Desperately Seeking Persistent Polish is a series where I wear a nail polish for seven days and take before and after pics to document the condition of my paws over the course of the week!
I recognize that I talk a lot lately about Smith & Cult, but I have reasons! They last, and they’re super saturated, and they also have lots of colors I don’t see anyplace else, like grayish green Bitter Buddhist, an oldie but a goodie that still knocks the cat lady socks off my feet.
Problem is…Smith & Cult is well aware of their fabulousness, and they charge you like they mean it.
$18 a bottle.
But relative to Chanel ($28, wha!?) and Tom Ford ($37, OMG!), that’s a steal…except that it’s not, so what is else is out there?
Here’s something comparable that costs less than half (!) as much: I swear on Jeremy Renner’s makeup brushes that Sally Hansen Color Therapy Nail Polish is just as good as Smith & Cult.
There, I said it.
I’ve been wearing one of their new fall shades — a rich, dark reddish brown with bronze microglitter called Falling Deep.
I’ve been wearing it for the past seven days and, quite frankly, I am shocked by how well it held up. It withstood a family plague of three consecutive colds (first El Hub, then Connor and now me), typing 2,000 words in less than 48 hours, and it made it through a moms group get-together that I went to last night in which I awkwardly pretended to be an event photographer (more on this is a second).
“Sally Hansen’s Color Therapy Nail Polish gives you color that cares while you wear! Intensive nourishment for healthy looking nails and up to 10 days fade-proof, chip-resistant Wear. 9 out of 10 women experienced a noticeable improvement in their natural nails.”
— ulta.com
Falling Deep looks like a Smith & Cult or even a Chanel polish, but it’s only $7.99! And right now at Ulta the entire Color Therapy line is marked down to $4.79, which makes them a steal.
I sandwiched two layers of Falling Deep between the same Smith & Cult base coat and top coat I’ve been using throughout the “Desperately Seeking” series, and after seven days it still looks pretty good.
Day 1
Ingredients
Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Tosylamide / Epoxy Resin, Isopropyl Alcohol, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Triphenyl Phosphate, Adipic Acid / Neopentyl Glycol / Trimelliticanhydride Copolymer, Isosorbide Dicaprylate / Caprate, Styrene / Acrylates Copolymer, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seedoil, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Etocrylene, Diacetone Alcohol, Hexanal, Kaolin, Aqua / Water / Eau, Phosphoric Acid, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruitoil, N-Butyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Butyleneglycol, Macrocystis Pyrifera (Kelp) Extract, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Tocopherol, Methylparaben, Tin Oxide. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Ultramarines (CI 77007), D & C Red No. 6 Barium Lake (CI 15850), Manganeseviolet (CI 77742), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), D & C Red No. 7 Calcium Lake (CI 15850), FD & C Yellow No. 5 Aluminum Lake (CI 19140), D & C Red No. 34 Calcium Lake (CI 15880), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Aluminum Powder (CI 77000), FD & C Blue No. 1 Aluminum Lake (CI 42090), D & C Violet No. 2 (CI 60725), D & C Black No. 2 (CI 77266), D & C Yellow No. 11 (CI 47000)
Day 7
There’s only one medium-sized chip at the base of my ring finger, but that’s not bad at all after seven days for me.
*Hooray for Color Therapy!* Can’t wait to do my next mani with another one! ?
I’m awkward, man…
I think I may have mentioned this before, but I joined a local mothers group this year to find some adults to interact with and give myself something to do out of the house, also with the idea being that I should, in theory, have a little more time for extracurricular activities now that Connor’s in preschool.
I started volunteering in the group, and one of the things I’ve been doing is serving as the unofficial event photographer.
Here’s one of my favorite pieces from an event at a local wine bar…
It’s been a while since I’ve had to be social for an extended time among strangers, and my @ss is awkward as all hell. I mean…small talk is something I used to be comfortable with (I used to say that if you give me five minutes with someone, I’ll get their whole life story), but I have to work at it now. I dunno… It’s not like I’m shy, because I’m not at all. It’s more like I’ve forgotten the cadence of having a decent conversation with a stranger. Like, I say too much or too little at the wrong times? It’s weird…
I’m assuming that everyone goes through something like this at some point? I think? I’m telling myself that even though I feel hella awkward, I just have to keep putting myself out there. It’ll get easier. Right?
*Awkward people FTW!*
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Chelsea says
September 27th, 2018 at 6:46 pmI’m awkward too. I get overexcited or really nervous and blather on because silence makes me uncomfortable.
Beautiful color! Reminds me of my prom dress, would have been great to go with it! I hit my big toe against a wall doing aerial today so that toenail is TO’ UP. It’s definitely feeling like fall anyway LOL. It’s the same toe I sprained a few weeks ago too.
Karen says
September 27th, 2018 at 8:39 pmOKAY so that’s me right now, LOL! I have no sense for when to stop or start.
I can see this color looking amazing with your skin tone, btw.
Tara says
September 28th, 2018 at 5:07 amI love this series, BTW. I’m on the be same search as well. Sally Hansen is really on top of the nail game. My best long wearing polish right now is Essie Gel Couture, but the SH Miracle Gel like is just about as good. I’m going to give this line a try now too.
I hate real gel polishes because they destroy my nails, and I have no patience fur sitting with aluminum foil on my fingers to take it off!
Rachel says
September 28th, 2018 at 9:37 amI second the Essie Gel Couture! I like it a lot but I feel like the price is a little steep. I ordered 2 lots of 15 different colors on eBay for around $35 per lot. This way I can have all the colors!
Kim says
September 28th, 2018 at 5:13 amI suspect that you are feeling much more awkward than you’re actually coming across. If there are pauses and other people look uncomfortable, it’s probably because they’re feeling the same way you are. You probably already know this, but ask people about their kids. That’s a subject that moms will go on and on about. And you have a fantastic memory for detail so, the next time you see them, you’ll be able to ask how Little Johnny is doing in his underwater basket weaving class and Mom will be so pleased. 🙂 It’s hard, Karen. I give you so much credit for getting out and doing this. There are very few people who are like “I can’t wait to meet up with this group of strangers, alone, and hang out!!”. It will get easier – you’re doing a great job! <3
Amy says
September 28th, 2018 at 10:48 amThe *best* base I’ve used is the Orly Bonder Rubberized Base Coat. Polishes really stick to it. Top coats vary, usually I use OPI or Sally Hansen. I did a French manicure a few weeks ago, and the tips didn’t chip for over a week!
My theory is that all the energy that post-baby, all of the energy that used to go into sincere interest in others now goes into keeping your kid happy, safe, and engaged in learning. Your thoughts are on a pivot around Baby, and small talk becomes way less part of the flow in that equation. Plus there’s the ridiculous level of tiredness. But most other moms technically understand this, so keep at it! 🙂
Shannon says
September 28th, 2018 at 11:43 amMan, talking with strangers is HARD. (No lie, I wrote a song about it, ha!) I feel so awkward trying to make conversation with people I don’t know. I’m real tentative about asking questions because I worry about “prying.” But then OTHER people ask questions about ME, and all I do is talk about myself. Sigh.
I have been trying to get better at it. Progress is slow, but it’s so gratifying to (every once in a while) have something that feels close to a normal-@ss conversation, lol! #adulating, haha.
Tatiana says
September 28th, 2018 at 11:51 amLove this color! Good to see how well it held up. I’m less insulted by Tom Ford’s polish pricing (because it tends to last on my nails) than I am by Chanel’s polish pricing (because it usually chips in under 24 hours for me).
I’m very socially awkward. I’m also borderline introvert, so sometimes the effort to get out is just too much. I do better in smaller gatherings, too.
I’ve read the comments and you have some very wise blog readers. I second all their advice.
Barb says
September 28th, 2018 at 12:16 pmKaren, I went to Ulta during lunch and grabbed a bunch of these. The color selection is gorgeous and they were all 40% off 🙂
Michele DiCola says
September 28th, 2018 at 12:18 pmHappy Friday Karen ,
Reaching out and being the photographer is a really cool way to connect to others.
Do you post the pics somewhere?
I love Smith and Cult just for the bottle !
But I’m staying w dip powder . It amazes me how well it stays . Only problem is I need to find a new salon because mine burned down !
I feel so bad because they are so dedicated .
Lorraine says
September 28th, 2018 at 1:57 pmWhat a gorgeous fall color on you! It has such a beautiful depth with its shimmer. I remember when Chanel USED to come out with shimmers like this- but not so much lately. Tom Ford rarely releases new polishes but oooh, when he does shimmers, I am ready to fork over the cash! That said, as drugstore polishes go, Sally Hansen and Essie for the win. I think OPI is doing too many “safe” collections of late.
On another note, congrats on joining that mom group. I hope you make some lifelong friends. Making and keeping friends gets so much harder as we get older and travel in our own little “habitrails” as my friend used to say! It takes a bit more effort, but it’s worth it~ great self care investment in yourself and role model for your daughter. Friendships are so important!
Diana says
September 28th, 2018 at 6:08 pmI am loving this series too! I got Falling Deep tonight at Walgreens seeing it on you-it reminds me of Lippmans Brown Eyed Girl that was retired. I loved that color! I gave my sis a bottle of Smith&Cult and she tried to return it thinking it was defective with the dented cap lol Excited to hear Sally is just as good!
Oh yeah I alternate between awkward silence or yappy excitement depending on the day&the person I’m talking with. Working from home the last ten years has made my introvert come out more! When I had my dog, we would walk alot& I made so many block friends…it was great conversation practice! It’s hard to keep conversations flowing but It is worth the effort and initial awkwardness.. otherwise your world narrows a bit. You’re starting with the Mom group, perfect!
Ruta says
October 13th, 2018 at 4:00 pmOh My God! Yes, I thought that was just me being weird but awkwardness after not being social is real! You’re my proof.
I worked and lived on my own last year for three months abroad not really knowing the language, and I swear I lost my social skills (which weren’t awesome to start with) along the way!
It does get better after a while though. I think…
Propts to you for getting back out there and jumping in with both feet!
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