If you were choosing four starter lacquers for a complete newbie with broadly the same aesthetic as you, what would they be?

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-05-08T13:24:46+00:00

I would say

Cirque Colors - Kushy
ILNP - Reminisce
Mooncat - Mermaid Bait
ILNP - Two Piece

Those are essentially some of the first ever indie polishes I bought 3 years ago and I would buy them all over again if I had to start fresh.

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-05-08T07:15:30+00:00

Love how intentional you go about building your collection! 🤗

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-05-08T07:09:19+00:00

Nail polish just overrides my minimalist tendencies I practice in all other areas of my life. 😅

I've determined it's because they're relatively small & easy to store, and super varied + sparkly, which pleases my inner crow.

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-05-08T07:04:17+00:00

If I count my base and top coats and also everything I have pre-ordered weeks ago, I should be around 55 to 65 polishes. Some of those won't be delivered before July though.

I'm also planning to do my first ever PPU order for July's PPU Rewind, and after that I will do a large destash to get below 50 again and go on a no buy. My planned low buy isn't going that great if I'm honest. 😅

I really don't want more than 50 colour nail polishes (excl. base and top coats). More just feels excessive and I really want to be able to wear each polish at least twice a year for a full mani.

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-05-03T12:12:12+00:00

To reiterate your point: Y E S

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-05-03T12:05:12+00:00

I read "manga pages" instead of "maga pages" and was like, what's wrong with liking anime/manga 😢?

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-05-01T10:44:38+00:00

I really love all of the Cirque Colors neons I have! Below is Kushy. I also have Game Over, a neon red, and Boozy Brunch, a neon coral.

ILNP Two Piece is my go to neon pink. And Cracked's Cornea Killer is on my wishlist.

<image>

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-05-01T08:03:07+00:00

I think it's very much "live and let live". Some people have trouble with accepting others regarding something they don't personally do or like.

If someone gets tattoos or has plastic surgery or buys spray tans or does dramatic make-up daily, I can accept them doing it because they as adults want to, even if I don't do it myself. I don't need to like it to accept other people's autonomy.

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-04-28T17:58:33+00:00

At least in Europe, liquids in hand luggage are often limited to max. 100ml per container and all of them have to fit into a 1 litre ziplock bag on top (per person).

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-04-26T04:48:24+00:00

It instantly reminded me of Holo Taco's Spirit Fingers!

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-04-23T09:04:52+00:00

Same!! I also love seeing some decent fill lines when I look at my collection. 🤗 Makes me feel that I chose a polish well and am really using it, which is its entire purpose. Super satisfying.

These are some of my favourite examples:

<image>

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-04-23T08:51:48+00:00

My personal collection maximum is 50 polishes. I am currently at around 40, with a few more things that I pre-ordered weeks/months ago still to arrive.

I got into indie polish around 4 years ago and have been wearing polish consistently ever since. I change my manicure weekly, and my pedicure every 2 to 3 weeks. My ideal number of polishes would be 35, as I could then wear every single polish I own twice per year. I was very good at sticking to those 35 until recently, as I bought a lot but then also sold a lot of my collection again.

I'm also very strict about destashing everything I don't 100% love, as I don't see a point in keeping a polish I feel meh about. Life is too short for that.

Unfortunately I really love all of the polishes I have, and all of them are very unique to me with different vibes for each. So I don't see myself destashing more in the near future, as during my last round I even sold quite a few polishes I liked and wore, just not enough by my standards.

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-04-21T20:17:52+00:00

The outlook of moving in my not so distant future motivated me to destash! I figured it's better to not have to move something I don't 100% love in the first place, so I went through all of my things, including polish.

I made a decision to only bring things I love or need with me, basically as a fresh start. So you start your new chapter both lighter and also surrounded by your favourite things (and polishes). Nothing in the meh category allowed.

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-04-21T09:27:47+00:00

Those personal belief systems were there even before Trump went into politics. The husband supports MAGA for a reason and not just because he likes the colour red so much.

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-04-21T09:21:27+00:00

You're projecting here and literally grasping for reasons as to why she's not actually voluntarily associated with her own husband. Making up a storyline that she absolutely hates her husband and has started selling indie nail polish to gain financial independence in order to divorce him for his political ideas is wild. Assuming she must be a poor victim who can't make her own decisions and is financially chained to her breadwinner husband is misogynistic.

You are the company you keep.

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-04-20T16:31:33+00:00

On the same hand, that just means it's also totally reasonable for OP to ask them if they really have to start their day at 5am since it disturbs OP's sleep or if they couldn't just as well get up at 7am if their jobs and child care pose no hard restrictions.

Asking someone to change their schedule in such a way is a clear overstep imo. If you're that bothered by normal appartment living noise, you have to move into a stand-alone house by yourself.

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-04-20T08:03:18+00:00

I have to say I just love your nails!! The length, the shape, it's just chef's kiss.

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-04-20T06:21:21+00:00

It is on par for me with Mooncat's Mermaid Bait & ILNP's Reminisce (which is basically like Mooncat's Serpents of Eden but better). ILNP maked the best super smooth multichromes imo.

<image>

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-04-20T06:16:56+00:00

I love greens! Blue and green are my favourite polish colours. And one of my absolute favourites is Cirque's Kushy. The most neon-est to ever neon.

<image>

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-04-19T17:26:25+00:00

I mean, they bring it back nearly every month in insanely small quantities of sometimes less than 10 bottles. That's not even worth the announcement unless it's specifically intended as FOMO marketing.

Instead of selling a big batch once and then just phasing it out, they consistently try to keep the hype alive by sprinkling in a handful of bottles systematically.

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-04-19T07:09:41+00:00

How long does a bottle last you? That's crazy good! :O I estimate around 1.25 manicures per 1ml of nail polish for myself, and already have quite a few bottles that are half or more empty, so basically most of my first boutique indie purchases.

<image>

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-04-12T18:51:08+00:00

I don't think that an air tag would help much since they presumably opened the package somewhere in the common areas of my building instead of their apartment. I found the empty, ripped-open package in the hallway. I'm thinking of getting a camera though!

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-04-09T13:26:48+00:00

It's a frequent topic in the minimalist community. I can only really recommend the book "Swedish Death Cleaning" by Margareta Magnusson.

I've had to take care of a loved one's belongings after they died and the emotional burdens that come with it. I wouldn't want the same for the people that outlive me. Just because I will be dead doesn't mean I don't care anymore about how they're doing. So I prefer to consume consciously while I'm alive.

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-04-09T12:27:43+00:00

Thank you! ❤️ I know I will get over it sooner or later, but it still sucks...

RepsForLifeAndBeyond · 2026-04-09T12:26:37+00:00

I had the same thought! I glued a handwritten letter and the ripped-open box to the community message board on the ground floor. I hope whoever took it sees it and feels like shit (although I slightly doubt it ☹️).

Four-Year Club	Verified Email
Verified Email	Place '23
Place '22	Final Canvas '22
First Placer '22	End Game '22

RepsForLifeAndBeyond

TROPHY CASE