Showing posts with label top coat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label top coat. Show all posts

5 November 2020

Review: Vibrant Vinyls - Fast and Hard Top Coat (Black Cherry Bomb Scent)

 

I hadn't tried a new topcoat since I found my 'holy grail' Glisten and Glow. Rainbow Connection has a range of different scented versions, I would imagine that how the topcoat itself works is the same regardless of the scent.

What are the claims?

Can be used over wet polish - I have used it over wet polish and it does work.

Applied over wet polish, it is dry to the touch in under 3 minutes - It is dry to the touch in under 3 minutes, however I was still able to dint my nails hours later.

Super glossy shine that lasts up to 2 weeks - I don't wear polish for that long so can't comment on the time length. However it does leave a lovely glossy finish.

Dries rock hard in 15 minutes providing the perfect base for vinyls, stamping, or other nail art - It does dry nails moderately fast and I have stamped over this within 30 minutes and it has been fine.

Doesn't 'drag' or 'smear' colors so it can be used over art - I disagree with this, I found it smudged nail art badly, even using the floating of the topcoat method. It works well over a standard polish.

 
L: Vibrant Vinyls | R: Glisten and Glow

No shrinkage - Yes I didn't find this to shrink on me, in the same way which Seche Vite did.

Doesn't dull holo's - This is true, I tried it over Tonic Polish Jinx and it didn't dull the holo.

Flat, semi-wide brush picks up the perfect amount and glides across the nail smoothly providing quick, even coverage - I liked the brush, covers the nail easily.

Also prevents yellowing, fading, & chipping of polish - It does stop polish from chipping and also doesn't yellow polish under it.

The scent I chose was black cherry bomb, which was nice. I found it to be quite strong once I first applied it, this faded over a period of 12 hours, through out showering, hand washing and using hand gel. By 24 hours the scent had disappeared.

Overall I think this topcoat is alright, not terrible but not amazing. I will use it because it does help polish to dry quicker than without it. The viscosity is somewhere between thin and thick, definitely thinner than a gel look topcoat. What I didn't like about this was how badly it smudged nail art, it didn't stop me from dinging my nails and I ended up with bedsheet imprints on them from doing my nails close to bedtime.

I doubt I would repurchase this topcoat as I do really like to do nail art.

  

9 July 2016

Swatch: Barry M - Crystal Glaze

Swatch-Barry-M-Crystal-Glaze

Colour: Pearlescent
Finish: Flakie
Opacity: One Coat shown over Barry M's Crush
Brush Type: Standard
How Much? 10ml

8 October 2014

Review: Glisten and Glow - HK Girl Top Coat

Review-Glisten-and-Glow-HK-Girl-Fast-Drying-Top-CoatThis top coat comes with A LOT of claims and hype:

Intense Shine - Yes this topcoat leaves a nice thick shiny layer, very similar in consistency to Seché Vite

Fast Drying - Again this lives up to the claim, you can use this and your nails will be dry within 5 minutes meaning you can get on with whatever you want. Also going to bed after doing your nails and won't end up with sheet imprints

Durable and Long Lasting - Claims to keep nails looking good for 5-7 days, I have used for maximum of 4 days and yes they were good and chip free. I only removed it as I change my nails that often.

Holographic Polishes Love it - Holographic polishes are so easily chipped, with normal top coats they dull the holographic effect whereas this one doesn't, it finally means wearing a holographic polish isn't a one night only deal

Smooths and Seals Glitters - As I said in the intense shine claim this is quite a thick topcoat which does mean with 1-2 layers it does smooth out any lumps and bumps which you can get from glitter as well as lots of nail art layers
Adds Shine to all Lacquers - This is true, however all top coats do this really. The shine and thickness of this does mean a glass like shine

Review-Glisten-and-Glow-HK-Girl-Fast-Drying-Top-CoatNo Shrinkage - Now this is something which I didn't like about Seché Vite, it shrank my polish badly at the cuticle area in a very visible and obvious way. I wouldn't say this on me had zero shrinkage but the amount it shrinks is very, very small and is barely visible

Can be used on Tacky or Dry Polish - A great point, as I said before this dries polish quickly and means you can get on with life, the polish doesn't have to be dry underneath either which is a bonus

Even Consistency throughout Bottle - This point was why it took me so long to review this, I had to use the entire bottle up. So yes is the answer, it doesn't go gloopy mid way through the bottle the way in which Seché Vite does, you can use it all the way to the end. Also you can use any thinner with this top coat to thin it out if necessary where as you have to use a specific branded one with the Seché

Nail Art / Stamping Friendly - Now this was the selling point for me, I do a lot of stamping and nail art and the smudging you can get from using another top coat over it is so very frustrating. This just plays nicely and seals in the nail art, leaving it shiny and smooth

Overall - I really like this top coat, it is priced around the same point as Seché Vite (which goes gloopy after using the first third)  but works better in my opinion. My previous favourite top coat was Sally Hansen Insta Dry, that keeps going up in price and goes thick in the last third of the bottle. This bottle you can use to the very end without going thick, is reasonably priced, doesn't wreck nail art and doesn't cause shrinkage or yellowing. Yes I would recommend it and yes I have repurchased it.

Glisten & Glow HK Girl top coat – (3 free) Available only in EU)
UK - Rainbow Connection
USA - BigCartel

8 November 2012

Review: Miss Sporty - GOTH ME UP Black Top Coat


Firstly a quick skittle set of nails to show the top coat over a range of shades. The concept behind this goth me up top coat is to darken things down and tone down neons and bright polishes.


The polish itself is a thin, almost watery black polish. Difficult to work with and particularly streaky.