This week, I am excited to talk about a new brand of nail polish that is entering the indie game. The company is called Astrologié Beauty, and all of its polishes are lovingly designed and created by its founder Amanda. With the recent launch of its new Redwoods Collection, Astrologié Beauty has already garnered praise from Queen of Nails 83 and Stunnin.Nails and Mypolishedtips13. And after testing it out the collection myself, I have a lot to say!

First we’ll get an insider’s perspective as to what inspired this new company and collection, as I interview Amanda herself. And following that, I will be reviewing each polish from this brand’s first collection.

Get to Know Amanda and Astrologié

What inspired you to create your own line of nail polish? What did you think was missing in the world of nail polish?
I have always been a fringe creative person. I’ve dreamt of having a career in the artistic realm, but never had the guts to pursue due to fear of failure. With that in mind, at a time when I hated my day job, I was job-hunting and thought, ‘What if I could get a job at one of those indie nail polish companies?’ (Think Live Love Polish or Cirque Colors,) and after doing a cursory search of Indeed my next thought was, ‘'Why don’t I make nail polish myself instead?’

It may seem odd to start learning a craft from scratch with the intentions of making it into a business. And in truth, the business side was a far away thought for many months, but as this can be a pricey hobby, I decided to bridge the final gap into selling my creations. In hindsight I think the thought of selling polish pushed me to make sure that I’m making the best and most precise formulas possible.

When I started making polish, I almost quit before I began. There are so many indie brands out there making gorgeous products, that I was intimidated and fearful I would be lost in the masses of consumer choices. But I’m glad I didn’t give up, and have created something beautiful that’s also very fulfilling.

What inspired the name Astrologié?
Finding a name was one of the most difficult parts of this whole process. Something that was aesthetically pleasing to me and also represented a part of me. Along with being a fringe creative person I’ve also always been a fringe mystical person. I enjoy tarot card reading and my head is always in the clouds dreaming of different universes and timelines. A part of this is my belief that I am utterly and completely a Taurus. Astrologié to me is the stars and the future and every possibility that may exist. It’s very comforting to me.

What styles and effects would you say Astrologié specializes in?
There is some kind of glitter in every polish I make. Not as a rule per-se, but it’s what I find beautiful and different and interesting right now. I’m still learning how to combine colors and pigments, so maybe in the future I’ll make interesting and beautiful crème polishes as well.

Who is the Astrologié customer?
I don’t think I could put my finger on the Astrologié customer just yet. I’m still mostly in my own head, making and wearing what I like. But if I were to guess, I’d say the Astrologié customer is a lover of nail polish who’s not afraid of bold nails. I hope to get to a point where my polish inspires people to wear something out of their normal comfort zone.

What are those who have tried Astrologié polishes saying about it?
So far I’ve gotten rave reviews on all points! It’s kind of been like a dream seeing other people wearing my polish, holding my bottles. The look of the brand has always been really important to me. I don’t think that I would have been very happy putting something out into the world that I hadn’t put my all into. Almost everyone who has received Astrologié polishes has told me that they love the packaging, and that makes me really proud.

The formula is designed to look its best in 2-3 thin coats, this is to make sure the dry time is short (I have very little patience!) and the polishes stay a good consistency for as long as possible. Chip resistance is a must for me as well; for a long time I never painted my nails because I felt I couldn’t keep touching up the chips all week. And as with any glitter packed polish, I always recommend a glossy top coat to truly bring out the sparkle and shine.

What is the benefit of purchasing nail polish from an indie company, as opposed to a big brand like OPI or Essie?
Nail polish - in addition to being a small piece of art that makes the person wearing it happy - is also a tool for someone to express themselves in everyday life. Hands are very important in everyday communication - from handshakes, to presentations, to pointing to a menu item at a restaurant. And because indie companies can offer more specialty polishes, they can therefore provide people with more unique colors and effects that cater to their personality than general drug store brands.

What inspired the Redwoods Collection?
It started with a group of polishes that I liked in the moment. Then considered what time of year it would eventually be launched (many family members told me I needed to include a red for the holidays). I wanted my launch collection to be free standing of seasons or holidays that would create a bias on when those colors could be used. The tone of the colors felt really grounded to me with holographic glitter and effects lending to something more ethereal. That’s why I titled it the Redwoods Collection. While the polishes don’t literally translate to the trees, it’s more about the feelings evoked.

What's next for Astrologié Beauty?
The next release will be sooner than you think! I’m continuing to create polishes that I feel push the boundaries of what you might find on the shelf. While not every idea I set out to make turns out perfectly how I wanted it (Golden Hour was one of those happy mistakes,) they all end up with a story behind them.

What's the best way to follow Astrologié Beauty news and deals?
Instagram (@AstrologiéBeauty) is the main source communications hub of Astrologié Beauty right now, other than www.astrologiebeauty.com.

The Redwoods Collection

The Redwoods Collection features four polishes: Ash&Embers, Komorebi, Meteorite and Golden Hour. I tried on each one for 5 days and took notes on their effects, application and removal processes and performance. Let’s begin with the first polish I tried on: Ash&Embers!

ASH&EMBERS

Ash&Embers is a light grey creme polish that features gold flakies and scattered holographic gltter. Inspired by the ashes left after a fire, this polish is a beautiful combination of the subtitles of creme polish and the sparkle of holo and flakies that makes it translate beautifully from day to night.

Application:

This has probably one of the easiest application processes I’ve ever experienced with a creme. The glitter and flakies give a the creme a consistency that really sticks to the nail well, while also remaining smooth and self-leveling.

Color/Effects:

What I like about this color is its versatility. The holo is so subtle and the shade of gray is so tasteful, that I could see someone who is just starting to experiment with holo wearing this to an interview or an office with a strict dress code. But the effects are still so impactful, that someone who goes wild with their nail polish colors and effects would still be more than happy with the results.

Wear:

I wore this polish for 5 days and experienced no peeling or chipping.

Removal:

This polish only required acetone and some cotton balls to remove, and removal took 2-3 minutes. There was no staining.

Other Products I used:

Base Coat: Orly Bonder Rubberized Base Coat
Top Coat: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat

Check out Ash&Embers

METEORITE

This scattered holo polish rides that fine line between black and grey, and sparkles like the night sky. Ambient light be damned.

Application:

Once again, this polish’s application process was very easy. It was opaque in two coats and didn’t separate creating any bald spots to my nail (which is always what I fear when applying thick glitter polishes.) I was really pleased with it.
Note: If you paint outside the lines a bit like I often do, you might glide a wooden stick around your nail to remove the excess polish and notice that some of the holo has stuck to your skin, don’t fret. As long as you have remove the excess polish, apply a top coat, and wait long enough for it to dry, the holo will come right off your skin the next time you wash your hands in warm water.

Color/Effects:

The holo in this polish is mesmerizing. I got so many compliments on it when I visited Steven’s family for the holidays. Even Starbucks employees stopped to ask me where I got something that looked so special. If you are looking for a holo polish that sits in between the colors silver and black, or one that reminds you of the night sky without being as literal as a galaxy nail, this one is a definite winner.

Wear:

I wore this polish for 5 days and experienced no peeling or chipping.

Removal:

With polishes of this consistency, I often have to use gelatin-like acetone or aluminum foil to remove it, but that was not the case with Meteorite. Again, I just used the classic method of acetone and cotton balls for removal. Which took 4-5 minutes. There was no staining.

Other Products I Used:

Base Coat: Orly Bonder Rubberized Base Coat
Top Coat: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat

Check out Meteorite

KOMOREBI

This polish that shifts between shades of green is named after the Japanese word that describes the effect of sunlight filtered through leaves. It is a thermal polish that is light green in a warm state and dark green in a cold state.

Application:

Once again, Komorebi made for a really easy application process. Similar to my experience of applying Ash&Embers, the amount of glitter and flake within makes for a really great consistency. While I was painting my nails, Komorebi took on its middle shade between the dark and light green. Unlike other thermal polishes I have used in the past (which take about an hour to warm up - no pun intended,) Komorebi started to shift in color almost immediately after I applied it.

Color/Effects:

Komorebi is one of the fastest reacting thermal polishes I’ve ever tried. I’d get a bead of hot shower water or cold sink water on my nails, and when I’d flick the bead off, the thermal color would flick right off with it at the same time. It’s so much fun to play around with. The three shades of green are all very flattering. I’m not typically a green person and I really liked the way it looked!

Wear:

I wore this polish for 5 days and experienced no peeling or chipping.

Removal:

While the application process of this polish reminded me of Ash&Embers, the removal process was more similar to that of Meteorite. It took 4-5 minutes to remove. The tips of my nails were a little yellow, but I think that was just a reaction to wearing two dark polishes in a row. It always happens to me and it of course means nothing about the health of one’s nail.

Other Products I Used:

Base Coat: Orly Bonder Rubberized Base Coat
Top Coat: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat

Check out Komorebi

GOLDEN HOUR

Named after the hour after the sun rises and before the sun sets, this polish boats a glow that shifts between bronze and gold over a purple base.

Application:

Again, Golden Hour had a very easy application process. It has the most liquid consistency of the four polishes, so I personally did 3 coats of it to get the shade I wanted. What’s nice about this polish is that the gold and bronze glitter are so well dispersed throughout. Even from one swipe, you get the full effect of the polish. And for those who can’t stop touching things while their nails dry (like me,) this polish is self-leveling, so filling in gaps where you hit your nail against your phone is incredibly easy.

Color/Effects:

When out of direct sunlight, this polish has a pretty aubergine color to it with a light bronze sheen. In direct sunlight, it goes more into magenta territory and shines like crazy!

Wear:

I wore this polish for 5 days and experienced no peeling or chipping.

Removal:

This polish’s glitter is so fine that it is incredibly easy to remove. All it took was 1-2 minutes with acetone on cotton balls.

Other Products I used:

Base Coat: Orly Bonder Rubberized Base Coat
Top Coat: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat

Moon Drops

Another cool product that you can get on Astrologié are the blood orange-scented hydrating oil pens, named Moon Drops. I’ve been actually using Amanda’s Moon Drop formula for almost a year now and I can say that it’s really helped me improve the look of my cuticles. Plus the blood orange scent is subtle and soothing.

Check out Moon Drops

What do you think about this new brand and collection? Again, I am just blown away that this is made by an individual, and that this is their first ever nail polish launch. But the best part about this collection is that it feels like someone put their all into it, from the moment you open up the packaging to discover the bottles, to all of the times you look down at your hand throughout the week while wearing them. Go check out their site if you haven’t already!

Until we meet again!