At Cirque Colors, we’ve never just made nail polish, we’ve created moments in color. Since 2012, our brand has evolved from a one-woman operation in Brooklyn to a globally loved indie nail polish brand known for innovation, creativity, and seriously unforgettable nails. Whether you’ve been with us since the black cap days or you just discovered our jellies on TikTok, this Cirque Eras Tour is for you.
Come with us as we revisit over a decade of daring shades and iconic finishes.
The Founding Era (2012–2017): The OGs Know
Before Shimmergraphics™, before Jellies, before Magnetic polishes there was just Cirque, started as a humble side hustle in a Brooklyn apartment. Founded by Annie Pham in 2012, Cirque Colors launched with a focus on handmade, artisanal polish driven by a love of color, design, and experimentation. Our original logo? A sleek interlocking “C,” paired with a minimalist black cap. Our aesthetic? Experimental, slightly mysterious, and always ahead of its time.
Everything was hand-poured in small batches, and even back then, our finishes like early holographics and metallics hinted at the bold direction we were headed. These early years laid the foundation for what would become a full-blown lacquer revolution.
Like many small businesses, the earliest days were all about hustle. Annie sold her creations at outdoor markets, street fairs, and pop-ups all over NYC. With a handmade felt banner and a rainbow of nail polish bottles lined up on folding tables, the Cirque booth became a beacon for beauty lovers looking for something new and different. The setup may have been simple, but the passion was real.
Friends, family, and curious marketgoers were often the first to try Cirque’s polishes, providing the kind of instant feedback only in-person selling can offer. From “What color is that?” to “Wait, you made this?!”, these early interactions helped shape the brand—and built a small but loyal community that would grow with us for years to come.
These moments, painted nails under a summer tent, rainbow-draped booths, and handwritten signs, are a core part of our story. They remind us that Cirque Colors didn’t just appear overnight. It was built one polish at a time, one customer at a time, with a whole lot of heart.
The Shimmer Era (2018): Desert Dreams & Dreamscapes
2018 was the year we fell in love with shimmer all over again. Our Desert Bloom and Dreamscape collections gave shimmer a modern glow-up, with sophisticated colors inspired by the natural world and a soft, diffused sparkle like Dusky Skies and Succulent Garden. This was also the year we launched our first cuticle oil (a fig-scented fan favorite!) and began experimenting with gentle, nourishing nail care to complement our polishes.
Though shimmer wasn’t dominating the market at the time, we leaned into our vision because we knew shimmer could be stunning, not dated. And you agreed.
The Iridescent Era (2019): The Candy Coat Craze
In 2019, we got a little candy-coated and a lot experimental. Our Candy Coat collection brought iridescent flakie polishes into the spotlight with bestsellers like Snozzberry, Tutti Frutti, and Pink Lemonade. These sheer, sparkly shades caught the light, and everyone’s attention.
This was also the year of our Celestial Collection of Thermal polishes (Luna, Sol, Terra), which became cult classics.
And while shimmer stayed in the picture, we knew something new was about to bubble up…
The Jelly Era (2020): Glassy, Glossy, and Groundbreaking
2020 marked the beginning of our Sheer and Jelly era, starting with soft polishes like Chiffon, Linen, and Organza. Surprisingly, this category took off even though sheer polishes weren’t new to the scene. What made ours different? Our obsession with formula quality, buildable coverage, and wearable shade curation.
Later that year, we took a leap with Jelly polishes packaged in curated nail art sets like Sea Glass, Shibori, and Rose Quartz. Other brands quickly followed, but the Cirque jellies hit different. They were sheer, syrupy, and everything we’d hoped for.
The Magnetic Era (2021): You’re Getting Very Color-Shifty…
2021 was a game-changer. We introduced Aura, our first Magnetic collection featuring iconic shades like BAE and Halo, which quickly spiraled into obsession territory. While magnetic polishes had already made waves in the Japanese and Korean gel scenes, we were one of the first indie brands to bring them to the U.S. market.
We also dropped the now-legendary Illusion Collection, including Dream Within a Dream, our most viral magnetic ever.
Oh, and our Glazed collection of jellies launched too (shoutout to Marsala and Dove Jelly), though it wouldn’t hit its peak until the following year.
The Glazed Era (2022): Jellies on Top
2022 was Jelly heaven. Our Glazed Spring 2022 Collection and re-releases of fan-fave jellies (Rose Jelly, Jade Jelly) solidified this finish as a core part of Cirque’s identity.
Meanwhile, Daylight offered soft ethereal tones (Morningtide, Lavender Sky), and Disco Ball introduced our first flash-reflective polish.
We even launched our At It's Finest Nail Art Brush and What A Stud Pickup Tool for those of you really doing the most (respect).
The Shimmergraphic™ Era (2023): Our Signature Sparkle
In 2023, we gave Shimmer a new identity, and a trademark. The debut of Shimmergraphic™ nail polish with our limited edition Kelli Marissa collab sent shockwaves through the nail world (Venetian Sky? Flaminglow? Iconic.) You were hooked, and we knew it, so we kept the magic going with the Far Far Away Collection, a fairytale follow-up that brought the sparkle with fan favs like True Love’s First Kiss and Last Unicorn.
This was also a banner year for bold jellies: Ube, Eros, NSFW, and Lucky Jelly (still the crowd favorite).
We made nail art even more fun with dried florals, rainbow rhinestones, and the Surfer’s Crush Collection - six beachy shimmers that glowed like a Hawaiian sunset.
We also launched Paint & Peel Base Coat, because switching up your mani should be as easy as changing your mind.
We took a bold step into the fashion archives with the Atelier Collection, a couture-inspired set that brought high fashion to fingertips. With luxe finishes like Cosplay Lamé, Blue Velvet, Twinkle Tweed, and Mother of Pearl, this AW23 release was runway-ready nail art, no sewing machine required.
2023 was packed with pigment, personality, and plenty of shimmer to go around!
The Fun Era (2024): Viral Hits & Bestseller Energy
2024 was all about fun, flair, and fan favorites. From jellies to shimmers to thermals and beyond, this era was a vibrant mix of bestsellers, bold launches, and feel-good shades that made every manicure a moment.
Our biggest hit of the year? Bisou Bisou. This new cult-favorite sky blue to baby pink thermal captured hearts (and carts) and quickly became our top-selling polish. Released as part of the Encore Collection alongside Tiny Dancer and Black Swan, this collection served major balletcore energy with elegant shades and dramatic flair, that twirled their way into everyone’s vanities.
Spring 2024 was all about that juicy, squishy shine and Glazed 2024 delivered. Pink Lady Jelly led the pack, turning heads (and fingertips) with its sheer hot pink charm. We introduced six new jellies to the permanent lineup with this collection, and let’s just say… you ate them up. From dreamy layering combos to that signature glassy finish, these shades proved that jelly season is forever.
While the Jarritos® collab served up summer in a bottle, it also marked a dream-come-true moment for Cirque Colors. Inspired by the vibrant, nostalgic flavors of Mexico’s beloved soda brand, we bottled up that fizzy, fruit-forward joy in 6 juicy shades! This limited-edition duo wasn’t just about color—it was about culture, fun, and flavor. From the custom-printed bottle caps to the collectible boxes and matching stickers, every detail was designed to spark joy. Whether you grew up with Jarritos® or were discovering it for the first time, this collab blended Cirque's signature jelly nail polish formula with an iconic slice of summertime nostalgia.
And for our longtime fans, 2024 marked the triumphant return of Coronation, a From the Vault revival featuring the ultra-rare and iconic Unicorn Pee pigment. Rare, radiant, and totally regal. We made a promise years ago to drop this gem every time we got our hands on UP, and that is exactly what we have done!
The New Era (2025): Love Letters in Polish
New Era 2025...a fresh chapter where nostalgia meets innovation and the hits just keep coming. We’re expanding the finishes you love: from Shimmergraphics™ and Jellies to Magnetic toppers, Spotlight Shimmers, and our brand-new Crelly formula.
Our Moonstruck Collection had hearts racing with the celestial magnetic Starry Eyed, and our newest Spotlight Shimmers™: Wish Come True, Unrequited Love, and To The Moon & Back.
Angel Baby’s dreamy crellies (Cherub and Smitten) introduced a softer side to the early 2025 lineup.
The juicy Glazed 2025 Collection made a splash with Lolly Jelly and Pitaya Jelly and we introduced a new Crelly, Sweet Mint!
Vice 2025 Collection took neons to new heights with our best sellers, Retail Therapy, Boozy Brunch, and our new UV-reactive white crème, White Lie.
We also took a bow in center ring with the Cirque-us Collection, a campy carousel of Shimmergraphic™ hits (Aerial Act and Marionette, anyone?).
And we brought the brightness full circle with our most colorful magnetic launch yet, The Midsummer Collection.
This year, we're embracing permanency in our catalog. Instead of limited edition everything, we’re making our most-loved shades stick around—because your faves deserve more than a farewell tour.
Honorable Mention: VICE Throughout the years!
The Cirque Colors Vice Collection has been lighting up summer since 2015 and it’s become nothing short of a Cirque Colors tradition. Known for our ultra-bright, UV-reactive neon crème polishes, Vice is our most popular collection every single year. These limited-edition shades are bold, punchy, and glow under blacklight. From cult-fave Miami-Dade to buzzy sellouts like Retail Therapy, Electric Daisy, and Boozy Brunch, Vice is our love letter to summer, nostalgia, and doing the most.
Want to know if someone’s a Cirque OG? Ask if they’ve ever scrambled to cart the new Vice drop before it sold out.
Design Glow-Up: From Black Caps to Brand New Bottles
Our early packaging featured minimalist black caps and a sleek, almost gothic logo. But as Cirque evolved, so did our aesthetic. Today, our bottles wear a modern stacked logo and chic beige caps that better reflect our playful, artistic spirit. Plus our new bottle cap is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. The evolution is more than visual- it’s about sustainability, self-expression, and joy. Have a bunch of OG bottles? You can swap out your caps and purchase our new We've Got You Covered Wide Brushes.
Doing Good—For Nails and the Planet
We’re proud to be vegan, cruelty-free, and Non-Toxic. But that’s just the start. Our Do Good initiatives have supported causes we believe in—from AAPI rights to reproductive justice, and our packaging is 100% recyclable, down to the kraft tape and paper (your cat probably has a favorite piece).
Proof: Our two biggest feline fans, Adrian the Kitten and the late, great Ditlev (forever in our hearts)—caught in the act of playing hide-and-seek with our signature kraft paper.
Annnnd when she's not hijacking our team meetings, we can usually hear Rosie in the background playing with her Mom's newest Cirque package.
So, What’s Next?
If we’ve learned anything over the past 13+ years, it’s this: creativity is unlimited, and nail polish is personal. Whether you're into Jellies, Magnetics, Shimmergraphics™ or barely-there Sheers, we’re here to help you paint your story, one coat at a time.
Stay tuned. The next era of Cirque Colors is always just around the bend ;)
