Butter London

Have you seen the boxes available online and in stores like Ulta for Butter London  called "Backstage Basics?"  It contains a base coat, a top coat, a curved nail file and nail polish remover.  There is an option to pick your own color-- and that makes the $44 price AMAZING.  However, if you catch this box on sale for like $20, you're not allowed to pick your own color- but the top coat alone cost the same as the box, so it's still a nice deal if you're able to pick it up.

It also comes with this gorgeous bag!  I love it!!

I also may have purchased a few different colors (they had a 2/$15 sale going on)

(Products Top Left- Bottom Right)
First Row: Backstage Basics Box; Small, zippered makeup/nail polish bag
Second Row: Nail Foundation Base Coat; Hardwear Quick Topcoat; Powder Room Nail Polish Remover; Wellies; Keks; Cotton Buds; Pimms
Third Row: Knackered, Slapper

So, first things first- I took off my nail polish.

 The color I had on before my white nails totally stained my nail :( I was so sad about it!  [Yes, I had a base coat on underneath]  I think that BL remover did it's job- but it has an overpowering scent to it that after the second time I used it, I put the cap back on forever.  I felt like the scent didn't go away for almost two days- it drove me nuts.  It smells like body powder-- the kind that your grandmother might wear.

Next up, the base coat.  I think that I like my ridge filler as my base coat better than BL's base.  I like it more because a) it fills my ridges better b) it's a white base.  I'm not feelin' this nude base color.  If I use a light/sheer pink, I feel like I can still see the cuticle and free edge more than I would like.

Also, if this is your first time using a BL polish, be sure to remove the sticker on the side of the bottle. Also, the caps need to come off first, then you twist the brush out.  It was way more complicated than it should be.

Alright, let's add color!

First up, Keks.

Add my accent nail; Wellies.

I decided to try polka dots for the first time.  I used a bobby pin and dipped it in the bright yellow nail polish, Pimms-- way easier than I expected!

Now it's time for my clear coat!

Final product.  Overall I like my Butter London polishes.  I still prefer OPI.  I don't feel like the color lasts as long as I would like it to without chipping.  However, I'm sure that's simply a part of my quest to find the perfect top coat.

Happy painting!