Cover Pinks

I have been on the search for the perfect cover pink!  I did swatches of all the brands I had on hand in one coat and 2.  It still amazes me how different gel nails are then acrylic (switched about 6 months ago), and I'm still looking for the perfect pink and white in one brand... which I'm starting to think is just not going to happen.

Here is one coat done on clear tips  (sorry pics did not come out the best, no idea what was up is up with that!)  Here they are from left to right.  Light Elegance Pink (think the new name is 1step Pink or vise versa), Light Elegance Pink Builder, Amore Cache Pink Cool, Amore Cache Pink Warm, Akzentz WarmPink, Young Nails Concealer Peach, Crystal Nails Crystal Cover Pink, Crystal Nails Cover Pink Diamond.

Here they are with 2 coats going from the most opaque to the sheer (Top to bottom)

Another view for better comparison.

Now I'm going to break down what I liked and didn't like about them.

AMORE

I'm going to start with Amore, as that is my main gel line.  I'm going to review both Amore Cache Pink Cool &  Amore Cache Pink Warm together because the only difference between these two is the color.  The consistency is very thin and I find it a bit runny and doesn't give me the coverage that I am looking for.  What I love about it, NO HEAT SPIKE.  Not only that you can blend all Amore gels together to create the perfect color.  Lots of the Amore girls do that, add a little primary white for some better coverage, but mixing just isn't my thang.   

LIGHT ELEGANCE

Light Elegance 1 step pink is the most comparable to Amore than any of the others.  It's the same type of thin runny consistency and as you can see from the pic, is a nice shade that looks like it's a blend of the Amore cool & warm.  Other than that there's not much to say about it.

Light Elegance Builder Pink definitely has better coverage, and I found it really easy to work with when doing a reverse sculpt.  The colour is a beautiful bright pink that looks almost acrylic, which I love, and makes a gorgeous color for pink and whites.  I can't say I love it when it's just brushed on, like I did on the tips, but for sculpting, I really liked the look of my final nails.   I really miss the look of acrylics sometimes and so far this pink has been the closest I've come.  

However!  What I've found from the Light Elegance brand is that it's HOT.  Like I said, I have the Builder Pink on my own hands right now and I thought I was going to cry like a little baby when  did my hands.  A little tip... flash cure with your hands just outside of the light.  But if you are like me, it wont make much of a difference. 

AKZENTZ

I have been using Akzentz Coverage Warm Pink for about 6 months now.  It has a beautiful creamy consistency and a medium/thin viscosity.  And while I love working with it, I find that it's so close to being the perfect gel, and yet it's so far away.  The coverage though pretty good, goes a little too milky for my liking when it's cured.  Sometimes I really love that look and other times it just doesn't do it for me, which is what originally got me set out on finding another cover colour that I love.    Another Pro... NO HEAT SPIKE!  Can you see the trend?

But out all the brands that I'd repurchase... this is definitely one of them!  Please Please Please Akzentz make another cover thats more pigmented and I will love you forever.

YOUNG NAILS

This is the one that I was by far the most excited to order.  I have been reading all about Young Nails on a fellow bloggers site ... ( Little Lady Luxury, if you haven't seen her blog, please check it out.  She was one of my main inspirations to start blogging). I have heard some great things about Young Nails gel from some of my fellow techs online, and one of them (sorry can't remember who) told me that the cover peach was her favorite, so of course that's what I ordered!  ;)  The nail community is everything Ladies!   Anywho.... I have to say I don't love it.  I think I'm kinda on the fence with this one, and it makes me really sad to say because I had such high expectations.  Its viscosity is a thick builder gel, but I find it really sticky and hard to work with.  Mind you I haven't used it for a reverse sculpt, which is what young nails is famous for, so I cannot critique it on that.  I'm sure that if you're looking for a gel to extend the nail bed or do a reverse application, then this one is winner winner chicken dinner.  What I can say is this stuff is the BOMB for staying where you put it!  But the work-ability for me... just too sticky and if you are trying to clean up an area... good luck.  I don't like the color either, and comes out yellowish in pics.  (sad face).

Positives!!!!  Cause I kinda feel like I've been slamming this one... dun dun dun...  NO HEAT SPIKE!  And as much as I don't like how sticky it is, it really does stay where you put it, so I also kinda love that about it.    I know, make up your mind, right?  Like I said I'm on the fence.  Really what I need to do is order the cover pink, because that might be the make it or break it for me.  (Side note... I am loving Snow for doing french.  I will be doing a blog on whites in the future)

CRYSTAL NAILS

Ok, I have to say that when I got these, I took one look at the color and just put them in a drawer and decided that was pretty much were they were going to stay.  In the container they were very beige with almost a grey hue to them.  And I am so happily surprised with them.  I haven't used them on myself of a client yet... I'll be doing my fill either this weekend or next but I'm actually so excited to see it on!  This was by far the best coverage, and here it is...... CREAMY.  And the colour.... in the container... icky... on the sample stick, the pink really shows through... I mean just scroll up and look for yourself!  So Meegan, thank you so much for sending me these samples from your own stash, and I am SO sorry for doubting you!  Now, I have heard that this brand is HOT, but haven't tried it so can't actually give you my personal opinion on that.
Between the two, I really love the Crystal Nails Cover Pink, over the Crystal Nails Cover Pink Diamond, as it's a bit more on the pink side.  Having said that, The Diamond has a beautiful silver shimmer, that reminds me of the Magentic Sparkling Nude (one of my all time favorite acrylic cover collections).
Out of all of them this one was the best, best coverage, nice colour, creamy texture.... and all those things just might be enough for me to look past the dreaded heat spike. ;)  Stay tuned and I'll keep you posted!

Hope you all enjoyed my review and swatches.  Let me know what your think or if you have a cover color that you love and think I should try, go ahead and leave a comment below!

Cheers!