1. How did you first get into making polish?
Prepare yourself for the ultimate nerd answer: I first got into making polish because I was searching for the perfect color to do a blood smear inspired mani to impress my professors in Hematology lab. Yepp, that's right. Blood smear inspired nail polish.
2. What was the inspiration for the name "ICE POLISH"?
When I was little, my sister, our friend Izzy, and I would hang out a lot and play video games and run around outside, you know, kid stuff. Well, save files on those video games way back in the day would only let us have like 5 letters for the name, so we just took all of our initials, I for Izzy, C for Carly, and E for Erin. Smoosh that together, and you get ICE. So the name is really an acronym, but it is also fitting that I live in the frozen tundra of Minnesota!
3. What inspires your collections (or where do you look for inspiration)? What inspired your latest collection? Any hints/ideas about upcoming collections?
Since I just opened my shop, I only have 2 collections so far. One is based on a lot of the Spring/Summer flowers in the garden my aunt and grandmas always had when I was younger, and the other is a collection of all the polishes I have made for friends since I started making nail polish! I even let my friends name them, so some of the names are pretty goofy. As for upcoming collections, obviously I am going to be doing that blood smear collection that started it all! I also have a duo inspired by my guinea pigs and some great Fall collection polishes coming soon!
4. Do you have a favorite indie maker(s)? Favorite mainstream brand?
Favorite indie makers? Uhh how about all of them? Haha but seriously, I would have to pick Two Gypsies Nail Lacquer, Emerald & Ash, and Emily de Molly. Michelle of Two Gypsies has been so helpful to me with all my stupid questions, plus her new Spring collection is seriously to die for. And I would give up my right arm if it meant I could have all the Emily de Mollys. I'm a big fan of glitter jellies!
As for mainstreams, I'm a bit obsessed with OPI at the moment. I just love their brush so much! I have long nails, and their brush is the only one that can hold enough polish to paint an entire nail without having to redip #firstworldlacqueristaproblem?
5. What are your go-to products for nail/cuticle care?
I'm a bit of a cuticle oil addict, and by a bit of an addict, I mean I have a real problem! Emerald & Ash makes THE BEST cuticle oil. So many scents! My personal favorites are Lily of the Valley and Apple Orchard, but a lot of my friends love the Chai Tea and Pumpkin Apple Butter. Two Gypsies also has some new cuticle balms that are AMAZING!
6. What are your favorite colors? In general? For summer? For fall?
Anything purple, brown, or nude is usually my favorite. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am a purple fanatic. I swear half of my (not so small) collection is just purple and brown. For summer, I tend to gravitate towards brighter colors (But still purple! Don't worry!) and holos. The sun is just killer with those holos. Fall is my wheelhouse with all those dark, vampy colors. Gotta love those plums, maroons, and reds
7. This may be hard--but which are your 3 favorite creations so far?
My first love affair was with Pansies Are a Girl's Best Friend. I just love the berry-purple jelly base, and when you get in the sun, BOOM! The garnet microglitter/shimmer just hits you in the face.
I am also totally and completely in love with Barbie Had a Rough Night. I can't really explain my love affair with her, but it's there and undeniable. And I'm not even a huge fan of pink!
For my third choice, I would have to choose Laven Luxurious...Like Livin Luxurious, But Not, which I actually made for my sister! Her and her boyfriend wanted me to name it that, so I made it work!
I also have a bunch (12!) of new ones for summer that I absolutely love!
8. Do you have any other hobbies?
Does studying count? Because it seems like that's basically all I do. But for realsies, my main hobbies are nail polish, volleyball, and crocheting, so I guess you could say that I have a very exciting life.
9. What is your most favorite thing about being a new indie maker? What are some of the challenges? What advice would you give to people considering starting their own brand? Overall, are you happy with your decision to get into the indie polish world?
I love coming up with my own creations! I also am loving the fact that I can whip up a polish that matches my outfit perfectly. Need a red-orange to match that sundress? No problem! I can do that in a half hour! (Recreating it is the real problem...)
As for advice, I would definitely say TEST EVERYTHING! And even once you start selling, keep that original test bottle just in case after a year, that one glitter decides to curl, or the pigment decides to separate from the base. Some more advice would be that it can get very expensive, so don't start getting into it unless you can fork out the money!
Overall, I am so excited to be a part of the indie polish community! I have been working towards opening my own shop since December, and experimenting for about a month before that. It definitely takes a lot of work and a lot of time, but I feel that, so far, it has been worth it. As long as I'm happy and having fun with making polish, I will keep doing it!
10. Fun facts :
Astrological sign : Sagittarius
Favorite comfort food : Does Noodles & Co. count? If not, the inner Wisconsinite in me is saying fresh beer brats from Usinger's. They are seriously the best brats ever!
Favorite beauty item besides polish : Lipstick! And eyeshadow! I am seriously addicted to Bite Beauty Lip Pencils (Rhubarb is my personal favorite!)
Favorite fragrance : Not really a fragrance, per se, but I love the smell of fall. I don't know how to explain it, but in September, you can just smell fall coming.
Favorite vacation destination : That's a tough one. I absolutely love Germany. I've been there twice and would love to go back sometime soon! But I also recently went to Rome and that was truly amazing and beautiful. I could also go for camping in Yellowstone or the Appalachians. As long as there's no bears!
Favorite candy : Really anything but chocolate
Favorite celebrity : I don't really have one.
Favorite family member or friend (you can pick one of each) : That's so mean! I can't choose! (It's my dad and my boyfriend, Nic, but shhh...don't tell the others ;) )
Most recent read : Pretty sure it was Diagnostic Microbiology or Modern Blood Banking and Transfusion Practices ;) I haven't read for fun in like 2 years! (Double majoring in college has me busy!) But I think the last book I read for fun was 1984 by George Orwell.
Most recent movie you loved : The Book Thief. Sad as hell, but so good! My grandma got me the book for Christmas a few years ago, so we went to the movie together. And I cried. So. Hard.
Favorite TV show and character : Hands down, Crowley from Supernatural
If you won a million dollars, first thing you would buy is : I would buy a house in the woods and a lot of land and some dirt bikes and ATVs. I would probably never leave!
Stay tuned for my review of SIX of her polishes--wait til to see some of these GORGEOUS polishes! In the meantime, you can check out her shop HERE!
As always, I'm thrilled to hear from you, so don't hesitate to leave me your thoughts in the comments section below!
Until next time,
<3
B
I love these interviews! Erin seems so awesome!
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