Cult Nails Get It On Base Coat and Wicked Fast Top Coat~ Review

Cult Nails was offering a deal with the release of their Base and Top Coats Get It On, and Wicked Fast a little while ago and I've been putting both of them through the wringer testing them out! I've now used them for four separate manicures with differing types of polishes and formulas.

First off, like the other Cult Nail polishes, these are well priced ($8 USD each or $15 USD for the two of them together) and have a easy to hold sleek cylinder bottle with excellent brush. Both have excellent consistency- a ever so slightly thin formula that applies easily to the nail. Wicked Fast is especially surprising in this aspect because all previous quick dry top coats I've tried are gloopy.

Wicked Fast is clear whereas Get It On is tinted pink. At first I was a little skeptical about the pink tint with the Get It On but now I'm so glad! It does somehow seem to brighten the nail just by itself, it doesn't affect the polish colour layered over it at all, and it makes it easy to spot out of all my other polishes. I almost wish the Wicked Fast was tinted blue so I could spot it easily too!

Get It On has a slightly rubberized texture to it to help with adhesion as well as ingredients to help with peeling, spliting, strengthening, and thinning nails. That's a whole bunch of stuff in one! It doesn't help with my splitting nails that I sometimes get as much as the Nail Tek II does, but my splitting is quite hard core at times so I wasn't expecting it to fix it. It doesn't seem to aggravate the issue though which is nice. On top of all that Wicked Fast is supposed to keep the same consistency throughout the bottle (unlike China Glaze's Fast Forward coat which becomes a sludgy mess half way through) and of course like all of Cult Nails polishes is Big Three Free.

Wicked Fast dries quicker than any other quick dry top coat I've tried, including my well loved China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat. In addition to this you only need a thin layer of this stuff, which is the complete opposite of the China Glaze one which you have to almost flood the nail when applying. It also dries quite shiny too. Get It On has a very small drying time too.

Now onto what I'm sure most of you are waiting for, does it help my manicure last? GOSH YES! Plus, it dries so quick that I don't have to be careful with my fingers in worry that I'll ruin my manicure, and I never get the nicks or ripples that I sometimes used to get when the top layer of polish had dried my the layers beneath didn't and moved.

With the Cult Nails polishes I got an amazing SIX DAYS of wear out of the polishes before I noticed tip wear and chipping. That is literally unheard of for me! I am really tough on my nails, I'm forever typing, reading, writing, cleaning (I work in a lab as a lab assistant cleaning a bunch), washing, putting on moisturizer, etc. I'm usually lucky to get my nails to last three days, so as you can imagine six days is a miracle. Even my crappy polishes that only last one day on my nails with other base and top coats I get a minimum of three days wear with the Get It On and Wicked Fast combo.

Left Hand Day 7

Right Hand Day 7 (Dominant Hand so more wear)
Major chip on ring finger happened that day

The only thing I can say about these that is even slightly negative is that you need to remember not to blob on the Wicked Fast top coat because it can bubble if you do that, but since you only need a small amount it's more of a getting used to the better formula than anything else!

Overall, these were the best impulse purchase I've ever made. I seriously can't believe how awesome they are every time I do a new manicure. They work well with a variety of polish types, and are a cinch to use. If one of my friends decides to get into polish I'll be buying them a set of these because I'm in love.

Sprite Rating: 10/10 Holy Grail!

Will I purchase again? Yes. I most certainly will. I've already been eyeing my bottles trying to estimate how long they'll last before I need to make another purchase of them. I feel like I need to hoard them even though they aren't limited edition or going away! Go get yourself a bottle now!

DIY: Manicure

I was asked awhile ago in a comment about my manicures. Whether I do them myself and if I do my pedicures too. It was such a good comment it inspired me to do this post! (Thanks McHuggs!) I do like to get my nails and toenails done once in awhile! Just not as often lately as I've been spending the money on cosmetics instead. Plus, you really don't want to see my feet. However, I cant do a spring pedicure products and favourite colours post if people are interested. In the mean time, here is the products I use for my manicures, Enjoy!

1. First you're going to need a good polish remover. I love the ones that have a sponge with slots in it to put your fingers inside. It seems weird but the polish is so much easier to remove. Especially glitter polishes. After I remove my polish remnants I like to quickly wash my hands as I find polish remover to be very drying if you leave it on for any length of time.

2. Good, clean nail tools are the most important part of making your manicure look good. I like this little kit of Revlon ones (plus some extras) which includes a pair of tweezers, a pair of nail clippers, a metal file, a cuticle stick and a cuticle cutter (which doesn't get used often as cutting your cuticles is not a good idea generally. It can lead to infection, so instead just push them back). Cut your nails and shape them to the desired look. Round is the easiest shape, but there are a variety of shapes you can choose from :D.

3. After shaping my nails (approximately the same from nail to nail- something I struggle with at times), if my cuticles are in really bad shape I like to use the Revlon Gentle Cuticle Remover. At first I was a bit leery of this product- a topical product to remove my cuticles? This is either not going to work at ALL or it's going to sting like crazy! However, this product is great. It doesn't remove your main cuticle what it does is loosen the very thin base cuticle that grows onto your nail. This also helps loosen you main cuticle enough so that you can more easily push it back. I generously gloop this on with the polish wand and then apply a second layer a minute or so later. Then I take one of my reusable cuticle sticks and gently using the bevelled edge push back my cuticles.

4. After washing my hands again I usually moisturize my hands with focus on my cuticles. This the Body Shop Strawberry Puree Body Lotion is very light and non-greasy. It sinks in fast too (though it could do with some more moisturization properties). Usually I use whatever moisturizer I happen to have on hand, and this one was the closest!

5. Now, finally I start the painting part. First is one to two coats (depending on the condition of my nails) of Nail Tek II Intensive Therapy. I use this as a base coat as it does wonders for strengthening my nails.

6. Colour! Here is Sephora OPI's Caught with my Khaki's Down, and I've used two coats for this manicure. Of course this varies from polish to polish :D. The best way to apply I find is from the bottom of the nail to the top in as wide a stroke as you feel in control of. The less strokes per coat the better, as you'll have less streaks and imperfections. Keep in mind, practice makes perfect!

7. Lastly, because I can't wait patiently to save myself and because I'm guarenteed to destroy my manicure if I don't- Quick Dry Top Coat. I love China Glaze's Fast Forward as it is really really fast and it makes the polish very shiny. Also, I adore this top coat for the fact that it levels and hides small imperfections from my colour coats. To wrap up the manicure it's a good idea to take your top coat along the tips of your nails- both on top and beneath your nail. This will seal the edge of your nail and make your manicure last longer.

Finally the finished product! I am loving this colour- perfect sage green, sometimes green and sometimes grey. Adore!

New sheets and it matches perfectly!

Ten Beauty Products I Can't Live Without!

1. Blinc tubing Mascara in Black
I adore this mascara. It's the perfect easy to remove tubing mascara that doesn't smudge or run or flake. You can read my full Review Here. :D


2. Clarisonic Mia
I can't live without my Clarisonic Mia. Although mine is the white one, if the purple had been available when I bought mine I would have chosen that colour! This helps my acne so much and it really helps clean deep into pores gently. My review on this is here :D.


3. Estee Lauder Double Wear Liquid Foundation (Shade Shell)
Although I've been using the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light foundation lately, I finally got my hands on the Double Wear foundation in my correct shade. This foundation is great, matte finish, lasts all day and covers well. My review here!


4. Mac Prep and Prime Transparent Finishing Powder
This is my favourite setting powder. I've tried quite a few others such as MUFE HD and Laura Mercier's secret finishing powder but this is the best. It really gives a soft focus effect when I use it with my mini kabuki, blurring the look of my pores until they're almost gone. I've finally done a review for this here.


5. Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Too Faced Shadow Insurance is my Holy Grail eyeshadow primer. It lasts all day for me and prevents creasing as well as feeling nice on and intensifying shadows a bit. Check out my review here!


6. TheBalm TimeBalm Concealer in Lighter than Light
The best undereye concealer I've tried this is creamy the perfect brightening shade and covers wonderfully. The only downside is that it doesn't work well over dry skin at all. I also like how inexpensive it is for the amount of product and how there is Vitamin E in it as well. Here's my review! :D


7. Nail Tek II Intensive Therapy
This stuff has saved my nails big time! From weak splitting nails that couldn't grow to strong healthy ones this as a base coat has transformed my nails. Another plus was that it was quick too! Read about my experience with it here!


8. China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat
I don't know about anyone else but I always always ALWAYS mess up my manicure before it dries unless I have a quick dry top coat and this one by China Glaze is the best! Really quick drying and I actually don't mind the sweet smell to it. As with all top coats it gets a bit thick after awhile but some polish thinner takes care of that. (Review to come)


9. Nars Penny Lane Cream Blush
I just got this blush not too long ago and I adore it! I can't see myself without this anymore as it lasts all day (only blush I've had that does) and the finish is amazing! Check out my full review here!


10. Eco Tools Brushes
The best brushes out there in my opinion. Cheap, Eco friendly, creulty-free, easy to clean, and super soft! There is nothing bad about these brushes except maybe the fact that the range is sort of limited! Full review of them here! The picture above is one of the sets of brushes I've bought and use almost daily.

So that's it! I saw this tag and thought it would be a good fun post to do. I have a couple other posts in the works so more coming soonish! Hope you enjoyed!

Nail Tek II~ Review

I know this looks about as boring as boring can be but this little bottle has done miracles! I received this as a gift recently from a wonderful woman named Jennie who included it in her package because I was moaning on the nail forum on MUA about my soft and peely nails. After putting polish on them pretty much straight for months at a strech my nails had been reduced to soft brittle beings from their former strong flexible glory. I had to keep cutting them all the time because the layers of the nail would separate from the tip down, sometimes becoming quite sore. Not to mention my polish often didn't look that great as the nail would break beneath it. To say this was frustrating would be an understatement.

Splitting Nail (Before Nail Tek II)

I've used this as a base coat for four manicures now and my nails are almost back to their full strength and glory. I noticed a difference right away after the first manicure and three polish changes later I'm astounded. I can't believe how much of a difference this treatment has made. I don't really have an after photo for you as they just look like normal nails though if you take a look-see at the Guns and Roses Nail of the Day you can see my most recent manicure. Before this I tried Gelous which can be purchased at Sally Beauty and though it helped a little in reducing the peeling I'd get on the surface of my nails when I'd remove polish it didn't help with the cracking separating nail tips. Plus I've had good wear with Nail Tek II as a base coat which is a bonus. (Gelous works well as a base coat too). The only thing to keep in mind with Nail Tek II as a base coat is that all the polish may come off at once which is startling the first couple times it happens as its often still in the shape of your nail. Now I just think its funny when this happens instead of weird when it first occurred.
I'm not going to swatch this for you as you can see that it's transparent. But it dries quickly and is super easy to apply. It's sort of expensive, averaging around $10 USD but you can get it for much less as I know Ross in the States was selling it for around $5 and transdesign online has it for around $5 USD as well.

Sprite Rating: 10/10 There is nothing bad about this product!
Would I buy it again? YES! I'm already on the look out here in Canada for another bottle because I don't want to worry about running out!

NOTD: Christmas Party! (WnW Prancer and Confetti My Favorite Martian)

It's my birthday today! I'm now twenty-one and I figured I needed to catch up on my posting, most especially because I'm going to have to send my computer away for repairs *cries*. I hope you enjoy!

Recently I was sent the entire Wet n' Wild holiday collection as well as three Confetti polishes and two Nail Tek polishes from a lovely lady named Jennie! She blew me away with her generosity. This Nail of the Day is with some of the polishes she sent me.

Sunlight

Please excuse my sad cuticles and lack of clean up, honestly I can never really get my nails anywhere near as perfect as the nail bloggers out there! For this manicure I used Nail Tek II nail strengthener for a base with 2-3 coats of Confetti My Favorite Martian as the main colour. (Note, I can't find anything out about the Confetti brand except that they're going out of buisness, no animal testing status, sorry! I've tried!) On top of this lovely yellow-green jelly with light green flecks is Prancer from the Vixen Mittens collection with Nail Tek Quick Dry on top.

I found My Favorite Martian slightly difficult to work with as it was translucent for most layers. I love Prancer though, so adorable and the red sparkles are so bright at times I can see red light reflected off my nails. I find this polish combo very holiday festive and I'm loving holding it up against holiday decorations like the christmas tree and the poinsettia. What do you think? Like it or just not feeling it?
Normally I like bluer greens but this one I think works here.
I should have all my birthday gifts (at least the Make-up ones!) sometime today or tomorrow! So stay tuned :D
And here is some pictures of the polish in front of christmas decorations hehe :D