Yes, the economy is tough right now and like many, I’ve been looking for ways to save money. One thing I’ve had to give up were pedicures.  Averaging from $35-$65, they were a luxury, but one I loved.   One of the reasons I’ve never done my nails at home is because of the mess and because I can rarely get the same look as the professionals do.  I’ve tried lots of brands of polish – Opi, Sally Hansen, NARS, and a few others.  All with the appropriate base and top coats, and none lasted through my morning shower without significant chipping.  Heck, half the time I’d “dent” the polish before it was dry.  I have a basket of tried and failed products in my bathroom from the last 20-years.

I’d nearly given up on ever being able to do my own nails until I tried Dazzle Dry from VB  Cosmetics. I received one of their  Dazzle Dry Nail System Retail Kits – in it was everything for a perfect manicure or pedicure and then some! I was skeptical when using the products because I’d had so many bad experiences in the past.  I started my home manicure with a filing and cuticle nipping (I love Tweezerman Nippers – a must have!).

The simple four-step process was:

  1. I applied the Prep. The Nail prep sanitizes and prepares the nail for lasting adhesion of nail polish on natural nails promoting longer lasting manicures and pedicures. It does this by removing the natural nail oils, which I’ve long thought was the reason my polish didn’t adhere.  It dulls the nail just a bit, but it contains beneficial moisture, calcium, vitamin B5 and hydrolyzed protein to improve your nails as well.  Easy to apply, a cotton ball was all I needed to apply it. It dried within a minute or two and made my nails feel clean and dry.  The scent was light and pleasant; nothing overwhelming. Ingredients Isopropyl alcohol, SD alcohol, water, ethyl acetate, calcium-D-pantothenate and AMP isostearoyl hydrolyzed wheat protein.
  2. The next step was the Base Coat for natural nails. Not recommended for fake nails, this base coat helps your lacquer adhere better and last longer.  Mine was extremely thick, and I couldn’t get the brush back down in the bottle after the initial removal.  Luckily, I looked at the insert provided which stated that the base coat’s consistency might change due to temperature changes and it gave a remedy.  I simply immersed the bottle into a hot water bath for 5 minutes, and it returned to the normal consistency.  I enjoyed the base coat. It went on beautifully and dried quickly.  By the time I finished my second hand the first hand was dry and ready for polish.  Ingredients: Isopropyl alcohol, water, and polyurethane.
  3. Next, comes the Nail Lacquers which are nitrocellulose free, toluene free, formaldehyde free, phthalate free, plus have UV protection for long lasting color. I was provided three colors in the kit (when you order you select the three you’d like to have, they’re not predetermined, which is fabulous).  I chose the lightest color called “Pedal to the Metal.”  A soft-pink color that compliments my skin tone well.  You’re instructed to do one thick coat or two thin – I’m a thin coat person.  It went on amazingly well.  Perfect in fact.  It also dried amazingly fast, and I was able to start the second coat immediately upon finishing the first.  The coverage was outstanding, and it dried to the hardest, shiniest, most fabulous looking nails I’ve ever had – I’m serious.  It looked as good as any nail salon I’ve ever been to.  At a minimum, for the polish to be long lasting, you’ll need to use the base coat.  The colors available range from the very soft pinks to bright and bold reds and a few fun purples and golds.  Ingredients: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Propyl Acetate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, SD Alcohol 40B, Dipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Octocrylene, Fragrance, Tosylamide/Epoxy Resin, Polyisobutyl Methacrylate, Cyclomethicone, Blue 1, Ext. Violet 2. May Contain: Red 34 Lake, Red 7 Lake, Red 6 Lake, Black 2, Iron Oxides, Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide, Titanium Dioxide, Mica.
  4. Finally, I covered my fabulous nails with Dazzle Dry Top Coat which is a non-yellowing, toluene free, formaldehyde free and phthalate free high gloss topcoat. This was the ideal finishing touch – it took my nails over the top and put a glaze on them that was spectacular.  They were shiny and FLAWLESS!  Within 5 minutes I could touch them without leaving an impression.  Within 15 minutes I was typing!  Not a smudge, chip, dip, or ding!   Ingredients: Ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, propyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, dipropylene glycol dibenzoate, octocrylene, fragrance, tosylamide/epoxy resin, polyisobutyl methacrylate, cyclomethycaine, blue 1 and ext. Violet 2.

My home manicure lasted 7 days!  Yes! Seven! Through showers, baking, cooking, typing, and more.  I’ve never been able to do that with anything but acrylic nails.  The only reason they didn’t last longer is my cuticles started growing, and when I cut them back they left an area that needed to be filled.  When I took the polish off my nails looked great underneath, and they’d grown for 7 days without breakage – an amazingly long time for me.

The Dazzle Dry line as well as its companion skincare products line, Abrioné,  are made in the USA! The founder and CEO of the company, Dr. Vivian Valenti.  She invented and patented the first UV curing top coat for fingernail polish in 1990 and began her skincare line in 1993.

Now that I’ve tried the Dazzle Dry line and found them to be amazing, I’m looking forward to trying some of the VB Skincare line. Especially the microdermabrasion, sugar and other scrubs; body wraps; moisturizers; chakra, mud and other masks; lotions; and other products for face and body care. I’m confident that the quality will be as fabulous as the Dazzle Dry line!

Enjoy!

DETAILS:

Costs:  Dazzle Dry nail Prep (1 oz) – $3; Dazzle Dry Base Coat (.5 oz)  – $12.50 ; Dazzle Cry Color Lacquers (.5 oz)  – $9, Dazzle Dry Top Coat (.5 oz) – $12.50; or Nail Kit – $54

Typical Cautions apply: Use only as directed. Keep this and other products out of the reach of children. Use in a well-ventilated area.  Flammable.

Never tested on our animal friends and made in the USA – gotta love that!