Hella Handmade Creations: August 2026

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Welcome back! Today I am sharing a closer look at some gorgeous new indie nail polish and beauty launches contributing to this month's Hella Handmade Creations shop. The pre-order window is right around the corner on the 14th, and I have a great mix of items to show you. We are looking at stunning new swatches featuring everything from shifty multichrome nail polish shades to Lavish body care.

Remember that HHC operates as a limited sale period, meaning once the shop closes on the 22nd, these items are gone unless they make a future appearance in an encore event.

Let's dive right into the swatches and scent breakdowns so you can finalize your wish list before the countdown begins.




This Wine Is AWFUL! Get Me Another Glass - Black to red multichrome with a kiss of holo pigment




We All Float Down Here - Blue(more blurple) to black multichrome with scattered holo microflakes




The Ancient Ritual Persists - buildable periwinkle base that shifts from blue to violet with silver magnetic pull




Dead Gorgeous is described as a wine base with purple to red to gold multichrome shimmer and reflective glitter.




Schmidt Happens is described as a magenta base with a subtle pink to red to gold multichrome shimmer.




Sunset Sorcery - A solar polish that is a bright marigold yellow indoors and raspberry outside, with transition shades in orange tones. A pink/peach/golden shimmer runs throughout with UCC flakies and ghost flakies. Cap: 150.




Vibrant Vows - A royal navy base with indigo undertones paired with an intense shimmer ranging through purple, pink, and red. (Side note - may stain). Cap: 300.




Lavish BOUQUET TOSS - A bold, modern floral with glowing petals & catching neon light after dark. Anjou pear, lychee nectar and juicy citrus, pink petals mingle with sweet vanilla blossom, bottom notes of sugared praline, sandalwood and coral musk.




Tincture Duo:
BOUQUET TOSS - A bold, modern floral with glowing petals & catching neon light after dark. Anjou pear, lychee nectar and juicy citrus, pink petals mingle with sweet vanilla blossom, bottom notes of sugared praline, sandalwood and coral musk.
CATCH THE BOUQUET - A vibrant blend of red currant and Mediterranean bergamot layered with rose petals and jasmine, softened by sweet amber, lush musk, and a touch of vanilla sugar.




All of my swatches are shown in two thick coats with topcoat and had no formula issues unless otherwise stated. All photography uses a neutral color temperature bulb with white bounce card. My nails are natural with no enhancements and no blurring/cream base, I have a fairly prominent VNL.

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What I Wore to PBE 2026: A Magnetic Jelly Sandwich

Each year as I prepare for the Polish & Beauty Expo, what mani I will wear is at the top of my mind. And every year, there are so many more gorgeous polishes to choose from that I've swatched and bought. Last year at PBE, I met a group of folks who invited to join a discord channel. What better place to look for inspiration for this year's mani!? So, I joined the Reddit Laquerists discord and as I was perusing the LynB channel, I saw a swatch that stopped me in my tracks. It was a video clip posted by a member called hunky who credits Doesn't Know Mauve with the combo idea.

They both used Scorchy, which I bought some time ago and haven't used yet. And they both used a magenta jelly for the sandwich. hunky used LynB's Juice Box Hero, which I have from pr a while back, so the plan was set. I am doing this jelly sammich for PBE! And here it is!

To achieve the look, I used JBH first, then Scorchy velvet style, and then another layter of JBH and lastly topcoat. Big thank you to the laqueristas over at discord for the idea!

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Social media hides posts, but my RSS feed doesn't. Join my email list via Follow.it to get every new review delivered directly to you.

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If you enjoyed these swatches, please feel free to share this post with your favorite socials!

Polish & Beauty Expo 2026

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This year's Polish & Beauty Expo is happening soon!

When: July 18-19
Where: General Admission tickets are available now and at the door at Tinley Park Convention Center
What: Polish & Beauty Expo (PBE) is an annual US event that began in 2020. It aims to provide in-person connections for indie nail polish and beauty makers with customers and fans. Organized by the KBShimmer owner, Christy Rose and Sponsored by Glitter Unique. PBE is a showcase for nail polish and beauty vendors from across the world. The 2 day event offers shopping, learning, and the opportunity to connect with brands and other polish fans.

I have attended the event as Press for the past three years and I always have a blast!! I'm usually running a bit amok with snapping photos and taking video for the event. I'll be wearing my xoxojen.com T-shirts both days, and if you see me, please say hello, grab a selfie with me, and maybe a little freebie (quantities limited). I enjoy meeting others at these events and I would love to meet you!

Polish & Beauty Overview from their website:

Polish & Beauty Expo (PBE) is an annual shopping & education event that connects indie nail polish & beauty makers with customers and fans. Polish & Beauty Expo (PBE) is an annual shopping and education event that connects indie nail polish and beauty makers with customers and fans.
This two-day event starts with three ticketed events on Saturday: a hands-on nail polish making workshop, a stamping workshop, and a meet and greet cocktail party.
Saturday workshops provide an opportunity for you to make the polish of your dreams or learn how to stamp with an expert.
That evening, the meet and greet is your chance to interact with some of your favorite indie brands as well as connect with friends over food and drinks.
Sunday brings the main event: a day of shopping and tutorials. Shop with 30+ brands for your favorite products like nail polish, hand and cuticle care, soap and cosmetics, stamping and nail art supplies, jewelry, wax and home fragrance, and much more. Visit interactive tutorial tables to brush up on your skills or learn a new technique. PBE is the perfect event to discover the newest indie products, purchase event-exclusives, and connect with your favorite indie makers in beautiful Tinley Park, IL, a short drive from Chicago. Please visit the Polish & Beauty Expo website for complete event and vendor information. https://polishandbeautyexpo.com/


I am so excited for PBE 2026! I hope you are too! Please join the facebook group to see the photos I shared from last year and to stay informed! Don't miss out!

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