Around this time last year, I posted a review for three Crabtree & Evelyn Nail Lacquers: Black Tulip, Sky, and Wisteria. Since I’ve been trying to reswatch, I thought I’d start with these, since I feel they’re still a bit under the radar.
Collection: Crabtree & Evelyn 2013, Nail Lacquer [Launch]
Black Tulip is not the kind of color you’d associate with Crabtree & Evelyn! (You know, you’d expect pastels and sheer shimmers, right?) It’s a deep purple shimmer with golden olive iridescence, and, at the right angles, even a glint of turquoise in the bottle.
On the nail, you really can’t see much of the iridescence apart from a subtle turn to olive when you angle your nails the right way. Disappointing, but it’s still quite a nice-looking color. It’s vampy, but definitely still purple even in dim light.
The first coat of this applies very thinly, and I was pretty skeptical. However, surprisingly, a second coat gets it so much more opaque! I did end up using three coats, anyway, just to smooth out any unevenness, but overall, this was quite easy to apply.
The polish dries to a slightly dull finish, so I’d recommend using a shiny top coat over this.
The brush is standard: slim, slightly flat, and on the longer side.
From my initial review:
Overall, the quality of these polishes is average: the sparkle isn’t amazing, the cream finish isn’t super smooth, the polish can feel a little watery or goopy. The lasting power is just all right. But, they were on sale, 3 for CA$12, so I think that for the price, you get what you pay for. The bottle is actually pretty nice for a CA$4–$6 polish, though. I think these polishes are pretty average, but if C&E ever released some unique shades, I’d certainly pick them up.
The prices have since gone up by US/CA$2 a bottle, though I feel that purchased on sale (for around $6), these are still worth it.
Crabtree & Evelyn Nail Lacquer, 0.5 fl. oz. / 15 mL. MSRP was US/CA$6 at initial launch. Today, they are US$8, with an ongoing deal of Buy 2 Get 1 Free. The polish is formulated without toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), or camphor. It is made in the USA.
Crabtree & Evelyn was founded in Massachusetts in 1972 by Cyrus Harvey, who was also a prominent American film distributor. Harvey sold the company to Malaysia-based KLK Berhad in 1996; in 2012, the company was acquired by Khuan Choo International Ltd., based in Hong Kong. Crabtree & Evelyn maintains stores worldwide, and its base of operations is in Woodstock, CT, USA.
fivezero 
Love that iridescence in the bottle, a little disappointing it isn’t more visible on the nails 🙂 Still a very unique shade though 🙂
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Yes, I still like it even without the obvious iridescence on the nail!
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Definitely something a little different 🙂
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Oooh I love this one even without the strong shift on the nails. The shimmer on this is just the kind I like! This better not be limited edition. I even like the name black tulip!
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Still available, and there’s an online sale 🙂 http://www.crabtree-evelyn.com/hand-care/nail-care/black-tulip-nail-lacquer/802091.html?cgid=hand-care-nail-care#start=1
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I’ll pretend I didn’t read that part about the online sale. 😛
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I think they ship from the US, so could end up more expensive with shipping & dutie, anyway! Easier to go in-store.
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Perfect fall favourite
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I’m not sure if it’s the lighting and these pictures specifically, but mine seems way more purple than yours? https://chicandpolished.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/ce-swatches.jpeg
Even on my nails it looked purple, whereas yours has more visible gold tones to it (mine really didn’t have this)
It’s gotta be the lighting?
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It’s definitely the lighting! Under bright light, I find that the gold/green iridescence is stronger and makes the polish look less purple overall. In dimmer light, it’s not as sparkly, so it looks a lot more purple. I get a gold-green flash on an overcast day, but a lot less sparkle. Kind of chameleonic, unfortunately.
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gah these colours play with my eyes hahha
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Oh man, I only wish we had the ability to take photos in every kind of light! Some of them are so damn tricky, not to mention my camera seems to think there’s only one shade of teal!
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Hahaha story of my life when I take pictures of polishes in bottles and I’m all “this polish in real life actually doesn’t look at all like how it does in this picture” -.-
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Swatcher problems. 😀 Sigh.
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Wow, this is a gorgeous shade. =o I think how pretty the shade is can override any minor formula issues. I have to keep scrolling up and looking at it again! It’s so pretty on you. ❤ ❤
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It really is worth it – the formula is pretty decent! The color is so chameleonic.
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