Illamasqua Pink Raindrops Nail Varnish Review, Photos, Swatches
Illamasqua Pink Raindrops Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Pink Raindrops Nail Varnish (£13.50 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “sheer cool pink.” It’s a light-medium neutral pink with pale pinkish-white flakes of glitter/sparkle throughout (they seem slightly iridescent). Illamasqua Scarce has a slightly cooler-toned base color (and is, obviously, different with all the black glitter). Deborah Lippmann Glamorous Life is a rose gold and has a metallic finish, but it was slightly reminiscent in color. Zoya Pandora is slightly more beige/less pink (and no flakes). Rescue Beauty Lounge Plie is similar to the base color but is a cream.
Okay, well, first things first, this isn’t sheer in the slightest. In fact, it’s very nearly opaque in a single coat! It’s more pigmented than Raindrops, and it seems to have more glittery flakes. I do miss the more jelly-like quality of the original Raindrops, because it was very apropos given the name/inspiration. The consistency is somewhat thicker compared to Illamasqua’s formula in general and slightly thicker compared to Raindrops. I normally get seven to ten days of wear with Illamasqua’s formula (it is one of the longest-wearing formulas I’ve tried) with very minor tip wear but no chipping.
Limited Edition
Illamasqua Pink Raindrops Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Pink Raindrops Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Pink Raindrops Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Pink Raindrops Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Pink Raindrops Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Pink Raindrops Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Pink Raindrops Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Pink Raindrops Nail Varnish
Oh unexpectedly beautiful. I wanted to like Raindrops as much as you do but that was a bit too sheer for my taste. So I stayed away from pink drops as well, thinking it would be similar. It turns out I have to get this one. Do you know if it is limited edition?
As far as I know, it is LE!
Aw definitely wish it were more jelly-like. It looks so pretty in the bottle too!
Love this colour so much! very very beautiful.
Thanks for this post Christine! I bought one bottle already, but it hasn’t arrived yet. I wish it was more sheer, like Raindrops. Oh well, I am still excited for when my package arrives.
As a big fan of the original raindrops, I was waiting for this review. The on-line swatches didn’t have me enthused so I didn’t jump at the purchase. I’m glad I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, this is a pretty polish, but it really doesn’t have the special quality and finish of the original.. not even close. I’m disappointed.
I totally agree – this is just a random pink polish and while it’s pretty, it’s NOT raindrops or similar. I’d pass on it.
Revlon 705 grey suede is a little bit darker and without shimmering but I think they are quite alike!
I love colors like this, and plie is one of my all time fav polish. Too bad I can’t buy illamasqua here…
If I ever get mine this will be amazing. Unfortunately, there was a shipping snafu and their customer service is absolutely HORRID!
Sorry to hear that the CS is giving you a tough time!
Yeah, I second that…
Yeah, I had the same problem. I had to contact someone via twitter to get anything done. Utterly ridiculous for a large makeup company. I’ll get this if they sell it at Sephora because I’m done with their site.
I’m with you. If it’s not available at Sephora, I won’t get anything more from them. IF I ever get my order, I will be tickled. Their CS, all via e-mail, made me feel like a victim. Oh, Illamasqua, aren’t you against that? I have never had such a horrible online ordering experience. Done for me. Makes me sad but resigned that I really can’t have it all. Especiallly Illamasqua. Boo.
Ask and ye shall receive. It looks like Sephora will be supplying Pink Raindrops soon. I don’t see the original Raindrops as an upcoming selection though. I’d stalk the site if you’re interested. You just never know….
Third that, they just shipped the package I ordered in the beginning of January :\
I must agree with all the above, and the phone number they provided in the web page didn’t work, so I had to contact someone from twitter to get a real number to call. My polishes lastly came one month later. And it makes no sense because I am in Germany. *big sigh*
Illamasqua varnishes are so beautiful, but everything chips on me. I have a Butter London, and a Chanel and they don’t last any longer than my Essie polishes, so I’m too scared to shell out for these.
Everything chips on me too (butter, chanel, etc) but illamasqua is the best of the bunch!
This would be a great bridal color! Sheer polishes get on my nerves, so I love that it’s totally opaque (even though it’s a bit misleading for Illamasqua to label this a sheer shade).
Yeah, no idea why they didn’t just say opaque!
LOVE!
I ordered a few Illamasqua polishes off their site, this was one of them. I’m glad I did. It is really beautiful!
this is a GORGEOUS polish- i’m totally going to be checking it out!
I love, love, love the original Raindrops – I love the grey, the flakes, the jelly-ness.
I kind of hate this one. It’s not actually ugly, it’s a perfectly fine opaque pink polish, but it’s nothing like what I expected – it’s just not Pink Raindrops. It’s some other polish entirely.
I am sad.
Yeah, I think the disconnect is really that it IS pretty and is lovely on its own merits in color, it’s not quite like Raindrops.
I ordered it this morning with the original raindrops and the blush up brush! I cant wait to get them! Pink raindrops looked like an easy every day/ workday color.
It’s a nice color, but I feel like they’re trying to ride on Raindrops’ coattails with this.
Without the connection to a cult fave like Raindrops I really wouldn’t look at a color like this twice since it’s not very unique.
A daily wear neutral pink shade.. liked it a lot
I am loving these light pink shades that Illamasqua has been coming out with. I purchased Scarce after seeing your review, and now I think I need this one in my life too 🙂
I think it looks really pretty.
Oh my gosh I’m in love. The name and how pretty it looks in the bottle got my attention but I figured it’d be super sheer. I’m so impressed by the coverage. LOVE!
This is so pretty. I am seriously in love. Hopefully I can find this one when I go shopping.
Ugh!
Not at the polish *itself*; it’s nice enough in its own right. But within the context of the polish it’s based off of, talk about missing the mark! The translucent jelly-ness of Raindrops is *the* feature that makes it amazing. The opacity of the pink changes it completely.
Hmmm, this is much prettier in the bottle than it is on the nails. It’s not what I expected at all! It’s a nice color, but because the pink is so opaque, I think the white flakes disappear somewhat. It just looks any shimmery nude pink nail polish now…
If this had been like the original Raindrops but pink, I would have seriously considered trying to gather the money SOMEHOW to buy it. But as it is, it looks ordinary and uninspired. Totally missed the mark here…if I wanted a standard shimmery pink, there are plenty at the drugstore to choose from.
This would make a great work-friendly nail polish. It’s a little more interesting than a plain light pink.
It looks really thick, though, in some of the pictures. I’ll probably skip it, but it’s an ok color.
Christine, do you know if the rereleased Raindrops yet?
They released it on their website, so you’d have to purchase from the UK!
There’s just something about the shade of pink I don’t like. I also feel the opacity really hides the flakies. That’s part of what makes Raindrops look so special! I really hope Illamasqua will finally decide to let Sephora carry the original soon!
Beautiful color but looks really thick!
It looks really thick on your nails! I just got Raindrops and can’t wait to try it out.
Wow you’re right, that is not sheer at all. But it’s a really pretty twist on a simple nude-ish, blush, pink!
How do you get 7-10 days wear out of this brand? Do you use a specific base/top coat or wear the polish alone? Oddly enough Chick Polish lasts really well on me when I use their base and top coat.
I get pretty much the same wear with and without a base/top coat (and this is true across brands) :/ Most polish wears 7 days on me – and almost nothing chips on me!
You are lucky! I’m pretty hard on my nails so I chip fast… I’ve been trying to be more careful lately 🙂
This is so elegant and gorgeous 😀 , I love it, wish it wasn´t limited edition.
Gorgeous!! BTW,Christine,this is the first time I’ve seen your engagement ring and it’s just beautiful…simple yet elegant.
Thank you! 🙂
I *love* the base color (even if it is quite “ordinary”), but the subtlety of the sparkles give it a little extra oomph. I’d be willing to pay this price for it,which is waaay more than I’m typically willing to spend on polish, but I don’t think I’m willing to go out of my way to get it. If I come across it in a store, I’ll pick it up, but I don’t plan to trek all over the greater L.A. area to find it, nor will I order it online.
Aww 🙁 I think this would have been lovely if it was as sheer as the original Raindrops — there’s just something about that jelly-like translucent finish that feels kind of whimsical and weightless, you know?
I can’t help but laugh at Illamassqua’s poorly-fitting description of the shade, though. They should know better!
Why is this not available at sephora… Would make it much easier to buy!
Great review, Christine! I love that this isn’t sheer, and it’s a great neutral, work-friendly polish but still gorgeous to look at. Do you know if it’s going to be available at Sephora? I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled for the original Raindrops, but haven’t seen that launch at Sephora… I like illamasqua, but not quite enough to pay their prices in british pounds plus shipping! Ha.
I have no idea if it will be, but I have not heard that it will be (I feel like if it was an affirmative yes, we’d hear).
I absolutely love this pink with your complexion. It’s too bad that it is presented differently from what it does. It’s a perfect Bride color too.
Adding thinner and clear polish into it would be a big improvement!
Too mannequin handsy for my tastes. :/
I’m surprised because regular Raindrops is very sheer, it takes about 4 coats to get it opaque on me. Which I didn’t expect either and as kind of a let-down when I purchased it :/
Disappointing, Illamasqua!
So, I just got my order. My Raindrops is VERY opaque. I used two coats and it is completely opaque. It was also a rather thick formula. Have they changed the formula? The flecks are also not as prominent.
Received yesterday my order with Charisma, Hemlock, Pink Raindrops and Raindrops. Applied Pink Raindrops (and Raindrops on ringfinger nail). Pink Raindrops is thick, semi-matt and kind of gritty, takes ages to dry and sits gummy on nails. Looks and applies as if it was an old varnish left open :S The formula of Pink Raindrops has nothing to do with the original Raindrops (in fact, I applied both of them for comparison on the same session). I hope mine was a bad batch of Pink Raindrops… I was so excited for this pink version and it turned out it’s a pearly/irisee demi matte pink, very dense and thick. I can’t even see the glitter flakes well in the formula and get no idea of *raindrops* on a windowpane. Great expectations but it’s a pink varnish with shimmer and glitter and an almost opaque finish. They should have called it Pink Icing instead.
My experience doesn’t seem to be as bad as yours with Pink Raindrops, but it’s definitely not sheer or translucent 🙁
Will give it a try applying it on a different base (China Glaze or Essie)next time and using a glossy clear topcoat (Seche Vite). Overall it is not bad, it’s just the reference to the original Raindrops that I find kind of misleading.
Really beautiful! I too would have thought it was sheer, but I think that I would have liked it either way.