CND Brisa gel versus Lina gel from E-Bay...

It is new nails Tuesday! Yay! I just did my nails and I was running low on my CND Brisa gel in clear, which has lasted me like two years (it is old, so take that into consideration...), so I decided to do one hand with the Brisa, and one hand with the Lina. I ordered the Lina on E-Bay for $1.54 - shipped... a whole lot cheaper than the $18 or so for the Brisa, and the container is larger.

I also used some other stuff on my nails today... 

I did a clear layer over white tips just to make doing a french manicure easier.

The white tips I used are Lamour French tips from Lamour, CA USA. I get them 50 for $1 at a local nail supply store (next to LeeLee's market if you happen to be anywhere near Phoenix, AZ).

I used KDS nail glue, purchased on Amazon, it is $7.40 shipped for 10 of them, and I will never use another nail glue again after figuring out that this one is the one my favorite nail place that went out of business used to use:

I also used Swarovski crystals ordered from here.
Also, I used Fimo hearts ordered from here. They were 99 cents with free shipping, and so adorable on an accent nail!
And, finally, I used IBD intense seal top coat from Sally Beauty Supply. I have the entire Brisa kit from CND, and it came with top coat, but it just isn't as shiny as the IBD one I already had.

Here are the differences I have noticed between the Brisa and the Lina...

Packaging - the Lina packaging did leak a tiny bit in shipping, the Brisa was shipped to me through Amazon, and has been through a move, and has never leaked.

Heat - The Brisa rarely ever heats up under the light on my nails, the Lina got a bit hot, almost uncomfortably so.

Ease of use - My Brisa is old and almost empty, and it goes on a bit lumpy. I can't remember if it was always this way, but it seems to me that it was, it just doesn't self balance very well. The Lina on the other hand, almost perfectly smooth first try with no problems.

I will take another picture in a week and let you know how it all fared!

Of the two hand photos at the bottom the top one is the Lina hand, on my left, and the one with the ring is my right hand with CND on the bottom... and I am not liking the look of my hands! They say the truest indicator of a woman's age is in her hands, and from these photos I can see exactly what they mean!!