Thunderous Thursday: Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips (review)

Well the whole day wasn’t thunderous. Most of today was wretchedly, ridiculously hot. But then the heat broke thanks to a big thunderstorm. So now it’s pretty pleasant. End of weather update.

This is day #2 of my “staycation,” and it’s been mighty nice so far. Wednesday was clean and pamper day, today was relax and have fun day; and tomorrow I’m hanging out with the girls. End of staycation update.

Oh wait, isn’t it time for a review? It is! Here’s something super fun from Sally Hansen.

Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips

Blurb: Sally Knows nails are the best accessory. Now, Sally makes it easy to get a designer-inspired salon effect anytime, any place. It wears like nail polish because it IS nail polish. No dry time, so you’re ready to go.

What the blurb above doesn’t say is that these are really, really fun! It took me a couple of minutes to get the hang of applying them; but once I got it all figured out, it was incredibly easy. Simply peel off the backing, peel the polish stip away from the plastic, lay carefully on the nail, snip off the excess, and then use the orangewood stick to rub/buff it on to your nail. I also used the edges of the stick to tuck the ends under the edge of my nail. After they were all applied, I used the file (included) to file off the edges that were sticking out and any excess that got tucked under. I got a perfectly neat application on every nail.

What’s more, there was no drying time, it lasted for 8 days, and came off easily with polish remover.

And they looked fabulous! I first tried “Girl Flower” (second row, far left), and got tons of compliments. Same with my favorite, “Laced Up” (second row, far right). I got compliments from friends, co-workers, and even grocery store cashiers. I am having a blast with these!

Check out the website to see all of the great designs; then visit the where to buy section for a listing of grocery stores and drugstores where Sally Hansen is sold.

I feel like I conveyed my enthusiasm, but my explanation of how to apply wasn’t all that great; so I’m going to refer you to another blogger’s video tutorial for a little bit better demo…



(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)

Mid-Week Manicure: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Nail Polish Fall 2010 Collection (review)

Today was rough. This morning was frustrating and complicated; and by the end of the day I was pretty wound up. So...out comes the manicure kit.

One of the things I do to relieve stress is polish my nails. Taking the time to remove old polish and carefully apply a new color is very soothing. And waiting for my nails to dry forces me to sit still and relax. And afterwards…pretty hands. Today’s pretty hands are from Sally Hansen.

Complete Salon Manicure

Blurb: All 5 Steps of a Manicure in 1 Bottle. Salon Manicure Made Simple! All 5 Steps of a Salon Manicure in 1 Bottle: Base Coat, Strengthener, Growth Treatment, Color, Top Coat. With Patented Vita-Care Technology for advanced wear, more shine, and nourishing care. 42 Salon-Inspired Shades. Toluene, DBP, and Formaldehyde free. With Vita-Care Technology for advanced wear, more shine, and nourishing care.

This is easily one of the best formulas I’ve come across. It goes on smoothly, is opaque, covers perfectly in 2 coats, and has a hard glossy finish. I followed directions, skipped the base and top coats, and was really impressed at how well it performed. It wore extremely well (no nicks or chips for 3 days, and no serious chipping for 5 days). It came off easily (even the dark colors), and didn’t stain at all. The packaging is also fabulous. The bottle shape fits well in the hand, the brush is excellent, and the rubber band around the cap makes for an easy, non-slip grip. This is superior quality at an unbeatable price.

And the colors in this collection are spectacular! I have 9 of them, and I’m having a blast trying them all out. I wore “Perfect Match” (a deep, sophisticated red) to a weekend getaway, I layered “Golden Ticket” (gold glitter) over “Sequin Scandal” (deep green/black with gold flecks) on Halloween, and I’ve been wearing “Trouble Maker” (a rich, smoky purple) most of the week. Tonight I swiped on “Starry Starry Flight” (an icy silver glitter); and it’s gorgeous, glamorous and super flattering.

Check out the website to browse the other colors, and look at the where to buy section for a listing of grocery stores and drugstores where Sally Hansen is sold.

(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)

Special for Sunday: Sally Hansen Smoothes Things Out for Tony Dovolani

Anyone who watches DWTS remembers Tony Dovolani’s promise to get a full leg wax if he and Audrina Partridge didn’t get all 8’s. Well, here are a few pics of Tony keeping his word (that very evening as a matter of fact)…

Sally Hansen helps Dancing with The Stars Tony Dovolani keep his promise!

Dancer Tony Dovolani promised the audience that if he and partner Audrina Partridge did not get all 8’s, he would get a full leg wax….and sure enough, they did get one 7 that evening.

Tony is a man of his word and the experts in hair removal, Sally Hansen, were on hand to help him keep his promise! Tony received a full leg wax with the Sally Hansen Extra Strength All Over Body Wax Hair Removal Kit.
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Right this Minute in Los Angeles! Sally Hansen Manicures to benefit DKMS

Check out this amazing campaign all day today! It's part of Sally Hansen's "Color that Cares" campaign and it’s for a great cause! (In addition to benefiting DKMS; those who get "swabbed" will receive a complimentary bottle of polish.)

Read on, then get your fingers and toes over to Hollywood!

Sally Hansen Manicures to benefit DKMS

Where: The Central Courtyard, Hollywood & Highland Center, Los Angeles, CA 90028
When: Thursday, June 10th, 10:00am – 8:00pm

It’s not every day you get the opportunity to help save a life when you get a manicure. But on June 10th, lifesaving is at your fingertips when you join Sally Hansen for a manicure benefiting DKMS, the world’s largest bone marrow donor center. As a part of the “Color That Cares” Campaign, the nail authority is heading to Hollywood & Highland in the hopes of breaking the Guinness World Record for the most nails shaped and polished in one day.

Through the Color that Cares program, visitors can get “swabbed” to help DKMS find potential marrow donors, raising awareness about this crucial cause while increasing donor registry. The invaluable organization works to expand marrow donor registries by recruiting donors across every race and ethnicity to provide leukemia and blood cancer patients with the best available donor match. Visitors will receive a manicure featuring the new Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure and those who get swabbed will also receive a complimentary bottle of the breakthrough polish.
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Starting Today! Awesome Contest from Sally Hansen and Brides Magazine!

Brides, brides-to-be, and possible-but-still-thinking-about-it-someday-brides should definitely check out this contest. Read and enter today!

Enter for the chance to Sparkle in Diamonds with Sally Hansen®!

Beyond Dazzling! One (1) lucky winner will win a custom diamond eternity band by The Diamond Vault in Canton, Massachusetts, valued at $3,000, and a collection of Sally Hansen® wedding-worthy products, including Diamond Strength® Nail Color for brilliant nails and Diamond 12 Hour Lip Treatment for lavish lips and lasting moisture.

Sally Hansen® - Beauty that Works, www.sallyhansen.com

For more information from The Diamond Vault, visit www.DiamondVault.biz or call 781-401-3188.

The contest goes live on www.Bridesfirstlook.com today!
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I Accept: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength in "Pink Proposal"

Sadly, no one has proposed to me today; but since I'm going somewhere fun tonight, maybe I'll at least end up with a proposition or two. (Uh oh…did I just say that out loud?)

While I'm hauling my mind out of the gutter; take a look at my favorite new lovely, pristine, wide-eyed, innocent new color from Sally Hansen.

Diamond Strength No-Chip Nail Color (in "Pink Proposal")

Blurb: Micro-Diamond Formula instantly bonds to nails with a diamond-hard protective shield to help stop breaking. Instantly bonds with nails to provide a shatterproof, diamond hard protective coating that virtually ends splitting, cracking and peeling. Light-refractive diamond particles go beyond ordinary lacquer to produce a multi-dimensional faceted shine. Long-lasting color is chip-resistant, fade-resistant and waterproof. Available in 36 shiny shades. Toluene, DBP, and Formaldehyde free. Exclusive micro-diamond formula guarantees a brilliant, multi-faceted shine!

This is the lightest, loveliest, flattering frosty pink. It's fresh, delicate and just plain pretty. And right along with this fragile, dainty shade is Sally Hansen's super strong, super shiny formula that dries well and really lasts. Sweet yet Mighty!

Take a look at the website to see some of the other fab Diamond Shine shades. You may also want to take a look at the Color That Cares program to learn about and/or support the fight against leukemia. (You can even register as a bone marrow donor.) You can find Sally Hansen at your nearest drugstore, grocery store, Target, Ulta, Shopping.com, or Drugstore.com.

Happy Tuesday!
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Go Red For Women – Part 2

Since February 5 is Go Red for Women Day, I'm featuring a couple of links each day to give it a little extra attention.

Go Red for Women Day is a national movement founded by the American Heart Association to promote awareness of heart disease for women. You can support this day by wearing red on Friday, February 5. There are also more ideas and opportunities on the Go Red website.

Today's Link: Facebook Page for National Wear Red Day. Become a fan, encourage your friends, and even download a poster!

Red Beauty Suggestion: The folks at Sally Hansen suggest Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color. Suggested shades: Rapid Red, Wined Up, Sonic Bloom or Cinna-Snap
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Time for More Hearting: Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Plus in Real Royal (review)

I know…I’m writing my Saturday review on Sunday. Tsk. But yesterday I realized that I needed a great big break from all computer-related activity. I was typed out. I hope you’ll forgive me.

Of course since I wasn’t typing, I had a bit of time to do my nails and try out my new gorgeous bottle of polish from Sally Hansen.

Maximum Growth Plus (in Real Royal)

Blurb: The first nail polish with vitamin technology! Patented formula hydrates and conditions. Soy Protein strengthens and fortifies nails. 24 fabulous shades give nails something to grow for. Toluene, DBP, and Formaldehyde free. Special Ingredients: Anti-oxidant vitamins A, C and E hydrate and condition. Soy protein fortifies nails with 8 essential amino acids. Longer, Stronger, Healthy Nails in 5 Days!

First, my apologies for the less than stellar picture. I couldn’t find a stock image, so I took this one myself. (Note to self: in the future, leave this to the professionals). But I really wanted to give you an idea of the color. It’s a dark, dark coffee with just the tiniest hint of shimmer. The effect is a great "almost" black that doesn’t look flat or make your skin look dull. Love it!!! It can be fun, edgy or really sophisticated. And it goes with everything (except maybe a pink frilly dress).

I’m a huge fan of Sally Hansen polishes. The formulas are great, they’re reasonably priced and the selection of colors and finishes is amazing. The website has all kinds of great products (and shades) to browse. And the Where to Buy page can tell you where to find what you want. Or you can check out your nearest drugstore, grocery store, Target, Ulta, Shopping.com, or Drugstore.com.

Again, sorry about the lame picture.
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Friday is Nail Polish Appreciation Day: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear (review)

Okay, it's also National Boss' Day; but my small selfish mind is on my manicure this morning. Mainly because I have to remove all of my nail polish before my performance. That's right, girls, no nail polish. Not even clear. That's how much I sacrifice for my art.

Silliness aside, I really do want to take some time to appreciate two of my favorite polishes from Sally Hansen. Both are from the Xtreme Wear line and I have loved them for a long time.

Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear (in "Blue It" and "Strawberry Icing")

Blurb: Xtreme strength plus shine. Match your manicure to your mood! Fun, trendy shades - collect them all and change your nail polish as often as you like! Easy grip, easy glide brush designed for complete control. Available in 30 of the hottest, most wanted shades. Special Ingredients: Bioactive Glass bonds to nail proteins to give a hard manicure that lasts up to 7 days!

Xtreme Wear is one of the best things ever to come from Sally Hansen. Edgy colors, a great brush, and a spectacular formula that has tons of shine and lasts like you wouldn't believe. A really great combo in my book.

Two of my favorite colors (ever!) are from this line.

"Blue it" is a deep royal blue with lots of electric shimmer. It's edgy and modern, but it's also pretty and flattering (especially on my toes).

"Strawberry Icing" is the other "extreme." A super pretty, sweet, yummy, sparkly pink. It makes my fingers and toes look almost edible.

Sally Hansen consistently combines high quality products with budget-friendliness. I'm thinking of picking up a bottle of "Black Out" for Halloween (or just to get a new shade). It's also easy to find – drugstores, grocery stores, Target, Ulta, Shopping.com, Drugstore.com and just about anywhere else you can think of.

Happy Friday (and Boss' Day)!
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Looking Back at Fashion Week: Sally Hansen at Tracy Reese

This time it's the nails. Sally Hansen (8th season with Tracy Reese) created a limited edition collection for spring inspired by Tracy’s Spring 2010 collection. Read all about it and check out the specially created shades. I love this look...simple and really hot.

Tracy Reese for Sally Hansen Returns with the 2010 Spring Runway Collection

A fashionable collaboration between nail color expert Sally Hansen and designer Tracy Reese at her Spring 2010 Runway Show. For the eighth season in a row, Sally Hansen has joined forces with fashion icon Tracy Reese to create the ultimate accessory for the feminine yet modern spring wardrobe, inspired by Reese’s visionary spring collection. The runway look was created with Sally Hansen Complete Manicure in Midnight In New York which provides a deep ebony base, while Hidden Treasure brushes on an unexpected finish of molten metallic, for an exclusive, never-been-seen before manicure. This collection will be available nationwide in April 2010.
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Start Getting Ready Now: Fashion's Night Out is Thursday Night

Got some great info about the BIG NIGHT next week. Thursday, September 10! This is the New York part of Fashions Night Out (an international shopping extravaganza dedicated to promote retail, consumer confidence and celebrate fashion). There is a ton of stuff going on: makeovers, in-store concerts, gift bags, designer manicures…cocktails! Read about the awesomeness…

THE PLAZA BEAUTY BY WARREN-TRICOMI - In celebration of this event, The Plaza Beauty by Warren-Tricomi is offering visitors rare access to the sought-after experts and cult icons behind the elite brands carried at The Plaza Beauty. Expert makeup artists from Smashbox and Becca will be on site for makeup consultations as well as representatives from Sjal and Comfort Zone will be on hand to provide mini facials, hand massages and treatments using their legendary formulas. Renowned stylists Joel Warren and Edward Tricomi will be presenting hair demonstrations to showcase fall’s key trends. We will also be providing deluxe samples courtesy of Lisa Hoffman Skincare, Tocca, Revitalash, Luzern Skincare, Kai, Santa Maria Novella, MLAB and Sponge Skincare. You can also receive the chance to win a Day of Beauty at the Warren-Tricomi Salon at The Plaza and a custom-made hair piece from Lucia Hair Designs.

JURLIQUE - In honor of Fashion Night Out, Jurlique will be offering a free, full-size cleanser with any purchase of two products or more (a $40 value). Certified biodynamic and made with pure-living botanicals, Jurlique has become a favorite among fashionistas and celebrities such as Kate Moss, Gemma Ward, Kate Hudson, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Visit their two New York City locations: Madison Avenue and West Broadway (Soho) for your opportunity to experience beauty by nature.

SALLY HANSEN - Sally Hansen manicurists will be on hand offering complimentary manicures at Tracy Reese’s store in honor of Fashion’s Night Out. Specially created Sally Hansen shades have walked Tracy Reese’s runway for the past 7 seasons in addition to the limited edition nail polish collections inspired by Tracy’s collections for each season as well.

MACKAGE - Stop by Mackage’s first ever retail boutique for an intimate soiree to welcome the Fall season and the latest collection of luxe wool coats, exquisite leathers, sleek trenches, sophisticated puffys and unique packables. Mackage will host an evening of shopping and style: from 7-9pm, fashion authority Phillip Bloch provides seasonal fashion tips and head-to-toe, one-on-one style consultations and from 9-11pm, internationally renowned model Irina Lazareanu spins tunes in-store to continue the festivities as shoppers browse Mackage’s newest Fall styles. All night, shoppers will have the opportunity to enter to win a coat for the Spring and Fall 2010 seasons from Mackage*, as well as other great exclusives. (Prize will be redeemable on www.mackage.com. The winner will receive two coats for the time period between December 2009 and December 2010, each valued at up to $700.)

C.O. BIGELOW - C.O. Bigelow, the oldest Apothecary in America will be offering a complimentary vintage soda fountain. When C.O. Bigelow first opened, they used to serve soda at this staple New York landmark that has seen the likes of everyone from Mark Twain and Eleanor Roosevelt to Kelly Ripa and Sarah Jessica Parker. For Fashion’s Night Out, C.O. Bigelow will also be handing out free Mentha Lip Shines, the number one selling lip gloss in America.

KORRES: FASHION’S NIGHT OUT / DETOX BUBBLES, CUPCAKES & MORE -
Head to the Korres stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn on Thursday, September 10th for an evening of cocktails and makeovers. Both stores will feature ‘Detox Bubbles, Cupcakes & More’ for guests to enjoy as they CELEBRATE a night of fashion. The stores will include a detox bar serving complimentary antioxidant-infused cocktails based on the Greek skincare brand’s natural ingredients – Wild Rose, Pomegranate, Thyme Honey & Sugar Crystal – along with delicious cupcakes also ‘packed’ with natural ingredients. Attendees can detox on the outside as well with a Korres makeover or advice on how to wear VOGUE’s hottest color looks of the season using 'green' make-up. All guests will receive a gift bag including global bestsellers and Korres favorites selected by the VOGUE beauty team. Complimentary makeovers can be pre-booked by visiting korresusa.com/news. KORRES MANHATTAN / 110 Wooster St. [btw Prince & Spring, SoHo, NY], KORRES BROOKLYN / 140 Montague St. [btw Clinton & Henry, Brooklyn, NY]

ERYN BRINIÈ - In celebration of the global brand's arts platform, eryn brinié will host an intimate performance by recording artist Kate Earl. Singer-songwriter Kate Earl represents the artistic, expressive young women to whom the brand speaks - those with a visionary, curious spirit and nonconformist attitude. Earl will perform songs in-store from her self-titled debut album, the #1 pop album on iTunes just one day after its August 18th debut. Underscoring the brand's position as a supporter of emerging talent in art and design, eryn brinié will also host an open call in August for creative students in New York City to submit designs for the store's window display using Fashion's Night Out T-shirts, ultimately selecting one student to design the flagship's window for this evening.

Whoa, man! My head is spinning!
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Another Reason to Heart Sally Hansen: HD Sweepstakes!

Last month, I posted my review of Sally Hansen's awesome HD High-Definition Nail Colors. Well I'm still loving them (and people keep asking me what I'm wearing).

Right now, you can have all the Hi Def Sally Hansen nail fun and all the fun of a Hi Def Sally Hansen sweepstakes! Enter from July 8 to September 15 for a chance to win Sally Hansen gift bags, an iPod Nano or a Samsung 32 LCD HDTV!

So enter already (and good luck)!

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I Heart Sally Hansen

Yay! More cool stuff for summer!

I have been checking out some new colors from Sally Hansen and they are awesome! I'm pretty picky about which nail polish brands I use and Sally Hansen has some of the best formulas around. They go on well, dry beautifully and last. I always use their Salon Double Life Base & Top Coat and I've been a huge fan of their XTreme Wear colors since I discovered them last year.

And now two of their new lines have some fabulous colors for summer.

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color

Blurb: One Stroke! One Coat! Done! One-stroke application. One-coat coverage. Dries in 60 seconds! Perfectionist Brush™ delivers a fast, flawless application that dries to a shiny finish in 60 seconds. Exclusive formula with Flexiglass Complex® for brilliant shine.

I totally love these - the new colors are bold and gorgeous! I tested out the 'Lickety Split Lime' over the weekend. The wide brush with the rounded edge makes application easy, and this formula really does dry in 60 seconds. Not only that, the finish is shiny and really long lasting. Here are the colors:

This awesome photo is from the website: All Laquered Up

Instant Iris
Coral Rush
Flyin' Fuschia
Rapidly Rosy
Orange You Fast
Lemon Dash
Lickety Split Lime
Brisk Blue

Sally Hansen HD Hi-Definition Nail Color

Blurb: Introducing the Latest Fashion Accessory For Nails! The Color: Pure, vivid pigments with multi-dimensional color & vibrance. The Technology: Patented formula with Real Liquid Crystals for multi-dimensional color and iridescent shine! The Result: Dazzling, Lustrous High-Definition Color. Available in 8 Luminous Shades!

Luminous is right. These bottles look like little jewels on my table. Today I am wearing 'Hi Def' and I can't stop looking at my nails. The sparkly, glamorous color dried to a great glassy shine. Here are the colors:

This awesome photo is also from the website: All Laquered Up

Hi-Res
Three D
Lite
Hi Def
Pixell Pretty
Blu
Cyber
Digital (not shown) – a hot coral pink

Sally Hansen is super budget-friendly and easy to find – great when you need a girly pick-me-up. Sally Hansen is available at drugstores, grocery stores, Target, Ulta, Shopping.com, drugstore.com and just about everywhere else.
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