For the record: Top and Base Coats

2011 is around the corner and that means I'm going on my third year of keeping this blog updated. And that means... I'm tired of typing out the same top coat/base coat spiel every time I post a nail blog. So here it is once and for all so that I can just post a link to it from now on:

My top and base coat

Avon Nail Experts:

Smooth Beginnings Base Coat and UV Gloss Guard Top Coat

I like these because they're thin enough to really seem like base and top coats without being too heavy. And I love that there's a difference between them -- I hate it when I'm looking at drugstore brands and they claim that the product is both a base and top coat. They're completely different products, man! One is to help keep polish on and the other is to protect and keep things OFF, so I really don't get how you can use the same product for both.

The base coat has a gritty feeling to it when it dries, and the top coat is smooth and flows nicely. I really like them, and I never have a problem with bubbling. I usually do only 1 coat of the base and 1-2 coats of the top coat (hence the difference in levels on my bottles that were bought at the same time...)

So there it is, if you're ever curious.

Sparkley Gold Christmas Spirit

I love doing my nails because I basically get to have Christmas wrapping paper on my nails every day. :) This week I went with a gold theme to kind of keep myself grounded at LEAST until after Thanksgiving. Then I'll go crazy. I admit that it's not quite Christmas season yet.

On a side note: I'm not quite used to the "wide angle" of my new camera... check out my thumb. I'll have to get used to not zooming in so much like I did with my other camera.

What I used: (the usual top and base coats)

• Base: Savvy Nail Lacquer in "Golden Honey 627088" -- 2 coats
• Stripes: Konad plate m64 with Konad white nail polish
• Flower: Konad plate m4 with Konad red nail polish
• Sparkles: Sally Girl 812070

Disneyland!

In celebration of my graduation this year, my sister's graduation last year and my dad's re-election as mayor, I bought my family a 3-night vacation in Disneyland in Anaheim. We were there from the 15th until the 18th, and it was spectacular. Nice weather, barely any lines, not too crowded. We had a blast.

In my excitement, I did some Mickey nails for the trip. These came out less-than-ideal but I was exhausted by the time I had reached this point and just decided to call it quits. My original design was red nails with blue tips with stars/moons like the Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey, but by the time I finished both hands I just wasn't happy with it. So, I started over and ended up with this.

Strangely, my left hand did a better job of painting than my right hand did... it was weird.

This picture was taken at the park in Tomorrowland. It was cold and my hands were dry. :P

What I used:

• Top and Base coat: The usual!
• Red base: Wet n Wild in "Red Red": 1-2 coats
• Tips: Nicole by O.P.I. in "Razzle Dazzler" -- 2 coats
• Mickeys: Konad white polish, and same red base polish, applied with the handle end of a paint brush I found on my desk
• Sparkles: Just a little bit of Sally Girl #812070 on the sides. 

Black tips, white hearts

Can I just say that I loved these nails? They were so frickin cute.

What I used:

• Top and Base Coats: The usual!
• Tips: Nicole by O.P.I. in "Razzle Dazzler" -- 2 coats by hand. 
• Hearts: Konad plate m56 with Konad white nail polish

Soooo cutie. I'm surprised at how good they came out... I'm getting better at painting on tips and my aim's improved as far as stamping goes. 

Dark Fall Nails

I attempted to do something "fall" inspired but it ended up pretty dark for my taste. They're nice, but they seem to be someone else's style more than my style. I'll probably re-do them before the week is over.


What I used:

• Avon Smooth Beginnings Base Coat -- 1 coat
• Base: Sally Girl "Gotta Have It" -- 1 coat
• Glittery color: Sephora by OPI " in 212-SEPHORA SE 016 -- 1 coat
• Black Tip background: Nicole by OPI in "Razzle Dazzler" -- 1 coat
• Tip Stamp: Leaf Design on Konad Stamp Plate #m56 in Savvy Nail Lacquer "Golden Honey" 
• Bow Stamp from Konad plate #m56 in Petites "French White"
• Top Coat: Top Coat: Avon Nail Experts UV Gloss Guard Top Coat -- 1-2 coats 

I don't like that my Avon topcoat streaks the paint underneath. I may have to look out for a new brand.