Review: Micro Crystals

If you been in the nail art world recently, you’ll have heard of Swarovski Crystal Pixie. It’s a product of tiny gems or Micro Crystals you can use to encrust your nails for some full on bling. This product is very similar to that, but without the same high price tag. Born Pretty Store markets them as 1.2mm Zircon Micro Rhinestones. You get 300 in a pot for $1.99 and there are four colours available. 

Micro Crystals pot macro

I think I was expecting a fuller pot than I received. Looking at it, I’m sure that there are 300 crystals inside, but they are so tiny it looks like you aren’t getting many at first glance.

I used them on a new polish from FUN Lacquer, made in collaboration with Simply Nailogical.

Micro Crystals left hand

Polishes and tools

FUN Lacquer How Deep Is Your Holo?
Born Pretty Store 1.2mm Zircon Micro Rhinestones
Crystal Ninja Täntō
Orangewood stick

I’ll tell you a bit about the polish first. It’s a bright royal blue holographic glitter in a clear base. It has definitely got a bit of green in there too so you get turquoise flashes.

Since it’s in a clear base, it took me three to four coats to make it opaque. I struggled to cover the tips of my nails, so you might want to start with a matching base coat first. That will also cut down on the coats of glitter needed.

Rather than a traditional clean up brush I used a damp orangewood stick to move or remove any errant glitter. I find it works better for these types of glitter polishes in a clear base.

How Deep Is Your Holo FUN Lacquer macro

Application

Next, I used my new tool Täntō to place the crystals.  It has a wax tip (and comes with five replacements) to easily pick up and place the crystals.  It makes the whole process incredibly easy and I didn’t drop a single one (I am very clumsy, so trust me, this is a big achievement).  I set the crystals in top coat and was trying to achieve a gradient to the tip.

Micro Crystals macro

I used about 25 crystals per nail. For a completely embellished look, you might need 40. You could probably get a full ten nails from one pot, depending on how long your nails are.

I am a bit sad they don’t show in the wider photos as well as I can see them in person – you get all the flashes of different colours.  Because they are clear, you see the base colour of the polish through them and they get a little lost.

Micro Crystals right hand

Micro Crystals

I really like these crystals but I wish there was a wider colour range. Maybe a jet black iridescent would be lovely!  At the moment you can get them in clear, clear iridescent, orange, and pink. Even the coloured ones are semi-transparent.

With the right tool you can apply them very easily, but there aren’t really enough  crystals in there to press your wet nail into the pot. As a result, I think I’d just damage the base polish.

I was so impressed with their longevity though. If you are trying to recreate a Crystal Pixie look at a fraction of the price, these are for you.

Disclaimer: I was sent this complimentary product for my honest review.