All year, I’ve been both excited about and dreading this post. My first full year of blogging and my first chance to assign some awesome shades the gold star they so deserve for doing such great jobs. But how do I possibly narrow it down?! Every month, I did at least narrow it down to colors I liked best that particular month in my monthly favorites, but even narrowing it down to that was torture!
In the end, I finally made my decisions. There were a few that I knew right away would make it in and others faced off on my desk in a sudden death match. There may have been trash talking involved. Ahem.
There were so many absolutely incredible polishes created this year that didn’t make the list. I can’t reiterate enough just how difficult this was for me. I showed you guys a photo on facebook of what I’d pulled out to really narrow it down from…I apologize that some of the shades there didn’t quite make it but if I’d done an honorable mention list it’d be miles long, haha!
These are in no particular order, and I apologize for the difference in swatch photos. My first year of blogging has included a lot of growing pains (especially how long it took me to realize my nails look WAY better short!) and I hope to have more cohesive swatches next year. Let’s get started!
Reverie Nail Lacquer Orchid– This is one of those shades that really grew on me more and more each time I wore it. Soft, pretty and feminine! One of the only shades I’ve ever removed from my nails (after a week’s wear because it had started chipping) only to put it right back on.
KBShimmer Hexy Bikini– When this first came out, I wasn’t even sure that I wanted it! I’m so glad that I got it, though. SO sparkly and pretty.
Digital Nails Pale Blue Dots– It was physically painful waiting for Digital Nails’ shop to open back up so I could purchase this.
Indigo Bananas Perfect Night (For Mystery & Horror)– Indigo Bananas put out a LOT of awesome flakie polishes this year, it was tough to narrow it down to just one. Acid Ocean was a very close second!
Anonymous Lacquer Fangalicious– The perfect vampy dark burgandy holo I never knew I needed. One of my favorite pedi colors now, too!
Reverie Nail Lacquer Summer Wine– Although I did love this one when I first swatched the collection, it was the other jelly in the collection (Andromeda) that really captivated me at the time. But the more and more I’ve worn this, the more I’ve fallen in love with it.
Zoya Bar– I feel like this was the only collection of Magical Pixie Dusts that was just perfect- wonderful jelly formula and super matte with BLING! All three were fantastic, but Bar especially fit right into that wonderful neutralish spot.
Aliquid Lacquer Magpies At Midnight– Originally I wasn’t going to included any polishes that were either designed with and/or for me/my blog, but even looking past that bias, this is one of my real favorites in my collection. Alison created this as a surprise for me for my first blogversary, and it’s just gorgeous.
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| This was taken after a couple days, don’t mind the tip wear! |
KBShimmer Leaf Of Faith– This is another shade that really grew on me the more I wore it! So gorgeous and squishy- and you’ve got to try it out with a matte top coat, wow!
Fair Maiden Polish Merry Plum Berry And Bright– Holos really have to have something special to wow me, and the gold flash from this gorgeous shade totally did that. It’s definitely become one of my go-to shades to wear!
Reverie Nail Lacquer Nightfall– This is one of those shades that no photo can do justice to, really and truly. Although it didn’t come out until fall, this is easily my most re-worn shade of the entire year.
Smitten Polish Snow Day Sunrise– Smitten Polish has a real knack for making gorgeous microglitter polishes with wonderful formulas, and this was no exception.
KBShimmer In Bare Form– Another neutral shade that I really didn’t think I’d love as much as I did. The perfect palette cleanser.
Digital Nails Glam Stoker– Indie polish fan groups went nuts when this came out in the Beauty Box Quartet with folks desperately trying to convince someone to part with their bottle or purchasing the whole box just for this shade. I can’t blame them, it’s gorgeous!
Zoya Remy– Remy was the darker sister of everyone’s other favorite Zoya shade, Charla!
Ellagee The Importance Of Body Language– Like I mentioned, a holo really has to be something special to capture my attention, and this one definitely was. Gorgeous and vampy on it’s own with the small flakes to add something a little special.
Literary Lacquers Always Winter Never Christmas– Again, I may be a little biased by this shade because I helped to create it, but I truly think it stands on it’s own merit, too. Literary Lacquers made a lot of gorgeous holos in this style this year, but this one was my favorite!
KBShimmer Laugh Myself Lily– I can’t really put my finger on why I love this shade so much, but I do. It could be the color combination, it could be the amazing formula or it could be the delicate twinkling holo microglitter. Either way, it’s amazing!
Serum No. 5 Jeweltide Greetings– Not only do I love this because it’s a nontraditional colored holiday polish, but I also thought the color combination was really unique and pretty!
Ellagee Jewel Encrusted– This was one of those polishes that made me utter an expletive immediately when removing it from the package for the first time. This was the very first polish I knew would be included when I started making my list- it’s supremely gorgeous and I have nothing else like it in my collection!
So, there you have it, folks- my picks for the Top 20 Nail Polishes of 2014! Looking back, I was really into sandy neutrals, blues and purples apparently! What do you think of my picks? Anything I left out that you would have included instead? What were your favorite polishes of 2014? Let me know in the comments!
Before I go, I wanted to share a couple awesome Christmas presents I got! I was hella spoiled this year and got a lot of amazing things, but one of the best was a second helmer- it was DESPERATELY needed! (Anyone want an updated stash/room tour? Been awhile and everything has changed.) I also got Lush Lemony Flutter from my stepsister who works at Lush, I was super excited to try it out, smells amazing!
I also wanted to share one of the gifts I got my boyfriend, commissioned by my artist sister Karly Hartline (check out her website here). If you’ve been following my blog for awhile, you may have remembered seeing her past Mugen paintings:
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| Gentleman Mugen |
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| King Mugen the VIII |
This year I wanted her to do something cartoony and nintendo-themed as he is a big fan. They turned out so cute and funny!
