Topic Tuesday: Old Faves v New Faves

I used to really like Glisten and Glow HK Girl topcoat, however when they changed the name I suspect the formula changed. So my new go to favourite is from CosmicAuria, Ultra Shine Topcoat.

   

Topic Tuesday: Favourite Long Wearing Topcoat

For a while I did like Seche Vite and Sally Hansen Insta Dry but they caused shrinkage. I tried a few others but my go to now is Glisten and Glow and it has been for some time. It doesn't shrink, dries nails very quickly, leaves them glossy and doesn't turn whites yellow.

  

Topic Tuesday: Favourite Base and Top Coats

I don't often use a base coat but if I do it is a peel off one from Unt.

As for top coats I really like the Glisten and Glow Quick Dry one, it is glossy and most importantly dries very quickly and doesn't smudge nail art.

  

Nails: Shroom Glitter

Base Coat: UNT Peel Off

Polishes Used: Barry M - Oasis (Coconut Infusion), Nails Inc - Kingsway

Top Coat: Glisten and Glow - HK Girl

Nails: Glitter and Holographic

Base Coat: UNT Peel Off

Base Polish: Leighton Denny - Cryztalise Me

Topper: Models Own - Juicy Jules

Top Coat: Glisten and Glow - HK Girl

Nails: Red Glitter Jelly

Base Polish: Essie - Licorice

Glitter Polish: Barry M - Icicle
Jelly Polish: W7 - Chocolate Pudding (Jelly Bean)
Top Coat: Glisten and Glow - HK Girl

Review: Glisten and Glow - HK Girl Top Coat

This 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

No 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