In case you didn't get the memo, summer here is officially over! By "summer" we mean an uninterrupted daily heat wave; by "summer is over" we mean crazy hot days interspersed with torrential downpours. So yeah! It still sucks either way.

So, in keeping with the gloomier weather, I decided to get an O.P.I Nail Lacquer in Diva of Geneva (P400). It's the biggest amount I spent on nail polish ever! So is it worth it? 

Yes, it is! Other than the gorgeous color, I love that the texture of the product is very smooth and thin, yet quite opaque. One layer is actually enough, but I prefer two layers for a more dimensional effect. It dried quickly within a few minutes.

I didn't experience any bubbles even if I painted on a thick layer. Be warned though

I got a bottle of the Cutex Caring Nail Polish Remover (P59.75/ 59ml) a couple of days ago. I found it a bit steep for a small bottle, but I thought, well why not? I'm a bit bothered by how drying my cheapo Bobbi nail polish remover was, plus the smell practically hurts my nostrils whenever I'm too close.

Anyway, I immediately Googled for more information as soon as I got home and found that this Cutex remover is a highly rated product at Makeupalley with a 4.1/5 score. Well, that's a surprise!

It removes nail polish quickly enough in just two to three wipes. It's also not as drying as the other nail polish removers I've tried (Bobbi and Caronia - skip the latter, it's horrid!), leaving my nails feeling a bit healthier and stronger. It must be the moisturizers infused in the formula.

Like other acetone-based nail polishes though, it has a noxious smell.

Ok, so I finally gave in! Curiosity got the better of me, really. I wanted to know if expensive nail polishes like Orly are indeed worlds apart from the P30 ones available in any drugstore. And? 

The Orly nail polish in Gilded Coral (P349) is a gorgeous shade that looks like a peachy pink champagne on my nails. It's very wearable and can go with most looks you can think of. You can scour any drugstore but I can tell you right now that you won't find a cheap dupe of this locally! Gilded Coral is part of Orly's spring collection called Precious.

I paint my nails whenever I'm stressed or when I need to focus. If you've ever done a perfect paint job, then you know it takes quite a bit of concentration and patience to achieve. Painting my nails calms me down and allows me to be single-minded for the next hour or so. That's valuable for someone whose day requires too much multi-tasking!

Anyway, one nail polish brand that I really like is the Etude House VIP Girl Nail Polish. It's pretty awesome! It's cheap (only P48), applies smoothly, pigmented, and dries quickly with no streaks or bubbles. I didn't experience any staining so far. For P48, I think I got a great deal.

Etude House VIP Girl Nail Polish in GR605 and YL802

I love both the shades I got, especially the turquoise one. It's more green than blue with a matte finish. Very in season right now and surprisingly versatile - it feels right with whatever outfit I have for the day. The egg yolk yellow (no other description for it!) shade instantly brightens up dark and tired-looking cuticles.

One thing I love about blogging is that it's not just a one-way exchange of useful information. I learn a lot from readers as much as I share what I know, which is why I always look forward to reading all the comments in my posts. I may not reply all the time due to my hectic schedule, but believe me, I remember what you say!

A wise reader once advised me to invest in a good basecoat and topcoat instead of buying expensive nail polish. This advice makes so much sense, no? The good nail polish brands like Essie, OPI and Orly are pricey for a reason -  the quality is superb and the colors are perfect. But at this point in my, er, nail enthusiasm, I'm not ready to blow P300-400+ for a huge bottle of nail polish I'll probably only use for five times max. It's more practical to buy something I know I will use until the last drop, while still getting beautiful and reliable nails even though the nail polish itself is cheap.

So, I decided to get the Orly Top 2 Bottom Basecoat & Topcoat (P245).

What I love about the product

• It's thin and runny, not goopy. It's very easy to work with. I like the brush!
• Keeps my nail polish pristine for at least three to four days. They don't chip nor do I notice significant tip wear.

I've been looking everywhere for a cool mint nail polish, so I'm glad that I finally found this one from The Face Shop! It's only P95, too. It's quite streaky so I had to apply a LOT of product - two thick coats - before I got the smooth finish I was gunning for. I used the Orly Top 2 Bottom as base and finishing coat.

The nail polish actually looks a little greener in person. Love how it looks like on my nails. :D

So lately I'm rather attentive to my nails. I used to be the kind of person who didn't give a damn about nails because, after all, they're just nails! Who cares? I bit my nails a lot and picked on my cuticles (eww and yes, painful). But now I realized that on top of well-manicured nails being a sign of good grooming, nice nails can really uplift one's mood. I feel more cheerful when I'm wearing a color I love, during those moments when I happen to glance at my nails while I type or do a chore.

Shallow, yeah, but I want to be the kind of person who delights and finds wonder in little details like this.

This is my current nail color. I used two shades: the Bobbie Glaize Parasail (P35.50) as the base color and Caress Christmas Polka (P20.75) for the glitters. I love the effect! I keep imagining a small galaxy in my nails, lol. The Bobbie polish I used was just so-so since it applied unevenly but I was really impressed with the Caress one. It dried up quickly and the glitters applied smoothly. Such a steal for P20!

I used the Sally Hansen Hard As Nails as a base polish to keep the colors from chipping.

I think I mentioned before that I am extremely lazy when it comes to my nails. These days though I'm in the mood for some color so I took out the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri nail polish I got, oh, half a year ago! I wasn't even sure if it's still ok to use, since the polishes I've owned before tend to either dry up or curdle when opened and then stored that long.

So how was it? Well, it was good as new! You know how nail polish thickens when you've opened it? This doesn't. It's still thin and easy to spread after six months.

The Sally Hansen Insta-Dri promises to dry in 60 seconds and it does! But you have to wait a bit longer for it to completely set if you apply a thick layer, around two minutes - still not bad if you ask me.

Jumpin' Jade

What I love about the product

• Dries quickly
• There's usually no need for a second layer since the color is opaque already

I got the Sally Hansen Hard As Nails polish as part of the goodie bag during the Insta-Dry launch. I've been using it regularly since then! It's a basic product to make your nails look well-groomed and healthy in a jiffy.

What I love about this product

• Has a watery texture and applies thinly
• Dry in a couple of minutes
• Doesn't chip for five days by itself since it adheres closely to the nail

I agree with fashion designer Tina Daniac when she said that well-done nails are some of the best accessories to any look. But face it, who has the time? I sure dont! I'm probably the laziest person when it comes to doing nails, which is slightly embarrassing as it is part of my job to look presentable from head to toe. I'm lazy not because I don't see the value of having beautiful nails, I do, it's just that it takes so long to apply the polish perfectly and even longer for it to dry completely. I simply don't have the patience.

Now this is where Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polishes come in. Insta-dri promises smooth, glossy nails in one coat that will dry in 60 seconds. Verdict? Insta-Dri polishes do dry up in 60 seconds or less! The colors I have (Flashy Fuchsia, Jumpin' Jade, and Night Flight) are very opaque so one coat is enough to get a solid shade. The product received a very high rating at my fave review forum, Makeupalley.

The super vivacious Patty Laurel hosted the event

To launch the new product, the brand has teamed up with celebrity designer Tina Daniac. The young woman came in aggressive, chic black broken by a zebra print tulip skirt. Daniac showcased her designs along with the latest Sally Hansen nail polish line.