Gel Polish

Manicure Monday – 2/18/19 – China Glaze Gelaze Shocking Pink

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China Glaze Gelaze Shocking Pink
China Glaze Gelaze Shocking Pink

This short-but-sweet Manicure Monday post features China Glaze Gelaze Shocking Pink. This week’s manicure actually went on the day before Valentine’s Day. I didn’t quite get two weeks out of my previous manicure, to my chagrin.

This bright, neon pink is more than I’d typically don on my fingers these days – but what the hell? It looks super neat under the lamp as it cures. It is bright and lively, and we could all use a little more of that.

So far, nearly a week in, it looks great and I have no expectations of premature lift. It’s no original formula Flip Flop Fantasy, but China Glaze Gelaze Shocking Pink is damn fun nonetheless.

You can get China Glaze Gelaze Shocking Pink here, or it regular polish version here.

Pedicure Details

As for my toes, I took a break from the brights and donned ol’ faithful, Red Hot Rio today. So… basically I have an inverse Valentine’s-appropriate mani-pedi combo, also unintentional. WTF.

Manicure Monday – 1/21/19 – Gelaze Exceptionally Gifted

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China Glaze Glaze Exceptionally GiftedChina Glaze Glaze Exceptionally Gifted

After two weeks of blue, I’m back in the realm of neutral-ish on my fingers. This soft pink with metallic pearl is feminine and flattering on me. While it isn’t remotely a dupe for my loved-and-lost Maybelline Wet Shine Diamonds polish of yore, it is probably the closest I’ve come in a gel formula.

Gel versions of colors that already exist in lines tend to differ slightly, but this time, the difference is nice. Swatches of the classic formula, though, would deter me from purchase. Gelaze Exceptionally Gifted, however, is quite nice! Reviews indicate that the classic formula is very chip-prone, but I’ve never had an issue with the wear of the Gelaze polishes.

Frankly, my application was shoddy – I did it late in the evening while watching TV (usually I’m fully absorbed in manicure-land), so I wouldn’t be surprised if I don’t get two weeks out of it. Knowing I did a lousy job, I’ll be happy with one.

Bonus Pedicure

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Manicure Monday – 1/14/19 – Nina Ultra Pro Caribbean Blue

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Manicure Monday - Nina Ultra Pro Caribbean Blue

I wrote the previous Manicure Monday post the Saturday prior to publish. Then, on Sunday, I got rid of the Nude Mood manicure and started anew. So this, really, should’ve gone live Monday. We’re catching up from a lag!

I’ve been doing a lot of neutrals on my fingers and reds on my toes. And I love both – they’re classic, professional, effortless.

A Polish to Gel Manicure

But I wanted some color in my life, so I reached for Nina Ultra Pro in Caribbean Blue and my Sensationail Polish to Gel kit.

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Manicure Monday – 1/7/19 – Sensationail Nude Mood

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It took me writing this post to realize that I didn’t publish any manicure details in December. After my 11/26 post with Icelanded a Bottle of OPI in the Infinite Shine formula (haaate), the following week I did a nice China Glaze Gelaze manicure in Swing Baby. It’s a nice, champagne-y gold that I’ve featured on Favorites posts before. Unfortunately, I took no pictures because I am an ass…and because I was gearing up for a business trip that week.

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Manicure Monday – 11/5 – China Glaze Gelaze Recycle

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China Glaze Gelaze RecycleManicure Monday – 11/5 – China Glaze Gelaze Recycle

Anyone watching V for Vendetta today? I will be! Does anyone actually paint their nails on Mani Monday? I don’t! I don’t tend to do much exciting nail art these days, but my nails are almost always painted. I usually paint over the weekend so they’re fresh for the work week. It follows that I’d start a Manicure Monday series; the content basically creates itself!

Before

The Friday before Halloween, I did a simple black set with Sensationail Midnight Rendezvous (which I used in my glitter gel nail tutorial) On my ring fingers, I slapped a coat of Essie Matte About You topcoat for a nearly-no-effort accent nail. I don’t wear black often, and was initially like, “Ah! This is so stark,” but by the end of the ninth day, I found myself rather fond. Yesterday, though, I decided it was time for a different color.

Surprisingly had a devil of a time removing that set. Usually, I can pop my gel polish off fairly easily, but this took coaxing and inspired a bit of swearing. Anyway, after I removed the black gel, I slapped on some Solar Oil and let my nails rest for a while, lacquer-free, while I got some stuff done around the house.

Picking a Color

I found myself torn between the new-to-me nude shade I wore before Midnight Rendezvous (posted on Insta on 10/14), China Glaze Gelaze Awakening, and what I ultimately chose, China Glaze Gelaze Recycle.

I’ve written about my love of Recycle before. Grey is fantastic for Autumn, absolutely counts as a neutral, and isn’t as harsh as black but is still on the edgy side.

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