The Lipstick League Question of the Week
Is base coat an essential step for you when wearing nail polish?
Is base coat an essential step for you when wearing nail polish?
If so, what are some of your favorites?
G's answer: It actually isn't always essential for me. I find that certain nail polish formulas perform better for me without base coat. But when I do use base coat, it's almost always Orly Bonder, which has been my holy grail base coat for years. It's the best for my particular body chemistry (I know it doesn't work for certain people but is there a base coat that works for everyone? Oh I wish!). For me, Orly Bonder can truly keep my polish from chipping/peeling and extend the life of my manicure by at least a few days (if not more). Also, it helps prevent staining with those pesky shades that love to leave little traces behind.
The Lipstick League Links of the Week
EauMG - Your Halloween costume isn’t complete until you’re wearing the perfect perfume “match”! Need some guidance? Here’s EauMG’s perfume picks for popular Halloween costumes.
Gouldylox Reviews - This foundation is a dupe for one that costs more than three times as much. So light, so fresh, so radiant - what's not to love?
Love for Lacquer - The Sigma Fall Softly Collection launches next week, but Jess has the scoop & swatches for you now!
My Beauty Bunny - Keep your lips kissably soft this fall with a sheer wash of color thanks to the fabulous Too Faced La Crème Lip Balms. We've got swatches of all six hues!
My Newest Addiction - The weather is cooling off. Err… at least it is in some parts of the world… Laura shares with us the perfect smoky liner look to pair with those crisp Fall days.
Nouveau Cheap - Attention Wet n Wild fans: there are some big and exciting changes coming in 2015!
Prime Beauty - has always loved to play with pretty colored crayons. Now that she's an adult, she plays with colored eyeliners! See her Top 10 Picks for Colored Eyeliners and maybe you'll be inspired to play with color too.
Phyrra - brings you color with Colour Pop Lippie Stix and Lip Pencils! Which shade will your wear this Fall?
we heart this - brings you a blush so pretty, you'll want to throw a parade for it! It's Benefit Majorette.
(Wondering what the Lipstick League is? Find out here.)
Base coat is essential for me. Otherwise my nails get stained and sometimes they hurt if I don't. (I think that's due to pigments in some polishes.) I don't have a HG base coat, but I like some of the Revlons and Milanis I picked up at past clearance sales. I also found some that I like at Sally's. Just as important is a good top coat, and the NYC one is the best I've ever found. Really extends the life of a manicure if I'm too busy to do a new one.
ReplyDeleteYes, I always wear a base coat. My holy grail is the now discontinued Revlon Colorstay base coat. One day I tried it with just a normal polish, not the Colorstay ones, and it made my polish last way longer than anything I had ever used. I believe I have 10 bottles stockpiled in my stash. Once I heard it was being discontinued, I went around to all the drugstores in my area. I'm hoping it'll show up at Big Lots one day. I paint my nails twice a week, so 10 bottles will not last the rest of my life!
ReplyDeleteI saw the Revlon Colorstay Base Coat at Big Lots about a month ago, so I would keep searching, Carol!
DeleteI've tried a few base coats they didn't really do much to extend the life of a mani for me. I've learned a few tricks to keep it from chipping and also it really depends on the formula and brand. So that's not an essential for me.
ReplyDeletealways! I like OPI Nail Envy :)
ReplyDeleteWhich formulas would you say work better without a base coat? I'm always trying to find ways to extend my manicures, because I wash my hands frequently.Using the NYC Grand Central Station as a top coat has helped a lot, though.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely essential for me! I use Orly Bonder (like you). It's perfect for me
ReplyDeleteFor me, a base coat is a must first step during the few times I wear nail polish. I find that when I don't wear a base coat, chips in the polish tend to also damage my nails. I also find that when I wear a base coat and 1-2 layers of a top coat, I get more wear out of my polish.
ReplyDeleteMy current favorite "everyday" base coat is Wet n Wild's Wild Shine Protective Base Coat. When I pair this with WnW's Wild Shine Clear Nail Protector or Matte Top Coat, I can easily get 7 days of wear out of my nail polish.
I don't find base coat to be an essential step for wearing nail polish because I tend to wear it for only a few days. When I do wear base coat, I don't have a preference between the various bands I've picked up over the years. I will always wear base coat when I am using a polish that I know to be a stainer.
ReplyDeleteI know that many of the nail nuts over at the Makeup Alley nail forum love the Revlon Colorstay Base Coat and were devastated when it was discontinued. I tend to wear that one when I want more longevity out of my manicure. I've seen it on clearance at Big Lots for about $2, so I'd suggest that one for anyone who's looking for a good long wearing basecoat!