SensatioNail Australia Has Landed – Full Review

Tags

DIY gel nails, gel nails, Nail Polish, nail polishes, SensatioNail, UV lamp

Nail polish – Day 3

Hold the phone Australians, I’m pretty excited to be writing this post today!

Many have asked and the nail gods have listened: SensatioNail at-home gel nail products have landed in Aus, and we don’t have to envy our international sisters any longer. Perfectly manicured fist pump, everyone.

Nail Polish – Day 3

SensatioNail boasts up to two weeks of wear for every manicure, with the finish of salon quality nails. No typical dry time, no chips, no smudges. For those unfamiliar with the process, it’s a simple system of applying gel polishes which are cured at each step with a LED UV lamp. This is what gives the beautiful shine and strength.

For those who are die hard gel fans, you already know the awesomeness that is DIY UV nails. This was my first time trying it at home, and I’m completely converted. But more on that in a little bit…

PROS

unbeatable shine and depth
longer lasting
no chips or smudges
no dry time
strong finish
cheaper than salon gels (in the long run)

CONS

removal can be time consuming (at least 15 mins soak time)
chips/peeling can occur with incorrect application
initial costs higher than stand-alone nail polishes

WHAT’S INSIDE THE KITS:

(above) Starter Kit $89.99 AUD
Pro LED Lamp, Gel Cleanser, Gel Primer, Gel Base & Top Coat, lint free pads, nail buffer & stick

(above, each sold separately) left – Gel Colour Scarlet Red $19.95 AUD, middle – Gel Colour Taupe Tulips $19.99 AUD, right – Gel Polish Removal Tool $9.99 AUD

(above) Gel Polish Removal Kit $24.99 AUD
30 foil wraps, nail buffer & stick, gel polish remover

(below) SensatioNail Pro 3060 LED Lamp – sold with starter kit

THE ANSWER TO ALL MY PROBLEMS?

I love polished nails as much as the next person, but chipping and smudges drive me crazy to no end. I feel like I’ve been trapped in the cycle of nail woes for years. It goes something like this:

“Nail polishes are awesome, but they never last very long…
So let’s try applying them meticulously – only to have the bed sheets imprinted on them overnight. Gah!…
Forget DIY then, salon must be the way to go… but acrylics are pretty damaging…
OK, so let’s try gel nails. Oh what was that? It’s going to cost me $80+ for a full set. Refills and removals extra? Shoot…
Don’t panic Kaye, I hear shellac is a good alternative… Excuse me? $40+ a visit? This is going to send me broke, even if it’s every two weeks…
I guess it’s not so bad to use regular polish, at least it’s cheaper… Oh figs is that a chip?“

Lets take this moment to cyber hug if you feel my pain *hug*. This is where SensatioNail comes in.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

If you’re serious about longer lasting, high-shine colour, I would recommend you try this. If you spend the dollars to buy polish, why not pay for one that lasts? The initial outlay is a little pricey, but the cost/use/quality ratio is in your favour. Plus, when someone asks you where you got your beautiful nails you can say “Girl! I did these babies all by myself!”. *snap*

I trialed the kit a few times, just to get a real feel for what works and what doesn’t. The process is very simple to follow. Once finished I was terrified the glossy colour was still wet, but it was completely hardened and smudge proof. Best of all, the just-applied shine is there to stay.

What I discovered was this: follow the instructions closely, especially “capping” the nail at each step. This will ensure you get the absolute most out of your application. I found the few nails I didn’t “cap”, chipped in the corners and lifted slightly after four days. I also recommend the use of the removal tool when the time comes. It will help speed the removal process.

The bottom line is, there is no real guarantee each manicure will last two full weeks and that no peeling, chips or will occur. Stuff happens. Everyone’s nails are different. BUT – what I think sells it for me is the fact I just cannot replicate this kind of depth and shine with regular polish. It is also far cheaper than going to the salon and paying for Shellac (in the long run). Once cured, the nails were tough and everyday activities didn’t put a dent in my mani.

Would I purchase this again? Absolutely! 10/10.

Disclosure: this post contains product sent for consideration. This in no way influences my opinion and all reviews are honest (you know how I am)

Postcards From Lake Tahoe – Part 2

Tags

california, lake tahoe, snow, south Tahoe, tahoe, travel, vacation

Welcome back to part two. I completely forgot to mention a few fun facts about Tahoe in my last post! Not only is the area beautiful, it’s actually pretty factually awesome.

Did you know the city of south Tahoe and Lake Tahoe are at an elevation of over 6000 ft? The lake is 26 miles long, 12 miles wide, and 72 miles around. Huge. The water in is apparently almost as pure as bottled water, and is the second deepest body of water in the US (1645 ft!). I read a little something from the hotel that mentioned the water is so clear, you could see a dinner plate 75 feet below the surface.

I think now is the time to confess I have extreme fear of deep water, but besides this fact, I still appreciate the lake. The city sits right on the California/Nevada state line, and as for Heavenly Mountain (which gave me the stunning views in these posts from the observation deck)? The summit elevation is 10,067 ft. I don’t mean to turn this into a lesson, but isn’t it just fascinating to know??

Going through the photo’s of us ice skating brought back great memories. If life had theme music, then the song to our first time skating would have been Battle Without Honor or Humility by Tomoyasu Hotei (also known as the song from Transformers and Kill Bill). Think: slow motion falls onto the ice, over and over. Funnier than you can imagine.

I hope you enjoyed the photos, until the next update… 🙂

Read part one here.

Postcards From Lake Tahoe – Part 1

Tags

california, holidays, lake tahoe, snow, tahoe, travel, vacation

If heaven on earth truly existed, it would be a place like Lake Tahoe, California. The first time I experienced the beauty of the area was in the fall, years ago. Now add to that snow as far as the eye can see, and you have my idea of something I can only describe as true happiness.

This officially marks the first look back at our family holiday in December and January, albeit completely out of order. We visited Tahoe a week or two after arriving. I have more photos than you can poke a stick at, so what better way to kick off with these. I was silly with happiness over the fact we were surrounded by real snow. The, ‘buried up to your knees, smooth as silk, freeze your face off’, kinda stuff. I’ve heard time and time again how you quickly you grow tired of the cold, but I honestly don’t know if I could. To me, it’s like living on another world.

Just days earlier we had been lucky enough to experience full blown snow on the adventure to collect our christmas tree at Apple Hill (holy balls, a real tree that isn’t a tropical palm like I had as a kid!). And just like that day, on the way back up the mountain I was glued to the car window sighing and gasping at every inch of the pristine wonderland flying by. It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. By far!

We spent a few jam-packed days in Tahoe, staying at the base of Heavenly mountain. Exploring, ice skating, toasting by the fire pits and drinking more Starbucks than is humanly possible. So many memories, not enough time to recount them all! I still have a bag full of skee-ball tickets that we never got the chance to exchange. That slinky was MINE.

And then of course there was the gondola ride to the top of Heavenly. No words could truly do justice to describing the view from up there. Just close your eyes and think of the most peaceful, breathtaking view you can imagine. Mountains, water and sky as far as the eye can see. I only wish I had more time to go back again and again. And again.

The first time I visited Tahoe I fell in love. This time it became so much more than that. If that is even possible. The look on my childrens faces the entire time was something I’d never seen. It was really, really, special.

I hope you enjoyed the photos! Till part two…

Cuff Love

Tags

accessories, black & gold, cuff, Fashion, fashion tip, gold cuff, Hotsy Totsy, leather cuff, wrist wear

Happy Weekend everyone! It happens to be my second favourite day, Saturday (the first being Friday). I’m a little excited to bring you my very first fashion/accessory post, from the moment this site was born I always wanted to include fashion, but forever found excuses not to. And of course there’s never a good reason not to do something you love, so here it is.

You might remember me talking (ad nauseam) about my new-found obsession with Hotsy Totsy, my number one place for statement accessories. Now I’m finally getting to showcase how stunning my HT collection is, starting with these cuffs. Some of their necklaces are very J Crew-esque (without the price tag), which is something to be very excited about. My fashion tip: keep an eye on their Facebook page as well as the website, you will spot more purse friendly sales than you can handle. You can see a little more HT here, here and here.

For as long as I could remember I’ve always loved the look of cuffs. Lucky for me their design has evolved over the years from gaudy to beautifully sophisticated. It’s difficult to say where I picked up my obsession for them, quite possibly from the tough kick-ass persona of characters like Lara Croft. That, and the fact I was a ninety’s teen. Casual-tough was everything. Wearing dresses with boots? You bet. And don’t forget the leather cuff, either.

I’m hard pressed to pick one colour over the other, but black and gold is universally flattering. Which is more your style, white/gold or black/gold?