Day three of my sensationail mani

So far so good. Product doesn't chip doesn't scratch I'm pretty happy. I ended up contacting Nailene directly and they will be replacing the gel primer and I should expect it to arrive within 3 weeks. Super fast customer service pretty neat!

I'm still looking around for the kit around the greater Montreal area for those of you who want it. Again, I will be looking into trying out other gel products soon with the SensatioNail lamp and will be reviewing once I can.

The Raspberry Wine polish I got with the kit has gotten lots of nice compliments and looks really nice. I notice that the color will change a bit with the lighting. Looks really cute in the sun and bold in dim lighted spaces.

Nailene SensatioNail review

About a month ago, I entered a Facebook contest through the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' blonde bombshell Taylor Armstrong. She was giving away a SensatioNail starter kit to 10 winners who would email her pictures of their best summer manicures!

I emailed her 10 pictures and I won!

So I received my starter kit yesterday and decided to wait until this morning to open it and try it out.

The kit comes with:

-a PRO 3060 LED lamp

-electrical cord for the lamp

-gel cleanser

-gel primer

-color gel polish (my kit came with the Raspberry Wine tone)

-gel base & top coat

-lint-free wipes

-double-sided nail buffer

-manicure stick

The starter kit is priced at around $50 US and gives you enough to do 10 manicures. Color Gel polishes are about $10 US and essential kits (primer, top and base coat, wipes, buffer and stick) are about $15 US. I find this pretty reasonable considering the polish kits and essential kits give 25 manicures each.

My first impression is I was really disappointed. Not in the product itself as I hadn't tried it yet but because during the packaging or shipping the bottle of Gel Primer had exploded and leaked all over in the box, gluing part of the box to the lamp and getting all the other products all sticky. I decided I would still try the manicure by skipping the primer step altogether.

First you get the lamp. It works with a regular electrical outlet (check for adapters if you are in Europe, Asia or Australia. The cord is kind of short so I had to get an extension which isn't a big deal and worked out pretty well. You first plug in the cord to the lamp and it beeps so you know it is functional and ready to go.

Then you get a very simple, straightforward carton with instructions and picture for each step.

If you are already wearing polish make sure you remove it all and wash your hands before starting the manicure process.

Once you are ready, you take the little buffing file that comes with the kit and gently buff the top of your nails just to get them smooth. You then put some Cleanser on a lint-free wipe and wipe off all dust from your nails.

According to the instructions, you must apply a thin layer of Gel Primer, however since mine was out the question, I skipped this step. You would usually have to apply a thin layer and let air dry and proceed to the next step.

You then apply a thin layer of Gel Base & Top Coat and make sure you apply evenly on the nails and around the tip of your nails.

I chose to start with both thumbs first, then proceed with the right hand and left hand, just because the space in the lamp isn't as big as a salon's UV lamp. I started with my right hand just because I am more comfortable painting with my right hand so I choose to keep the easiest for last.

After curing the Base and Top Coat for 30 seconds (until the lamp beeps), you then proceed to the first layer of Color polish. A thin coat again, as it can run while curing (learned the hard way, my nail was colored in the middle and run all around, forcing me to redo my nail).

You cure this time for 60 seconds (til the lamp turns off). Paint a second light coat and cure for 60 seconds.

You then apply another coat of the Base & Top Coat and cure for another 30 seconds (I chose to leave it in for a full 60 seconds this time).

Your nails at this point will look good but feel sticky from the moisture surfacing throughout all the curing steps. This is when you dab some more Cleanser on a lint-free wipe and proceed to wiping your nails thoroughly.

Et voila!

Wash your hands with light soap and you're ready to go! No drying time, no avoiding touching anything.

I give this product a 9 on 10, only because of my bad experience opening the package. It is great. However I have not tested removing the product and have not tried it with the Gel Primer. I will see if skipping this step will make the product last as long as it should, which is said to last at least 2 weeks.

It's available for purchase online and I believe is widely available in the US and UK. I heard it was available in Canada however have yet to see it in any Walmart or Shoppers Drug Marts.

This is the finished product (I think it looks great!)