Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Sweet Tea

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Sweet Tea

2 coats

Isn't this a pretty Spring shade?

An innovative and award-winning development in nail color, Sally Hansen Miracle Gel™ is a two-step, no light gel manicure system; simply apply two coats of the Miracle Gel™ color of your choice, then follow with the Miracle Gel™ Top Coat. The polish is cured by natural light, so you can get the same volume and high gloss, mirror shine without the use of a UV lamp. Enjoy up to 14 days of color and shine, and then easily remove with regular nail polish remover – no soaking necessary! Sold in Duo Packs with top coat.

Price: $14.99 for the 2 step set, or $9.99 for individual colors

Super Bowl Spirit with Sally Hansen

It’s time to cheer on the 2017 Super Bowl Teams and with Sally Hansen’s nail color collections, you can show your team spirit instantly! Whether you are cheering for the New England Patriots or the Atlanta Falcons, Sally Hansen has the shades for you.

Atlanta Falcons fans, here are your shades! 

Complete Salon Manicure in Red My Lips ($7.99)

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel™ in Blacky O ($9.99)

An innovative and award-winning development in nail color, Sally Hansen Miracle Gel™ is a two-step, no light gel manicure system; simply apply two coats of the Miracle Gel™ color of your choice, then follow with the Miracle Gel™ Top Coat. The polish is cured by natural light, so you can get the same volume and high gloss, mirror shine without the use of a UV lamp. Enjoy up to 14 days of color and shine, and then easily remove with regular nail polish remover – no soaking necessary!

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Red My Lips

2 coats

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Blacky O

2 coats

New England Patriots, here are your shades!

Miracle Gel in Midnight Mod, Rock On and Redgy ($9.99) 

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Midnight Mod

2 coats (although this could be a one-coater!)

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Rock On

2 coats

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Redgy

2 coats

Product info:

Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure™ colors are formulated with a base coat, strengthener, growth treatment, color, top coat, chip-resistance, and a glossy gel-style finish. A flawless finish brush ensures an easy, smooth, streak-free application for a salon quality manicure. The result: color that lasts for up to ten days. 

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel™ is a two-step, no light gel manicure system; simply apply two coats of the Miracle Gel™ color of your choice, then follow with the Miracle Gel™ Top Coat. The polish is cured by natural light, so you can get the same volume and high gloss, mirror shine without the use of a UV lamp. Enjoy up to 14 days of color and shine, and then easily remove with regular nail polish remover – no soaking necessary!

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Ba-Bloom

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Ba-Bloom

2 coats

I love love love this shade! Look at that gorgeous gold shimmer! They describe it as "shimmer-infused bright coral" and I think that's very fitting. 

FLORAL FABULOUS: INTRODUCING THE LIMITED EDITION

SALLY HANSEN MIRACLE GEL™ “SECRET GARDEN” COLLECTION

Embrace the power of the flower with new botanically beautiful shades available in Miracle Gel™ duo packs for Summer 2016.

Cultivate your collection with nature’s most vivid hues! This season, the prettiest finishing touch to your summer wardrobe is a posy-pretty manicure you can do at home. Sally Hansen Miracle Gel™ is the revolutionary #1 zero light gel system that is more chip-resistant than regular nail polish – the next best thing to a salon gel manicure! Keep nails abloom with these six fresh-from-the-garden hues, including three new limited edition summer-ready shades. Each shade is accompanied by our Miracle Gel™ Top Coat in a duo pack for 2X the volume.

How to Use: An innovative development in nail color, Sally Hansen Miracle Gel™ is a two-step, no light gel manicure system; simply apply the Miracle Gel™ color of your choice, then follow with the Miracle Gel™ Top Coat for volume and high gloss, mirror shine. The polish is cured by natural light, so there's no need for a UV or LED lamp. Enjoy up to 14 days of color and shine, and then easily remove with regular nail polish remover – no soaking necessary!

Price & Availability: The Sally Hansen Miracle Gel™ “Secret Garden” Collection will be available at drugstores nationwide beginning July 2016 for $14.99 per duo pack. 

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Freesia Your Mind

 Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Freesia Your Mind

2 coats

Isn't this a gorgeous summer pink? They describe it as " lush, berry pink" and I think that's very fitting. This was almost a one-coater. I added a second, but I really don't think I needed to.

FLORAL FABULOUS: INTRODUCING THE LIMITED EDITION

SALLY HANSEN MIRACLE GEL™ “SECRET GARDEN” COLLECTION

Embrace the power of the flower with new botanically beautiful shades available in Miracle Gel™ duo packs for Summer 2016.

Cultivate your collection with nature’s most vivid hues! This season, the prettiest finishing touch to your summer wardrobe is a posy-pretty manicure you can do at home. Sally Hansen Miracle Gel™ is the revolutionary #1 zero light gel system that is more chip-resistant than regular nail polish – the next best thing to a salon gel manicure! Keep nails abloom with these six fresh-from-the-garden hues, including three new limited edition summer-ready shades. Each shade is accompanied by our Miracle Gel™ Top Coat in a duo pack for 2X the volume.

How to Use: An innovative development in nail color, Sally Hansen Miracle Gel™ is a two-step, no light gel manicure system; simply apply the Miracle Gel™ color of your choice, then follow with the Miracle Gel™ Top Coat for volume and high gloss, mirror shine. The polish is cured by natural light, so there's no need for a UV or LED lamp. Enjoy up to 14 days of color and shine, and then easily remove with regular nail polish remover – no soaking necessary!

Price & Availability: The Sally Hansen Miracle Gel™ “Secret Garden” Collection will be available at drugstores nationwide beginning July 2016 for $14.99 per duo pack. 

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Rhythm & Blue (with reformulated Miracle Gel Top Coat!)

 Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Rhythm & Blue

 

Sally Hansen recently reformulated their Miracle Gel Top Coat and today I tried a third shade with the new top coat.  This shade, which they describe as a color that "mirrors the hue of a bright blue sky" is gorgeous and I got perfect opaque coverage in two coats. I just can't gush enough about how great the reformulated top coat is. If you tried the old formula and weren't impressed, definitely give this one a try!

 

Here is what they say about the new formula top coat:
 

When partnered with the Miracle Gel™ shades, Miracle Gel™ Top Coat volumizes as it protects. The Top Coat formula delivers 2x the volume to your manicure - creating dramatically fuller-looking nails with a high-gloss, mirror shine finish. 

The result: the look of a gel manicure at home, without the trip to a salon! Miracle Gel's simple application takes just two steps. First, apply two thin coats of Miracle Gel™ color to clean, bare nails. Then, apply one coat of the new Miracle Gel™ Top Coat. Natural light does the rest, creating a manicure that resembles a UV / LED cured gel polish and up to 14 days of color and shine. The next best thing to a salon gel manicure, without using an UV / LED light AND removes easily with regular nail polish remover.

 

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Blue Hue (with reformulated Miracle Gel Top Coat!)

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Blue Hue

 

Sally Hansen recently reformulated their Miracle Gel Top Coat and when I tried it last week I was so impressed! Today I used it again with Blue Hue, which is one of the shades available in a duo pack that pairs the Miracle Gel top coat with a color for approximately $15. Such a pretty shade and I got perfect opaque coverage in two coats.

 

Here is what they say about the new formula top coat:
 

When partnered with the Miracle Gel™ shades, Miracle Gel™ Top Coat volumizes as it protects. The Top Coat formula delivers 2x the volume to your manicure - creating dramatically fuller-looking nails with a high-gloss, mirror shine finish. 

The result: the look of a gel manicure at home, without the trip to a salon! Miracle Gel's simple application takes just two steps. First, apply two thin coats of Miracle Gel™ color to clean, bare nails. Then, apply one coat of the new Miracle Gel™ Top Coat. Natural light does the rest, creating a manicure that resembles a UV / LED cured gel polish and up to 14 days of color and shine. The next best thing to a salon gel manicure, without using an UV / LED light AND removes easily with regular nail polish remover.

 

Wear Test: Reformulated Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Beatnik

from the Boho Chic Collection
Day 7

 

The above pic is after 6 full days of wear!!!!!!!!!! I am SO IMPRESSED that I am using SHOUTY CAPITALS! And lots of !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Seriously, look at that... slight tipwear, but absolutely no chips in sight. I took if off only because my nail polish ADD kicked in and I just had to wear a new shade. This reformulated Miracle Gel Top Coat is SO much better than their first try. #spreadthenews #yaysally

 

 

Fresh Mani                                    6 days of wear

 

 

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Beatnik

 Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Beatnik

from the Boho Chic Collection

 

Sally Hansen reformulated their Miracle Gel Top Coat and released several new shades to go with it. I was excited to give it a try since I didn't have very good luck with the original formula top coat. My main concern was that the finish wasn't very glossy, and I'm excited to say that problem seems to have been corrected! The finish I got using the reformulated top coat was very shiny, as you can see above.

 

Here is what they say about the new formula:

When partnered with the Miracle Gel™ shades, Miracle Gel™ Top Coat volumizes as it protects. The Top Coat formula delivers 2x the volume to your manicure - creating dramatically fuller-looking nails with a high-gloss, mirror shine finish. 

 

The result: the look of a gel manicure at home, without the trip to a salon! Miracle Gel's simple application takes just two steps. First, apply two thin coats of Miracle Gel™ color to clean, bare nails. Then, apply one coat of the new Miracle Gel™ Top Coat. Natural light does the rest, creating a manicure that resembles a UV / LED cured gel polish and up to 14 days of color and shine. The next best thing to a salon gel manicure, without using an UV / LED light AND removes easily with regular nail polish remover.

  

I am so impressed already! I also feel like it dried quite fast. I am looking forward to testing it out and seeing what type of wear it delivers.

 

 

Avon Gel Finish Roses Are Red: 7 Day Wear Test

Avon Gel Finish Roses Are Red

(2 coats)
picture taken after 1 week of wear

 

left: fresh mani                           right: after 1 week of wear

 

I'm pretty impressed with Avon Gel Finish! It's been a full week, and although there is some tipwear, the finish is still nice and shiny and I actually haven't felt the need to take it off until now.  Avon doesn't promise a specific wear time, but The Daily Varnish had great luck with it and she wore one shade for 7 days with great results too.

 

To review, although it promises to act as a basecoat as well as a topcoat, I went ahead and used my normal combo of NailTek Intensive Therapy II as my basecoat and NYC Grand Central Station as my topcoat. Two coats gave me great coverage, a bit jelly-like, but still opaque in my opinion.

Since this has a super-reasonable price (right now it's $5) and paired well my with normal base and topcoats, I definitely recommend this line. To have the finish look so great after a full week is pretty amazing!
 



OPI Infinite Shine system: Wear test report

5 full days of wear

OPI Infinite Shine system in Girl Without Limits

primer, 2 coats of color, gloss topcoat

 

The pic above is after 5 full days of wear and I'm pretty impressed with how it looks. I could have probably worn it for at least another day or two, but my ADD kicked in and I had to take it off and do a new mani. It was still shiny, and I had what I would consider minimal tip wear.

 

But..... would I recommend paying the premium price of $12.50 per step for this system? No, I don't think I would. In addition, I didn't feel like the topcoat behaved as well as the quick-dry topcoat I am used to using. I painted my right hand just before bed and went to sleep about 30 minutes later and had some sheet marks the next morning.

 

Two other home no-light gel systems that I also liked that are more reasonably priced are L'Oreal Extraordinaire Gel-Lacque ($13 for box with base and topcoat bottles together, $8 for color) and the Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy ($8 for each of the three steps). My recommendation would be to skip OPI Infinite Shine and go with either of those.

 

 

OPI Infinite Shine system in Girl Without Limits

OPI Infinite Shine system in Girl Without Limits

primer, 2 coats of color, gloss topcoat

 

OPI has launched a no-light gel polish so of course I had to give it a try. Each part of the system retails for $12.50. The primer reminded me of Orly Bonder.  I found the color to give good coverage in 2 coats. It flowed easily and evenly. The gloss topcoat did seem to dry pretty quickly to the touch, but I went to bed about 30 minutes after a I painted my right hand and got some smudge marks, which I don't normally get when I use NYC Grand Central Station as my topcoat.

 

I'm currently testing out the wear to see how it compares to regular polish. Stayed tuned!

Wear Test: Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy

Fresh swatch pic:

mani done Thursday night before bed, 

pic taken Friday morning

Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy in Pocket Aces

2 coats topped with ColorStay Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat

Day 6, with 5 full days of wear:
pic taken Tuesday afternoon

note: one small chip, but virtually NO tipwear!

Verdict:

I believe the one chip I got was due to the two days we spent at the local water park and all the sunscreening I did. There is not even a hint of a chip on any of my other 9 nails. And the fact that there is no tipwear is amazing! I can't wait to try other colors in this system.

Have you tried this system yet? Both the colors and topcoat in the ColorStay Gel Envy line retail for approximately $8.

Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy in Pocket Aces

Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy in Pocket Aces

2 coats topped with ColorStay Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat

 



Create salon-quality color in 30 vibrant shades with our revolutionary 2-step system. Brush on the base + color in one, and then finish with the protective ColorStay Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat™ for superior strength. Together, they create vivid color, brilliant shine and gorgeous life-resistant wear.

I am LOVING this line! I am now on day 4 and this mani still looks perfect! I hope to take some pics tomorrow to show the progress. As far as home no-light gel polish goes, this is a front runner for me, along with the L'Oreal Extraordinaire Gel-Lacque system. In last place are CND Vinylux and the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel.

Both the colors and topcoat in the ColorStay Gel Envy line retail for approximately $8, but I was able to purchase a color and topcoat at Walgreens during a BOGO 50% off, and I also used two $3 coupons, so I got a fabulous deal.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Redgy

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Redgy

 

 

 

I really really really wanted to like this system! I love me some Sally, but sadly, I think this is a major fail, for some reasons I'll detail below.

 

Some facts: There are sets that have both the color and topcoat that retail for about $15. You can also buy the colors and topcoat separately for less than $10 each. I went ahead and bought a set that included the color Redgy and the topcoat. I purchased mine at CVS, but have also seen it locally at both Walgreens and Walmart.

 

Sally Hansen claims: "The ONLY TRUE 2-STEP GEL MANICURE with no light needed." and promises up to 14 days of color and shine.

 

First, let me say I love the color, but the name spelling makes me stabby.

 

Second, I have tried this three ways and I still can't get a shiny finish. It's very very full of brush-strokes from the topcoat. It did seem to dry pretty quickly, as if I had used a QDTC.

 

I first tried it using NailTek II as a basecoat, since my nails seem to do much better when I use this regularly. I was displeased with the non-shiny, brush-stroke finish, and I suspected my basecoat might have been the problem, so I re-did my left hand the next day without a basecoat. Same problem. Then I even tried the base color without the Miracle Gel topcoat and just used my normal topcoat, NYC Grand Central Station, on one finger. And I still don't like the finish!

 

The wear seems OK..... My right hand is on day 4 and there is quite a bit of tipwear, but the finish is driving me crazy. My left hand, which is on day 3 looks a bit better, but still not up to par for a normal mani for me. I had MUCH better luck with the L'Oreal Extraordinaire Gel-Lacque system.

 



Wear Test: L'Oreal Extraordinaire Gel-Lacque

Fresh swatch pic:

mani done Tuesday night before bed, 

pic taken Wednesday afternoon

L'Oreal Extraordinaire Gel-Lacque in Lacqueriste

2 coats
(used all three steps in the system)


Day 5, with 4 full days of wear:
pic taken Saturday afternoon

note: no chipping! (unlike CND Vinylux)

Verdict:

I am *so pleased* with the L'Oreal Extraordinaire Gel-Lacque system! For my nails to still look this good with a non-cured mani on Day 5..... amazing! Although there is some tip wear, the fact that there are no chips makes this a clear winner over my wear test of CND Vinylux.

Have you tried this system yet? I definitely plan on picking up another color to try.