Hey lovelies,
After a lot of deliberating (better late than never, right?), I'd like to share my top 20 polishes for 2012 - plus a few runners up :) Not all of them were released in 2012, but that was the year I received them. Don't forget to click on the polish's name to view the blog post it originally featured in!
I hope you enjoy my picks, and encourage you to share your own favourites in the comments section. Look out for my upcoming beauty favourites post!
Attitude Adjust-Mint was love at first sight, but I never thought I'd get my hands on it! Fortunately Michaela of Nail Polish Anon came to the rescue and offered to sell me her bottle. I adore the delicate colour and iridescent glitters. Above I have layered it over Milani Dressmaker.
2. China Glaze Running In Circles
Running In Circles is another polish I knew I'd love the minute I saw it. Packed with glassflecks, vibrant green - we're in love. You're all invited to the wedding (sorry Mike).
3. Dollish Polish Expecto Patronum
Expecto Patronum really fueled my love for milky based glitters. I love the way the aqua glitter peeks through the base, and best of all, this was a very sweet gift from the lovely Annemarie of Gimikd Girl.
4. Nail Pattern Boldness Bitches Brew
Bitches Brew started an insatiable quench for ALL THE ORANGE GLITTER. It is seriously amazing. What a great combination of glitter! I've layered it over China Glaze Smoke & Ashes here.
5. China Glaze Smoke & Ashes
Speaking of Smoke & Ashes, this beauty also made it to my top 30. The blue and green glassflecks take it away from boring black territory and into something infinitely more fabulous.
She's Picture Perfect was an impulse buy, purchased from the same Trade Me seller I got my Wet N Wild Vanity palette from. I don't know what made me buy it, as cornflower and periwinkle shades usually look terrible on me, but boy am I glad I did. This is more of a lilac, really, and it has a purple hidden shimmer that imparts an ethereal quality to the colour. A million times love. With & without flash above.
7. Hare Midsummers Midnight
Thanks to Michaela's swatch of this pretty, I dropped everything and bought it right away. NO REGRETS. It is absolutely gorgeous. The colour combination is perfection, and application was easy - here, I've layered it over black. I just love everything about this polish.
8. Hare Pegasus
After purchasing Midsummer's Midnight, I obviously needed more Hares in my life, and Pegasus had been on my wishlist for over a year. So I ordered this along with Supernova Springs and A Positive (also a longtime lemming). I love the other two, but Pegasus makes my inner girly girl squee with delight. It's just so darn cute.
Galactic was a swap gift from Dana at Polished Claws Up! The Moon Candy duos have had mixed reviews, but I absolutely adore this duo. I actually prefer my flakies on the sparser side, this was right up my alley, and the inky blue base is just so lush.
Seduction was a Mother's Day gift from my very special boys. Purple jelly goodness packed with rainbow flakies, it doesn't get much better than that.. I've layered it over Essie She's Picture Perfect.
Another favourite Cultie for me, I Got Distracted is jampacked with glitter - blindingly so! I love the green accents, they really make the polish.
12. Australis Speck-tacular
A rainbow flakie from an Australasian brand? Whaaaaat?! I am all over that! Speck-tacular didn't get that much love from other bloggers because the flakies are sparse, but I love it that way. Above I've layered it over Revlon Very Currant and Sublime Strawberry. I actually really like it over Sublime Strawberry :)
Technically I got Disco Biscuit
in 2013, but dammit, it's too stunning not to include. And it was a 2012 release. So there :p Shown over NARS Schiap here.
in 2013, but dammit, it's too stunning not to include. And it was a 2012 release. So there :p Shown over NARS Schiap here.
14. Models Own Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean is such a stunner! The strong duochrome shimmer gets me every time I wear it. I can't wait to try more layering combinations with it - I'm thinking OPI Don't Touch My Tu-Tu next to match the delicate feel this polish has. Above, I've layered it over Color Club Take Me To Your Chateau.
Ohhh, Peace Out Purple. So bright and pigmented - I need a lipstick this colour!
Contrasting shimmers ranked pretty high on my wishlist this year. Cool Couture is probably my favourite grey that I own, with its stunning aqua shimmer. Shown with and without flash above.
17. Models Own Emerald Black
2012 was the year I became obsessed with blackened shimmers. It was tough choosing from the ones I've accumulated, but Emerald Black remains my favourite.
Camouflage is just perfection. Opaque, smooth, and such a gorgeous colour. I bet this would be fab for stamping.
19. Hits Jazz
Green flakies - 'nuff said ;)
Phat Camp has amazing purple shredded glitter that accents the fuchsia and turquoise in it perfectly, it is so cool! Here I've layered it over Opi Kiss Me On My Tulips
. Unfortunately Phat Camp is now discontinued :(
. Unfortunately Phat Camp is now discontinued :(
21. Rainbow Honey Mare of the Moon
I got Mare of the Moon in a swap with Annemarie, and never thought I'd love it as much as I do. Check out that colour shifting shimmer! And the perfectly distributed glitter! I layered it over China Glaze Blue Year's Eve
here.
here.
This photo is awful and doesn't do this pretty polish justice! Believe me when I say this is beautiful. It has great opacity and such a lovely colour. Unfortunately I don't think this is available anymore.
23. Nicole by OPI OMB!
Despite the Bieber tag, OMB is a stunning glowing red. It's so glowy it's like it is alive - in a good way! Not a hulking polish monster kind of way.
Blissful Blackberry is a gorgeous, sheer scented polish perfect for layering. The whole LA Girl Fruity range smells amazing, and this is no exception - but it's my favourite of the set because of the gold flecks accenting the vampy berry shade.
25. Wet N Wild Nerd Alert: Screech
Wow, this is so bright! I love the gold shimmer, it makes sure this isn't your average neon green. This was another swap gift from the lovely Dana - that girl spoils me!
Connect the Dots is one of the first indie or artisan polishes I lusted after. I'm so happy to have it at last!
Candy Sprinkles
is a Deborah Lippmann Candy Shop-seque polish - at a fraction of the price! What's not to love?
is a Deborah Lippmann Candy Shop-seque polish - at a fraction of the price! What's not to love?
28. Zoya Veruschka
Gosh, this is an older swatch. But I still love Veruschka. I prefer to wear it glossy to bring that amazing shimmer to life, but it looks great matte, too.
Daddy's Little Girl was the very first polish I blogged about. I'm not usually a fan of blue, but this vibrant royal blue with accents of fuchsia is divine.
Orange Pop
is another pretty I received from Dana (you have amazing taste, girl!). It has a gorgeous glow, smells amazing, and is really flattering.
is another pretty I received from Dana (you have amazing taste, girl!). It has a gorgeous glow, smells amazing, and is really flattering.
Honourable Mentions:
I couldn't quite leave them out, but didn't want to go over 30!
Thanks for reading!
x
Lani
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