Super Supply Sunday Meets Nail Mail

Happy Sunday, Lab Partners! Today we have another Super Supply Sunday for you! We'll take turns and tag team it.

Part 1: Allison

Don't you love a week with good nail mail? This was a pretty good week for me! Some new polishes were delivered to my humble abode:  Ace sent me the Color Club Poptastic Collection and a Sally Hansen Glitter, and I also got three Funky Fingers:

Nail Mail! Color Club Poptastic collection and Sally Hansen Strobe Light

Funky Fingers: Sold Out Area, Sound Check, and Monster Ballad

So what does all this polish nail mail have to do with supplies? Well, let's keep looking! I also got a new hand cream from Paula's Choice. If you'll recall from my review of Julep hand creams, I love hand creams, particularly those with sunscreen. I'll review this new Paula's Choice cream with SPF 30 in the future.

Paula's Choice Resist Hand Cream, SPF 30

Ah, but now on the the BIG nail mail: Do you see the words on the side of the box? That's right--it's (another) new polish rack! A nice rack is one of the best supplies a polish lover can own. Before I got my first rack, I stored my polishes in assorted baskets and trays. That was fine when I had only a few polishes, but as my collection grew . . . well, it got a little difficult to see what was what. Then the happy day came when I bought a polish rack, and I was so happy with it I bought it a sibling. The reason I went with this particular rack is the fact that it's a standing rack, as opposed to a wall mounted rack. I know plenty of people who have and love wall-mounted racks. In fact, our very own Ace has one and will talk about it below.


Unlike Ace,  I wanted racks I could stand because 1) I didn't want to put more holes in the wall, and 2) I wanted racks I could move to another location if I chose to. And one of the best things about my standing polish racks is they come fully assembled. They're packed quite securely, and are remarkably light weight (until they're loaded with polish, that is).

Partly unpacked. You can see part of the packing strewn about the room!

No, this photo isn't upside down. The top of the rack comes flipped upside down so that it's tucked safely inside the rack. 

All that I have to do is flip it right-side up and voila . . .

But my very favorite thing about my polish racks is . . . they revolve. Check out this itty bitty video clip (you might want to have the audio on to experience the sound effects):


Pretty nifty, huh? I get a kick out of spinning them around from time to time. I'm easily amused.


If you're interested in purchasing one of these racks, I bought mine from Amazon for $69.99 plus $12.49 shipping. Not inexpensive, but not horribly pricey, either. In my opinion, these racks are worth every penny for someone with a rather large (and growing) polish stash!

Part 2: Ace

Just like Allison, I was sick of keeping polishes in boxes and spending a lot of time looking for things, sometimes with a half-dry mani on my hands. I don't have much counter or shelf space so a rotating rack like Allison's was out of the question (although I love that video, so much fun!). However, if I moved around some of the artwork in my home office, I decided I could make room for a wall-mounted rack or two.


I ordered a rack from Amazon for $33.99 plus $3.99 shipping. It arrived the next day (seriously!). The brand name is "Fiji" and it's a simple acrylic rack. Unfortunately, one corner had broken in shipping but it doesn't affect the functioning of the rack so I asked for a $15 refund instead of returning it. Then I ordered a second rack to go under the other. 


There are two pieces in the box: the main rack and the "polish station" sign. My husband mounted these for me so I can't comment on how difficult it was but it didn't take him long - maybe about 20 minutes.

Part of my home office showing my racks and my fab ergonomic chair (I need it with the hours I am on the computer!). The rest of the office is a mess of papers and cables and computers...

There are two identical racks - we just didn't put up the "polish station" sign on the bottom one.

Next to the racks, I have a rolling drawer cart thingy called Andy (Ikea), which may no longer be available. I use this to store spare supplies, cotton balls, gifts and giveaways. You can also see my mani/pedi box, which contains lotions, remover, base and top coats, files and other tools. When I want to do my nails, I just pick up the box and choose a polish from my rack. No more spreading all my polishes around the living room and creating clutter!

Additional storage in Ikea "Andy" and my mani/pedi box.

Something to keep in mind if you order a rack, you may want to assume the bottle count that will fit is less than what they advertise. My rack was listed as holding 96 bottles, though I've seen the same rack advertised as fitting 105 bottles elsewhere. Some bottles will take up more space (e.g., Butter Londons don't fit lengthwise) but then I have quite a few minis. In the end, each rack fits just under 100 bottles (including minis though).


I got some nice nail mail this week too! I had a great MUA swap and acquired my first Lippmann - will review these for you soon but so far I love these polishes - though I haven't swatched the OPI yet.

Makeupalley swap: Nfu-Oh 52, Deborah Lippmann Razzle Dazzle, Orly It's Not Rocket Science, and OPI Absolutely Alice

I also got an order from drugstore.com with lots of EOS balms - I've been addicted to these ever since Allison sent me one and I like gifting these. 

EOS Balm-fest!

The order also contained a polish, Manic Panic's Hellfire, but a half empty dried up bottle arrived so I am awaiting a replacement.

Was hoping to try Manic Panic polish for the first time - whomp whomp whomp... Must wait for replacement.

And finally, not nail mail but an arrival nevertheless were polishes from the UK that our friends brought. They were on vacation in the USA from London and were with us for a couple of days. They brought over some UK exclusive Nails Inc mini set, OPI DS minis, and a Paul & Joe set. The OPI muppets minis seen in the photo also arrived recently from Aveyou.com. Oh and I almost forgot - my Zoya BOGO order arrived too: Edyta, Colbie, Lauren and Charla (to replace the one that broke) joined their sisters on the rack and my Zoyas now have their own shelf.

Some UK goodies!

Wow, I have so many lovely polishes including untrieds and now I can see them all! Do you think this will make me buy less? I hope so. The second rack still has room for more polishes but I have group orders in the works. Whatever I acquire has to fit these racks because I don't have any more wall space for polish!




How about you, lab partners? How do you store your polishes? Did you get nail mail this week?


Until next time, sending you lab love!

Super Supply Sunday: Julep Hand Creams

Hello Lab Partners!

Welcome to another Super Supply Sunday here at The Polish Lab. Before we get started, I have a confession to make: I'm addicted to hand cream. Yes, my obsession extends beyond nail polish to all things related to manicures and hand care. Now that you have that piece of info, you'll understand my excitement when I received a new hand cream from Julep this month: Glow On Age Defying Hand Brightener. I already had Julep's Everyday SPF Hand Cream, with SPF 30, and I was curious to see how the two compared. Let's take a look, shall we?

Everday SPF Hand Cream, SPF 30: I'm a loyal sunscreen wearer, and I already owned a great hand cream with sunscreen, but it comes in a big, glass jar. Not exactly convenient for tossing into my handbag, so I was excited to give Julep's more portable hand cream with sunscreen a try. Now, I prefer a thick hand cream--something that leaves my dry hands feeling as if they're protected. Julep's hand cream is actually more of a lotion. It absorbs well, and although some may prefer its lighter texture, it's not what I was looking for. I like that it's free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, and the absence of these ingredients will appeal to many who prefer a more natural product; however, this hand cream is not free of chemical sunscreens. Although zinc oxide 3% is one of the active ingredients, Everyday SPF Hand Cream also contains the chemical sunscreens ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and oxybenzone. I'm not opposed to using chemical sunscreens, but if I can find a product I like that contains only a good dose of zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide, I'll take it over an equally good product with chemical sunscreens. My main objection to Everyday SPF Hand Cream, therefore, is not its contents, but its texture. Another deterrent is the price: $28 for 3 fl oz (89 mL). Because members of the Julep Maven program receive a 20% discount on all products, I can purchase Every Day SPF Hand Cream for $22.40 I'm willing to pay a high price for products I love, but this is not one I like well enough to purchase again for even a moderate price, let alone an exorbitant one

Glow On Age Defying Hand Brighener: I love skin brightening products, and I sometimes apply my facial brightening products to my hands. Glow On contains African plant extracts that are "clinically proven to block melanin production and reduce hyper-pigmentation." I'm always skeptical of such claims, whether clinically proven or not. But it can't hurt! And if it actually helps my hands stay even-toned and, well, pale, so much the better. What I found intriguing about this particular product, however, is its illuminators that add radiance to the hands. Keep in mind my hands are very dry. Dryness equals dullness, so give me something that enables me to get my glow on, and I'm a happy girl.

But how about the texture? Although it's similar to the Everyday SPF Hand Cream, it leaves much more moisture on the surface on my skin than I would have expected from a thinner hand cream. Overall, I love this product. The only change I'd like to see is the addition of sunscreen. Why have two hand creams--one with sunscreen, one with brighteners--when you can have one product that protects and brightens? When I asked Julep this very question, they told me it was a great idea, but because the FDA considers sunscreen a drug, the process for registering a product with sunscreen is both long and costly. Of course, having two separate products also increases their potential sales. I'm not implying this consideration factors into Julep's reasoning for keeping the products separate. I'm simply being pragmatic.

Am I likely to purchase Glow On again? I'm undecided. I love it, but it's even pricier than Everyday SPF Hand Cream: $32 for 3 fl oz (89 mL), or $25.60 for those in the Julep Maven program.

Conclusions: The thinner texture of Every Day SPF Hand Cream may appeal to some, but not to those of us who want a thicker cream. Glow On, on the other hand (no pun intended), does a better job of moisturizing the hands, with the added benefit of providing skin with radiance, but--like Every Day SPF Hand Cream--it's pricey. Very pricey.

Some additional thoughts: Think you only need sunscreen on your hands during the summer months? NO! Please protect yourself by wearing sunscreen year round. Here are some links to some info on why it's so important to wear sunscreen, even during the winter months:

http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/daily/regimen/winter-skin-care.htm
http://www.wellnessjunction.com/athome/selfcare/uvrays.htm
http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=25701


There are literally hundreds of articles that cite the need for use of sunscreen during winter months. That UV radiation is still potent in the Winter is not an opinion; it is a scientific fact, so please protect yourself!

Finally, here's great info from The Skin Cancer Foundation on UV radiation and the use of sun block that applies to all times of hear. Discusses the different types of UV radiation and sunscreens. 

http://www.skincancer.org/understanding-uva-and-uvb.html

Thanks for joining us here at the lab for a Super Supply Sunday. Until next time, sending you lab love!


Allison

Super Supply Sunday: Get it On and Wicked Fast by Cult Nails

Hello Lab Partners!

We all know that a good mani depends on more than the polish. One of the most important components is a great top coat, preferably a quick-drying one that leaves the wearer able to get on with her day without fear of messing up that fresh mani. Cult Nails just released their new base coat, Get It On, and quick-dry top coat, Wicked Fast. We couldn't wait to give them a try. 

Cult Nails Get It On (base coat) and Wicked Fast (top coat)

Ace: 


When we decided to put Cult Nails' new base and top coats to the test, I didn't think it would be that hard. I've been getting so much nail mail this week, there was always a few new lovelies waiting to be swatched. but I persevered and kept the color on for 3.5 days.


The task was made easier by the fact that I had the lovely Let Me Fly from Cult Nails as my nail color. It's a pretty, muted-yet-saturated, medium blue with fine hidden shimmer. Gorgeous! I applied two coats of the polish over the Get It On base coat and followed by Wicked Fast topcoat.


I'll just say that the base coat was fine, but requires further experiments. My mani did not chip at all for 3.5 days but that's neither here nor there. We can thus say the base coat is at the very least, adequate.


Now the top coat... I should preface this by saying I love Seche Vite. I love it even though it stinks and you have to thin it after a while and even taking into account the dreaded "shrinkage" that sometimes happens with Seche.

Not that shrinkage!

This shrinkage. (Image from Candy Coated Tips)

Now I am not saying Seche is the only top coat that does this, but it seems that it is most frequently accused of being the culprit.

But Seche Vite also provides incredible shine and hardness and dries faster than anything else I've tried. It also evens out the layers of polish and can make golden a clumpy application. I will always love it for its magic.

In this context, Wicked Fast had a lot to live up to and it is remarkable that I can honestly say, this is one good top coat! It dries a bit slower than Seche Vite but noticeably faster than anything else I tried (Poshe, Zoya, Sally Hansen, etc). The texture and shine were excellent. And my mani wore without even tip wear for 3.5 days. Here are the photos with the different outfits to prove it.

Day 1: Admiring the beauty that is Let Me Fly

Day 2: Close up (above) and outfit (below). Let Me Fly matched this top perfectly!

Day 3: Loved it with this dress!

Day 4: Another day, another dress and still going strong!

Overall, I can recommend the base and top coats. They're among the best I have tried.

So far we know these products do well with their own brand's polishes. But do they play well with other brands? I find it annoying when a product only plays well with its own polishes or vice versa. I know it makes sense from the companies' viewpoint, but as consumers, we'd like our base coats and top coats to be usable with all our polishes. Allison put these products to the test with a different brand.

Allison:

I also tried both Get it On and Wicked Fast. Get in On applied evenly, and provided a smooth surface for my polish: Zoya Petra. Next came Wicked Fast. Here's the part of the experiment I was most curious about. As many of you know from experience, Zoya polishes tend not to play well with certain quick-dry top coats, so applying Wicked Fast to this mani would be interesting. I was thrilled to find my mani dried to a hard, smooth, glossy surface within minutes after applying Wicked Fast. And better yet--my Zoya polish showed no adverse effects:

Cult Nails Wicked Fast top coat over Zoya Petra. Inside, artificial light, no flash.

Cult Nails Wicked Fast used as top coat over Zoya Petra. Outside, natural light.

The photos don't do justice to the shine Wicked Fast left on my mani.  In one photo I chose not to show because I didn't care for the angle, I could clearly see in my nails the reflection of buildings behind me.


Now, I'm accustomed to changing my polish nearly every day, but because I wanted to see how well Wicked Fast helped my polish remain chip-free, I left this mani on for longer than usual. But after two days, I grew too impatient; I just couldn't resist changing things up a bit, so I used a fan brush to add some Zoya Goldie and a striping brush for a few streaks of Petra on top of my existing mani to create a mottled, gilded effect that reminds me of tiger's eye:

Cult Nails Wicked Fast top coat over Zoya Petra and Zoya Goldie

After another two days (four days after the initial mani), my mani was still going strong. My patience, however, were not. I just had to change polish! 

What more can I say about a top coat that not only quickly dried my mani to a glossy finish, but also made my mani outlast my patience? Move over Seche Vite. Get out of the way Poshe! I've found a new favorite top coat.




Conclusions: Although more experiments are needed, the lab's first studies indicate Cult Nails' new base and top coats are worth a try! They may just be your new favorites.


EDITED TO ADD: Cult Nails are having a free shipping promo: Now through Thurs 10/6 11:59pm EST at shop.cultnails.com. No minimums - free shipping for everyone domestic & International.


Have you tried these products? What do you think? What's your preferred top and base coat?