2012 Beauty Breakthroughs

Photo by: David Cook

Sally Hansen Salon InstaGel Strips

As Reese's Peanut Butter Cups taught us, two great things can be even better when you stick 'em together. That's exactly what the chemists at Sally Hansen recently did, combining the spazzproof ease of their breakthrough nail-polish stickers with the hard-core strength and shine of a salon gel manicure. The result? High-gloss manicure strips that won't chip or fade for up to 14 days.

HOW... more 

Photo by: David Cook

Sally Hansen Salon InstaGel Strips

As Reese's Peanut Butter Cups taught us, two great things can be even better when you stick 'em together. That's exactly what the chemists at Sally Hansen recently did, combining the spazzproof ease of their breakthrough nail-polish stickers with the hard-core strength and shine of a salon gel manicure. The result? High-gloss manicure strips that won't chip or fade for up to 14 days.

HOW IT WORKS: Each nail strip has a supersticky base of medical adhesive layered with several fine coats of actual enamel that look, feel, and even smell like liquid polish. All you have to do is position the strip, press, and buff the edges to break off any excess polish. Then things get really interesting: The company has a new gel topcoat that, when painted on and dried under the included LED light for 30 seconds, triggers a chemical reaction and forms a clear, durable webbing over the polish, making it at least ten times stronger than regular nail lacquer. Even better, unlike gel manicures in the salon, these strips can be removed lickety-split-without drying acetone.

WHAT AN EXPERT SAYS: "There have been some exciting developments in nail color in recent years," says Wilson. "We've seen stronger enamel, nail stickers, and long-lasting gel manicures in the salon-and this combines all of those technologies in two steps at home."

less