Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, $9-$10

Seche Vite claims their top coat is the world's finest--and you know what? It just might be. I originally got it from my sister-in-law, who said it's the only top coat that works for Konad nail stamps (i.e., doesn't make them smear everywhere). I liked it so much I started using it all the time.

The brush is a good size, it doesn't smear my polish, dries super fast, and leaves a super glossy shine. It also has helped my nail polish stay on longer, even those cheaper polishes that don't normally last that long. With most top coats, the ends start to chip within a day or so for me. With this top coat, it's extended to 3 or 4 days. I'm serious! And I'm definitely not super careful with my nails.

One downside is the smell; it's super strong. If you're sensitive to that kind of thing, I recommend doing your nails near a fan or open window. Another slight problem is that when it does start to chip, it more peels away than chips. This means that if you start peeling one side, half or the whole layer of polish might come away with it. However, I've found that if you put on a thinner coat, that seems to help with this problem.

Final verdict
Cost: $9-$10 at most drugstores--about the same as an OPI polish. For me, it's worth it because I use it for every manicure.
Fast-drying: It really only takes a few seconds to dry, which is perfect for someone who always messes up her polish right after it's done! While you still should be careful afterward, I can attest that the oh-it's-dry-wait-no-it's-not smudges have decreased.
Long-lasting: My polish looks nicer for longer, even when the polish isn't that durable by itself.
Shiny: The resulting finish is super glossy and shiny.
Repeat offender: Love this! So far, it's the best top coat I've tried. It smells a little strong, but the result is totally worth it.

-T

Sally Hansen Salon Effects, $9.99

This is the kind of product that you would expect not to actually work but I promise that once you try it, you will be pleasantly surprised and satisfied with the outcome! I never thought that I needed an alternative to nailpolish, or that one could exist really (these are deep thoughts I'm having don't you think?) but Sally Hansen Salon Effects polish strips really deliver.

The kit comes with a small double-sided nail file/buffer, a wooden cuticle stick, and 16 nailpolish strips. Why 16? Incase you have mistakes, according to the product but if you are careful you can actually use one pack of Salon Effects and get a manicure and pedicure (that is if you don't have super fabulous long nails which clearly I don't).

The first time I tried this product I bought the leopard print strips (you can see all available colors and patterns here). Wanting to do an awesome job I decided I should probably do a quick search on YouTube for a tutorial which turned out to be really helpful. But the package also comes with really detailed (and simple) directions of how to apply the strips to your nails.

Here is a quick rundown:

• File and buff your nails, make sure to push back your cuticles and that your nails are perfectly buffed out and clean.
• Select a strip that fits your nail (if it's a little big don't worry because once you smooth it out it usually just takes the shape).
• Peel the plastic and the backing off the strip and break the silver tab at the end.
• PROTIP: if you want to get more bang for your buck you can also just trim the polish strips so you don't lose too much.
• Press the strip down to your nail, using your fingertips just smooth it out over your nails.
• Smooth over the top of your nail using the nail file to remove the excess strip at the top.

Your outcome will be really awesome nails for up to ten days! This is not an exaggeration, if you are a really careful I bet it can last longer. Your nails will probably outgrow the time the nailstrips stay on. When you are ready to take them off, regular nailpolish remover does the trick.

Final verdict:

Cost: $9.99 for a package of nail strips. Keep in mind you can usually get a manicure and pedicure out of one package and it lasts for days. I would recommend doing this before a vacation so you don't have to worry about reapplying polish midweek.

Any tips?: Be patient when applying the nailstrips. I'll be honest, my first time I was very patient and my nails looked better. This time I was a little rushed and some of them didn't turn out looking as even as they could have. Your patience will be worth it.

Is it worth it?: For me it is worth it for the cool patterns. Since this is something I cannot achieve with my regular old nailpolish it is a nice treat to have a product that can offer a unique nail look.

Repeat offender?: Definitely. There is a fishnet pattern I'm dying to try. Though I'm really hoping the popularity of this product will inspire more patterns! Who knows, maybe Sally Hansen will take the route of many other popular polish brands and come out with seasonal collections (fingers crossed).

-M

Essie Smooth Sailing, $8.00

Essie's Smooth Sailing nail color is a deep blue-gray shade laced with the tiniest silver shimmer that is really only noticeable up close or in the sun. The color appears to be inspired by the ocean and the way it can look blue and gray at the same time and still sparkle in the sunlight. My go-to nail colors this summer have mostly been pastels (these reviews coming soon!) but this lovely shade of blue really stuck out to me and I had to have it.

I've got on a base coat, 2 coats of polish, and a top coat. The formula is on the thicker side so make sure to allow enough time for the first coat to dry before applying the second. The staying power of this polish has been pretty good too, I think I've mentioned on previous Essie reviews that I felt like the polish chipped quicker than other brands but I think either the formula has changed or maybe I'm not being as rough on my own nails.

Final verdict:
Cost: Now that most drugstores carry Essie polishes (Target and CVS definitely do) they are a lot easier to find. I paid full price for this so it was about $8 but if you watch out, these do go on sale at CVS sometimes.

Does the sparkle make it too flashy for everyday?: Not at all, I love that this color can be fun and cool yet still look really sleek and professional too. The sparkle is hardly noticeable so if you are worried about having gaudy nails you won't have a problem.

Repeat offender?: I'd definitely use this polish over and over again. Despite the summery name "Smooth Sailing," I think this polish could also look pretty awesome in the winter with some sort of gray outfit pairing.

-M

China Glaze Mummy May I, $2-5

China Glaze's Mummy May I is from their halloween collection (pretty appropriate for this week!). It is a dark cherry/black polish speckled with pinkish purple sparkles.

Mummy May I has a pretty thick consistency and requires 2 coats at least. Anything more might be too goopy. I don't really know why this polish is more thick and globby than others but it is. You have to be more careful and mindful about how much is on your brush.

I love that it goes on exactly as it looks in the bottle after two coats. The first time I wore it, it chipped in a day! I was a little disappointed but this time around I took the precaution and used a basecoat.

Final verdict:

Cost: This polish can be found anywhere from $2 to $5 depending on where you buy it.

Is it only appropriate for halloween?: Definitely not! I wore this polish along with a little black dress to a wedding. It is a fun way to wear a dark polish without it being a solid color.

Repeat offender?: I love the color of this polish but I don't think I'd buy it again. The thick texture and fast chipping turned me off but I wouldn't give up any new China Glaze polishes to try! I will continue to wear this polish but getting another bottle is probably out of the question.

-M

OPI My Private Jet, $6-$9

OPI's My Private Jet is a gray, off-black nail polish loaded with tiny, tiny bits of glitter (and controversy). It reminds me a bit of the 212 color, except a bit on the cooler side (less coppery) and with smaller pieces of glitter.


It's a nice deep color and the glitter gives it a lot of dimension. It may be dark but it's definitely not boring. The glitter/shimmer is mostly silver, though in the sun it has some (slight) color variations. It reminds me of the sun sparkling on wet gravel or cement. A little badass, but not too dangerous! The texture, of course, is amazing, easy to apply, and dries nicely. True to OPI, it doesn't chip for days and days.

Final verdict
Cost: $6-$8 (standard for an older color, depending on where you buy it).
Color: Dark gray with small bits of silvery glitter. It's like a cooler and more refined 212.
Repeat offender: I love this color and have already painted my nails a couple times with it. It's easy to apply (read: hides mistakes) and looks great as a dark neutral. Goes great with fall colors and will definitely transition into winter.

-T

OPI Lincoln Park at Midnight, $6-8

I don't know about you, but I absolutely LOVE dark purple in the fall. Jackets, purses, scarves, sweaters . . . a nice, rich, dark purple just seems to complement everyone's skin tones against an autumn backdrop. OPI's Lincoln Park at Midnight is a beautifully dark, nearly black purple that will go nicely as your clothes transition into the colder months.

What I love about this color is that it is dramatic, but has a subtle surprise of metallic, shimmery purple that will catch your eye at a second glance. If you're into dark colors but afraid to use black on your nails, I'd recommend this. The warmer tones in the purple keep it from being too harsh. The formula, of course, is perfectly smooth and easy to apply. I used 3 coats in these pics.

Final verdict
Cost: $6-$8. It is an older color, but still available.
Dramatic: This is a rich, dramatic color, but the purple tones and metallic finish smooth out the harshness that comes with black nail polish.
Repeat offender: I absolutely love this shade and would definitely buy it again.

OPI Have You Seen My Limo?, $6-$8

Just a classic OPI to round out your week and get you ready for fall! This is probably one of the first OPIs I ever bought. The richness of the color drew me in initially. Plum, brown, and maroon mix together to give this polish a lot of depth. But, what I really love is the metallic glitter mixed in. In the sunlight, it really comes alive.

I can see this as a color I'd wear through fall and winter. It can look fancy when worn with a nice dress, artsy with a warm sweater, and kinda dangerous when paired with leather and studs. It's a versatile color, and even though it's pretty dramatic, I think it would work really nice with a lot of skin tones.

Final verdict
Cost: $6-$8 (it's an old color so it's slightly reduced in price).
Depth: This is definitely not a flat color. The different shades of purple and brown shine in different lighting, and the metallic shimmer is awesome.
Texture: Like all OPIs, this is really easy to put on. Even after having it for a few years, it still works like new.
Repeat offender: I can see this lasting a long time. I try new things all the time so I probably won't buy it again, but that doesn't mean I don't love it!

-T

OPI Rumple's Wiggin', $2-8

How awesome is this Shrek 3 inspired lavender nailpolish from OPI? Pretty awesome if you ask me. Rumple's Wiggin' is an adorable light purple polish that is sure to make you want to ditch the dark shades (temporarily of course) and get girly.

I've sworn off Disney movies ever since Toy Story 3 so I probably will never see Shrek 3 (the first one was good) but I do think that these polishes are brilliant!

I think that a shade like this is very versatile even though you may not think so at first glance. I'm also digging the dark purple and a few of the green shades that are also found in the collection. OPI never fails to make at least half of one entire collection appealing to me!

Final verdict:
Cost: You can find it anywhere from $2-$8
How many coats to achieve the color in the bottle?: Two coats is perfect!
Repeat offender?: I love this polish, I will be hitting it up over and over again!

-M

Have a great weekend!

Essie Cute As A Button, $3-8

I started craving a really pretty and fun pink color polish last week so I popped into Trade Secret and picked out this bright pink polish by Essie, Cute As A Button. This polish is perfect for when you need a nice splash of color without being obnoxiously neon (not to knock neon but sometimes it is just a bit much!).

A friend of mine described it as a color that reminded her of 1950s bathroom tile. If you know me, you know that I love retro things--especially styles of the 50s--so I thought this description was perfect!

I haven't really been too satisfied with other Essie brand polishes but this polish was pretty good. I put on three coats to achieve the full vibrant effect. I think their formula usually requires three coats and a nice steady hand because it seems to streak a little more than other formulas.

Final verdict:
Cost: I got it for around $8 but I looked online and you can find it for about $3 on Amazon, but don't forget shipping adds a few bucks too!
Does it chip easily?: It did start chipping after three days but not too awfully. I think it was pretty good as far as lasting effect goes.
Repeat offender?: I would go for another pink since there are so many options but I definitely like this polish and will continue to use it for a nice feminine touch to my look.

-M

Sephora by OPI, 212-Sephora, $9

Leave it to one of the best places on earth (Sephora) to create a polish dedicated to another one of the best places on earth (New York City). 212-Sephora is an homage to New York and a polish that you can only get through Sephora's website.

This special edition area code named polish was given to me recently by one of my close friends. She bought it because on the site it is described as a "smoky opaque black" but after trying it she realized it didn't come out as black as she hoped.


As you can see the color has more of an olive tone than a black one. It is definitely dark but the sparkles and the chunks of copper glitter make the color appear much more multi-demensional than you might expect.

I really love this polish because of its unexpected effect. Even as I write this I am having trouble really explaining it, this is why I have tons of pictures! I've got on three coats of polish and a topcoat. Two will do but I was feeling experimental so I went with three, it has held up nicely.

Final verdict:
Cost: $9
Does it live up to the name?: It is eccentric, not for everyone, lovely, unexpected, and pretty badass--I think it captures New York pretty well!
Repeat offender?: So hard to answer this with nailpolish . . . I'd wear it again and again, but I don't know if I would buy it again, there are just too many options out there!

-M

Sally Hansen Hi-Definition Nail Color, Laser, $6.49

The other day I made a quick stop to CVS to pick up a few essentials for my weekend beach trip. The minute I walked in the door it's like they knew I was coming and they had lined up the bright shiny display case full of different colors for me to walk directly into. I immediately grabbed this holographic multidimensional nailpolish by Sally Hansen in the color Laser. They were having a buy one get one 50% so obviously I had to get two.

I thought about whether it would even be worth getting this nailpolish because a lot of the time anything other than OPI sucks but I took a chance, and I am glad I did!

I put on three coats of polish (one is definitely way too thin, you might think it isn't even going to work with one coat) and a nice thick layer of topcoat. I have had this on for the last 3 days and I haven't really had any chipping so it is definitely worthwhile!

I love the color because it is metallic yet has this cool holographic tint to it as well. You are going to get a very unique polish if you get any of the other colors from this collection. They all have this awesome cosmic vibe to them which I am really feeling right now.

Final verdict:
Cost: $6.49, you can find it cheaper for sure!
Does it hold up to other higher brands?: I think it has been holding up just as well as my OPIs. You really just have to make sure you wear topcoat.
Repeat offender?: I think I would definitely try another Sally Hansen nailpolish, they seem to come out with different "styles" like this one is Hi-Definition, so I would probably give it another shot!

-M