Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Review: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat

I love having nice looking nails. Usually, I give myself at-home manicures, hoping that my polish will last more than one full day before it begins chipping. Between my job this summer-waitressing- and playing hockey several days a week, I am lucky if I can make it 24 hours without a chip in my nails. Which is why last week, while out shopping, when I saw Sally Hansen's Miracle Gel Top Coat (that you don't have to use a UV light to cure!) promising 14 days of wear, I was slightly skeptical yet optimistic. At home in the US here I have my own gel polish kit, complete with UV light, but don't bring this over to Sweden. Without further ado, here is my review of the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat!
miracle gel review
french manicure with the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Polish
At first, I was pretty skeptical about the claims made by Sally Hansen. 14 days of wear? I've had professional gel manicures that didn't last that long- again, due to the significant stress I put on my nails. Thus, with my skepticism I only purchased the top coat and put it over my regular nail polish, figuring that assuming I had good results I would invest in the polish colors (10 USD each).

How it works: You are supposed to have the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polish color, and apply two coats of that. Afterwards, apply one coat of the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel top coat, and head out into the sunlight for 5 minutes or so to cure the polish (optimal results). After this, it is supposed to last for 14 days!

What I did: Painted my nails with regular polish, then topped it off with the Miracle Gel top coat. Because I did my nails after the sun had gone down, I simply relaxed for a few minutes (hoping the polish would dry/cure in the light of my condo). Then, I was off to my usual activities! Right now, I will say I am highly impressed with this polish. It has lasted five days, including one shift at work and three times playing hockey. I have two tiny chips- one on each thumb- and that is it! The results I have received so far have impressed me enough where I will be buying more of the top coat and the gel polish colors. I would recommend this product to anyone!

Have you tried Sally Hansen Miracle Gel yet? How long do your manicures usually last?

Update: August 10, 2014

After several weeks of using the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polish and top coat, I feel like it is high time I post on update on my thoughts of the product! And I have to say, absolutely two thumbs up. Can you use the Miracle Gel top coat with regular polish? Yes, and this works just fine- six days, during which I played hockey, worked out, and did the dishes by hand every day. Does the Miracle Gel polish really last as long as it says? I have to say this is to be determined- I got mine to last as long as ten days before I was impatient with the color and wanted a new one. Still, only minor chips that were hardly noticeable- so I'm fairly sure it could have lasted the entire time. My personal opinion is that you can use Sally Hansen Miracle Gel top coat, with regular polish or Miracle polish, and have great results! I'm so happy I bought a Miracle polish color and two of the top coats before I came to Sweden (where it is not currently sold)!

**I was not compensated for this review, nor did I receive free product. Simply trying to pass along my honest review and recommendation to readers!**

56 comments:

  1. I use this polish often and it easily lasts 5 days -- which on me is great. I haven't tried the topcoat with other polishes though. I'll have to give that a try.

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    1. Penny, I am the exact same where if it lasts 5 days it is great. I love it for this!

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    2. How long did it take to dry and harden/set?

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  2. This sounds like a great top coat. I've been looking for a new one for awhile because my other gel ones just smudge and look horrible after just a few hours.

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    1. Fiona, you should definitely try this out then- it has worked so terrifically for me!

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  3. This sounds impressive. I will have to look into it because whenever I paint my nails, they chip immediately!

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  4. Will definitely check this out, I'm always looking for new brands to try. This is the reason I love reading reviews! Thanks for your update.

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  5. I adore Sally Hansen! I use the Insta-Dri topcoat like crazy so I'll definitely have to give this a try. Thanks!

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    1. Krysten, you definitely should. This is the best!

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  6. Well, what do ya know? I haven't worn nail polish in almost 20 years. Too many kids, too much laundry, too many dishes and why bother? But it sounds like there's a little miracle in a bottle for me now :)

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    1. Sharon, I go through stages. This is the first product in awhile that works though!

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  7. I'm terrible at giving myself manicures (they always chip for some reason!) I have tried the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat and I've got to say I was impressed. My nails lasted 4 days (which is awesome!) <3

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    1. Angelic, I'm right there with you- four days is impressive in my book!

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  8. I have never tried this top coat before!! I am always chipping my nails I will have to look for this one at the store!

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    1. Tammilee, you definitely should- this one works so well!

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  9. I rarely paint my nails because it chips so easily and then looks bad. But 5 days is a long time to last, especially holding up through playing hockey!

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    1. April, thats how I feel. The Sally Hansen Miracle gel is perfect for me!

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  10. This sounds great, you have beautiful nails. I need to try this - my nails peel sometimes.

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  11. I think this would be more economical since it lasts longer. It can also last longer and can even withstand work shifts and hockey games.

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    1. Franc, the Sally Hansen Miracle gel is definitely the best product out there.

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  12. What a very simple nail. I really like all woman that wearing simple and neat nails.

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  13. I love Sally hansen nail polish but never used this one before, thanks for sharing the update.

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    1. Miranda, you should definitely try it out. Sally Hansen Miracle gel is my favorite now!

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  14. I'm always surprised when Sally HAnsen has cute and colorful products for such a low price. I need to try the top coat. I've only tried the polish.

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    1. Krystal, Sally Hansen Miracle gel is the best product out there- lasts so long for me!

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  15. I've seen this around but I have never tried it as I thought you needed a Gel lamp to cure it. Now that I know you just have to go outside I'll be checking it out for sure!

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    1. Cassie, I purchased it because it doesn't need the gel lamp- just sunlight! Sally Hansen Miracle gel works so well!

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  16. I love this so natural looking very good for day. I have used the gel before and do like it more .

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    1. Hannah, Sally Hansen Miracle gel has been the best polish I have found yet!

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  17. I also bought the top coat only to use over regular nail polish. The SH website says you can't do that, but I just applied it over one nail and it dried and seems fine. Thanks for your thorough review! :) Happy dance for no chip nails!

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    1. Target had it for $7.99. Most colors were sold out, so taking that as a good sign, I grabbed the top coat! I can feel the hardness in the one nail I did compared to the others. Yea!!!

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    2. Target had it for $7.99. Most colors were sold out, so taking that as a good sign, I grabbed the top coat! I can feel the hardness in the one nail I did compared to the others. Yea!!!

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    3. Yep, the top coat works great with other polish! Supposedly you need the specific polish, but I have found it works fine without.

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  18. can you use the gel without the topcoat?

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    1. I'm not sure- I have never tried doing that. If you try it you'll have to let me know how it goes!

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    2. Im a new mom and was so excited to finally get a pedicure. To my surprise it lasted 5 weeks before any chipping. Wish they had more color options. Will be trying a different brands color with the Miracle Gel top coat to see if I get the same results.

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    3. I'm so happy it worked that well for you! I've loved being able to use the top coat combined with the miracle gel color, or any other brand. Definitely works better with the miracle gel colors, but sometimes its nice to switch up my brands & colors!

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    4. Hey, did you ever find out if you absolutely need the top coat? I had no idea about the rules or steps of this product and just kinda grabbed it because I love the color - Camo Queen. Now I have applied two coat of the color and I have no idea if I HAVE TO HAVE the miracle top coat. I'm sitting here debating running to the corner Rite-Aid to buy some or just use a Sally Hansen triple shine top coat. Also, is 830 pm here so I have no natural light. Help!

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    5. I've been using just the gel polish, and regular top coat. I'm 5 days in and all is good!

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  20. I've been using just the gel polish, and regular top coat. I'm 5 days in and all is good!

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    1. Carrie-Anne - great to hear that the opposite way works too! I typically use normal polish and the gel coat, and it works awesome!

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  21. So, I can use the regular nail polish + gel top coat? Because the color I wanna use is not one of the Gel I could find, so I bought other Sally Hansen, regular. But I wanna be sure I can add the Gel top coat on it! THanks!!!

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  22. Just bought Sally Hansen Gel TopCoat no light needed. Salons were charging an extra $20 for gel polish !! Insane. For the $10 I paid for a bottle I think I'll be happy...it has to last longer than regular top coat...? I put the Gel Topcoat over a new acrylic manicure with regular polish and topcoat...

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  23. Just bought Sally Hansen Gel TopCoat no light needed. Salons were charging an extra $20 for gel polish !! Insane. For the $10 I paid for a bottle I think I'll be happy...it has to last longer than regular top coat...? I put the Gel Topcoat over a new acrylic manicure with regular polish and topcoat...

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  24. Tried the color and topcoat, worked great for two weeks! Does anyone know if the product contains or is tested on animals?

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  25. Have you tried the gel polish without the top coat? Or for your toes? I bought it for my toes -- I don't wear polish on my nails. I just read that you're supposed to use a top coat so I'm trying to decide whether to go out and buy that, too, or return it and get a regular Sally Hansen product.

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  26. Have you tried the gel polish without the top coat? Or for your toes? I bought it for my toes -- I don't wear polish on my nails. I just read that you're supposed to use a top coat so I'm trying to decide whether to go out and buy that, too, or return it and get a regular Sally Hansen product.

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  27. I have tried the gel polish without the top coat and with the top coat and the top coat definitely helps extend the wear time! I have yet to try it on my toes

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  28. When using the gel top coat on regular polish do you have to soak off or can you just use regular polish remover with cotton ball?

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  29. I love it for my Toes! Literally lasts a month. I only repolish because my nails grow out. Today I tried the top coat alone on my nails to help strengthen them. They feel good.

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  30. Such a nice blog with useful information. I would be thankful if you share more information about Top nail salon .
    Top nail salon

    ReplyDelete

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