Favorite Stamping Polish

Good morning everyone! Happy Sunday! Yay! I love my Sundays, I especially love the fact that I can still show a lot of my favorite nail products.

Today's topic is Stamping Polish.

Believe it or not a lot of the times I don't even use brand name stamping polish like Konad, MASH, or others. The only brand that I use the most is Kand (A rip off brand of Konad) which you can purchase at the Born Pretty Store for about $4.19 a bottle. The product is very thick, pigmented, and sticky. It matches the Konad brand very well, the only thing I've noticed is that the finish comes out Matt then shinny, but a shiny top coat can fix that. Or you can always purchase the minis for a cheaper price. When I first discovered Kand Polish I purchased it in this set that I purchased from LightinTheBox. I only use Black and White (It came with a red stamping polish) because they are the most common stamping colors I use. The white is super opaque so it works well for me.

As I was saying I don't use the big brand stamping polish. Most of the Polishes I use are normal brand name polishes. It's really a trial and error with testing for regular polishes but they work. I find that ones that are opaque in one coat, super pigmented and really thick, make some of the best stamping polishes. Especially old ones you don't usually use anymore.

My favorites are:
Sally Hansen - Insta-Dri Collection
Sally Hansen - Xtreme Wear Collection (Only a few of them)
Color Club - Foiled Collection
Sinful Colors - Snow Me White (Second best white stamping polish I own. It's almost 3 years old with no thinner. Still works great as a regular polish as well.)
China Glaze - Romantique Collection
Salon Express - Stamping Nail Art Polish (Purchased from Five-Below. I'm not sure if it's available anywhere else.)
Wet n` Wild Wild Shine Collection -  Black Cre'me (Not as crisp as Kand/Konad brand but it does really well for a regular polish)

I recently discovered a stamping polish from one of my stamping sisters from "Adventures in Stamping" And the polishes are called Mundo De Unas (Don't know how to put the little ~ over the N) But I purchased a bunch of the Minis and I won't go back to Konad, Kand or even my other polishes. The one thing I LOVE about these polishes is that some of the pastel colors will go over the black REALLY well. If you wish to see some photos please check out her facebook page. If you wish to order some of her amazing polishes just send her a message over at facebook. She'll get back to you quickly. Mundo de Uñas

Have a beautiful weekend!

Favorite Fridays - Base coats and Nail Strengtheners

Good morning ladies! Happy Friday~ This Friday I will be talking about Base Coats and Nail Strengtheners.  (Even though I currently have acrylics. I still love my Basecoats/Nail strengtheners.) The reason why I put these two together is because they kind of go hand and hand with each other. Lots of people use Nail Strengtheners as a base/top coat. I use it primarily as a base coat. So today I will be talking about some of my favorites.

The first one I use the most out of all is "Nutra Nail With Green Tea Antioxidants". Because my nails tend to split and peel, I need a strengthener that will help bond my nail layers together and fill in some weak spots.

The next one "Sally Hansen Maximum Growth". I thought this was actually discounted, however I just realized it was just a different bottle. but this was the polish I used the most before I got my "Nutra Nail Nail Strengthener". This really helped my nails grow faster, but it didn't really help strengthen my nails. It's kinda why I went to the Nutral Nail.

My last favorite is actually grouped together. They each do different things but they all make what my nails are today. It's from a brand called Nail Aid. They are  "Nail-Aid Triple Wrap Thickener" which helps with peeling nails. "Nail-Aid Extreme Steel Hardener" help prevent breakage of long nails and makes your nails really hard. Almost gel like. And the Last is "Nail-Aid Ultra Fast Growth". It helps with nail growth to at least 5-7 days. The great things about these is that it is 3 free, really inexpensive, and available at either Ross, TJ Max, or even WalMart.

I do use others such as "Nailtiques Formula 2", "Sally Hansen Triple Strong", "Poshe` Nail-Strengthening Treament Basecoat" and "Seche Base - Ridge Filling Base Coat". I usually kinda go back and forth with my nails because it's not always the same. Sometimes they break, other times they split, and even break off completely. My nails gives me more trouble then they worth, however I love what I do and I'll do what I can to keep them strong, long and beautiful.

I really hope you enjoyed this post! HAPPY FRIDAY! 

Favorite Fridays - Top Coats

Good Morning Folks! HAPPY FRIDAY! *Still watches a tumble weed blow by* Today I will also be starting a series called Favorite Fridays that was inspired from the lovely Jen from ThePolishAholic. She was able to show her viewers her favorite ways to maintain her life and her polish such as; how she stores her polish, how she gets that perfect swatch manicure, etc. (BTW Jen, you are fantastic!)

To me this is a good way for my future viewers to understand why I use certain products to achieve my stamping nail looks.

My all time favorite top coat is by far the "Poshe` Super-Fast Drying Top Coat". It meets all my requirements when I'm looking for a top coat. (Yes I have others.)

1. It drys quick.
2. It leaves a beautiful glossy finish.
3. It NEVER smears my Stamping Design. ***
4. It's chip resistant.
5. It doesn't have harsh chemicals.

I've used Poshe` for about 2 years now. I always get the bottles from the super nail supply store where it comes in a 16oz glass bottle. (I just refill my tiny bottle.)

I first purchased the Poshe` top coat at Sally's Beauty Supply after watching a review from Meliney on YouTube. The bottle is .5oz and it cost me $6.49 with my Sally's card. I was using Seche Vite prior to Poshe`. And it gave me the same results as Seche Vite without the toxic chemicals Formaldehyde, Toluene or Nitrocellulose. It drys fast, if not faster than Seche Vite with zero shrinkage to the nail tip that can cause chipping. Like any bottle of polish it will get thick as it reaches the end of the small bottle. Little bit of polish thinner helps restore to its normal consistence and I just add more from my giant 16oz of top coat when the bottle is empty.

I do use other top coats when I'm just wearing a regular manicure because sometimes if you use the base and top coat of the brand it makes a difference of the wear time. For example; If I am wearing China Glaze "First Mate" just to swatch the color, I will use China Glaze's Base and Top Coat. However, if I have a stamped image on China Glaze "First Mate" I will use the Poshe` Top Coat. Any future swatches I will use the top coat of the brand.

Another top coat that I favor is Seche Vite. This was my very first fast drying top coat. This top coat is also very good with stamping designs and drys really quickly. My only problem with this top coat is the harsh chemical and how it shrinks back the polish when it's drying and has my nail design chipping in less then two days. I would prefer to wear my designs a little longer then 2 days. (Though it doesn't matter because I'm always changing my polish.) Over all its a great top coat. You can also purchase this top coat at Sally's Beauty Supply for $6.99 with a Sally's card. Like the Poshe` top coat it will get thick but it starts to get thick at the middle of the bottle, not at the end. Seche Vite has its own brand called Seche Restore which is a thinner that should be used restore the consistency for this top coat. Again, the chemicals in the Seche Vite Top Coat and the Seche Restore works well with each other. Some brands work within it's own brand others you can use generic things.

Thats it for today's post, I really hope you enjoy this! And remember, its not easy to find the perfect top coat and everyone is different. Use what you think works best for you.