Gloss 5/5
Lasting Power 5/5
Overall 5/5
HK Girl cannot be faulted. The application is smooth, it’s super glossy and lasts for days without a single chip.
Where to buy: Glisten and Glow $6.95 (US), Rainbow Connection £6.55 (UK)
Gloss 5/5
Lasting Power 5/5
Overall 5/5
HK Girl cannot be faulted. The application is smooth, it’s super glossy and lasts for days without a single chip.
Where to buy: Glisten and Glow $6.95 (US), Rainbow Connection £6.55 (UK)
It was so tough to choose between Rica and KBShimmer for the top spot but that wide brush really gave KBShimmer the edge and I’m happy with my choice although I do wish it wasn’t so difficult to get hold of these indie top coats here in the UK. Most online stores offer international shipping these days but it can be pricey so you have to buy a lot of bottles at once to make it worth the shipping costs.
Most of the polishes on this list are available from Harlow & Co where international shipping is available.
The directions say to work it in to your nail beds twice a day for 30 days and once each day thereafter. I started off really well – I would apply it in the morning on the way to work and then when I got in to bed at night – but after a few weeks I admittedly started slacking a bit. These days, I apply it most nights and keep it in my handbag so that I can apply it during the day if I remember!
I have noticed a visible improvement in the quality of my cuticles. There is less redness there, they seem minimised and are very soft and easy to push back when it’s manicure time. I’m very lucky that my cuticles and nail beds are naturally quite healthy – regular moisturising since I was 12 years old has kept my hands and nails in tip-top shape – but I do get rough skin at the sides of my nails where I also have a habit of picking. I was really hoping this product would show a noticeable improvement in these areas and it definitely has. I’ve also noticed a drop in the number of hangnails I get since using this product – they used to be a regular occurrence but now I can’t remember the last time I had one.
The smell is something new to me. As I mentioned, it’s made with all natural ingredients and lightly scented using Lavender Oil. I personally find the smell a bit strange but it’s one you get used to over time. It’s not a bad scent but it’s not really great either. I just can’t make up my mind about it but it hasn’t put me off using the product. All I will say is, just don’t eat a sandwich or any finger food straight after applying!
Nail Butter comes in a tin holding 1oz of the product which is a lot. The tin is about the size of my palm! I’ve been using this product for more than a month and have barely scraped the surface. One tin is $19.50 or you can get two for $35.
I know this seems like a lot compared to similar mainstream products so for reference, Sally Hansen’s Healthy Cuticles Now! currently retails at about $6.49 per 0.48oz. I did the maths for you on this one and that works out at $13.52 for 1oz of product.
As the name suggests, the texture of the product is creamy and slightly greasy like butter but it absorbs in to the skin so well. Within 10 minutes of applying, there isn’t trace of grease on my fingers, just freshly moisturised cuticles.
When I first opened my the tin, the surface was very smooth and I found out that this was a harder waxy layer which was covering the soft, buttery cream underneath so I’d recommend giving it a mix before your first go. Like actual butter, this stuff melts in the heat so be careful about leaving it too close to the radiator or in the car on a hot day! If it does melt, don’t worry because it sets again once it cools down.
Overall I think Nail Butter is a great product. Christina has developed an all natural, cruelty-free product at a competitive price which actually does what it says on the tin. It’s a product that I will definitely repurchase when I get through my first tin. If I ever do, that is. There’s so much product in there, I may never need a replacement!
You can get Nail Butter at nailbutter.com and from some retail locations in GA.
It seems that 2013 was the year of the nail wrap and I think the standard of these products has really stepped up across the board. Because my nails are very curved, any wraps that I wear have to be the thin stretchy kind or just insanely adhesive to have any chance at staying attached. These fit in to the second category!
The range contains 8 different and exquisitely crafted designs each inspired by a dress from Marchesa’s archives. The design I’m sporting is Royal Burgundy. Each pack contains 18 appliqués in a good range of sizes so you’re guaranteed to find a match for your nails and it comes in handy if you mess up a few! I have some left from this set which I’ll be saving to wear as accent nails on occasion.
The sets run at £8.99 each which is a few pounds more than most nail wraps you’ll find on the high street but justified by the exceptional 3D designs. This is the kind of item that I would reserve for a special occasion where I’m going to get dressed up! I think they’d also be perfect for a bride on her wedding day. Silk Rosette (blue florals on clear) could be your something blue and Crown Jewels (gold details on clear) over a pale pink or shimmery white polish would look breathtaking.
I couldn’t resist added a gold spark to my usual make-up to match my nails!
I think the reason wraps haven’t worked for me in the past is that my nails are too curved. They always seem too stiff and never stick flush to my nail. This results in lots of creases and sticking up corners! The OMG strips are super sticky and can be stretched to flatten out any creases.Trying out these strips has got me jonesing for more and even opened me up to trying a few different brands too. Even though I’m still a nail polish girl at heart, I think they’ll be great for the occasional accent nail.