Brand: Adesse
I just got my first Adesse New York nail polish in this month’s Ipsy bag, and I was really looking forward to reviewing it, even though a more interesting duochrome shade was given out a few months ago, which I sadly did not receive.
Adesse states of their Organic Infused Nail Lacquer (also described on the website as “Gel Effect Polish”):
A revolutionary long-wearing, fast drying nail polish that gives your nails the “plump” look of a gel manicure without a UV or LED lamp.
We infuse our polish with organic bamboo extract, argan and shea oils to soothe and rejuvenate your nails. Our organic mica, minerals and pigments deliver high-definition color and super shiny finish that won’t chip or scratch. Our specially designed self-leveling brush delivers the right amount of polish each time.
Gel Effect polish is 5 Free, Cruelty Free, Paraben Free, Sulfate Free, Petrochemical Free, GMO Free, Triclosan Free, Vegan and Made in New York.
It kind of peeves me that Adesse described their “mica, minerals and pigments” (er, mica is a mineral) as organic, because some of these are inherently inorganic substances. In chemistry, anything containing carbon is organic. Mica, for example, does not contain carbon. Then, organic products are those that are produced via organic agriculture, and ain’t nobody’s growing rocks using fertilizers. It’s like companies that claim their vegetables are gluten-free. Well, like, duh.
Anyway, Surfer Girl is a sprightly, summery shade of whitened turquoise that leans more blue than green. The website describes it as “[C]ool, sophisticated and wearable with a hint of light reflecting sparkle.”
This is a cream finish. There is no sparkle. The most I can say is that it has the vaguest hint of a pearly finish, so I don’t doubt that perhaps there is verrrry fine shimmer that gives it that pretty look. It’s super-crazy subtle, though, not like the “invisible shimmer” (which is slightly visible) in some Chanel and Zoya polishes.
I am reminded of Alfred Hitchcock’s and Winston Churchill’s instructions for a martini (respectively: “five parts gin and a quick glance at a bottle of vermouth” and “with ice-cold gin, and a bow in the direction of France“). I like vermouth so I don’t know what their problem is, but how they feel about vermouth is about how much shimmer shows up in this polish.