I need your help!!

Hi everyone,

As you've noticed, I've been posting old NOTD's lately and complaining a LOT about my nails. Well, I'm still having a bit of trouble so I thought I'd turn to all you nail mavens for advice on this matter.

Here's my situation: for about a year, my nails were in what I call "perfect" condition. Sure they broke (my job is kinda rough on them), but they were generally long and strong and didn't peel. Anyway, without any warning, about two months ago they started to do this strange thing and I can only describe it as this: they started to grow out already broken.

This phenomenon occurs on the sides of the nails and it's like... they're just growing out already with splits and peels in them (on the sides only). It's truly bizarre. I don't have any pictures though, sorry, so I apologize if none of this makes sense.

Here's what my nail routine was: I take 5000mcg of Biotin daily. I have for a year. I use Barielle Natural Nail Growth Stimulator topped with Salon Sciences Instant Artificials as my basecoats and Seche Vite for my topcoat. I use Lush Lemony Flutter and Neutrogena Hand Cream. I don't drink a *ton* of water, but I do drink some. Anyway, the only thing in my routine that changed during this period is that I started using Gelous instead of Instant Artificials. But, keep in mind, this is my second base coat, it doesn't actually touch my nail. Anyway, after I noticed the weirdness, I switched back to Instant Artificials and nothing has changed :-( (I was really bummed to give up Gelous because I actually liked it better than Instant Artificials).

Anyway, that's my situation. For now, I'm trying to switch off my bottom base coat, and I've been using Sally Hansen Nail Quencher (dc'd, I know, hope I don't love it....), but I'm wondering if anyway can give me any insight to the root of this problem?? I've been revamping my diet lately but for the better, so I doubt that's the case. Could it be a reaction to Biotin? But a year later? Any advice?

Thanks you guys! Hope life is treating you well :-) I got a new job, so I am happy-happy! But I'll still be working my old one a little and writing my thesis, so I'll be a busy girl until December!

My Summer Vacation: Haul & other things.

So I've been MIA yet again. It's the summer to blame for all this flakery here. And my lack of nails (still!!). And for some reason, blogspot was being wonky with comments and wouldn't let me reply to any of the ones from the last barrage of posts, but I love you all and want to oblige a few things.

First of all! I just took a semi-impromptu trip to Tallahassee, Florida. A road trip, mind you, and I live in Upstate NY. My bestest friend in the whole world was finishing her MS in Art Therapy at Florida State University, and I went to see her graduate. This meant I drove almost 1400 miles in 2 days and wore the same polish for almost a week (OPI You Don't Know Jacques!). And I happened to wander into an Ulta for the first time while meandering in North Carolina. WHY! Why am I not blessed with one of these within 100 miles of me? Ridiculous. Anyway, I ended up buying an array of things, pictured below, along with some other stuff I've acquired in my weeks away.

OPI Diva of Geneva, OPI Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous, Milani Dress Maker. Diva of Geneva looks gorgeous, it's so glowy, it's got this golden shimmer to it. Lucerne (long annoying name again, OPI!) is way more gorgeous than this picture shows, I'll have NOTD pictures of it up tomorrow. And Dress Maker... making a splash as a so-called exact Chanel Jade dupe. I found it, luckily enough, at the first CVS I went to.

China Glaze Hey Doll, Foxy, Midnight Mission. Midnight Mission & Foxy were two of three Vintage Vixen colors I knew I had to have. Hey Doll was a last minute addition at Sally's, but it's really cool looking and pretty unique.

China Glaze Ingrid, Essie Sew Psyched, Essence Pool Party, Essence What Do U Think? I'm not sure I needed Ingrid, and that was the one from Vintage Vixen I was most excited about. The shimmer isn't as apparent as I wanted, but we'll see how it looks on the nail. Sew Psyched looks amazing! Score for Essie. It has hidden shimmer in it too. That blue Essence has a buttload of silver glitter in it, too, so we'll see. I wanted to want more of the Essence polishes, because they're only 99 cents, but these were the only two colors that jumped out at me.

LA Splash Crimson Tide, Sweet Violet, Golden Seahorse, Ocean Sprinkles. For some reason, I was really excited to try these. They've got more depth than they appear to in this picture.

Ulta Bombshell, Petites Color Fever Fairy Pink & Black Diamond. Ulta Bombshell looks amazing. Pure amazing. Not sure about the Petites yet, but they're both holo even though they don't look it in the bottle.

Kleancolor Starry Blue, Sparkle Purple, Melon Green & Holo Green. I found these at a dollar store, and you have no idea how excited I was!! They had a weird array of Kleancolors, but these were the ones I picked, and I tried to encompass a few finishes. They look awesome, especially Melon Green.

Revlon Galaxy, OPI Green-wich Green, OPI minis in Brisbane Bronze, Bogota Blackberry & Black Cherry Chutney. Full disclosure: I originally bought all four of the new Revlon glitters and returned all the others except this one. They're so sparse, and this one is the only one that's truly unique. And Green-wich is amazing. A perfect grass green creme. The OPI minis are from Ulta, they were free. I already have BCC, but not the other two so yay for being able to try.

OPI You Don't Know Jacques!, Wet 'N Wild Craze Buffy the Violet Slayer, The Wonder Yellows, Gray's Anatomy. I didn't have YDKJ! until recently. Not sure why. I got it at my local beauty supply with a coupon. And these Wet 'N Wilds... I have nothing to say except that I went to 4 Rite Aids and drove many miles for one reason: BUFFY THEMED POLISH. I would've driven to another state to find this. My Buffy love runs very, very deep. I don't care if the polish sucks. I needed this to be in my life.

How was everyone's summer? I'm getting ready to really haul on my thesis... I can't wait to finish grad school! I've got a bunch of NOTDs to share featuring my tiny, awful nubs coming soon. Thanks all! I appreciate you guys so much :-D