Creme a la Mode: The Inaugural Box

promotional samples ahead

One of the (very few) things the indieverse lacks is creams. Everyone and their mother has holos, though admittedly not all are created equal. But it seems like a good, solid creamy cream is just nigh-on impossible to find these days. Until now. A brave quartet of makers have banded together and created an amazing new must-have product: the Creme a la Mode Box. It is a delicious collection of buttery, unique shades that will be released on a quarterly basis. I am honored to present the inaugural box!

Creme a la Mode: The Inaugural Box

Creme a la Mode: The Inaugural Box

The Dark Side of Maroon by Indigo Bananas
This was the first full-sized polish I have had from this brand. It has been on my list of secret wants for a while, but a multitude of reasons has kept me from buying. I had a friend (horrified at my ignorance of the brand) who sent me a whole handful of polishes, and while I haven't used them for a full manicure yet, I have enjoyed them as bits of art here and there.

But this polish here. Unf. Anyone who reads this blog (and pgs) probably knows that I love all the fuchsia things. In fact, this is a dead-ringer for a scarf I just finished knitting. It is a perfect cool berry cream that is opaque in three super thin coats. You could probably try two thick coats, but I think three is best for the sake of getting that perfectly thick, glossy look. I had zero staining (which is always a fear with these shades) and little to no cuticle floods. 

Indigo Bananas The Dark Side of Maroon

Indigo Bananas The Dark Side of Maroon

Tauping Mechanism by Digital Nails
Digital Nails is a brand I have a few of already, but not any creams so I was ultra excited to get my grubby paws on this sucker. Unfortunately for me, it is currently as hot as it will ever get in my neck of the woods, and I think it made an already "one coater" extra thick. I ended up chilling this one in the fridge and left it capped an additional 36 hours after that in order to get some good clear swatches. Judging by the exceedingly high quality of my other DN shades, I am going to chalk the troublesome application up to our awful "summer" weather. 

This is a pale grayish taupe shade. Against my cool skin, it pulls slightly green (because I'm red!) but I actually kinda love that. It reminds me of fresh concrete, and I think it is a wonderful alternative Fall shade. If it weren't 10,000º here, I think this would easily be a one-coat polish, but I used two of the thinnest coats I could manage. I declare this shade totally sfw.

Digital Nails Tauping Mechanism

Digital Nails Tauping Mechanism

Bluestocking Romance by Literary Lacquers
Another new-to-me brand! My salty soulmate Cate from @allthegreenpolish loves this brand and its maker to the moon and back, so I was expecting big things. I was not disappointed.

This shade is a dusty navy/cadet blue cream. It is wonderfully deep and has that distinct skunky scent that all the best blue polishes have. I used two thinnish coats to get the pictures below, plus a layer of SV. I did have a bubble here and there, but again: it is hotter than balls here. I make no assertions about formula until I can try it in non-awful weather. The color is so unique that this might not end up being my last from this brand.

Literary Lacquers Bluestocking Romance

Literary Lacquers Bluestocking Romance

Universal Loner from Octopus Party Nail Lacquer
Um...its OPNL, ya'll. 'Nuff said. The formula was about as perfect as one can expect from a polish, as I have come to expect from the brand.

This is possibly the most "true red" I have in my collection. I love a good red cream, but they are so hard to find. I become ridiculously enraged by visible nail line, and finding a red that covers the VNL is like finding an oasis in the desert. I used two medium coats and a layer of SV, but I think next time I'll try three thin coats. This weather, guys...it suuuuucks. 

Octopus Party Nail Lacquer Universal Loner

Octopus Party Nail Lacquer Universal Loner

Details
•This box is going to be offered quarterly, apparently. And it seems that it will be the same four brands each time. That means the colors can only get more and more adventurous. What a great way to really see what a brand can do!

•It is currently on pre-order from August 17 through August 23 

•It will cost you $26 (USD) + shipping for all four full-sized shades

•if you manage to miss the preorder, these polishes should eventually be made available in the individual makers shops. But not until after the boxes are all sold and shipped.

So what is the verdict here? Are you as stoked as I am for a quarterly collection of indie creams? It is so rare to find a good creamy shade, and even moreso to find a great one from a solid indie brand. I am excited for this set, it is such a fabulous deal that I don't think you should let it slip by.
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Comments

  1. Your swatches are so gorgeous! That blue is a dream! And the purple!

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  2. I didn't realize it was going to be so... cheap? I don't want to say cheap because I feel like that negates its value. But it's the best word here. I love all four colors. That OPNL is a practically perfect red. So incredibly tomato-y and creamy and just, lovely.

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    1. this is a killer deal. Even if you only want one or two, you almost lose money by waiting for the individual release.

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  3. Gorgeous swatches! I'm excited to get my first Creme a la mode box. I'm delighted by the discounted value we get by pre-ordering the whole set.

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    1. Thank you! Though I have no idea how they are going to top this one...

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  4. I absolutely LOVE the Digital Nails shade, it's so creamy and perfect.

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    1. it is the perfect pavement color. It feels so fresh and modern.

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  5. That Indigo Bananas shade is slaying me…seriously gorgeous! I love good cremes though and all of these seem pretty fantastic!

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  6. I am not a huge fan of cremes - go sparkly or go home! lol BUT.... ugh your swatches have like a telepathic communication to my wallet, and I've got that OPNL addiction.... I'm probably getting the box now, you're such a good enabler! :)

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  7. *screeches* SHUT UP AND JUST TAKE MY MONEY!!! Every single one of these are a masterpiece.

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  8. Cremes are my absolute favorite finish! These are all gorgeous and your swatches and beautiful. :)

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    1. :D Thanks! I think of creams as the workhorses of polish. They should be standard issue.

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  9. As much as I adore headache-inducing finishes, I love a good creme. They're just so classic and over-the-top-shiny (with a good topcoat). This box is a really cool concept! My favorite of these is probably the Indigo Bananas or the OPNL. They're staples, but something about those shades gets me every time!

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    1. if I had a nickle for every red or fuchsia cream I had...I could built a throne of nickles.

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  10. Beautiful swatches! These cremes are perfection.

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  11. Gorgeous swatches! Cremes are always my favorites, love that shine.

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  12. I love your swatches..these colors look amazing on you.

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  13. I am such a fan of all indie boxes, and I especially love that the theme of this is cremes! I need more indie cremes in my life! Your swatches of these are totally killer!

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  14. There definitely needs to be more indie cremes. These are so pretty!

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