My Top 20 Polishes of 2013: Part One

Hey guys! Are you ready for 2014? I love what this time of the year brings, anticipation for the new year but also reflections on our experiences from the last 12 months. I also love Best of type lists, so of course I had to include my own. Narrowing down 20 polishes from the many MANY polishes I acquired in 2013 was no easy task. My only requirements were that I include only one polish per brand, this would be a much larger list if I included all the polishes I flat out adored from this last year. I am splitting the 20 polishes into two posts and they are listed in alphabetical order, it was hard enough to cut the list to 20, ranking them would have been too hard.
 Here we go!

Chaos & Crocodiles Fireside Nights

Layered over Elevation Polish Alpine Heights
Previously posted here and Chaos & Croc's shop is here 
The first polish I purchased from Sarey and I stalked her then Etsy shop to make sure I snagged it.
The look here is more holiday-like but it is perfect over purple as well. Also, circles!

Crows Toes Indian Summer 

Three coats

Previously posted here and available to purchase here and here

I don't own many back-up polishes, I like to keep my stash as tight as I can. This one though, this one I immediately knew I would need a back-up off. Do you blame me?

Darling Diva Polish Little Red Corvette

Three coats

Available for purchase here 

Red polish is my weakness and add some of that holo sparkle and you get this hot little number from Mz. Darling Diva. 

Little Red Corvette Baby, you're much too fast

Digital Nails Wibbly Wobbly

Layered over New York Summer Hot Blue

Previously posted here and Digital Nails' Etsy shop here 

The Doctor Who reference is what initially sparked my interest but it's the combination of colors that makes me absolutely adore this polish.

Elevation Polish Arabian Sea

Two coats

Arabian Sea II previously posted here and Elevation Polish's shop is here

Oh man, to only pick one Elevation Polish as my favorite, this was the hardest task of all. 

So many amazing polishes produced in Lulu's line this year. I didn't think it would be fair to include a OOAK or Sample but this particular Small Batch Prototype polish is okay, considering a reformulated version is sold through Llarowe. 

Robin's egg blue and gold, a match made in polish heaven. 

Enchanted Polish January 2013

Two coats

Previously posted here and Enchanted Polish's shop is here

A major polish want for me for a while and because of a lovely lady, I was able to acquire this through a swap. Copper holo, how you look so fine?

Happy Hands Beachy Keen

Layered over Barielle Decadence

Previously posted here and available here 

Happy Hands produced some awesome and fun collections this year but my favorite of them all is this coral glitter. The color is so bright and summery and I especially love it over Barielle Decadence, the color is reminiscent of a juicy watermelon still in it's rind. 

Hare Polish Peepshow Magique

Three coats

Available for purchase here 

Nikole, the mastermind behind Hare Polish, made me love a pink polish enough to rank it in my top 20. She has some major skills, that lady. 

This is just so light and delicate without being overly sweet or twee. 

 Jade Mirage

Two coats
Can be purchased here and here
If I being honest, I would say that all the Jade Holografico polishes deserve a place on this list, they apply very easily and are so so holo.
Mirage is the one that is a standout among them, the color is saturated and looks fantastic in  the sun.

Lumina Lacquer Chanson D'automne

Layered over American Apparel Night Sky

Previously posted here

Lumina Lacquer's shop is here but this one is available here

My first purchase from Lumina Lacquer and definitely not my last. 

It's fiery and bright and orange and I looooove how it looks over dark blue. 

Well that was part one and I hope you enjoyed it! Come back tomorrow for part two. 

Happy Hands Wednesday

Happy humpday! I hope everyone's Wednesday is going better than mine. Somehow, everything that could go wrong, did go wrong this morning. But I am sure it can only get better! I am going to make it so with some Happy Hands polishes I received a while back. Cherry Cola and Tropical Storms are a part of Happy Hands' Beachy Keen summer collection. The other two in that collection, Beachy Keen and Sandcastles in the Sand, are posted here. 

Happy Hands Cherry Cola
Three coats
Brick red jelly base with cherry red glitter.
Ch-ch-cherry cola! One of my favorite soda combinations when I go to Sonic. 

Happy Hands Tropical Storm

Two coats

Dusky turquoise jelly base with red, gold, and blue glittter. 

I should have done another coat in hindsight, the base is a bit sheer. Still, a lovely color combination. 

Happy Hands Head Over Heels

Three coats

Peach, yellow, pink, and green glitter in a hot pink jelly base.

Head Over Heels was a LE polish that was sold during Happy Hands one year anniversary sale in July.

This is a pink I can get behind, it's so bright it kinda freaked out my camera. 

Happy Hands Sunshine, Lollipops & Rainbows

Two coats layered over Elevation Polish Wisteria

Rainbow mix of glitter in a clear base. 

This was a free gift-with-purchase polish during the same Happy Hands July one year anniversary sale. 

I LOVE the colors in this mix, it's super cheerful and had me humming this song all day:

Happy Hands polishes can be purchased directly from her through Big Cartel or Etsy, as well as through Harlow & Co, Mei Mei's Signatures, Femme Fatale, Edgy Polish, and Dazzled. Updates can be found on Facebook. 

Happy Hands Are You Afraid of the Dark? Collection

Good afternoon! I have a new Halloween themed collection from Happy Hands polish for you all today. The Are You Afraid of the Dark? collection is inspired by the '90's Nickelodeon show of the same name. I wasn't a watcher of Are You Afraid of the Dark?, mostly because I was (and still am) a scaredy cat and major wuss when it comes to horror TV and film stuff. But that doesn't mean I can't appreciate how wonderful these polishes are! Formula wise, no problems at all. The Midnight Society is a bit thick but if you wait a minute or two between applying each coat, application will be fine. Okay, on to swatches, don't worry, if things get hairy, you can hold my hand....

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Happy Hands Super Specs

Two coats layered over American Apparel Passport Blue
Holographic silver and iridescent glitter topper along with purple shimmer and green flecks.
An eye-catching polish for sure, my favorite of the collection. 

Happy Hands The Midnight Society

Three coats

Cobalt blue jelly with lots of iridescent micro-glitter. And it glows in the dark! (which I don't have a pic of, cause, yeah, fail lol).

Starts off a bit sheer but buildable. 

I love this shade of blue, so this was a definite win for me. 

Happy Hands The Tale of the Dark Music

Two coats layered over black

Black jelly with red, fuchsia, blue and purple micro-glitter.

You could layer over a darker color like I did, or get full coverage with multiple coats.

Happy Hands Laughing in the Dark

Three coats

Violet jelly with neon green, yellow, red, and purple glitter. 

Inspired by Zeebo the cigar-smoking clown, but not nearly as scary. 

I especially liked how this one looks with a matte topcoat (third photo below).

Are You Afraid of the Dark? Collection will be available this Saturday! September 21st, at 5 pm EST in Happy Hands' Big Cartel and Etsy shops. International stockists can be found on this page. Updates on restocks, new colors, etc can be found on Happy Hands' Facebook page and Instagram. 

*The products in this post were sent to me for unbiased review*

Happy Hands Springfield, USA Collection

Good morning! Are you all ready for a super duper fun time post?! Because today I have Happy Hands Polish's newest collection, the Springfield, USA. This collection is inspired America's favorite yellow family, the Simpsons. I have been watching The Simpsons since I was a kid, though then many of the jokes probably went over my head. So when I found out that this is what Kristi from Happy Hands was working on, this was my reaction: 

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Happy Hands Everything's Coming Up Milhouse

Three coats

Blue jelly with yellow, reddish orange, plum, and blue glitters

Inspired by the nice guy who no one loves and who pines for Lisa. You'll get your day Milhouse! 

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Happy Hands Krustofsky

Three coats

White jelly with red, yellow, orange, green, blue, and purple. 

Hey hey kids! Who has two thumbs up and loves Krusty the Clown? This gal!

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Happy Hands Sector 7-G 

Two coats

Gray jelly with neon green, lime, and iridescent glitter

An ode to the lonely Sector 7-G, where Homer is always on vigilant watch. 

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Happy Hands Stupid Flanders

Two coats

Evergreen crelly with brown, yellow, gray, and plum glitter

Ned Flanders, the neighbor from hell. Well, at least to Homer.  

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Happy Hands Worst. Polish. Ever.

Two coats layered over a Sation orange 

(derp forgot the name of the Sation, will come back and add it)

Clear base glitter topper with yellow, brown, red, green, blue and white.

Why you little....! Homer and Bart, a misunderstood father son relationship. 

I think this is my favorite of the collection, the dominant yellow is so vibrant, I just love it.

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Happy Hands Worst. Polish. Ever.

Two coats layered over Sinful Gel Tech Break Away

Grrr, lots of bubbling and I have no idea why! Not the best photo, sorry 'bout that. I still wanted to share this so that you can see the color combo, Worst. Polish. Ever. is wonderful over a bright blue. 

How fantastic is this collection?! Each color is very true to the inspiration and now I want to go watch The Simpson lol. These are available right now in Happy Hands Big Cartel shop, Etsy shop. A list of other online international e-tailers is here. Updates can be found on Happy Hands' Facebook page. 

*The products in this post were sent to me for unbiased review*

Happy Hands Friday

Happy Friday! How about some Happy Hands polishes to finish the week off with? 

Happy Hands What's This?

Two coats layered over Contrary Polish Bright Night

Part of the Holiday 2012 collection and discontinued

Worn a weeks ago when I had the shortest of nubs. Winter wonder on my nails. 

Happy Hands Art is Hard

Two coats layered over Lippmann I Know What Boys Like

Harlow and Co exclusive and can be purchased here

Very fun polish! I love the red heart glitter.

Happy Hands Ditto

Two coats layered over Illamasqua Cameo

LE and not for sale at this time

Bright blue glitter mixed with black and white and this is the stunning result

Happy Hands Flowers on the Highway

Two coats layered over Takko Lacquer Blushing Nude

From Greetings from Florida collection and currently available

One of Kristi's first releases, this cheerful polish is meant to represent the wide variety of spring wildflowers scattered alongside Florida highways

Happy Hands Orange Koolaid (mattified)

Two coats layered over Essie Action 

Prototype polish and not for sale at this time (but maybe in the future?)

This is just so very ORANGE, nothing more to say.

Happy Hands Beachy Keen

Two coats layered over Barielle Decandence

Part of Happy Hands' upcoming Beachy Keen collection

With this layering combo, reminds me very much of watermelon, which is perfect for summer.

Very fun polish, I have worn it a couple of times since receiving this.

Happy Hands Sandcastles in the Sand 

Three coats and then mattified

Part of Happy Hands' upcoming Beachy Keen collection

Inspired by (How I Met Your Mother) Robin Sparkles' summer love-song, this is an awesome neutral with a twist. 

I love the shimmery glitter reminiscent of seashells and ocean waves. 

BONUS! Here is "Sandcastles in the Sand" music video:

Beachy Keen and Sandcastles in the Sand (along with two others from the Beachy Keen Collection) will available tomorrow (YAY!) June 1st, 5 pm EST here and here.
Updates regarding Happy Hands news and etc can be found on her Facebook page here.

Happy Hands I've Made a Huge Mistake! collection

Is everyone ready for new episodes of Arrested Development that are set to premiere tomorrow on Netflix Instant? I WAS BORN READY. 

Yes, you could say that I am excited, so very excited. And in honor of tomorrow's premiere  I have Happy Hands I've Made a Huge Mistake collection to share. The only one I don't have is Tricks Are Something a Whore Does for Money. 

Happy Hands Banana Stand

Two Coats

Episode Reference

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As George Sr. so eloquently puts it, there is always money in the banana stand. 

My favorite polish of this collection is this awesome banana yellow creme with brown glitter 

and money green flecks throughout. 

Happy Hands For British Eyes Only

Three Coats

Episode Reference

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In Wee Britain, certain items could be seen by British eyes only. Or be asked to lose 20 pounds. 

This dreamy teal polish has tons of teal glitter, including some holographic glitters. 

Very nicely layered but I like the impact it makes worn on it's own. 

Happy Hands Illusions, Michael

Two coats layered over Elevation Polish Mount Feathertop

Episode Reference

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Oh Gob, where would be be without you and your magnificent illusions accompanied by the Final Countdown.

This reformulated magical polish reflects it's inspiration with fiery red and orange glitter and gold stars to give it that extra oomph. 

Happy Hands Mayonegg

Three thin coats

Episode Reference

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Her? 

Egg, I mean Ann's creation is an acquired taste I am sure. 

This is the reformulated version of Mayonegg and I absolutely love it. 

The bight egg yolk yellow glitter stand out oh so well against the soft egg white creme base. 

No problems at all with streaking as can sometimes happen with white polishes. 

Happy Hands Motherboy

One coat layered over Elevation Polish Lys Glacier

Episode Reference

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What is Motherboy? 

Only the very best Mother Son dinner/dance you could find yourself lucky to attend!

Motherboy has matte pastel glitters in lavender, lilac and light green and perfectly represents the glamour that is Lucille Bluth. 

Happy Hands I Just Blue Myself

Two coats layered over American Apparel Pacific Beach

Episode Reference

Best of Tobias

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Mr. Tobias Funke, a man who has many desires, one being a part of The Blue Man group. 

We are able to be a little blue ourselves with this vivid blue topcoat polish. 

This reformulated version has so many types of bright blue glitter, I almost can't take it. 

Happy Hands I've Made a Huge Mistake polishes are available in Happy Hands' Big Cartel shop here and Etsy shop here. Updates regarding restocking and new collections can be found on Happy Hands' Facebook page here.