Desperately Seeking Persistent Polish is a series where I wear a nail polish for seven days and take before and after pics to document the condition of my paws over the course of the week!
Desperately Seeking Persistent Polish is a series where I wear a nail polish for seven days and take before and after pics to document the condition of my paws over the course of the week!
One good thing came out of my recent gel manicure debacle. I have a new passion for finding kick-@ss non-gel long-wearing nail polishes, i.e. nail polishes that can actually handle my life!
I do my nails at home once a week now, and over the course of that week my paws take a beating. I’m typing, I’m cleaning, I’m taking care of the dual divas who room and board with me (human and otherwise), I’m gardening, I’m preparing meals (gluten-free sometimes!), I’m working out… Basically, going about my day like busy women do.
Wanted: long-lasting nail polishes
So, a few weeks ago I started a project to track down some lovely long-lasting polishes, and when I find a new contender, I follow the following process: I use the same base and top coats for consistency — Smith & Cult’s tough-as-nails (lol) The Basis of Everything and Above It All — and I paint my paws with two coats of that week’s nail polish.
Then I take some pics to document the condition of my paws over the seven days before removing the nail polish and starting all over again with something else.
Let’s get ready to rummmbllllle! In this corner, Smith & Cult Ceremony of Secrets ($18)
I put Smith & Cult’s Ceremony of Secrets, a rose gold micro glitter, through its paces a couple weeks ago, and that week, on top of the usual life things I had to do, I also spent a day at a beach on the Russian River, which meant futzing with beach umbrellas and chairs, sand, and opening and closing multiple zippered totes (those zippers man… They’re like death traps for nail polish!). I also constructed three sand castles and, of course, swam.
Also, that week I lifted heavier free weights than usual at the gym, and those dumbbells and kettle bells are rough and will totally shred a manicure like *that*.
Despite those extracurricular activities, this glittery manicure held up exceptionally well. By the end of the week, I saw some small chips at the tips of my nails, a few chunks taken out along the base of my nails, and some cracks along the sides where I could’ve done a better job with the edges and top coat, but Ceremony of Secrets held up well overall.
I’m sure I could’ve worn it at least another day.
Day 1: So fresh, so clean
Day 7: Still holdin’ on
Considering that the above was after seven full days, I have to say, Smith & Cult Ceremony of Secrets is pretty tough. I’ll definitely wear it again.
❤️❤️❤️❤️ 4 out of 5 hearts
Onto the next shade!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. tgif!
Kim says
August 31st, 2018 at 7:51 amNot too shabby for a week of hard work! It’s a nice color, too. 🙂 Happy Friday – I hope you all enjoy a nice, long weekend!
Karen says
August 31st, 2018 at 10:08 amYea, I think the glitter helps. It really hangs on! What are you guys up to this weekend? Let me guess: something related to the boys playing sports. 🙂
Kim says
September 4th, 2018 at 12:25 pmBelieve it or not, they didn’t even have a practice this weekend! That almost never happens so it was very relaxing. 🙂 We had a golf tournament and a b’day BBQ but, other than that, it was low key and filled with Netflix. Delightful! How about you? Anything fun?
Jade says
August 31st, 2018 at 8:38 amLove that color!
OPI has a new formulation that is supposed to last 11 days. You have to use the special base and top coat but it does last longer. I can get mine to last at least a week, and that involves pool time, normal life, and taking into consideration that I am not good at painting my nails. Love it!
Karen says
August 31st, 2018 at 10:07 amHi Jade,
I heard about that line! I might try it eventually; I’m going to try a few regular OPI shade with this base/top coat combo first. I actually just painted my nails with OPI Chills Are Multiplying, which is a dark blue. Are your nails painted right now?
Jade says
August 31st, 2018 at 11:20 amThey are, I’m trying to eke out the last bits of sunmer. OPI’s white Suzie Chases Portuguese but in that new formulation. I wish I had done a better job painting them but they’re holding strong on Day 5.
Karen says
August 31st, 2018 at 1:55 pm“I wish I had done a better job painting.” — Girl, story of my life! LOL I am the person who paints her nails and lets the polish get all over the place, and then I just wait to take a shower for everything to work itself out, LOL!
Five days is amazing. Here’s to hoping they hold on for a few more!
Jade says
September 1st, 2018 at 2:15 pmAh that is so me!!!! My coworker legitimately had to tell me to start getting pedicures because my toes looked a mess in the office? She was like girl it’s $25 just go. But I still do my own manis!
Ewa says
August 31st, 2018 at 11:09 amHave you tried any of the Live Love Polish products? I’m a nail polish fanatic, and the combination of their base and top coat are by far the best I’ve tried. They work well with any polish, and I get a solid week out of them (I’m very tough on my hands). Also, Tabs’s cat pants are perfection.
Karen says
August 31st, 2018 at 1:57 pmHi Ewa,
I haven’t! I plan to go on a base and top coat adventure though after I find some long-wearing nail polishes. Will keep them on my radar. I just looked at their page and some of their colors are super pretty, too.
Michele DiCola says
August 31st, 2018 at 11:34 amHi Karen,
Happy Labor Day !
I love the S & C colors bit try dip powder.
Your life will be easer.
Michele
Jennifer R Osborn says
August 31st, 2018 at 12:18 pmThanks for the belly shot. That’s just what I needed to see on a Friday afternoon!
I want to cover him with smooches!
Also, I think you should try a polish from that brand that doesn’t have glitter for a fair and accurate representation of how long the polish will hold up.
Glitter polish tends to last a lot longer.
Brands that I’ve had success with include Laura Lippman, Essie and CND. Also, Morgan Taylor isn’t bad either.
What are you guys up to for the long weekend?
Karen says
August 31st, 2018 at 1:52 pmOh, for sure. I did one from Smith & Cult that was non-glittery last week (a creamy purple called Analog Fog) and it held up great. This morning I painted my nails with OPI’s Chills Are Multiplying (a dark blue). Hoping it’ll last a while!
This weekend, hmm… If the weather is nice we might go to the beach, since this is the last hurrah to do that kind of thing. What are you guys doing?
P.S. I will pass along some kisses to Tabs from you. 🙂
Sara F says
August 31st, 2018 at 12:18 pmHi Karen! I have been reading about your gluten free cooking, my husband has been told to lay off the wheat products too. Have you or anyone else have any recs for good GF pasta? The ones we’ve tried are really gummy and chewy.
Karen says
August 31st, 2018 at 1:49 pmHi Sara,
I bought a few to try recently and am working my way through them. The other day I made an improv lunch with Trader Joe’s Organic Yellow Lentil & Brown Rice Spaghetti. It’s very good! Reminds me of soba (buckwheat) noodles, because it has an almost nutty flavor. I also tried Barilla’s Gluten-Free Lasagna on the recommendation of a gluten-free friend. Barilla is supposed to be the best of the gluten-free, and I have to say, it tasted EXACTLY like regular lasagna. I’m going to try their other gluten-free pasta shapes and will report back.
Hopefully you live near a Trader Joe’s, because they also have these gluten-free chocolate cupcakes which are amazing!
Lorraine says
August 31st, 2018 at 12:46 pmHooray for another Smith and Cult winner! swatches of their new colors are always tough to track down, so I appreciate the photos- this is one I was dying to see. This is a lovely shade on you. Reminds me of a rosier, cooler version of Deborah Lippmann Stargasm, which looks lovely on my daughter’s caramel skintone. I love how rose golds look on her, and you! Lucky.
Karen says
August 31st, 2018 at 1:42 pmThanks, Lorraine. This one’s even prettier in person. The fineness of the glitter is perfection! There’s also a bright pink, Extra Ordinary, that I’m going to try, too, but that will have to wait until I finish up with this round (I just put on a dark blue OPI shade this morning).
Do you have Smith & Cult Bitter Buddhist, btw? It’s my fave shade from the line.
Lorraine says
August 31st, 2018 at 3:06 pmoooh! love to hear you will be swatching extra Ordinary. yes I have Bitter Buddhist. I went on a Smith and Cult binge over the summer- been cheating on Chanel Vernis. shhhh…. my favorites from their line are their neutrals- The Graduate, Powder Posse, Doe My Dear and Peaceful Paranoia. But those glitters! I love the polish formerly known as Vegas Post Apocalyptic, now called Take Fountain. so many pretty choices!
Brandy Smith says
August 31st, 2018 at 4:46 pmHi Karen!
I used to be a nail tech, my personal favorite combo is the Orly Bonder bass coat with the Orly Won’t Chip top coat. I love using OPI or Zoya polishes with this system, I typically get about a week and a half of wear time.
Good luck in your search!
Tara says
August 31st, 2018 at 6:25 pmI find glitter polish tends to last longer on me. I’ve had good luck with Julep (seche vite topcoat), but the real winner for me has been Essie Gel Couture (not UV gel, just long wear).
I had a similar real gel experience as you did and swore never again. Essie GC lasts about a week on me, and I often have people comment and/or ask if it’s gel because of the shine and absence of chips. The brush is curved, and it really does make it easier to do a neat job. It has a special topcoat, and it removes with regular polish remover. I tell people about it all the time because it’s so great!
Susan says
September 1st, 2018 at 5:52 amI also manicure my nails weekly and 2nd the Essie Gel Couture formula. I always use Opi Nail Envy original for my base coat, but the top coat is key to helping any polish stay. The new Opi gel polish & top coat (similar to the Essie formula) are also long wearing, and I have great results with the handful of Zoya polishes I own.
Donna says
September 1st, 2018 at 1:29 amHave you ever tried Floss Gloss? Check out their website. Beautiful colors and the polish laaasssts. Disco Dust is amazing.
Dee says
January 10th, 2019 at 11:11 pmIs Ceremony of Secrets silver based or gold? Is it a warm tone or cold? I’m looking for a perfect warm rose gold shade.
Karen says
January 11th, 2019 at 5:37 amHi Dee,
There’s a lot of silver in it, for sure. I’d say it’s closer to a cool toned pink.
Dee says
January 12th, 2019 at 11:37 pmThank you so much Karen – I’m a long time reader/first time commenter. I knew I could count on you – you rock! I’ll stay on the hunt for my perfect warm rose gold polish. 🙂 Happy 2019 to you and all your readers!