Nail care

Yesterday I made a selection in my collection of all my nail care products, base and top coats and thought to make a post about it and tell you my experience. I throwed away a few and these are the remaining ones.

I will start with the mosturizing products: P2 - Moisturizing Ultra Gel and Aromax - Nail and cuticule care oil

The P2 - Moisturizing Ultra Gel as you can see comes in a nail polish bottle which includes a pink liquid with small pink beads. The manufacturer promises: "Ultra moisturizing gel for nail and cuticle. With moisturizing D-panthenol and aloe vera to support the elasticity of the natural nail. The active ingredient beads contains vitamin E."

I apply it on the nail with the nail polish brush and I rub it in the nails and cuticles. Because of the brush, the product is super easy to dose and use. The consistency is a bit oily and runny, so the distribution is quick and simple. The product smells really good like berries, I would say.

I think the product makes the job, it moisturizes the nails and cuticles and harder’s the nail surface too, in my opinion. The formula is absorbed in the nails within a minute and does not leave a greasy film behind.

Moisturizers

The Aromax nail and cuticle care oil is my personal favorite because it is 100% natural. It is for everyday use. Ingredients: peanut and macadamia nut oil, evening primrose extract, natural antioxidant and vitamin E, and antiseptic essential oils like tea tree, lemongrass, clove and thyme all nourish the fragile nails seared by polishes and removers. The product makes the nails healthier and the vitamin E softens the cuticle.

Base coats and hardners

Avon - "Protein and keratin-infused formula creates a hard, shiny finish. Provides a sheer, natural and healthy look to nails"

This gel strength base coat in my opinion has a professional quality. It helps protect the nails, adds a nice smooth base coat for the polish and goes on nicely. I use is many times without any other polish just to protect my nails and give them a nice shine.

Marks&Spencer - many of you maybe didn't known about this product, because it is mainly a clothing brand. I use it as a base coat because it dries very fast and smoothens the surface of the nail very well. I think it is called rejuvenating because after applying the product the nails look fresh like baby nails, if I can say so, it has a light pink shade. 

L'oreal - I love, love, love everything about this product, it is a high-performing nail care product, that allows to obtain a professional-looking result in a few minutes. The formula hardeners the nails and gives a mega shine and it can be used as a base coat or top coat. The brush is quite wide and it can be applied very easy and it dries fast.

Top coats

Rimmel (glossy finish) - I use this product when I don't make stampings because it smears. The manufacturer promises up to ten-day colour and shine after the use of this top coat.  I never have nail polish so long on my nails, so I cannot say if it works or not, but I can tell you that because of the wide angled brush it can be applied fast and mistake-free and it delivers a super smooth and glossy finish.

Rimmel (matte finish) - I tried a few matte top coats but this is far the best that I used. I think it makes any colour look much more sophisticated and gives a very distinctive effect and if you don't get it right to the edges you can clearly see the contrast of the shiny polish beneath compared to the totally matte polish once this is on. Easy to apply, nice brush for an even application, dries quickly, doesn't smell too strong.

Golden Rose - After the first use I decided that I will buy it again and again when the bottle will be empty.   The formula gives the nails volume and a gel look effect, it is super glossy and does not smear if I make stamped nails! My only objection is that it does not dry very fast.

KIKO and Gabrini - these two products can be used as a base or top coat. Because of the round and long brush the application is fast and easy, but both of them are not drying fast. The Gabrini polish has a better glossy finish as KIKO. 

As you can see my nails have a little bit of yellow shade even if I use base coats that have a great quality. I never used and buyed nail whiteners, I have my home made recipe for this problem, I put in a glass of warm water 2-3 table spoons of baking soda and the zest of a half of a lemon. I bath my nails in it for about 5-10 minutes and the yellow shade pales after a while.

For my skin I use deep moisturizing hand and nail creams like the one from Yves Rocher - Candied Mallows or the vaseline from Alpi Fresh with olive oil and vitamine E. 

I am sorry if I bored you with lots of details, but I hope that each of you can find something interesting and informative in this post!

I would be curious what is your favorite base and top coat? What is your usual nail care ritual?

I have to thank you all for your kind comments, sometimes I don't have the time to respond to all of you but I am doing my best in the future, I promise!