I have heard many things about the almighty gel manicure, how it lasts and lasts on your nails for two weeks and it gives you natural, beautiful results. I’ve never actually gotten a gel manicure done at a nail salon, and that’s mostly because I’m very much a DIY kind of girl. When I had the chance to try out the SensatioNail Invincible Gel Polish Starter Kit, I was instantly curious and excited, because now I could give myself a gel manicure at home, in my pajamas, any time of the day or night I want! I put this system to the test and inside I’ve got a full pictorial demonstration!

[This review features press sample(s) sent for consideration.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was sent the SensatioNail Invincible Gel Polish Starter Kit and the Rock My Emerald Gel Polish. The Starter Kit comes with one gel polish shade already and mine was Pink Chiffon. I love pink nail colors and think they are so classic and feminine, but I’m a HUGE emerald green lover, and since the weather is getting cooler, I decided to go with the darker, jewel-toned emerald shade. The Starter Kit comes with everything you need for a full 10 applications. Inside the box you will find:

 

• Pro 3060 LED Lamp, which is designed to quickly and safely cure the gel polish
• Gel Cleanser & Lint-Free Wipes
• Gel Primer
• Color Gel Polish
• Gel Base & Top Coat
• Nail file & buffer, and a mini cuticle and nail stick

 

 

 

 

 

The system comes with really fantastic instructions. I was worried when I opened the package up and saw a lot of different products and bottles, but the process is actually very simple and goes by quickly.

 

 

 

PICTORIAL DEMONSTRATION:

 

 

 

Step 1: It’s easiest to have everything out in front of you so you can reach and grab for it as you need it. The LED Lamp will need to be plugged in, so go ahead and plug it in to a plug socket near you so it’s ready to go.

 

 

Step 2: Using the Gel Cleanser and one of the lint-free wipes it comes with, cleanse each of your nails. This will help get rid of any dirt, product, or oil you have on your nail. This is also a good time to make sure your nails are properly filed and buffed as you would like them to be.

 

 

 

Step 3: Apply the Gel Primer to each nail. This Gel Primer has a teeny-tiny little brush and it almost looks like an oil when you put it on your nails. You only need a small amount on each nail. It will air dry quickly.

 

 

 

Step 4: Apply the Gel Base & Top Coat to your nails, avoiding the cuticle and skin as much as possible. It also says to cap the nail by applying it to the nail tip.

 

 

 

Step 5: Cure your nails for 30 seconds under the LED lamp. This will cure the base coat and seal it to your nail. What is amazing about the LED lamp is that it beeps at 30 second intervals, so when it beeps, you can take your nails out of the lamp. At 60 seconds, the lights shut off entirely, so while you’re curing your actual polish (in the next step), you’ll know when it’s finished by when it turns off. When you have cured the base coat for 30 seconds, you will be left with shiny looking nails that are completely cured and dried:

 

 

 

 

 

Step 6: Apply your Color Gel Polish to your nails in an even coat. The polish was VERY pigmented in just one coat. I probably didn’t even need to do a second coat of this particular shade, “Rock My Emerald.” The best advice I can give to you is to apply as thin of a coat as you possibly can. Leave room around the edges of your nail because when you cure the polish under the LED lamp, the color will expand and run a bit toward your cuticles. Cure your Color Gel Polish for 60 seconds underneath the LED lamp.

 

 

Step 7: Apply another coat of the Gel Base & Top Coat to seal everything in, and cure it under the lamp for 30 seconds. That’s it. You’re done! Go ahead and reuse the same lint-free wipe from the beginning with a little Gel Cleanser, and remove the moisture layer with it. Your nails will be completely dry and ready-to-go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The color came out much better on my right hand than it did on my left hand, because I learned some tips and tricks to make application better. Here are my tips:

 

• Don’t apply too much Color Gel Polish to your nail. Since the Gel Base Coat has been applied and cured on your nail, your nail is left with a hardened, shiny coat on it. When you apply your actual nail polish, you’ll notice that the product almost goes on “slippery” because of this. If you apply too much, the color will drip and run as the polish cures.
• Leave a bit of a gap between your nail polish and your cuticles/skin. The polish seems to expand and run underneath the LED light when curing, so if you leave a small amount of space between your nail polish and your cuticles, it’ll look just right instead of overlapping them.
• Do your thumbs separately. Since the LED lamp is perfect for applying your four fingers in, I would definitely recommend doing your four fingers on each hand first and then go back and do the thumbs. The thumbs will still cure and fit into the LED lamp, but they will come out smoother and cleaner if you do them separately.

 

 

 

Overall: The concept is incredibly cool…nail polish that lasts for up to two weeks. You will physically feel the products “hardening” when you place your fingers underneath the LED lamp. I cannot tell you how impressed I was with this system. Not only did my polish last for two weeks with only very minor tip wear, but as soon as you cure your polish underneath the LED lamps, your fingernails are dry and ready to go. There is no waiting, no waving your fingers in the air to dry them, and no smudging your nail polish afterward. I like how easy it is to apply, and I like that each kit gives you ten full applications, which makes it VERY budget-friendly for those who want salon results without salon prices. Also, Rock My Emerald is a stunning shimmering emerald shade that is gorgeous on the nails.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The SensatioNail Invincible Gel Polish Starter Kit is available at drugstores and mass retailers nationwide. You can find a location near you on the SensatioNail website. You can also purchase this kit online. Each Starter Kit retails for $49.99 USD, with at least ten applications promised. That makes this a major beauty bargain, coming in at $5 per manicure lasting you two weeks. There are quite a few colors available, as well, and I’ll be purchasing some myself so I can try them out! You can also follow SensatioNail on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

 

 

[ALL PHOTOGRAPHY ON THIS SITE IS TAKEN BY REBECCA KAZIMIR. NO PHOTOGRAPHS ARE TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION.]

 

 

 

 

[This article contains a sample product provided by the brand or PR company. Beauty Gala’s opinions are our own, and we commit ourselves to honesty in our reviews and descriptions at all times. Sample products are not guaranteed a review. For consideration of your product, please send all PR requests to Rebecca@beautygala.com, or by using our Press Inquiry Form.]