Here we go, my first experiment with gel manicures π I have been putting off trying them out until I received a system to review. This is Red Carpet Manicure Must Haves kit, $44.29 at Lawtons.
The kit has all the essentials for a LED gel polish application, minus the LED lamp:
β Prep Max adhesion sanitizer (9ml/ 0.3oz)
β Structure base coat gel (9ml/ 0.3oz)
β Brilliance seal & shine top coat gel (9ml/ 0.3oz)
β Revitalize nourishing cuticle oil (9ml/ 0.3oz)
β Purify pre & post application cleanser (60ml/ 2oz), and
β Erase gel nail polish remover (60ml/ 2oz).
At this point, I realize that there are more products/ steps involved in doing a LED gel manicure to exchange for a longer lasting power, and patience is a must lol. I have to go to the lamp so many times to get all my 10 fingers done, so donβt start doing your mani at 10pm like I did the first time.
Application steps: use thin coats, curing each layer for 45 seconds with a LED light
β brush on Prep to clean nails. It dries lightning fast
β apply Structure to 4 nails (leave the thumb for last), cure. It is a lot thicker than a regular base coat, so cuticle flooding risk is high
β apply a LED gel polish (not part of the kit), cure, repeat for second coat
β apply Brilliance, cure. It is thinner than Structure, but still, use less than what you think you need
β remove tacky residue with Purify using a cotton pad.
Then thatβs it, the nails are dry and ready. No wait time, other than the wait during curing process. And no chipping in at least a week.
For removal:
β buff the nail surface to break the top coat seal
β saturate a cotton ball with Erase, wrap in aluminium foil on nails for 10-15 minutes
β unwrap, slide off cotton, gently scrape off remaining colour
β massage Revitalize into cuticles and nails.
This is another reason for me to do a gel mani, it takes a lot more to remove. I donβt normally opt for the foil method, even with glitters. It all comes down to your preference β long lasting mani vs. time π Stay tuned for the NOTDs I did with this kit.
I also received Red Carpet Manicure Crystal Gems in French Riviera with 600 Designer Austrian nail crystals and a picker, retails $9.99.
Gel polishes start out with just plain colours, so having these gems to bling up the mani is fun. I do prefer the glitters already mixed in with the polish, but I havenβt seen glittery gel polishes just yet, so these will do π Red Carpet Manicure does come out with shades with fine glitters, as you will see below.
Here are Red Carpet Manicure LED gel polish (on the left), from L-R: Black Stretch Limo, Midnight Affair and Best Dressed. Glitter gel nail polishes (on the right): I Canβt Believe It, Make Up Time and Perfect High Heels. Each bottle is $12.99.
 |
 |
Stay tuned to see these colours on the nails soon.