Don’t feel blue. Wear blue!

Pretty Serious Badlands Bandit steals the nail show. (It hails from the Post Apocalyptic Princess Collection.)

If there was a swimming pool for robots, I imagine that they would look like Pretty Serious Badlands Bandit. It has a futuristic feel, and the rich sapphire blue packs a lot of punch, like the boxing glove on a spring activated by a button in The Goonies.

Pretty Serious Badlands Bandit Pictures

Pretty Serious Badlands Bandit Swatches

All swatches have:

• OPI Infinite Shine Base Coat (Provided by PR)
• 2 coats of Pretty Serious Badlands Bandit
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Artificial Light Photos

Natural Light Photos

Pretty Serious Badlands Bandit Ingredients

Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride, Copolymer, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Stearalkonium Bentonite, N-Butyl Alcohol, Acrylates Copolymer, Styrene Acrylates Copolymer, Benzophenone 1, Polyvinyl Butyral, Trimethyl Pentanediyl Dibenzoate.

May Contain +/-: CI 15850 Red 7 Lake, CI 15850 Red 6 Lake, CI 77499 Black Iron oxide, CI 77891 Titanium Dioxide, CI 15880 Red 34 Lake, CI 77019 Mica, CI 77163 Bismuth Oxychloride, CI 77491 Red Iron Oxide, CI 77510 Ferric Ferrocyanide, CI 19140 Yellow 5 Lake, CI 77000 Aluminium Paste, Silica, CI 60725 Violet 2, Polyethylene Terephthalate.

Claim: TRUSTED

• Bold blue metallic shimmer (Yes)

Key Notes

• Name: Pretty Serious Badlands Bandit
• Collection: Pretty Serious Post Apocalyptic Princess Collection 2015
• Colours Available in the Collection: Badlands Bandit, Cherry 2000, Frogtown, Gluteus Equine, Nuke the Fridge & Toxic Tiara
• Amount: 11 mL (0.37 fl. oz.)
• Retail Price: $9.95 AUD
• Disclosure: This was provided as a press sample by Pretty Serious Cosmetics.
• Where to Buy: Pretty Serious Cosmetics website, Harlow & Co. & select stockists

Pretty Serious Badlands Bandit Review

Colour

Badlands Bandit by Pretty Serious is a bold blue that goes, “KABOOM!” This is the kind of blue that makes a statement, so it’s right up my alley.

I think this deep blue can be pulled off by practically any skin tone, which is a great thing about these types of jewel tones.

Finish

The metallic shimmer creates a glow that brings life to your manicure. Every time you move your hand, it catches the light, so Badlands Bandit by Pretty Serious never has a dull moment.

As is typical of this finish, you can see subtle brush strokes, but they’re not too obvious, so they weren’t a deal breaker for me.

Application & Formula

This baby has incredible colour payoff even with one coat. To make sure that I got the most intense colour and an even finish, I applied my usual two coats.

The formula was easy to control with the brush, so it went where I wanted it to with ease.

Also, you may be wondering if this nail polish stains. It seemed like it might when I first tried to remove it because I got a mild case of ‘Smurf Fingers.’ However, after removing as much as I can and then washing my hands a few times, the blue completely came off.

Ingredients & Animal-Friendliness

For the full list of ingredients, scroll further up in this post.

Bottom line: Pretty Serious Cosmetics’ nail polishes don’t contain Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP, or Formaldehyde Resin.

Additionally, Pretty Serious Cosmetics’ polishes are vegan and cruelty-free.

Pros Bold blue Isn’t dull, thanks to the metallic shimmer finish Great colour payoff (You only need 1-2 coats) Easy-to-use formula Doesn’t stain nails (Remove as much polish as you can & then wash your hands a few times to get rid of all the blue) Vegan & cruelty-free No Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP, or Formaldehyde Resin

Cons Subtle brush strokes If you don’t shop online, getting your hands on Pretty Serious nail polishes can be very difficult

Final Verdict: 9/10

Pretty Serious Badlands Bandit is a blue that takes my breath away because it’s vibrant and contrasts so well against my skin tone. (I have a soft spot for colours that pop instead of blend in.)

If you’re in the market for a blue with pizzazz, give this one a shot!

Does a vegan and cruelty-free formula make you more inclined to purchase it? What are some of your favourite indie and/or cruelty-free brands?