Mentality ~ Neon Orange Opague

Mentality ~ Neon Orange Opague

Neon orange

Go get your sunglasses! Today’s polish is seriously neon! It’s from Metality’s Neon Opaque collection, where the polishes are also are perfect for stamping. I wasn’t in the mood for stamping today though, so today this baby is going to shine on its own.I wasn't quite sure whether to post this or not, but this is a blog and not a market place, and fact is that I had this polish on and I blog about the polishes I try.

The polish was practically opaque after the first coat and even too, unlike the other neon opaques I’ve tried. It dries fast, and looks great.

Two coats and a layer of topcoat:

I didn’t do anything to adjust the colours, the polish looks just like this, also in lower lights.

I added some neon green studs. If my nails had been a bit longer, I might have been able to fit a fifth square stud in on my ring finger :D

I love the star studs!

I had no idea that this was going to be my favourite neon opaque. But wow, I love it!

This was my favourite of all the Mentalitys I tried and it saddened me so much to return it. But seeing how Mentality's polishes made girls' nails lift of their nail beds made me scared of using it, so I returned it. I'm just glad I got through this swatching adventure without having my nails fall off. 

Also: Big thank you to Katarina from Edgy Polish for having such a great customer service. Mentality themselves totally suck at that, so it's great to have good support from the local retailer! ♥

Number of coats: 2
Drying time: Good

Finish: Semi matte neon

Overall impression: This polish knocked my socks off!!

Buy again: No, I don't dare to

Mentality ~ Shock

Mentality ~ Shock

Neon green scattered holo

Here’s the last Mentality neon holo I’ve got. It’s neon green and a “in your face”- colour I like.

The formula is good and opacity fine. I used two coats for this mani. The drying time is good too.

No sun today, so here’s a flash picture of the beauty; it’s two coats and a layer of topcoat because the polish dries up semi matte:

I really like this colour. I’m not impressed by the holoness though. I want more of a linear holo in my holos :)

This polish is also pretty in ordinary daylight; that’s a huge plus for me.

And now I’m going to show you one of my fail manis. I wanted to simulate green flames on it, so I added white and green on my nails and dragged it upwards with a small brush. The green I’m holding is Zoya’s Giovanna.
I finished with a layer of Northern Lights from Out the Door.

The last picture is a low light picture. This doesn’t at all look as it did in my head, haha.

I hope you’ll bear with me when I show you my fails as well. This whole nail polish blogging is also a learning curve for me. 

This polish is no longer in my possesion. I sent it back after I heard about the issues with Mentality's base. I wouldn't dare to wear it again.

Number of coats: 2
Drying time: Pretty good

Finish: Semi matte muted holo

Overall impression: Not my colour at all

Buy again: Definitely not

Mentality ~ Startle

Mentality ~ Startle

Orange scattered holo

I have got to stop buying orange polishes. Half the time they disappoint me, haha!

Anyway, the formula of Startle is good and easy to work with. I used two coats for full opacity and the drying time is good. It dries up semi matte.

Here’s two coats taken with flash:

It looks quite good with the flash, don’t you think?

My problem is that this is a polish that looks way better on pictures than in real life. Startle is a good example of why we should demand to see what a polish looks like in both sun and shadow before we actually buy it. Let me turn off the flash and stick my hand into the lightbox for you and this is the result I get:

This is so not my tone of orange and I would not have bought it if there had been pictures out there that was taken in the shadows or low lights. Hmfr!

I spiced it up, because that’s how I roll. I made dots! I used a red from Essense’s Arriba!-collection called Red Corazón and Silver Holo from Urban Outfitters.

Here’s what that ended up looking like (flash picture):

That’s more like it, even though the orange is still dull outside the flashlight. 

The polishes:

I will keep mentioning that polishes should be showed in other conditions than sunlight and flash. Most of us spend more time indoors/in the shadows than in the sun.

This polish is no longer in my possesion. I sent it back after I heard about the issues with Mentality's base. I wouldn't dare to wear it again.

Number of coats: 2
Drying time: Pretty good

Finish: Semi matte muted holo

Overall impression: Not my colour at all

Buy again: Definitely not

Mentality ~ Excite

Mentality ~ Excite

Pink scattered holo

This is the best of Mentality’s neon holos I’ve tried so far.

The formula is good and covers well; I used two coats for this mani. The drying time between the coats is good. The polish dries up semi matte, so I added a layer of topcoat before I took my photos.

Here’s two coats and a layer of topcoat taken with flash:

It’s not quite so shocking pink in the shadows, but the colour is still nice.

I played a bit with nail guide stickers and a beautiful purple from Essence called Da Vida Loca from the Arriba!-collection. A layer of topcoat completed my mani:

I really like purple and pink together, and I also like when all nails aren’t the same, like here.

How do you like this? Do you like using nail guide stickers for nail art?

This polish is no longer in my possesion. I sent it back after I heard about the issues with the base. I knew I wouldn't dare to wear it again.

Number of coats: 2
Drying time: Pretty good

Finish: Semi matte muted holo

Overall impression: The nicest one from the neon holo collection

Buy again: No

Mentality ~ Bolt

Mentality ~ Bolt

Orchid scattered holo

Bolt is described as a bright purple holographic polish and it’s listed as neon. I will get back to you on that.

The formula is good and easy to work with. It looks sheer after the first coat, but the second coat magically did the trick and erased all signs of visible nail line. The drying time is pretty good. It dries up semi matte so I added a layer of topcoat before I took my pictures.

Here’s what it looks like in the sun.

And here is a picture taken with flash:

Here’s what it looks like in the shade. There’s not so much brightness or neon over that, is there.

I can’t wear polishes like this alone, it’s not blingy enough, so I added glitter. I used a multisized and multishaped silver/holo glitter from Delush called Nue Girl. I added another layer of topcoat to seal it all up, and here’s my final mani with flash:

And here’s the low light picture.

I have to admit that I am a little bit disappointed in this polish. I had expected much more neon-ness than I actually got. It’s a nice and work friendly shade, but that is not what I went for, haha! :D

EDIT: This polish is no longer in my possesion. I sent it back after I heard about the issues with Mentality's base. I wouldn't dare to wear it again.

Number of coats: 2
Drying time: Pretty good

Finish: Semi matte muted holo

Overall impression: Disappointed in the lack of neon. Other than that, yes, it’s a nice, work friendly polish

Buy again: Nope

Mentality Polish ~ Neon Red Opaque

Mentality Polish ~ Neon Red Opaque

Neon red matte stamping polish

The last three days I’ve showed you three of Mentality’s Neon Opaque stamping polishes. Today I’m going to complete the circle with Neon Red Opaque. I knew I had to buy that!

This polish’s formula is a little bit different than the others. It dries just a fraction slower so I found it a little bit easier to work with.

I applied two layers on my pinkie and my pointer and finished those two nails (and the thumb) off with topcoat. That works for me!

The stamping has to be ninja style stamping; as in: Wickedly fast. Not quite as fast as the other three I tried though, but still fast! My BF thought I was cracking walnuts – but it was my hands exceeding the speed of sound.

The neon is the most neon of the four too. It’s in yer face, just like I like it!

Verdict:
Yes, I dig this. Great colour, great stamping abilities, I love it both over black and white. It dries really fast, so be prepared with both scraper and stamper! 

EDIT: This polish is no longer in my possesion. I sent it back after I heard about the issues with Mentality's base. I wouldn't dare to wear it again.

Number of coats: 1 or 2
Drying time: Fast. Like Really fast!

Finish: Matte neon stamping polish
Overall impression: Wow, this is amazing!

Buy again: No

Mentality Polish ~ Neon Purple Opaque

Mentality Polish ~ Neon Purple Opaque

Neon purple matte stamping polish

I have decided to copy the method from the last couple of days and try it as a regular polish and as a stamping polish over both black and white. It seems like a nice way to actually find out what this polish can do, don’t you think?!

So: I painted my pinkie and my pointer with the neon purple. The polish covers in two coats. If it didn’t dry so wickedly fast I might have been able to get away with one coat, but I really needed coat number two to even out irregularities. I finished it off with a layer of topcoat and that made everything look a lot better.

Here’s the final mani:

The stamping went pretty much like yesterday. The polish dries so fast that you need to work like a ninja! Whoosh whoosh and on the polish went, haha!

I learned my lesson from the two last days and worked as fast as I possibly could. I was pleased with the result even though my lines aren’t as crisp as they could have been.

Verdict:

This colour is really awesome and I love the way it stamps. It looks cool on its own and even better as a stamp.

It does require topcoat to even out irregularities made by the fact that it dries so fast. I don’t mind topcoat at all. Once again; it’s not a polish for beginners into stamping because it does require some really fast working. 


EDIT: This polish is no longer in my possesion. I sent it back after I heard about the issues with Mentality's base. I wouldn't dare to wear it again.

Number of coats: 1 or 2
Drying time: Fast. Like Really fast!

Finish: Matte neon stamping polish
Overall impression: I like this colour a lot!

Buy again: Yes

Mentality Polish ~ Neon Blue Opaque

Mentality Polish ~ Neon Blue Opaque

Neon blue matte stamping polish

Just like yesterday I’m trying it as a regular polish and as a stamping polish over both black and white.

So again: I painted my pinkie and my pointer with the neon blue. The polish covers really well, it is a stamping polish after all. I applied two coats, because this polish dries so fast that I wasn’t able to apply it evenly enough in one coat. I applied a layer of topcoat, and that helped making it all look good!

Here’s what the Neon Blue is about:

 

Now to the stamping. The Neon Blue dries just as a fast as its neon green sister, so I had to work just as fast to make it work. I needed to apply a thick layer onto the stamping plate, scrape and in the same movement: pick up the polish with the stamper. It’s a challenge, but it can work.

I made a few fails before I got the look I was after, but I was glad to see it work over both black and white.

Verdict:

I love that Neon Blue Opaque works over both black and white underwear. It’s a really pretty blue on its own, but it does require topcoat to even out irregularities made by the fact that it dries so fast. I don’t mind topcoat at all. Again; it’s not a polish for beginners into stamping because it does require some really fast working. 


EDIT: This polish is no longer in my possesion. I sent it back after I heard about the issues with Mentality's base. I wouldn't dare to wear it again.

Number of coats: 1 or 2
Drying time: Fast. Like Really fast!

Finish: Matte neon stamping polish
Overall impression: I’m impressed, both by its stamping abilities and the drying time  

Buy again: No

Mentality Polish ~ Neon Green Opaque

Mentality Polish ~ Neon Green Opaque

Neon greet matte stamping polish

I decided to both try this polish as a regular polish and as a stamping polish over both black and white.

So I painted my pinkie and my pointer with the neon green. The polish covers really well, just like a stamping polish should. I did have to apply two coats though, because this polish dries ridiculously fast, so I wasn’t able to apply it evenly enough in one coat. I used the second coat to try and even out the irregularities. I wasn’t quite satisfied though, so I applied a layer of topcoat, and that helped making it all look great!

I think it’s time to show you what I’m talking about:

The stamping is a completely different story! I’ve never ever worked with a polish that dried as fast as this one. The first attempt was useless. I didn’t get any polish onto my stamper, and I actually blamed the new stamping plate at first, haha. But I tested the plate with my trusted black from NailNation and the plate works just fine. So I thought that I just had to work harder and faster to make the Mentality polish work too: Challenge accepted! :D

I did take a few attempts before I was fast enough to: a) get polish onto the stamper, not alone b) get the polish onto the nails! But in the end I succeeded, like the pictures show. I’ll not even mention that I accidentally swung the scraper up into my face because I got agitated!

Verdict:

I love the idea of a neon green stamping polish and the fact that it works over both black and white underwear. It’s also a big plus that it can be used as a regular polish, and since I don’t ever wear matte polishes I don’t mind applying the layer of topcoat to even out irregularities.

It’s definitely not a polish for beginners into stamping because it does require some really fast work here. 


EDIT: This polish is no longer in my possesion. I sent it back after I heard about the issues with Mentality's base. I wouldn't dare to wear it again. 

Number of coats: 1 or 2
Drying time: Fast. Like Really fast!

Finish: Matte neon stamping polish
Overall impression: I’m impressed, both by its stamping abilities and the drying time  

Buy again: No

Mentality ~ Vexare

Mentality ~ Vexare

Blackened multichrome with fleck shifting between blue, violet, red and orange

 Vexara is also listed as a tetrachrome, and I’m still not sure what that means, but never mind. Like its sister “Velle”, it’s packed full with flecks, and it’s a colour shifter too.

The formula of Vexare is a little bit thick, but to me that’s perfect. It’s a polish that’s really easy to work with, it almost applies itself! The drying time is good, no issues to report there either.

I applied two coats on each nail, except on my ring finger, where I applied two layers of black – to test out if it’s true that Vexare is good for stamping as well.

Here is what Vexara looks like:

The Colour shift ifn Vexare is stronger and visible in all light settings. It’s even obvious in the stamp too.

I only saw orange in the bottle though, but I love a good purple/blue shift, so this is perfect for me.

One last picture of it, just because I want to :D

Verdict:

Vexare is a seriously cool polish. I love the colours, the colour shift, the formula and the fact that it stamps so well. 

EDIT: I don't use Mentality's polishes any more after all the fuss about the polish that made other girls' nails lift off the nailbeds!

Number of coats: 2 – and it works perfectly for stamping too
Drying time: Good

Finish: colour shifting flecks
Overall impression: Love it!

Buy again: Yes!

Mentality ~ Velle

Mentality ~ Velle

Blackened multichrome with fleck shifting between yellow, green and blue

Here’s a polish from Mentality. It’s listed as a tetrachrome. I’m not sure what that means exactly, but I do know that it’s packed full with flecks, which I love. And you know that I love polishes that can actually do something right? Well, this one is both a colour shifter and works for stamping. How great is that!

The formula is a little bit on the thick side, but I actually prefer that. It’s still really easy to work with, self-levelling, and very forgiving if you need to run a brush over a specific area of the nail more than once. Drying time is good too. I applied two coats and a layer of topcoat, and I thought I might as well test its stamping qualities at the same time. So I painted the nail on my ring finger black and stamped with Velle over that. And that works just perfectly. Take a look at my final mani here:

The colour shift isn’t amazing in this one, but it’s definitely there. I’m not sure I can see the yellow, but perhaps it’s just because it’s so close to the green that my eye can’t detect it.

On this picture you can see the shift from green to blue.

I will definitely be using this for stamping again! It stamps great!

Verdict:

Mentality just got an extra point in my book for making colour shifting fleck polishes that actually stamp. It’s so cool to have polishes that you can use in various ways depending on what mood you’re in. The quality of the polish is good, so yes, Velle gets a polished thumbs up from me! 


EDIT: I don't use Mentality's polishes any more after all the fuss about the polish that made other girls' nails lift off the nailbeds!

Number of coats: 2 – and it works perfectly for stamping too
Drying time: Good

Finish: colour shifting flecks
Overall impression: Wow, this is an impressive polish!

Buy again: Yes