Got Nail Care Intensive Cuticle Oil Review

Hey friends! Today I thought I would share a new nail care item I've been trying out for the last few weeks. Got Nail Care is made by JayLynn aka @gotnail on Instagram. I saw she was looking for testers for her new intensive cuticle oil formula so I threw my hat in the ring. You all know I can't live without cuticle oil and while I have my tried and true, ride or die favorites, I am always willing to try new things!

Press Sample

This formula is made up of: Jojoba, Olive Oil, Coconut, Avocado, Grapeseed, Apricot, Sunflower and Rice Bran oils. The only scent she is carrying this in right now is called Candy Splash and it is delicious! Very sweet and sugary but also kinda fruity? I'm not sure what the notes are but it smells incredible.

The tube holds 8 ml and has a small doe foot applicator. This is actually my first cuticle oil with a doe foot and I like it! After extensive testing (my bottle is half gone) I have found this oil to be incredibly moisturizing. It sinks in pretty fast, allowing me to use it at work throughout the day and not end up with a greasy keyboard.

You can purchase this oil on the Got Nail Care website for $8.00 or in a 10 ml rollerball dispenser for $10. Have you tried anything from Got Nail Care? How do you feel about cuticle oil in general? I know some people prefer balms or lotions, which I like too, but oil is seriously my jam. I'll be back with some more nail polish swatches soon!

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

KBShimmer New Nail Care Products Review

KBShimmer has come out with a few new nail care products alongside their Spring collection, and I've got them to review for you today! I will have the Spring polishes up next week, I didn't get enough sun to swatch them this past weekend unfortunately. Plus then my nails will be grown out a little more, so that'll be good. They're super nubs right now, you'll see them in some posts later this week haha. Now, nail care ahoy!

Press Sample

KBShimmer Fillin’ Groovy Ridge Filling Base Coat (left) is a sticky base coat that gives a slightly plumped finish for smooth polish application. The stickiness helps to keep polish on your nails longer and also resists staining. It has a milky color and a medium consistency, a little thicker than clear bases so it takes a little longer to dry. This seems to fill ridges nicely and seems to help my polish adhere easily. I'm not the best judge of longevity with nail products as I change my manicure very often, usually before I ever get chips, so I can't speak to how well this keeps polish on. However, it did seem to prevent staining as I tried it with a shade I know tends to stain and didn't notice any.

KBShimmer Love You Strong Time Nail Strengthener (middle) "contains calcium pantothenate and Vitamin A to help strengthen natural nails without the use of Formaldehyde". The website says it helps weak, thin, splitting or peeling nails because it is a rehydrating formula. I find this very thin, almost watery, but it's not as runny on the nail as I imagined. Dries very quickly and leaves a nice finish. Some nail strengtheners/treatments can leave a less than desirable finish on the nail so I don't like wearing them on their own but this one is fine. You can also use it under nail polish, but I don't know how it would be at preventing staining, but it doesn't claim to be stain blocking. Most strengtheners aren't. I can't speak to how effective it is yet because I haven't had it long enough to form an opinion on that yet.

KBShimmer Oh Matte! Matte Top Coat (right) is a cloudy top coat meant to leave behind a matte finish. They advise to use this over dry polish only, or over quick-dry topcoat-ed polish, in thin coats with as few brushstrokes as possible. I've tried lots of matte top coats and this is probably among the top three. It's easy to apply, leaves a super matte finish, and doesn't get chalky on the neck of the bottle. They do tend to thicken up a lot over time so I'm interested to see if this guy does as well.

image via KBShimmer.com

The last product I have to show you is a new addition to their lotion family, the new KBShimmer Picture Perfect Matte Cuticle Cream. I was among a select few to actually be a tester for this product before its release and I'm really happy with it. (My bottle is a tester so I'm featuring a stock photo from their website.) You know how I prefer a moisturized but matte look to my skin and cuticles when I take photos so this is a perfect solution to that. I've tried a similar product from another brand and still love it, but it's a balm and this is a lotion so there's some variety in this product category now. This comes in a variety of scents as well as unscented. Pink Sugar still has my heart though!

These three polishes and the lotion are all available now on the KBShimmer website. The treatments sell for $6 each and the lotion is $4.50 for a 15ml bottle. Do you use any of these kind of nail care products? Have you tried any of KBShimmer's nail care yet? Let me know in the comments! Talk to you again soon!

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

My Updated Nail & Hand Care Essentials

Hi friends! I wrote a post about my favorite nail & hand care items last year, which you can see here, but I wanted to update it for you with some of the different products I've been using lately and supplementing my routine with. Since I've been under the weather, and dealing with some family health issues, (not to mention the actual weather has been rather crappy lately) I haven't had a chance to swatch very much but I will be back with some soon!

Press Sample | Purchased by Me

Nail Primers - I use these to prep my nails for polish, they remove all remnants of oil before a base coat.

KBShimmer pH Balancing Pre-Polish Nail Treatment is the one I've been using pretty much exclusively since I first tried it. Works really well and is affordable. $5, www.kbshimmer.com

Orly Primetime is an old favorite. I still reach for it when I run out of the KBShimmer, but I prefer the former because of the brush width. $10, www.orlybeauty.com


Base Coats/Treatments - I'm looking for stain prevention and a moderate amount of staying power from my base coat. I change my polish often so I don't need a base coat that guarantees a month of chip free nails (as if, haha).

Nail Tek Citra I Formaldehyde Free for Strong, Healthy Nails is my current favorite. I bought it on my trip to California this March while shopping with Jen The PolishAholic. I don't need strengtheners but I wanted some extra protection. This protects my nails and wears well by itself or under polish. $15, www.ulta.com

SuperChic Lacquer Bring It On! base coat is a new product I got for review not too long ago. This base coat is supposed to totally prevent staining and so far, I can say it lives up to the claims! I love that it dries matte and very fast. $6.50, www.superchiclacquer.com

Pretty Serious Force Field Protective Base Coat is a new-ish product from Pretty Serious that I bought recently. This is a good everyday type of clear base coat with great protection against staining. $8.95, www.pretty-serious.com

Butter London Nail Foundation is more of a splurge. It's a nude colored ridge-filling base coat. This is pricey so I don't use it all that often, but I do really like it for sheer colors to camouflage my nail beds a little. $19, www.butterlondon.com


Top Coats - I'm always on the hunt for the next best top coat of life. I like them to dry very fast, be shiny, and not shrink or pull at my polish. These are all great and I use them all depending on what mood I'm in.

KBShimmer Clearly On Top Quick Dry Top Coat - $5, www.kbshimmer.com

Glisten & Glow HK Girl Top Coat - $6.95, http://glistenandglow.bigcartel.com/

SuperChic Lacquer Marvel Liquid Macro - $6.50, www.superchiclacquer.com (image via laceandlacquers.com)


Cuticle Oils - This is an essential part of my life now, since I started using them religiously last year. I cannot be without it, I use it multiple times a day! These are all really good options.

Bliss Kiss Pure Nail Oil - The one that started it all. The 'crisp' scent is my favorite! $5.99-$19.99, www.nailcarehq.com

Sweet Baby by Donna - The recent contender for the top spot. The 'pink sugar' scent is basically crack to me! $6-$10.75, www.etsy.com/shop/SweetBabybyDonna

KBShimmer Cuticle Oil is another awesome one I've been using on and off for a long time, again in 'pink sugar'. $6, www.kbshimmer.com

Sunny's Body Products Cuticle Oil - This lady has some excellent products, the two types of oils she makes are seriously amazing. She has a monumental amount of scents to choose from, but again my pick has to be 'pink sugar'! $6-$8, www.365daysofcolorpolishes.com


Cuticle/Stain Remover - I've been laying off the cuticle removers almost completely and my cuticles seem even better than they have been so it looks like something I can go easy on or avoid completely.

Orly Cutique is a gentle cuticle remover but I mostly use it if I get some errant staining on my nails or cuticles and it does the trick, like magic! $10, www.orlybeauty.com

Hand Sanitizer - I work in a busy office with lots of people coming and going so I use sanitizer like crazy!

Fortune Cookie Soap OCD hand sanitizer is excellent, non-drying and comes in a ton of amazing scents! I can't get enough of this stuff! My favorite scent right now is Kiss, it smells like sweet tarts! $2.89-$6.49, www.fortunecookiesoap.com


Moisturizer - I cannot stand to have my hands feel dry so I'm always using some product or other on them to keep the moisture in.

Fortune Cookie Soap Whipped Cream is holy grail status for me. So creamy, really moisturizing but not greasy, sinks in quickly and a lot of fabulous scents to choose from. One of my favorites is fruity Polyjuice Potion. $10.99-$16.49, www.fortunecookiesoap.com

KBShimmer lotion, I've spoken about my love for this product in the past, great all over lotion. The 'pink sugar' scent rules again! $10, www.kbshimmer.com


Exfoliating Scrub - I'm a recent convert to scrubs, they're such a nice addition to my routine. I use them all over, elbows, hands, feet, yay!

KBShimmer Sugar Scrub is so good! I love that it's gentle but still coarse enough to actually get the job done! I also really appreciate that all the little bits dissolve and don't stick around my tub and ruin my baths ;) $10, www.kbshimmer.com


Fingernail Polish Remover - I need something to work well, fast, and not turn my hands into the sahara desert!

Onyx Professional Nail Polish Remover Moisturizing Formula Lavender, I found this in Walmart a few months ago and I just adore it. Reminds me of the one available in Sally Beauty Supply stores, but I don't have one of them close to me so this is a great option for me, plus it's really affordable. $2.48, www.walmart.com

Zoya Remove is an old favorite, I still buy this whenever I place a Zoya order or am by an Ulta, because it's a nice strong remover but is still gentle. $9.99, www.zoya.com

Oh and a side note, I do still use plain 100% acetone to clean up with and to help with stubborn glitter polish.

There you have it folks! *phew* I sure do use a lot of junk on my hands huh haha. I am still looking for a good SPF to protect my hands without making them greasy. Ugh, I despise sunscreen in all forms, but I know I need to use it. Let me know your favorite products for hand/nail care! Have you tried any of my picks?

❤ Kellie

Some of the products mentioned were provided for an honest review; others were purchased by me. Photos are from the respective companies' websites.

KBShimmer Nail Care Trio

Hi there! Today I wanted to review some nail care products for you from KBShimmer. They make bath and body products as well as nail polish, some of which I have recently reviewed for you. I wanted to give an in-depth review of the three nail treatments they produce also so here it is.

Press Sample | Purchased

Nail Prep pH balancing pre-polish nail treatment is a liquid nail prep to be used before polishing your nails. It helps balance the pH of your nail to allow your polish to adhere better. I like it because I usually have some type of cuticle oil or balm on so it remove that moisture before I put on my base coat. I am a big fan of this, I prefer it to my Orly Primetime because it seems to dry a little faster and does a better job at dehydrating the nail plate which prevents chips.

The Basic Training nail polish base coat works "like double sided sticky tape" by adhering to the nail plate and to the polish you put on top of it. It works to keep your nail polish on while also helps prevent staining. I found this to be a fine base coat, working in a similar manner to my go-to Orly Bonder.

And last is the Clearly On Top quick dry top coat. I have talked about many top coats before and how I feel like they are incredibly personal to each individual, with different body chemistry comes different results in my opinion. I found it to dry quickly, cover nicely with shiny results. However, this tends to bubble for me quite often which isn't ideal. I've heard from many others that it works perfectly for them without bubbling but like I said, everyone's chemistry is a little different. This is the only treatment from them I probably wouldn't repurchase. This is 2-free which means it does contain DBP but does not have any formaldehyde/formaldehyde resin or toluene, similar to my current favorite HK Girl.

I love that all of these are priced at $5 for a full size bottle which you can get on the KBShimmer website or Etsy store. They are cheaper than a lot of nail treatments on the market and they work! Have you ever tried any of these products before? What did you think of them? See ya next time!

facebook ▴ twitter ▴ instagram

Product samples were provided for consideration. I purchased a top coat at an earlier date.

KBShimmer Bath & Body Products Review

I was recently given the opportunity to review some products from KBShimmer along with their new early summer collection (review & swatches coming soon!). They have been one of the most popular indie brands since they came on the scene so I was excited to try them out.

Press Sample

First of the products I tried was their hand/body lotion in the scent of vanilla. I work with the public so I use a lot of hand sanitizer and wash my hands often, which means I'm usually applying lotion several times a day. I really like the whipped texture of this and it doesn't leave my hands greasy which is important to me. And the vanilla scent is to die for! These are $10 for a 9 oz. bottle.

Next is their sugar scrub, also in the vanilla scent. I like to exfoliate so I've tried a lot of scrubs in my day, but I haven't settled on a favorite, until now. This has a great gritty texture, but is not too rough. The scent is great and the scrub dissolves when washed off which puts it into perfect status for me. Too many of the scrubs I've tried in the past leave behind lots of grainy bits I have to work to rinse out of my tub after a bath so I love this! These are $10 for a 9 oz. jar.

Now for the cuticle oil (which I'm using a stock photo for, sorry!). The scent I tried is Pink Sugar, inspired by the Aquolina Pink Sugar fragrance I'm guessing. I don't care for that perfume on me, I find it too strong with the musk, but this KBShimmer blend must be a bit different because I love it! I can't stop sniffing my nails, which is must look disturbing to any onlookers haha. It sinks in nice and fast so it doesn't leave my fingers greasy. My cuticles are left nicely moisturized for a long time after I use it. They also have a lemongrass scent which sounds lovely too. These are $6 each.

Image via KBShimmer website

Their nail file is etched glass, the kind I prefer to use. I immediately loved this because I needed to get a new one, so it was just what the doctor ordered. The grit is not too harsh and not too gentle, the ideal balance. I love the translucent hot pink on the handle! These are $4.75 each.

You can purchase all of these products and many more on the KBShimmer website. They also makes bath bombs and soap, in addition to some awesome nail polish colors of course. Have you ever tried the bath products from this brand? Are you excited for their early summer collection? It's full of holos, glitter textures, and jellies! They are available starting today May 23 and you will see my review of them soon. See ya next time!

facebook ▴ twitter ▴ instagram

Product samples were provided for consideration.

Bliss Kiss Pure Nail Oil Review

I first told you about Bliss Kiss Pure Nail Oil in a picture I posted back on January 10th (if you're following me on Instagram). Then I mentioned it in my Nail & Hand Care Essentials post at the beginning of February. I have to talk about it again. It's that good!

If you have been a reader of mine for a while, you might know that I have cuticle issues. They've always been thick and hard and rather ugly. I've tried everything, chopping them off, dissolving them away, basically trying to get them to disappear. I tried to quit cutting them because apparently that creates a cycle of thickness and hardness that only exacerbates the problem. Plus you can get infections hella easy when you cut live skin. The cutting has slowly but surely crept back into my life lately so I decided to look for another solution. My previous cuticle oil of choice, Famous Names Dadi'Oil had run out and being a professional product, wasn't easy for a non-professional like myself to get easily.

Another problem I have with my nails is splitting. My nails have always been pretty hard and are prone to splitting due to that. My beloved Duri Rejuvacote has formaldehyde resin in it which can contribute to the brittleness/dryness issue that can cause splits in hard nails. Major sad times. So even though it helps my nails grow long, I've stopped using it for now. They do make a formaldehyde free version, so I might try that in the future.

Anyway, in looking for a readily available, affordable solution to my issues, I found Bliss Kiss Pure Nail Oil. Basically it hydrates the nail to a ideal level of moisture for flexible healthy nails. Brittle nails don't have enough moisture, while thin and soft nails have too much. This oil has the ability to penetrate the nail plate and seal together the keratin fibers making your nails strong but flexible. It also helps cuticle skin become healthier and more hydrated because it creates the perfect blend of our body's natural oil (sebum) and moisture.

Here are the ingredients: Jojoba Wax Ester, Grape Seed Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Vitamin E Oil, Vitamin A Oil, Essential Oil Blend. Notice there is an absence of any nut oils because owner/creator Ana is allergic to them and with them being prevalent in many cuticle treatments, she created her own.

I have been using the nail oil daily for the past two months and I am insanely impressed. My cuticles and the skin around my nails is incredibly healthier, softer, and more moisturized than I can ever remember them being. The skin on the corners of my fingers have NEVER been anything but hard and thick, but now they are soft and feel so healthy! I have also never had visible eponychium that actually look healthy and natural before! My instinct was to always cut that part away. My nails are still a work in progress, but since I've stopped using a treatment with formaldehyde resin I expect them to become even better soon.

If you haven't tried Bliss Kiss Pure Nail Oil yet and you have some nail and/or cuticle issues you're struggling to remedy, it might be just the ticket. You can order it through their website NailCareHQ.com starting at $5.99 for a click-able pen. I recommend their Starter Kit or Refill Kit, you're going to get more for your money and if you try their 3-Day Hydration Challenge, you're going to use up the entire pen in those three days for sure.

I really love this product and am so happy with my results that I wanted to share it with all of you! Let me know if you have tried this product and what your results were, or even if you're just interested in it. Take care and I'll be back soon with more nail polish, I've been incredibly busy this month!

Join me on my other social networks:
Facebook ▴ Twitter ▴ Instagram

My Nail & Hand Care Essentials

Hey guys and gals! Today I wanted to put together a post with all my essentials that I use to keep my nails and hands in tip top shape. These are my favorites right now but I seem to add or take something out every few months as I find new things that work better. This is just what is working for me at the moment.

Duri Rejuvacote - This has been my favorite nail treatment for a little over a year. I use it on bare nails for every manicure. I like this better than any other treatment I've tried. I still get peels on a few of my nails occasionally but no where near what I used to. And my nails grow faster and longer using this than ever before!

Source

Orly Primetime - I use this as a primer for my nails before I put on my base coat, it removes all traces of oil and residue so my products can adhere to my nail cleanly and completely.

Source

Orly Bonder - I have used this base coat for years and no matter what others I try, I always come back to this one. It is rubberized which helps the polish adhere to it better. It helps my polish go on well and resists chips. I believe everyone's body chemistry is different and what works for me might not work for you, you just have to experiment with different base and top coats to figure out the best combo.

Source

Glisten & Glow HK Topcoat - I wrote a review for this top coat not too long ago, you can see this post if you haven't read it. This is my favorite because it dries super fast and shiny. It also doesn't have any of the unfortunate side effects of other quick dry top coats, it doesn't get thick and goopey, it doesn't shrink the polish when it dries, and the surface doesn't get scratchy looking over time.

Source

Bliss Kiss Pure Nail Oil - This stuff is so amazing, it is practically liquid gold to me! I mentioned above how I occasionally have peeling nails and I have always had issues with dry and overgrown cuticles. I have been searching for something to supplement my nail care routine to hopefully help these concerns outside of my usual products. I found rave reviews of this nail oil, how it hydrates your nails and makes them more flexible, so I decided to try some and have fallen in love. I use this multiple times daily and it's made my cuticles nicer than ever! I'll do a more in depth review on this soon, it deserves it!

Source

Acetone and  Acetone/Glycerin/Water Mix - I have a hard time tolerating most scents and a lot of the nail polish removers out there have some kind of scent I can't handle. So I use pure acetone, it works the best and has no added scent. It can be drying though, so I add glycerin and water to make it more moisturizing. You can learn about this from Loodie Loodie Loodie, she explains it better than I could. I do use straight acetone to do clean up around the edges of my nail after painting. You can read about that process here from Lacquerized.

Source

Dappen Dish - I use this small glass dish to pour the acetone in that I use to clean up around my nails. It's super cheap and really helps my manicure routine.

Source

Small brush - This is my preferred brush to use for clean up with acetone around the edges of my nail. It's the e.l.f. concealer brush that I got for $1 at Kmart. It works well and is easy to replace when needed.

Source

Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover - This is my most used cuticle remover, though I have a few kinds. It's a gel formula that is easy to apply with the squeeze bottle. I used it at least weekly.

Source

Julep Hand & Cuticle Stick - This product is newer to my routine. I tried it on recommendation from Young, Wild & Polished (she's hilarious in her videos!). It is a balm that melts with the warmth of your skin. It smells amazing, like clean laundry, and it is easy to carry in my purse for quick applications on the go. It doesn't make my skin shiny either, which is helpful for taking photos of my nails.

Source

Hempz Original Herbal Body Moisturizer - This has to be my favorite lotion ever, hands down (hehe). I used to use it in high school after I went tanning, which I don't do anymore, but I always loved the clean scent and moisturizing effects. I recently got another bottle for a gift and it's quickly become my favorite and most used lotion. It is a little on the pricey side but I just love it.

Source

I'd love to hear about your nail care essentials! Tell me about your favorites in the comments :) Also let me know if you have any questions about my nail routine, I'd be happy to answer!

Join me on my other social networks:
Facebook ▴ Twitter ▴ BlogLovin' ▴ Instagram