Happy Thursday! I have a spankin’ new brand to share on the blog today – and if you follow me on YouTube.. you saw me post the video at about 2am Eastern. Today we’re going to be looking at Arcana Lacquer The Fabled Woodlands Collection, and this is their debut launch!
The Fabled Woodlands Collection is a 7 piece collection that consists primarily of shimmery shades, but a couple have some flakes mixed in as well. There’s also one shimmery thermal.
To see all 7 swatched, be sure to check out my YouTube video below:
Find what was hidden in a whimsical grove – from berries to fairies and everything in between. Forage for your next favorite polish in the Fabled Woodlands!
For the basic details, I swatched all 7 shades over my Apres Gel X nails, which are clear and have no blurring base or color to them at all to alter the polish colors. I use a peel off base coat that dries clear (Vapid Lacquer Commitment Issues, which I purchased – but I do have a relationship with the brand) and a glossy quick dry top coat.
All polishes in this post are shown in 3 thin coats in artificial lighting since I do work during the daylight hours.
Let’s jump right in, this set releases on April 12th at 6pm Eastern.
Arcana Lacquer | Baneberry
Baneberry is a top pick for me from this set. This is a black jelly base loaded with red to black large particle shimmer. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Arcana Lacquer | Encounter With A Fae
Encounter With A Fae is a medium purple jelly base loaded with flakes and shimmer that shift purple to aqua to green. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Arcana Lacquer | Golden Toad
Golden Toad is a medium green jelly base loaded with red to orange to gold shifting shimmer. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
On me, the green base is almost an olive meets forest like green. It is on the sheer side though, and even at 3 coats you are likely to see VNL unless you use a blurring base. The shimmer does offer some semblance of opacity but not enough to cover VNL.
Arcana Lacquer | Horn of Healing
Horn of Healing features a clear base with small iridescent flakes that flash pink to aqua and shimmer that shifts pink to gold. I used 3 thin coats alone, and the final photo shows 1 thin coat over a black creme base.
Arcana Lacquer | Midnight Mist
Midnight Mist is a smoky grey jelly base with a shifty blue to purple pearl effect. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
If you have a strong VNL it will show through this shade, even at 3 coats. The shimmer does offer the illusion of opacity, but for true full opacity – you will want to use a blurring base or a crelly/creme color underneath.
Arcana Lacquer | Mushroom Lit Cavern
Mushroom Lit Cavern is the solo thermal in the set. Mushroom Lit Cavern is a jelly based thermal polish that goes from dark blue( cold) to light blue (warm) with a strong violet to blue shifting shimmer. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
In person – the warm state of my photos is a touch more toned down than in my photos.
This shade also has a drastic change when going from 2 coats to 3 coats as far as opacity and color vibrancy. At 2 coats it seems still more sheer and slightly duller warm color. When you apply the third coat though – the built up shimmer really shines through and adds a decent level of opacity as well as a nice vibrancy to both the warm and cold states.
Arcana Lacquer | Veiled Sphinx
Veiled Sphinx is a rose toned taupe jelly base loaded with pink to orange to gold shifting shimmer. I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
This is the sheerest of the collection for me and your VNL will show through it. This is a perfect shade if you just want a wash of shimmery tint since it applies very evenly and non streaky. You can also build it up or use a blurring base coat underneath.
Arcana Lacquer | The Fabled Woodlands Collection
Overall this collection was perfection to work with. The formulas were on point, the colors had a nice vibrancy to them and the theme was a fun one. This is another new brand that I can see getting incredible traction if they keep up with this same momentum and enthusiasm. You can tell they put a lot of thought and testing to perfect this release, and I can definitely appreciate that.
I do look forward to seeing what else Arcana Lacquer may have in store – because this is a fantastic starter set.
Launch Date: April 12th at 6pm Eastern
Where To Buy: Arcana Lacquer Shop
Price: $12.00 Each | $70.00 Full Collection
Arcana Lacquer Social Media: Instagram
Do you plan on trying out Arcana Lacquer?
