Product Review: Sally Hansen Insta Gel Strips

Note: This is not a sponsored post.

Last weekend, while out running errands, I spotted this box of Sally Hansen Insta Gel Strips for $13. I decided that at such a good price, I had to pick up a box and try out a gel mani at home. I have been a huge fan of salon gel manis for months but the thought of doing one myself has always been intriguing to me.

I decided to grab the "Red My Lips" box because you can never go wrong with a good red nail.

I also grabbed two boxes of other strips to try out because they were marked down to $7. You get 16 nail strips in each box, so if you plan well, you can get two applications with each box. This means that the cost actually breaks down to $3.50 per application (not including the starter kit). Definitely cheaper than a salon gel mani.

Instead of breaking out the red nails immediately, I decided to do my test run with "Take the Stage". I figured it's easier to correct mistakes with glitter than with a solid color.

I couldn't believe how easy this gel mani was to apply. You just file your nails, stick on the strips and then paint each nail ONCE with the gel. It sets for 30 seconds under the lamp and then you are all set. 

Not only is this at-home mani easy, it is cheaper and faster than heading to the salon for a 2-week no-chip manicure.

I plan on using more of these strips in the future-- especially for long trips, vacays and weeks that I am too lazy to keep changing my polish.