Nail Care Essentials

I usually do my nails at home, so I'm always on the lookout for the products that will allow me to get professional results.  Here are the products that I've been using lately with really good results.1. Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover.  I first saw this over on Lipstick With Some Sunshine but was still a bit skeptical.  But this really works.  Once or twice a month, after filing my nails, I put this on my cuticles for one minute then rinse off (I do one hand at a time).  This keeps my cuticles tamed and I don't have to worry about employing more heavy-duty tools.  This is a great value and works really well.2. Tools (orange stick, buffing pad, emery board).  After I remove my nail polish, I lightly buff and file my nails and apply rich hand cream and cuticle remover.  Then, I rinse my hands and go back over my nails with a cotton swap soaked in rubbing alcohol to fully clean my nails and prep for polish.  The orange stick is great for keeping the edges of my nails free from polish.3. Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat.  I have tried nearly every base coat around, from Deborah Lippmann to Zoya and really did not think a $5 product would best products three times the price, but I was wrong.  This is one of the best base coats I've used and works with every brand of nail polish that I've tried.  This helps keep my polish on for about a week, which is really good for me.  I definitely recommend this.4. Seche Vite Top Coat.  Like so many people, I really love this product because it cuts drying time and leaves nails really shiny.  However, sometimes it does make my nail polish shrink just the tiniest bit away from the tips of my nails.  It doesn't happen with every polish, but when it does, wear time is drastically reduced.  I will continue using my current bottle, but I'm looking for something that dries fast, adds shine, and prevents chips.  Any suggestions?5. Qtica Half Time Polish Drying Accelerator.  I was first introduced to this when I used to go to Ten Over Ten in Manhattan.  It seemed like a gimmick at first, but whatever chemicals are in this little bottle really work.  After applying topcoat, I use the dropper to dispense one or two drops on each nail, and my polish is set in about five minutes.  I don't mean the top is deceptively dry and the middle is still wet, but everything is really dry.  This is a game changer.  Go buy it.6. Cuticle Oil.  Okay, so this is just generic cuticle oil from my nail salon, but when I apply this nightly, my nails grow better and my polish lasts longer.  I suspect that any cuticle oil would work, and you'll see such a positive difference in your nails with regular use.7. Formula X for Sephora - Erase AHA Cuticle Creme.  The jury is still out on this one.  I was a little overzealous with this when I first purchased it last winter, and after daily use my cuticles began to peel badly.  I didn't throw it away because it seemed so promising, but haven't used it lately either because I'm worried I'll have a repeat of what happened last time.  I'll start testing again and report back.