Listen, I have a problem, and that problem is just always having a myriad of unswatched Holo Taco collections and polishes in all places around and on and under my desk. But this posts shows that I’m working on it! I have a goal of having all of my Holo Taco polishes swatched and blogged, and this post gets us even a tiny bit closer. Baby steps.
So alright! This set is one of their newer releases for 2024 (we now have the Birthstone collection ahead of it) and it’s called ‘Dark Academia’ and if you’re at all familiar with book tropes, those words will immediately evoke a vibe. It’s also been a wardrobe and decor aesthetic, and Pinterest can always help you out with visuals. Just know it’s moody. It’s that feeling of shadowy hallways of old brick buildings on private college campuses, murder mysteries to solve in between classes, and all of the plaid and blazers you could ever want. Sure, I’ve personally saved a lot of this aesthetic onto my own Pinterest, and okay yes, I’m instead wearing the same leggings and sweatshirt every day as I work from home. But listen, this collection spoke to me, and I just needed them all on my nails.
We’ve got 8 new shades here, with some cremes, a brand new (to Holo Taco) crelly formula, and some gorgeous shimmers. They’re all vampy, and they’re perfect for stalking around campus, or you know just typing on a laptop in your living room.
Of course these are available on the Holo Taco website. And did you hear, Holo Taco is now in Ulta! That’s right, you can see their shades in person! None of these shades are available in store – and I’m assuming more limited collections won’t make their way there yet, but it’s still exciting. I just wanted to mention it, and you can grab more of their permanent shades.
Okay yes, let’s get on into these swatches!
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We’re starting out with the cremes (Holo Taco’s founder Cristine always calls them ‘cremes’ instead of creams and I’m respecting that), and then we’ll slowly make our way on into the shimmers and more “specialty” shades. Cremes are still exciting to ME, but fine I also won’t know if you just scroll past to those beautiful sparkles.
First up we have ‘Ivory Tower’. As you can guess from the name this is an off white shade, and it’s a little bit of a shapeshifter, with the true color depending on your skintone. On my cooler pink undertones, more of that yellow warmth is coming out. But on a warmer undertone, you might get more of a cooler peachy tone. Color theory! That drop of color into a white base softens it, making it less stark on the nails than a straight white polish.
Holo Taco’s creme formula does tend to be thicker than others. I find that makes them so easy to control and paint onto the nails without making a mess. And it makes them more pigmented and opaque in fewer coats. I’ve heard some say they’re too thick for their preferences so it’ll depend on how you like to apply a creme.
SO because of that thicker formula, even with such a white-based polish, I was able to get this opaque in just 2 coats. I did end up adding a 3rd – as I have more ridged nails and I prefer to have them smoothed out even more for the photos. But for most everyone else, you’ll be set with just 2 coats. We always need a bright neutral to help balance and offset moodier polishes later on.
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‘Foreshadow’ is a medium gray shade. Again, this one will shift depending on your undertones, and it’s again looking more warm and yellow toned on me. My pink tones are striking again.
As mentioned, it’s that thicker Holo Taco creme formula, so this one was easily opaque in just 2 coats. It glided on and it was so smooth, I had no complaints! It’s the perfect shade for sitting at your desk, looking up from your textbooks and staring out at the gray rainy fall days.
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Our last creme of the set is ‘Head Hunter’. This shade is a very dark forest green, and in this direct lighting you can easily see that green. But in more indirect lighting, it can look almost black on the nails. The MOODINESS.
This one had just a few patches and unevenness after the first coat, with the help of those deeper pigments. But the 2nd coat easily came in and smoothed it out and made it all opaque. I found it just glided on and I loved it.
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Now ‘Devil’s Advocate’ is an exciting shade for the brand, being their first more pigmented crelly. This one is a deep blood red, and you can really feel that bloodiness on the first coat. They nailed the vibe (is that too morbid) and I just feel like a vampire.
A crelly is a combo of a “creme” and a “jelly” so it’s going to be more pigmented than a true jelly but still squishier on the nails than a creme. So it was more sheer and uneven on the 1st coat, which I was expecting. But the 2nd coat does come in and really build up that color well and deepen it up. It does dry a touch more satin on the nails, but a good top coat will really bring out that shine and depth. It’ll make you feel as though you dipped your nails into a ceremonial goblet of blood. And I’ll stop saying blood now.
Devil’s Advocate – Live Swatch
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Now it wouldn’t be a Holo Taco release without some shimmer and sparkle.
This first one, ‘Inkwell’, is a very deep brown base filled with a golden bronze shimmer. That shimmer really contrasts well against the base, and it just feels like a color you would find in a headmaster’s office. There’s gotta have a sculpture or a paperweight on a heavy desk somewhere.
This one was so pigmented and it was practically opaque in just 1 coat. I always do 2 coats with every swatch, so that 2nd comes in and covers any teeny last patches left.
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‘Secret Society’ is next up, and wearing it will help you feel just so exclusive and chosen. This shade is a warm gray base filled with an antique gold shimmer. It could be that shimmer or my undertones that are pulling it over to be more olive, and it’s just such an interesting and unique shade, and please just let me join this club, please.
Once again this was easily opaque in 2 coats. There were just a few patches after that 1st coat, and the 2nd comes in and smooths everything out.
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This next shade ‘Ivy League’ is a shoutout to all the academics. I know you’re there reading this blog, and appreciating my quick wit and mastery of the English language. This one continues to amp up the shimmer and sparkle, as it’s a deep green jelly base jam packed with a silver shimmer. It’s so sparkly that it’s looking almost metallic on the nails.
It has a jelly base, so it can be more sheer on the 1st coat than you might expect with such a deep color. The 2nd coat comes in and really builds up that color and deepens it to match the bottle. It also layers up that shimmer to give it a lovely dimensional look all around. It could even be great for the Christmas season (I’m SORRY for mentioning that C word already, I know we’re not actually ready).
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Last but certainly not least we have ‘Silent Library’. It may be silent, but it has the loudest glitter of the collection (I’m so sorry). This is a black jelly base filled with larger silver glitters. These glitters are bigger than ‘Ivy League’ above, and they contrast most against the base, giving it a twinkly night sky look.
Even though it’s more pigmented because of the black base, it is still a touch sheer because of that jelly formula. Just like ‘Ive League’ above, the 2nd coat comes in to fully build up the base and layer up the shimmer. It’s opaque, it’s sparkling, it’s just gorgeous. (Holidays???)
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And that’s the set! I loved this whole color palette, and I’m sure it’s mainly because I just love that whole aesthetic overall. I want moody, I want vampy, I want to feel angsty as the weather cools down, and this has that covered. Overall, the formulas are great, they were opaque in 2 coats and so easy to control and paint onto the nails. I have no complaints!
Have you tried Holo Taco? Are you picking any of these up?
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Essie Punk at Heart Fall 2024 • ILNP Campground collection • ILNP Vineyard collection • OPI Infinite Shine Metallic Mega Mix Fall 2024 • Orly Breathable Loose Threads Fall/Winter 2024
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