My Favorite Peel-Off Base: Liquid Latex

(promotional samples ahead)

In the last few months, I've gained an affinity for wearing polish for a few hours (to match an outfit maybe...and for swatching) but my skin just cannot handle the amount of acetone that it takes to try on polish after polish. I've got strong nails, but even they have a limit. Through the wild world of facebook, I learned of clear liquid latex...and I had to try it. 

Liquid Latex as a Peel Off Base


Ahhh swatching. I love it so. Except for the wear-n-tear on my slightly sensitive skin. I don't really tolerate acetone/polish remover well. But swatching appeals to my short attention span, so I soldier on. I looked everywhere for things to make it easier. I oil my hands before polish, I have tried the PVC glue trick, the commerical peelable bases...and it just wasn't right. They either took too long to dry, didn't give me an even level to polish, or were just a general pain in the backside.

But clear latex...oh my. It was glorious. I have secretly been using it for months with wonderful results. I bet you can't tell which two fingers have regular bases, and which have a nice layer of the Graftobian stuff...

CNC FaerieSynthesis

Let's look at a macro, I am sure you'll see something to give you a hint...

CNC FaerieSynthesis

Still can't guess? Ok, ok...I'll have mercy. Check out this collage for the answer.

Liquid Latex as a Peel Off Base

Yup. It peels off just like that. If I'm careful, I can remove it in one piece, and my bare nail will be practically in its original condition. It definitely speeds things up when it comes to swatching. I even like it for wearing thick glitters. No more foil and cotton and waiting! I can now just peel it off when I'm done.

Liquid Latex as a Peel Off Base

You are skeptical? Of course you are...so maybe watch this video? I did a live-action peeling featuring OPNL Go Deep.


Easy peasy lemon squeezy, right? Plus, you end up with pretty little chunks of polish...that I do enjoy staring at.

Some tips for using liquid latex as your base:
  • Don't skip the base coat. I find that using a base over the latex gives me an extra smooth starting point. It also seems to help it peel off easier.
  • Don't touch your fingers together until you've applied base. The latex will stick to itself.
  • Buy a cheap empty bottle of polish or buy the stuff with a brush. Trust me.
  • Beware applying it anywhere you have hairs. I got some in my arm-hair...it fucking hurts.

There are some caveats I should mention:
  • You can't do super thick layers of polish when using latex as a base. I have found that it peels and curls like cheap glitter when I used more than 6 layers of polish (generally at least two are Seche Vite)
  • You have to be careful when you use a latex barrier on your skin. If you touch the two at all...you'll peel it all up together.
  • It won't survive a shower, at least not for someone whose nails change shape when very wet like me.

Liquid Latex as a Peel Off Base

Have you tried using this stuff as a base? What were your experiences with it?

Comments

  1. This is rad and definitely something I will try in the future. I like that it dries clear.

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  2. I am so interested in trying this for swatching! I am also curious if it'd work under gel polish. Would make swatching those a lot easier!

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  3. I just saw a post the other day where a fellow lacquerista discovered if she put cuticle oil over the latex barrier around her nails they wouldn't stick together anymore! I'd love to see you test that theory out :) (the barrier I use doesn't really stick to itself so I'm not totally sure if it worked or not)

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  4. You can make a swatch ball with the peelings!

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  5. You can make a swatch ball with the peelings!

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  6. How is that smell-wise? It looks like it works way better than a glue base, but I can't get over how foul liquid latex smells =/

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    1. Same! It makes me gag! Luckily I found Rainysunraynails and her Cuticula is amazing!

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  7. This looks awesome! It would be a great addition to my cheats! I would have to check with the smell though because I have migraines triggered by smells

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  8. Cool :D I still use home-made peel-off glue base coat for swatching, but this seems even better!

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  9. Ooh! I'd like to try this someday. I can't deal with the endless dry time of my DIY peel-off base. It's so thick, also. Btw, I ADORE that CNC. You might enjoy Paint Box Polish's Sunset Beach too... it's a yellow-green jelly base with multichrome flakies! :)

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  10. I do this too! I has saved my cuticles the ashen death of acetone.

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  11. Thank you THANK YOU for showing me this a few months back. You saved my nails!

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  12. This sounds awesome! I've been using the NYC brand peel off base coat, but sometimes it's damaging so the fact that your nails are fine after using this is great.

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  13. Fun idea, I don't think I could use it. I can barely use it to protect my hands when stamping because the smell gives me a migraine.

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  14. I can't use latex, oh well. Have you tried adding glycerin to your acetone remover? It's made a big difference for me. Wacky Laki has a good tutorial on how to do it.

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  15. Definitely useful for a swatch session! I've used a glue base before but haven't tried this.

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  16. I tried this once for swatching but it didn't seem to be quicker for me, but I have used it for all day glitter wear and it worked amazingly well!

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  17. I also use a latex base for my crellies / glitter swatches now and that's just perfect :)

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  18. Great tips! Peel-off base coat is such a game changer, especially for swatching. I have also noticed that peel-off base doesn't play nicely with sponged gradients.

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  19. My bottle came in the mail today, I can't wait to try it. I did open it up and it smelled like ammonia (something I can live with if it works like in the video.) Thanks so much for sharing with us.

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