Butter London • Nail Foundation Flawless Basecoat • Top/Base Coats

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*TOP REVIEWER* Sambalina82 on 4/27/2013 7:39:00 AM more reviews by Sambalina82

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I LOVE this. I don't even like putting polish on top because I love the nude satin/matte look it gives my nails. Great for when I dont feel like putting polish on but can't go naked due to uneven colouring caused by polish and weak see through patches. Awesome.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Peskypixie on 4/19/2013 9:16:00 AM more reviews by Peskypixie

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

This is really a PITA to work with. Just a warning- I don't have healthy nails, I have a gluten intolerance and my nails are the first sign that there is a problem with my nutrient intake (then my hair starts to thin). However, I have found some products that will reduce / prevent these problems.

The concept is great - I've been looking for something just like this for years. I did not find that it evened out the color of my nails. The white tips of my nails are really low and uneven from years of... stuff (I kept them trimmed to the point that there was no free edge because they would bend backwards otherwise). Goes on very very sheer, as a base I find I have a big problem with chipping-- just does not work with my chemistry. I usually only wear it alone and that requires several coats to give a nice natural nail look for a day or two, which is fine but that's not why I bought it.

I have really thin nails, so even with several coats this is not really substantial enough to support my rather delicate nails. I also found that using this as a base for a few weeks resulted in my nails reverting to their original problem state. I had to trim them back to teensy tiny nubs. It took about 8 months of trimming and treatments for me to finally have nails again. :*(

This is probably a great product for someone without problem nails who has never had issues, and has more normal tips than I.

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bizbuilder on 3/3/2013 6:28:00 PM more reviews by bizbuilder

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I love Butter London products! This Nail Foundation is so neat. You can just wear it by itself, and it looks so clean and natural. Plus it can protect your nails! Now I don't know if I will use it as a treatment though. I am thinking when my nail splits, I may need something better. But on a regular basis, it's a good base coat or simply wear it alone. Price is alright, I am a sucker for the phrase - you get what you pay for. So I have no compliant, actually I am happy because it's cheaper than Deborah Lippmann. The package is so sleek - love it!

I believe this 6 fl. oz bottle is going to last very long time. I only use one coat. So at $18... I say go for it! Good luck girls.

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*TOP REVIEWER* lexijojohnson on 2/23/2013 8:25:00 AM more reviews by lexijojohnson

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

This is pretty great - it really is like having foundation for your nails. I've even worn this alone and it just gives my nails a buff nude color that can work with anything. Most important, I find that this helps all nail colors to stay put for a longer amount of time than other base coats. This also makes polishes go on more smooth and even. This is probably the best base coat I've ever used.

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adm71csu on 2/12/2013 2:20:00 PM more reviews by adm71csu

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

i LOVE this base coat! it made my nails so pretty, i didn't even want to add polish on top! though i like how it leaves my nails and that it dries very fast, i don't like the brush at all. i'm a big fan of the OPI sized brushes, so this one is too thin for me, but that's just a personal preference. i would repurchase even though it's really expensive.

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kirbipittman on 2/10/2013 3:13:00 PM more reviews by kirbipittman

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I love this stuff! It's such a nice base coat because it gives a perfect clean canvas for you to paint your nails on. I agree with the others that say this would be lovely by itself. I say two coats of the nail foundation topped with PD quick topcoat (also by BL) would be the perfect "your nails, but better" look!

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sunshineinspace on 1/30/2013 2:13:00 AM more reviews by sunshineinspace

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I have been using this product for about a year. It's nice and matte and dries quickly.

Butter London's packaging is awful! First you must remove the rectangular lid and set it aside. Then, generally with the aid of your teeth, try to unscrew the wand from the bottle. Then comes the way too thin brush... :-
The bad thing about this base is that it does not prevent staining from polish at all. I would consider buying it again but will likely try out some different products first.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Beauty4Ashes on 1/26/2013 8:53:00 PM more reviews by Beauty4Ashes

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan, Warm   Hair: Brown, Relaxed, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This base coat is perfect to use by itself as well as with color over. Its peachy-pink color would work as a "your nails but better" on anyone, regardless of skin tone. It protects well from color bleed through so that your natural nails don't stain. It also strengthens natural nails and it has moisturizing properties. I highly recommend.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

RawCreoleGoddess on 1/15/2013 1:41:00 PM more reviews by RawCreoleGoddess

Age: 44-55   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I polished on Sunday and today, I notice chips on Tuesday.

That isn't acceptable. I'm using up the product but I want my manis to last at least 4 days.

I use the product if I need the mani to last one day.

For the price, no bueno.

ETA: I wasn't using Butter London Polish, but I don't match my base coats to my polish.

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*TOP REVIEWER* star811 on 1/5/2013 1:07:00 PM more reviews by star811

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I was dreading having to remove the glitter polish I wore for the past week. I had actually planned on going to Home Depot to get a quart of pure acetone and then to Office Depot to get some rubber fingertips because I HATE wasting time on something as stupid as removing nail polish. Little did I know that the two coats of Nail Foundation underneath the glittery layers would make the removal process a breeze. I was able to peel off all the layers of polish with very little glitter remaining on my nail. I was so ridiculously excited I actually took a picture (which I still feel weird about for some reason) just so I could upload it with this review. I subtracted a lippie because it dried out my nails a little bit; however, its benefits far outweigh its costs. Now I don't have to waste time sitting around with acetone-soaked cotton balls and cold ass fingertips wondering when I'll be able to use my hands again.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

lucygirl on 11/24/2012 1:15:00 PM more reviews by lucygirl

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

It's a nice basecoat, but it turned my nails an ugly yellow. Definitely not a polish I'd wear alone, as some reviewers recommended.

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subtleclues on 10/26/2012 3:50:00 AM more reviews by subtleclues

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

It is a pretty color on my nails, a matte pink/nude color. I tried this with one coat and two coats, both with a layer of Butter London's Hardwear PD top coat and it would always chip within a matter of hours. When used with polish it would chip in a couple of days. I've had longer staying power with other top and base coats that are less expensive. Right now I'm using OPI's Matte Nail Envy.

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MyNameIsHoney on 10/20/2012 1:59:00 PM more reviews by MyNameIsHoney

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Black, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Black    

This is a really excellent base coat, which is great, because it is effing expensive. I actually got this free by complete fluke, when I ordered Artful Dodger and Yummy Mummy and got this with AD instead. (By the way, BL's customer service is excellent.) it does what it promises-- my polish lasts a week with very minor tip wear if I'm hard on it...and the colour is very easy to apply. It's comparable to my Rubberized base coat by Orly for Quo. I'll probably repurchase because I'd rather spend a lot on a bc that works rather than frequently buy a cheaper one that sucks.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

smootsa on 10/20/2012 12:27:00 AM more reviews by smootsa

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Green    

i'm not convinced this is the best base coat out there but it is so easy to use, and looks pretty - even on its own - so i'm happy to keep using it.

it really is like a foundation base - it glides on smoothly, fills ridges, and has a very light warm beige colour so it evens the colour of your nails. it also dries really fast which is a bonus.

i sometimes use it between manicures if i don't have time for polish. it's pretty, matte and natural looking so makes a nice change from my other nudes, and if it doesn't last so long that's no problem at all as it's so quick and easy to apply.

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Melzy323 on 9/21/2012 7:31:00 PM more reviews by Melzy323

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Tan, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I have to tell you, I am underwhelmed with the entire Butter London line. The colors look gorgeous (in the bottle anyway) and the names are too cute but the lasting power of these polishes is nil. I thought if I purchased the base coat, performance might improve but it didn't. I tried experimenting with my usual pre-teatment of OPI Bond Aid but that didn't help either. 3-4 days is the maximum this polish (with its expensive base coat and top coat) will give me. BL, you are a "will not repurchase"! Save your money on this line and buy Zoya!

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maserati on 9/5/2012 12:01:00 PM more reviews by maserati

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I had high expectations for this product. Any reviews on Butter London products are all rave and no woes. This was my first Butter London product which I'd bought at Sephora for $18...I believe. Packaging makes it look expensive but not quite functional. I feel that brush is too long so I don;t get the control I want with a nail polish brush. Product itself is not extraordinary. Its a nude tint base color. Maybe its still really new so the polish is really runny and thin. The base applies a little streaky which isnt too big of a problem since you're most likely going to go over it with another polish. Does it keep my nail color from chipping ? No. I find that it depends on the color polish I use is the main factor for longevity of my polish (ZOYA is the best in my opinion!) Okay, so this base coat does not make my polish stay on any longer than normal nor prevent chipping of color, maybe it's not functional but beneficial? I thought maybe the base coat is good for my nails but this is the complete opposite. I find that when I use to this base coat, my nails turn yellow when I take off my color. I've used $1 base coats that doesn't give that effect! Don't waste your money on this product!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Andee on 8/5/2012 7:38:00 AM more reviews by Andee

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Based on reviews, bought this. It did not work for me. It made my normally healthy nails weak after using it just a few times and my polish lasted much less than normal. I used it with the Butter quick dry topcoat also, but my manicurist thought it was the base, not the topcoat and she was right. Topcoat is great. See my separate review of that.

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ticklishgypsy on 6/26/2012 12:28:00 PM more reviews by ticklishgypsy

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

My new HG basecoat. Love the way it smooths, mattes, and evens out my nails in one swipe. It is pretty alone or with a simple topcoat too (my go-to nail look when on a roadtrip so I don't worry if it chips).

Has replaced Orly Bonder as my basecoat, because it holds on to the polish like glue and I get less chipping and tip wear.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

shadylady482 on 6/25/2012 3:22:00 PM more reviews by shadylady482

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

This stuff is fantastic! I've never really used basecoats, but I decided to look into using one on my toes to help combat the peeling/splitting I was getting on my big toenails from year-round wear.

The nail foundation is pricy, but it definitely delivers. It dries very quickly and leaves an even, matte finish. It makes polish go on much more smoothly, and I feel like it makes colors more solid and vibrant - I usually wear very dark red polish on my toes, and I was previously needing 3 coats for it to look solid and even, but with the nail foundation I only need two. It seems like the foundation might also speed the drying time of the polish. It has definitely kept my nails from peeling, so they look much healthier, and as an added bonus it keeps dark colors from staining. I follow up with the Butter London topcoat, and it's a great combo. Will definitely repurchase.

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cfarmer2 on 5/2/2012 10:54:00 AM more reviews by cfarmer2

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Red   Eyes: Brown    

I've heard some people say it doesn't work as well with other brands of nail polish, but I'd have to disagree (I've used it with China glaze, OPI, Sally Hansen) and it can help make even the cheapest polish look nice. When I use it for my pedicure, I don't have any chipping for the full 3 or 4 weeks if I leave it on that long and it never stains my nails. I have quite pronounced ridges and this evens them for the most part. I'm an artist so I can be quite rough on my hands, but this in conjunction with the BL PD quick top coat will give me a manicure than can last chip free up to two weeks! It's rare to have chips before a week is up (unless it's a glitter polish that tends to flake).

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