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Polish Pickup January 2025 | Masquerade
Disclosure: I am a paid employee for Polish Pickup. While this post is not sponsored, I do have a relationship with the hosting collaboration shop.
It’s the first Polish Pickup post for 2025, and after YEARS of losing on the vote – the January 2025 theme is Masquerade (finally!)
To see all items swatched/demonstrated – check out my lengthy YouTube below (with time stamps!)
For the fine details – for all photos shown – I used Vapid Lacquer Commitment Issues Peel Off Base, and for the glossy photos I did Monarch Lacquer Hi-Def Shine Top coat (sent as PR and I’ve also purchased.. and that’s an affiliate link). For all textured polishes, I did use Glisten & Glow Glitter Grabber (PR) and Monarch Lacquer top coat over it.
For my lighting setup, since I use artificial lighting due to my day job, involves 2 Neatfi XL Lamps from Amazon (affiliate link) as well as this Daylight Company Duo Daylight Lamp (affiliate link).
And lastly – I do use artificial gel nails that I do myself at home. In this post (and video) I am using Apres Gel X Nails in Extra Short Stiletto, which are clear nails. I do not use blurring base coats or anything to increase opacity of the nails – and it shows during my YouTube videos especially. With the clear nails, if you can see through the tip still – then odds are you will also see VNL through the polish I have on. If you cannot see through them, then opacity was likely reached.
Let’s jump on in and take a look.
Alchemy Lacquers | Venetian Opulence
Inspiration:
Description: Venetian Opulence is a cool toned, deep purple bordering on blurple (cold) to milky white (warm) crelly based thermal with pink to orange to gold iridescent flakes and tiny holo flecks.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy and matte top coat for these photos
Price: $12.50 | Cap: 500
Atomic Polish | Young Hearts Run Free
Inspiration: The Capulet Masquerade Party from Romeo + Juliet (90s edition, obviously). That soundtrack was listened to during some emotional teenage years of mine.
Description: Young Hearts Run Free is a deep maroon crelly leaning jelly base with pigment that shifts red to magenta, as well as some red reflective glitter sprinkled in.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: None
Baroness X | Acetone Antidote in Obscura
Inspiration:
Description: Acetone Antidote is an additive for your acetone to protect your skin from the harshness of acetone. It contains glycerin and jojoba oil to help protect and moisturize your nails, skin, and cuticles during polish removal. Plus, no more ashy, dry skin! Simply shake up the vial and pour into your polish remover. I generally pour a full vial into a 10 oz pump bottle, but I recommend shaking it and pouring half in and adding more if you feel you need more.
Obsucura is a house blend of lavender, sandalwood and musk.
My nose picks up a lot of sandalwood, and the lavender notes and musk are barely there for me.
Price: $8.75 | Cap: None
BCB Lacquers | Sunset Soirée
Inspiration: Inspired by a vintage pink masquerade mask.
Description: Sunset Soiree is a dark plum (cold) to pink (warm) crelly based thermal with pink to orange to green shifting shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 400
Beaux Rêves Lacquer | Veil of Illusion
Inspiration:
Description: Veil of Illusion is a deep teal blue/green base with shimmer that shifts green-gold-pink-purple and silver reflective glitter.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $12.50 | Cap: None
Bee’s Knees Lacquer | Seven Sins
Inspiration: Inspired by the secret masquerade club from the novel Throne of Secrets
Description: Seven Sins is a smokey navy jelly base with cobalt microflake shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: None
By Vanessa Molina | Midnight Masquerade
Inspiration: For this month, I bring you beautiful inspiration full of colors that remind you of the night and its mysteries that only a masquerade ball brings us.
Description: Midnight Masquerade is a blurple jelly base, with ultrachrome chameleone flakes that shift green to blue to aqua to violet and metal flakes and aurora pigment.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 300
Cameo Colours Lacquers | As the World Falls Down
Inspiration: Inspired by the masquerade ball in Labyrinth – specifically Jareth’s outfit.
Description: As The World Falls Down is a black jelly full of indigo/blue shimmer, with scattered holo sparkle, small silver holo and iridescent blue glitters, and a touch of silver holo micro flakes.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $12.50 | Cap: 250
Chamaeleon Nails | Forbidden Desire
Inspiration: Inspired by the atmosphere at a masked ball, a night when anything seems possible.
Description: Forbidden Desire is a jelly based thermal going from a vibrant indigo (cold) to clear/colorless (warm) filled with black flakes, pink iridescent flakes, and a scattering of golden holographic and golden reflective glitters.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
This shade does truly go clear so you can also use it over a creme/crelly as well.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 300
Colores de Carol | Venetian Majesty
Inspiration: Venetian Masquerade
Description: Venetian Majesty is a full coverage micro holo gold glitter with shifting shimmer, chartreuse and aqua shreds and UCC flakes.
I used 2 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
I stopped at 2 coats because I was satisfied with coverage, but you definitely can do 3 if you want more depth
Price: $13.50 | Cap: None
Cracked Polish | Jewel of the Ball
Inspiration: inspired by the mystery and elegance of the masquerade!
Description: Jewel of the Ball is a shimmering antique green jelly base with teal to purple chameleon magnetic pigment. I used a bar magnet on the middle and ring nails and velvet on index and pinky nails.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 1000
Crystal Knockout | Star-Crossed
Inspiration: Inspired by Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet”.
Description: Star-crossed is a violet-blue to lavender-mauve jelly thermal with blue and purple shimmer, red micro glitter, and red and pink heart glitters, as well as silver reflective glitter.
This polish has a thick consistency due to the microglitters and reflective glitters.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $12.00 | Cap: None
Cupcake Polish | Mardi Pardi
Inspiration: Inspired by the Mardi Gras season.
Description: Mardi Pardi is a purple jelly nail polish with green iridescent flakies and gold, green, and purple metallic flakies.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: None
Cuticula | Dance With Me
Inspiration: Masquerade
Description: Dance With Me is a wine jelly base full of green to gold to orange to yellow shifting iridescent flakes.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: None
Dam Nail Polish | Why So Silent?
Inspiration: Inspired by the Phantom of the Opera in the masquerade scene.
Description: Why So Silent? is a vampy red jelly base with blue multichrome and silver reflective glitters. At 2 coats, it’s more wine reddish, but with 3 it shifts to more of a deep, warm purple due to the blue multichrome shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $14.00 | Cap: 300
Danglefoot Nail Polish | Final Masquerade
Inspiration: Inspired by Linkin Park.
Description: Final Masquerade is a chocolate brown jelly base with green to teal to purple shimmer and light coral reflective flakes.
This will dry with some texture.
I used 3 thin coats, glitter smoother and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 250
Dreamland Lacquer | Bal Masque
Inspiration: Inspired by a peacock green and blue carnival mask
Description: Bal Masque is a multichrome that shifts from green to cerulean to almost violet.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 500
DRK Nails | Nothing to Hide
Inspiration: Masquerade
Description: Nothing To Hide is a violet to fuchsia to gold to green shifting multichrome.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.40 | Cap: 600
Emily de Molly | Miss Runway
Inspiration: Inspired by a dress.
Description: Miss Runway is a navy jelly base with pink to green shifting aurora shimmer and a cyan / purple / pink shifting magnetic effect. I used a bar magnet on the middle and ring nails and a velvet magnet on the index and pinky. Thumb is unmagnetized.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 320
Ethereal Lacquer | Masquerade Dance Party
Inspiration: Sailor Moon Crystal
Description: Masquerade Dance Party is a barely there pink tinted base with fine blue to violet shifting shimmer and large particle green to blue shifting shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: None
Glam Polish | Hidden Intentions
Inspiration: Inspiration is a teal feathered masquerade mask with gold accents.
Description: Hidden Intentions is a teal base with shifting iridescent flakies, gold flakies, sapphire aurora shimmer and scattered holographic flakies.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $14.00 | Cap: 250
Glisten & Glow | Cuticle Pen Duo
Inspiration:
Description: Glisten & Glow is back for January’s IPU with their Cuticle Remover & Cuticle Oil Pen Duo!
The Cuticle Remover is Unscented, and Cuticle Oil is scented in Butt Naked – which is a sweet and fresh scent with top notes of apple, bergamot, pineapple and watery greens fused with a touch of lavender, rose and lily of the valley and bottom notes of tonka bean and butterscotch.
Glisten & Glow’s Cuticle Remover softens and removes excess cuticle as well as eponychium skin and comes in an easy-to-use twist-up pen style applicator.
Price: $12.50 | Cap: None
Glisten & Glow | Dry + Prep
Inspiration:
Description: Dry + Prep is a unique liquid that dehydrates the nail plate, self corrects the nail plates pH balance, and preps the keratin surface for maximum adhesion of base coats and nail polish. This also allows the nail to be free and clear of any residue and oils that can cause base coats and/or nail polish to lift or chip. This is for customers who have oily nail plates and who have trouble with nail polish adhesion.
I do use this over my gel x nails to remove any oils, but I typically use this on my natural nails prior to applying my Gel X nails. This helps longevity of the nails and adhesion.
Price: $10.00 | Cap: None
Glisten & Glow | Reveal Yourself
Inspiration: Inspired by the colorful and bold masks of the Carnival of Venice
Description: Reveal Yourself is a multichrome that shifts purple to pink to red to orange to yellow to green with linear holo.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: None
Hearts & Promises | Masked Magic
Inspiration:
Description: Masked Magic is a light purple jelly based ultra holo with violet shimmer and purple aurora shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.25 | Cap: 300
Jen & Berries | Mask Appeal
Inspiration: Inspired by a gold masquerade mask with purple flowers and feathers
Description: Mask Appeal is a purple to red to gold to green multichrome base with gold magnetic pigment. I used a bar magnet on my middle and ring nails and velvet magnet on index and pinky. Thumb shows this polish unmagnetized.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 310
Jior Couture | Everybody Wear The Mask
Inspiration: The Fugees and a woman wearing a mask
Description: Everybody Wear The Mask is a black (cold) to warm beige (warm) jelly based thermal with pink to purple to gold multi chrome micro flakes and violet to red to copper chameleon glitter.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $14.00 | Cap: None
Kathleen & Co | Mardi Gras Masquerade
Inspiration: Mardi Gras inspired polished.
Description: Mardi Gras Masquerade is a medium aqua holo base with added aqua shimmer and pink to orange to gold to green magnetic pigment.
I used a bar magnet on middle and ring nails, and a velvet magnet on index and pinky. Thumb is unmagnetized.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 500
KBShimmer | Breathe, Just Breathe
Inspiration: Some movie scenes are so iconic that a single line stays with you forever. For me, it’s the masquerade ball scene from Ever After. The Prince, looking glum, is resigned to a life tied to someone he doesn’t love. Then, our heroine steps into the ball, calming herself with the words, “Breathe, just breathe.” Our hearts melt as the Prince sees her for the first time. That unforgettable moment helped inspire our January polish.
Description: Breathe, Just Breathe is a silvery blue multichrome that shifts to teal to navy to indigo with some flakes of green, as well as teal shimmer throughout.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: None
KBShimmer | Pineapple Passionfruit Hand & Body Scrub
Inspiration: When I think of masquerades, I can’t help but picture Mardi Gras – the masks, the drinks, and the vibrant revelry. Glitzy costumes at masquerade balls, parades that let you forget your troubles, and beads everywhere. Mardi Gras becomes even more fun with a Hurricane or Daiquiri in hand! Those tropical, fruity drinks inspired our masquerade-themed scrub: Pineapple Passionfruit.
Description: KBShimmer’s sugar scrubs are good for all over the body or as a hand scrub, the sugar particles are medium grit so they do a good job getting dry spots on your body situated.
Pineapple Passionfruit Hand & Body Scrub is a tropical treat, bursting with sweet passionfruit notes complemented by the bright scent of pineapple. A hint of pink guava adds a finishing touch to this fruity delight.
This literally smells like a tropical drink without any alcohol. The pineapple to me is the strongest note but overall – it’s exactly what you’d expect
Price: $11.00 | Cap: None
Krisable Designs | All The Pastels!
Inspiration: Pink and white masquerade mask
Description: All The Pastels is a pale, sheer pink jelly with silver and pink metallic flakes, pink iridescent flakes and pink/gold shimmer and silver reflective glitter.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 250
Lemming Lacquer | The Music. The Lights. The Beautiful Flesh.
Inspiration:
Description: The Music. The Lights. The Beautiful Flesh. is a deep red jelly with gold aurora shimmer, gold holographic microsparks, and red-orange flakes.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 250
Lumen | Starfall Ball
Inspiration: ACOTAR – Dance the night away under starlit skies at the Starfall ball
Description: Starfall Ball is a blurple jelly base loaded with indigo to violet to green shimmer and color shift flakes, as well as linear holo.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: None
Lurid Lacquer | A Fox in the Spring Court
Inspiration: A Fox in the Spring Court is inspired by the bronze masquerade mask and green tunic that Lucien wears in A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Description: A Fox in the Spring Court features a brick red base with aurora shimmer that shifts from green to blue and bronze light reflective glitter.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $14.50 | Cap: 400
LynBDesigns | Paper Faces on Parade
Inspiration: The Phantom of the Opera
Description: Paper Faces on Parade is an indigo jelly base with purple to pink to copper shifting shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: None
MJ Lacquer | Drama at the Dance
Inspiration: Inspired by the masquerade character Sophie, in Unicorn Academy, on Netflix.
Description: Drama At The Dance is a periwinkle jelly with holographic micro flakes. Packed with multi-chrome flakes, reflective glitter, and aurora shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 250
Monarch Lacquer | Venetian Charm
Inspiration: A delicate orchid pink venetian masquerade mask decorated with crystals.
Description: Venetian Charm is a light warm purple orchid base with pink to orange aurora shimmer. Finished with a touch of holo flake.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: None
Night Owl Lacquer | Glitzed
Inspiration: Inspired by the glitz and sparkle of a Masquerade Ball.
Description: Glitzed is a clear base loaded with vibrant crystal flakes that shift magenta/orange/yellow/green and rose gold holographic micro glitter flake
I used 3 thin coats, glitter smoother and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: None
Painted Polish | Gilded Guise
Inspiration: Inspired by a couple hidden behind gilded midnight blue masks
Description: Gilded Guise is a midnight blue crelly base with crushed gold metallic flakies.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: None
Pampered Polishes | Lady In Waiting
Inspiration:
Description: Lady In Waiting is a molten antique gold with a scattered holographic.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: None
Paradox Polish | Beignet, Done That
Inspiration: Inspired by Mardi gras
Description: Beignet, Done That is a midnight blue base with a shifty intense ultramarine blue and purple-pink magnet with gold and holo flakes. I used a bar magnet on the middle and ring nails and a velvet magnet on the index and pinky nails.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 400
Penelope Luz | Secret Allure
Inspiration: A luxurious mask for a masquerade ball
Description: Secret Allure is a deep blue jelly base with aqua micro glitters, as well as purple to fuchsia to orange to gold shifting magnetic pigment. I used a bar magnet on the middle and ring nails and a velvet magnet on the index and pinky.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 700
PI Colors | Danbury Does It.000
Inspiration: Inspired by Lady Danbury’s impeccable dress for a ball.
Description: Danbury Does It.000 is a deep purple jelly base that has a gradual colorshift to magenta and a deeper blue violet with a magenta red shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 250
Psyche Minerals | Glittering Gala
Inspiration: A beautiful masquerade mask picture by SpaceShanty
Description: Glittering Gala is a sheer peachy pink based polish with gold, green, and gold large particle shimmer with pink reflective glitter, and iridescent blue and green shifty flakes.
I used 3 thin coats, glitter smoother and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: None
Red Eyed Lacquer | Young Love
Inspiration: Romeo and Juliet movie.
Description: Young Love is a wintery greyed out ice blue crelly base with holo flakes.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 400
Rogue Lacquer | Cirque du Célébration
Inspiration: Inspired by the celebration of the Venetian Carnival
Description: Cirque du Célébration is a purple jelly packed with green to cyan shimmer and large particle holo flake.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: None
Royla Lee | Shadows & Secrets
Inspiration: Pretty Little Liar’s Unmasked Episode
Description: Shadows & Secrets is a mauve base with green to blue to purple shifting shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: None
Sassy Sauce Polish | Secrets & Scandals
Inspiration: a pic of a black and blue masquerade mask.
Description: Secrets & Scandals is a black (cold) to sheer milky white (warm) crelly based thermal loaded with blue shimmer and black to blue ultrachrome chameleon flakes.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 500
Sweet & Sour Lacquer | Silver Balls
Inspiration: Fifty Shades Darker book cover.
Description: Silver Balls is a smokey gray crelly base with blue shimmer and a subtle silver magnetic effect. I used a bar magnet on the middle and ring nails and a velvet magnet on the index and pinky nails. Thumb shows it unmagnetized.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 300
Sweet Heart Polish | A Montague, Our Foe
Inspiration: Inspired by the masquerade scene in the 1996 Film Romeo + Juliet, where Tybalt sees Romeo and says to Fulgencio Capulet, “Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe, A villain that is hither come in spite To scorn at our solemnity this night”.
Description: A Montague, Our Foe is a juicy grape with red to yellow to green shifting aurora micro flakes and yellow and purple reflective glitter
I used 3 thin coats, glitter smoother and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.00 | Cap: 250
Tyler’s Trinkets | Behind the Mask
Inspiration:
Description: Behind the Mask is a black to red to copper multichrome base with black to red multichrome microflakes, and scattered silver holo glitters.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $12.50 | Cap: 250
Zombie Claw | Passions May Fuse
Inspiration: Inspired by the Phantom of the opera.
Description: Passions May Fuse is a light, sheer beige jelly base with bright multichrome red-gold shimmer.
I used 3 thin coats and a glossy top coat for these photos.
Price: $13.50 | Cap: 600
Polish Pickup January 2025 | Masquerade
So many purples and blues!
Where To Buy: Polish Pickup Shop
Shop Dates: January 3rd at 11am EST through January 6th at 11:59pm EST
15 comments
The KB Shimmer one is top of my wishlist.
Pi Colors for sure!
Colores de Carol’s gold
Royla Lee!
Alchemy Lacquers’ Venetian Opulence wasn’t on my wishlist until just now when I saw your swatch!
I was planning on skipping this month but you’ve showcased them so beautifully I might change my mind
Monarch looks like a must have and I love their formula!
Both Kathleen & Co and Monarch… beautiful!!!
I think my favorite is Monarch’s but it’s so hard to choose!
KbShimmer never disappoints!
Pfd is my favorite!
Wow! what a huge amount of swatches this month. Thank you for all the hard work.
I like Crystal Knockout- Star crossed, and Penelope -Secret Allure.
Thank you for your blog post!! Such gorgeous polishes and photos. I am loving the SHP this month!
Thank you for the swatches, Lisa!
I love the Dreamland!