{Mad About Nails} Feat. OPI "DS Opulence" & THE WINNER'S CURSE by Marie Rutkoski!

I've had quite a few people comment on my nails in the past ask what I was using or wish I'd done a close-up so they could see better, etc., etc., and had a realization: Why not do a feature on nail polish? It's not book-related (Unless you're wearing HUNGER GAMES or THE GIVER-inspired lines from China Glaze...), or unless I  bookish nail art, but it's fun!

Welcome back to another edition of Mad About Nails! 

My nails still aren't anything worth looking at, but they're growing!

Since this week was Valentine's Day, I wanted to go with a themed color, but pink and red are NOT my favorite colors.
BUT THEN I remembered that I've been wanting to wear this one pink inspired by Marie Rutkoski's THE WINNER'S CURSE for ages, and it was sparkly without being full of glitter chunks, which I'm avoiding ATM as my nails grow, so I had a winner!

MY SUPPLIES:

 
THE BREAKDOWN:

For My Base Coat:

I started off with a basecoat of Essie "Millionails" and a coat of Essie "Grow Stronger." My nails are breaking pretty frequently ATM, so I'm trying to strengthen them again! I picked up "Millionails" at Target to try, and saw on the back of the box that it said to pair this with "Grow Stronger." So that's what I'm doing! (My Target, however, didn't sell GS, but ULTA does!)

For My Nail Color:

I used three coats of OPI "DS Opulence" from the permanent Designer Series line. I've had it forever, but it still does its job perfectly!

The color is really pretty. It's shimmery and glittery, but it's not going to be a nightmare to take off the way polishers with glitter chunks are because it's more of a flat shimmer and won't snag on anything.

This color was one of the contenders last year when I was going to go to a book signing that Marie Rutkoski was at. I was going to stamp a design and everything last year, but this week, I just wanted something simple. The color still reminds me a lot of the beautiful dress from THE WINNER'S CURSE whenever I look at it, though!

For my Top Coat:

So far, I've been SO IMPRESSED with Dermalect "Instant Nail Thickener" Top Coat.
SO, SO IMPRESSED!!!!

I had purchased it from Ulta Beauty despite it being a little on the expensive side (It was $14 or $15, but I had a $5 Off Coupon, so I tried it). I picked it up because it promised to strengthen my weak nails, and was infused with keratin and peptide technology. SO WORTH IT. I will be buying this again.

Not only did it keep my nails shiny and looking brand-new after one week, it also SAVED my nails.

I had two nails that chipped the first time I used it:

After two days, you can barely see that line at the top!

After three days, you're just starting to see it chip. Before, it was just a long line!

 
Those pictures were taken 2-3 days after the chip. They top coat is STILL holding them together and not showing the chip. (The thumb is just starting to show it; before, it was a crack if you looked carefully.)

Even MORE impressive? When I went to take off the polish, I  had actually hit both nails so hard that the nail ITSELF had cracked....all the way down. Dermalect held the polish AND the nail together for 2-3 days with my knowledge that I'd have to get out a nail clipper!

This top coat is truly a lifesaver and ABSOLUTELY worth the $$$$!!!!

 Is anyone else obsessed with nail polish? What are you wearing right now?