Formula X Wavelength, Borealis, Fluorescent Nail Lacquers Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Formula X Wavelength Nail Lacquer
This spring, Formula X (for Sephora) launched Liquid Crystals Nail LacquerLiquid Crystals Nail Lacquer ($12.50 for 0.40 fl. oz.) in fourteen shades. The new finish is described as a “brilliant, light-reflecting nail lacquer made from crushed micro-crystalline and pigmented mica.” Now, these really need some clarity on just how pigmented they’re supposed to be. The individual shade descriptions all imply that there’s some hue of glitter in a sheer color base, then the formula is described as a “buildable formula that intensifies with each coat.” The press release elaborated a bit more and said, “Apply one coat for a sheer crystalline look, or layer for a full stained-glass effect.” So, it sounds like most other polish–one coat will be sheer, two will not be, and that is what I looked for with these.
Fluorescent was the only shade that I’d really describe as sheer, and it was only semi-opaque after three coats–it wasn’t that buildable. Borealis was very pigmented and fully opaque after two coats, and Wavelength was nearly opaque after two and just had subtle nail line only visible if I held my nails at certain angles where enough light was coming underneath the nail. So, the pigmentation is a mixed bag, but in general, if you were seeking opaque color, most seem to be there. If you were looking for really sheer top coats, I felt like some were too pigmented to let a base color come through. The drying time on all of these was faster than average; not so fast that you can’t work with the formula. They all dried down to a shiny, reflective finish that wasn’t really glossy but smooth and shiny. I typically get over a week of wear with Formula X with little tip wear.
Wavelength Nail LacquerWavelength Nail Lacquer ($12.50 for 0.40 fl. oz.) is described as a “pink micro-glitter in sheer purple pink.” It’s a cool-toned, fuchsia-pink with pink sparkle. It was semi-opaque in a single coat, mostly opaque after two; only if I held my nails at certain angles could I see any visible nail line. Zoya Bobbi (P, $9.00) is darker, less cool-toned. China Glaze Love’s a Beach (LE, $7.50) is brighter, less shimmery. China Glaze Endurance (LE, $7.50) is darker. See comparison swatches.
Borealis Nail LacquerBorealis Nail Lacquer ($12.50 for 0.40 fl. oz.) is described as a “gold micro-glitter in sheer olive green.” It’s a murky, yellow and brown-tinged green with golden olive and olive green shimmer and flecks of sparkle. It was nearly opaque in a single coat, and it was fully opaque after two. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Ripley (P, $10.00) is less yellow-toned with finer shimmer. SpaRitual Lithophonic (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker. Rescue Beauty Lounge Turn It Around (LE, $20.00) has coppery shimmer, lighter. China Glaze Zombie Zest (LE, $7.50) is cooler-toned, has a duo-chrome. See comparison swatches.
Fluorescent Nail LacquerFluorescent Nail Lacquer ($12.50 for 0.40 fl. oz.) is described as a “lime micro-glitter in sheer lime.” It’s a mix of gold and chartreuse-hued sparkle and shimmer suspended in a sheer, green-ish base color. Two coats, it was still sheer, and three coats, it was semi-sheer (see ring finger). The consistency of this shade felt a little watery, and the shimmer and sparkle didn’t spread as evenly across the nail. This one had more of a duochrome effect, which was really noticeable over black (I applied one coat over one coat of black in the swatches). Butter London Dosh (P, $15.00) is much darker and opaque. NYX Lime (P, $4.00) is darker, brighter, less yellow. See comparison swatches.
Wavelength
PPermanent. $12.50.
Borealis
PPermanent. $12.50.
Fluorescent
PPermanent. $12.50.
Formula X Wavelength Nail Lacquer
Formula X Wavelength Nail Lacquer
Formula X Wavelength Nail Lacquer
Formula X Wavelength Nail Lacquer
Formula X Wavelength Nail Lacquer
Formula X Wavelength Nail Lacquer
Formula X Wavelength Nail Lacquer
Formula X Borealis Nail Lacquer
Formula X Borealis Nail Lacquer
Formula X Borealis Nail Lacquer
Formula X Borealis Nail Lacquer
Formula X Borealis Nail Lacquer
Formula X Borealis Nail Lacquer
Formula X Borealis Nail Lacquer
Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer
Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer
Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer
Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer
Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer
Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer
Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer
Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer
Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer
Borealis looks amazing! It is definitely “greener” than Ripley, which I finally laid my hands on recently (because of yoooouuu, Christine)!
Do you love it? 😀
I love Wavelength!
Me too!
Borealis is amazing! China Glaze’s Zombie Zest is one of my all-time favorite nail polishes (& for a few years I would have said it was my absolutely favorite, no contest). This seems like a great polish to add to my collection!
It’s definitely right up your alley!
Borealis looks a good deal like Butter London Wallis. I wouldnt say they’re absolute dupes, but definitely very similar.
Both olive greens!
I’ve kind of “grown out” of the shimmery nail polish shades, but the one in the middle is beautiful.
I don’t think I’ll ever stop wearing shimmery polish, haha!
Oh, wow, these are really pretty! I spotted these bottles in-store and they didn’t really grab me, but these photos are so beautiful. I kind of enjoy the weirdly translucent light green … it’s fun, but not as bold as a more opaque polish would be.
I can’t believe the bottles didn’t grab you, Erin! I was so entranced by how sparkly they looked even in the bottle, lol!
Seriously, why wasn’t Borealis released sooner? It would’ve been the *perfect* gift for my friends a few years back!
Aww!
Wow! These look like such a great range! I love the iridescent fluoro green over the dark shade, and the pink one is just fun 🙂
The pink one has such a shiny, reflective finish!
Love Borealis!
It’s a very eye-catching shade!
Fluorescent is so disappointing! The bottle color is amazing, but it doesn’t even come close on your nails.
Borealis is pretty interesting though…
I know! It’s so weird, because it feels like a totally different formula compared to the other two!
Oooh Borealis! Something that can be dressy, edgy, and funky all at the same time!
Very true, Dani!
I simply loved this. There is something very different about Formula X and I really loved the finish. I am not a big fan of nail paints, being a professional makeup artist. But these are simply amazing. I loved Borealis the most. Its beautiful…
Sephora really did a fantastic job with Formula X!
The borealis shade is to DIE!
Isn’t it? So pretty.
i just bought borealis and i am so in love with it. lately when i’ve worn it, i can’t stop staring at my nails!
Right? I wore Wavelength, and I couldn’t stop waving my nails around in different lighting, LOL!
Lol!
The first two are just beautiful!
They are!
Wavelength and Borealis!!!!
Those seem to be readers’ favorites!
I love Borealis! It’s such a cool shade. 🙂
It is!
Omigosh Borealis!!!
It is even prettier in person!
Borealis looks devine
It’s even prettier in person!
could you please do a hair care post
I really don’t do anything beyond regular shampoo/conditioner, and then maybe a deep conditioner once a week or once every other week. I don’t use a lot of heat on my hair, which I’m sure helps a lot!
Borealis is gorgeous! I am a sucker for all green shadows and apparently polishes too. I’m surprised the wear on these is so long. That’s the only reason I hadn’t picked one up.
To be fair, most polish lasts seven days on me without chipping, though Formula X is even longer (there are maybe four or five formulas that I can go as long as ten days with). So while I’m not the best yardstick for wear, theoretically it should wear longer than average!
Borealis is my favourite. Really different the shade reminds me of ivy!
Oooh! That is a great comparison!