Challenge Entry - Just Tips

Just Tips is the current theme for  Polish Hoarder Disorder's Challenge this week, and I decided to participate since I could do something simple AND the due date was later than usual.

I decided to do a skittle mani on my tips using my new Simple Pleasures polishes, but first had to deal with the fact that the brushes don't work. To remedy this, I decanted the colors I was going to use into some of my empty Dollar Tree frankening bottles. Here they are, ready for my mani.

These are all unnamed, but the peachy/coral on the left and the teal in the middle are ones I used for my last two manicures.

I then proceeded to freehand my tips. I can't imagine how difficult this would be if I had to use a konad stamp to do this! This way was quick and easy - base coat, two coats on tips, topcoat. I need to do tips more often!

Simple Pleasures - Unnamed Peach

APPLICATION: Smooth. I used a better brush than the one that came in the bottle.
COATS: 2
TOPCOAT?: Yes
SOURCE: Ross
COMMENTS: I'm really loving these simple pleasures colors! The formulas and opacity is great and I'm planning to decant them into some of my frankening bottles so I have a better brush to work with. I stamped this with a Konad tip stamp (still can't get them perfect, ah well...) and then used a striper to make the line.

UP NEXT: Funky French mani for Polish Hoarder Disorder's weekly challenge.

Extending the Mani - Pink Twinkle and Hidden Treasure

I wanted to try extending my manicure with a different flaky topcoat this time - Cover Girl - Pink Twinkle. I also thought it would be useful to see how different it is from Sally Hansen - Hidden Treasure.

Pink Twinkle has smaller monochromatic flakies that look pink in the bottle but flash gold-ish on my base color. Not as dramatic as Hidden Treasure, but definitely still adds visual interest. I'm sure you can figure out which is which in the photos.

Pink Twinkle is on my middle and pinky fingers.

Above, Left to Right: Hidden Treasure, Pink Twinkle, Hidden Treasure, Pink Twinkle

Has anyone else tried this topcoat from Cover Girl? It's still available in Target Stores as far as I know...

Simple Pleasures - Unnamed Light/Jelly Teal

APPLICATION: Smooth once I swapped out the horridly splayed brush it came with
COATS: 2
TOPCOAT?: Yes
SOURCE: Ross Dress for Less
COMMENTS: I got two packages of these polishes which were 7 to a box for $4.99 each because I liked the colors. Brooke of Getcha Nails Did also found similar sets, but mine are not exactly the same. This gorgeous color was the first I wanted to try from these collections. The polish did have some miniscule bits of pigment that show up a bit on the nail, but not enough to distract from the gorgeous color - which proved extremely difficult to get on camera.
** The photos (last three) where this looks more green are closest to the true color of the polish.

Above: I even tried taking a photo in front of the pool but the camera still didn't pick up the difference.

It is the exact same color as the top of this lotion bottle.

UP NEXT: I don't know. I wanted to wear this so badly that I skipped over my previously planned mani!

Quick Slicker Fast Dry Topcoat by Strata Nail Foundation

APPLICATION: Smooth, not too thick, not too thin.
COATS: 1
SOURCE: Nail supply store in my old neighborhood
COMMENTS: I've talked enough about this topcoat that I figured I should do a post on it. This topcoat, along with a base coat from another brand, were given to me for free by the owner of a nail supply store that I was shopping in for the first time.  I initially figured they were just cheap old stock he was trying to get rid of, but this topcoat has proven me wrong! I'm liking this stuff so much that it's been my go-to topcoat since then. 
Here is my experience in a few quick points:

• It doesn't dry as quickly as Seche Vite or Poshe, nor is it as shiny. However, it dries faster and shinier than Out the Door by INM. If dented while drying, it eventually smoothes out so the dent is barely visible. It also dries to a less brittle/more rubberized finish than the aforementioned topcoats, so my nails don't feel like they'll snap and break if I accidentally hit something with them.
• The smell is waaay more pleasant than that of my other quick dry topcoats. This is highly subjective though. While Seche smells to me like a flammable glue product, Quick Slicker doesn't, and in fact seems to have somewhat of a minty? (haven't exactly identified it) smell. This means I don't mind having my hands near my face/nose when I go to bed soon after polishing my nails.
• It's not for everyone. If you need to be out the door in 3 minutes, use something quicker. However, if you can be gentle with your hands for 15, this may very well work for you. If you're currently using Out the Door, this is a great improvement in terms of formula and drying time. This also doesn't lose its shine like Out the Door does over time.

I have no clue how much this costs, but will definitely be grabbing another bottle whenever next I'm in that area.


PARTING THOUGHT: With all the nail products made in this county (Los Angeles, CA), I think those of us who live here should be getting special discounts on them. It irks me that I have to pay the same price PLUS the high California sales tax for products made locally!

Introducing my work space

I met PenelopePitstopKYD at a nail supply store in an area of town where I used to live. It was so exciting to find someone else who frequented the nail boards on MakeUpAlley. She was so friendly and pointed out some fabulous colors and brands to me. (She also totally made me want the KleanColor jelly holos - even though I'm supposed to be done with buying nail polish!)
Anyway, we found out we both use the same kind of storage for our polish supplies, and I saw a photo of her gorgeous setup.  Here is a photo of mine. Our master bedroom includes the sink area of the bathroom, so that's where I do my nails. It's handy because there is water nearby and I don't have to worry about spilling acetone or nail polish on the ceramic tiles. Here it is from two different angles.

Nina Ultra Pro - Mambo, Purple-xing

APPLICATION: Smooth on both.
COATS: 2 of both
TOPCOAT?: Not until the mani was complete.
SOURCE: Sally Beauty Supply
COMMENTS:  I planned to wear Purple-xing next, but really didn't feel like wearing it as a full mani. To compromise, I first put on Mambo, a gorgeous medium purple that is a shade I've wanted for a while. Then I used the Purple-xing as an accent. Just enough bling.

UP NEXT: Sally Hansen - Stellar

Stretching the Misa Mani

I was busy with family recently, and so could not change my polish during the week. I ended up putting another coat of Cover Girl - City Lights followed by Sally Hansen - Hidden Treasure on all my fingers. It lasted for a while and my brother actually complimented me on them while I was driving him back from the airport. Yaay!

Misa - Wishing on a Star

APPLICATION: Smooth
COATS: 2 on all but ring finger, which had 3.
TOPCOAT?: Yes
SOURCE: Beauty Supply store in my old neighborhood.
COMMENTS: First I must apologize for completely forgetting to get a bottle picture or a picture of the polish on all fingers. However, the polish as-is with topcoat is on my ring finger. I topped the rest of my nails with 1 coat of Cover Girl - City Lights and it was gorgeous! I think this has been my most distracting mani so far. I can't stop looking at my nails.
I also used a new quick dry topcoat the store owner threw in for free called Quick Slicker. I prefer the smell to other topcoats, and it dries reasonably quickly.

UP NEXT: Nina Ultra Pro - Purple Xing

OPI - On the Same Paige

APPLICATION: Smooth, though I have a wonky brush.
COATS: 2, but really needed 3. For some reason the visible nail line on this one bothered me.
TOPCOAT?: No
SOURCE: Trade Secret on clearance (you know I'm not paying full price for OPI!)
COMMENTS: OPI polishes seem to be held in such high esteem that I was actually disappointed with this one. I expected it to be opaque in 2 coats, and the formula to be spectacular. It was just... normal. That aside, the color IS stunning! It's somewhat close to the color of Avon - Tangtastic, but a tad more yellow.

Left: OPI - On the Same Paige, Right: Avon - Tangtastic

This is where my tips wait before being added to their color groups. Often one will catch my eye and I'll wear it instead of what I'd originally planned to wear. That's what happened in this case.

UP NEXT: Misa - Wishing on a Star

ABOP Glitter Franken - Carnelian

APPLICATION: Okay for a glitter - just had to try extra hard not to get it on my skin as I polished because I wouldn't be able to do regular cleanup.
COATS: 2
TOPCOAT?: Yes - two coats.
SOURCE: ABOP Franken (using Martha Stewart microglitter in Carnelian from Michael's)
COMMENTS: For some reason my photos of this always make it look super bumpy, but I don't have a chance to take them in full sunlight so these will have to do. This was nice and sparkly, but I don't like it as much as this previous glitter franken.

UP NEXT: OPI - On The Same Paige