The Ciate Caviar nail polish is not only a fabulous piece of nail wear, but is iconic in reintroducing the power of nail art to many a finger and toe across the land. I decided to give it a go and see what all the hype was about.
Price...
Considering you get two bottles in one go, always with a beautiful basecoat colour, the £18 price tag isn't too tough to take. It is even possible to get said fingers on a set of eight from ebay for £35, which is very reasonable indeed.
Colour...
The pearlescent effect of the micropearls are not only unusual but in the evening really do sparkle under the ambient lighting of a restaurant or the decadence of a cocktail lounge.
Staying power...
I was not overly impressed by the stamina of the Ciate. It wasn't just the beads chipping away by the end of the weekend, but the base colour was easily peeled off as well. I would want this nail polish brand to perfect the quality of the polish itself, before getting too fancy with decorative accessories. By the end of day two, I was desperate to take it off.
Overall satisfaction...
Very little jewellery is required on one's hands when sporting the caviar finish, therefore saving you the last minute already-running-twenty-minutes-late mad rush when on your way out for the evening. It's amazing how many comments your nails can attract, never before noticed until I wore the polish. I even experimented with half-dipped nails, as well as the all-over caviar look; both of which are striking and unusual. Just make sure you sprinkle your nails over a piece of paper to save the beads from escaping all over the floor, and don't expect the caviar to remain intact for more than 48 hours. That's long enough for a weekend of frivolity and festivity, at least.
3.5/5 stars
Photo credit: iamfabulicious.blogspot