Glitter mani!
Base: 2 coats SH Hard as Nails Hardener.
Colour: 1 coat SH Almost Almond.
First top coat: 1 coat Seche Vite.
Second top coat (none of them got smooth with 1 coat, so I went back and put on a second coat. They still weren't smooth after 2 coats either. I went back and checked my notes. Apparently it used to take 3 coats of Gelous to smoothe this glitter, so I used 3 coats):
L hand:
Pinky: Kiss Nail Art Sealer. This still wasn't dry after 45 minutes, so I switched to OPI for the next 2 coats.
Ring: ASP Nail Fortress! Chipped on day 2.
Middle: CND Vinylux Gel-Like Effect Long Wear Top Coat. Went out in the sun for a few minutes after the first coat to set it. By the time I did the second coat the sun had set. Initially this was the only one that covered the bumpiness of the glitter in 3 coats. Unfortunately it needs sunlight to set properly.
Index: OPI Gel Plump Effect Volumizing Top Coat. Seems to plump up over time? By the second day this was the smoothest, bit starting to show a tiny bit of wear.
Thumb: Revlon Super Lustrous Nail Enamel in Clear.
R hand:
Thumb: Seche Vite.
Index: SH Miracle Gel Top Coat (old, black bottle).
Middle: SH Miracle Gel Shiny Top Coat (silver bottle. I accidentally used Matte for the 3rd coat, so this one got a 4th coat).
Ring: OPI Gel Plump. Dries slowly.
Pinky: Revlon.
Best technique: Pour glitter into little dish. Put nail polish on one nail at a time. Use fan brush to gently touch glitter to nail. Wait for polish to dry. Brush of excess glitter with CLEAN fan brush (I accidentally brushed off my middle finger with the glitter brush and ended up having to cover the whole thing with glitter). Cover with Seche Vite. VERY MESSY. Next time use latex to keep from getting glitter in your cuticles.
Initial thoughts: The OPI did a good job on my left hand but not on my right. Different amounts of glitter? In general. I think Seche Vite + CND + + Nail Fortress or OPI might be the best top coat combination? OPI covers glitter well, and is as smooth to the touch as Nail Fortress.
Final thoughts after five days: CND outlasted all the others. OPI came in second. Nail Fortress did the worst, but it was on the longest nail. None of them covered the bumpiness completely, but CND and OPI were good enough.