Monday, January 16, 2012

New Kat Von D For Sephora High Voltage Lacquer Collection for Spring 2012

The newest addition to the Kat Von D for Sephora line... Nail polish! The brand new High Voltage Lacquer collection by Kat Von D consists of only four shades, but they're good ones.


No Regrets, Sparklehorse, Mad Max and Wonderchild.


Kat Von D High Voltage Lacquer in No Regrets. This is a bright fuchsia-pink shade with iridescent glass fleck shimmer. It has a very subtle orangey-red duochrome flash at certain angles, and the glass fleck particles reflect different shades and tones of pink with a tiny hint of purple.


Kat Von D High Voltage Lacquer in Sparklehorse. This is a bright lemon yellow glass fleck shimmer. The flecks in this one are larger than the others, almost a small flake shape instead of a round pearl like most glass fleck polishes. The shimmer particles reflect green and orange at certain angles, and there's always a little bit of green reflection visible at all times.


Kat Von D High Voltage Lacquer in Mad Max. This one looks very duochrome in the bottle, but it's probably the weakest color shift of the collection. It's mainly a blue/turquoise glass fleck shimmer, and occasionally you can see a little purple flash. It's very subtle, but you can see the purple flash in the first picture, on my middle finger, near the left side, center of the nail. It does shift from light blue to darker blue, but not many other colors are visible in it.


Kat Von D High Voltage Lacquer in Wonderchild. This one looks like it has the strongest duochrome effect in the bottle, and on the nail it does not disappoint. This is the most complex of the four shades. It's a rich purple glass fleck that reflects and sparkles many different colors. Darker, more blue-toned purple, lighter red-toned purple, pure blue, orangey-red, and a little bit of pink with gold accents. Absolutely gorgeous.

The formula on these was perfect. It was thinner than I expected it to be, but the thin texture lead to a smooth, lump- and drip-free application. It was very easy to get a thin, even coat and I had no problems with streaking or pooling or bubbling. The brush had no defective bristles and was easy to control. The bottles have slightly rubberized-feeling caps that sit comfortably in my hands. Drying time is good and they dry fairly glossy without topcoat. My only complaint about the formula is that it's sheer; these each require a minimum of three coats. I did three coats (no topcoat) in these pictures. Four coats would be even nicer, but I'm happy with how they look at three.

Overall, I think these are really nice. I was really excited to see these when they first showed up on Sephora.com, and they're almost as cool-looking in real life. The promo shots exaggerate the duochrome effect a lot, but they do still have a bit of duochrome in real life. There's not as much as I'd like, but at least they still have some. They're also not entirely unique colors, but none of the colors are bad or 'duds' or anything like that. For a first collection, I think they did a pretty good job. They got the formula right and that's very important. I wish they were more opaque and had more duochrome, but even the way they are, I like them a lot.

The only true complaint I have about these is the price. These may look like full size bottles, but they are only 0.25 fl oz and cost $12 each. The average full size polish is 0.4 - 0.5 fluid ounces and costs around $7-$9. $12 is really not that expensive for a nail polish, but for the price I'd expect it to be a full size bottle.

I liked the formula, I liked the colors and I like the bottle design... Now I'd like them to do a black-based "oil slick" effect glass fleck multichrome. Pretty please?

These are available now at Sephora, $12 each, and they are limited edition.

(This was sent for review.)

42 comments:

  1. Such a great collection!!
    I love all the colors!

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  2. Very pretty! I really love the purple and that yellow is a good looking yellow.

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  3. These look amazing! The yellow looks a lot like China Glaze - Lighthouse. It'd be interesting to compare them. I think I NEED the pink and the blue.

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    1. They're definitely similar, more green in Sparklehorse, though. And rougher shimmer!

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  4. The only one I am interested in is Sparklehorse ..the colors aren't that original. No Regrets looks similar to L'oreal's Pink Shell??

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  5. Thanks for reviewing these! I've been wanting to see swatches of them!!

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  6. To be honest; I don't find the colors that special. I wouldn't buy these (but I love Kat Von D!)

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  7. I would love to buy the blue and pink one, except like you stated $12 for not even a full size bottle. I'll pass on that. I'd get them if they went on sale though.

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  8. The purple one is stunning! x

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  9. Thanks for the swatches! I think I can skip these; I've got other glass fleck shimmers that are just as pretty (and definitely have more duochrome-y duochromes).

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  10. Wow O.o
    No Regrets and Mad Max are stunning!
    But I agree with you about the price. I think it's quite expensive for such a size.
    Luckily (and unfortunately at the same time) I can't find
    this brand in any of the two Sephora in my town. Out of any temptation :D

    Cheers from a new italian reader!

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  11. OOOHHHH pretty! I want it all!

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  12. they are pretty, but probably nothing special about them I would think for her style they would have something more wild for her collection :-P

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  13. These are gorgeous! I'm not sure if I'll end up springing for any based on the price/ quantity, but I love how sparkly shiny these are. I hope Kat Von D keeps putting these out!

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  14. Thank you for posting these! I saw them on Sephora.com and was intrigued, specifically by Wonderchild. They turned out to be quite gorgeous!

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  15. Colours are beautiful. I'm surprised that the swatches are only 3 coats. It looks sheerer in the bottle. I'm definitely picking these up if there's a sale.

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  16. These remind me a lot of some Wet'n'Wild colors from the Craze line... a lot cheaper too!

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  17. I dunno, I feel like I've seen this before. Especially the pink one.

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  18. The colors remind me of the Painted Nail collection for Nubar. Sparklehorse looks fab, but $12 for a half-size bottle of polish? No waaaay.

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    1. Yes, a lot like the Painted Nail ones, I thought that too. And I swear I've seen at least one other bright-glass fleck style collection like this but I can't remember what it is!

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    2. How does MACs Neo Sci-fi collection compare? in the pics Mad Max reminds me of Plasma Blu

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  19. Oh gosh, these are stunning! Why are these not in the UK? Boo!

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  20. I also thought they looked just like the WetnWild Craze collection. When I saw the bottle I thought that's what they were. Too expensive & not special enough to pay the price. I know I buy all of Kat Von D's palettes but they're worth it.

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  21. Those are beautiful. Very nice job indeed for a first release.

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  22. I think I will only be getting the purple... The pink and yellow remind me of the L'Oreal polishes that came out two years ago.

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  23. Love them! Especially Wonderchild. :D Though when I saw the bottle shots I thought this was gonna be about Teeez polish... ;)

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  24. "Now I'd like them to do a black-based 'oil slick' effect glass fleck multichrome. Pretty please?"

    My first thought when you ended the post this way was Sephora by OPI's "212-Sephora." Have to tried it yet? It's full of multicolor color flakes in a black base. The way it reflects is oil slick-ish. Your blog pushes me to start my own...and I might have to, just so I can share a swatch of this shade with you. It's beautiful!

    As to the entire reaon you posted...I think I'm going to sit tight. Sparklehorse looks intriguing, but I work for a luxury retailer, and my guests won't take me seriously if I'm wearing any of these colors! Maybe sparklehorse can find a home on my toenails? :)

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  25. "Now I'd like them to do a black-based 'oil slick' effect glass fleck multichrome. Pretty please?"

    My first thought when you ended the post this way was Sephora by OPI's "212-Sephora." Have to tried it yet? It's full of multicolor color flakes in a black base. The way it reflects is oil slick-ish. Your blog pushes me to start my own...and I might have to, just so I can share a swatch of this shade with you. It's beautiful!

    As to the entire reaon you posted...I think I'm going to sit tight. Sparklehorse looks intriguing, but I work for a luxury retailer, and my guests won't take me seriously if I'm wearing any of these colors! Maybe sparklehorse can find a home on my toenails? :)

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  26. Thanks for the review. i saw these at Sephora.com the other day and wasent to sure on colors. The purple looks awesome. Hoping they will hit clearance in a couple months:) Maybe she'll release some more "interesting" colors soon as well

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  27. "Now I'd like them to do a black-based 'oil slick' effect glass fleck multichrome. Pretty please?"

    Have you tried Sepora by OPI's "212-Sephora?" This might be the shade you're looking for. :)

    As for the Kat VonD's...not impressed. I think Sparklehorse could be a fun toenail polish color, but I don't feel like these colors are all that amazing, and the colors themselves look...young. Fun, but young. And at $12 for a mini-bottle, I'm not springing for them.

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    1. Yep, I have 212! Not quite the "oil slick" color I'm thinking of (think a black-based Clarins 230), but still a cool one!

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  28. No Regrets is AWESOME!!!! I'm not spending $12 for that small bottle though. Thanks for sharing ;0)

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  29. LOVE LOVE LOVE! I've ordered Mad Max and Wonderchild. Still on the fence about Sparklehorse. No Regrets is too similar to other nail lacquers I have. Thank you for getting these swatches up so quickly. I love jewel tones!

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  30. Cannot wear the yellow - it's a lot like CG Lighthouse from last springs Anchors Away collection as well.Wonderchild might need to join me at my home - really pretty. But it's hard to get any polish lines at the Sephora that is where I live. Even 200 miles south, does not get but a very few polishes other than OPI for Sephora and the Sephora brand. Will look on line. Great shots - know when they have these high back flash light coming off the polish, it's hard to capture on the camera.

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  31. Thank you so much for swatching and reviewing these! I was so curious to see whether or not I needed them. They're extremely pretty, and your nails are the perfect canvas for showing these babies off. :)

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  32. Like some of the other readers they look just like WnW to me.. but the purple looks so pretty

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  33. wow. TINY bottle. pretty colors, though!

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  34. What I find particularly special about these lacquers (with regard to Mad Max and Wonderchild) is that the finish, after top coat, literally looks like metal in person. Pics can't grasp this -- I've tried. I'm wearing Wonderchild right now and, like Mad Max, it looks like purple metal on my nails. Really enjoying these colors. I went ahead and got Sparklehorse too, since I don't have a yellow like that. I love high-impact colors like this, so these are right up my alley. Thanks again for the review, Scrangie. Your swatches sealed the deal for me, and I am very satisfied!

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  35. I am soooo glad I have the Color Club dupes. There is no way in hell I would pay $12 for a tiny little bottle no matter what brand it is. That is pure insanity. I paid $24 for the entire Color Club Take Wings collection which included 5 colors plus a top coat. Much better deal!

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  36. They look great, but sheer and small at that price?

    No.

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