ILNP Freefall, Princeton, Jaded Nail Polishes Reviews & Swatches
Freefall
($10.00 for 0.4 oz.) has a pale, periwinkle base with greenish-gold, finer metallic shimmer throughout. There was faint holographic micro-sparkle but the gold shimmer dominated. For as metallic as it was, the brush strokes were barely visible and only in brighter lighting. It applied evenly with each coat, but the polish itself was more fluid than ideal as I worked with it, so I had to be careful to use less than usual.
Per the brand, it has its maximum coverage in two to four coats, and it was specifically designed to be buildable. In the swatches, I’ve applied two coats using Deborah Lipmann Gel Lab Pro base and top coats, which was semi-opaque coverage that was even, so a third coat would definitely get closer to full coverage. I wore this shade for 10 days and had minor tip wear and no chips.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Formula Overview
$10.00/0.4 oz. - $25.00 Per Ounce
The brand has several finishes, though some overlap, and they primarily have polishes with some shimmer to them, which often includes holographic, duochromatic, or multichromatic shimmer and effects.
The majority of shades specifically list how many coats are necessary for full coverage, which typically ranged from two to three, though a few went as high as four coats; the jelly finish, as expected, tended to be the sheerest. I found that what was stated was typically accurate to opacity performance. Most shades needed two coats for even (and/or opaque) coverage.
More metallic shades--often multichromes--had barely visible brush strokes from a normal viewing distance (as compared to a close-up photo, which is magnified). An additional coat sometimes made these even less noticeable, and then a good layer of top coat further reduced the visibility.
Both the holographic and multichrome shades presented with visible shifts and even dispersion of holographic shimmer/sparkle. Some of the multichrome shades had less contrasting shifts, so the effect wasn't as strong head-on (e.g. shifting between blue to violet to warmer purple) but readily visible just glancing at my nails resting on the desk and so on. Many shades had finer pearl/shimmer, which danced and caught the light beautifully but ensured a smooth texture and easier removal.
The formula tended to have a light to light-medium viscosity to it, which ensured fluid, more even coverage without being thick, goopy, or so thin that it dried down as one applied it to nail. Some of the black-based shimmer shades seemed to be a little thinner relative to the jelly or multichrome finishes. Most shades self-leveled and hid my more ridged nails, though a good base and top coat would be ideal. Overall, the polishes were smooth and easy to work with, while the brush itself wasn't too wide nor too narrow, though I had to be most careful working with some of the richer shades on my pinky!
The drying time seemed average; I was able to add a second (and/or third) coat after I had done the other nails on my hand. I would give the Multichromes a little extra time to dry down just to ensure the least visible brush strokes in the end result, though. For the more sparkly and textured shades, like the glitters, I felt like a top coat really helped to bring everything together to give the end result a shiny, plush effect.
Of the shades I've done full wear tests for (about 20 shades at the time of writing the overview), none of them have chipped over the course of a week. I've had minor tip wear across the board with some shades having very minor tip wear at that.
That being said, it's typical for me to have polish last a week or longer on me, though, and I have not personally had issues with finding a formula that wears a week with minor tip wear but no chipping. The primary source of tip wear likely comes from typing on the computer, though I also open small, paper cartons and peel off labels routinely when opening new products (for review).
Browse all of our ILNP Holographic Nail Polish swatches.
Ingredients
Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid / Neopentyl Glycol / Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Acrylates Copolymer, Styrene / Acrylates Copolymer, Silica, Benzophenone-1, Trimethylpentanediyl Dibenzoate MAY CONTAIN Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77489, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 (CI 15850), Red 34 (CI 15880), Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Blue 27 (CI 75510), Black 2 (CI 77266), Mica, Aluminum Powder (CI 77000)
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Freefall
PPermanent. $10.00.
Princeton
($10.00 for 0.4 oz.) is a pale, minty green base with fine holographic shimmer throughout a more cream-like base. This was the one shade I tried from the brand (out of over 30 shades, at the time of this writing) that was thicker and harder to maneuver along my nails without it looking uneven or pooling. I had some issues with it self-leveling, too, and I had to re-do the initial swatch photos because it was one of those “is it me or is it the polish” moments.
Per the brand, it has its maximum coverage in two to three coats. In the swatches, I’ve applied two coats using Deborah Lipmann Gel Lab Pro base and top coats, which was all that was necessary for full coverage. I wore this shade for 10 days and had minor tip wear and no chips.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Christian Louboutin Beaute Batignolles (PiP, $50.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar).
- YSL Peace Green (LE, $28.00) is less shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$10.00/0.4 oz. - $25.00 Per Ounce
The brand has several finishes, though some overlap, and they primarily have polishes with some shimmer to them, which often includes holographic, duochromatic, or multichromatic shimmer and effects.
The majority of shades specifically list how many coats are necessary for full coverage, which typically ranged from two to three, though a few went as high as four coats; the jelly finish, as expected, tended to be the sheerest. I found that what was stated was typically accurate to opacity performance. Most shades needed two coats for even (and/or opaque) coverage.
More metallic shades--often multichromes--had barely visible brush strokes from a normal viewing distance (as compared to a close-up photo, which is magnified). An additional coat sometimes made these even less noticeable, and then a good layer of top coat further reduced the visibility.
Both the holographic and multichrome shades presented with visible shifts and even dispersion of holographic shimmer/sparkle. Some of the multichrome shades had less contrasting shifts, so the effect wasn't as strong head-on (e.g. shifting between blue to violet to warmer purple) but readily visible just glancing at my nails resting on the desk and so on. Many shades had finer pearl/shimmer, which danced and caught the light beautifully but ensured a smooth texture and easier removal.
The formula tended to have a light to light-medium viscosity to it, which ensured fluid, more even coverage without being thick, goopy, or so thin that it dried down as one applied it to nail. Some of the black-based shimmer shades seemed to be a little thinner relative to the jelly or multichrome finishes. Most shades self-leveled and hid my more ridged nails, though a good base and top coat would be ideal. Overall, the polishes were smooth and easy to work with, while the brush itself wasn't too wide nor too narrow, though I had to be most careful working with some of the richer shades on my pinky!
The drying time seemed average; I was able to add a second (and/or third) coat after I had done the other nails on my hand. I would give the Multichromes a little extra time to dry down just to ensure the least visible brush strokes in the end result, though. For the more sparkly and textured shades, like the glitters, I felt like a top coat really helped to bring everything together to give the end result a shiny, plush effect.
Of the shades I've done full wear tests for (about 20 shades at the time of writing the overview), none of them have chipped over the course of a week. I've had minor tip wear across the board with some shades having very minor tip wear at that.
That being said, it's typical for me to have polish last a week or longer on me, though, and I have not personally had issues with finding a formula that wears a week with minor tip wear but no chipping. The primary source of tip wear likely comes from typing on the computer, though I also open small, paper cartons and peel off labels routinely when opening new products (for review).
Browse all of our ILNP Holographic Nail Polish swatches.
Ingredients
Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid / Neopentyl Glycol / Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Acrylates Copolymer, Styrene / Acrylates Copolymer, Silica, Benzophenone-1, Trimethylpentanediyl Dibenzoate MAY CONTAIN Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77489, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 (CI 15850), Red 34 (CI 15880), Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Blue 27 (CI 75510), Black 2 (CI 77266), Mica, Aluminum Powder (CI 77000)
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Princeton
PPermanent. $10.00.
Jaded
($10.00 for 0.4 oz.) has a black base with flecks of green-to-teal shifting shimmer and holographic flakes. The polish had a fluid consistency that wasn’t too thick or too thin, which ensured an even layer of product that wasn’t prone to pooling along the edges but yielded good coverage per coat.
Per the brand, it has its maximum coverage in two to three coats. In the swatches, I’ve applied two coats using Deborah Lipmann Gel Lab Pro base and top coats, which was all that was necessary for full coverage. I wore this shade for 10 days and had minor tip wear and no chips.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ILNP Bundled Up (P, $10.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$10.00/0.4 oz. - $25.00 Per Ounce
The brand has several finishes, though some overlap, and they primarily have polishes with some shimmer to them, which often includes holographic, duochromatic, or multichromatic shimmer and effects.
The majority of shades specifically list how many coats are necessary for full coverage, which typically ranged from two to three, though a few went as high as four coats; the jelly finish, as expected, tended to be the sheerest. I found that what was stated was typically accurate to opacity performance. Most shades needed two coats for even (and/or opaque) coverage.
More metallic shades--often multichromes--had barely visible brush strokes from a normal viewing distance (as compared to a close-up photo, which is magnified). An additional coat sometimes made these even less noticeable, and then a good layer of top coat further reduced the visibility.
Both the holographic and multichrome shades presented with visible shifts and even dispersion of holographic shimmer/sparkle. Some of the multichrome shades had less contrasting shifts, so the effect wasn't as strong head-on (e.g. shifting between blue to violet to warmer purple) but readily visible just glancing at my nails resting on the desk and so on. Many shades had finer pearl/shimmer, which danced and caught the light beautifully but ensured a smooth texture and easier removal.
The formula tended to have a light to light-medium viscosity to it, which ensured fluid, more even coverage without being thick, goopy, or so thin that it dried down as one applied it to nail. Some of the black-based shimmer shades seemed to be a little thinner relative to the jelly or multichrome finishes. Most shades self-leveled and hid my more ridged nails, though a good base and top coat would be ideal. Overall, the polishes were smooth and easy to work with, while the brush itself wasn't too wide nor too narrow, though I had to be most careful working with some of the richer shades on my pinky!
The drying time seemed average; I was able to add a second (and/or third) coat after I had done the other nails on my hand. I would give the Multichromes a little extra time to dry down just to ensure the least visible brush strokes in the end result, though. For the more sparkly and textured shades, like the glitters, I felt like a top coat really helped to bring everything together to give the end result a shiny, plush effect.
Of the shades I've done full wear tests for (about 20 shades at the time of writing the overview), none of them have chipped over the course of a week. I've had minor tip wear across the board with some shades having very minor tip wear at that.
That being said, it's typical for me to have polish last a week or longer on me, though, and I have not personally had issues with finding a formula that wears a week with minor tip wear but no chipping. The primary source of tip wear likely comes from typing on the computer, though I also open small, paper cartons and peel off labels routinely when opening new products (for review).
Browse all of our ILNP Holographic Nail Polish swatches.
Ingredients
Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid / Neopentyl Glycol / Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Acrylates Copolymer, Styrene / Acrylates Copolymer, Silica, Benzophenone-1, Trimethylpentanediyl Dibenzoate MAY CONTAIN Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77489, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 (CI 15850), Red 34 (CI 15880), Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Blue 27 (CI 75510), Black 2 (CI 77266), Mica, Aluminum Powder (CI 77000
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Jaded is especially nice and looks like a starry night sky.
Freefall: mental air conditioning!!! So perfect for this painfully hot time of year. 🌬️
I also love the color of Princeton, but do worry that it may be a pain to get it to look just right due to your experience with it
Hola! That Jaded shade is stunning!