Best combination nail base & top coats according to redditors

I order it from Amazon 3 bottles at a time. It's cheaper per bottle that way, $10 for 3, instead of $8 for one at Ulta.

Seche Vite top coat works wonders and drys insanely fast. I think it’s cheaper on amazon than at beauty supply stores. seche vite

Seche Vite, girl. Seche Vite.

First things first: Buy this shit!

Your cuticles are wayyyy more important than you might realize. Do not cut them, don't bite them, don't pick at them. Push them back and trim off the dead bits that are stuck to your nail with one of these things. KEEP THEM HYDRATED. Use lotion, cuticle oil, whatever, just don't let them dry out. I use Lemony Flutter by Lush. It's pricey - worth it for me because I paint my nails twice a week and use a lot of acetone... Buff with one of those blocks. Invest in a decent crystal nail file. Whatever nail file you use, always file repeatedly in one direction. Never saw back and forth! I never use nail clippers because I find they encourage splitting, I only file. Apply the Nail Envy. I promise you'll see MAJOR improvement in a couple of weeks. Also, take a Biotin supplement!

Edit: My links disappeared. Merp. Hang on. I'm getting them for you again!

Sounds like you need Seche Vite. Completely dry in 5 minutes :)

I don't know if this is helpful, but here is where I got my Seche. I don't remember it being quite that cheap when I ordered, haha. But even with the shipping now, it's less than $5.

EDIT: Now it's $4.74 with free shipping...get on it! :)

I use OPI Nail Envy! It's kind of expensive but I think it's worth it. Amazon.

Happy Birthday! :) Hope it was great, and thanks for this gauntlet!

Seche Vite top coats were recently removed out of the CVS I live closest to :/ $4.84 :)

And for the song, if you like Kpop, Apink just released a new song: [Nonono.] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3XJQtJWKJM) It's super cute!

/u/purebredginger Because it's her birthdaaaaay! Gifting them this because it's a higher priority item and once you paint your nails you want them shiny and protected!

There is a bunch of stuff that can be donated! But here are some highlights:

Essie Cute as a Button is exactly $6.25!!

Who doesn't need a good purple?

Sparkles!!

Such a pretty blue!!

Kleancolor mini metallic

Brushes!

And I feel obligated to leave something from MINE hehe :)

Seche Vite! $4.85!!

I always feel really polished if my nails are done. I don't have the time or the money to go to a salon to have them done, or to constantly do touch ups, so this is my routine, that I will do Sunday night, and it lasts me with no chips through Friday for sure:

1. Remove polish and wipe down nails with rubbing alcohol (the alcohol can be skipped, but allegedly helps prime your nails).
   
2. Apply a base coat of this Gelous gel base polish. (You might find this cheaper at Sally Beauty.)
   
3. Apply 1 coat of color - any brand.
   
4. Apply a second coat of Gelous.
   
5. Apply a second coat of color.
   
6. Apply a 3rd coat of Gelous.
   
7. Apply this fast drying top coat from Seche Vite.
   
   I occasionally skip the second coat of Gelous and it still seems to turn out fine. The seche vite top coat is honestly super fast drying and it leaves the most amazing shine on my nails, which just puts them over the top. People always comment on how great my nails look.
   
   One last tip for helping your manicure last: wear gloves when washing dishes or handling cleaners. This really helps my nails not chip!
   
   Other things that make me feel put together: a pair of stud earrings, a blazer, COFFEE.

I agree with /u/pomegranated. The nail product that has been really successful for me is using OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener. Ny nails still split, but less so, and they're so much stronger after using the product for the past three months.

Generally speaking, the key to a long-lasting mani is a great basecoat/topcoat! If you have a Sally's Beauty Supply available to you or can get it online, I'd check out American Classics Gelous. I've tried a lot of different base/top coat combos, and using Gelous for both has become HG for me. I can get a regular mani to last 5-7 days with no-minimal chips.

I've also tried using the ~at home~ gel manicure with Gelous, in which you use it as a base, then put on your polish, add another layer of Gelous, then polish, then Gelous again on top. That shit legit lasted like 2 weeks with barely any chips. I change my polish too often to deal with that every time I do my nails, but this may be worth a shot if you're looking for longevity!

Oh god! I'm so sorry this happened to you. I was literally just thinking of making a related PSA about the horrors of minocycline. I took minocycline (Solodyn) daily for three years because it was the only thing that worked for my acne and my dermatologist didn't seem concerned about the length of time. In August 2014, I started to get constant heartburn in my throat (which sometimes felt like it was closing up on me) and ended up losing 10lbs in a couple weeks because I couldn't eat. My normal doctor had no idea why it was happening and just wanted to push antacids on me. I finally realized that it was the minocycline so I stopped taking it and it was another month before the heartburn stopped.

I'm still dealing with the lasting side effects of sun sensitivity from minocycline too--not in my skin, but in my nails. I developed photo-onycholysis, which means the nail beds lift up in response to sunlight (especially on my ring and pinky fingers). The nails themselves got really small, kind of purple and had a red streak going halfway down each (scary, because apparently that can also be a sign of liver failure). I finally fixed it by buying UV-protecting nail polish (I use this stuff but I'm sure other UV-top coats or opaque polishes would work too) which I now have to wear constantly.


Yeah, antibiotics are not something to mess with and I will never take them for my skin again.

Edit: here are pictures of my nails when affected by the sun and after I fixed them, in case anyone else has the same problem (because I had to figure it out on my own): before and after

Seche Vite - Top Coat Set - .5 oz & 4 oz. Refill https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QUK7Q6/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_tGfYub1F1R8D6

I'm not the original person you were talking to but I wanted to share my base and top coat because I love their longevity.

These are my nails after 4 days wear.
I have done dishes and laundry every day, and my job is practically typing for 8 hours.

The picture is of my dominant hand, and I have not reapplied my top coat at all.

I swear by Orly's Bonder as a base coat and Poshe for my top coat. They're amazing and last so long I feel bad removing my manicures because they're still decent.

Poshe dries suuuuper fast too.

Product List:

• OPI Gelcolor Base Coat
  
• Gelish Mini ~ All The Queen's Bling
  
• Pretty Diva No Wipe Top Coat
  
• Beauty Big Bang Aurora Chrome Powder
  
• Beauty Big Bang White Stamping Polish
  
• Beauty Big Bang Clear Stamper & Scraper
  
• Beauty Big Bang Christmas Stamping Plate
  
• China Glaze Gelaze Top Coat
  
  Alsoooo, you can probably tell on the ring finger but whenever I use chrome powders, I end up with bumps and craters. I think it might be because the no wipe gel top coat I use is about a year old and from Amazon. I'll purchase a better one and hopefully that will make a difference. Any CCW! :)

Here are my items!

Brush guards, a makeup bag, and seche vite!

Just start painting your nails and you will figure out what works best for you eventually. I've compiled a list of helpful links/videos that I've found helpful for me.

Dotting Tools:

• Cutepolish's video on how to make your own dotting tool.
  
• <$2 on amazon. It might take a while to get to you if it's being shipped from China though.
  
  Stripping tape:
  
  
• $1.08 on amazon.
  The trick when you use stripping tape is to make sure your polish isn't old and too goopy, otherwise it will not be so crisp.
  
• And use tweezers like this or this.
  
  Cleaning
  
  
• You will get the hang of cleaning once you start practicing. If you get better at application you will have to do less cleaning. This will come with practice. I suck at doing nails with little mess. So I use acetone and a slanted brush. This might be a good set to get.
  
• /u/ReneeJade 's post about cleaning up with toothpicks is very helpful too.
  
  Nail Polish Brands
  
  
• This depends on how much money you want to spend. I started with Sinful Colors because no mula. But the formula is kinda bad and takes forever to dry. And Sinful Colors stain your nails really bad in my experience. Sally Hansen is pretty good for the price. I only just acquired a couple of China Glazes and Essie's. They are pretty good but I only buy it when it's less than $3. I don't have experiences with Orly, O.P.I.
  
• Julep is okay in my opinion. Personally, I feel like they're not worth the price. One of my bottles just broke when I was turning the cap. And the other one (Julep Sasha) stained my nails really bad :/
  
• There are nail polish programs like Julep Maven (who do a free first box with code FREEBOX) and other ones that I don't know about but head onto /r/BeautyBoxes to find out more.
  
  Top Coat and Base Coat
  
  
• Orly bonder is a good base coat that I use. I don't have experiences with other ones, so I can't compare.
  
• Getting a fast drying top coat is probably a good idea. I use Seche Vite but it has a really strong smell and it shrinks your polish. I'm trying to find a new one but Sally Hansen Insta Dry didn't work for me. It smudged my nail art even though it dries pretty fast. Poshe is supposed to be good but I don't have experience with it.
  
  Nail Strengthening
  
  
• O.P.I. Nail envy is a lot of people's favorites but it didn't work for me personally. Just search this subreddit with "nail envy".
  
• Quimica Alemana. This stuff has good reviews and I want to try it.
  
  Nail file
  
  
• Use a crystal one. This one has good reviews or use an O.P.I. one. I use an O.P.I, pretty happy with it.
  
  Have fun painting!

Seche Vite is fantastic.

Hello!

1. Zoya is my favorite brand, ever. They're pricier than OPI (at least most of the time), but they run really good deals a few times a year, and they're super high quality. My two runner ups are China Glaze and OPI.
   
2. I have somewhat crappy nails (recovering nail biter), but I suggest using Nail Envy for a while as a strengthener. Invest in a glass nail file; it prevents peeling and all that craziness that emery boards and the like bring. I personally take biotin tablets (but your mileage may vary with those, as with all supplements). Oh, and one last thing -- moisturizing your cuticles helps promote healthy and strong nails!

Amazon! $7.69 with shipping.

I’ve had good luck with Gelous. No UV lamp needed to get a gel-like, durable manicure. I know that everyone swears by base coats underneath, but I haven’t found them to be necessary with Gelous as a second step. It doesn’t have the glossiest finish, so I top it with Seche Vite. My routine is 2-3 coats of polish, one coat Gelous, one coat Seche Vite.

And make sure that you’re wrapping the tip of your nail - that is taking the polish over the edge and slightly underneath the free edge.

am i missing something? that's 6 0.5 oz bottles for $22. that's 3oz total for $22.

you could get a 0.5oz bottle and a 4oz refill for $16 with prime shipping. am i totally confused here or is this actually a better deal?

Oh! I've been drooling over that color forever. Good choice! ;) Are you a big red fan?

If you have patience, Amazon is seriously a steal for building an arsenal! And if the answer to the patience question is yes... may I suggest...

• Guides for basic designs!
  
  
• If you want to organize your collection! These are super helpful when it starts growing and you want to be able to catalogue and match colors for manis. :)
  
  
  
• Striping tape, for all the lines!
  
  
  
• In case you want to up your cuticle care game :) or maybe this set instead?!
  
  
  
• Dotting tools are you best friend! And if you're into cleaning up your nails, this is a fantastic bundle!
  
  
  
• Gotta keep the nails healthy! and a different option if you'd like
  
  
  
  
• Makes removal so much faster!
  
  
  
  
• A trusty quick dry top coat
  
  
  
• Pair your top with a trust bottom coat!
  
  
  
• Maybe you want to try your hand at nail art?
  
  
  
  That's what I've got for now... Hmm.. What did I miss?

Oh yes, ma'am! It is a gift from the gods. This one is my favorite. I also like the Sally Hansen one, but as I got towards the bottom of the bottle it started to get slightly goopy.

1. Thank you /u/androidchrist for being our savior/moderator.
   
   
2. These makeup squidgers
   
   
3. Seche Vite is something you need, don't lie to yourself
   
   
4. Go Mom Go!

I can relate to both of these, but I'm the opposite! I quit biting my nails last summer after ~20 years, but I drink a Coke a day at work and that needs to stop.

For the nail thing, what finally did it for me was learning to paint them myself (shoutout to /r/redditlaqueristas) and making every Tuesday manicure night. I don't bite them if they're painted, especially with one of those magical quick-dry topcoats that's like a thick, shiny layer of shellac.

Seche Vite is on sale right now for 3.99 a bottle with free shipping :)

Here is a link to it.

Okay, I'm gonna go a different direction than most comments already. I started with Out the Door but it smears any artwork for me. I switched to Seche Vite and haven't looked back. Seche Vite is 4 dollars right now on Amazon. (Cheap! CHEAP!) I have a mani on right now that has lasted 5 days and counting. It's magic. It dries within minutes. If you get her that one, make sure she does a little research on how to best apply it; there's a trick to getting it to set right.

Second, You don't have to leave Walmart or the drugstore to get decent polish. Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy is rocking my socks right now, and it's 5$ a bottle at Target here in California. Its a thick polish, and the color is incredibly deep after 2 thinly painted coats. I would also suggest going to a Kohl's/Marshalls/TJ Maxx and looking in the beauty section; they always have a few buckets of high quality nail polish for a few bucks a pop. (OPI, saw some Butter's in there a few weeks ago, etc.)

Okay so there's lots of places you can get things, but with some of amazon you might not get things in time so keep your eyes peeled, I'm linking random ones for you. It'd be easier to build your own basket instead of trying to find one. What I would suggest is:

-dotting tools like this

-brushes for art/cleanup like this

-clear stamper/scraper like this

-some stamping plates like this

-liquid latex (so her fingers don't get messy when doing different nail art styles) like this

-makeup sponges (those triangles, for gradients) like this

-striping tape like this

-good base coat (people really like nail envy by OPI and ORLY bonder) OPI ORLY

-good top coat (Seche vite is great) like this


I didn't pay much attention to the prices but a lot of those tools can be purchased fairly cheap, the most expensive things are the polishes and some stamping plates (some are very cheap and can be not so good, some are more expensive but are more likely to work well)

If you need more help let me know!

seche vite seriously. Put it on while the second coat of polish is still wet and dries in like 15 seconds. More expensive then some but so worth it!

Kurt Vonnegut. Everything he's written is so so good. I started with "Slaughterhouse Five" which is phenomenal, and read a lot of his other novels, but his short stories are my favorite. Namely the collection in "A Man Without A Country." I love his ability to criticize society and government through example rather than direct rant. I also like his use of sci-fi to make connections to the bigger picture of his ideas and arguments. His style is straightforward, but he's able to set the scene perfectly without you being like "come on, I don't care what color the curtains are, get on with it" which I find in so many other books. He gets to the point, but you enjoy the ride there. The way he pulls in humor and gets you to think critically about life is unmatched to this day, in my opinion. Whomever owns the rights to his stuff recently released (posthumously) a collection of letters he wrote and they are just brilliant.

So my favorite author is Kurt Vonnegut and my favorite book is "A Man Without A Country"

Other favorite authors are Sloane Crosley (hilarious!), Oscar Wilde (withstands the test of time beautifully), Veronica Roth (I'm reading the Divergent series right now and loving it), Jenny Lawson (also hilarious!), David Sedaris (so funny and charming), and Jim Derogatis (one of my favorite music journalists/writers).

Here's my item

Neil!

Mix of this: Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Nail Coat, Clear - .5 oz. oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00150LT40/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SkY8Ab00RNCKY
And this:
XICHEN 24 Colors Nail Art Make Up Glitter Shimmer Dust Powder Decoration https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9NV6EJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_BlY8Ab2N3E1M8
That's the combo from the looks of it at least. Natural nail color with a gloss shine and nail glitter 😉. Hope to see a post down the road with the results if you and your gf were open to it

Ahhh! Stupid fingernails. One thing I’d recommend is biotin supplements and this awesome top coat nail strengthener polish

OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener, Original, 0.5 fl. oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00178TVXG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qaZJAbE4Q03QX

They work well but still wasn’t enough for me. The sns was the only way to have nails again 😸

I’m glad to know I’m not alone. I’ve always sorta felt like the 1 year mark is when most people go from androgynous to feminine in all the timelines I’ve seen. So I’ll keep our fingers crossed that the next year treats us better than the first 💕

I swear by OPI Nail Envy. I have both the clear that you can use with a regular color or the colored (light pink version).

A lot of people on here swear by OPI's Nail Envy. It's supposed to harden the nail, and maybe once it hardens it will start to grow. It's here on Amazon and it's only $8.50.

But the pampering part is the easiest and most important! Maybe the massage isn't, but the nail treatments are key!

Learn to file nails properly:
Always file in the same direction!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RrfWakB-lI

Learn good cuticle care:
Use cuticle remover once in a while for a good clean up, but don't use it daily. NEVER cut the cuticles. Use cuticle remover and a PLASTIC tool to scrape nails (depending on the nail strength, metal scrapers can damage the nail) I use a makeup sponge to rub backwards from my nail after cleaning up my cuticles. To maintain, push your cuticles back frequently. I do this in the shower after the water has softened my skin a bit.
http://www.amazon.com/essie-Nail-Care-disappearing-cuticle/dp/B004FKCHHU/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

Use a good nail treatment polish as a base coat:
Most lacqueristas will swear by OPI Nail Envy.
http://www.amazon.com/OPI-Nail-Envy-Original-Ounce/dp/B00178TVXG/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1415653359&sr=1-1&keywords=opi+nail+envy

Get some good hand and nail lotion:
This is where you can pamper her with a nice hand massage, if you're willing to go the extra mile.
http://www.sephora.com/h-nail-cream-P152203

Her nails will be looking so fabulous before you even hit them with the color!

I haven't tried it myself, but a lot of people over at /r/RedditLaqueristas like OPI Nail Envy.

Fingerstyle guitar player here. My nails are important and they can split. This will take care of you.. https://smile.amazon.com/OPI-Nail-Envy-Strengthener-Original/dp/B00178TVXG/ref=lp_15284207011_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1520527801&sr=1-1&th=1

You can try Poshe instead. It's the one I see most people recommend when they have issues with Seche. No shrinkage. Just be sure to paint the edges of your nails too.

I like Poshe

http://www.amazon.com/Seche-Vite-Fast-Boxed-0-5oz/dp/B00FFCPP9O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426447634&sr=8-1&keywords=6+seche


Try this one :) there is hope yet

I'm a really big fan of Mia Secrets products if we want an inexpensive expensive medium setting traditional system. I have their acrylics, gels, preps, and primers and I honestly haven't had a dud from them yet. They have this little intro kit if you want super small sizes of the bare essentials to try before committing, but I'll also show you everything I use to do a set of new nails with their system. If you go with the kit, the brush isn't the greatest...but it's better than most other kits in this price range.

• I dehydrate the nail using Mia Secrets Nail Prep.
  
• I apply my nail tip of choice and make sure it's straight.
  
• I brush Mia Secrets No Lines over the smile line of the tip and allow it to dry.
  
• I prime the nail using Mia Secrets [XTrabond]
  (https://www.amazon.com/Mia-Secret-Burn-Primer-Acrylic/dp/B00JVZGO3W/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1466043934&sr=1-5&keywords=Mia+Secret).
  
• I fill my dappen dish with Mia Secrets Liquid Monomer, ensuring there is enough liquid in the dish to submerge my brush from tip to ferrule.
  
• I drain my brush as needed to make the correct size bead then dip it into Mia Secrets Clear Acrylic Powder 3 times.
  
• I shape and buff the nail.
  
• I apply Mia Secrets Icegel top coat if my client does not want polish, alternatively I either polish the nails as normal, or use Mia Secrets UV Finish Gel if the client has paid extra for a UV top coat. (Sorry about the non Amazon link! It's not available on Amazon currently.)
  
  I PROMISE I AM NOT ENDORSED OR AFFILIATED WITH MIA SECRETS OR NAILITE WHATSOEVER. I just happen to use and love a lot of their products.
  
  
  I can also suggest Nailite's OMEGA system if you're a problem lifter. It's comparable to using CND's Retention+ liquid in my opinion.
  They sell a small kit and a large kit. I bought the large and it's an amazing value with a high quality brush to boot! I follow a similar system with it to Mia Secrets, but I'll outline the steps again.
  
  
• I dehydrate the nail with Nailite's Nail Prep.
  
• I apply my nail tip of choice and make sure it's straight.
  
• I blend the nail tip into the natural nail ensuring there are no ridges.
  
• I prime the nail with Nailite's Something Wonderful Protein Bonder.
  
• I fill my dappen dish with Nailite's Omega Liquid Monomer, ensuring there is enough liquid in the dish to submerge my brush from tip to ferrule.
  
• I drain my brush as needed to make the correct size bead then dip it into Nailite's Omega Powder 1 time and hold it there for 3 seconds.
  
• I shape and buff the nail.
  
• I apply Nailite's Wet Look Top Coat if my client does not want polish, alternatively I either polish the nails as normal or use Nailite's High Gloss Tackless Sealer if the client has paid extra for a UV top coat.
  
  If you have any questions at all about any products you may come across, tips on technique, or would like more product suggestions, etc.... I encourage you to PM me at anytime. :)

I cobbled together a bunch of different unrelated products instead of going for the premade kits. Here is what you would need if you were interested:

• LED lamp
  
  
• base coat and top coat set
  
  
• gel nail polishes - you can also find these in Ulta or beauty supply stores like Sally's if you wanted just one or two to start out with
  
  
• lint free wipes
  
  
• structure gel - optional, but I use it because I have weak nails
  
  
• typical mani/pedi tools - emery boards of different grit sizes, buffer, nail file, cuticle pusher, cotton balls, pure acetone, makeup sponges, tiny nail art brushes, and rubbing alcohol. these are usually cheaper and easier to find in a beauty supply store or even a Target/Walmart/etc.
  
  
• nail polish remover clip things - to remove the gel nail polish
  
  All in the initial setup was under $100. Given that a glitter gel mani costs about $50-60 in my city, it paid for itself very quickly! Once you get the hang of it, you can expand your arsenal to include chrome powders, holographic powders, glitter, striping tape, stamping plates, etc.

Everything mentioned can be found on amazon ☺️:

kiaitre UV LED light:
Kiaitre 72W UV LED Nail Lamp with 4 Timer Setting - 36 Lamp Beads Nail Dryer for Gel Nails and Toe Nail Curing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PN4DT3X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LS2oDbKG7PMK2

Modelones base & top coat:
Modelones Gel Nail Polish No Wipe Top and Base Coat Set（2x10ml）UV LED Soak Off New Upgraded Formula Long-Lasting and Shiny Finish ... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NH0D2T5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_D02oDbQFTNEAJ

Modelones gel polish in Nude:
Modelones Gel Nail Polish Set - 8 tiny bottles, UV LED Lamp Soak Off Gel Polish Varnish, 0.24 OZ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QH6H219/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_O12oDbGDG8M9V


• so first I apply a thin layer of base coat then cure it for 60 secs under the UV lamp

• then I applied a thin layer of 8035 then cured for 60 secs & repeated this step 2 more times
(Total of 3 coats)

• then apply then top coat & cure for 60 - 90 secs

When applying the color, always make sure to do thin layers as opposed to thick. Thick layers won't cure as evenly!

1. I'm thinking balloons! Or maybe something like this one, oh or maybe some variety and do something like this!
   
   
2. I've had good luck with CND Stickey, I find it protects against staining much better than Orly bonder. And if you like it, it comes in a much bigger bottle.
   
   
3. I'm in love with OPI Don't Touch my Tutu, but a couple of other shades from NYC Ballet collection would be great for french manicures. A cheaper dupe would probably be Sally Hansen Complete Manicure in Polar Bare.
   

1. It's going well! :)
   
   
2. My summer chemistry lab/lecture finals are this week, so I hope to get A's on those!
   
   
3. Oooh.. I'm starting on some crafts for my new apartment, I'm going to be sort of "de-stressing" by hanging out with my boyfriend, and I believe I will be working out a lot this week as well!
   
   
4. I would loveee this top coat please!
   
   Thanks so much for the contest! You be good to yourself as well! :)

What an awesome giveaway! Been wanting to try that liner.

Here are some wants for me.

ELF HD under eye concealer setting powder

^This one is 5.30, if that doesn't count I'll add another for good measure.

One of these Loreal eyeshadows because they look gorgeous!


The most talked about Top Coat because I don't own any, haha

This nail polish because fall is coming and this color looks beautiful!

Thanks for being awesome! <3

This is a great idea--thanks for hosting!

• I'm addicted to lip balm. Haven't tried Baby Lips yet.
  
  
• This is my favorite top coat. It's super shiny and strong.
  
  
• These makeup remover wipes are nice. I bought them for a trip, and I'm enjoying them on my lazy days.
  
  
• Lipstick organizer!
  
  
• Essie nail polish in a fun purple color
  
  
• Blotting papers
  
  
• Color tattoo! I recently discovered the color Creamy Beige is a perfect dupe for ABH dipbrow in Soft Brown.

This top coat? $5 doesn't seem pricey or am I looking at the wrong thing?

http://www.amazon.com/Seche-Vite-Fast-Nail-Ounce/dp/B00150LT40

Hi and welcome! I suck at makeup... mostly just powder my nose and maybe wear some eyeshadow/mascara. I'm good at nail polish though!

First, get yourself a good base coat and a good top coat. I recommend Orly Bonder and Out the Door. Most people here will recommend Seche Vite which is awesome, but may be hard to use until you learn how to wrap your nail tips.

I counted 34 in this picture.

(But lets be honest, the mini bottles shouldn't count as a whole bottle.)

Wishlist item!

I know it's a bit under $5 but the Essie topcoat I have really really sucks. I can re-pick if you need me to.

I've been using Orly Bonder base coat for months. MONTHS now. It's pretty fantastic and my manis last a while. Plus I've had no issues with staining.

For top coat I use Seche Vite. It honestly seems like most people like it but there's also a majority out there who prefer other coats. I tried going the cheap route for quick drying top coats and they all disappointed me. (Never have tried Out The Door though.)

Linky !

Thanks for the contest and Happy you're alive, Tara! Even though I didn't know you from before. SO HI ! c:

Retail Therapy! Did you not have enough flair? Maybe you should get some flair. I think you are going to get the fast-drying top coat... man I have no idea. You can surprise me with a gift, or I would like this. I guess I have top coats on the brain....

36
99
Item from my "Under $5 wishlist."

If you can't find Seche Vite top coat and you arent able to order it online ( Amazon link), check if your local Rite aid or walgreens carries Essie "Good to go" top coat. It dries quickly and works well against chips, for the most part. Welcome to the sub!

Seche Vite Top Coat - $4.70 shipped!

My favorite purple is Performance Colors Badlands, another user posted some swatches here

Sorry that today isn't fantastic, but thank you for hosting a lovely contest <3

I just recently received a lovely dark purple lipstick from u/dm2r! It's Wet n Wild's Vamp it Up! It looks very similar to Mac's Cyber lipstick, as seen by swatches here. It applies really nicely, too! :)

Link to my under $5!

Do you have a Pinterest Board/Spreadsheet of Polishes you own? Link? Alas I do not, but I do have a photo. Back row is Revlon/Sally Hansen, 2nd back are China Glaze, 2nd from front is Ulta3 (Aussie cheapie brand, not the same as Ulta) and Sinful Colors, and front row is OPI, Essie, and misc indies.

Can your SS include gently used polishes/items? For sure!!

What types of items would you enjoy receiving other than polish? I really have no serious preference. I love to be surprised :D I love cat stuff (love my cat, Claus), I'm currently obsessing over the SF Giants (baseballllllllllll!!!!), My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (GO PINKIE PIE)... and just stuff, honestly. I'm not a fussy person and will love and adore anything I'm sent.

Food Allergies: None, but I do not do well with spicy foods so please avoid anything even a lil bit burny.

Favorite Candy/Snacks: I adore sour stuff like warheads, umeboshi... etc... Roll'd Gold pretzels.

Favorite Type of Cookie: Choc chip. Can't go wrong with a classic!

Favorite Scent: So... Sinful. That stuff is amazing, it smells like cake!

Five Desired Polishes/Polish Related Items: Zoya - Zuza, Julep - Monica, Orly Bonder, Seche Vite, BlackSheep Lacquer - Farore.

Favorite Polish Brand: At the moment, China Glaze. I've never tried Butter, Zoya, or Julep >.<

Favorite Color: Pretty? I seem to have a lot of bluey greens so I guess they would be!

Do you have any Hobbies? Gaming :D Annoying my cat, working on my quilt... This is the centre block, all sewn by hand, no machine work... Listening to music... stuff........

Do you Collect Anything? I collect Pinkie Pies (but only the current gen because the older ones are creepy now), I collect the Vinyl Pop figures (I have Fionna and Marceline from Adventure Time and Pinkie Pie), and I collect teas (do NOT like russian caravan style teas)

Favorite animal: Wolf. And then, cat. This is mah tattoo.

What is your lemming (Most wanted polish) I don't think I have one currently to be honest. Probably a popular brand or indie that I haven't tried?

What person (dead/alive) you would like to meet? Richard Branson. Easy. I have his autobiographies and they are AMAZING.

Favorite Music Artist/Type: The Living End. I listen to anything except for a lot of screamy music, country, or rap. There are artists in all those genres that I enjoy but just not a massive fan as a whole.

Favorite Stores to shop at: Kikki K. Oh em gee I adore Kikki K. Also love places like JB HiFi (Aussie version of Best Buy).

Favorite Sports Team/Athlete: SF GIANTS!!!!

One Place You Would Like to Visit: Himeji Castle in Japan :)

Favorite Magazines You Do Not Subscribe To: I have no idea :S I'm not a magazine kinda gal really.

Favorite TV Show: This is a stupidly tough question. I lurrrrrve Detective Conan (Japanese version because the dub was HORRIBLE), Hannibal, Better Off Ted, Orphan Black, Tattoo Rescue, The Amazing World of Gumball, RuPaul's Drag Race (still watching the last season, DO NOT SPOILER)... other shows... I'm not a fan of too many American comedies tbh.

Anything else your SS should know about you: I'd be grateful for a fart in a box (please don't) :D I'm so excited to be a part of this event so I will love whatever you send!!!

Nice work! They look pretty and healthy! This is how I stopped biting mine as well.


If you haven't done so already get yourself a bottle of Seche Vite top coat and some vitamin D.


I used to bite my nails because they were ragged and peeling. I found using nail strengthener to work wonders.

This is a good guide! I find that leaving a small gap between my polish and my cuticle area looks much better than accidentally getting polish all over my cuticles from trying to paint too closely.

Also, if you do get any polish on your skin, you can immediately take a nail brush dipped in acetone and clean up the polish. It's easier while it's still wet in my opinion. (Though, when you're completely done painting, you can also go back and touch up anything you've missed!)

A quick drying top coat is also a must! Seche Vite makes a good one, as well as Superchic Lacquer. EDIT: These particular top coats are formulated to go over nail polish that is still wet, so it's a big plus that you don't have to wait for your color to dry before adding your top coat. As soon as you finish painting color on your last nail, you can go back to your first nail and start applying top coat until you get to your last nail again (if that makes sense).

Lastly, practice practice practice! :)
Put on Netflix or Hulu and relax and have fun with it! Good luck!

I recently discovered Seche Vite thanks to this subreddit its about $5 from amazon and is the most incredible fast drying top coat that doesn't really shrink, dries instantly and lasts days even on my lower quality nail polishes. Here's a link

Seche Vite, you can get it cheaper online, otherwise it is $10/bottle at Walmart/drugstore.

BUT, it is SO SO SO worth it. Whereas without top coat, your nails take like an hour to fully dry, Seche Vite has them completely rock hard in like 15 minutes. It's a game changer, and people ask me if I'm wearing gels because it keeps them really shiny.

Silent Hill

Thanks so much!!

$4.85 - thanks for the contest!

I could really use some Chocolate right now...

I think most rapid dry top coats are intended to be used while the polish is tacky, while I know some other no-chip/shine type top coats are meant to be used when the polish is completely dry.

Seche Vite and Out the Door are good rapid dry options. If you can't find these, then the Sally Hansen Insta Dri is pretty good too.

http://imgur.com/lu2xW7u

My view is new. We just moved two weeks ago. That's a big reason I've been mia-preparing to move and what not.

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Nail Coat, 0.5 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00150LT40/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_FPaYub0WETF2A

I actually love giving manicures to friends and family. My mom once brought me to her patient's house to paint the nails of 3 little girls. Cutest thing ever!

As for tips, some of it is really product quality/chemistry. I recommend two specific products: Orly Bonder as a base coat and Seche Vite as a topcoat.

The base coat prevents your nails from staining, and this one is rubberized (it feels sticky if you touch it), so polish adheres really well. This top coat dries your nails in about 60 seconds. I am an idiot and always have to pee right after I finish my nails. I can actually do that with SV. This combo has been able to make almost every nail polish I use last as long as I want it to last (for me, up to 7 days, but usually closer to 4).

To prevent chipping, it's important to use as few thin layers as possible. Thicker polish chips easier. The best polishes are ones that are heavily pigmented, but thin. I could probably suggest several based on your favorite colors. But my favorite brand is probably China Glaze. Oh! Also to prevent chipping and peeling, don't flood the cuticles. I leave a small amount of space as a border on my nail. You can see it pretty well here, especially on the thumb. I do this either by being sparing with my application or taking a paintbrush dipped in acetone and cleaning up the edges when I'm finished. It thins out the sides, making the polish less able to peel up from the edges.

My Holiday Costume: A Unitard!

I can't wait to see/read about others' costumes! Thanks for hosting: spooky scary :)

My $10 Wishlist: Seche Vite , Dotting Tools .

Does this seem reliable?

https://www.amazon.com/Seche-Vite-Fast-Nail-Ounce/dp/B00150LT40/ref=pd_ybh_a_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=DZF0853QRTX7YY9YF3WM

Seche Vite top coat is a total game changer. It literally dries your nails fully in 10-20 minutes. That means I can get a quick manicure in during naps or even before bed (I've painted my nails 20 minutes before bed and there were no sheet marks!). I've been telling every mom I know.

I recommend investing in a bottle of Seche Vite (as do a lot of people) and buy a bottle of nail polish thinner while you're at it because it gets thick.

I usually wash dishes and shower daily and it's chip free for days, even with really cheap polish.

There's several thing you can do to help improve your learning experience of the metric system!

One is this:
Killer Hound Dogs _ Deserve Cooked Meat

This helps you remember Kilo (1000), Hecto (100), Deca (10), Deci (.10), Centi (.100), and Mili (.1000). The is for the base unit, so meters, liters, etc. There's also a little song that goes with this, and you add a little "bark bark bark!" at the part where the base unit goes. Hehe, you don't need to worry about that, though. ;D

As for the other stuff you need to memorize, like the formulas and stuff like that, I highly suggest the use of flashcards. I actually hate making flashcards myself, because it takes forever to make them (especially when you need to make a lot) and I feel like it's a waste of time. I could actually use the time I'm taking to make them to actually study, you know? But I did find this really cool site, studyblue.com, where you make online flashcards. It's a lot faster, and you can view them wherever you're at, as long as you have a computer, smartphone, or other mobile device!

I used Study Blue for my chemistry class last semester, since there were a lot of things to memorize for that class, and it helped a lot! It keeps track of which ones you got wrong, and at the end of the deck, you can redo all the ones you got wrong. Essentially what you would do with IRL flashcards, really, but I just find it a lot more efficient to do on a computer.

Other than that, I would suggest coming up with some mnemonic devices to help you remember things! You can probably find some suggestions online, but I find that it's particularly effective if you come up with it yourself. You'll remember it better because it has a specific meaning to you. Also, you can always use sticky notes to write formulas or whatever on, and stick those around your house- on the fridge door, inside the fridge, on your mirror, your beside table, etc. If you expose yourself to something often enough, it's bound to get stuck in your head.

I really hope this helps! I know studying can really suck sometimes, but the tips I gave you always help me out when I'm having trouble. =) If I win, I'd really like this top coat! I've heard such great things about it, and I've been dying to try it!

Thanks for the contest, and good luck! =D

Make good art always.

Seche VIte

thanks for gifting:)

I use Seche Vite top coat and it works really well. It also has a ton of positive reviews on Amazon, so I guess it works for others too.

Seche Vite on Amazon

The Seche Vite top coat is by far the best. It's a little pricey depending on where you get it from, but man, it is so worth it.

UK link

US link

this is a good guide to go by. Also use a nail brush, like this dipped in acetone to clean up around your fingers.

A really good base coat is Orly Bonder, it's highly recommended. As for top coats, a nice fast dry is seche. the key to this one is to apply while the polish is still tacky (slightly wet) and to wrap your tips, this kind of shows how. if your nails are short, heres a trick to help wrap the tips

Oh goodness, and I forgot to mention you need to get a top coat and base coat. OPI is a good choice for a base coat, but I'd recommend a quick dry top coat (I like Seche Vite.) Again, if you're feeling fancy, a matte top coat is always fun to have, but not necessary.

Cool idea! Here's mine:



China Glaze Recycle

Loreal French Tip White

Sinful Colors Out of this world

China Glaze Set it Stone

Finger Paints Black Expressionism

China glaze Luxe and Lush

Sinful Colors Fiji

Wet and Wild Dark green (this one is literally 10 years old and I can't find it online anywhere so no pic, sorry :(

Seche Vite Quick Dry Topcoat, the chemicals in this one scare me :/

Seche Vite

Striping Tape

Nail Dotting Tools

Sorry they're all for nails!

Awesome score. Seche vite really is amazing.

Lol, I'm always baffled why people buy it at "regular price" in store (as it's often $8+ in stores) when you can buy Seche Vite on Amazon for $5, free shipping included.

Here)

First and foremost, congratulations on 200+ days of sobriety. It is not easy, though some days are easier than others, some days are also more difficult than others. I'm very proud of you.

Step 1: As for your shop... I've eyed Nebula- I Just Met Ya, and Cosmosis for a while now. But then you made Infinintly Improbable Pink, and Finally Ginger. So a surprise works well.

Step 2: This please!

I ain't scared of no ghost!

Probably my biggest "hobby" (more like addiction) is painting my nails. I haven't quite gotten into the nail art thing but I absolutely looooove painting my nails. That's probably why my wish list is actually my polish wish list - it's the only thing I want <3

However, one of my biggest problems with my nails is that they are WEAK. They break really easily and have a hard time growing long at all. Because of this, my nails are perpetually short, which makes painting my nails harder for two reasons: a) Nail polish all over my skin and b) A lot of the colors I would like to wear just don't look as good on short nails.

Anyways. What would help me to have more flexibility with what I paint my nails (as I always shy away from my darker colors or bright colors that make my nails/hands look bad) is if I could grow them longer, which I could do if I had Nail Envy, a product many people swear by in order to help their nails grow long and strong. I've been dying to try it for a while now because I feel like it would make life so much easier!

If it ends up working for you, it's a lot cheaper on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/OPI-Nail-Envy-Original-Ounce/dp/B00178TVXG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415585648&sr=8-1&keywords=nail+envy

I found it at a Nordstrom Rack for around $13 too!

Four nails?! Oh no :( Have you ever tried OPI Nail Envy? Stuff works pretty well.

And 30 minutes a week on nails are definitely realistic! I take out a time every Saturday or Sunday to work on my nails ranging from 30 minutes to longer depending on the design I want to do.

I don't see a picture, but what really helped me was to get some nail-strengthening polish like nail envy.

I bit my nails for the better part of 20 years before I finally stopped about 2 years ago.

1. Carry a file. If one chips/breaks or it has a rough spot, just file it away. One of my main biting triggers was if I could feel my nail catching on something.
   
   
2. Take biotin. I got a huge bottle of it for about $10.
   
   
3. A clear coat, or some kind of nail strengthener. I use OPI Nail Envy. It's 2 coats, then 1 coat every other day, take it off on day 6, repeat. It took about 2 weeks before I really noticed a difference.
   
   
4. Chew gum. It was easier not to bite when I was already chewing on something.
   
   Best of luck! It's a rough habit to break, but it feels so good once you do :)
   
   EDIT: I forgot to mention: Moisturize! Be it hand cream, cuticle cream, cuticle oil, whatever. It keeps them neat so there's no hangnails, which makes them look healthier, which helps curb the temptation to bite!

I agree with Flamyngo! OPI Original Nail Envy changed my world! In the stores its like $20 a bottle but on amazon I get it for $8!!!! Check it out http://www.amazon.com/OPI-Nail-Natural-Strengthener-0-5-Ounce/dp/B00178TVXG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344516901&sr=8-1&keywords=opi+nail+envy

you can just start with the original formula

http://www.amazon.com/OPI-Nail-Envy-Original-Ounce/dp/B00178TVXG/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1454013138&sr=1-1&keywords=opi+nail+envy

We actually had 6 similar items!! i'm gonna say we both need nail envy because i only have a few drops of mine left (sads:/) and we want BEAUTIFUL nails! this stuff is seriously my god. i can't get over how much my nails have improved! i know you want strong ass nails, too, because who doesn't??:)

also, yay for birthday!!

We both have nail envy! My nails are definitely not at their strongest right now, and nail envy would definitely help. Thank you so much for the contest!

EDIT: hay, look, we both have knackered too. But I'm not sure if that one counts because it's TOO DAMN HIGH. I hate BL for that. You can't just make beautiful polishes and then make them EXPENSIVE. :P

Manglaze isn't specifically marketed towards men. Their company and nail polish names are naughty, to be sure. Their main thing is their polish has a matte finish. Using a matte top coat will give anything a finish like that.

As for the nail splitting, try a nail strengthener and make sure the nails are moisturized frequently with hand cream and/or cuticle cream.

Get on Amazon and get yourself some OPI Nail Envy. It has worked wonders for my nail!! They're significantly stronger and keeps them the proper white color. My nails used to stain very easily and it's definitely helped with that as well.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00178TVXG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1405489488&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

This is very cool! ;)

My main lemming is actually OPI Nail Envy, but I'm saving up for it. :)

The elusive lemming I've been crushing on hard is essie Shine of the Times.

Enjoy your tax return! :)

[this] (http://amzn.com/B00178TVXG) is the one I use and I think the one most people also use.

Coincidently, if you pain your nails so often that it's crazy, this is a pretty good thing to get. I mean, 4.5 ounces for about 15 bucks? Get some empty nail bottles and share with friends!

A lot of bloggers use Gelous between the glitter and the quick dry top coat to help keep things glassy smooth without a million coats. Here is a link to it on Amazon but it's way cheaper at Sally's. Don't get thrown by the label - it's technically a base coat but works well for smoothing out gritty polishes.

I'm cheap so I do my own nails. I'm getting pretty good at it. I've found that, if I properly prepare the nail beds, it doesn't matter what brand of polish I use.

So I start with nice clean nails and then lay down an even thin layer of Orly Bonder. (http://www.ulta.com/bonder?productId=xlsImpprod5260125) It's like watered down rubber cement -- it's a bit tacky/sticky even when it's dry. Then any old polish, but I'm a big fan of OPI and some of the higher-end Sally Hansen products. I just pick up whatever color catches my eye. Then a topcoat of Orly Sec n Dry topcoat (https://www.amazon.com/Orly-Sec-Dry-Nail-Treatment/dp/B000PI37WK) and my nails are good for 7-10 days. They'll grow out before it chips off.

awe man I got excited thinking I bought this but I have the https://www.amazon.com/Seche-Vite-Fast-Nail-Ounce/dp/B00150LT40/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1485206124&sr=8-1&keywords=top%2Bcoat&th=1 so I guess it's different?

Not Essie/OPI but I have both Seche Vite top and base coats that I'm hoping to get rid of:

https://www.amazon.com/Seche-Vite-Fast-Nail-Clear/dp/B00150LT40/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1524178951&sr=8-2&keywords=seche%2Bvite&th=1


https://www.amazon.com/Seche-Clear-Base-Formaldehyde-Toluene/dp/B00150SVRI/ref=sr_1_8_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1524178951&sr=8-8&keywords=seche+vite
Let me know if you're interested.

1. I'm so grateful for my husband. I just got back from vacation with him, and it was a blast! He drove the entire trip, 6+ hours each way, and I felt safe the entire time.
   
   
2. Linky
   
   
3. stitchinbitchin loves me
   
   Thanks for the contest!

It isn't Prime, but has free shipping.

But since I don't like breaking the rules, this here is Cheap and Prime!

I've used [Seche Vite fast dry Top Coat] (http://www.amazon.com/Seche-Vite-Fast-Nail-Ounce/dp/B00150LT40)
It's worked great on top of all my stamp designs!

Hope this helps!

I have gotten it at Sally's Beauty Supply and Ulta before. You can also get it on Amazon.

1. My favorite movie is The Crow; it's sad, happy, well-detailed, cinematically amazing, and has some terrific characters. I would want this gift for me, but I'm always sharing and I have ladyfriends I share with. Me + community.
   
   
2. Seche Vite Topcoat!
   
   
3. Sprout~

My favorite movie is Clue! If you haven't seen it, definitely check it out! It's on instant streaming for Netflix.

If I am luckily enough to win, I would use it for myself and share with one of my friends. We tend to like different things so there's bound to be items that each of us likes and can split it accordingly!

This top coat is less than $5!

Thank you for this awesome contest! Ill have to check out your nail polish one as well! Sprout

Edit: apparently I already saw your nail polish contest and left a comment there! Thanks again for these super great contests you're holding! :)

My nail life would be complete if I could get my hands on a bottle of Seche Vite :D

laser
this
My favorite birthday was when my friends and I took a limo to NYC to see Hairspray on Broadway.

Uhm, obviously whatever colors you'd like. China Glaze colors are my fav, and they are generally pretty cheap. Get a nice base coat (so the polish doesn't stain you nails) and a shiny top coat (to help prevent chipping). Seche Vite is an awesome fast dry top coat you can try..... Ahhhh, I cant think of anything else right now, but Im sure you'll figure it out with time. Everyone here is GREAT at answering questions and helping and giving great mani ideas!!! :) Enjoy!! You'll become addicted!!!

I would love to try this!

1. Item
   
2. My facial lotion with sunscreen, lip balm (trying to decide if I like EOS or Baby Lips), and eyeliner. Vacation is a time to relax and enjoy life. I can't enjoy life if my lips are chapped and my skin is burnt.
   
3. Tea Cup
   

The item

Thanks for the contest! :)

Products:

Go For Gold - Sally Hansen

Juliette - ILNP

XO - ILNP

Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat

Hearts Vinyls - What's Up Nails

Yeah they dry decently fast but it sounds like you need some of this. You can slather it on when your nails are still wet and it'll dry pretty quickly and look like glass.

Seche vite fast dry top-coat:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seche-Vite-Professional-Coat-14ml/dp/B00150LT40

you're welcome

It's different for everyone cos we all have slightly different chemistry/oiliness/lengths/shapes.... For me, I use a ridge filling base coat, any colour polish (I don't think buying the more expensive ones is worth it unless they are unique colours) but I SWEAR by the Seche Vite topcoat because it dries so quickly and lasts better than most others I've tried. (I recommend the topcoat restorer too cos the top coat gets thick and clumpy in the bottle really quickly.)

Also: many thin coats is annoying, but works better than one thick coat

Here's some suggestions of the things you asked for.

First, a shelf to put her polish and supplies on. I have this one from Amazon which I like a lot.
Some of my favorite brands of polish: Zoya, OPI, Sinful Colors, Essie.
I know several people get on Etsy and buy Indie polishes (polishes from independent businesses and manufacturers). I don't have any experience with those, but there's some great ones from what I've seen here.
If she enjoys nail art, a set of Nail Art Brushes and dotting tools would be a nice addition. Make sure in that group is a small, angled brush to do clean ups around the nail and cuticle. VERY important for a clean look.
A base coat and top coat is also important. Look for a quick drying top coat. I recommend Seche Vite. Just be sure to tell her to read the instructions/tips for using it. It's a bit different in some ways. :)
Also, some cuticle cream with moisturizers, cotton balls or pads, Q-Tips, and Acetone polish remover are also some things she'll need.
That should be a nice beginners basket for her. I'm sure you'll get other suggestions as well.

I LOVE YOU AND THE FLASH CONTEST AND CAP LOCKS! Please Reddit raffle, love me!

So my life right now is working at a day camp.... I do that all morning and then come home super exhausted from the heat and do nothing.... I SHOULD be working on my thesis and job hunting but that is turning into a slow to haulted process :/ Oh well!

Here is Seche Vite from /u/Hipashia

We should all have this polish because we should be able to do our nails and then do other things within the course of an hour! This is an important thing!

EDIT: Oh man, this is sad. I needed to focus on money for textbooks, so I made my main polish wl secret and moved Seche to my new one :'( I really did add it a long time ago though!

Sneaking into a peacock pen to pet the pretty peacocks at a zoo. I refuse to ever do that again because they are as vicious as they are beautiful and I ended up having to get stitches. I'm lucky I didn't get my eye put out.

If I win, I would love to get a top coat for nail polish. Thanks for throwing a contest!

The Seche Vite top coat is amazing! Best I have ever used. Seconding using the "floating" technique.

Seche Vite is a pretty good topcoat. (You can also buy it at Target.)

Sorry about the puppy. I know that was a frustrating time for me trying to find the perfect pup. Don't worry! You'll find yours. =)

Under five dolla

ICE COLD WATER FOR ONLY ONE DOLLAR

this stuff is the best

Ooh, would love my favorite Top Coat!

SFW XXX

22 candles ! happy birthday hope it is a great one :)

http://www.amazon.com/China-Glaze-Polish-HOPES-Lacquer/dp/B0085YK5U8/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2HDHF9JD1UKRV&coliid=I34NEAN6KBWQNC $0.01 plus $4.99 shipping

also seche vite is on sale for 4.84 with free shipping just fyi http://www.amazon.com/Seche-Vite-Fast-Nail-Ounce/dp/B00150LT40/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2HDHF9JD1UKRV&coliid=I1GA3CVQ666HGD

I almost fell asleep in my office chair earlier.

OO fancy

1. Item hopefully this works...
   
   
2. I was unsure what you meant by your instructions here; I am covering all my bases just in case. My guess is Pocket. Balance: $8.92. Up to $10 item Up to $7 item
   
   Thanks for hosting this contest and welcome to the sub!

Pretty reasonable on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00150LT40/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2RGW401VKH294

Found something under $5! My favorite top coat :]

Happy birthday! You are only 2 months younger than my middle daughter :)

I like Dog Potty Training Doorbell or Homemade Soda Book!

On the much less expensive side there is IBD Reconstrux Nail Growth or OPI Nail Envy because school has killed my nails.

This OPI Nail Envy or this bigsexyhair spray and my absolute favorite in-the-car-jam-out song is Feel the Love by Rudimental Unfortunately, when you listen to it on a computer, you can't hear the awesome bass that you hear when you play it in a car.

If you do choose to buy it I recommend buying it off of Amazon it is much cheaper than buying it at Ulta. I got mine off of amazon and it took like 3 days to ship.

What helped me to not bite also has been painting my nails. I bought a strengthening polish and took a few minutes every day to paint them with it.

I used these two:

OPI Nail Envy Original, 0.5 Ounce


Nailtiques Formula 2 Protein, .5 Ounce

1. oh hey errmagerd how are you today?!
   
   
2. such nail art is this one. I love Hello Kitty!
   
   
3. My miracle product for nail care would be OPI Nail Envy. It keeps my nails incredibly strong. I would also suggest keeping your cuticles moisturized, I'm obsessed with E&A oils. My fave is Pumpkin Apple Butter. Finally, I don't know what kind of remover you use, but I swear ever since I switched to Zoya Remove it feels like my nails peel less. I'm not sure if it's because there is no acetone in it, but it's incredibly gentle yet still tough enough to remove glitters and such. I know it's pricey, but it's worth it 'cause this is how we do it!

I use a cuticle oil I got from julep on my nails but Essie makes one that Ive used before that I like.

Are you using a base coat when you paint your nails? I found that when I didnt use a base coat my nails seemed to be weaker and more flimsy. OPI makes a good nail strengthener called Nail Envy. A lot if the folk at /r/RandomActsOfPolish consider it their Holy Grail. Though I opted for Essie's Strengthener. It works really well for me.

I would also try to avoid using acetone unless its necessary, I only use it to remove glitters and harder to remove stuff since my nails seem to be sensitive to it. Then I follow with my cuticle oil.

Ive read somewhere that cutting your nails causes damage to them. Im not sure I believe that but I stick to using a glass nail file to keep them in shape and the length I like. Its easier for me to shape with the file.

There is more than one shape you can make your nails (disclaimer: I dont know how well the chart works on what nail shape works for your nails, I just thought it was a good starting point and neat :) ).

This would be great for our nails! : )

It's not a top coat per se, but I SWEAR by this one as a base coat/nail strengthener. I also have CRAP nails and this really helps build up strength.

Good luck and have fun in school!

This Nail Envy would be awesome!

Maybe you should try [this] (http://www.amazon.com/OPI-Nail-Envy-Original-Ounce/dp/B00178TVXG/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1377476214&sr=1-1&keywords=nail+envy) I heard it works excellent.I recently started getting into do my nails so I am not that good yet. I watched tons of tutorials on youtube that I want to try.

This is absolutely amazing, I love it. Very handy for carrying in your purse. You could also add some flakies as a nice surprise, such as Essie's Shine of The Times if she doesn't have it already. A very popular cuticle cream is Lush's Lemony Flutter, however if you don't want to spend that much Burt's Bee's also makes a popular cuticle cream as well. OPI's Nail Envy is also pretty popular. :)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00178TVXG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1406480123&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00178TVXG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1412204156&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

Here you go.

Opi Nail Envy. I used it after biting and my nails were strong and long soon after.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00178TVXG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1505230321&sr=8-1&keywords=opi+nail+envy+strengthener&dpPl=1&dpID=41Jwwxp%2BDQL&ref=plSrch

Good luck

Well, you can start by taking a Biotin supplement or prenatal vitamins. Those will help speed up the growth of your natural nails. You'll also want to get a strengthening polish of some sort. OPI Nail Envy is popular, but I'm not sure what's available where you live. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Hand cream as often as possible. Apply cuticle oil at least once or twice a day. There are tons out there. File your nails gently, and if they're not too sensitive, buff the surface to even it out. Don't over buff it. It shouldn't hurt. After your nail surfaces are stronger and less sensitive, you might want to get a cuticle remover gel and some orange wood sticks. Apply the cuticle remover, let it sit for a minute, and then use the orange wood to gently push back any of the stuff growing up your nails. Wash your hands after using the cuticle remover, if left on too long it could burn your skin. Moisturize.

I linked some products on amazon. Just because I linked specific products doesn't mean that's what you have to use. It might take a little while to figure out the routine that works best for you, but you can do it.

No. Higher price does not mean less chipping. The base coat and top coat that work for you, means less chipping. Over the past year, I have gone through at least 10 base & top coats, of varying costs. I'm pretty sure I just (as in 3 days ago) found my perfect match. I swipe my nails with rubbing alcohol, use a Sally base, polish, then a Sally quick dry top coat. I am currently sporting a manicure that is FLAWLESS. $1.99 NYC polish, and it looks like gel.

Having sparkles and rainbows on my nails makes me smile, and we should never underestimate how important things that make us smile are! I've got a stamping plate now that includes "It's OK to not be OK" which I have on at the moment. It's so simple but it's a reminder that I see multiple times a day.

Ah, you have clearly not embraced quick drying top coat. This stuff is great (though it does shrink a little as it dries so you can't put it on really wet polish as it will wrinkle) https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007U90J7S/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A3P662NIARCJQU&psc=1
Will be dry to gentle touch in minutes (I can usually start typing again within about 10 minutes of finishing my nails) and totally dry within a couple of hours. Absolute game changer :-)

[Gelous](American Classic Gelous Nail Gel Base Coat Nail Polish https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B8KWFJU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_8vbxybA31VCXA) Nail Care Base Coat + Seche Vite top coat. Will look perfect for at least a week as long as you let polish dry after each coat. I use Essie polish almost exclusively.

Base is a dip manicure from Nugenesis in French White with Detail work using Young Nails Mission Control in Over Drive, Sonic, Solar, & Mega Jam. I coated the entire nail with Cheri No Wipe Top Coat then buffed out the entire nail to achieve a matte finish. Went back and used Cheri over the color striping to get both matte and shiny!

Matte top coat: Perfect Summer Matte Top Coat Gel... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014A3VGKA?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Stripes on middle finger were done with striping tape: Beaute Galleria 30 Mixed Colors... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JQM5J72?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Cuticle oil: Bliss Kiss Simply Pure Cuticle &... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DYMYY2G?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Golden polish: Elite99 Gel Polish Soak Off UV... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017OWPD9E?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Base coat: Beetles No Wipe Gel Top Coat and... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F12SZDS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Ball point tool used for design draw on ring finger: Yimart 20PCS Nail Art Design... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X6BCY7K?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Tool disinfectant: Barbicide Disinfectant 16oz Conc https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00415UVTK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Uv/LED lamp: SUNUV 24W UV Light LED Nail Dryer... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JGG5CH4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Nail drill: Makartt JD700 Professional... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JRGPH46?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Base color 044: Gel Nail Polish Gift Set, 12 Pcs,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075SBNVJ5?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I think so; here’s the one I’m using.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M7NW1QY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_j4zmDbBP6PR16