The "dryness" you mention sounds like lifting. It's possible you have excess glitter around the eponychium area that is preventing you getting a good seal with your topcoat. Because you aren't applying glitter to the whole nail, you might find you aren't burnishing it in as well as you otherwise would. Make sure you really brush off the excess well so that there's no excess glitter there before you topcoat. Make sure your prep is really thorough, so there's no dead skin build up left in the eponychium area and also make sure you aren't flooding your topcoat. Gently go around the area with an orange stick if you have to. Good luck! X