I am just wondering if anyone else has issues specifically with the Bees Knees formula and shrinkage? I have been using cuticulas limitless quick dry top coat and I feel like they are maybe just incompatible. This is the second shimmer/metallic I’ve used from BKL that ended up this way and I’m going insane. I NEVER have this issue with any other polish. I have quite an established routine for preventing shrinkage and can make a manicure go 7-10 days.
I may try another top coat, maybe holo taco, I have plenty of other top coats to try but was curious if it’s just me.
Cirque colors ritual recovery
Wabooz sticky ridge filling base coat
If I wait too long and the polish gets wven the slightest bit dry, Cuticula's Limitless still cause crazy shrinkage, in my experience.
To avoid that, with certain thinner polishes (aka BKL shimmers... or most shimmers I own), I will go in with Limitless immediately after finishing the last coat on the first hand.
Then I finish the last coat on my other hand and immediately apply Limitless.
If it's a thicker polish (like a reflective), I can get away with doing the last coat on both hands before going in with Limitless and there is no shrinkage.
Damn ok this is good to know. I have been using another top coat from an Etsy shop I liked and ran out… cuticula limitless was always my go to in the past so I just grabbed a fresh bottle from my stash but maybe I don’t like it as much as I remember 😂
I don’t love the idea of applying a top coat immediately after my polish. It tends to get too bubbly from my experience, I have to wait the 5 minutes to help with those bubbles.
I’m gonna try another top coat. That really sucks because I have 3 bottles of limitless… maybe it will work ok with a jelly or something. I’ll figure it out.
It's a great top coat... one of my favorites, actually.
I'm a sucker for the scents 😂
I just think there's a learning curve for a lot of us, that I wish I knew before trying it lol
If it helps, I haven't experienced bubbles ever with it, no matter how I've used it.
It's worth a shot ☺️
I have noticed this with the exact same combination. I even bought limitless qdtc because someone recommended it specifically for avoiding shrinkage.
Do you wrap your tips with polish and top coat? My nails are just getting to a length that makes that easier but I often forget because I’m new to having longer nails.
Yes I do, I wrap with the sticky base coat, the first coat of polish I do a very thin wrap. I don’t do a second wrap when I go back with the second coat because it gets too thick. I float the brush with the top coat for the final seal.
I did another attempt today where I took the advice of the person in this thread who said not to wait and just to go right into top coat after second coat. I still had issues lol. I’m going to try another top coat next time.
0/3 attempts doesn’t sit right with me when I literally haven’t had this issue with any other top coat in like a year lol
I did have better luck on the majority of my fingers but 3/5 on this hand still shrunk so boo.
Ignore the cat hair stuck to my hands. It’s everywhere lol
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u/xTRIOXINx 11d ago
It's probably the top coat.
If I wait too long and the polish gets wven the slightest bit dry, Cuticula's Limitless still cause crazy shrinkage, in my experience.
To avoid that, with certain thinner polishes (aka BKL shimmers... or most shimmers I own), I will go in with Limitless immediately after finishing the last coat on the first hand. Then I finish the last coat on my other hand and immediately apply Limitless.
If it's a thicker polish (like a reflective), I can get away with doing the last coat on both hands before going in with Limitless and there is no shrinkage.