When I lived in Dubai I got into regularly having my nails done and rather shamelessly, I also got used to weekly blow drys. Well I couldn’t possible do those things myself could I!? … I’m joking! I put it all down to a mixture of a tax free salary and being sucked into the Dubai expat lifestyle.
When me and Pete moved back to the UK I decided to commit to doing as much of my beauty regime myself as possible. I’ve not had one single blow-dry, in fact I’ve not even had my hair cut since being back – something I do need to book as I’ve done the whole DIY fringe and that was not a good look for me!
I’d also been painting my nails myself but this, well this just wasn’t working. No matter what nail polish I bought and no matter how much base or top coat I applied, my nails always chipped. I’m one of those people that when one nail chips I have to pick off the rest and that’s just the worst!
So for Christmas (yes this is a very late post) my mum bought me a Sensationail Kit I couldn’t decide which one to ask for as they were all rather expensive and quite frankly a lot of them had pretty bad reviews. I didn’t want her to waste money on something that I’d try and find to be rubbish, but this one looked fab and had the best reviews.
It was on sale in Boots for £45 down from £105 so I thought why not? At least if it is crap, she hasn’t spent an arm and a leg on it!
1x gel cleanser
1x gel primer
1x gel base and top coat
2x gel colours
1x two-sided nail buffer
1x bamboo manicure stick
1x pack of 12 lint free wipes
1x removal tool
The two colours that I got with the kit were:
and
The kit was so easy to use. Of course it’s always optimistic to expect to have perfect salon nails in 15 minutes as the product promises so keeping my expectations I was pleased with a 30 minute gel manicure!
Of course the kit contains instructions but here’s a quick ‘how to’ so you can see how easy the process is:
1 – Prepare
File, shape and buff the nail using the two-sided buffer, then clean the nail using the lint-free wipes with gel cleanser. Let that air dry for 15 seconds and then apply a layer of gel primer sparingly.
2 – Laquer
Next apply a THIN layer of gel base and top coat. I stress the word THIN as I made the mistake the first time of applying quite thick layers and having to spend more time with my nails in the LED lamp than necessary. This needs to be capped – i.e. make sure to cover the edge of the nail. ‘Cure’ the nail in the LED lamp for 30 seconds.
Next apply two layers of the gel colour in the same way as the gel base and top coat, curing in the LED lamp for 60 seconds each application.
3 – Protect
Apply one final layer of the gel base and top coat, cure for 60 seconds under the lamp and then wipe clean using a lint-free wipe and gel cleanser.
Now although it really was as simple as that, it certainly wasn’t as quick as that. Of course if, unlike me, you apply THIN layers each application then each nail will only need 60 seconds, however with the size of the LED lamp, you have to do a kind of sequence of when to put certain nails in. I found it best to do both thumbs together, then my right hands 4 fingers and finally my left hands 4 fingers (I’m left handed so I always leave this hand till last). This makes the whole process a fair bit longer, but like I said earlier it was still really quick and easy!
I didn’t take a picture of the Sugar Plum nails, but they were fab! Take my word for it! I applied them on Boxing day (Christmas day was too full of food, food and naps to think about nails) and after 6 weeks they were still there. Of course there was a bit of growth from the cuticle but they hadn’t chipped at all! I thought that this may have been because of the thick layers that I initially applied and the consequently long time I had to cure them in the LED lamp; but now with my application of the Taupe Tulip colour I again have no chipping after 3 weeks – and I took my own advice and went for thin layers!
Overall the SensatioNail starter kit is fantastic! I would definitely recommend it and I think it’s now retailing at £69.99 so still a good price! I do wish that it came with more colours as they retail at around £12.50, but the kit included some vouchers for discounted gel colours so I’ll definitely use those!
I think I’ll go for something more pretty with Spring on the horizon, something like:
Pink Bouquet
or
They are also offering 12 colours for the price of 8 which is rather tempting but I’m not sure I’d need that many … unless I wen for the glitter and french manicure options too? Ooh it’s just too tempting!
I’d love to hear how you guys have gotten on with this kit or another brand? Here’s the link again if you’d like to give it a go – Sensational Kit
xxx
8 Comments
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10th February 2014 at 3:57 amI have been checking out many of your stories and i must say nice stuff. I will definitely bookmark your site.
Kate @ Family Fever
11th February 2014 at 10:32 amI am impressed with how long they lasted, and the colours look lovely. Thanks for sharing with #TriedTested
Jessica
13th April 2016 at 8:15 amIt really is so long lasting! Fab for a mum on the go!
Rocknrollerbaby
11th February 2014 at 10:34 amLooks tricky but with a great result! 🙂
Jessica
13th April 2016 at 8:15 amA little fidly at first but once you’re used to it it’s really easy 🙂
Colette B
11th February 2014 at 9:06 pmI actually bought the same kit for my Mum for Christmas when it was on offer in Boots and only wish I could have afforded to treat myself at the same time. I’m lucky that one of my best friends lives around the corner and has the kit so will occasionally do my nails for me – my pedi lasted for 4 weeks last time! FOUR WEEKS! Amazing.
Thanks for linking up this week 🙂
#TriedTested
admin
14th February 2014 at 10:38 amIts fab! Yea if someone else can do it for you its always nicer, a bit of pampering!
Thanks for reading 🙂 xxx
Jessica
13th April 2016 at 8:15 amAhh how fab! I need one of my friends to start doing nails!