Sally Hansen Color Quick CHROME

Most Sally Hansen products are found at your local drug store. These run for around $3.64.  It claims to be fast drying and give you a "manicure in minutes".

It's actually a "pen" that you click 5-7 times for the product to initially come out. It was given to me a few weeks ago & I just finally tried it. I got the color 08 Red Chrome. To me this actually looks like more of a pink chrome, but I'm a fan of the color regardless of the odd name choice.

After that I found 1-2 clicks was enough for each nail. Here's the result of 2 coats:

The formula is very streaky but settles somewhat while it's drying. If you have any ridges on your nails, unfortunately this product will show them. Even, exaggerate them. Probably easily corrected with a smoothing base coat.

I did find that it was very fast drying and therefore cut my manicure time way down. But I'm not overall ecstatic about this product. I may purchase if other colors are "amazing" and try to make it work with a different base coat. I don't have time very often to do my nails, so I like formulas that last long. Even if the cost is a little more.

after 2 days of wear

Unfortunately, it doesn't last very long. So the convenience of fast drying time is cut short by it's staying power.

*I always use a base and top coat, just FYI*

SEPHORA Nail Patch Art: How To & Review

Hi everybody! This post will be about a nail trend I tried recently. The SEPHORA Nail Patch Art has only 5 designs to choose from. I opted for the pink cheetah.

The stickers come in an air tight package that they urge you not to open until your going to apply them. I assume they will most likely dry out otherwise. It comes with 8 various sizes to fit against your nail bed. I found one perfect for each of my nails. I would even imagine I could find matches for a pedicure.
I matched my nail size to the stickers as I went along. I recommend doing the same finger on each hand, then move on the the next. This way you don't lose its matching partner!

OK, onto application.. I started with clean, buffed nails.

1. First you remove a transparent sheet on the top of the nail patch.
2. Next, hold the silver tab in order to place the patch at the base of your nail bed. This step was rather hard for me. The polish isn't sticky at all so I had to hold the patch on the actual design to get it place just right.
3. Push firmly all over nail to stick the patch securely.

    4. You can remove excess length buy pulling gently over the tip of nail. If the nail is too large of      a width you can use an orange stick to remove excess.
    5. Finish with a top coat and your done!

Review:
I had to keep pushing all of the edges down around my nails to finally get them to stick. Also, my nails would get stuck in my hair sometimes, because of edges that were coming up. I must say I'm pretty disappointed with how long these lasted for me. My mani only lasted about 4 days. With other sticker polishes they lasted 7 days! They were very cute when I first put them on but overall they're more trouble than their worth.

                                           after 2 days                                                              Day 4

Benefit "They're Real!" Mascara

This mascara claims to "lengthen, curl, volumize, lift, and separate".  I'll comment on how each of these qualities actually measure up.  I have been using this mascara for about a month now. It is described as a jet black, and it is. I love a black mascara so this was perfect for me.

Lengthening: I would say is lengthening but not to an extreme. I have somewhat long lashes already so it didn't bother me much.
Curling/Lifting: Yes! I don't know how, but this mascara does lift and curl the lashes. Making them appear more open. It may be due to the brush (more on that later in this post)
Volumizing: This definitely adds on some volume to your lashes. But because of this, a second coat makes lashes appear "spider-like". I just pile it on wet, rather than letting it dry before the second coat and that seems to help. But even then, if you put too much the spider effect can still happen.
Separating: This one is 50/50. If you only do one coat than it does an amazing job. BUT any more than one coat the lashes start to have the opposite effect, clumping to each other. As for me, its hard to resist a second coat of mascara.

Now for the brush. The last time I used a mascara brush with plastic teeth I was underwhelmed, so I was skeptical about using this one. To my surprise this brush works very well. It seems to really help in lifting and curling my lashes. It has teeth rounded over the tip to reach each and every one of you lashes or use for lower lashes. When you first take the brush out of the tube there is an excess of mascara on the tip. Unfortunate, since its meant to use on fine lashes and that would only create clumps. This could easily be fixed by wiping it off on the tube before use.

 

(One coat - did not use eye lash curler)

My over all impression of this mascara is that its a good one but not fantastic. Especially for the $22 price tag. It's waterproof so its also hard to get every last bit off. As for repurchasing, I think I can find and equivalent or better at the drug store.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure

For my first blog I decided to review the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure. At $7.99 I was hesitant to buy this product. If I were to spend that much money on nail polish I want OPI or some other high end brand. It claims to have "5 Steps in 1 Bottle: Base Coat, Strengthener, Growth Treatment, Color and Top Coat". I still opted to use a top and base coat out of habit. I chose #660 "Pat On The Black". A deep burgundy, almost blackish shade.

This polish was completely opaque after two coats, which is good to me. I found that this polish lasts much longer than some other even more expensive polishes. Here are a few photos of the wear and tear.

DAY 4

DAY 6

I am on day 7 and this mani still looks half way decent. No chips at all and I noticed I don't have any of the  usual wear on the corners of my nails. A much longer last than all of my other polishes. I would defiantly repurchase and recommend