Vinylux + Essie Hack
Summer Goals with David
So I’ll admit that the CND Vinylux color options are pretty sad. I know it’s still a semi-new product line, but I’m anxiously awaiting the day they release more colors.
I’ve only found Vinylux at the professional beauty stores I go to that require a license, but I’ve heard of people finding it on Amazon or here!
I wanted to polish my fingernails a light purple shade and found that there wasn’t a color I liked in Vinylux. So I thought to myself, “I wonder if I can just use an Essie color in between two Vinylux products”?
Vinylux traditionally doesn’t require a base coat. All you need is the color of choice plus the top coat. The wear is fantastic and I can get at least a week with no chips! The only chips I do get are these new things I found at Trader Joe’s called Veggie Sticks thanks to my sister. Phew, thank goodness the serving size is 50 sticks.
Anyway, I applied 1 coat of the sheerest Vinylux color I own (Lavishly Loved) as the “base coat”. Next, I applied 3 coats of Essie’s St. Lucia Lilac. I gave my nails ample time to dry, and finished with a thin coat of the Vinylux top coat.
Overall the results were great! I felt like I was in on this big secret that I couldn’t wait to share here on the blog. You get the wear of Vinylux with the color selection of practically any nail polish you want.
comments
Such a pretty lilac color! This summer, I’m soo into lilac & orchid & purple & everything else from that color range!
That’s great news! I’m going to try this! I’m not sure if you have Ulta or Beauty Brands by you, but I’ve purchased Vinylux at both of those stores.
They have a variety at beauty brands.
I just tried the Essie Top Coat Dry Drips and LOVE it! I’m going on day 4 with not even the tiniest chip which is amazing for this girl! My nails usually chip due to my job. I’ve opted out of the Vinylux because of the $, but I am glad that it’s working for you! Maybe someday if I get tired of Essie I’ll make the switch.
As a side note, I love your blog and have been a follower for quite a while! I just started doing my own Hive Five for Fridays on my blog.
Thanks!
Steph
The High Five for Friday is actually hosted on my sister’s blog “The Lauren Elizabeth” 🙂 Glad you’ve enjoyed it!
I have found Vinylux on Amazon for less than $5. just ordered Lobster Roll and their top coat and the total with shipping was $12.95. Essie polishes run $8.49 at my Target.
Kate,
I simply LOVE your blog and all of your helpful tips and hints! You are beautiful and so down-to-earth — a great combination! Keep up the good work — you make us all beautiful, one tip at a time! Enjoy your beautiful baby boy — the time goes by super fast – don’t blink!
Ginger
That is incredible! Can’t wait to try it!
I am going to have to get my hands of some of these! Love the lilac your wearing.
http://aglossylife.wordpress.com
I tried this shortly after buying Vinylux with OPI and it worked great! So happy it did because the color selection is so poor. Glad to hear it works with other brands too!
What a good idea! Plus I love the fact that you can choose any color and still get the wear you want!
LOVE that color! I need to try it!
The Style Storm
<3, Christina
The trade joes veggie sticks are what’s up!!
The vinylux just didn’t work for me, I got a chip or two the same day! I wish it worked for me 🙁
Just got mine in the mail. They had my color. Whew! Also bought some for my friend for a little gift. Can’t wait to try it. 😉
I almost did this the other day because I didn’t have a Vinylux color I wanted, but I just picked up a color that I did have and went with it because I was running short on time. Good to know it works!!!
Due to typing all day and being generally rough with my hands I usually get 2-3 days max out of my polish! I will have to try this and see if it can withstand my life. Thanks for the tip!
xo, Lee
edfbylee.com
Have you tried Formula X yet? I have completely replaced all my essie and opi with it! I easily got 7 days out of the west too, but you do need their basecoat, which I found did work well with other products
Looks like you got a ring added to your wedding set… Beautiful! Am I weird for noticing? 😉
No, I noticed too!!!! You get used to seeing her jewelry on her hair and makeup videos, and you notice if something is different.
It was a very sweet gift from my husband!
I tried Vinylux where I got my manicure. It lasted 10 days! I searched online and found you can order from Walgreens.
Yes, you have to order from Amazon! They seem to have the most colors available for the lowest prices. I started doing this after I discovered Vinylux and I don’t even do the base coat of the Vinylux color. Only using the top coat works just as well.
There is no basecoat for vinylux. It doesnt require one.
I am SWOONING over that lilac color – SO pretty!!
My Vinylux order (from Amazon, very reasonable) came to me last week and I tried it out yesterday… I’m loving the application and wear, but the color I chose (Desert Poppy) is insanely orange. I was just wondering if something like this would be possible. I also happened to buy the Lavishly Loved color. I’ll definitely be trying this the next go-round! You’re a true beauty MacGyver.
WOW! Thank you for this! I have several vinylux shades but I agree the selection is slim pickins so this is a great solution 😉
Super pretty color. Great idea. My kids and I love those veggie sticks too!
http://palsywalsyblog.blogspot.ca/
Awesome! I actually recently figured out how to use regular nail polish with the whole gel nail things (uv light and all) so I was really excited about that! It saves so much money being able to use colors you already have, plus, why are there never any good colors is “specialty nail polish”?! So glad this worked for you!
Wow! Pretty color. I’m definitely going to try this technique – I have so much older OPI and Zoya that I still like. Wish I could pull off a soft color like this but it usually just washes out my hands colorwise so I look like a zombie. lol
By the way, I had a pedicure last week and the pedicurist(?) told me that she thought Vinylux was out on the regular market now.
I read a review on Vinylux a few months ago on someone’s blog and immediately tracked it down on Amazon. I have used it every paint sesh I’ve done and it’s never disappointed!!
I have been doing this same technique for quite a while now. I have been using OPI nail polish and then 1 top coat of the Vinylux top coat. Works amazing. OPI seems to last longer than any other polish (of course with the help of the Vinylux top coat
I love, love, love the 7 day topcoat by. Vinylux. Nothing else compares! I have used many other topcoats and this one truly lasts the longest. I typically grow tired of the color before it looks “tired”!
Hello, I get the Vinylux nail polish at Trade Secret but I live in Canada, so I’m not sure if it is in the US Trade Secret stores. I love it too, I read about it in InStyle magazine last fall and now I’m going to try this trick as Essie polishes barely last three days for me.
That color is GORGEOUS!
dance a real
I love this idea. In the past I have used a Sally Hansen nail product to create a “no chip manicure” but sometimes I would find my nails chipping after only a few days. I can’t wait to try out this option! Thanks for sharing!
Love Vinylux, but I agree w/you, color choices aren’t great yet, hope they are working on this. My new fav is Formula X at Sephora, just bought their kit a few weeks ago and am loving it.
I bought the Vinylux topcoat and used it over a Butter London polish. Disappointment! It chipped within a day of me doing my nails. Do you think the trick was your Vinylux base coat/color?
I was a vinylux fan for about six months. I wore it exclusively and then my nails started to peel like crazy and the damage hasn’t grown out yet. Anyone else have a similar experience with vinylux?
I used the Vinylux system for a while, until I got bored with the color options. Just like you, I started experimenting with hacks and have come to realize … you can use any base coat & color and top it off with 1-2 coats of Vinylux top coat and you are GOLD! My nails look like I have gel polish on them and they don’t start to chip for at least 5-6 days!
Well, I’m going to have to start experimenting. I happen to love a couple of the Vinylux colors BUT they stain my nails horribly, even when I use the base coat. I’ll try again and sandwich another color between base coat and my Vinylux color. Thanks for the tip!
Covergirl nail polishes give a similar look and they last for quite awhile, considering they are a cheaper option! Very pleased with them, especially this lilac color.
I will definitely be trying this! I love the color you did your nails!
Kristin
Crumbs & Curls
Your nails look gorgeous – I love that color! Thanks for the post 🙂
kstormfashionblog.wordpress.com
I haven’t tried vinylux yet but it sounds like it’s something I need to try! Do you have to use the vinylux remover to get it off or can you use a regular polish remover?
Regular nail polish remover should work fine!
Have you tried Jamberry nail wraps? I recently discovered them and am in love!! Super easy, no harsh chemicals and no dry time!
OMG! I’ve been trying to purchase this polish ever since I read about it! Thanks to your link, I have just ordered 3 colors and the top coat.
I have worn this polish after a salon manicure, and loved the staying power. I like doing my hands at home, with the occasional trip to see my favorite tech, and my salon is not selling this great stuff–yet!
New product arriving soon and I know I can use it in combination with other favorites I already own. Thanks again for the post.
Sally Beauty has a product called Gelous that you apply in between each coat of color and it has amazing staying power. I get atleast 7 days out of my manicures when i use that.
I just have to have that Essie Color! Just put it on my shopping list. I have been looking for a color like this for a long time. Thanks so much for introducing it to us.
Um, that’s a lot of coats of nail polish. Nasty. Also I have seen this all over Pinterest already.
Great idea! I do a hack like this with my shellac nail polish. Because sometimes there are just super cute colors that don’t come in shellac. It doesn’t last the full 2 to 3 weeks that my shellac nails usually last, but I get the color I want. I just paint my nails with my cute color and then top coat with the shellac top coat and set. Works great!
Have you checked the CND Vinylux site to view all the colors? I’ve heard lots of people say there are not many colors to choose from, but their site shows many colors. Many shades of links, reds, and others. I look there, then search for the color on Amazon.
is there fromaldahyde in the polishes?
I love the wear of Vinylux. I’m going to try this with OPI and see if it wears as well.
What a fab idea! All I can say is ebay ebay! I got 2 colors and the top coat with shipping for less than $22 (you can’t even get OPI polish that cheap). I also looked online at how the colors looked on people before I committed. Great deal I would say!
I bought the top coat and tried it out with OPI and a sally hansen base coat. My nails usually last 1-2 days before they start chipping. It has been almost a week and my nails still look AMAZING. Even the tips of my nails are still just as polished as day one.
Fantastic product. This is a game changer!
I actually have pretty good luck with Vinylux top coat on top of a normal polish, no base coat required!
Do you need to remove it like a gel (soak) or with a regular nail polish remover?
Kate, I have a question for you. You said that CND does not need a base coat, but when I went to the salon, they told me that a base coat is necessary for all polish or my nails would be stained. I noticed the color did not last very long at all with the base coat, but am worried about staining my nails. Was that a problem you had with the brighter/darker CND colors?
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Hi Kate! Have you ever tried Jamberry Nail Wraps? I would love your opinion on them!
I recently had the same problem… I have CND Vinylux in Rouge Red which is a nice, classic pillarbox red but I’m in love with the Deborah Lippmann Classic Mauve. I don’t fancy Ciaté’s Geltox seeing as you can’t use regular remover but if you can hack Vinylux with non CND shades then I’ll deffo give this a whirl 🙂