Mermaid Lacquer, Part 2: Indie Maker Spotlight

I'm so very proud to be sharing another indie maker spotlight and the second part of my Mermaid Lacquer swatches! Jacquelynn is a fabulous Cali mermaid with a lot of heart, and I hope you all enjoy learning more about her as much as I did.

Polishes in this post were provided for review.

See part one of this post for more pictures!

How did you decide to start making polishes?

Well, I've always loved polish and have always pretty much gotten my nails done or did them myself. It didn't kick into an obsession until the last year when I realized how much it was helping with my anxiety disorder. I was diagnosed in my early 20s with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and in the past few years it had become really bad and a nuisance in my life. I was having up to about 4 to 5 really bad attacks a week and it was really making life hard and not enjoyable. Remembering that distracting yourself was something I was told to do when I felt an attack coming, I turned to doing my nails and nail art. After realizing I cut down to about 3 attacks a week, I was hooked. I felt so lucky because it was something I loved helping me instead of medication. Everything just fell into place after that. I discovered indie polish and did the research and decided since I spend so much money buying nail polish, I might as well make it. My polish making polish journey has gotten me down to maybe one panic attack a month, which is amazing.

Under the Sea is a glitter bomb in a shimmery silver jelly base, packed with teal and pink hex, teal stars, and scattered multi-colored hexes in purple. gold, and red. Photo shows two coats over a mint Color Club polish topped with Seche Vite.

Where do you find inspiration for your colors? 

Inspiration for my polishes comes from my life, memories, and everything I have and am experiencing. I’ll be thinking of a memory, and next I start thinking how that would look as a polish.

What polish brands (mainstream or indie) are your favorites?

I really have to say one of my favorite mainstream brands is Essie, but being in world of indies, I haven't bought many in a long time. My very first indies were from Nail Polish Addict Nail Color and they were really what got me hooked and wanting to make my own polish. Her brand will always have a special place in my heart.

Glitter application was easy and very even, no fishing necessary!

This photo shows three thin coats on its own. I was inspired by Jacquelynn's response, (below) and wanted to see this on its own since I had already swatched it over green!

What is your favorite color you've made?

My favorite polish I've made is Under the Sea. It’s an awesome grey tinted jelly/glitter bomb. It reminds me so much of the ocean with the murky color and all the gorgeous glitters. It really is beautiful on the nail. 

What kind of polish do you have wayyyy too much of in your stash?

I have way too much pink and gray polish. Pink is my favorite color, so I am always on the hunt for a good pink. I love how gray can go with anything, so it is also a favorite. I have tons of different shades in my collection.

Do you have a "day job?" What did you want to be when you were little?

When I was younger I wanted to be a Marine Biologist, but as I got older I really loved working with kids. I ended up getting my B.A. in Child Development. Right now I have two day jobs Mon through Friday: I work for the state of California Air Resources Board with the environment and clean air regulations, and teaching kids in an after school program. I am typically gone from 6 in the morning till 8 at night, and then I do polish until about 11 or 12. 

What's your favorite thing about making polishes?

My all time favorite part of making polish is getting to name them. I have always wondered what it would be like to get to name all the pretty polish that gets created, and now its possible! I also really enjoy mixing glitter for the pigments I create. What girl wouldn’t love playing with glitter for hours?

High School Sweetheart is a pink jelly polish with pink and white hex glitters, hot pink and purple dots, and pink hearts. Photo shows three thin coats topped with Seche Vite. Amazingly even application, and SO MUCH GLITTAH!!!

There seems to be a whole lot of mermaid love on Instagram, Pinterest, and beauty/fashion blogs lately. Where do you think that comes from, and how does your line fit within that “genre?”

For me, the love of mermaids comes from the love of the oceans and sea life, and the beauty of it all. I think the obsession of mermaids in our culture is this sexiness and mystery of mermaids that every girl wants or wishes to be like. I think every girl has a mermaid deep inside them. Also, my generation grew up with Disney's Ariel and now the sudden popularity brings back that childhood memory of wanting to be like her and the joy you felt watching her on TV. I mean, who wouldn't want to be a sexy mermaid that gets to zip around the ocean and have grand adventures?! I have tried to portray that with Mermaid Lacquer. I want women to feel sexy and mysterious when wearing my polish but I also have polishes that remind us of being a kid and the many memories we have. I try to make polish that just makes you feel good when you wear it, whether it’s for a classy dinner, a crazy night out with the girls, or even work—it can be appropriate, but still let your personality shine through.

Once Upon a Time is light pink speckled creme with neon green, pink, and purple hexes, and neon pink butterflies. Photo shows two coats and some glitter placement, all topped with Seche Vite. Since the base is so opaque, multiple coats hid some of the glitters, which was why I did the placement on top. I think this one would be better off as one coat over a white or light pink undie, which would really make that lovely speckled pink base pop!

You’ve already made a Little Mermaid inspired polish, and have talked about an upcoming Disney princess line. Which princess is your favorite? What kind of polish would best embody her?

My favorite Disney princess is (of course) Ariel, and second would be Belle. I think a polish that embodies Belle would have to have an array of brown, gold, and yellow glitters to capture the gorgeous ball gown she wears. I don't want to give too much away, but I think my polishes will represent the princesses very well.

Funky Revolution is a light blue crelly with black and white hexes and bar glitters, and tiny blue bar glitters. Photo shows two thin coats topped with Seche Vite. Again, application was very easy and even, and there was no fishing for glitters necessary!

You make such an array of polishes…crèmes, holos, crellies, glitter bombs—which one is your favorite to wear? And which is the hardest to make?

My favorite type of polishes to wear are crellies. I just love the ratio of pigment to glitter and how it is just the right amount of color so it doesn't drown out the glitters in them. I also think crellies are the hardest to make, because you have to get the perfect balance of pigment and glitter. It takes time to make and decide on a color scheme or type of glitters. I spend a lot of time brainstorming and experimenting before I actually make or release a crelly to be worn.

Jacquelynn, thank you so much for sharing your passion and your polishes with me!
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