I am not the biggest neutral color fan. With that being said, I really liked this polish a lot! Beautiful application and just a nice palate cleanser with a bit of intrigue added to it.
Donut Spunk was the surprise standout in the Hero's bundle I scooped up during the anniversary sale! Photo in this review of skittle shows the true color. Other photos in this review show it with a special effects topper which transformed the shade into magic. Included photo of brush and replacement I used.
First, the good - I have many tones in my skin, and have been on a years-long search for a good basic neutral to add to my collection that didn't give "spiteful Grandma who gives out toothbrushes on Halloween".
Donut Spunk is "your favorite Grandma who gives out king-sized candy bars and has the best decorations in town for every season". It fabulously fit the bill as my dream neutral color! Monique is a genius when it comes to color-mixing and I dream of chatting about color with her someday over coffee.
Onto the brush. Right out of the gate, the brush bristles looked short in length compared to what I saw in swatch videos. Individual bristles seemed thick and stiff, and lacked the small metal triangle/staple looking thing that gathers the bristles together in most other brushes I've used. This made it incredibly difficult to work with the formula - the first coat went on okay, but the second formula, even when I floated, pulled the first coat with it. I had to redo the nail, overload the brush a bit more, and figured it out to get a smoother application. So, the learning curve for me was quick, but I foresee this becoming a source of frustration for others.
The formula - when I swatched Donut Spunk using the brush that comes with the bottle, the formula feels thick, chalky/grainy, and was prone to being overworked.
HOWEVER, when I switched out the brush to a more pliable fan/paddle, the formula performed incredibly - smoother application, NO overworking, and didn't feel thick anymore. What a glow-up!
I was thrilled and did a full Halloween themed mani. 2 coats for opacity, added a special effect topper, nail tattoos, and glow in the dark accents. Fabulous and no chips after tons of work with my hands all week.
I will absolutely order another bottle (and more backup brushes from elsewhere), and I'm still shocked this is my most used polish the past couple of weeks.
But I did want to be up front with my feedback and the brush trouble, especially as someone who has been painting their own nails for a couple decades. For the sale price I got it at with the bundle discount, I am quite happy with Donut Spunk.
Hoping Monique stocks replacement brushes in the future on the site so I can do a one stop shop :)!
Such a pretty donut glazed look in just 2 coats? Sold! The formula made application so easy! I’m so glad I tried out this best seller shade I was pleasantly surprised. 😊 It easily became one of my favorites in my collection 🤍 Couldn’t stop staring at my nails!
Donut Spunk is such an understated and underrated polish! It’s a beautiful nude polish with a slight bluish shimmer to it. I used two easy coats and it was perfect! I can’t wait to try the rest of my polishes from Cracked Polish
The name says it all. It gives glazed donut vibes and in person it is even more beautiful!! I can’t believe I waited this long to try this brand out. So glad I did!!