday with your job.
Thank you for everything!
I wish you a great end of year.

LAURE MARTIN
(Rio de Janeiro – BRAZIL)

(OBS: My english is not very good. I’m sorry.)

Veronica Avatar

Sinful has a shade similar to Ms. Conduct – maybe a tad bit lighter but with similar depth. I adore Masquerade; hopefully, that will be one of the ones sold separately after the sets are completed.

Christina Avatar

Ooh, Masquerade doesn’t look at all like I thought it would look. I thought it’d be a Space Cadet / Mean and Green type color.

Instead it looks like a slightly warmer version of Ninja Polish’s Mystic Glacier. Now, to decide if I need both.

Audrey Avatar

I went super crazy and bought this set! I am doubtful that there will be many bottles of Masquerade left for individual sale after the 14th and it’s definitely a shade I don’t want to miss out on. I figured that if I waited, I’d be relying on there being extra Masquerades to buy one individually after the 14th, but with how unique the set is, and how wonderful the second shade is, that it would be sold out. I also really love the 2nd shade, so I’m getting 3 for the price of 2. I’ve never tried the formula before and I’m really excited. Zoya has been my favorite formula by far, but, who knows, maybe this will top it!

Megan Avatar

Hey Christine,

Any chance you will begin reviewing more indie polishes? I’d really love to see Delush Polish on the site some day!

Thanks for the great review on Cult Nails, I’ll see if I can get my hands on this set 😀

Emily Avatar

I LOVE this collection. Wearing Ms. Conduct now and it is just perfect. I think this will be my new fall/winter shade! Masquerade reminded me of MAC’s Mean & Green polish when I first saw it on Cult’s website.

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