Maybelline Color Show Orange Fix Gradient and Top Coat Fail

Hello ladies! Today I have another gradient mani to share with you, this time using Maybelline Color Show Orange Fix as my base. Orange Fix is a lovely Tangerine Jelly. I had a hard time capturing this shade since it really freaked my camera out! Since I rarely wear Orange without a little something mixed in, I decided to add Sally Hansen Cherry Red to the tips and create a gradient. IRL this looked so awesome. The gradient was sooo smooth and the colors really looked great together. In pictures, the gradient is a bit more subtle than IRL.

I also used my Barielle Gel Top Coat again, hoping that the last time it bubbled up it was just me. Nope. It's not me. It's the top coat. It bubbles over everything. I even tried it on several nails on my nail wheels and it bubbled horribly. I think it's time to retire that baby. :( Just look at the bubbles in this mani! I was really ticked over this since I loved this mani and the bubbles just ruined it for me. I think I'll stick to Seche Vite and Gelous for when I need a little smoothing.

Be gentle! I almost didn't post this one due to the bubbles and my poor, ragged cuticles. They're looking better after some serious TLC, but still need a lot of love. Pulling weeds and cleaning bathrooms = pure evil.

Details:
1 coat Qtica Natural Nail Growth Stimulator
1 coat Orly Bonder
2 coats Maybelline Color Show Orange Fix
Sally Hansen Cherry Red sponged on tips
1 coat Barielle Gel Top Coat
1 coat Seche Vite

Despite the bubbling, I really loved this combo. Too bad the toaster oven ate my nails while I was wearing this! Yup, next post will be the debut of my super nubbins!

Formula (Orange Fix): This polish wasn't too shabby! I was expecting a gloppy nightmare since Twilight Rays was pretty rough. This girl was pretty smooth, although she was a bit thick. Nothing a few drops of thinner can't handle though! She's also fairly opaque, needing 2 thin coats for full opacity with only a slight hint of VNL (pretty opaque for a jelly).

Application: Orange Fix applied nicely, flowing smoothly despite being a touch thick. A bit streaky on the first coat, but evens out nicely on the second. I didn't experience much balding or dragging, which was also pretty impressive for a jelly.

So far the Maybelline Color Show line is a win. I have 3 more of these babies to share with you guys, and I'm hoping they're just as awesome.  You can find these polishes at Wal Mart for around $1.99.

Hope you're all having better luck with bubbling! Thanks for stopping by, and as always, Happy Polishing!!

-Kimber