Recently, I had just been looking at all of the Holo Taco polishes scattered around my desk and drawers, and thinking about collections I still needed to swatch and post about and I was just feeling overwhelmed. I felt the need for organization, so as a true lover and connoisseur of lists, I recently combined those with another love of mine – distracting myself from my work. I sat down, and I went through and listed out all of the Holo Taco collections in release order, while both noting collections I already owned, already swatched, and already blogged about.
And whew, that final category was woefully small (and so was the 2nd column). I’ll admit, Holo Taco (as well as Mooncat, which has gotten the same treatment), as a more “boutique” indie brand has gotten pushed to the back of my nail polish queues, behind the traditional seasonal releases of the mainstream brands. I absolutely love collecting both brands, as they’re both consistently releasing interesting collections, but then those poor shades just wait on my desk, crying out to be loved. Well it’s time to REMEDY THAT.
So I’m determined to get through my Holo Taco (and Mooncat) stash and get them swatched up and blogged throughout the next few months, catching up on both old and new releases. (Maybe we’ll say like 6 months, let’s be realistic here). I’m ready to feel that high of checking things off my lists, and to build up more of a resource and guide on these brands and their many, many releases. I have (most of) them already, and it’s time I show it. Oh darn, more posts for you, I know you’re truly torn up.
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So ALRIGHT let’s start this journey with one of their most recent releases, and the newest collection I have in my stash (for now – though I am telling myself I’m not allowed to buy even newer releases until I get through some backlog, even if that Ice Cream collection is truly calling to me).
Anyways, this is the ‘I Need Space’ set, and as you can tell from the name, it has quite the fun galactic theme. We have 5 shades here all with some fun finishes and formulas. We have flakes, we have shimmer, we have holographic sparkle, and interesting color choices – what more could you need? After all, it’s space-themed, so I’m intrigued already.
These are as always, available from the Holo Taco website. Now enough with the talking, let’s finally see some polishes in ACTION.
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Up first we’re going on a ‘Solo Mission’ (you see what I did there, with the name). This is a dusty and rosy brown jelly base filled with a scattered holographic shimmer and iridescent flakes.
With that jelly formula it is a touch sheer on the 1st coat. But it builds up well on itself with the 2nd coat. You could be set there depending on how thick of coats you’re applying, or depending on your preferences, you might want a 3rd coat – I did add a 3rd to cover some last patches – to further build up the color. It’s smooth overall, and those flakes are distributed well throughout the formula.
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Next up we have ‘Orbite Me’ (I’m absolutely loving all of the names in this set). This is a warm-toned, deep burgundy red shade filled with a gorgeous scattered holographic sparkle. I absolutely love this type of finish (which started with the Zoya Scattered Holos), and I’ll never have enough of it.
This had a touch of a squishier jelly finish so the 1st coat is uneven. But a 2nd coat comes in and evens it all out and deepens up the color to match the bottle. It layers up the sparkle more and just really brings it all together.
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‘I’m Rover It’ is a burnt orange shimmery base again filled with scattered holographic sparkles. The sparkles in this one feel a touch smaller and more scattered than ‘Orbite Me’ above, letting that shimmery base come through and give a more metallic look.
This one was more opaque, having only a tiny bit of unevenness after that 1st coat. That 2nd coat layers on, building up the color, the opacity and the true glow of the shade. It’s that essential Mars-inspired shade, and it’s perfect for traveling the galaxy.
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‘Alien Infatuation’ was absolutely the shade I was most excited to get onto my nails as soon as I saw it. I mean, a cool-toned steel gray base filled with a bright green shimmer?? Excuse me?? That gray and green combo?? Yes give me everything I love!!
This had another super smooth and easy formula, and was opaque in just 2 coats. The shimmer really builds up and pops with that 2nd coat, and yes, can you tell I’m in love with this shade. It’s a little weird and alien-like, so of course I love it.
Alien Infatuation – Live Swatch
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Lastly we finish out with ‘Waste of Space’. This is a black jelly base filled with scattered holographic sparkles as well as red and blue flakes. Just like staring on into the endless night sky…
Like the others, it is more of a jelly so it’s a touch uneven and sheer on that 1st coat. But the 2nd coat comes in so nicely and layers up the color to make it fully opaque. The flakes really pop against the dark base and I loved the final finish. A top coat on this one will really bring out those contrasting sparkles, and make it seem even more like the night sky.
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And that’s the set! I loved this color palette, and I really felt everything going together so well. It fits into “space”, without just being a traditional black with sparkles, and I just love the way they fully approached the theme. Each of the formulas and finishes were interesting, and they were all opaque in 2-3 coats for me, painting on easily overall.
Are you interested in any of these shades?
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Upcoming Posts
China Glaze Meadow Dreams Spring 2024 • Glam Polish I’ll Be There For You collection • Ella Mila Jeweled Elegance 10th Birthday collection • Sally Hansen x Hersey’s collection
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