MAC nail polish: shirelle

MAC nail lacquer (nail polish) in shirelle

i was trying very hard to get the true colour on my camera.. haha.

it is a true red colour- very hot and sexy. 

i've been looking for just a pure red nail polish for a while. i found that most red polishes tend to turn out burgundy instead of the red that i want. but this one was literally the perfect red colour for me.

this is after two coats of the nail polish.

it is very opaque so two coats wasn't necessary but i tend to be a perfectionist when it comes to nails.

i love love love this nail colour. it is summer and i had on very summer-y colours all summer; like, minty green, light blue, lilac, etc. etc. but i just wanted something very hot on my nails!

i have worn this colour a few times before and have noticed chipping of the colour after a day or two.

i barely ever have problems with my nail polish chipping but the formula of this is so light that it chips very easily. 

so i decided to go and purchase a top coat. 

i have been looking endlessly for the ultimate top coat for me but have failed miserably.

even OPI's top coat did not satisfy me- it was just too thick and my nail could not breathe.

and i also found that they get sticky very fast and i can't use it for a long time.

but i have heard great things about this sally hansen insta-dri anti-chip top coat.

whoa, long title. but it says it all!

it dries very fast, doesn't chip, and gives my nails a nice, glossy finish.

this is after one coat of top coat.

i don't know if you can tell by the pictures but it really did make a big difference.

i liked it without the top coat but i love it with the top coat!

it's been about 4-5 days and there is no single chip or dent in my nails.

i think it will last over a week.

oh, and one tip: when applying top coat, make sure to bring down the polish to the edge of your nails so it protects the edges of your nails as well, therefore minimizing the risk of chipping.

this is just how it looks in sunlight. i really don't think pictures do justice and my poor camera quality doesn't help either. trust me, it looks a lot nicer! 

the MAC nail lacquer is $15 at maccosmetics.com

and the sally hansen top coat is $5-$8 at drugstores, walmart, etc. (i believe it is cheaper at walmart but i had a hard time finding it there. but definitely look there first)

so i was just very pleased with my purchases. i will definitely be using the top coat again and again, i've only used it once or twice but i definitely love it. it dries very fast and i'm not a particularly careful or patient person so this does it for me!
the MAC nail polish is amazing, this will definitely be my staple colour all year around. it will look great with the fall shades, look great in the winter season (christmas, snow, etc.), it will match flowers blossoming in the springtime, and it adds a sexy pop of colour in the summertime.

i love it so much!