Tag: nails

NO MORE BAD NAIL DAY

Just like hair, I always feel good when my nails look pretty.

That’s why I’m excited when I got invited to the launch of REVLON COLORSTAY GEL ENVY LONGWEAR NAIL ENAMEL earlier this month.

At the event, I found out from their Brand Manager, that Revlon was actually launch nail polish first before everything else way back in 1932. They surely upped their nail game with these latest innovation!

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Personally, I love gel nails for their shine, fast drying and long lasting factor. Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Longwear Nail Enamel covered two out of three! They look like gel with the shine (thanks to the formula which contain optical brighteners) and they’re long lasting too (they’ll chipped after 7 days on me). Even without the ColorStay Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat, they already shine like gel nails.

Yup…there are two steps to achieve these nails. The color comes with base, so no need to apply base coat beforehand. After color, then top coat. Very time-saving indeed, no need for UV light. And best of all, these nail shades allow us to change as often as we want (they’re really cheap at IDR 70K a pop). As for removal, just use your regular nail remover without any hassle to go to the nail salon to remove your gel nails. Easy peasy!

I tried the shade “Queen of Hearts”, a pretty bluish bold red shade. Pretty, right? In total, they have 10 shades…and I’m already thinking to change to that cute turquoise shade named “Dealer’s Choice”.

Thanks Revlon Indonesia and Fimela.com for having me and fellow bloggers.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

AS EASY AS 1-2-3

The Up’s and Down’s of using nail stickers.

Firstly, I still love nail gel. I personally think it is the greatest beauty invention for an impatient woman like me. I hate waiting for nail colors to dry. But…sometimes I also don’t have the time to go to nail spa to get the gel color done, but I feel ‘naked’ without any color on my nails. So what to do? Nail Stickers.

This time, I tried OPI Pure Lacquer Nail Apps  named Pink & Black Lace.

I like it because:

+ It’s easy to wear. It comes in a set of 2 strip in variable sizes to match your nails (no matter how big or small, or how long or short they are). Make sure you pick the right size for each finger nails.

+ Simple instructions on the back of the packaging. Just peel, stick and smooth them on, then tear (no scissors or filing needed).

+ No base coat, no top coat needed as well. Stick them on clean nails though.

I dislike it because:

–       Longevity sucks. If you wash your hands regularly like me, or using them a lot, you can see the edges chipped away in only one day.

–       Too many left overs and they can’t be kept for next application because they will dry in a jiffy. They come in 16 sizes, and we have only 10 fingers (right?). What’s the point of sticking them to the toe nails? It’s still not enough, unless you want to pull off that ‘United Colors’ style on your nails. Not me, thanks.

–       It’s bloody expensive for one application that last no longer than 7 days tops. I bought them from an online seller for Rp 135.000. My ordinary nail gel PLUS manicure only cost me Rp 220.000 and they last for two weeks. You do the math.

CONCLUSION: Nail Gel is still the best for me. But, as I said, if I don’t have the time to visit the nail spa, then this nail sticker is my beauty savior…temporarily.

 

 

FEELING CREATIVE?

Don’t just sit there and imagine. Now, we can create our own nail polish.

How thoughtful…customized nail polish. It could be a gift to someone, or you just want to personalize your nail colors. Check out Pretty Please Nail Polish. Currently they only have 18 colors to choose from their collection, ranging from berry colors to pastels and pop colors.

It’s so easy and we can do it all online. Just choose the color, think of a name to be labeled on the bottle and you’re done. I’ve tried mine (see step by step pictures above). Well, they said nail polish can say a lot about a person. Mine will be: Shinta loves Red and hates Fakers.

SHADES OF A FAMILY

Or in this case, a “Modern Family”.

Nail polishes inspired by a TV Series? Why not? It’ll be 2013 soon.

Nicole by OPI offered a perfect way to express the diversity and individuality from each character in “Modern Family” from Alex to Gloria. This line include 14 colors and will be launch in the US by January 2013.

5 MOST WANTED NAIL POLISH SHADES FROM …

Obviously, Chanel. 

Chanel just named its top five polishes of all time.

1. Chanel Vamp : Straight off a 1994 runway, worn by Uma Thurman in the movie Pulp Fiction and scored $1 million dollar sales in the first year alone. Need I say more?

2. Chanel Khaki Vert : Released in fall 2010, just in time for Fashion’s Night Out. 

3. Chanel Riva : Debuted on the Chanel Cruise 2010-2011 runway.

4. Chanel Black Pearl : Launched last year.

5. Chanel Particuliere : Very popular since it was launched in the winter of 2009.

As a nail polish addict, which one do you have? (I’m a proud owner of Black Pearl, btw)

OUT OF NAIL SPA IN A SNAP

Firstly introduced to a faster way to dry your nail polish in a zap by OPI through their marvelous Gelcolor, now I’m never coming back to ordinary nail polishes. 

The secret is in everything actually. Not just the UV lamp which will dry everything on each hand in 30 seconds, but also with special base coat, nail polish and top coat which are different than the ordinary ones. They’re specially made to suit the whole system, and it cost more.

I have to be honest, even though I’m not in a hurry, I don’t have the patience to wait until they dry. Most of the time, when I did basic manicure, my nail colors already chipped before I got out of the nail spa’s door, really. That’s why this gel nail manicure is like the answer to my prayer. The application steps are similar with the basic manicure, base coat, nail color and top coat. Until the UV lamp comes to the rescue. For every application from the base coat until top coat, we have to put our hands inside the UV lamp for them to dry. 

Here, I tried CND Shellac for the first time, which promised flawless color for 14 days. Ease of the nail polish with the permanence of gel, it supposed to stay shiny and less prone to chip. My choice of color: Red Baroness, deep metallic red. Even though I dig this gel nail color in the first place for its ability to dry faster, but I do love how they shine more glossy than ordinary nail polish. As for the chipped factor, I don’t really care if they stay on for two weeks, cause I never let my nail polish to stay that long on my nails. 

Every time I use gel color, I will go back to the nail spa to remove them completely, as they have this special trick. They will use the strongest acetone dipped on the cotton pad and wrapped each finger using aluminum foil. They will leave it to soak for 5 minutes or more and later peel the gel color from our nails. Seems easy, but I never tried this at home as I’m too lazy to do it myself. 

Tips: avoid to let your nail polish stay longer than 3 days, as it’ll make your nails look yellowish and dull.