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Nubar Sparkles Collection Review, Photos, Swatches

Nubar Sparkles Collection

Nubar Sparkles Collection

Nubar Sparkles Collection ($49.95) includes eight shades of glitter nail lacquers, most of which have a clear base but a few have a tinted base. I had some really good luck with some of these shades, but I definitely need a little more practice in applying glitter polishes like these.

They are incredibly dense as compared to other glitter finishes I’ve tried, but I did have some unevenness with a few shades and not completely opaque results with others. I think this is more to do with my application technique than the shades themselves–definitely need to be patient and let each coat dry completely before applying the next one. I think also thicker, rather than thinner, coats work better, too. I’m used to laying down a thinner initial coat followed by a thicker secondary coat, but I found it was better with two thicker coats.

The most foolproof shades were definitely Fire Sparkle, Night Sparkle, and Violet Sparkle (these three were my favorites, too –but because of their intense glow!).   The shades I had the most trouble with were Sky Sparkle and Hyacinth Sparkle.

  • Star Sparkle is a clear base with silver and holographic glitter. I did three coats, and you can still see some of my nail beneath it, but it’s considerably opaque given it has a clear base.
  • Fire Sparkle is a sheer red base with red and darkened red glitter. In sunlight and flash, you’ll also catch glimmers of the molten amber flecks of shimmer, too — it really comes alive when the light hits it. Just two coats were needed here.
  • Petunia Sparkle is a magenta purple with red undertones and fuchsia-purple and lighter pink glitter. It’s a clear base–would you believe it–and three coats gave me complete, opaque coverage.
  • Meadow Sparkle is a pale spring green glitter suspended in a lightly tinted green base. To be honest, I didn’t see much tint in the base–I thought it was clear myself. I couldn’t quite get a completely opaque look, but I think I moved a little too fast on this one.
  • Night Sparkle is a deep true blue with flecks of blue and gold glitter. Just two coats for a completely opaque look.
  • Sky Sparkle is a medium blue with a slight aqua lean glitter suspended in a clear base. Personally, I had some trouble getting this one to apply evenly and opaquely.
  • Hyacinth Sparkle is a sheer lavender base with darker and lighter lavender glitter. It took me three coats to get a nearly opaque look, but it was a bit uneven.
  • Violet Sparkle is a deep violet purple with flecks of lighter, brighter violet and purple strewn through a clear base.

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  • Product: 28/30
  • Value: 8/10
  • Ease of Use: 4/5
  • Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation:  If you’re a fan of glittery polishes and have been on the hunt for ones that are better alone than layered as a top coat, you may enjoy Nubar’s Sparkle Collection.

Availability: Nubar

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Star Sparkle, Fire Sparkle, Petunia Sparkle, Meadow Sparkle

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Star Sparkle, Fire Sparkle, Petunia Sparkle, Meadow Sparkle

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Star Sparkle, Fire Sparkle, Petunia Sparkle, Meadow Sparkle

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Star Sparkle, Fire Sparkle, Petunia Sparkle, Meadow Sparkle

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Night Sparkle, Violet Sparkle, Hyacinth Sparkle, Sky Sparkle

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Night Sparkle, Violet Sparkle, Hyacinth Sparkle, Sky Sparkle

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Night Sparkle, Violet Sparkle, Hyacinth Sparkle, Sky Sparkle

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Night Sparkle, Violet Sparkle, Hyacinth Sparkle, Sky Sparkle

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Star Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Star Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Star Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Star Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Flash)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Fire Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Fire Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Fire Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Fire Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Flash)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Petunia Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Petunia Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Petunia Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Petunia Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Flash)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Meadow Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Meadow Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Meadow Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Meadow Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Flash)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Night Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Night Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Night Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Night Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Flash)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Sky Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Sky Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Sky Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Sky Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Flash)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Hyacinth Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Hyacinth Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Hyacinth Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Hyacinth Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Flash)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Violet Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Violet Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Violet Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

Nubar Sparkles Collection
Nubar Violet Sparkle Nail Lacquer (Flash)

31 Comments

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Bettie Jean Avatar

ACK! Must have Fire, Petunia and Violet! There’s nothing sexier than wearing a fab retro suit and closed toed shoes, just to take them off and reveal glitter red toes!!!

marielouise Avatar

Nice – it’s not the first time that I fall in love w/ Nubar Nailpolishes – anyone knows where I can buy these online?? And….my friend will soon go to NY/NY – anyones knows where to buy China Glazes’??? Thanks!!!
Best regards,
Marielouise

Tanya Avatar

deep sigh, I am a really big OPI fan and only wear it….BUT I might have to cheat on OPI for these glitter polishes! They are amazing!!!!!!!

Rita Avatar

I have Petunia and Violet. They are awesome, especially Petunia. Violet is not at all like in the pictures above. It’s not blue-ish, but like Petunia turned violet. Also Petunia is less blue & more red-ish. On my screen at least.

Christine Avatar

Not too bad – they’re not the worst, but they are still glitters. I find that I just press a cotton round or piece of felt against the nail for a few seconds, repeat for one hand, and then I go back and remove seems to help a good bit. I use Zoya’s Remove+.

Kate & Zena Avatar

Glitters can be a pain to apply, I agree. I actually find going tip to base works better (although it’s more complicated) than going base to tip like one normally applies polish. I don’t know why, but it works. How hard was it to remove these?

Night Sparkle, Violet Sparkle, Sky Sparkle and Lavender Sparkle are my favorites. I don’t wear red nail polish much for some reason.

Melissa Avatar

I bought Petunia and Violet when this collection first came out and finally put on Petunia this past Thursday. There’s just the smallest amount of tip wear but, as is usual, Nubar polish is holding up really well.

Beyond the wear, the color/sparkle is amazing. I cannot stop looking at my nails. Every time my boyfriend and I have driven somewhere over this weekend, I watched my nails as we drove out of shadowed areas into sunny areas – the sparkle is that cool (he drives when we’re together).

Yeah, it drags a bit on the first two coats but, I found that I was able to carefully dab some polish over the bald spots and the extra just sort of flattened out.

I used just one coat of Seche Vitte to cover it and I have a perfectly smooth finish.

I’ve found that using Nubar’s base coat has made all the difference with regards to retaining Nubar polishes on my nails for quite a long time. Nubar base is particulary sticky and really holds onto the color polish. I use it for every other brand as well (it’s cutting down on OPI chipping for me).

Honestly, I would suggest anyone get the two shades I have. I’m not looking forward to removing it (I’m guessing I’ll use lots of remover, big cotton balls and foil to hold the soaked cotton balls on my nails). But, it’s a small price to pay for great quality polish and stare-provoking color.

Hope this helps!

Allison Avatar

I can see how smooth and shiny your nails are with the glitter nail polishes. I LOVE glitter nails but can never get them that way. Are you wearing top coat or is that the natural formula of the Nubar glitters? And if you are wearing top coat, what brand? PLEASE and THANK YOU!!!

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