Between the The Walking Dead — which my Sundays revolve around, no joke! — and the post-apocalyptic entertainment currently killing it in movie theaters and bookstores, I think it’s safe to say that zombies, like rose gold and kale, are having a moment.
And everyone’s getting in on the undead action, including the beauty world. Feast your eyes on Bohemian Republik’s new five piece Zombie Collection…
Boulder, Colorado-based indie nail polish line Bohemian Republik wants to be known for…
- Their formula — which is free of formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, toluene and camphor
- Being cruelty-free, vegan and not tested on animals (paws up from Tabs)
- Being made in the USA
If you hunger for glitter and pigment like a zombie craves brains, you’ll want to get to know this five-piece collection, which reminds me of a Frankenstein-ian combination of products from Essie, Deborah Lippann and China Glaze.
Gangrene, a creamy kiwi, is my favorite one here. Bright and vibrant, it’s also easy to apply, super smooth and not too thick nor thin.
It’s just right…
I’m wearing two coats in the swatch to keep all the pics in this post consistent, but I’m sure I could have gotten away with one.
The brush attached to these polishes is on the narrow side, which actually makes the polishes easy to apply. None of the brush fibers splay out, either, or do other funky things, and that’s great; however, I do wish it was a little easier to get nice, crisp edges with it at the base of my nails. By no means is it difficult, but it’s not quite as easy as OPI, if you know what I mean.
I don’t think these pics do justice to glittery Decay. In real life, and particularly in full sun, Decay comes to life! The semi-transparent bronzed gray base pulsates with gold and teal shimmer.
There’s something so MAC Club Eyeshadow about it…the way it flickers from bronzed gray to gold to teal…
Very, very cool. I’m wearing two coats in this swatch, by the way.
Feeding Frenzy — I love this creamy blood red’s clever name. Like Gangrene, the formula is extremely smooth and easy to wield. I’m wearing two coats here, but one would have worked fine.
As far as the color itself, I like it, but it’s not altogether original, I guess in terms of blood red shades, but I think it would look really cool as part of a half-moon mani with this next shade…
Gray Matter! — also known as the color of wet cement. Or brains…
I have to say, Bohemian Rebulik’s creams are shockingly consistent. Like the others, this one’s streak-free, comes loaded with pigment, and lays down lots of color in every coat. I’m wearing two in this swatch.
Gray Matter also gives back. For every bottle of Gray Matter purchased, Bohemian Republik donates $1 to the Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research & Information.
Last, but not least, Pandemic! — a clear glitter with sparkly flecks of purple and teal. When I see this one on my nails, I go “awww!” It’s cute, like a little zombie girl wearing ribbons in her hair. 🙂
That’s two coats in the above swatch.
I’ve been wearing these shades for the past few days on bare nails — no base or top coats — and so far they seem pretty sturdy. As of day three, I’m only a few infrequent chips at the edges. I imagine I’ll get from 5-6 days wear before the big chips appear.
That’s pretty good for unprotected nails. A base and top coat should extend the wear time to at least seven full days with little or no chipping.
If I could change anything about these, it would have to be the drying time, because wow! — they seem to take an unusually long time. We’re talkin’ 5-6 hours! Within that time, every little bump results in a nick or scratch.
Makeup and Beauty Blog’s Essential Guide to Zombie Fun
- Warm Bodies, by Issac Marion. Three words: zombie love story. There’s also a movie version, which I actually liked more than the book (has a tighter story).
- The Walking Dead, episode TS-19 (the first season’s finale). From among all of the episodes in all the seasons so far, this one was my absolute favorite. It’s about hope, and the absence of it, and that one fleeting moment right before the characters realized that the world as they knew was gone forever. I cry every time I see this one…
- 28 Days Later. One of the scariest movies I’ve ever seen, and not just because of the zombies (although they’re pretty scary!). It’s the humans you gotta watch out for, man (per usual).
FYI, in the event of a zombie pandemic, if you’re a woman, your chances of survival are significantly higher if you’re also an @ss-kicker. NOTE TO SELF: sign up for jiu-jitsu ASAP.
Oh, yeah, bargain hunters, each of these 0.56-ounce bottles regularly sells for $12, but they’re currently on sale online for $10 each if you get the entire collection.
Really digging these right now…
GOOOOO ZOMBIES!
PRICE: $12 per bottle ($10 each if you buy all five)
AVAILABILITY: Available now online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+/A-
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Trisha says
I love these! Especially Gangrene and Gray Matter. So pretty.
Karen says
Hi Trisha,
Wouldn’t that green shade look pretty on toes? I feel like it could easily carry into spring and summer.
Chaitra says
Wow, Love decay & feeding Frenzy! What a beautiful red that one is 🙂
Karen says
Hi Chaitra,
Decay is one of my faves from this launch. Do you follow any indie nail polish lines?
Chaitra says
Karen 🙂 I have tried Cult Nails & KBShimmer! I loved both of them. But off late, i havent purchased any Indie Brand Nail stuff. How do you compare indie brands to the usual dept/drugstore ones?
Karen says
I think there’s lots of good stuff, you have to look around. Right now I’m really liking Bohemian Republik, as you can tell. I always get a kick out of trying new things! You never know what’s going to be the next big nail hit, you know?
Happy Friday, btw. What are your weekend plans?
Chaitra says
Karen, its getting so cold here in pittsburgh, that i just feel like snuggling in on my bed with a hot cup of coffee & reading blogs! 😛 Also i recently started blogging [like i told u in the email], so i m kinda addicted to it! 🙂
Icequeen81 says
coool hands the green one
Karen says
LOL, do ya like that?
Happy Friday, Icequeen!
hanna says
That green is awesome!
Karen says
Yup!
Rebecca says
Whenever I find a beauty product that has a sciency name, I buy it immediately. Just got Gray Matter and Gangrene!
Karen says
Hi Rebecca,
That totally sounds like something I would do. I’m waiting for the day where someone makes nail polishes with the names “Entropy” and “Krebs Cycle.” I WOULD BE ALL OVER THAT!
Do you work in the scientific field or are you currently a student? In my previous life, I was a biology major.
Gowthami says
Green!! Very pretty 🙂
Karen says
Super pretty!
Brittnee says
Those colors are so gorgeous! LOVE the lime and pretty much all of them except maybe that last blue and purple glitter. But even that is a great color – just not as amazing as the others. Plus zombie stuff is so fun!
Danielle says
Feeding Frenzy and Gangrene are really beautiful!
Emily says
I have a few of these polishes and I do not notice the long dry time but I have had that smudge/nick experience using Essie polishes. Although I always use top coat when I paint my nails with Bohemian Republik.