ace of base

whether you're sporting a neutral manicure, or bright nail polish, the best way to maintain chip-free, glossy colour is by using a quality base and top coat on your nails. here are my favourite products to ensure that your manicure lasts weeks without chipping...

base coat: china glaze strong adhesion

acting as a primer for nails, this varnish preps the nails for polish by filling in ridges and preventing discolouration from dark, pigmented nail varnishes. this product also allows the surface of the nail to adhere better to nail polish once it is applied, giving it even more of a finish.

what i really like about this base coat is how strongly the nail polish adheres to it, allowing for an easier, smoother application. As well, this product dries really quickly, so you can apply nail polish over top after only a couple seconds of drying time,

(this product retails for about $6 and is available at sally's beauty supply stores in canada, or online at www.sallybeauty.com)

top coat: seche vite dry fast top coat

this product is by far the best top coat i've ever used (a manicure once lasted almost two weeks on my nails after i applied this top coat). it leaves nails looking really vivid and glossy.

what i like about this top coat is its ability to make any polish (whether drugstore or high-end) last longer and look professionally applied at the same time. as an added bonus, this top coat has a fast-drying formula, which cuts the drying time down to around ten minutes. seche vite top coat bonds to the nail varnish, leaving behind a shiny, durable finish.

(this product retails for around $8 and is available at sally's beauty supply stores in canada, or online at www.sallybeauty.com)

- tanya