Ombre Manicure DIY with Sally Hansen and U by Kotex from Target!

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There's a really great deal going on right now over at Target, and you need to get to your store to take advantage! When you buy 3 U by Kotex products, you can get a free Sally Hansen Salon Manicure Nail Polish. Since I use #UbyKotex (yes, TMI, but this is my preferred brand), and I like the #SallyHansen Salon Manicure formula, this is a great promotion!




I thought I would share some #nailart with you. I'm not a big nail art girl, I'm not talented enough to draw tiny snowmen or polka dots on my nails. I usually just opt for an accent nail on one hand, or I might add a little shimmer gradient. Today I'm going all out and doing an ombre mani with a gradient of shimmer on top! This is a fun way to add a little glam to an every day winter manicure.




Here's everything that I used to create this look. I have 4 polishes that are in the same color family. I also have a really pretty shimmer polish and a clean makeup sponge.




I start by painting my nails! I typically use 4 polishes when doing an ombre manicure, for some reason having a 5th color on my thumb always bothers me. The great thing about this formula is that it has base coat, and top coat built right in to the formula. It also lasts for 7 days on me without a problem.




Once my nails are dry, I get ready to apply the shimmer on top. I like to have a little gradient of shimmer, with more concentrated at the tip. There are a lot of tutorials on how to do this, but I've found the key for me with this technique is to load the sponge correctly. I start with putting a top coat on the sponge roughly down to the line shown. Then I apply the shimmer on top (this is #130 Gilty Party) with more at the end of the sponge. Mixing it a bit into the top coat helps to space out the shimmer.




Now you gently press the sponge onto your nails. I do 5 nails and then reload, but note that when reloading you don't need to apply even half as much polish. A lot soaked into the sponge. Even with the top coat, you'll sometimes get lines like you see on my right thumb (ignore that Super Glue on my finger, I had to emergency repair some Princesses right before the manicure), just go over those spots very lightly at the end when the sponge has almost no polish left.

Finally, I did apply top coat over the shimmer once it had dried. Tapping on the shimmer like this leaves a bumpy surface, and without adding top coat to smooth things over my manicure lasts only 2 or 3 days instead of 7 days.




Here's the finished look! An ombre manicure with a pretty gradient of shimmer over the top.

U By Kotex
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