Did you watch the Super Bowl last night? I did – whoa, it was intense!

I’m not a huge football fan, but I always watch the Super Bowl (as well as the Halftime Show), and the game didn’t disappoint. (Check out my Instagram, if you’re interested, because I posted a photo and some video clips of the Halftime Show.)

It was anyone’s game, but congratulations to the New England Patriots on becoming the NFL Champions! (Special shoutout to Malcolm Butler for making the play of the year. It was incredible to watch, and he’s proof that you shouldn’t underestimate a rookie!)

But now…back to nail polish! 😉

FedoraHarp Raindrops on Roses is an extremely sentimental nail polish for me for two major reasons.

Firstly, Leah (aka FedoraHarp) has been one of my loyal blog readers for years. She creates 5-free and cruelty-free indie nail polish in Israel. (Her FedoraHarp Etsy store ships worldwide.)

When she reached out to me to ask if I’d be interested in reviewing some of her artisan lacquers, I was incredibly honoured for the opportunity! To top it off, she said that, at that time, I was the first blogger from North America who she approached for this. (You can just imagine my excitement!)

Secondly, as you probably could tell from the name FedoraHarp Raindrops on Roses, it has a Sound of Music theme. This shade can be purchased separately or as part of a duo (full-size or mini). I was ecstatic about the Sound of Music theme because I grew up watching that musical featuring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.

(You have no idea how many times I used to sing “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and pretend that I was pretty Liesel when I was a kid! Even to this day, the entire movie is as clear as day, and I watch it a few times each year.)

Other important information she told me that might interest you? FedoraHarp Lacquer is hand-mixed in Leah’s home. She’s a non-smoker and owns a cat, but she’s careful to keep him away from her work area to prevent any allergen contamination. She also tries to be environmentally friendly by reusing packaging, but if you request brand new packaging, she will gladly oblige.

As I’ve mentioned a few times recently, my cuticles have been dry and ravaged lately. With lots of hand-washing and the harsh winter weather, it really took a toll on my skin. But I hope that you’ll look past my temporarily ragged cuticles to enjoy the beauty of this pretty polish! 🙂

FedoraHarp Raindrops on Roses Pictures

FedoraHarp Raindrops on Roses Swatches

All swatches have:

• OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener (Used as a base coat)
• 3 coats of FedoraHarp Raindrops on Roses
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Natural Light Photos

Flash Photos

Claims: TRUSTED

• Sky blue (Yes)
• Creme-jelly (‘crelly’) hybrid (Yes)

Key Notes

• Name: FedoraHarp Raindrops on Roses
• Duo: FedoraHarp Sound of Music Duo 
• Colours Available in the Collection: Raindrops on Roses & Whiskers on Kittens
• Amount: 15 mL (0.5 fl. oz.)
• Retail Price: Approximately $13.05 CAD (This was provided as a PR sample by FedoraHarp.)
• Where to Buy: FedoraHarp’s Etsy store

FedoraHarp Raindrops on Roses Review

Colour

The base of Raindrops on Roses by FedoraHarp is a beautiful sky blue that’s cheerful and bright. Then, you have colourful sequins suspended in it: pink flowers, yellow circles, and green bars.

I love how it’s colourful and fun without being crazy or over-the-top. It still has a soft look that’s still whimsical.

The composition of this polish is really clever. You know how on cooking shows, they sometimes talk about ‘deconstructing a dish’? I feel like FedoraHarp Raindrops on Roses is a deconstructed polish that’s a poetic take on the literal image of raindrops on roses. I love how all the parts of the flower (the blossom, the stem, and the middle) are present, but they’re floating around in the lacquer.

There’s a My Little Pony feel to this polish, which brought back a lot of nostalgia, since I was a little kid in the 80s. 🙂

Finish

Raindrops on Roses by FedoraHarp is a buildable creme-jelly (‘crelly’) hybrid, so while you get that lovely ‘squishy’ and super-shiny finish, you can cover up any visible nail lines.

It has a milky appearance that sometimes covers part of the sequins, but the overall look is super cute and fun to wear!

Although there are large sequins in this polish, I didn’t notice any sharpness or anything sticking out a lot. Especially after I applied my favourite top coat, it smoothed things out even further.

Application & Formula

The formula was on the thick side, and it was a little tricky to work with because of its goopy nature. However, it’s not the kind of bad formula that makes you want to pull your hair out!

Just don’t be too hasty. It’s important to wait for each coat to dry a bit before applying the next one to avoid streakiness and pulling. If you just slap on one coat after the other without waiting, it will be a hot mess.

Although at first, I tried to use thin coats, it was nearly impossible. I had to use medium coats, but that’s okay with me because I tend to do that. On one nail, I got too excited and slapped on a bit too much, and noticed that it created a bubble.

I loved how it had a ‘watery’ look at two coats, but to make sure that it could achieve full opacity, I added the third coat. It looks great either way!

Since the flower sequins are big, you may need to manipulate them with your brush to make sure that they are positioned where you want them on each nail. Sometimes, you may have to fish in the bottle to get one of the flowers, but it’s not difficult at all.

The green bars (like any bar glitter) can sometimes wind up sticking out on the edge of your nails. Make sure you push them back before the polish dries, or that will be scratchy. Again, this isn’t difficult to do.

When I painted my nails with FedoraHarp Raindrops on Roses, I used my regular brushstrokes. No dabbing like you have to do with some glitter nail polishes.

Ingredients

FedoraHarp Raindrops on Roses has a 5-free formula, which means that it doesn’t contain Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP, Formaldehyde Resin, or Camphor.

Animal-Friendliness

FedoraHarp Raindrops on Roses isn’t tested on animals, and it’s cruelty-free.

Pros Beautiful sky blue base Has that ‘squishy’ look because of the creme-jelly finish Large sequins for a fun touch (flower, circle & bar) Buildable coverage (Looks great at 2 or 3 coats) Finish isn’t gritty or sharp

Cons Application can be tricky if you don’t wait a little between coats You must be mindful of placing the large flower sequins and pushing back the green bars, so the bars don’t hang over the edge of your nails

Final Verdict: 7.5/10

FedoraHarp Raindrops on Roses is my first FedoraHarp Lacquer that I’ve ever tried, and I really enjoyed wearing this playful manicure! 🙂

Stick around, because I have a few more of Leah’s hand-mixed creations to share with you!

Are you also a fan of The Sound of Music? What are some of your favourite indie nail-polish brands? Do you like creme-jelly lacquers?