Collection 1: Nail Polish

In lieu of the recipe I was planning on posting (it's not blog ready yet- needs some work before I'll be happy to share it with the world), I'm bringing you the first in an occasional series: Collections. I don't really think of myself as a collector, but when you look around my home, you'll notice a few small collections which have accumulated over time.

Nail polish above: OPI Ski Teal We Drop

First up- nail polish! I have a reasonable number of nail polishes, in a lot of different colours. Jay would tell you I have every colour covered, but we all know that's not true, right? We came to a deal a while back that it would be one in, one out (with the idea being I'd ditch cheap pharmacy brand polishes in favour of pretty, pretty OPI polishes). I actually got rid of quite a few a while back when we had a big clear out, so I figure there must be room for a few more before I start having to trade them out again.

I love nail polish for several reasons: it's fun to apply; it's an easy way of adding colour without worrying about touch ups and maintenance (the same can't be said for lipstick... but I do love lipstick, too!); applying it forces me to sit still for a good 45 minutes while it dries. Favourite brand? OPI, as you can probably tell from the picture above, but I also have a few mini Nails Inc polishes (from a gift pack I bought at Sephora), one Ciate (which has AMAZING staying power- I was chip free for nearly a week with that baby), and a few pharmacy brands. 

I've learnt over time that applying nail polish on a regular basis isn't exactly good for your nails, and it's taken me a while to settle into a routine with a few supplies I really like. The products in the picture above are my absolute favourite. 1. Sephora instant nail polish remover- I love that I can just dip my fingers into this little pot, swish them about, and they come out polish free. 2. Sally Hansen Double Duty Strengthening Top & Base Coat: Top and base coat in one? I'll take that. I do find that my nails last a little longer with a top coat, it's worth the extra step and drying time. 3. Sephora 4-step nail buffer: All four-way buffers were not created equal. I can't quite pin down what I like about the Sephora buffer, but I think it's the amount of grit on the nail file side. I love it! 4. Cutex Nourishing Nail Polish Remover (I've had this one a while, and couldn't find a link, but that link is to their liquid nail polish remover range): When I want to make sure I've got every last drop of polish off, I need to use remover and a cotton pad. I like the smell of this one, and it seems to be a little gentler on my nails.

One thing I'm yet to master, though, is painting my nails without spilling over onto my skin. My right hand never looks too bad (I'm left handed), but my left hand? It usually looks a bit of a state for a few hours. Any tips on how to fix that problem? How about you- any collections taking over your home?