I’m deep into my summer vacation and I finally have some breathing room and energy to catch up on some more posts. Today I’m going to present to you the fifteenth post in my nail polish audit project. I’m choosing twelve shades at the time to wear and evaluate. No time limit. Shades are either a clear keeper (Hell yes!), need-to-think-more-about-it-when-I’m-done-with-the-audit (Maybe) or obvious discards for various reasons (Hell no!). When those twelve have been worn and judged I pick twelve new. Easy concept.

These twelve polishes were worn from mid March until late April. Two from OPI, Zoya, Indigo Bananas and one each from Barry M, IsaDora, H&M Beauty, Glam Polish, China Glaze and Pahlish.

Hell yes!

Maybe

Hell no!

In this round I ended up with eight keepers, one maybe and three hell noes.

Thanks for reading!

These were worn from early November to mid March. Two Zoya shades and one each by Butter London, OPI, IsaDora, Formula X, China Glaze, Pipe Dream Polish, Darling Diva Polish, Mentality, Illyrian and Gina Tricot. I think I wore many of the shades twice over this time period since I forgot to take pictures of them over and over again. That is why it took me almost five months to go through them.

Hell yes!

Maybe

I have loved this polish and I still do but the formula has become very thick due to age and use and I probably should let this one go, but I’m sentimental and the easy way is to stick it in the Maybe pile for now. I’ve worn this one so much and there is not all that much left in the bottle.

Hell no!

Legend is pretty enough but it took quite a few layers to make it look nice and I know I will never reach for this one over other shades.

Remy is just not my type of blue. The colour and the shimmer just does not do it for me. Hopefully it can find a new home since it is in good shape and Zoya polishes are a great formula.

Galactic Grey has dried out but I have enjoyed wearing it a lot over the years.

There is something about this green that I’m not attracted to. I know I will not reach for it any longer.

Those were all twelve! I ended up with seven keepers, one maybe and four hell noes. I sincerely hope it does not take me five months to go through the next lot.

Thanks for reading!

These were worn from mid September to the beginning of November. Three Zoya shades, two OPI, two IsaDora and one each by MAC, Powder Perfect, Smitten Polish, Lilypad Laquer and Nails Inc.

Hell yes!

Maybe

Fire Burn stained my nails so badly that I will only keep it if it es extremely unique in my collection. If I have anything else like it I will let this one go, despite it being so stunning.

Hell no!

This polish is just straight up ugly on me. A poor purchase with a great name.

Oasis is not unique enough to keep and I already had lukewarm feelings about this one.

The same goes for Beetle Green. Not special enough to keep.

This glitter polish did absolutely nothing for me. I have no use for it and considering how seldom I’ve worn this (maybe once) I can deem it a poor purchase.

This rosy brown polish is lovely in theory but on my nails it is not really working. Sadly.

That was the final polish in this instalment of The Twelve! I ended up with six keepers, one maybe and five hell noes. I’m very pleased that I am letting a total of five go. A very satisfying run and I cannot wait to go through everything and only keep the really good ones.

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These were worn with start in the beginning of June and all the way through mid September. This lineup consisted of four Zoya shades and three by Darling Diva Polish. Other brands represented are CrowsToes, W.I.P, Deborah Lippmann, MAC and China Glaze.

Hell yes!

Yelllow Brick Road is used here layered over a shimmer polish and that is the way I prefer to use it since it is a very sheer jelly polish.

Maybe

When I bought it the colour was quite unique but I think I have similar shades nowadays that I think suit me even better.

It’s a beautiful purple but I’m unsure of how often I would chose to wear a shade like this. It’s a tad to “soft”.

Hell no!

I initially planned to keep this polish because this is a pretty shimmer. But after wearing it for a couple of days I realized that this is a type of shade that I don’t feel very me in. It is a very opaque shimmer so I do not think it is perfect for layering the way I usually like to use my shimmers, layered with jelly shades. So I’m letting it go. It is in good condition and I’ve already found it a new home.

That was the final polish in this instalment of The Twelve! I ended up with nine keepers, two maybes and one hell no.

Thanks for reading!

These twelve shades were worn between mid April all the way through May. A bit more light and bright shades to accompany the move towards sunnier weather. The lineup this time was an even mix of smaller and bigger brands; A England, Smitten Polish, Mentality, Barry M, Revlon, H&M, Ciaté, Essie and Butter London. The verdict is as follows..

Hell yes!

Maybe

Gold Chroma Chameleon by Revlon is nice but how many similar items do I have? Takes quite a few layers to get good coverage as well.

Snow Globe (here pictured over Masala Chai) is pretty but I think it only looks good on darker polish. The shape of the glitter particles is unique but I need to think about how many glitters topper I own in relation to how infrequently I wear them. Which ones am I most likely to use?

Hell no!

Tanzanite is just not my shade. If the murky shift that was prevalent in the bottle had been stronger on the nail it could have worked, but that is sadly not the case.

Rigoberta is just not my speed. At tad too light I think and something about the shade itself does not speak to me.

Frilly Knickers has sadly dried up on me. I’ve gotten a lot of use out of this polish over the years and I’m a bit bummed to see it go.

That was the final polish in this instalment of The Twelve! I ended up with seven keepers, two maybes and three noes.

Thanks for reading!

After wearing darker shades for several months I wanted to take a different route. I was also eager to crack on with the audit and get rid of some older and unloved shades. First I considered to do a whole batch of only blue or green polish but then opted for the usual “two shads per drawer” from my somewhat colour coordinated nail polish drawers. These shades were worn between mid March to the beginning of April.

Hell yes!

Maybe

This glitter polish is a mix of silver and gold and I think it is very pretty. I want to se how many similar polishes I end up with before I decide to keep this one.

Hell No!

Chopped Lavender is a Sugar Laquer aka a matte textured polish. I simply don’t enjoy this anymore.

A pale grey blue with bright blue shimmer. I love this and it’s mainly used up. It’s goopy now due to repeated use and its time has come.

I rarely wear glitter toppers nowadays and this is one I never reach for. I have some other toppers I know I will always favour over this one. It smells really strongly as well so I’m glad to see it go. That was the last one of the twelve!

Thanks for reading!

During the autumn months I’ve been really inconsistent with wearing nail polish. This lot of polishes were worn from September and all the way through November. Three whole months!

Again we have a mixed bag when it comes to brands, three shades from Pahlish, two from Barry M and one each from A England, China Glaze, OPI, Powder Perfect, H&M, Mentality and Crows Toes.

Hell yes!

OPI – Nein! Nein! Nein! Ok fine!

Nein! Nein! Nein! Ok fine! is a solid grey cream polish by OPI from the Germany collection dating from 2012. It’s a dark grey with a slight green tinge and I always enjoy wearing this shade and it is superb to layer glitter and shimmer polishes over.

Mentality – Teacher

I cannot get over how much I enjoy the colour of Teacher from Mentality. When I look at the bottle I feel nothing (could be due to the downfall of the brand) but on the nail the shade speaks for itself. The polish dries down matte, and I do not enjoy that look, but it can easily be fixed with a glossy top coat.

Powder Perfect – Borders of The Forest

This picture does not in any way shape or form show off how stunning Borders of The Forest is. The shimmer flakes look amazing in this muted green base.

H&M – Cream Saffron

Cream Saffron is a stunning yellow cream. It is difficult to find flattering yellow shades for my skin tone and this is lovely. I also enjoy the H&M brush a lot.

CrowsToes – Indian Summer

CrowsToes – Indian Summer

Indian Summer is such a beautiful shifter that I had to include more than one picture of it. It shifts from purple to pink to red to orange. This a shade I usually bring out at least once each autumn and I’m always mesmerised by its beauty.

Barry M – Block Orange

Block Orange is a great orange shade on me. As well as with yellows, oranges can be difficult to find for me and this is a good one.

Barry M – Rasberry

Rasberry is a very unique shade and I have nothing else like it. A very juicy berry colour. I tend not to gravitate towards this pinker alternative to a bright red, but when I wore it now I really liked how it looked.

A England – Sleeping Palace

A England makes such elegant polishes. The bottles, themes, formulations and shades always feel so luxurious. Sleeping Palace is no different, a very elegant shade.

China Glaze – Trendsetter

Trendsetter is such a stunning and popping colour, I really love wearing it.

Maybe

Pahlish – Shallow Lands

Shallow Lands is more interesting in the bottle than on the nail. All the fine pink, purple and gold glitter particles are just not that visible once applied. It looks nice but I’m not sure if it is special enough to keep.

Hell no!

Pahlish – Mad Man With A Box

In theory I should love this Doctor Who themed Pahlish polish, but shiny metallic blue is just not for me. I would have loved Mad Man With a Box when I was 15, I remember loving this type of blue then.

Pahlish – The Ghost Shift

The Ghost Shift is ok but I have other silver shades that intrigue me more. I am not to glad to let any Pahlish polishes go but I have to be realistic. If I did not enjoy wearing it now, I will not reach for it later.

So this round of the Twelve ended up in mostly keepers. But I am a bit surprised that the no’s and maybes ended up being from Pahlish, one of my favourite indie brands.

Thanks for reading!

This lot was worn during July and early August, a time during which I had my summer vacation. In large it did not affect my nail polish wearing much but I did purposefully chose a team of more summery shades, an approach I will continue in the months to come. The mindful choosing that is, not the summery shades. Of course I want to weed out the duds from my collection but I also want to wear pretty colours and choose what shades appeal to me in the specific moment. So a mixed bag should be the most effective approach and this round of the Twelve is a good example of that mix. There was also extra brand variety in this lot, and quite a few indie brands, with shades from Indigo Bananas, LilypadLaquer, Il était un vernis, Polish Revolution, Pahlish, Nostalgic Nail Laquer, Zoya, OPI, IsaDora and Deborah Lippmann.

Hell yes!

Indigo Bananas – You Get Nothing! (good day, sir!)

Dark grey holographic polish with magenta and blue glitter. So beautiful and wearable.

Pahlish – Who Loves Orange Soda?!

Who Loves Orange Soda?! is a lovely squishy and juicy shade that I love to wear during the summertime. It has these colour shifting flakes running through it and it is a very bright and “happy” shade.

Indigo Bananas – Electric Unicorns

Electric Unicorns is another “happy” shade and it has a light blue shimmer running through it that I do wish was more visible on the nail. The polish is not transparent enough to let the shimmer shine to its full potential but I still think it is a pretty polish all in all.

Polish Revolution – What Alice Found (worn over Rowan)

I enjoy this glitter and that’s enough for now. I suspect that many of my glitter shades are drying out, but this one was in perfect condition. It has a clear base and can be worn over a variety of colours.

LilypadLaquer – Gemerald

I initially thought I would not enjoy Gemerald but I really did. It has this depth and richness to it that was a joy to wear

OPI – Y’all Come Back Ya Hear?

I really love this shade. It’s my perfect orange. This OPI polish is a jelly formula and quite a few coats are necessary for a higher opacity. I’m wearing 3-4 coats in this picture. But I do not mind the work, since the final result is amazing.

Deborah Lippmann – Glitter in the Air

This is a pure nostalgia polish for me. There is something in the name and the shade that still pulls at my heart strings. It’s delicate and a bit odd. The pale blue and slightly transparent finish makes my nails look a bit off. And I enjoy it immensely.

Maybe

Il était un vernis – #hellosunshine

#hellosunshine is one of those shades that makes me very indecisive. Do I find it ugly cool or just plain ugly ugly? I remember disliking it when I first wore it back when I purchased it, but wearing it now makes me question how I feel. It will stay in the maybe pile and I might have to wear it more to get a clear opinion. I have a soft spot for yellow polishes but find it difficult to find flattering shades.

Il était un vernis – Chardonnay

Chardonnay is a pretty flakie polish but somehow I’m not overly drawn to it. I did enjoy wearing it but there is something that makes me hesitant to keep it. We shall see….

Hell no!

Nostalgic Nail Laquer – Possibly Maybe

This glitter polish has served its purpose and can now safely leave my collection. I have other weird glitter shades that are more flattering. This base colour make my nails look badly stained and it is not an appealing look.

Zoya – Rowan (Satin)

Rowan is not special enough of a shade to be kept and I do not enjoy a satin finish. I have similar shades that are more unique and that I prefer.

IsaDora – Metal Crush

The shade is beautiful but I’m just generally over this type of textured polish.

That was all of them! I ended up with seven keepers, two maybes and three noes. A solid run.

Thanks for reading!

Twelve new shades were worn and audited during June. Brands included OPI, Zoya, Barry M, Kiko, Indigo Bananas, Formula X, Pahlish, China Glaze, Bourjois and H&M.

Hell yes!

Barry M – Bright Purple

This is such a stunning purple shade. Really bright and fun. The formula is great too.

Indigo Bananas – Countdown To Extinction

I adore Indigo Bananas as a brand and the Summer Rains collection from 2014 was such a stunning jelly flakie lineup. This is one of the shades, Countdown To Extinction, and it is beautiful. Complex shimmering layers and a luscious green shade.

OPI – Care To Danse?

This pale lilac jelly shade is a great shade on me when I prefer a more light look.

Kiko – 296

Not the green I initially wanted (391 Grass Green was the sought after shade I think) but since that was sold out/discontinued at the time of purchase, the friend who got the Kiko items for me picked this instead. 296 is a beautiful shade as well, albeit not the same, but I do enjoy wearing it.

OPI – Mermaid’s Tears and Zoya – Dove

Mermaid’s Tears is a stunning muted turquoise and a very flattering shade on me. Dove is a little less original cool sand but it is a very useful shade and the Zoya formula is great.

Zoya – Opal (on top of Mermaid’s Tears and Dove)

Opal is a peach to orange shimmering flakie in a transparent base. Love this!

Maybe

H&M – Intergalactic

Intergalactic is a stunning shade but it did require quite a few layers to look good. This really needs to be compared to any similar options before it can stay permanently.

Hell no!

Bourjois – Pamplerousse

I want to love this shade on me but it is not the effect that I want. It’s a bit too delicate a look.

China Glaze – Hanging in the Balance

I love this colour. I do wish I could keep it. But there has been some leaking from the bottle that has let too much air in and it is not possible to save it.

Pahlish – Lullaby Without End

Another Doctor Who polish by Pahlish. This intriguing blue and red concoction has sadly become goopy beyond salvage.

To round this post up we have a golden glitter polish by Formula X that I did not get to wear at all, so no pictures. It was completely dried up so into the bin it went.

A total of four shades are leaving my collection, one is a maybe and we have seven keepers. Not the best round in terms of letting things go but I enjoyed wearing all the pretty ones.

Thanks for reading!