Nailed It

Having permanently polished nails is one of those things that make us look (and feel) like we’ve got our lives together. The easiest way to get the look is with a gel manicure like CND Shellac. The downside? Removal of your previous colour, then base-coat, two layers of colour and topcoat means an hour or more at the salon, and we don’t have time for that. Plus, it’s hard on the nails.

CND has come up with an alternative: Shellac Luxe, which can be removed in 60 seconds without any damage, and requires no base coat, so you can get a full polish change in 30 minutes. The brand promises the same 14-day wear as the original Shellac, but we noticed chips in less than two weeks. That’s on uber-short mom nails, where you often get chipping because it’s hard to wrap the tips, however our longer-nailed friend had the same experience. On the positive side, you do get the speed and the ultra-glossy, perfect finish, without the "thick" look that some people dislike with traditional Shellac, and it comes in 65 gorgeous colours. There’s also the instant dryness of gel polish, so no worries about smudging your mani the second you reach for your wallet or put on your gloves—and who doesn’t need that when winter comes?

CND Shellac Luxe is available at selected CND-authorized salons. Click here https://cnd.com/find-salon to find a salon and phone ahead to ensure they have the product and service you want. —Aileen Lalor