Shatter Tip!
If you love the new crackle/shatter polishes but you’re tired of the same old look try this: Swipe the polish on horizontally (from left to right) for a zebra-like animal print pattern instead!
Do you have any other shatter tips and tricks?
Orly Bonder vs. Seche Base
I want to compare these to different basecoats for you and my experiences with them. I always have such a hard time finding a good base and these are so totally different.
Orly Bonder $10
This is a rubberized base coat meant to strongly adhere polishes. It sucks, i hate it. Everytime i use this under a polish it chips and peels like crazy within 1-2 days. It doesnt work well as a ridge filler, and i find that my polishes also usually bubble or streak when i apply them over this base coat. I wouldnt recommend it.Seche Base $8
Not only is this cheaper than Orly, but its an all around better product. I still get significant peeling but i feel like my nails are stronger and healthier the more often i use this under my polishes. Plus it’s a creamy-pearly white color which serves as a nice basecolor for any polish, and it does a pretty good job at filling ridges.
So I’m going to compare these two very popular fast-drying top coats.
INM Out the Door:
-takes a longer time to dry; it stays sticky ‘til it’s dry
-bubbles appear if it’s too thick
-a bit streaky
-the wear is better
-thinner formula
-doesn’t shrink
-about $5 at Sallys, I have no idea how much at other locations.
Seche Vite:
-amazing shine
-dries quickly
-gets too thick once the bottle’s half empty
-shrinks
-perfect for coating thick glitter polishes
-costs about $8 at certain locations (I get it for much cheaper..if you’re in LA/OC I can let you know where)——————————————
nailcrazy: I suggest anyone who does regular or frequent manicures to try both of these and see which one you like best. I personally adore INM Out The Door, i havent had issues w/ streaks, stickiness, bubbles, or anything like that. I quit using Seche Vite because of how seriously thick it gets & the fact that i had shrinkage on every single manicure - although i have to admit it dried a little faster than INM and is more shiny. Both are good products for different reasons.
AVON - Smudge Fixer
I havent seen this product in AVON’s catalogs or online so i dont know the price, but my husband brought it home from work one day. If you ever have times where you’re doing a self manicure and accidently smudge your polish somehow, this stuff works really amazing. The bristles on the brush are super short and thick, making them perfect for smoothing out the polish.
Orly Cuticle Therapy Cream
This stuff is a great daytime cuticle cream. Not greasy at all, absorbs quickly and virtually scentless. You could use it under or over any hand cream and the scents wont clash. I use this after showering or anytime during the day when my cuticles need moisture, i love it. I received this small tube free w/ my Orly Nailtrition bottle. A full tub of this is only $6.99 at Sally Beauty Supply.
Nail Tip
- If you break a nail. CUT ALL YOUR NAILS TO MATCH.
Its extremely tacky/unaesthetic if you don’t. You will look like you have choppy nails. Plus, it is healthy to start over with a new set of nails every once and a while =] They will be less likely to be brittle and break if you condition them…
(Source: theducissabella)
Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover
I use this about once a week, whenever i do a new manicure. Its cheap (roughly $5) and it works really well. Apply around cuticles, wait 15-30 seconds then remove with a wooden manicure stick pushing the cuticles back. Wash hands & apply cuticle cream or hand lotion. Sold at CVS, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Rite-Aid, etc.
Helping Hands is a soothing pink hand cream loaded with marigold, chamomile water, lavender, shea butter, almond oil, honey, and softening linseed.
My Rating: ★★★★★
5 out of 5 Stars
Scent: lightly floral
Price/Size: $18.95 for 3.5oz or $11.95 for 1.5oz
Recommended for: Anyone, normal-dry hands
How To Use: Apply to hands after washing, before bed or anytime you need moisturizing.
Review: OK - this is totally my new favorite hand cream! It smells floral and girly, and its a light pink, thick mousse-like texture. It applies really nicely and absorbs into hands much quicker than some of LUSH’s other hand creams. It also does not leave your hands greasy at all.
This comes in a small tub or a little pump bottle. I would not recommend buying the pump bottle, as this hand cream is thick and I can see some problems arising with pumping it out. I had this same problem w/ my pump bottle of Smitten and its a much thinner consistency than Helping Hands.
Overall, this hand cream is great. Smells nice, applies easily, plus it soothes and softens hands without leaving them sticky or greasy. I will definitely be re-buying this.
(Source: lush.co.uk)
Lemony Flutter is a lemon scented moisturizing cream from LUSH targeted towards people with dry, sore cuticles. It can also be used on chapped hands, elbows, and other rough or dry areas,
My Rating: ★★★★★
5 out of 5 Stars
Scent: Fresh lemons and salve
Price/Size: $12.95 for 1.5 oz.
Recommended for: Dry/damaged cuticles, rough or dry skin.
Review: I LOVE this product! I purchased Lemony Flutter after seeing the blogger from Lacquerized.com rave about it so often! I was not disappointed!
At first, i wasn’t partial to the smell, but now i love it! It reminds me of lemon and sugar scented Neosporin lol (which sounds like a bad thing, but its not). A little of this product goes a very long way! So use it sparingly. Lemony Flutter melts on your fingertips like butter, and goes on a tad greasy, but absorbs quickly after being rubbed in.
My cuticles were so sad before using this! They were peeling and sore, and no hand lotion or cuticle treatment was working! After using Lemony Flutter for 2 days at bed time, my cuticles were soft and revived! No more peeling, soreness, or dryness. They have never looked better! However, i have not tried this product for its other uses (elbows, knees, and other dry areas) so i cannot attest to how it works in those areas, but i believe it woold work wonders there too! You cannot go wrong with Lemony Flutter! It is so worth the money and it last forever!
Orly - Nailtrition
This little pink bottle of magic is a life saver for me. As i’ve mentioned before, after getting acrylics a few times in a row before/after my Wedding, my nails have been in terrible shape ever since. It helps strengthen and lengthen nails & make them healthy. Apply this Nailtrition ($10) 1-2 times per day every day for a week, then remove. Repeat the process for another week - always remove at the end of each week. The bottle is super pink but the nail treatment is barely noticeable once you put it on. Sold wherever Orly products are carried.
INM Out The Door topcoat
Alot of people really love Seche Vite ($9), and i’ll admit it’s pretty good… but it tends to get thick and it can be pricey for some people. INM Out The Door is almost half the price ($5.99), it doesnt get thick, and its really great. It dries quickly, and has high shine. I also find that it doesnt smudge nail art like some others can. I love it. Sold at CVS, Sally Beauty, and some other drug stores.
Beauty Secrets Non-Acetone nail polish remover.
I absolutely adore this stuff. It smells fruity and it’s a pretty blue color, plus its moisturizing and not drying like most polish removers. Also, the bottle is huge + cheap. Sold at Sally Beauty supply.
