Hella Handmade Creations: January 2026

PR Sample

Welcome back to the blog! Today I have a stunning selection of swatches to share, featuring several different indie brands available right now through Hella Handmade Creations (HHC). If you aren't familiar with HHC, it’s a monthly shopping event where indie makers create unique products inspired by a theme of their choice.

The shop is currently open and stays live through January 21, so you have plenty of time to grab these beauties along with hundreds of other polishes, top coats, and other products from a variety of makers. It is truly a "one-stop shop" for indie lovers! In this month's lineup, I’m sharing some incredible finishes, from the glowing depth of Victorian Varnish to the flakie-filled goodness of Hula Moon. Let’s dive into the swatches and see what you need to add to your cart this month!




What Else Can We Pile On Here?! - has a gold jelly base filled with gold flakies, holo flakies, and pink to gold shimmer.




Beepy Slean - has a buildable green jelly base with silver microflakes and pink to gold to green shifting flakies.




Sunken Treasure - has a blackened wine base glimmers with flashes of blue and purple multichrome.




Living Work of Art - has a deep blue jelly base with an intense green/aqua/blue aurora shimmer with silver reflective glitters.




Mountain Tea Lavish Hand and Cuticle Cream - Brisk bergamot and mandarin pour over green tea for an alpine rush. A crystalline heart of jasmine and rose with black currant settles into clean musk and sandalwood brushed with moss.




Tincture Acetone Additive Duo

Mountain Tea - Brisk bergamot and mandarin pour over green tea for an alpine rush. A crystalline heart of jasmine and rose with black currant settles into clean musk and sandalwood brushed with moss.

Suede & Smoke - A spark of ginger zest opens the scent, sharp, clean, and quietly daring. At its heart, warm amber and supple leather mingle with the subtle spice of clove buds, creating a rich, textured warmth. The base smolders with smoked cedar, guaiacwood, and earthy patchouli, leaving behind a scent trail that’s deep, smoky, and undeniably refined.




That wraps up my look at these gorgeous HHC offerings! Whether you are hunting for a shifting multichrome, a "flakie bomb" jelly, or some high-quality hand care to get you through the winter, this month’s selection really has something for everyone.

Remember, the Hella Handmade Creations shop is only open until January 21, so make sure to get your orders in before the window closes. With hundreds of items to browse from so many incredible makers, it’s the perfect time to treat yourself to something special.

Which of these is calling your name this month? Let me know in the comments below!


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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Colors By Llarowe August Polish Pick Up

Press Sample

Colors by Llarowe joins August 3rd Polish Pick Up with a beautiful vamped up shade of black!

I Dreamed a Dream was inspired by Les Miserables. It is a black based multi chrome holo with strong red shimmer, Aurora red to green to gold pigment and gold shimmer. Formula was good, 2 coats shown.








Also at Indie Pick Up for August 17-20 Colors by Llarowe will offer Nail & Cuticle Butter inspired by Grease. It is called Greased Lightning and is a mint chocolate fragrance.

To my nose, this smells like cocoa butter and mint, love the fragrance. It moisturizes really well, as shown in the photos. Jas used this on a sore muscle he had because of the mint in it, and it relieved some of the pain.




What will you be getting at the Polish Pick Up and the Indie Pick Up?

kbshimmer: hand, body and cuticle creams

Press Sample

kbshimmer's logo refresh along with these beautiful new scents has me like woah! Even the little dots are color coordinated holo to match the scent, simply magical!



Tide Me Over
Waves crashing against the shore, a glass of fresh coconut water and sandals lay next to the hammock where relaxation and daydreaming are the norm. Tide Me Over invokes the feel of those shore side days, starting with notes of fresh coconut. Then creamy shea butter softens this blend along with notes of sensual sandalwood and sea salt. (tinted light blue)

On my skin: Coconut is predominant in this blend, the sandalwood elevates it to a more realistic coconut beach scent (no plastic here). Sea salt in fragrance is usually a light fresh/clean scent, in this is it subtle and blends very nicely.

A creamy, thick, moisturizing lotion to keep skin soft and supple even in the harshest of climates. The non-greasy formula absorbs fairly quick and doesn't leave a shine after fully absorbed. It's also vegan - enriched with jojoba oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, and olive oil. My skin felt smooth and almost silky feeling after application. With continued use, I've noticed improved overall softness as well. :)



The diptych below shows Tide Me Over on the back of my swatching hand as I apply the lotion. Hopefully the thickness/consistency shows in the photos, the lotion definitely stays put before being massaged in.



I also tried a few new scents in the Picture Perfect Matte Cuticle Cream. I have almost exclusively used this to shoot photos since the logo refresh, if you want to look back at some image examples.

Picture Perfect Cuticle Cream is enriched with jojoba oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, and olive oil. When applied it soaks in and leaves behind a silky matte finish for immediate photo taking and shareing of freshly manicured nails. Not only is it a great moisturizer and perfectly purse sized, this cream is also a time saver for those that swatch and take photos back to back.

Blushed Orchid
That first flower plucked from the garden, that prom corsage nervously pinned on, those lush orchids blooming in windowsills with shades of peach, pink, purple and white. Blushed Orchid is the ideal floral scent for those that want a hint of freshness and nature, without smelling like a nursery. Sweet orchid notes lift this dainty scent up, while hints of pear nectar perfectly blend with sandalwood and soft amber for a sensual scent that anyone would love.

On my skin: Definitely floral but not overbearingly heady, a bit powdery and soft. Feminine, reminds me of springtime bouquets and oddly, white chocolate.



Just Beachy
Fresh from the market, juicy watermelon, sticky cantaloupe, and pure sugarcane blend in this beachy scent. With its fruity sweet succulent notes, Just Beachy is the perfect blend of frozen drink and tropical island with blooms of lilies and orchids, salty ocean breezes and pure white sand rounding out this breezy luscious scent.

On my skin: Definitely fruity, but there's a note in this that I'm not fond of (personal preference). My guess is the lillies or white sand note; but it must be a top note because after I've worn it for a bit I no longer detect it quite as much. I definitely get the melon and a strong floral.



You can get your Picture Perfect Matte Cuticle Cream, Hand and Body lotion and #ALLTHENAILPOLISH over at kbshimmer.com. If you have not visited the website after the logo refresh, you definitely should! The new theme and look are fabulous.