Have you seen minimalist nail designs yet? A quick search on Pinterest, and your eyes will thank me. I've been gravitating toward them lately and decided to recreate a look that is so simple, yet so classy. Read on for more details!

I always do my nails at home and love gel nails, so I've been using the Sensational Gel Kit for a while now. Since there are usually limited colors available, I switched to using the polish to gel transformer so that I can use any nail polish that I want. It's really simple and easy to use, and I get salon-quality results at home while saving so much money. I've linked some of the products that I use at the end of this post for your convenience.

You will need to purchase the kit at first because it does come with the LED light and other essentials that you will need for each application. After that, all you have to worry about repurchasing is the polish to gel transformer when you run out + any of the other items in the kit, which is a minimal expense. For a more detailed description of the Sensationail Gel Kit, click here to read my first impression review.

For this nail design, I used deco foil, which is basically foil that can be transferred to different surfaces. Here's the one I purchased. All I did was cut a strip of it and stick it to my nails, rub, then remove, and it created this very antique application. I just seal it with a coat of the polish to gel transformer. I am in love with how it turned out, and I can't wait to test out other nail designs using it. 

My gel nails do last for 2-3 weeks (or longer if I'm pushing it), so I have been pleased with the Sensational gel system for a long time. I honestly don't see myself really ever going to the salon any time soon! It does take me roughly 2 hours from start to finish to do my nails, which includes the removal time, filing, and all of that good stuff. However, I think it is so worth it, and I actually find it to be a therapeutic and relaxing process.

---

I hope you try this out! If you don't want to go with the Sensational system, you can always opt for the regular polish application, and I'm sure it would give you beautiful results as well. I just thought I'd share my process with you! 

If you need more inspiration on the daily, I post every day on Instagram + keep you motivated and inspired with uplifting content. I'd love to see you over there!

Did you enjoy this post? Any questions? Let's chat in the comments below!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Who doesn't love a good gift? These days, you can try just about anything without any major commitments for FREE - and we're not talking cheap products - we're talking high quality products that are worth every penny. There are two main reasons why I love Julep polishes: 1. Their colors are professional quality and always so perfect for the season. 2. Their polishes do not contain formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, or DBP - chemicals that may have long-term health effects. There are so many good reasons to choose toxic-free polishes, and with so many brands cleaning up their formulas, there are so many to choose from. To learn more about the various chemicals in nail polishes, click HERE.  

So, how's about trying a polish that is not only of the highest quality, but safer for you! Julep is a subscription based service, so you get all of the latest polishes every month - and the best part is you can customize it to your liking. Try it out - treat Yourself to a Gorgeous 4-Piece Welcome Box Valued at $50+ - FREE to New Maven Subscribers. 

Julep's products have been featured in Oprah, Real Simple and even Vogue!

What you get: three bright & beautiful summer shades (Sam, Polly and Denise), two buffer blocks and a Bonding Base Coat that will double the life of your manicure! You’ll get this limited-time Treat Me Welcome Box valued at $50+ (just pay $2.99 shipping) when you sign up for a Julep subscription. As a Julep Maven you’ll receive a box of brand-new, full sized nail color and beauty products each month – and you deserve it!

Love list:

• Julep Maven is affordable. Every month you get more than $40 of full-size products for just $24.99 per month (tip - prepay for three months at a time and save $15). 

• Julep Maven is the only customizable box of full-size, limited-run nail colors and beauty innovations. That means no surprises, no dupes or colors you don't like. You can see what is in your box each month and have the option of swapping out colors/products you already have or don't want.

• Julep Mavens get 20% off all single product purchases, free shipping, early access to secret sales. If you are passionate about your polish, that adds up to some amazing savings!

Get started now! Join Maven and get the Treat Me Welcome Box FREE ($50+ value) - just pay $2.99 shipping using the code TREATME. Want an even better deal? Pre-pay for your first three months of Maven and get the Welcome Box and shipping FREE. Either way, you are going to LOVE being a Maven.

---

I hope you like this summer gift that I get to share with you! Summer is the best time to rock colorful nails - and these polishes are bright, bold, and beautiful. I hope you get to enjoy this!

Have fun!

xo stina

I have always loved a great mani and pedi, and so when I discovered that it was possible to do my own gel manicure at home, I was in. However, I was always skeptical. Did it really work? Was it worth the initial investment? I did like the idea that I could maintain a fresh-looking manicure for two weeks or more, be able to do it myself, save money, all the while getting professional results. So, after researching the many gel kits available, I found that Sensationail was actually one of the better ones out there in terms of price, performance, and ease of use. So, I decided to give it a try. This mommy bear was ready for a new set of paws!

purchased at: target

price: gel kit $49.99 | gel color $9.99-$11.99

Rating:  4.5/5 on Amazon.com and sensationail.com

Set Includes:

• Pro 3060 LED Lamp

• Gel Cleanser

• Gel Primer

• Gel Base & Top Coat

• Gel Polish 

• Lint-free Wipes

• Double-sided Nail Buffer

• Manicure Stick 

• Detailed instruction sheet

The kit comes with everything you need to get started and is supposed to last you 10 manicures. After that, simply purchase the Essentials Kit and gel color, and you're set to go for more! Although there are many steps involved, the process was simple and quick. Being that it was my first time, it did take a little longer for me to complete, but that was because I kept referring back to the instructions to make sure I was doing it properly. Generally, it should only take 15 minutes to complete. The gel color looked amazingly pigmented and everything in the kit looked very high quality. 

The gel color that I used was rose gold glitter, and when applied, it was a little blotchy and uneven, so I had to go over it several times to make it as evenly distributed as possible. Maybe this was due to the glitter content, so I will have to see if the solid colors apply better. The brush was a bit small and stiff too, so that could also have contributed to it being hard to evenly coat the nails. I also did experience some slight burning on my nails when I put my nails under the LED light during curing. This scared me at first, but since it didn't last too long--only the first few seconds of each round of curing--I didn't mind it. Other than that, I found the process to be fast and fool-proof. 

Rose Gold Glitter

Taken in direct sunlight.

Sensationail gel polish starter kit - raspberry wine

$39.29

Buy on Amazon

MY RATING: 4.5/5 (.5 off due to the brush being stiff)

PROS

• Professional, salon quality results

• Lasts for up to two weeks or more, low maintenance

• Glossy, long-lasting color and mirror-like shine

• Damage-proof and does not chip

• Save hundreds compared to salon visits

• Safer than UV nails and cures faster

• Easy to use

• Fast application, zero dry time

CONS

• May be damaging to nails

• Nails burn slightly under LED light

• Time consuming removal process

• Gel color was a bit thick when applied

• Stiff brushes

Taken in the shade. Shiny, glossy...everything!

Tip: I do recommend taking breaks in between manicures to let your nails breathe and recover, because constant use can cause nails to become weak and brittle.

This gel kit lived up to my expectations, and I am so pleased with the results. My nails turned out glossy, shiny, and sparkly. I was immediately able to do things and not worry about damaging my nails. It's perfect for anyone who doesn't have the time to do their nails every 3-5 days (did I mention the dreaded drying time), who hates having to deal with chipped nails and smudges, and the frugal mama who loves to do-it-herself and save money. This kit is so worth it; I can finally enjoy fresh, salon-quality nails at home, and you can too!

So sparklaaay!

THE VERDICT: ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

I highly recommend this product and can't wait to try out more colors. Have fun mamas! If you try it out, tag me on instagram using #hellolovelyliving with a photo of your gel mani. I'd love to see it and hear about your experience.

xo, stina