Mani Review - Sally Hansen Miracle Gel

As a die hard nail polish girl, it may be hard to believe but I never jumped on the gel manicure bandwagon. I didn't even consider it as a wedding option. Back in the 90's I tried artificial nails. The process destroyed my nails and made them thin, lifeless and they peeled. I worked hard to get them back to a healthy state. I shunned getting a gel manicure for this reason and also the fact that I get bored with my nail polish color and like to change it often. Sometimes however, I need my polish to last through the work week. Several polish companies have released at home gel manicure sets but you still needed a light and they were difficult to remove. I wasn't on board yet. Then Revlon and Sally Hansen released no light gel manicure lines. You all know I'm a huge fan of Revlon. I decided to try the Sally Hansen version, since it was getting rave reviews.

I chose Camo Queen, I loved the idea of a light olive green polish and it was a perfect neutral for me. I got great coverage in just two coats. I could have gone with one but I always apply thin coats to speed the drying process. This was a late night polish job and I was worried I'd made a huge mistake. You know those times when you do a late night polish job and wake up with sheet marks on your freshly painted nails? Yep, that's usually me. Well, it didn't happen this time! The Sally Hansen Miracle Gel dried incredibly fast. It was still a little tacky when I went to bed. I was worried. The photo above is the next morning and it looked great. Now the real test. How long would it last?

Day 7 - My first chip.

Day 8 - Left hand

Day 8 - Right Hand

 I tried to wait as long as possible. I got my first chip on day 7. Then I did the dishes. For me that's the real test. I'm not big on wearing gloves to do dishes. I threw caution to the wind. The results are above. I have to say though, a week isn't bad. A manicure that lasts a week is a win. I'm betting it might have lasted even longer if I had added a coat of clear polish mid week but I wanted to give it a full and honest test.

The polish is on the more expensive side of drugstore polish ($8.99 per bottle and the drugstores near me). You can find combo packs that contain one bottle of polish (in a color) and one bottle of top coat for about $15.99. It's a bargain compared to the cost of a salon gel manicure. Plus, it won't destroy your nails and you can remove it with regular nail polish remover. Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polish comes in 47 shades. I think it's great and will be trying some other colors. My next trial will be testing out regular polish with the Miracle Gel top coat. Stay tuned.


Note: The opinions in this post are my own. I was not provided any compensation or product by Sally Hansen. I purchased these products to test them out and share my results with all of you.

I'm Obsessed Thank You Very Much - Rose Gold

I've found myself reaching for my few rose gold pieces often. I'm loving that they mix so well with silver or gold. The pretty pink color is so warm and summery and you know how I love metallics. I have found myself wanting a few more rose gold items to add to my collection.

Click on the items above for buying information.

I saw these fantastic Ray-Ban aviators on some fellow bloggers. Then I lucked out and found them on amazon. They were a great price and I love them. It's hard to tell but they have the most amazing rose gold mirror lenses (even though they are called Copper Flash). The rose gold Stella and Dot Renegade bracelet has been on my must list for a while. I'd love to get a rose gold monogram necklace. This Rebecca Minkoff cross body bag would be a fun addition to my summer wardrobe. Essie polish in Penny Talk is a fun metallic to add to your collection. Just be sure to use a ridge filling base coat because the metallic finish shows every ridge and flaw. I love the geometric shapes of these rings. This belt would look so pretty on a white dress. You know my obsession with oxfords. These by Cole Haan would be a perfect addition to my collection. The Manolos are a pipe dream but I love them. The flat sandals are a pretty and more realistic option.

Do you love rose gold as much as I do?

Insta Monday - Spring Is In The Air

I am without a doubt, a warm weather girl. It's thrilling to see the sun shining, wear open toe shoes and drive with the sun roof open. This weekend was a busy one and I spent more time with family and friends than doing blog posts for the week. I love Instagram but sometimes you want to say more than is possible in the short post. I thought I'd elaborate on a few of my recent photos.



From Top Left (clockwise)

• Blooming Cherry Trees - The area is full of blooming cherry trees (similar to the ones surrounding this National Mall). They signal the start of spring and their pretty pink blossoms always make me happy.

• DIY Distressed Jeans - I created my first pair of distressed jeans (like these expensive ones) recently and I love how they turned out. I am hunting for a few thrift stores pairs to add to my distressed jeans arsenal. I'm planning a DIY post soon.

• Coffee Table Decorations - The tray has been repainted again (you've seen it here in silver). I'm loving it in gold. The candy dish is Depression glass that belonged to my Aunt Em. She used it to hold homemade jam. The pretty roses are from my friends' garden.

• Baseball Game - We received a last minute invite from my sister to attend Friday night's Nationals game. We had a blast, the team won, and we got our faces up on the jumbotron!

• New Polish - This pretty neutral polish (Zoya Rue) was in the People VIP Beauty box I received last week from People Magazine and Klout. It's a fantastic color. I also got a free three month subscription to People Magazine. If you'd like your own subscription, click this link for a great deal.

• New Sunnies from Nectar - I received some new sunnies complements of Nectar sunglasses. I love them. Besides being stylish and mirrored (hot trend that I love) they are super comfortable and affordable. I will be doing a review post soon. In the meantime, if you'd like to check out the sunnies and get a 10% discount on your order, click this link and use the code: lovenectar

To see all of my Instagram photos, be sure to follow me on Instagram and Twitter. My handle on both is @realgirlrunway. Thank you so much for supporting the businesses that believe in and support Real Girl Runway. Show them some love by considering purchases from their businesses.

Frugal Fashion Friday - Great Goodwill Finds

My love for Goodwill shopping is nothing short of legendary. I find all sorts of great items that I wear often and I also manage to buy the starters of awesome DIY projects. All for great prices. Case in point, the black sunglasses I used for my latest DIY. I've been lusting after a pair of pink sunglasses for some time now. When I saw these pink, sparkly sunglasses by Quay, I thought of the black pair I'd snagged at Goodwill last year. I knew I had to recreate them.

My sunglasses transformed by nail polish have turned out great before. I thought I'd try the same treatment for a pair of pink sunnies.

SUPPLIES

Sunglasses                                           $3 (Goodwill find)

Pink nail polish                                    $1 Full bottle $2 (already owned)

Clear nail polish                                   50 cents  Full bottle $3 (already owned)

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TOTAL $4.50 (with tons of polish left over)

I painted  four coats of pink polish. I wanted the finish to be an opaque pink and very thick. Then I added two coats of clear.

Here they are, the finished product!

They will definitely be in heavy summer rotation.

It's more than funny that I'd planned this post today. I  combined a Goodwill find in one of my outfits and I posted it to Instagram and tweeted about it. Unbeknownst to me, my friend the DC Goodwill Fashionista, featured my outfit in her blog today! The blue Talbots silk blouse is one of my favorites and I snagged it at Goodwill for less than $5!! It's a great weekend to hit up your local Goodwill or other thrift store and score some great buys.

 

Happy Friday Real Girls!

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White Polish - Plain or Art?

White nail polish is a hot trend right now. Frankly, I'm not sure if I like it or not. I'm planning a little mani tonight to try out the trend but I thought I'd get your input.  Do you like your white polish, plain, with art, or not at all? Here are some designs for thought.



Click the photos abover for more details.

 

I thought I'd try plain first and then go for a few other options.  I'd love to add glitter, or a simple design or work using my trusty Sharpies. I coulsd also try out some fun designs using my new dotting tools or striping tape.

What do you think I should try first?

Blue and Gray with some 4th

This week we celebrate the 237th birthday of our country.  In the midst of all of the hot dogs, beer, potato salad, fireworks and fun, many times we forget what we are truly celebrating. The freedoms we enjoy in the United States were won by people who sacrificed so much and also by those who continue to sacrifice. This week also marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. The Civil War was a dark time in American history. I grew up in the south and my mom and lots of my family live very close to Appomattox, Virginia.  I was raised on Civil War stories. If the war had ended differently, we would not be living in the same country we live in today. We would likely not be living in the United States of America.  During this week, I will pause to think of those who built our country. Those who fought hard to give us all the life and freedom we enjoy today. Now enough of a history lesson and onto a little fashion in the form of a manicure.

essie Stroke of Brilliance, Maybelline Color Show Audacious Asphalt

I wore this version over the weekend and early in the work week.

Using my Martha Stewart glue pen, I drew two lines on my ring finger nails.

Then I sprinkled the nails with red glitter, cleaned up each nail and added a top coat.

The finished mani for my 4th of July fun.

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DIY - Black and Gold Sunnies (nail polish diy #2)

Last year I did a little DIY sunglasses post using nail polish.  It's one of my most popular posts to date. After lots of requests, here is nail polish sunnies DIY, number two.  I spied these sunglasses and knew they were just begging for a DIY. I found a pair of black, plastic sunglasses and grabbed my gold nail polish.

photo credit: eatsleepwear

SUPPLIES

Sunglasses $9.99

Gold nail polish $.50 Full bottle $3 (already owned)

Clear nail polish $.50 Full bottle $5 (on sale but already owned)

Nail polish remover

Cotton swab

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TOTAL $10.99 (with tons of polish left over)

Kenneth Cole Sunglasses       $90

SAVED $79.01!!

I've searched high and low and can't find the inspiration sunglasses anywhere.  Kenneth Cole sunglasses average about $90 a pair.  With a little nail polish and about an hour of your time, you can create your own!

I started by taping off the frame with blue painter's tape.  You could use any type of tape that you have, as long as it's not super sticky. I think painter's tape is best because it doesn't leave any residue.  After taping off the frame, I wiped the area I wanted to paint with a cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover.  This helps the polish to adhere better. Then I started painting.

I applied three very thin coats, using Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear polish in Golden-I. It has a great metallic sheen without being glittery.  Once I was happy with the coverage of the gold polish and it was dry to the touch, I painted two coats of clear polish and removed the tape.

I'm very happy with the result. My DIY sunnies look very similar to the higher end pair and they will definitely be coming with me on my beach trip next week.



inside shot



full sun shot (lipstick - Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in Shocking Coral, Necklace - Target no longer available)

Sheer Pink and Gold Manicure

My DIY post last week was a little preview of my upcoming mani.  I've been dying to try striping tape. I found a striping tape and dotting tool bundle through Amazon and took the plunge.  It wasn't much of a risk since the entire kit cost less than $3.50, including shipping!  It arrived yesterday and I had to try it right away.

Laying down the striping tape was a little awkward and tricky.  I had to get {msL} to help me cut it to fit my nails.  Next time, I think I will use a flat blade cutting tool that will make it easier to cut the tape myself.  The first few nails took forever. Then I got the hang of it.

My base coat is essie Mademoiselle. It's a very pale, sheer, pink.  It was the perfect base for my gold french manicure.  I wanted simple and pretty.  After the base coat dried, I cut a small strip of tape and applied it to my nail, then trimmed it to size.  I did this for each nail.  After pressing the tape down to make sure the seal was tight, I applied two coats of top coat.

There will be other striping tape manicures coming.  I have lots of ideas and colors.

DIY - Upcoming Plans

Now that I'm not immersed in wedding planning, I have time again for DIY projects. I'm so glad. I've missed them. The projects are my time to destress.  Plus, when I'm finished, I have a great item to wear, use or in this case, eat.

 

1)  Blinged Out Headphones - My company just remodeled our offices and we now have an open floor plan.  I purchased these plain, white, headphones to lessen the noise and I'm planning to decorate them with flat back rhinestones.

2) Homemade Thin Mints - I found this recipe for homemade Thin Mints on Pinterest. They are {msL's} favorites and you only need two ingredients!

3) Nail Art - I snagged this kit that contains dotting tools and striping tape for less than $5.  I can't wait to try out some new nail designs. Like this one.

4) Glitter Nails - I want to try out this manicure with nude polish and essie luxeffects in Stroke of Brilliance. I think the nude and blue combination will be fantastic.

5) iPhone Case - Even though this case is fancy, it lends itself to so many things. I'm planning to cut pieces of paper or wallpaper to place behind the filigree cover.  It will jazz up the amazing cover even more.

Do you have any plans for upcoming DIY projects?

Racing Stripe Manicure - Using a Sharpie

A few months ago I discovered a fun new way to add art to my nails...metallic Sharpies! I've done a few different manicures using my metallic Sharpies. I just pick a solid base, I prefer creamy colors, instead of frosted colors but I am going to try lots of options.

I chose L'Oreal Paris, Not a Cloud In the Sky as my base. The pretty aqua color is perfect for spring. Then I grabbed my silver Sharpie. I also have a gold and a bronze version.  The gold would have been great too. I snagged my Sharpies at Target in a 3 pack, one with each color.

The reason I love using a Sharpie instead of polish to create art, is the F#@! factor.  If you screw up and say F#@!, all you need to do is wipe your nail with alcohol and start over. You don't have to repaint your base color!

I decided to only do one nail this time.  I wanted racing stripes and I had a few extra cups of coffee, so my hands weren't as steady as they should be.  Two tiny stripes on my ring finger completed the look. I added top coat and I was finished.

 

As you can see the ridge in my nail, creates a bit of a wave but I still like the effect.  I've also done bronze hearts on a nude nail and gold dots on navy nails. The possibilities are endless. 

Frugal Fashion Friday - Holographic Trend

Maybe it's the 80's child in me but ever since I spied a pair of holographic sandals, I knew I'd add them to my spring/summer wardrobe. For a one season trend like this one, there is no reason to spend a fortune. I found these cute items for a steal, including a great pair of wedge sandals.

Click the picture above for buying information.

Do you like the holographic trend?

I'm Obsessed Thank You Very Much - Navy Nails

Even though spring is trying to come around (not working so well in DC, it's 25 degrees tonight). I can't help but keep thinking about navy nail polish. I'm not sure why I'm stuck on it except that it's a prettier cousin to a standard black mani. Besides, navy goes with almost everything.  I stripped off my sad, chipping polish and my nails are bare right now.  Hopefully I'll have time for a manicure, in the next day or two. Navy is on the bill. I'm sure I won't be satisfied with just plain navy polish.



Click photos for sources.

Navy polish isn't very forgiving, so precision is key.  The blogger ladies and the photos on Pinterest make it look easy. There are tricks of the trade.  My all time favorite nail polish/manicure guru, Jennifer of Fab Fatale posted this great tutorial last year.  Be sure to check it out and while you're at it, check out her blog.





Check out my other "I'm Obsessed" posts here, including the very first post and the explanation of the title.

DIY - Some of my favorites

I've spent the last few days getting things ready for our big wedding DIY weekend. I realized late last night that I didn't have a blog post for today.  Instead of not posting, I decided to give you all a post showing you some of my personal favorite DIY projects. 

Chain Detail Jacket - I love that just some craft store chain can elevate a jacket.  It was one of my early DIY projects and one of my favorites. I wear this jacket often.

Duck Tape Clutch - The reason I love this DIY is because you can use any color or style of duct tape you like.  You can make it your own.

Rock Lyric Tee - Inexpensive t-shirt, stick on letters, spray paint, and your favorite rock lyric are all you need to create this t-shirt. It's a fun and cool addition to your casual wardrobe.

Silver Oxfords - If you have a pair of old oxfords or can grab a pair at the thrift store, you can create these shoes in just a few hours. I used silver but you could use any color you like. Neon pink would be fantastic.

Minty Shades - Nail polish as paint? Yes! The mint green polish elevated these shades from boring to wow and this entire project was finished in about an hour.

Safety Pin Necklace - I love DIY because I can create a designer style necklace for $900 less than the original.  Maybe it's my life long love of punk rock looks but safety pins as jewelry are fantastic.

Metallic Skull - Home decor DIYs are the best.  I get bored easily and love changing up the accents in our home.  A $1 plastic Halloween skull becomes a cool home accent with a little spray paint.

I hope these favorites of mine inspire you to get creative.  I'd love to hear about any projects you create.

DIY - Painted Rhinestone Necklace

My house is full of DIY this week.  I'm feeling very creative. We're doing tons of DIY for our wedding. This weekend we are planning a big DIY weekend. My mom is coming to town and we'll be hard at work on lots of wedding projects. Over the weekend I stopped by Forever 21 to check out their rhinestone necklaces.  I've been itching to create a painted rhinestone necklace for a long time.  I love using nail polish as paint on DIY projects. Like on these sunglasses. Nail polish has a built in brush and I have a ton of colors at my disposal (nail polish obsession issue). 

The beauty of this DIY is the cost and how easy it is to make.  Spending a ton on a necklace was out of the question and F21 is the place for inexpensive jewelry.  I found two great necklaces and decided to go with the chunkier of the two for this DIY. Then I got to work with the nail polish.


SUPPLIES
Rhinestone Necklace - Forever 21 $8.80
Nail Polish (colors) - I chose two colors (hot pink and blue)
Nail Polish (clear) - used for sealing the necklace

My apologies for this awful photo.  This is what happens when you only take one picture and don't check your results.  I painted a thin coat on each rhinestone.  Then I went back and did a second coat.

After the second coat of colored polish dried, I painted each of the stones with clear polish.  This works as a sealant, just like on your nails. Then I let my necklace dry overnight.

I know I will be wearing this beauty often.  Forever 21 might be getting another visit.  I want to DIY a necklace in every color imaginable. If you love to read about DIY projects but you'd rather buy it already made, check out this affordable version from Forever 21 (in two color combos).

Holographic Polish Manicure

The day after my birthday I opened to mailbox to find a package. In the package was Layla Hologram Effects nail polish in Purple Illusion and a Layla file.  It was sent from sneekpeeq.com (a new social shopping site).  There was a sweet note inside but the person who sent the gift didn't sign the card so I can't even thank them for the gift.  Thank you, whoever you are. I was thrilled because you know how much I love to try new nail polish.  I'd seen and read about holographic polish but I hadn't tried it myself.

This polish instructs you not to use a base coat.  You use the accompanying file to smooth the ridges on your nail and buff them. I followed the instructions but decided to add a top coat for longer wear.

taken with a flash

The effect was fantastic.  I couldn't stop staring at my nails.  I loved the way they looked in the light and that they look like they are painted with average polish at first glance.  Then you see the cool light reflection.

taken in direct sun

Even in low light they looked great.  By the time I got to work the next morning, I already had a chip!  I was less than pleased.  I love painting my nails but I want my manis to last at least a day.  By the time I got home that night three of my nails were bare.  The polish popped off completely!  Because I wasn't using a base coat, I made sure my nails were clean and free of any oils or residue.  Buffing my nails with the file made the polish look great but also kept if from sticking. I decided to try again using a base coat. 

with a base coat

The polish over the base coat was very streaky and didn't stick well.  I had to use three coats to get solid coverage.  As you can see in the photo above, the holographic effect isn't nearly as brilliant.  The polish has lasted almost a week and still looks good but not as pretty.  I've read that using Orly Bonder base coast works pretty well with this polish. Most of the nail polish blogs recommend an aqua base coat like Make Up Store Aquafix or   Nfu Oh Aqua Base. Since the aqua bases aren't available in stores, I may try Orly Bonder first.  I love this polish and want it to last. 

Glitter is My Favorite Color

I might have mentioned my ridiculous collection of nail polish.  I'm trying hard to limit buying new polish and use new combos of polish I already own.  I pinned this nail polish combo from The Nailasaurus on my Pinterest board titled "Nail It!".  Be sure to check out Sammy's amazing polish combos.

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Party of 5 Glitters - The Nailasaurus

I have several gray polishes in my collection and decided to go with Maybelline Color Show Audacious Asphalt. It's not as dark as the polish that Sammy used but it's just a pretty.  Instead of just doing glitter tips, I did an all over glitter using Wet n Wild Spoiled in Trust Fund Baby.

Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer, Audacious Asphalt - CVS pharmacy / Spoiled Nail Color Trust Fund Baby - CVS pharmacy

I love the way the mani turned out.  But I realized two things as I was posting this photo.  My cuticles need serious attention and I am in desperate need of a new eye glasses prescription immediately.  It's hard to pay attention to your cuticles if you can't see them. The gray and glitter combo works and I'm sure I'll be trying it again with other colors.  It was fun to wear to a holiday party on Saturday.

Are you doing extra fun polish combos for the Holidays?

Needing Some Sparkle

With a few exceptions (down trees, limbs, debris, power outages and a little flooding), most of us in the DC area weathered Sandy pretty well.  My thoughts are with my friends and family in the New York and New Jersey areas hardest hit by the storm.  I know this is a difficult time for all of you. Our pre-storm prep of tying down our deck furniture and bringing things into the garage gave me some peace of mind. Due to my job, I didn't even get a day off to do fun crafts or projects. On Monday night I took some Me time and did a mani and read a fashion magazine. Sparkle was in order due to the dreary weather.

I decided on a sparkly french mani.  I used one coat of essie ballet slippers as my base and then added essie luxeffects in a cut above for the tips and accent nail. I finished with two coats of top coat.  I used Revlon Colorstay base coat and top coat.

I love the sheer pink, almost bare nails with the sparkly pink tips.  The accent nail is just an added bonus. This mani definitely brightened my day and it was so easy to do.  No taping required. The jagged edge of the glitter gives it a pretty randomness.

If you were affected by Sandy, what did you do to make yourself smile?