IndieSwatch 2021 Bests Announced!

Indie Lovers!

We are pleased to announced the winners and runner ups.  If a particular category has had the same winner in 1st place for 3 years in a row, the polish or brand will go into the Hall of Fame.  It will be added to the Hall of Fame tab and will be taken out of future voting for that category.  

We have 5 new Hall of Fame entries.  We see some new brands dominating the categories.  

Reflecting on 2021, we as a community saw new brands arrive, old brands bid farewell, and an increase in diversity as well as brands/groups using inclusive language.  We applaud brands that embrace diversity and we encourage collaborations to set expectations for participation as well as vet the brands that want to join to see if their own shop sites demonstrate a commitment to diversity.  Thank you to the brands that make everyone feel welcome.

We plan on retiring solar, wax, and mani bomb, and potentially scented top coat unless we see an increase in requests.  Next year we will add in glitter smoothing top coat and reflective glitter.  Please let us know if you have any feedback.

*UPDATED Feb 4, 2022 Apologies - noticed that scented top coat winner was supposed to be in the Hall of Fame from last year.  

Be sure to check out the adorable badges at the bottom that CDB Nails created for us!

And now let's get to the results!

Best Overall Indie Brand
1st:  Bee's Knees Lacquer

2nd:  Wildflower Lacquer
3rd: Polished For Days 

Biggest Indie Brand Loss
1st:  Enchanted Polish
2nd:  Tonic Polish (queue "we were on a break!" line)
3rd:  Super Natural Lacquer

Best Indie Brand New Comer
1st:  Geeky Bee's Nails
2nd: Familiar Polish
3rd:  Krisable Designs

Best Non-US Based Indie Brand
1st:  Cadillacquer
2nd: Polish Molish
3rd:  Girly Bits Cosmetics

Best BIPOC Brand
1st:  Red Eyed Lacquer
2nd: Dimension Nails
3rd:  Leesha's Lacquer

Best Brand That Deserves More Love/Under Appreciated
1st:  Swamp Gloss
2nd: Alchemy Lacquers
3rd:  Red Eyed Lacquer

Best Base Coat
1st:  Cuticula - Mic Drop
2nd:  Anchor and Heart Lacquer - Mermaid Tears

3rd:  Vibrant Vinyls - Double Bond

Peel Off Base Coat
1st:  Hit The Bottle - Keepin' It Peel (2nd year at 1st)
2nd:  Vapid Lacquer - Commitment Issues
3rd:  Black Dahlia Lacquer - Long Wear Peel Off Base Coat

Best Glossy Top Coat
1st:  Vibrant Vinyls - Fast and Hard (2nd year at 1st)
2nd:  Cuticula - Limitless Top Coat
3rd:  KBShimmer - Clearly On Top

Best Brand for Scented Top Coat
1st:  Vibrant Vinyls
2nd:  Anchor and Heart
3rd:  Purple Willow Apothecary

May end up retiring this category as the brand pool is small.

Best Matte Top Coat
1st:  Cuticula - Cloud Cover

2nd:  Glisten and Glow - Matte Top Coat
3rd:  Anchor and Heart - Sea Glass

Best Holo Top Coat
1st:  KBShimmer - A Star Is Formed
2nd:  Fancy Gloss - Magnetic Holo Topper
3rd:  Cirque Colors - We Trippy

Best Indie Brand for Latex Nail Barrier
1st:  Glisten and Glow - CTRL-ALT-DEL Latex Barrier
2nd: Ribbits Stickits - Un-froggetable Cuticle Cover
3rd:  Lantern and Wren - Mani Defender

Best Indie Brand for Cuticle Oil
1st:  Different Dimension - Cuticle Oil
2nd:  Matterhorn - Beard, Hair, and Cuticle Oil
3rd:  NBM - Cuticle Buddy®

Best Indie Brand for Cuticle Balm
1st:  Bee's Knees Lacquer - Cuticle Butter
2nd: Red Eyed Lacquer - Da Balm-er
3rd:  Unicorn Magic Skincare - Deluxe Cuticle Balm

Best Indie Brand for Lotion
1st:  Heather's Hues - WiTS (What Is This Sorcery?)
2nd:  Bee's Knees Lacquer - Aloe Lotion
3rd:  Unicorn Magic Skincare - Deluxe Triple Butter Hand Lotion

Best Indie Brand for Mani Bombs
Retiring Category

Best Summer Collection
1st: KB Shimmer - RV There Yet
2nd: Polish For Days - Wonderful World of Color
3rd: Cirque Colors - Vice 2021 Collection

Best Spring Collection
1st:  Bee's Knees Lacquer - Fever Series
2nd: KBShimmer - Enchanted Forest
3rd: Wildflower Lacquer - Candied Koi

Best Fall Collection
1st: Bee's Knees Lacquer - Red Tide
2nd: Polished For Days - Autumn Leaves
3rd: Bluebird Lacquer - Fall Feathered Friends

Best Winter Collection
1st: KBShimmer - In Good Spirits
2nd: Polished For Days - Snow Days
3rd: Cuticula Nail Lacquer - Flakie Wonderland

Best Holiday Collection
1st: Bee's Knees Lacquer - Buzzmas
2nd: Wildflower Lacquer - Tangled Tinsel Bags
3rd: Polished For Days - Nightmare Trio Part 2

Best Overall Collection
1st: Bee's Knees Lacquer - AHS Red Tide
2nd: Polished For Days - Wonderful World of Color
3rd: Bee's Knees Lacquer - Fever Series

Best Collaboration Box
1st:  Hella Handmade Creations (2nd year at 1st)
2nd: Polished Gamers Box
3rd:  For the Love of Polish Box

Best Advent Calendar
1st: Sparkle and Shine (Nailed It! Polish and Wildflower Lacquer)

2nd: Bluebird Lacquer *TIE*

2nd: Cadillacquer *TIE*
3rd: Lantern and Wren

Best Brand for Holographic Polish
1st:  KBShimmer
2nd: Bluebird Lacquer
3rd:  Bee's Knees Lacquer

Best Brand for Glitter Toppers
1st:  Fancy Gloss (2nd year at 1st)
2nd:  Colores de Carol
3rd:  By Dany Vianna Artisan Nail Polish

Best Brand for Glitter Bombs
1st:  KBShimmer (2nd year at 1st)
2nd:  Bee's Knees Lacquer
3rd:  Different Dimension Polish

Best Brand for Glitter Crellies
1st:  Cadillacquer
2nd:  Painted Polish
3rd:  Glam Polish

Best Brand for Flakie Crellies
1st:  Polished For Days
2nd:  Bee's Knee's Lacquer
3rd:  Rogue Lacquer

Best Brand for Cremes
1st:  Night Owl Lacquer (2nd year at 1st)
2nd:  Fancy Gloss
3rd:  Kathleen and Co

Best Brand for Multichromes
1st:  Bee's Knees Lacquer

2nd: ILNP
3rd:  KBShimmer *TIE*

3rd:  Wildflower Lacquer *TIE*

Best Brand for Unicorn Pee Polishes
1st:  Bee's Knees Lacquer (Welcome to the Hall of Fame!)
2nd: Tonic Polish
3rd:  The Don Deeva

Best Brand for Thermal Polishes
1st:  Cadillacquer
2nd: Swamp Gloss
3rd:  Sassy Sauce Polish

Best Brand for Shimmer Polishes
1st:  Bees Knees Lacquer
2nd: Wildflower Lacquer
3rd: Ethereal Lacquer

Best Brand for Flakies
1st:  Polished For Days (Welcome to the Hall of Fame!)
2nd:  Nailed It! Nail Polish
3rd:  Bee's Knees Lacquer

Best Brand for Magnetic Polishes
1st:  Esmaltes da Kelly/Phoenix Indie Polish
2nd:  Bee's Knees Lacquer
3rd:  DRK Nails

Best Brand for Stamping Polishes
1st:  Hit The Bottle  (Welcome to the Hall of Fame!)
2nd:  Whats Up Nails

3rd:  Painted Polish

Best Brand for Customs
1st:  Wildflower Lacquer (2nd year at 1st)
2nd: Swamp Gloss
3rd:  Red Eyed Lacquer

Best Thermal Polish
1st:  Cadillacquer - Rainy Zurich
2nd: Cirque Colors - Witching Hour
3rd: Fancy Gloss - Baddest Witch

Best Glow In The Dark Polish
1st:  Rogue Lacquer - Here For The Boos
2nd: Different Dimension Polish - Everybody's Hands Go Up
3rd:  Bee's Knees Lacquer - Nimroot

Best Holographic Polish
1st:  Bluebird Lacquer - The Ryan King (2nd year at 1st)
2nd: Wildflower Lacquer - Geralt Can Have All My Coins
3rd: KBShimmer - Coast Through Life

Best Jelly Based Polish
1st:  Polished For Days - Under The Sea
2nd: Cirque Colors - Marsala Jelly
3rd: All Mixed Up Lacquers - Strawberry Margarita

Best Glitter Topper
1st: By Dany Vianna Artison Nail Polish - Golden Star
2nd: Painted Polish - Glamour
3rd: Familiar Polish - Bespeckled

Best Creme Polish
1st: Bee's Knees Lacquer - Void
2nd: KBShimmer - Happy Camper
3rd: Starrily - Vantablack

Best Overall Multichrome
1st: ILNP - Eclipse (2nd year at 1st)
2nd: Wildflower Lacquer - Tonight We Fly
3rd: KBShimmer - Hidden Potential

Best Glitter Crelly
1st: Painted Polish - Rainbow Road
2nd: Cadillacquer - The Lucky One
3rd: Glam Polish - Get In Loser, We're Going Shopping

Best Glitter Bomb
1st: Bee's Knees Lacquer - Patty O'Furniture 
2nd: By Dany Vianna Artisan Nail Polish - Starry Night
3rd: Painted Polish - Pardon My French Roast 

Best Shimmer Polish
1st: Bee's Knees Lacquer - Doomicorn
2nd: Glam Polish - Get In Loser, We're Going Shopping
3rd: Wildflower Lacquer - Butterbean

Best Flakie Polish
1st: Polished For Days - Under The Sea
2nd: Bee's Knees Lacquer - Patty O'Furniture 
3rd: Polished For Days - Jack O'Lantern

Best Unicorn Pee (2nd year in a row where Bee's Knees Lacquer has swept this category!)
1st: Bees' Knees Lacquer - The Unseelie King
2nd: Bee's Knees Lacquer - When All Is Blood
3rd: Bee's Knees Lacquer - Crimson Hag

Best Magnetic Polish
1st: Esmaltes Da Kelly/Phoenix Indie Polish - Mahalo
2nd: Cirque Colors - Dream Within A Dream
3rd: Fancy Gloss - Magnetic Holo Top Coat

Best Solar Polish
Retiring Category until there is more interest

Best Black Polish
1st: Bee's Knees Lacquer - Void
2nd: Starrily - Vantablack
3rd: Vapid Lacquer - Pessimist

Best White Polish
1st: Dimension Nails - Coconut Milk
2nd: Stella Chroma - Coconut Cream
3rd: Vapid Lacquer - Optimist

Best Gray/Grey Polish
1st: Bee's Knees Lacquer - I Will Devour All Of You
2nd: Bee's Knees Lacquer - Guillermo Buillermo
3rd: Polished For Days - Equinox

Best Brown Polish
1st: Wildflower Lacquer - Little Creatures
2nd: Night Owl Lacquer - Gone Squatchin'
3rd: Painted Polish - Expresso Yourself

Best Red Polish
1st: Wildflower Lacquer - Slug Bug
2nd: Bee's Knees Lacquer - When All Is Blood
3rd: Colores de Carol - Slappy's Tie

Best Pink Polish
1st: Bee's Knees Lacquer - The Blood Right
2nd: Cupcake Polish - The Biles
3rd: Ethereal Lacquer - Blossom

Best Orange Polish
1st: Polished For Days - Jack O'Lantern
2nd: Bee's Knees Lacquer - Lightsinger
3rd: Polished For Days - Persimmon

Best Yellow Polish
1st: Wildflower Lacquer - Sun Chaser (2nd year at 1st)
2nd:  Cirque Colors - Hedonist
3rd: Nailed It! Nail Polish - My Main Squeeze

Best Green Polish
1st: Bluebird Lacquer - The Ryan King (2nd year at 1st)
2nd: Bee's Knees Lacquer - Lady of Storms
3rd: Pahlish - Toxic Jungle

Best Blue Polish
1st: Polished For Days - Hitchhiking Ghosts (2nd year at 1st)
2nd: Bee's Knees Lacquer - One Human Alcohol Beer Please
3rd: Polished For Days - Under The Sea

Best Purple Polish
1st: Penelope Luz - Game Room
2nd: Bluebird Lacquer - Two Peas in a Podcast
3rd: Polish Molish - Dream

Best Gold Polish
1st: Rogue Lacquer - Sunshine, Daisies, Butter Mellow
2nd: ILNP - Sun Glow
3rd: Ethereal Lacquer - Melisseus

Best Silver Polish
1st: Bee's Knees Lacquer - Keep Reaching Out Your Hand

2nd: Rogue Lacquer - Shattered Pumpkins
3rd: Ethereal Lacquer - Prism 

Best Indie Brand for Stamping Plates
1st:  Whats Up Nails
2nd: Lantern and Wren
3rd:  Apipila

Best Indie Brand for Vinyls
1st:  Whats Up Nails (Welcome to the Hall of Fame!)
2nd: Ribbits Stickits

3rd: Vibrant Vinyls

Best Indie Brand for Decals
1st:  Ribbits Stickits (2nd year at 1st)
2nd: Whats Up Nails
3rd:  Fangirl Ltd

Best Indie Stockist
1st:  Lantern and Wren (Welcome to the Hall of Fame!)
2nd: Whats Up Nails
3rd:  Rainbow Connection

Best Indie Brand for Non-Polish Products
1st:  KBShimmer - Sugar Scrub (2nd year at 1st)
2nd: Cuticula Nail Lacquer - Confection
3rd:  Unicorn Magic Skincare - Deluxe Triple Butter Hand Lotion

Best Customer Service
1st:  Bee's Knees Lacquer (2nd year at 1st)
2nd: Wildflower Lacquer
3rd:  Lantern and Wren

Best Turn Around Time
1st:  Bee's Knees Lacquer
2nd: Lantern and Wren
3rd:  Glam Polish

Best Interaction With a Brand
1st:  Bee's Knees Lacquer

2nd: Wildflower Lacquer
3rd:  Red Eyed Lacquer

Best Brand Fan Facebook Group
1st:  Bee's Knees Buzz - Bee's Knees Lacquer
2nd: Wildflower Lacquer - Wild For Wildflower
3rd:  Swamp Gloss Critters - Swamp Gloss

Best Non-Brand Facebook Group 
1st: Hella Handmade Creations (2nd year at 1st)
2nd: Polished Gamers
3rd: Polished POC

Best Indie Brand for Wax
Retiring category to focus on hand/nail products.  We all still love wax, so this was hard.

Best Brand For Naming Polishes
1st:  Bee's Knees Lacquer
2nd: Wildflower Lacquer
3rd:  Bluebird Lacquer

Best Event
1st: Bees's Knees Buzzmas
2nd: Polish and Beauty Expo
3rd: Battle of the Bottles

Best Thing That Happened This Year
1st: Increased swatcher diversity and skin tones being represented (overwhelming winner)
2nd: Reflective Glitter
3rd: Creation of the BIPOC Swatcher Connection Facebook group to connect makers with BIPOC swatchers

Best Brand to Personify Giving Back

1st: Bee's Knees Lacquer
2nd: Wildflower Lacquer
3rd: Polished For Days

If you find an error, please send an email to indieswatch@gmail.com.


Thanks, 

Badges for the makers! (or bloggers if you would like to use during a post about a specific brand)  Thanks again to Cheyenne of CDB Nails for your creative brilliance