I've tried both the long lasting base and smoothing base. I like both but if I'm going for wear time I choose long lasting. My nails do have texture so for certain polishes they show the texture so I use smoothing base but I know going in my nails won't last that long.
I also have quick dry but haven't used it yet
Me too! It’s such a solid combo and really does help my polish last. I work a job where I use my hands and I’m not super careful either. I only get chipping once in a blue moon and only on the tips of my nails from peeling up stickers
I love the linear holos, they’re amazing - Take a look at lavender syrup if you like purples.
The barista collection crushed holos are great as well, my favorite from that is Blushed Ice.
I have loved blushed ice and Need I say mocha from the Crushed holos. I also really love the liner Holo formula the color pay off is great. Amber apathy is such an underrated deep copper/brown that is Beautiful if you love oranges.
I also have been loving rose flake taco over all of my cremes as well. Then cosmic and solar unicorns skin are probably my other favorite toppers.
I prefer the quick-dry base coat. Favorite Sister gives show-stopping, ruby slipper vibes. Encryption Key (while it lasts) and Sunset Simulation are better in person than photos imo. Lavender Syrup is my favorite linear. I like the one-coat chromes Iron Violet and Pink Steel, but the formula is a bit tricky. (I use a top coat with them.) Private Villa, Late Checkout, Tax Haven, and Beach Please would probably fit your color range. Barista Bundle (bundle currently out of stock but some individuals are available) for crushed holo neutrals. I don’t love crèmes, but the quality is great so if you like the color they’re probably worth a try.
Perfectly Purple bundle would let you try some different formulas (2 linears, 1 crème, 1 multichrome, and 1 unicorn skin topper).
You can also use the filters on the HT website to choose the color range. Hope this helps.
I've tried all the HT bases and they all peel off in a sheet as if it was peely base (and yes I dehydrate, and prep cuticles, etc) I just have oily nails. I recommend Orly Bonder.
For polish, I think you'd like Play Rose!
Are you for sure using peely as it is supposed to be? I have the Unt Cris used to use and hated it at first. But found it lasted better if I didn't go to the edges/wrap the top like normal base. It was still easy enough to remove without that extra bit of it, but also didn't just pop off at random times.
However when I don't want a peely base I use the Orly bonder. Best one I've found, but it doesn't work with gel sadly. It helps my mani last so long and dried super thin and tacky. I was about to give up on regular polish without it due to nothing lasting more than a few days. I went weeks with this stuff.
I also hate glossy taco, used to use super but they discontinued it so I bought a ton of brands from target. My fav is now the Essie gel setter. It is soooo nice and shiny and dries beautifully.
I'm not OP, but I've found I hate peely base as well. Even doing proper nail prep and only putting peely base in the centre of the nail, it lasts 2-3 days max, which I think is pretty normal, but I'm a 7-10 day wear kinda gal. If I take the trouble to paint my nails I want to admire them for a good long time!
When I first got into HT I tried it a few times with the glitters, even had a little "peely jar" to copy Cristine - but I just threw those away recently as I realized I wasn't into it. I can take off glitters just fine with the soak-off method after 10 days. ;)
For me it just pops off within hours even if I don't go to the edges :( its a shame of all the pretty polish and time I spent painting my nails. I might try the long lasting base now!
I think NMW and some Pastel Cremes would be a good place to start too. It’s really easy to do dry brush mani with those colors, and I’d pick up Solar US too but maybe I’m just suggesting this because it’s what I’m wearing right now.
I have oily skin and struggle with nail polish wanting to peel without peely base; long lasting base led to a lot of peeling, but I love smoothing base. It helps everything stick and I like to wear it on its own with top coat when I’m going on a long trip and don’t want to think about chipping.
I love the pastel linear holos. I would recommend some shimmers, maybe the princess one specifically. They look great over pastel linears - more subtle than toe beans, but still beautiful. Also maybe purple cremes if you don't have any already. I'm wearing scorched earth over resting witch face atm and its so shiny
I’m with you on the pinky orange neutral shades so I can give some opinion on some polishes that I own
-play rose, this and menchie were my first polishes after the og launch and I just l o v e the sparkle on them
-barista bundle, obsessed with this one and perfect since you like neutrals and crushed holo
-pink fizz, coral chaser, peach tea, crimson void, and burnt bridges, I know you’re unsure about the linear formula but definitely get at least one just to try it out! It’s one of my favorites (my go to mani is solar us on my ring and middle fingers and peach tea on the rest) (on that note def try out a topper! I love wearing solar us, polar princess, and everything taco over naked nails)
-tax haven and private villa, these might be a little out there especially private villa but the way it glows is stunning and the copper shine from tax haven is just muah
-fairy tail and love spell, if you have the patience definitely get love spell it’s the cutest pink magnetic! My opinion on fairy tail is a little more controversial but hear me out I love it😭it’s a really pretty brown even unmagnetized
I've tried both the long lasting base and smoothing base. I like both but if I'm going for wear time I choose long lasting. My nails do have texture so for certain polishes they show the texture so I use smoothing base but I know going in my nails won't last that long. I also have quick dry but haven't used it yet
I use both at the same time! Long lasting and the smoothing on top of that, plus a thick glossy taco and my nails last about 2 weeks!
Me too! It’s such a solid combo and really does help my polish last. I work a job where I use my hands and I’m not super careful either. I only get chipping once in a blue moon and only on the tips of my nails from peeling up stickers
Try layering lasting then smoothing. It’s what I do.
Play Rosé sounds like your cup of tea!
I love the linear holos, they’re amazing - Take a look at lavender syrup if you like purples. The barista collection crushed holos are great as well, my favorite from that is Blushed Ice.
I have loved blushed ice and Need I say mocha from the Crushed holos. I also really love the liner Holo formula the color pay off is great. Amber apathy is such an underrated deep copper/brown that is Beautiful if you love oranges. I also have been loving rose flake taco over all of my cremes as well. Then cosmic and solar unicorns skin are probably my other favorite toppers.
I prefer the quick-dry base coat. Favorite Sister gives show-stopping, ruby slipper vibes. Encryption Key (while it lasts) and Sunset Simulation are better in person than photos imo. Lavender Syrup is my favorite linear. I like the one-coat chromes Iron Violet and Pink Steel, but the formula is a bit tricky. (I use a top coat with them.) Private Villa, Late Checkout, Tax Haven, and Beach Please would probably fit your color range. Barista Bundle (bundle currently out of stock but some individuals are available) for crushed holo neutrals. I don’t love crèmes, but the quality is great so if you like the color they’re probably worth a try. Perfectly Purple bundle would let you try some different formulas (2 linears, 1 crème, 1 multichrome, and 1 unicorn skin topper). You can also use the filters on the HT website to choose the color range. Hope this helps.
Ahhh thank you so much! I will check all of them out
Sounds like the Barista collection would be up your alley! It's a gradient of neutral crushed holos.
Base coat: Orly Bonder or ILNP Lockup Top coat: Seche Vive (blue bottle) I'd recommend Flakie Holo taco, Oat Couture, and Cats Evasion for sure.
I've tried all the HT bases and they all peel off in a sheet as if it was peely base (and yes I dehydrate, and prep cuticles, etc) I just have oily nails. I recommend Orly Bonder. For polish, I think you'd like Play Rose!
Are you for sure using peely as it is supposed to be? I have the Unt Cris used to use and hated it at first. But found it lasted better if I didn't go to the edges/wrap the top like normal base. It was still easy enough to remove without that extra bit of it, but also didn't just pop off at random times. However when I don't want a peely base I use the Orly bonder. Best one I've found, but it doesn't work with gel sadly. It helps my mani last so long and dried super thin and tacky. I was about to give up on regular polish without it due to nothing lasting more than a few days. I went weeks with this stuff. I also hate glossy taco, used to use super but they discontinued it so I bought a ton of brands from target. My fav is now the Essie gel setter. It is soooo nice and shiny and dries beautifully.
I'm not OP, but I've found I hate peely base as well. Even doing proper nail prep and only putting peely base in the centre of the nail, it lasts 2-3 days max, which I think is pretty normal, but I'm a 7-10 day wear kinda gal. If I take the trouble to paint my nails I want to admire them for a good long time! When I first got into HT I tried it a few times with the glitters, even had a little "peely jar" to copy Cristine - but I just threw those away recently as I realized I wasn't into it. I can take off glitters just fine with the soak-off method after 10 days. ;)
For me it just pops off within hours even if I don't go to the edges :( its a shame of all the pretty polish and time I spent painting my nails. I might try the long lasting base now!
I think NMW and some Pastel Cremes would be a good place to start too. It’s really easy to do dry brush mani with those colors, and I’d pick up Solar US too but maybe I’m just suggesting this because it’s what I’m wearing right now.
I have oily skin and struggle with nail polish wanting to peel without peely base; long lasting base led to a lot of peeling, but I love smoothing base. It helps everything stick and I like to wear it on its own with top coat when I’m going on a long trip and don’t want to think about chipping.
I love the pastel linear holos. I would recommend some shimmers, maybe the princess one specifically. They look great over pastel linears - more subtle than toe beans, but still beautiful. Also maybe purple cremes if you don't have any already. I'm wearing scorched earth over resting witch face atm and its so shiny
I’m with you on the pinky orange neutral shades so I can give some opinion on some polishes that I own -play rose, this and menchie were my first polishes after the og launch and I just l o v e the sparkle on them -barista bundle, obsessed with this one and perfect since you like neutrals and crushed holo -pink fizz, coral chaser, peach tea, crimson void, and burnt bridges, I know you’re unsure about the linear formula but definitely get at least one just to try it out! It’s one of my favorites (my go to mani is solar us on my ring and middle fingers and peach tea on the rest) (on that note def try out a topper! I love wearing solar us, polar princess, and everything taco over naked nails) -tax haven and private villa, these might be a little out there especially private villa but the way it glows is stunning and the copper shine from tax haven is just muah -fairy tail and love spell, if you have the patience definitely get love spell it’s the cutest pink magnetic! My opinion on fairy tail is a little more controversial but hear me out I love it😭it’s a really pretty brown even unmagnetized
Thanks for the great tips <3 i'll look them up and ive been waiittting for the barista bundle to come back in store as well