Sometimes you can come up with unique manicures just by adding glitter on top. It dawned on me that I don’t layer polish as often as I would like.
So, I took a peek into my Helmer searching specifically for two polishes that I’ve never worn before and that I thought would look cool paired together.
Cult Nails Hypnotize Me (teal-blue glitter) and Cult Nails Iconic (red flakie) kept looking up at me like adorable puppies that you can’t ignore. Forget puppy eyes. Nail-polish eyes get me every time! 😉 (Okay, so they don’t actually have eyes, but work with me here…)
In this post, I’ll mainly show you photos of this layering combination. Yes, there’ll be a mini review of each polish, but they won’t be full reviews because I prefer to save that for posts dedicated exclusively for each colour.
If I’m able to snap photos of these polishes when I wear them separately later, I’ll provide thorough reviews of them at that time.
The Polishes I Used
Left-Right: Cult Nails Iconic & Cult Nails Hypnotize Me
Cult Nails Hypnotize Me Over Cult Nails Iconic Swatches
All swatches have:
- Nubar Foundation Base Coat
- 2 coats of Cult Nails Iconic
- 1 coat of Cult Nails Hypnotize Me
- Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
Natural Light
Natural Light
Natural Light
Natural Light
Natural Light
Natural Light
Sunlight
Sunlight
Sunlight
Sunlight
Sunlight
Flash
Flash
Flash
Flash
Natural Light
Sunlight
Flash
Also with Flash – Thought this really blurred image looked cool!
Key Notes
- Name: Cult Nails Hypnotize Me (glitter)
- Collection: Cult Nails Hypnotic Collection
- Colours Available in the Cult Nails Hypnotic Collection: Hypnotize Me, Awakening, Enigmatic & In A Trance
- Amount: 15 mL (0.5 fl. oz.)
- What I Paid: $8.75 USD (on sale – bought entire 4-bottle Hypnotic Collection for $35 USD)
- Where to Buy: Cult Nails website
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- Name: Cult Nails Iconic (red)
- Collection: Cult Nails Inaugural Collection
- Colours Available in the Cult Nails Inaugural Collection: Iconic, My Kind of Cool Aid, Living Water & Quench
- Amount: 15 mL (0.5 fl. oz.)
- What I Paid: $10 USD
- Where to Buy: Cult Nails website
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Cult Nails Hypnotize Me Mini Review
Clearly, Cult Nails Hypnotize Me is a real show-stopper! Since I recently bought it along with other gorgeous Cult Nails beauties from my Haul of Shame post, I’ve been eager to test-drive it. But I wasn’t sure what to put underneath it. The true beauty of Hypnotize Me comes out when layered.
The base is a translucent teal, so keep that in mind when layering – it will alter your base colour. Sometimes that’s a bad thing, but with the right base colour, this translucence is what adds to the magic!
The fine glitter is a mesmerizing combination of teal and blue. It’s this combination that gives your nails some depth. It’s not your standard glitter that sparkles but is somehow also just a flat layer. This one really adds dimension.
I’m embarrassed to tell you how many times I’ve randomly picked up the bottle just to stare at it. It twinkles! And it twinkles in all different lighting!
Cult Nails Iconic Mini Review
Cult Nails Iconic is a highly pigmented red polish with large flakies! I was really impressed how nicely it applied and how well it covered my nail even with a single coat. I used 2 coats for full opacity. And I really liked it solo, but I had to push myself to do the layering experiment I originally set out to do. 🙂
I really enjoyed this combination because the end result made the polish look like a pretty purple. The flakies from Iconic showed through a little, and the glitter in Hypnotize Me made me fall in love.
As I said before, if I’m able to snap photos of this the next time I wear either of these colours solo, I’ll try to take photos, blog about it, and then include a more-detailed review.
What layered combinations have you done and enjoyed? Do you layer to refresh an old manicure? Are there some glitter polishes you absolutely love to use for layering?
This combo was great! I’ve done something like this before with different brands but it didn’t look as good as this. I really want Cult Nails polish but I don’t know where to buy it. Do they sell these in stores? Great review!
Hey maddy!
As far as I know, you can only buy Cult Nails nail polish online. In the “Key Note” sections for each polish, I have a link to their website (and specifically the colours I’ve featured). Hope that helps! 🙂
That is a very beautiful combination of polishes!!
Ashesela recently posted: New manicure pics coming soon, I promise!
Hey Ashesela!
Glad you liked it, too. 🙂
Uh, luv it! I really love these red and green/bluish combos, both when it comes to makeup, clothes and much more. It’s such a vivid combo! I’ve flashed a picture on my blog, where I had put a red glitter on top of different colours -just to try it. Right now I’m searching for a blue glitter, because I have some combo plans in my head! 😉
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Hey Conni!
Ooohhh, I’m looking forward to seeing the combinations you can come up with! 😀
I must admit that I would never have thought of putting these two polishes together, and the result is so surprising. I would have thought it would be more Christmassy, if you know what I mean. 🙂
Rainbowify Me recently posted: New Swedish polishes
Hey Rainbowify Me!
I know what you mean. 🙂 If Hypnotize Me didn’t have a tinted base, it definitely would’ve been more Christmas-like. But I do love the surprising purple that resulted from this little experiment! 😀
This is a great combo!! I love to layer with glitter!!
Marisa recently posted: Sally Hansen – Tyin’ the Knot!
Hey Marisa!
Do you have any favourite combinations you’ve tried?
Wow! I never thought that applying those two colors would give such a beautiful berry result! I’ve never tried combinations because I never thought it could possibly end up that nice! Thank you for sharing this! Although I have to admit that I’m still scared of trying a combination… Knowing my luck, it would probably end up muddy. 🙁
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Hey Jennifer!
If you’re concerned that the result may not be something you like, maybe you could test it first on a nail wheel…or even on a plastic bag. Just be sure to let each coat dry before applying the next. (I kind of just took a risk and experimented with this combination on my actual nails for the first time. It would be smarter to test it out first.)
Oh! Thank you for the tip! I never thought about that possibility! You’re the best! -goes to get plastic bags-
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No problem, Jennifer! 🙂 Glad that I could help!
Pretty! I love this combination!
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Hey mellinail!
Thank you! 🙂 I enjoyed wearing this one a lot. I’m sure I’ll wear it again!
I’m a new Cultie convert myself and I can definitely see the appeal. Maria really knows her polishes! The formula is phenomenal and makes the more sheer polishes so easy to layer. This turned out really pretty! Iconic is definitely catching my eye. I need to get more Cult Nails in my life, methinks.
Carmela recently posted: Nail Art Wednesday: Peppermint Candy Inspired Red and White Nails
Hey Carmela!
I agree – you need more Cult Nails! *ENABLES*
If you’re planning to get more, let me know so we can split an order. 😀 *ENABLES BACK* I’m not getting any till January or February anyway. 😉
Carmela recently posted: Indulge without the Splurge: December 9, 2011
Haha, we’ll see. 🙂 My birthday’s in February, so I might. But for now, I think I’m all set with Cult Nails nail polish for a while. Still need to wear all the pretty colours I got not long ago.
P.S. I really like enablers. They’re often fun people to be around. 🙂
This is an interesting combination! I love how you created a purple. I don’t have any Cult Nails polishes, but I’ve always admired their colors and I’d like to get some in the future, such as Clairvoyant, Living Water, and My Kind of cool Aid to name a few. I think they’re all gorgeous. Layering glitters is probably my favorite thing to do. I don’t do it that often because sometimes I do get annoyed with having to remove glitter since it can be such a huge pain, but it can seriously spruce up any creme and turn it into something completely different. Probably my favorite combination to this date was OPI Glow Up Already layered over Sally Hansen Green With Envy. I didn’t want to take it off!I also experimented with OPI Show It And Glow It over OPI Lucky Lucky Lavender, but I only swatched it on one finger. It was an awesome combination and I’m thinking about doing a full on manicure of it soon. Basically, all my Burlesque glitters, including the ones above and Simmer and Shimmer are my favorites to play around with.
Melissa recently posted: Zoya Crystal
Hey Melissa!
Hehe, I wasn’t planning on making a purple. I was expecting a red with green glitter, but when I saw the purple, I fell in love with it! 🙂 Some of the best colours are surprises.
Oh, I have both OPI Glow Up Already and Sally Hansen Green With Envy, but I didn’t even think to layer them. I’ll have to try that sometime based on your recommendation. Thanks! 🙂 Also, I need to layer over OPI Lucky Lucky Lavender. I just LOVE the colour by itself, but it severely clashes with my skin tone…which was a huge disappointment for me because I loved it in the bottle that much. But with some glitter on top, I think I could make it more wearable. 🙂
Wow! I never would have thought that combination would have come out looking like that…I love it!! Great review/tutorial. =)
We just came across your blog & are now following.
We’d love for you to visit our blog too. Be sure to enter our Sephora Collection giveaway going on now…it’s valued at over $100!
Jayme & Mendi @ Her Late Night Cravings
http://herlatenightcravings.blogspot.com/2011/12/sephora-collection-giveaway.html
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Hey Her Late Night Cravings!
Yeah, me neither! 🙂 I love it when polishes react well together and bring something new to the creative table, don’t you? 😉
Thank you for stopping by my blog and following! 🙂 I’ll be sure to check your site.
MAAAAARRRYYYYYYY! 😉
I just love reading your posts. I learn something new each time (like pairing this duo- lovely on their own… Magical together) , I laugh at your side thoughts and cleverness.
Also, you are not alone, I too take this bottle out of my helmer quite often and just stare at it! (no joke!)
So if ever you want to host a “hypnotize me” slumber party (minus the hypnotist)… Just a show up and stare at the pretty polish party… I’M in ! 😉 lol
Hey Marta…I mean MAAAAAARRRTAAAA! 😉
If we keep screaming our names out to each other, it’ll make other people raise their eyebrows. Hehe, so let’s keep doing it! 😛
Okay, so I’m not the only one who is…hypnotized….by Hypnotize Me. This polish is like a rattle snake – you can’t take your eyes off it for long. But, thankfully, we don’t suffer a horrible demise soon afterwards. 😉
How cool is that!
I don’t layer much unless you count glitter over creams, but you’ve done beautifully with this one. It’s like having another bottle of polish. Looks like I’ll be heading to the Cult Nails site next.
On a side note, thank you for doing so many different brands. I’ve been a longtime OPI faithful, but since finding your blog, I’ve begun branching out to other brands and have found a lot that I really love.
Hey karen!
Yes, it’s totally like having another bottle of polish. Now I’m curious to try layering other colours with glitter polishes that have a little tint to the base.
You’re very welcome! 🙂 I’m glad that you appreciate it. I don’t think I could stick to a single nail-polish brand if I tried because the colours (by any brand) are what attract me. I hope to feature more brands in the future, too. I have some other brands in my popular that aren’t well-known that I’d like to share someday.
Wow, I can’t believe how beautiful this combination is! I love turquoise so naturally I adore this mani!
Hmm..memorable layering. I thought the result when I layered CG Rainbow over Frostbite was intriguing. I also really liked when I layered Revlon Star over Steel-her Heart, and OPI I Lily Love You over Mod About You. And my friend had a great time layering Milani 514 Hi-Res over everything. Rebecca Likes Nails named Hi-Res as being in her top 10! http://rebeccalikesnails.blogspot.com/2011/05/milani-3d-hi-res-swatch-and-review.html
another Cristina recently posted: Sally Girl Cuticle Oil news!- or, my Sally’s jackpot 🙂
Hey another Cristina!
All of your layering combinations sound great! 🙂
That combination is georgeous! I’ve never really layered nail polish like that before but it looks like I’m going to have to start trying.
After seeing your layering post with Unicorn Puke, I immediately went to Cult’s website and preordered the Super Powers collection. It was my first time trying Cult nail polish and I’m in love!
Hey Raychul!
First of all, cool spelling for your name. 🙂
Once you start layering, it’s like opening up the possibilities of your nail wardrobe and being limitless. And it’s just plain cool to be able to wear colours that you ‘made’ yourself.
YAY – so glad that you pre-ordered the Super Powers Collection! You’ll love Clairvoyant, especially!
This is such a unique combination! I love it!
Emily Jurow recently posted: 30 Day Makeup Challenge
Hey Emily!
These polishes are serious stunners even solo, so I had to combine them to see what their love child would look like. 😉
this combination looks beautiful!
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Hey Soo!
Thanks – it was a nice surprise that the end result came out purple! 🙂