Latest Manicure Must-Haves: Orly Cutique & Essie Ridge Filling Base Coat

As much as I am obsessed with nail polish, I don't pay much attention to my cuticles and they are often neglected as I think to myself, 'they don't look so bad', so it's a part of the manicure I tend to skip but that was until I came across Orly's Cutique Cuticle & Stain Remover. Now I can't believe I didn't get on to this sooner.

This looks like a some sort of base coat, but basically you apply it on the nail for 30-60 seconds and then use an orange stick (or similar) to push back the cuticle and then rinse with warm water. It removes stuff I didn't even know was on my nail and gets rid of stains from previous polish really well, overall leaving a perfect base to start a new manicure.

After that I apply Essie's ridge filling base coat. I was in the market for a new base coat and spotted this in TK Maxx in a little set with a polish, I had already been thinking of Essie so took this as a sign to purchase (plus it was a bargain!).

It's great for smoothing the finish of nail before applying polish and dries quickly.

What I have noticed the most since using these products is that my polish lasts longer than before, and gives a better level of finish to my manicure.

These have really become staples and I am keen to explore some more Essie and Orly base/treatment products.

Superdrug MUA Nail Polish Shade 5

Superdrug Makeup Academy Nail Polish - Shade 5

No fancy nail polish names here, but for £1, I'm not complaining - it's the colour that's talking to me. This is a beautiful aquamarine/jade shade - slightly more blue based rather then yellow.

This is with two coats and after a couple of days so there is a tiny bit of tip wear but overall this polish is a nice formula - not too thick or thin (it beats some higher priced formulas). Brush is standard but maybe a tiny bit flatter, so application is rather good.

This is almost an exact dupe of Essie Turquoise and Caicos - I don't have the Essie, but during work a person noticed my nails and thought I had on the same Essie polish as her (I am pretty sure it's T&C but she didn't say the shade name). 

I did check out the new OPI Pirates of the Caribbean collection and had a look at how this compares to Mermaid's Tears and the OPI is slightly murkier and greener.  I am glad I checked this out as I prefer the MUA - so that's another one crossed off my lust list!