Makeup & Skincare Chat ➔ NAILS:
Leslie M: Sooooo, any of you makeup experts, what products can you recommend to strengthen nails, keep cuticles good, fast dry/easy apply polish, etc. For the nail thing I def need long lasting, quick dry and streak free/easy application. I will be going for lighter colors to start as I cant deal with chips. Chips are less offensive with light color.
bev: I rarely do my nails but love polish. It does chip all the time on me. I know Amy and Michelle rec’d Seche Vite for a top coat and it worked really well….the one time I used it. I like the Essie colors but find the formulas hard for me to use as a novice/couple times a year nail polish wearer.
I have 2 A-england shades because I always like looking at them and finally splurged. The colors are just as pretty irl. I’ve seen lit inspired indie brands and always want to for the fun but haven’t yet. This is making me want to paint my nails, lol.
Cheryl: Leslie I use the Seche Vite– works great at fast drying any polish. I find the lighter nail polish colors are more novice friendly. Sally Hansen has some inexpensive Hard as Nails, dry quick products that I have also used.
Amy: I agree with the other ladies that Seche Vite is GREAT as a topcoat. The only thing to keep in mind is that you may have shrinkage with it, which isn’t a big deal with lighter colors but with darker colors it is more obvious as the nail tips will start to show. Also, it has a tendency to get thick so you may need to use nail polish thinner on it at some point.
Grey: Same, Leslie & bev. I love having my nails pretty and polished… but mine is a time thing. I never have the time to devote to actually paint them and then to let them dry so they’ll set without smudging and then I have the chip problem too. *sigh* bev, what’s an A-england shade?
bev: It’s a brand of polish. I just like their colors. https://www.a-england.co.uk
Grey: OMG, bev… I just checked that site… I LOVE THEM!!! LOL!!!
Amy: Okay, how often do I get to mention something that is book related AND nail polish related?? Fifty Shades Of Grey Mini Nail Polish Lacquer Set – 6pk x 1/8oz each. …Let’s just say I buy polish by the collection, so between 6 and 12 bottles each time. Last count was over 300. But it’s so much fun!!
Melinda: Leslie, I get my nails done. Not false nails but just painted. In Australia there’s a product called S and S anyway it strengthens your nails and it doesn’t chip, but you have to get them redone as it grows out. It’s fantastic. At the moment they are red with silver sprinkles on the end, for Xmas. Have a try just for Xmas. I love it.
Amy: NAIL POLISH TALK!!!! My favorite brands are OPI, China Glaze (for the collections, not necessarily the quality), and Butter London. I just recently found these drops that you put on after your top coat, and your polish will dry within a couple of minutes. It’s insane! I’ll have to pull it out and check the brand…
Leslie M: My toenails are pretty cool right now too. I found the best bubble gum pink shade. Essie’s “Need a Vacation” …My favorite nail polish is OPI Strawberry Margarita.
Grey: I have fantastic looking toenails right now. I did a pink basecoat with multicolored glitter (shocker, right?) over it and they are just so pretty.
Maryse: I love your nail polish colors both Grey and Leslie. Pink is MY color. Baby pinks, nude pinks, ballerina pinks to “Harem” from Illamasqua, which is more of a purplish-pink. Cream colors, all of them. Pure nude color is nice too, for a change. I’ve never been a bold color girl (my nails are just not long enough to wear darker/dramatic colors). In fact, I was sure I’d hate “Harem” but it makes me feet look so pretty and feminine! P.S. I just bought a pretty Illamasqua Nail polish in Loella Bright Candy Pink. That’s my favorite brand. SO HARD to find though…
Amy: …with as careful as I am about not wearing the wrong shade of foundation or the wrong colors on my eyes or lipstick shades that look awful on me, I am not careful *at all* when it comes to wearing nail polish shades that go with my skin tone. In fact, I couldn’t tell you if a color doesn’t look good on my skin tone or not because I do NOT have an eye for that.
Amy: I know I mentioned the China Glaze Hunger Games collection earlier, but those colors *scream* Fall! Look at these swatches:
https://www.scrangie.com/2012/02/china-glaze-hunger-games-capitol-colors.html