Showing posts with label top coat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label top coat. Show all posts

Ulta Nail FX Kit

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Yesterday we headed up to Indy for Iron Man 3 and I stopped at Ulta on the way back.
I discovered this intriguing set of top coats for $15. I'll confess I specifically wanted it because it claimed to have a holographic top coat. These are full-sized bottles so for $15, that's a pretty good deal.

Their web site says:
Set includes 4 topcoats with benefits ranging from extended wear, increased shine, and intensified color. Choose from matte, smokey and holographic finishes.

Here's what the box says:
  • Color Enhancing topcoat - Brightens and intensifies any nail enamel. Pops in direct sunlight and glows under black light.
  • Matte topcoat - Create a matte effect when applied over any shade.
  • Holographic topcoat - Futuristic rainbow holographic effect when used alone. Silvery holographic frost when used over any colored nail enamel.
  • Smokey topcoat - Gives any shade of polish a dark smokey effect. Extends wear and increases shine.



Here's a swatch of one coat on Julep's "Rose". 
  • Thumb = no top coat
  • Index finger = color enhancing -- this one doesn't seem to do a whole lot but I didn't try it under a black light and I didn't try it in direct sunlight.
  • Middle finger = holographic -- nice effect but it does partially cover the underlying color. I'd expected it to be a little more sheer than it is.
  • Ring finger = matte -- disappointing matte effect compared to every other matte top coat I've tried.
  • Pinky finger = smokey - Darkens the color. Supposedly makes it shinier and last longer? I didn't notice extra shine, mostly because its darker than the original color. And I didn't leave it on long enough to test the durability.

Findings:

As I mentioned, this was only $15 for 4 bottles. It's a pretty good value.
Though I'm a bit disappointed the matte wasn't better with one coat but the holographic top coat probably makes up for that.

Julep February Box - Bombshell

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For this month I switched up my style profile from my polish-heavy "It Girl" because I wanted this month's product. I also really wanted a holo so I picked "Bombshell"

Here's what came in my box:
  • Oxygen Nail Treatment
  • Ginger (beige holographic) 
  • Laura (olive creme)
  • EXTRA - Freedom Polymer Topcoat
  • EXTRA - Eye lash curler
  • EXTRA - Candy hearts ;)
A closer look at the products:


I pre-ordered the Freedom Top Coat back in December so I already had an open bottle. It's not bad. I don't think its worth the extra money beyond other salon-type top coats. It doesn't set particularly fast ( it suggests you wait 5 minutes). And it has chipped within days. Definitely not gel-like as it promises. But it does have a nice glossy finish.

I've yet to try the Oxygen treatment because it suggest you not use it with any other polish and I was too eager to try out the holographic polish. As always, if I find the oxygen treat is amazing, I'll dedicate an entire post to it :)

A closer look at the polishes:



A closer look at the lash curler:


To be honest I've never really understood this whole lash curling concept.


Here are a few shots of the polishes. I usually do at least a few nails with only 1 coat but I forgot this time around. The olive creme did well with only one coat. The holo needed at least two. The holo nails in the photo have three coats (two coats, polymer on top of it and then another coat of holo). 




The holographic effect on this polish isn't quite as noticeable as the Layla Hologram Effect polish I showed a few months back. That said, I like the color on this polish. It's a nice neutral, understated holographic that will be really nice in the warm summer months.

Here's a (poor) video of it: 



butter London Nail Lacquers from Coterie

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Melissa (LilyElement) sent me to this new site Coterie where they had a deal on butter London Nail Lacquers. The deal was pick 3 Nail Lacquers and get a bottle of  Hardwear P.D. Quick Topcoat for $36. On top of that she gave me a coupon for $25 off. So after shipping I got this whole deal for $15.99.

I was excited to try this brand especially for such a steal.

The colors I picked are Bluey, West End Wonderland, and All Hail The Queen.


Here are swatches of these polishes (one coat).

 Bluey
 West End Wonderland
 All Hail The Queen


My first impression is that they won't work for stamping. My second is that I'll need several coats of polish or a base color beneath for these to look decent. These days I like polishes that will coat with one coat (and can be used for stamping). So I'm a little disappointed with these offerings. But at the price I got them for, I can't complain.

The quick top coat is decent. Though I've only tested out the quick dry aspect so far. It's as good as the Seche Vite and Essie I've tried in terms of quickness. We'll see how it holds up over daily wear and tear.
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