Results after applying two coats (three on Shell Me More and Teeny Yellow Bikini)
I am a very demanding person when it comes to top coats. Because of that I am almost married to UV and LED top coats for nail art. But as you know UV and LED top coats are only wearable over acrylics, gels and gel polishes (one type for each). These top coats can't be worn over a regular polish mani, sadly, it will start to chip the very first day. That is the reason I stopped working with nail polishes. But if I absolutely had to work with polishes because a client absolutely wanted it (sorry for the word duplicity), there is only one top coat I trust. And that is Charlotte's Glass Kote (a local brand). I love this one because as the name implies it dries as a liquid glass layer. It is really shiny and protects the nail polish from chipping for longer time than regular top coats. It looks exactly as a UV or LED cured top coat.
Having said that, I'll start my review with the top coat for this brand , Clearly Thinking. This top coat has its tricks. The first time I used it it apparently had an attitude. It did spread even, but tended to shrink and ended up creating some roughness over the nail polish. I have to make clear that I applied it over another's brand white polish swatch I had already dry. I could think one of too things as the white polish was completely dry and even, either the two brands did not make good chemistry, or the temperature that day affected the drying process of the top coat.
The second time I tried it I applied it over the pop-arazzi first swatches I made and it dried just fine. Again it was a different day.
Today I tried it in the morning for a third time, and I applied it to a naked artificial nail. It dried beautifully . It applied evenly and dried with a beautiful shine. It's the first top coat I like besides Glass Kote (but not more) I think I have to put it to the test for durability and chipping. And as advice, do not use too much of it. Just a regular, perfect application.
Color results after applying one coat
Shell Me More, OMG! this color is responsible for the existence of this haul. the color haunted me. Its like a minty green, but not that green, a little bit more on the baby blue side, itis so sweet. But.... the formula is too thin, I had to apply three coats to make it opaque, so I recommend using a white base. Either way it is a lovely color.
Teeny Yellow Bikini, as most yellows the formula is really thin, almost sheer. I couldn't get an even color with just one coat. When I applied the second coat it started to look even but still a little too sheer for being a creme polish. It was on the third coat that color started to pop, but a bit uneven. It needs a white base coat for sure. Beautiful color though!
Lime-ousine Ride, this is one of the most beautiful greens I've seen at drug stores. It reminds me of ONS colored acrylics I used to sculpt leaves, even Organic Nails has a color like that which I also love. This is a lime-grassy light green. It's a creme polish, but its formula is a bit thin. Despite this it was possible to get it opaque in two coats.
Don't Need No Romeo, this is a strong color. Its like a hunter green, and a really dark one, i couldn't difference it from the black until I did swatch it . It has a light formula but I was able to get it completely opaque in two coats.
Curfew, this is a black polish. It covered pretty much in one coat,. I was able to get it completely opaque in two coats.
Break His Heart, the hue on this color got me, it's kind of a type of burgundy but more on the purple side, it is a really deep shade with almost a blackish shade. It has a really good creme formula, but still I needed two coats to make it opaque and take it similar to the bottle tone.
Carmella Latte, reminds me of toasted caramelized nuts. This color has its own personality. I have to say its one of my favorites on this haul. It's great formula covered almost in one coat. I decided to add another coat just to intensify the color but in my opinion is a nail polish that can be worn in just one coat.
Mango Colada, although this is a nice colors it's not one of my favorites from this haul. It reminds me of a papaya "champola" which is a local milkshake made out of milk and papaya (obviously). The thing is I hate "champola", and that is why I don't like the color that much. But as I said it sure is a nice color and should be great on anyone else's nails. It has a thin formula, so two coats were needed to make it completely and evenly opaque.
Tropical Tango, it's a hit! This one is an intense orange color and has a great formula. It covered evenly and got opaque on one coat. Even the intensity of the color was perfect in one coat. I just love this nail polish.
Reddy, Set, Action!, this is a bright red. It's formula is great. It covers pretty much in one coat, almost got opaque in one. I added a second coat just to intensify the color because it was pretty opaque already with one.
Mind Your Manners, beautiful deep magenta. It has a thin formula. Although its a bit sheer, I was able to get it completely opaque in two coats.
Razz Baby, this one is another shade of magenta, this lovely color has a great formula, another one of my favorites on this haul (I think I could make a top five out of these). It got opaque in one coat, you might add another coat just to intensify the color but it can be worn in one coat.
Flamingo-go, this is a bright magenta. It covered pretty much in one coat, just added another coat to even and intensify the color.
Call Me a Cab, great formula for a neon. I was able to get it opaque in just two coats.
Blushing Beauty, it has iridescent and pink micro glitters in a pink jelly base. It covered pretty much everything in just one coat with an even glitter coverage. I decided to add a second coat to intensify the color. I recommend using a good quality top coat as it has some texture.
Color results after two coats
Last but not least, Cute-icle cuticle oil. I loved this cuticle oil, besides its cute packaging it has a nice fruity scent and its absobed smoothly.
Overall I can say this is a good brand to buy on a budget.
My Top 5 from this haul
5. Teeny Yellow Bikini
4. Lime-ousine Ride
3. Shell Me More
2. Tropical Tango
1. Carmella Latte
