Finishing Touches: Top Coat

I would hazard a guess that most women that enjoy painting their nails use a top coat, but for those that don't here are a few reasons why I recommend that you do!

To put it simply top coat helps your manicure last longer and keeps it looking fresher! It protects your nail polish from going dull, chipping, dinging or scratching! It's truly worth the effort for that glossy luster that ensures your nails look stunning!

Many women skip the top coat believing that another layer will only take more time to dry... That my friends is the complete opposite to the truth! Many top coats have quick-drying properties, so they may be applied on top of wet nail polish to help it harden and dry faster. This is beneficial if you have limited time or lack in patience before getting back to your regular activities!

My favorite top coat is inm Out The Door, which has been voted America's #1 top coat, and has held that position for 25 years. And let me tell you it deserves that title! I love how quick and easy it is to apply, and how it actually does what the label on the bottle claims - dries in seconds! That is not to say that it is completely ding-proof immediately - no top coat can boast that - but it certainly goes a long way to protect your manicure while it cures!


There are lots of choices when it comes to top coat - and it all depends on what you are looking to achieve apart from protecting your nail polish. I do tend to favor the inm branded ones - they have stood the test of time and proven their worth to me! Below are the types of top coats inm offer and their purpose.

Out The Door Top Coat - As mentioned above, this is your standard quick-drying top coat. It is a long wearing top coat with a high gloss shine that will not yellow. Available in 3 sizes, the mini 3.5ml/1/8oz bottle (perfect for on the run!), the standard 15ml/0.5oz bottle and the 73ml/2.5oz bubble bottle. It also comes in two refill sizes, the 118ml/4oz bubble bottle and the 473ml/16oz bottle.


Northern Lights Holographic Top Coat - This exclusive product was created by blending holographic film particles with Out The Door top coat. Dries smooth to the touch, and can easily be removed with polish remover. Apply over any polish and watch a dazzling prism of three dimensional accents! Absolutely stunning! Available in 3 sizes, the mini 3.5ml/1/8oz bottle (perfect for on the run!), the standard 15ml/0.5oz bottle and the 73ml/2.5oz bubble bottle. It also comes in the 118ml/4oz refill bubble bottle.

Silver


Gold


Total Eclipse Top Coat - Non-Yellowing U.V. blocking top coat, Total Eclipse is an optical enhancer that protects nails from the yellowing effects of ultra violet rays, while accentuating the natural pink of the nail bed, and white of the free edge. The perfect top coat for french manicures! Available in 3 sizes, the mini 3.5ml/1/8oz bottle (perfect for on the run!), the standard 15ml/0.5oz bottle and the 73ml/2.5oz bubble bottle.


LooksWet Top Coat - Rose tinted blend of acrylic resins that deliver a durable high gloss finish so shiny that the nails still look wet...after drying. Perfect for finishing nail art! Available in 2 sizes, the standard 15ml/0.5oz bottle and the 73ml/2.5oz bubble bottle.



Also available is a top coat that makes your nail polish appear matte - I know China Glaze does one called Matte Magic.

Phew! So there are some of the top coats you can choose from! I highly recommend investing in a good quality top coat, I promise you it will make a massive difference to the durability and lasting lusciousness of your manicure!

As always I will have these top coats available on OZtion and MakeupAlley for anyone who would like a highly recommended product!

So take the time to find the right top coat for you - because once you do, you will wonder how you lived without it!

Back to Basics: Base Coat

I think it is amazing that so many women out there love painting their nails, but are completely unaware of the importance of using a base coat. I admit that I was one of these women not so long ago! And so, I'm writing this post to highlight the reasons why a base coat is a crucial step in beautifying your nails!


Why do I need a base coat?

The two main reasons for using a base coat are to protect your nails and ensuring a smoother, longer lasting manicure.

If you have natural nails, a base coat can replenish nails that are brittle and dry, restoring the moisture that nails need in order to be healthy. This in turn promotes healthier nails, and prevents breakage and other damage, including splitting and peeling.

Dark shades of nail polish can stain the nail, as well as seep into the nail bed and discolour your nails. Blue, black, or bright red and pink nail polishes are most likely to do this. Applying a base coat can prevent this from occurring. The base coat is a shield of protection from this kind of damage.


Base coat lengthens the life of nail colour by forming a molecular bond between the nail plate and the polish layer. It provides a smoother, more receptive surface for the nail polish to adhere to, while filling in the lines and creases in the nail.

When using a base coat, you will truly notice a difference in the ease of the application as well as a longer lasting manicure with far less chipping and peeling!

Types of base coats available -

I highly recommend you stay away from products that claim to be a 2 in 1 base coat/top coat. Both are formulated to do two different jobs and it makes no sense to use the same product for both jobs!


Base coats come in standard and ridge-filler varieties. Standard base coats are usually clear, but can also come in a thicker formula with a milky appearance. They can also have agents to thicken your natural nails or reduce splitting and peeling. Ridge-filling base coats are thicker than regular base coats. They fill in any lines, ridges and grooves to give the nails a smoother looking appearance. I have seen these sold in white and pink.

What base coat do I use?

I am currently using inm ClearBond Base Coat. It is a fantastic product that is clear, and dries fast! I cannot find fault in it at all, so I highly recommend it! It comes in two sizes, the standard 15ml/0.5oz bottle or the 73ml/2.5oz bubble bottle.


Other base coats that inm provide are, MilkyBond Base Coat and RidgeFree Ridge Filler available in pink and white.
Eventually I will have all of these on offer at OZtion and MakeupAlley for anyone that would like a recommended base coat.


Although it may seem like a hassle at the time, please get into the habit of using a base coat, because it will definitely save you time in the long run! You won't have to re-paint chipped nails as often if you don't wish to, and will help you avoid stained nails if you decide that electric blue or fire-engine red isn't really your thing after all!

Spotlight On: Mode Cosmetics #10660 Party Crasher

Firstly, please read my post Introducing.... Mode Cosmetics Nail Enamel! if you have not done so already, as it contains general information about this brand of nail enamel.


Party Crasher is part of the current Mode Cosmetics collection and is a Royal Purple creme. Please excuse the less than perfect photos, purple looks blue as per usual! I found this shade to be a little tricky to work with – it went on thick, so thick I only needed one coat, and dried very slowly. I also found that my top coat (I use inm Out The Door) changed this shade so much that I swatched it without any top coat on at all. The top coat not only made the shade look twice as dark as it actually was, but it also made the colour streak. I would have tried a different brand of top coat to see if it behaved the same – but I don't have another one! I would suggest a drop of thinner in this shade to make sure you don't get bubbling too. If you have the time and patience for this shade then give it a go, because it is a gorgeous colour.


Photograph taken in artificial light


I will be listing a bottle of this shade on OZtion for any Australian ladies interested in owning one! I will also be offering it for trade on MakeupAlley in the near future for anyone, anywhere! For ladies outside of Australia who would like to buy a bottle, please email me and I will happily list one on eBay for you. If you have tried these links and Party Crasher is not available on any of these sites, please email me, and I will endeavour to source one for you.