Saint Salvage

I wanted to give myself a new gel polish manicure today, and I opened up my gel polish kit, and oops.... out of those lint-free wipes that are used with the gel cleanser (which is isopropyl alcohol). So, I looked around, and I found a 80 count package of "baby wipes", that I got at the local dollar store. After removing 2 wipes, I dried them with a blow dryer. I folded each one into thirds, and cut them along the fold lines. I folded those sections into thirds again, and cut them again. So, I have a total of 18 squares.... ready to be used! Here they are, in a mini zip-top bag. They are safe for more gel manicures.

 I went to my local CVS, with a coupon for saving $5, if the customer spends $15 on beauty on nail products. I'm a sucker for gel polish, and I found "Fuse Gelnamel" by Sensationail. I've tried their gel polish before, and I've enjoyed them. So, my curiosity was aroused, and I bought two "Gelnamel" colors. Lightning Jolt                                                               Gone Fission I used the gelnamel with a thin gel primer coat, a thin gel base coat, two THIN coats of the Lightning Jolt, and followed with a thin coat of gel top coat. I used it all with the original LED light. Here's what it looks like in "indoor" light.  By judging the color of the bottle, I was expecting an opaque hot pink color, with glitter. But, it's a transparent pink with lots of glitter. This is what ...

A "Black Cherry" Gel Manicure was what I wanted last night. So this was what I used: The base coat and top coat is: Gel Base and Top Coat by  Sensationail . It came with my Starter Kit. The color coat is Inner Vixen, by Gelish (available at  Amazon.com ) Then, a glitter coat of An Evening to Remember by  Red Carpet Manicure Of course, these are all LED curable gel polishes that I use with my  Sensationail Pro 3060 LED Lamp, that came with my  Starter Kit . Here's one coat of "Inner Vixen". One glitter coat of An Evening to Remember. Nice combination!

Last night, after work, I gave myself a LED light gel manicure. The colors and products used: Layer 2:   OPI for Sephora in Metro Chic Layer 3:   Harmony Gelish Magneto in Don't be so Particular Layer 3:  SuperNail ProGel Polish in Trophy Cup Base and Top Coat:  SensatioNail Clear Transparent Here's the finished Gold Fingers (indoor lighting). Here it is, in outdoor lighting.

Tonight's gel manicure used the following colors: The first color coat was  Red Carpet Manicure's  Paparazzied (after the clear base coat) The second color coat was a thin layer of  Gelish's  Sugar N' Spice & Everything Nice. The final color coat was  Finger Paints'  It's a Master-Pink, which is topped with a clear topcoat. Here's the finished manicure. All rosy-pink and sparkly! All the polishes are LED cured, and are compatible with each other.

I decided to try DIY-ing a free-hand color blocking gel manicure. Here's what I chose: Ooh la Liscious Paparazzied And The Winner Is Red Carpet Manicure's   from the  Tips & Tricks Set  The coral color (left) is "Ooh la Liscious" and the magenta color (right) is "Paparazzied". I applied the "Ooh la Liscious" on the base of each nail, and cured them. Then, I applied the "Paparazzied" on the tips, and cured them.  Lastly, for the artsy part: "And  the Winner Is" and a dotting tool. I used the dotting end to draw a line in between the two colors, to "pop" the contrast.   After curing the art work, and clear coat, then more curing, the final product: Fun, funky, and warm weather appropriate! It took about 10 - 15 minutes to do this, and should last about 2 weeks.

This week's manicure is a "gelly sandwich". I started with using China Glaze's Real Nail Polish Appliques, in "Ferr-ocious". I bought the set of 16 from the local Five Below for $3. The directions are straightforward. Prepare the nails by pushing back the cuticles, filing and shaping, then buffing, and using alcohol to remove any oils. So, here goes. I pulled off the plastic, and applied the proper size for each nail. Then, I trimmed off the tips. Followed by cutting off the cuticle end. Now, the Sensationail primer and Gel Base & top coat goes on top.  After curing, I wipe my nails with alcohol and wash and dry. Here's the close-up. Not bad. 

Time for another gel manicure! I went out to my local CVS over the weekend, and bought these Sensationail  colors: Amber Lights and Tahiti Sunset . I decided to hop on the tangerine color trend, and also attempt my first ever "French style" manicure. I followed the same steps as before.... doing the prep (shaping, buffing, applying the primer and applying the base coat, curing with the Sensational LED light. then, a THIN coat of the Amber Lights. Cure, add a THIN second coat of Amber Lights.  Then, I added Tahiti Sunset on the tips and cured it. Then, back to the clear top coat, cure, and alcohol pads. Done in approximately 15 minutes! Easy, peasy, with no STINKY odor! Here's what the finished product looked like..... a fresh, tangy "French" gel manicure!

I purchased some gel polishes yesterday, and did a quickie mani during my lunchbreak today. Here's what I used:   Sephora by OPI Gelshine: Bare to be Different and ProGel by Super Nail: Trophy Cup. I bought the Gelshine from the Sephora in Deptford Mall, NJ and I bought the ProGel at the Ulta in Mays Landing, NJ. After doing all the prep (shaping, buffing, applying the primer and applying the base coat, I cured it with the Sensational LED light I had used on a different mani. Then, I applied the "Bare to be Different" Gelshine. It's a very sheer, natural, bare color. It would be great for a French Mani. Then, I added the "Trophy Cup" glitter/ clear top coat and cured it. Then, back to the clear top coat, cure, and alcohol pads. Done in approximately 15 minutes! There.... in full sun, nice and sparkly!