I LOVE painted nails, but I HATE chipped polish. Because of my job, my hands are in pictures all the time so my nails need to look prefect. Regular nail polish had never failed me ... until I had professional gel nails applied. After having weeks with no chipping, it made regular nail polish just not worth the trouble.

When Sally Hansen released their Salon Pro Gel Polish that promised no chips for 14 days, I was intrigued.

Verdict: I love this product. It's one of my favorite beauty finds.

Pros

There are other at home gel kits on the market, but here are my reason I prefer this one.

It's very easy to use and the color lasts.

As soon as the color is cured, your nails are done. No smudging!!!

This product is sold in almost every store so it's readily available (Target, CVS, Ulta, etc.). Budget tip-Some of these stores have 20% off coupons which are perfect for items like these.

It uses an LED light, which is safer for the skin, instead of a UV light to cure the polish.

These do not weaken my nails like I feel some of the professional gel polishes have.

100% Acetone is all that's needed to remove the polish. These must be removed properly, see how here. *See Tips.

99% Alcohol soaked wipes are what's in the packets you use before and after applying the polish. *See Tips

Cons

The range of colors are a bit limited. Assuming this product does well in the market, I'm hoping they will expand the color range.

I've found my right hand (the dominant one) does tend to chip a bit quicker than my left hand.

The LED light has a preset 30 second timer to cure the polish, but each nail really needs a 60-90 second cure time. **See Tips

Tips

*Some of the other at home gel polishes have specialty removers made only by their brand. Sally Hansen does sell prepackaged 99% Alcohol wipes and small bottles of acetone, but if you're budget savvy just purchase the CVS or Target brand of Acetone found on the bottom shelf with the nail polish removers. 99% Alcohol is a medical grade alcohol that can some times be found in the pharmacy or can be purchased from one of the make up supply houses in larger cities (West Coast peeps - Frends, Nigel's; East Coast peeps - Alcone)

**Cure the polish for the first 30 seconds with the light shining directly on the nails. For the next 30-60 seconds, rock the fingers/hand slightly side to side so the light will shine on the edges of the polish and fully cure. Do this with all 3 steps.

Have you ever tried gel nails either at home or professionally applied?

Jamie

Spring is in the air and that was very apparent tonight on the Academy Award's red carpet! This awards show never disappoints with all the glamour and the fashion. There seemed to be a light, freshness in all the beauties that graced the red carpet as neutrals and pastels were the color du jour. Subtle plums created sweet, but statement making smokey eyes; while nude lips provided a lovely complement to their overall look for Jennifer Lawrence and Jennifer Garner.

Their ashen grey smokey eyes, though light in color never lacked any drama for both Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. Both ladies kept the skin youthful and fresh with hints of pink on their cheeks and lips.

Continuing with the neutral trend, but adding her own flair to it, was the lovely Jessica Chastain. She was my favorite of the evening oozing old Hollywood glamour with her make up, hair and dress. The eyes were kept very simple with a shimmery nude eyeshadow on the eyelid, a warm, but very faint contour in the crease and a clean but dramatic black eyeliner on the upper eyelid only. Her skin was flawless and her cheeks had a soft pink glow. The finishing touch to complete her look was a perfectly, classic red lip.