So, with all my unexpected free time today, I thought what better time to make my first nail post? I want to start out with a couple other products before I get to the featured polish, though. Hope you don't mind!
The first is Equate's nail polish remover pads (non-acetone). I tend to prefer remover pads to the regular liquid remover, just because I hate having little pieces of cotton stringing along and sticking to things once it's soaked in. If anyone has a better way to use the liquid remover, please leave a comment! I'm really new at the whole nail polish thing, so I am very open to suggestions and tips!
This is the first time I have used this particular pad, and I have to say I was not impressed. They were cheap in price, and the polish came off fast, but the pad itself felt very wet to the touch, which I didn't care for. They say on the package that one pad cleans all 10 nails - the truth is, one pad is definitely big enough to clean off all 20, if you do your fingernails and your toenails! I know my pros are outweighing my cons here, but if I can find a pad that has all these and feels less soaked, I would go with that one instead of this. I got the non-acetone kind because I thought they might be less fumey, but that wasn't really the case.
Where I Got It: Wal-Mart (in-store)
What do you use to remove your nail polish? Liquid or pads? Do you prefer acetone or non-acetone?
The second is Sally Hansen's Double Duty Base & Top Coat. I never used to use a base or top coat, and then one polish I have stained my nails so bad that it was suggested I get one. So far, I really like this product! Since it's the only base/top coat I've ever used, I can't really compare it with others, but it seems to work really well. A side note with this, I tend to use two coats of base, because the polish that prompted its purchase actually still stained my nails with one coat. Two coats, and no staining!
This is also supposed to be "strengthening", but I really don't have a comment on that. I don't see any difference in my nails since I've been using it.
So, what's your fav top/base coat? Do you have one you use, or several? I may be buying a few different top coats, and maybe looking for some different base coats as well. Maybe I will find one that keeps polish from staining with only one coat! I'm sure they are out there.
Where I Got It: Target (in-store)
And now, the feature of the post! In honour of the weather, I decided to kick things off with a winter-themed polish: Ski Teal We Drop by OPI. I know many (if not all) of you are probably very familiar with it already, but I know I don't get tired of looking at it!
Ski Teal We Drop is such a lovely polish - I originally bought it to accent an outfit I got to wear to a friend's band's show, and never thought it was really a colour that I'd wear for everyday. Turns out I was wrong.
In person, it's actually darker than what my photo represents, but it's just as pretty! My bottle is a little more blue in person, but my camera I guess decided to bring out the green. It's a very rich hue, and just light enough to keep from being vampy, if that isn't your thing.
I don't know much about formula yet, since I'm just starting out, but I have to say that the consistency of this polish is wonderful - not goopy, not runny.
The first coat didn't apply so great, but that could easily have been my inexpertise at work, lol. I ended up applying two coats for opacity.
I wish I could get a more true-to-life photo of this beauty! My camera has apparently become uncooperative in its old age, so it likes to focus anywhere other than what I'm trying to photograph, and so these came out a little blurry and the polish not how it really appears in person. I may have to play around with it, or use a different camera next time, but today I was just too excited about posting to wait any longer! When I can get a more accurate photo, I will be editing this post as well as the Collections Swatch link to switch the images out. Please bear with me until then!
Also, I have applied a top coat to my left hand and left my right hand without a top coat. Once the polish starts wearing off and chipping like crazy, I will update with a STWD life expectancy!
Where I Got It: JC Penney Salon
How Much: Average cost of OPI - ~ $7-8 US. I remember thinking it would cost more, since I was buying it at a salon, but it was the same as any regular retailer.
Thanks for reading! I had a lot of fun putting this post together, and I look forward to doing more!
ETA: STWD lasted a little over a week for me before it started getting a little tip wear! Not too shabby.
Great post!
ReplyDeleteIf your camera doesn't start cooperating I will fly down there and punch it in the face.
BTW each location where I bought products is a link to that place's website! Usually will be a Store Locater page, lol. I know most places, people already know where they will be located in their area (Target, Wal-Mart, etc) but I like to be consistent. lol
ReplyDeleteIm in TX too... and am also enjoying the snow day!
ReplyDeleteI started doing something new/i hadnt seen anyone do before in terms of polish remover. Similar to the 'foil' method that a lot of people use; I take 100% acetone (target brand) and fill the cap up 1/2 way with acetone and put it in my sink. I then dunk each nail into the cap for a few seconds (more depending on if it is a glitter or not) and then I rub the polish off with a pre-soaked cotton pad. It might be somewhat wasteful, and possibly illegal to pour flammable substances down the drain (this is what I study in school) but it is fairly quick, and simple for all nail polishes.
Sorry that was long, but I thought i'd comment cause my way is a little different.
Cant wait to read more!
Liter, I haven't tried soaking my fingers in the remover! I might have to try that (only after a cut on one of my fingers heals, haha). My skin is really sensitive, so I'm not sure if it's the best solution for me, but worth at least one try.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip, and thanks for reading! :)
As a basecoat, I use a Rimmel 5-in-one.. It says it's both top- and base coat and strenght and I don't know what the last 2 things are.. haha.. But that's the cheapest I can get here and I think it's $9-10.. Everyhing is kinda expensive here.. But it woks so far :)
ReplyDeleteAs for removing, I use liquid.. I haven't seen those kind of pads anywhere.. But if I found them I'm sure I would try it!
I love that polish :) It looks good! And I know how it feels with a camera that won't capture the color..
(sorry that was a long ramblign again :p )
I use acetone with some glycerin added (the cheap gal's version of Zoya Remove+) and cotton rounds to take off my polish. I don't usually have issues with bits of cotton coming off on my nails in the process. Some girls really like the scrubby tubs--little jars with a sponge and remover inside, you just stick your fingers in one by one and swirl them around.
ReplyDeleteI am always experimenting with base coats but my go to top coat is Sally Hansen Insta Dri Top Coat; dries fast and seems to chip very little on me.