Instant, Rock Hard Nails

I love wearing nail polish.  I wrote a whole post about it over here.  But I also hate wearing nail polish. This is probably a familiar story for some of you out there.  You meticulously apply one coat of nail polish to your nails.  It looks a little bit milky and transparent but you aren't worried.  You apply another fresh layer of polish and its perfect.  A glistening, smooth finish.  You admire your nails and carefully keep your hands still and only handle things by the pads of your fingers, IF absolutely necessary.  The night winds down and you take one last look at your beautiful tips and head to bed.

The next morning you wake up and are horrified when you look down at your nails only to see the impression of your pillow case weave imprinted in your nails.  Nooooooooooooo!

Thats the worst, isn't it?  I was so sick of this happening as I perused the aisles at my local walgreens I spotted a little red bottle that would change my life.

Perfect home manicure finish, exact here

At $5.99 a bottle it seems a little unnecessary but let me tell you, its totally worth it.  A medium-ish layer applied on top of wet polish sets and hardens in minutes.  I kid you not.  For an hour or so you probably shouldn't poke and prod at it on purpose but its amazing.  You can sleep on you  nails without pillow print.  I can even do my nails right before I step out and they dry to a hard and shiny finish.  I think this is a must have for every girl.  There are a few other products out there similar to this I have used and enjoyed, one specific is Revlon Liquid Quick Dry which is at an identical price point.  Give it a whirl and let me know what you think! I refuse to be without a bottle since I've discovered these amazing top coats. 

Nail Lacquer: Accessorizing for Pennies

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

A glimpse of my collection of nail lacquers

The saying goes the devil is in the details.  Well manicured nails are definitely a seemingly small thing that can play a huge role in putting the finishing touches on an outfit.  I don't mean in terms of the color being matching or complimentary but rather that neat, clean, well polished nails really elevate any look. Nail polish is such an easy and versatile accessory that can be changed in the blink of an eye.  A lot of women treat themselves to a mani but I love settling down on the couch with a bottle of polish and treating myself to a fresh set of nails. 

Amazing quality polishes at a more affordable price point, see here

Everyone is familiar with the slightly pricier brands like Essie, OPI and China Glaze but I'm a huge fan of ULTA brand polishes.  They come in a wide array of colors, I have yet to set out in search of a color or finish and not find it here.  My personal preference is for matte finish polishes, I don't think the pearly finishes look quite as flattering on me.  At $6 a bottle they aren't that big of a bargain BUT a couple of times a year they come on sale for $1.99 each.  That coupled with a $3.50 off $10 that is a mainstay of ultra discounts a set of 5 polishes comes out to $6.50.  Thats $1.30 per bottle!  That is a deal you cannot beat and with my nail polish obsession it doesn't break the bank either.  I am a believer in high quality polish--finish and durability are important points for me--these bottles do not disappoint in either category.

On another note, does anyone else do their nails at night and wake up in the morning to an imprint of their bedding because the polish wasn't rock hard dry?  Keep a look out for my perfect solution to this annoying little hurdle that keeps some women away from home manicures and paying too much for manis at the salon. 

ULTA Polish //Original Price: $6.00/ea//My Price: $1.30/ea//Total Savings: 78%