It’s the start of a new year but before I start swatching like crazy, I wanted to look back at the year that was and pick my top 13 favorite nail polish releases from 2013.
Except you know I’m totally lying, right? Because back in 2011, I couldn’t stick to 11. And this time, I couldn’t stick to 13 either. I tried to be ruthless, I tried to cut my list down as much as I could but it was breaking my heart. So yes, I will once again have runners-up (all of which totally deserve to be on the main list) and a few ties. I’m calling this list my Top 13 but really, we’re talking more like 20. Can you blame me?
Here are Polish Police’s top 13 (*cough* 20 *cough*) for 2013:
Marc Jacobs’ Enamored line – specifically Blue Velvet, Petra and Fluorescent Beige
This was the launch of the year for me. I love Marc Beauty’s nail polish line – the packaging, the bottle, the design, the colors. Two things make me sad – that I was no longer in New York when the brand launched (because I really really want to go to the Marc Beauty boutique) and that Marc Jacobs Beauty isn’t available in the Philippines (if it were, I might have completed the whole line by now – yes, that’s one of my biggest nail polish dreams).
I’ve tried eight of the many shades from this line and they did not disappoint.
Here are my three favorites:
Blue Velvet
Hannah from Deborah Lippmann’s GIRLS Collection
2013 was the year I finally started watching GIRLS. Now I’m kind of obsessed with the show. And with Hannah, this beautiful dusty hunter green inspired by Lena Dunham’s character.
Turn It Around from Rescue Beauty Lounge’s Emoting Me Collection
I actually love all the shades in this collection – I’ve found that there’s always one that matched my different moods. But Turn It Around is definitely my favorite – this mossy green with killer copper sparkle is just so beautiful.
Dior Nymphea
Nymphea is one of the two shades from Dior’s Asia Exclusive DiorSnow collection this year. Sadly, I do not have proper swatches of Nymphea yet – it’s on top of my huge swatching pile though, I swear. But I fell in love with this polish when I first saw it in Rustan’s.
Nymphea was the base of my Christmas mani. It’s not a proper swatch but I hope these photos show you just how pretty this blue is.
Azure and Bel-Argus from L’Ete Papillon de Chanel collection for Summer 2013
I still remember how excited I was when these two shades came out. I was so giddy when I bought them. And I still love these shades now as much as I did on that day.
Liberty, my Rescue Beauty Lounge color
Yes, call me biased, but I couldn’t come out with this list and not include Liberty. This glass-flecked green isn’t just a pretty polish, it’s a dream come true. Sometimes I still couldn’t believe that I actually created this shade with RBL founder Ji Baek.
Chanel Taboo
Released with Chanel’s Revelation de Chanel Collection for Spring, Taboo is a gorgeous shimmery deep purple with purple, blue and red sparkle. Love love love it.
NARS Easy Walking Right from the Pierre Hardy collection
There are twelve shades in NARS’ Pierre Hardy collection, sold in six pairs that come in their own “shoe box” with shoe bags. I had a lot of fun playing with these shades and love a lot of these colors. Easy Walking Right, a camel creme, is my favorite because it’s one of the most unique shades in the collection.
I also really really like the combination of the purple and yellow from the Sharks set.
Glam Polish Star Candy
Star Candy from Glam Polish was one of my favorite polish finds last year – totally worth having it shipped to Manila from Singapore. I had so much fun with this polish in 2013 and I just know I’ll have more fun with it this year.
Va Va Voom + Rolling In The Deep from Deborah Lippmann’s Jewel Heist Collection
Deborah Lippmann’s super glittery Jewel Heist Collection is another memorable 2013 collection for me.
And my favorite was the perfect combination of Rolling In The Deep, a beautiful midnight blue, and Va Va Voom, crazy blurple holo glitter.
Laura Mercier’s Bewitched for Fall 2013
Bewitched, from Laura Mercier’s Fall 2013 collection, was also one of my favorites last year. Love this unique blue-green creme with greenish-gold glitter.
Galathee from NARS’ Fall 2013 Collection
This beautiful pale gray just stole my heart.
Fire Queen from RBL’s Fan Collection 2.0
The truth is I really loved this entire collection.
But Fire Queen holds a special place in my heart. I love it so much. It’s like Liberty’s purer, brighter cousin.
Deborah Lippmann Wicked set
Oh, Deborah Lippmann’s Wicked set, I had so much fun with you. First there was the absolutely magical way it came into my life. And then there was the adventure I had with it in New Zealand. And the timing is perfect – Deborah came out with this set just before Wicked was set to open in Manila (it’s happening in a few weeks!). And I have great news for fans of Deborah Lippmann and Wicked – this set will be available here at Rustan’s!
This is Defying Gravity.
Popular.
And One Short Day.
These three shades are so much fun to play with.
Frimas from Dior’s Golden Winter collection
Even though it was overshadowed by the more attention-grabbing pieces from Dior’s holiday collection, it cannot be denied that Frimas is beautiful. Minuit is gorgeous too but I just love this gold-flecked rosy taupe.
Whew. We’ve finally reached the end of this super long list. Can’t wait to see what 2014 has in store for us polish fans.
