Illamasqua Raindrops Nail Varnish Review, Photos, Swatches (2012)
Illamasqua Raindrops Nail Varnish
Coming in February: Illamasqua Raindrops
Illamasqua Raindrops Nail Varnish ($14.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “sheer light grey” and has a jelly finish. It is my all-time favorite nail lacquer. It’s a semi-sheer, stormy gray with a hint of blue with flakes of pale silver-gray shimmer. The jelly finish makes it look squishy on the nail, and it really gives it a cloudy, rainy day vibe. I still have no insight as to a dupe for this shade.
It was discontinued sometime ago, much to my dismay, but Illamasqua is bringing it back in February (2013). I don’t have any details about exactly when in February or if it will be made permanent once again, but I know it will be returning. Though it is sheer after two coats (exactly as described), it has a lovely consistency that isn’t too thick or too thin, so you can still apply a third coat and get mostly opaque color. The flakes of sparkle spread evenly and don’t get clumped together. I’ve worn this shade multiple times, especially when I travel, and it lasts ten days easily without chipping (just very minor tip wear).
Raindrops
LELimited Edition. $17.00.
Illamasqua Raindrops Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Raindrops Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Raindrops Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Raindrops Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Raindrops Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Raindrops Nail Varnish
I’m so excited about the rerelease! I have been wanting this forever, but refuse to pay $40+ on ebay. YAY!
I’m assuming you’ll be getting back-ups :))
TBH, I’m always testing a new polish for wear, so I very rare wear polish for fun – one bottle is plenty for me (and now I have two, since Illamasqua sent this one in anticipation of the February launch!).
HELL YEAH! Sooo looking forward to this! 😀
Yay, I’ve been wanting this one for a while – hopefully Sephora will carry it.
I really do like how Illamasqua’s nail varnishes wear. I usually get minimal chipping with a tiny bit of end wear, and I use/wash my hands a ton! I usually go for the brighter colors, but I think the sparkle in this is enough to make it interesting for me! Definitely going to try it!!
Well, I know what I want for Valentine’s Day!
omg so excited!
YES!
I would like it if it was a little bit more opaque. And maybe 6-10 dollars cheaper! 🙂
That color is incredible! I’m glad to hear they are bringing it back.
Ever since I saw your original review I’ve been dying to get my hand on it. I am so excited !
Christine, how many coats do you normally use? I’ve read other reviews that say you need 4 coats to achieve opacity.
I only use 2 coats for watches – to get fully opaque, you’d need three to four coats, depending on how thick your coats were.
Please let us know the details about where to buy it/if it’ll be permanent when you get the information!
So exciting!!
IT’S A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!!!!!!
I really hope it’s permanent!
Oooh I could totally see how it’s your favorite shade. It’s fabulous!! 🙂 The little specks of gray in it is a great touch. Really reminds people of rain. Great polish.
wow! that’s way prettier on your nails than it looks in the bottle. I like it!
For a dupe I was going to suggest blue lagoon from Revlon, but that has a much creamier finish. I really like this one though.
MY FAVORITE NAIL POLISH IS COMING BACK!?!
This is just too gorgeous and unique enough for me to justify spending that much for mail polish. I can’t wait to see it in person!
Again, like the illamasqua lipgloss in the next review, this walks the line of unique and interesting vs classic and still very flattering/wearable so perfectly. I actually love jelly formulas, even though I know a lot of people don’t. I tend to find them easier to apply, too. I’m pretty cheap so it takes a lot to get me to purchase a $14 nail polish, but I think I may have to pick this up. This is a shade I’m OK spending the extra money on – because of it’s uniqueness and also, it’s neutral enough that I could wear it to work etc. Plus – it being your all-time favorite doesn’t hurt either! 🙂
Butter London’s Lady Muck is very similar.
Hmm maybe I’ll save up and go crazy for my birthday and buy this, scarab and viridian. Would be my first illamasqua purchases
really nice colour!!
Fun! I love the rain and collect rain-related things.
Is Illamasqua 3-Free?
Yes!
Yay! Thank you for taking the time to find out!
I really really hope this makes it onto Sephora this time. I’ve been lemming it forever, but don’t really want to pay for international shipping or ebay prices. *crosses fingers*
My husband just spent 70 dollars to buy this for me for Christmas. Talk about timing lol.
Awww, enjoy it, at least – and know you have a very sweet hubby 🙂
My first reaction was, Chritine, why are you teasing us with pictures of a nail varnish we can’t get anymore. Then I read on and actually squealed with joy, Woo Hoo, I can now pick up the #1 nail varnish on my wish list. A big suck it to all those people on ebay selling it for way too much money. Thanks for the info 😉
Illamasqua makes the prettiest nail polish ever!
I wasn’t able to get this!! I’m so happy it’s coming back! I really wanted it but I wasn’t willing to buy it on Ebay.
I have never been more happy to see a product make a come back!!! Pestering a company to bring back a product really does work. I emailed Illamasqua so many times that we were on first name basis. Also, I was looking on eBay, but once the price was above $30, I just couldn’t justify spending that much for a nail polish.
Me Too! I’ve been emailing Alex there for EVER and she told me, finally, that it was coming back!! I think they’ll sell out before they’ve even launched, I think they should set up a wish list!?
Yes, I’m sure Alex was sick of hearing from us, but we’re getting our raindrops!!! The wishlist does sound like a good idea. I’ll be stalking the Illamasqua website end of January, beginning of February…
So pretty!!!!! I need this!
Omg, I only read the title of this post and I remembered you had favored this polish, but it was discontinued a while ago!
I’m glad to hear it is coming back!!!
I hope I can snag one for myself. I love this dreamy shade.
I hope it’s permanent and available at Sephora~ T.T
Omg, I’m so glad! 😀 Mine is half-empty already.
I ordered this online when it first came out. Funny thing is I had no clue that this would be such a popular colour AND at the time I was still getting a professional manicure, which meant I was using it on my toes mostly. I have a friend who fell in love with the colour. I am defo going to order another and surprise her with it.
I used to want this polish soooo badly, it’s gorgeous! If I weren’t boycotting Illamasqua after that horrid Christmas campaign blunder, I probably would’ve bought 2 bottles. I have yet to find a similar color polish.
Seriously? I am a woman of colour and didnt see the big deal! Can’t wait to get my hands on this!
That crossed my mind as well.
It was definitely an ignorant mistake, and they responded badly when that was pointed out to them.
I really think this color is nothing less than perfect, i work with a lot of water so i’m not buying nailpolish anymore [they tend to last about 30 mins on me – booooo] but i’ll probably get this one just because i like it so much.
Stupid question: anyone tried layering a normal polish color with the gel base and topcoat? Would it work? Maybe if i sandwich it between semi-perm polish it will last at least 2 or 3 days =(
I must get this. I’ve tried a couple of grays and they are so dull on my nails. I think this would be absolutely perfect.
Monica
I will be buying this, no contest.
Oh, I am SO annoyed. I just bit the bullet several weeks back and went to evilbay, paying 3-4x the cost of this polish. >:-\
I want it NOW!! NOW!!! NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am soo excited this is coming back. I hope it is in the uk.
orly pixie dust is very similar
Funny coincidence Christine, you posted your original review of this on Dec 15, 2011….and your *new* review Dec 15, 2012. 😛
Well, it’s back on the Illamasqua website now! 😀
Hi Christine,
I know this post is from awhile ago but… I wanted to know if you knew when Raindrops & Speckle would be available here in the US (I really really love these two colors)??? I know the UK has it and they deliver here but I can only get the price in £ the conversion happens later, I think. Have you ever ordered from Illamasqua UK if so how did it go?????
I haven’t heard anything from Illamasqua about the collection at all yet! I haven’t ordered from the UK before (I’ve received products from Illamasqua’s UK PR, though), but my guess is I’d wait a week or two to see if it’ll be coming stateside.
Hello fellow Illamasqua fan:
I’ve ordered from Illamasqua directly, quite a few times. I’ve never had a problem. It just takes more time because of going through customs. You can register an account with them & right now with a £35.00 purchase you receive free international shipping. As far as the conversion part, they have in pink to the right of the page, a way to have it in euros, pounds, or US $$. Or you can google a currency calculator. Hope this helps:)
Do you know anything about when/if this will be available in the States? So far Sephora is saying it’s up to Illamasqua and Illamasqua is saying it’s up to Sephora… I was really looking forward to this polish but I can’t afford the international shipping or to drop $60 on polish to get free shipping.
I’ve asked two or three times now myself but haven’t heard any answer 🙁
Hi Christine. 🙂 I know this is a dated post, but did you ever find out if this is indeed part of the permanent range? Have you gotten a chance to see Pink Raindrops? I haven’t seen it in Sephora or on Sephora.com, so would it be safe to assume the only place to get it is Illamasqua.com?
Thank you. 😀
Hey Ashley!
I’ve asked a few times but haven’t heard either way 🙁 I haven’t seen Pink Raindrops but I know that Illamasqua said they were sending me a bottle soon 🙂
Snaps! Oh man, that’s great! I googled swatches, but there was just a few few, and not as detailed and clear as your swatches. I have read that PRD is more opaque than RD, but I haven’t seen RD in person… ;_; lol. I would think they’d be all over corresponding with you since they have your seal as a proud badge on their website. XD I’m looking forward to your review, and thank you for answering. 🙂
Christine, I know this post is super old, but I thought I’d let you know — Raindrops is back! It’s on Sephora.com. I didn’t realize Illamasqua polishes increased to $17!