This “Velvet Manicure - Berry Poncho” kit includes a full size Ciate nail polish in “Cabaret” that you first paint your nails with, as well as a container of crushed velvet powder that you sprinkle & tap onto your wet nails and the last step is to sweep off the excess crushed velvet from the nails using the included little black brush. I have tried many of these Ciate nail kits & I usually love them, however this one was not one of my faves because the crushed velvety powder feels strange on my nails & doesn’t look particularly attractive, in my opinion. [product:ciate-london-velvet-manicure]

I really enjoy these kits. They came out years ago, right on trend when nail art was just starting to pop. The kit includes the polish and a pot of velvety fluff to pack on your nail and is super easy to use. First paint all your nails and let dry. Then paint one nail, sprinkle on your velvet fluff and make sure to gently press to cover the whole nail or you can dip your nail into the pot of velvet fluffies but make sure you don’t hit your nail. You can’t press too hard on the fluff or it’ll smear the polish underneath. Also make sure the fluff covers your nail the first time around because it’s impossible to add more fluff on any bald spots and have it blended in and look good. Don’t add topcoat, it ruins the whole purpose of the fluff.  The fluff feels and looks SO COOL on your nails! I had so many compliments and questions from friends and strangers. The odd thing is the fluff gets and stays wet and feels so strange! But it dries just fine. I don’t remember where I got this kit but I know it was between 2009-‘14 and it was around $10.

The polish alone was gorgeous. Color payoff was achieved in 2 thin coats. What I didn’t like however, was the velvet “fluff” (for lack of a better word). It was hard to manipulate onto the nail, and it did not like to stay. If you try to clear coat over it- it ruins the effect, so you’re stuck with it schluffing off within the first couple hours of wear....