Review | Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Across the Universe

Part of the beauty bounty that my beauty pal Iris had given to me, this incredibly stunning nail polish captured my heart with its inky blackened blue base and its reflective hexagonal (!) teal glitter flakes. I absolutely love the complementary interplay of blue, green and teal! ♥

So unique and much sought-after is this nail colour that it has been sold out on the Deborah Lippmann website for quite a while.

Besides the beautiful hues, I love:

Its texture and appearance – Though it reminds me of NfuOh 52, the latter has irregular flakes and is somewhat sheer on its own. The hexagonal glitter pieces of Across the Universe are uniform and its smooth base is almost gel-like, yet just one layer has moderate opacity – I only need two to three coats to get the level of opacity you see in the first photo.

Its shine and sparkle – I have a topcoat on my nail in the photo but this polish has a glossy finish of its own. As you might expect too, the glitter sequins not only impart a brilliant twinkly effect under the light, they also add a multi-dimensional quality to the polish.

Its long-lasting wear – At one point, I was able to keep this on my nails for a few days sans topcoat – quite a feat, considering I do plenty with my hands, especially laundering and dish-washing.

Its name – Across the Universe by The Beatles is one of my favourite songs because of its poetic lyrics:

Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my open mind
Possessing and caressing me

Refrain:

Jai guru de va om
Nothing’s gonna change my world,
Nothing’s gonna change my world.

Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes
That call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box they
Tumble blindly as they make their way
Across the universe

Sounds of laughter shades of earth are ringing
Through my open views inviting and inciting me
Limitless undying love which shines around me like a
Million suns, it calls me on and on
Across the universe

I’m not fond of the mantra part of the refrain, though – too much transcendental meditation mumbo-jumbo for me there. :P

This polish takes a while to dry (hence I love a quick-dry shiny topcoat over it) and to clean off (those sexy hexagons are quite tenacious) but this nail gem is worth a little time and effort!

Image source: Deborah Lippmann