Your GTG's Gel Manicure Review

Welcome back my fabulous GTG followers!

I hope you all had a great week.

I'm so excited to be able to bring you today's post. If you're a girly girl like me you're going to love my review on gel manicures.

"So what exactly is a gel manicure," you're probably asking yourselves.

A gel manicure is a manicure performed with a gel based nail polish, which is cured under ultraviolet lights to set in the color.This was started a while back on acrylic nails, but now you can do them on your natural nails.The manicure promises a few things that regular and acrylic manicures don't deliver:

• A chip-free manicure (which lasts for 14 days)
• Smudge-free
• A mirror-like finish (always shiny; never dull)
• No damage to the natural nail
• Promotes growth

All of these things sound great on paper, but I'm a journalist, which simply means I'm skeptical about everything until I see it for myself.
Gel manicures have been all the rage in nail salons and spas for a few months now, and apparently people are responding well to this product because it's growing very fast. Just at my last nail appointment, my salon only had 5 colors to choose from--now, they have about 20 colors.

I have been dying to see if all its claims are real and I already love getting my hands and feet, so I was ready. And as much as I love manis and pedis, I equally hate seeing my nails chip on day 3.

So today I went in for my very first gel manicure and this is the real low down.

• For one, this service is substantially more costly. I don't have acrylic nails, so my manicures are typically $10, $ 12-13 if I want to get fancy with french tips. I ended up having to pay $25 for the gel one.I'm still not sure how I feel about the $15 increase--only time will tell. If it indeed lives up to the hype then it really is worth it because it'll be the almost the same amount as two back-to-back manicures.
• This was seriously the longest manicure of my life! It consisted of two coats just like a regular manicure, but they kept putting my hands under the UV lights, which by the way has to be hazardous to your skin. I literally felt discomfort when my skin felt too hot.
• Gel polishes are only for your hands, which means your hands and feet will never match! Even when you do your hands in a standard nail color like red or black--your nails will never be the same color because as we all well know different brands have different colors, so the shades are never the same :/ This might just be an issue for me because I am a stickler for matching nails.

Are you ready to see what the fuss is all about? Here are a few pictures of my gel manicure for you're viewing pleasure.

Day 1: On my way home from the nail salon



*** The manicure is shiny and in tact.

Day 1. Color: Passion

Still Day 1. After I did the dishes.

***still in tact and shiny. Yay!

So on day 1 so far so good. I don't really have anything else bad to say about this experience, but I will be updating this post with new pictures from days 7 and 14 to see if the manicure is chip free and shiny as it promises.

Wait...

Did I mention my hands are in a passion color, while my feet are in a watermelon color? So. not. cute.

Ok back to the review:

I'll also bring you a complete weigh-in analysis if indeed it is worth having to pay more for these manicures and if they are as great for your nails as it claims to be.

A couple of days ago, I had posted on my Facebook wall about how I was going to get my first Shellac gel mani and review it. 

***Sidenote: Shellac is a brand of gel polishes; it was one of the first ones to come forth with this innovation and a lot of salons carry this brand as a result, but with anything this new and powerful there are now many brands available.

A few friends commented on their experiences with this product, and I noticed there was a high concern on how to properly remove gel polishes. So as I waited for my nails to get done, I asked the manicurist how this polish is removed. She told me they had a special solution that removes it instantly and it's at no extra cost, but that you can also do it yourself at home using a nail filer to reduce the layers, and then you need to soak your hands in acetone for about 15 minutes. Sounds easy enough, but..

Later, when I got home I researched how to remove the polish and from what I read from people online, I'd recommend you go back to your salon and have a professional remove the color. I read about people who couldn't get it off and others who in trying to get it off peeled the layers from their own nails.

Another friend asked if the Axxium system, which is OPI's version of the gel system is the same as the gel system and it is-- main difference is that you can buy OPI's system and do your own gel nails at home. I think this is great for the person who has tried this product and loves it because in the long run it will be worth it, rather than going in for a $25 manicure every 14 days, however, you will also need to invest in a UV light set to cure in the gel, which can be pretty costly.

I still don't want to put my final two cents on this product until after the 14 day period, but I will say this much--don't just take my word for it if you want to try it, go for it and you be the judge.

Again, keep an eye out for the updates and complete analysis in another 14 days and as always I'll be back next week with a new topic. Hope you enjoy this post.

"I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in PINK. I believe that loving is the best calorie burner. I believe in french kissing. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles."- The Fabulous Ms. A. Hepburn

UPDATE:

Hi dolls, as promised I am back with my update and complete review. 

It's officially day 6 and my index nail has a minor chip on it. In fact, the overall look of the manicure isn't very glamorous anymore.

Day 6: chipped index nail and not so shiny.

Now this is a drastic change from day 5 (just yesterday, Wednesday, February 2, 2011,) when the polish still appeared shiny and in tact, as you will see in the picture below.

Because of the chipping so early in the "14 days period," I guess I'll put this review to rest. I've also found out some salons charge as much as $5 to remove the gel polish.

I did like that the manicure stayed in perfect tact for at least 5 days and from the looks of it it still has a few more days to go before I'm forced to remove it.

Your-Go-to-Gal's Do's for Gel Manicures:

•  Research the salon you plan to get your nails and inquire about which gel polish brand they used. According to my manicure experience not all brands are created equal.
• Engage in inquisitive conversation with your manicurist. Make sure that when you walk away with your hands done that you don't feel confused.
• Apply a light coat of sunscreen on your hands (not on your nails) before the UV light process because regardless of how safe it claims to be, you will actually feel a burn. Better safe than sorry.
• Keep your receipt. In case of chipping before the 14 days, go back to your manicurist with your receipt with the date on it and ask if they can fix it for you at minimal or no charge.
• If you're not satisfied with your first experience with a gel manicure, try going to a different place and give it a second try if you feel it's worth the time and money.
• Enjoy getting pampered.

Please feel free to leave me any questions you might have and I'll be more than glad to answer them. Remember I'm not here to tell you what or what not to do, but I do like to share my experiences.

Keep an eye out for my new post coming this weekend!

Have a great day dolls!

-xO's

Cleaning Out Your Closet

Welcome back my fun-loving guys and gals! I'm sorry for the neglect and/or abandonment :/ Work has been keeping me way too occupied and with little or no energy to do much.

I've also been fighting a demonic cold that keeps coming back. TIP of the Day: if you don't have any insurance like myself, and are sick and can't go to a doctor, you can ask for a consultation with a pharmacist at your local drug store or pharmacy (it's usally free.) The pharmacist will ask you about your symptoms and  will recommend the best OTC remedy for your condition. It helps you save time and money and you will be feeling better in no time.

Today, I'm feeling great about all the little things I'm going to start doing for myself. The first task on "my little things to do list" was to clean out my two closets (yes, two because I have one at my current residence and there's my old closet at my parents' house.) It was a daunting task, that took three days, but I'm almost finished.

As I've mentioned before, I'm not happy with my recent weight gain, so in order to give myself the final push to a healthier, leaner me I had to go through every article of clothing to remind myself of what I'd love to be able to wear again or what needs to be tossed out to make room for the new items I'll be purchasing ONLY after I get back into shape. I know this might not work for everyone, but I adore clothes, so it works out perfect for me. It helps me get two things off my list and now I'm super motivated to return to my normal weight size.

Back to the daunting task at hand: cleaning out your closet is no fun. It takes time, patience and organization. I start by separating things into piles: 

• things I want to keep 
• things I want to give away to my family/friends 
• things that can be donated
• things I can sell on Ebay or in a garage sale

You will need boxes, a marker, and plastic bins if you also want more closet space.

I decided to sell the shoes and purses that I have never worn. I know I won't make a lot of money off of them, but at least I'll make a little back that I can use towards my new purchases.
***Sidenote: the shoes and bags I'm selling were gifts that never fit my style, hopefully it's someone else's style.
Remember: one man's trash is another man's treasure.

I'm going directly to Ebay with my stuff, it's faster and easier for me that way than going to a consignment store, which I've never really been to (but you can also go to a consignment store, have a yard sale or even start your own digital yard sale on Craigslist. Truth be told my boyfriend is doing all the hard work for me in terms of putting the items up for auction on Ebay. (Thanks babe!)  I'll let you know how Ebay works for me.

And I really have to thank my mom, who has already taken the items I no longer want right off of my hands. She'll be giving some stuff to my cousins and others to the less fortunate. (Way to go mom!) You can also get together with your girlfriends and have an excahnge party, where you can trade your old clothes. It's a great way to get new clothes without spending any money and get to hang with your girlfriends.

Even I have made some really bad purchases and there are some atrocious things that do not belong on anyone, so those few items have been tossed out.

As for the rest of the stuff, they're now in my newly organized closet and drawers :) And now I can't wait to shed my excess weight off and go shopping.

When deciding what to keep or give away: ask yourself a crucial question: have I worn this in the past year? if the answer is no, give it away. Clothes that are worn out or discolored should either be tossed out or kept to do chores around the house like cleaning, painting or washing you car.

I realized during this entire process that I made a lot of stupid impulsive buys in the past (and in my early 20s I made Guess a whole lot of monies; I must own 30 handbags and 20 pairs of shoes from that brand, which I'd never wear today. YUCK!)

My style has changed so much in a matter of five years and I now know I want to buy more timeless pieces to incoporate into my wardrobe. I also plan to stop shopping at cheap stores like Forever 21. Yes, you save a lot of money at the time, but I also realized you throw out those items a lot faster than the items you invest money in.

P.s. good luck to my wallet, now that i'll only be purchasing top notch brands! :)

Hope you guys find my little tips handy for the next time you're cleaning out your closet.

♥ "I like my money right where I can see it-- hanging in my closet." Carrie Bradshaw ♥

UPDATE:

Since cleaning out my closet, I am happy to report that I have sold two pairs of shoes and my Coach handbag is currently up for bid. Ebay does work! The other two pairs of shoes didnt do so well on Ebay, so I'm thinking of going to Plato's Closet and see what I can get for them.

Ebay is a paradise. If you're very careful and do the right footwork you can walk away with some really great stuff at amazing prices.

I'm currently in search of my first pair of Loubies!

GTG's Best of the Best of 2010

My wonderful gals and guys-- I hope you all had wonderful holidays and a great beginning to 2011.

Before we begin with all the great things that await us in this new year, I wanted to briefly go over the best things that 2010 gave us.

Here are my favorite top 10 things from '10:

Can you believe people are still trying to invent things? I'm glad that they are, cause if not, one my favorite things from 2010 wouldn't been on this list.
10.- LOOXCIE-- is a camera worn over the ear that records everything you see without the use of your hands. It was invented by a parent who couldn't record his children's parties with a regular video cam.  So now you can record just about anything without any of the wobbling. With just one button, you can send a clip to your own Facebook, YouTube or an e-mail address. Cool, huh?

9.-Truth be told my blog is my favorite blog (and no, it's not cause I wrote it--it's the fact that I've been inspired to write and have developed an audience,) but I can't put it on my own list, so I'm giving this slot away to: Post Secret. PostSecret is a community art project, where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I love it because it's real, honest and hysterical. I dare you to share your secret on this blog.

8.- Sadly, I didn't get to read that many books this past year. I'm a huge fan of Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series, but the latest installment was a big flop.  Tutankhamun: The Book of Shadows by Nick Drake takes this honor. It's a thriller based on real historical events, with a chilling twist based on archaeological finds-- that brings forth a surprising end to what could've happened to the young king. A must-read!

7.- Oh TV- how I missed thee. I went on about a good two or three years of missing prime time TV, but this past year I made sure that I caught up! I discovered the great show that was LOST and well let's just say I was lost watching it, but I loved it. I also fell in love with Spartacus, Pretty Little Liars, Criminal Minds and The Vampire Diaries, but I thought that Boardwalk Empire was perhaps the best new show of 2010. It chronicles the life of notorious gangster and Atlantic City king, Nucky Thompson. And Steve Buscemi's portrayal of Nucky is worthy of Golden Globe glory.

6.- Music. Perhaps, it's one of the only things that can still transcend time, languages, cultures and ages. This year was huge in music. Rihanna and Eminem both dropped their newest albums. Drake nominated the hip hop category, but undoubtedly, Miss Alicia Keys' Unthinkable was my jam of the year for it's amazing emotions and unforgettable lyrics.

5.- My favorite trend of 2010 was prints. Leopard! Leopard! Leopard! It's so stylish, classic and it never goes out of style like the color black.

4.- Movies- we all love them and it truly still is one of the cheapest forms of entertainment. 2010 was filled with big unexpected blockbusters like Inception; kiddie faves such as Despicable Me and Toy Story 3 and documentaries or seemingly-like documentaries like Catfish. The Town receives honorable mentions from Your GTG for its great performances and plot. But my favorite movie in 2010 was Black Swan-- provocative, dark, all around fantastic. Portman better get the Oscar in 2011!

3.-The most talked about beauty product of 2010 was Clinique's Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector. I read all the reviews, before going out to purchase this small bottle that costs $50, and the reviews were about 50/50. It really does even skin tone and what's better is that it reduces the appearances of spots and scars and even freckles!

2.- My favorite hair thing, whether it was a product or service of 2010 was the Keratin hair treatment. Although expensive, it does everything it promises it does. I did mine at the isalon in Aventura with Ilan. This salon rocks. It's professional, friendly and the results speaks for themselves

1.- And my absolute favorite thing in 2010 was... ::drum rolls::  my pair of nude Caryssa pumps by Steve Madden. Comfortable, sexy and high they were truly the most perfect heels that took me from summer into the winter and will carry me onto the spring. Gotta love Steve Madden.