Kmart shopper's 'amazing' $19 beauty hack stuns customers: 'Looks pretty professional'

As the cost of living crisis continues to loom, more Aussies have been forced to do away with small luxuries in an effort to prioritise necessities and everyday items - or find affordable alternatives. Kmart has consistently come to the rescue in this regard with its extensive range of dupes that have shoppers excited and keen to share their finds with others who are feeling the pinch.

Notably in the beauty department, there are plenty of ways recreate expensive treatments on a budget at home thanks to the major retailer - including getting nails that look fresh out of the salon. Given that nail appointments can be pretty pricey (around $35 for a basic manicure and more for add-ons such as extensions, French tips and nail art) it's no wonder that more and more people are looking for more cost-effective ways of keeping their fingertips 'on fleek'.

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So, if a monthly mani-pedi is something you can’t live without but can’t quite afford any more, there are a plethora of at-home nail kits that (with a bit of practice) will give you a salon-quality makeover without breaking the bank - including a popular one from Kmart.

$19 mani-pedi kit a cost-of-living win

In the Facebook group Kmart Home Decor & Hacks Australia, one of more than 500,000 members shared her favourite hack for a flawless at-home manicure – the Kmart 5-in-1 manicure and pedicure set. At just $19, the battery-operated set is a great option for affordable nails, including five interchangeable accessories for filing, shaping and buffing, plus a handy UV light for drying your nails.

“Like everyone else I’m sure, the cost of living is starting to bite so I’ve decided to do my own SNS nails at home,” the group member wrote in the Facebook post. “I bought the 5-in-1 manicure set from Kmart not really expecting much.

“To my surprise, it’s amazing and even has a built-in UV light. I clearly need more practice, but for my first attempt I’m seriously impressed.”

Other group members rushed to the comments to share their praise for the manicure results, and were eager to try the kit themselves.

“I’m a nail tech and from what I can see you’ve done an amazing job!,” one commenter wrote. “Well done.”

“Looks pretty professional,” another gushed.

“I bought it as well and it’s pretty good,” a third commenter wrote in praise of the nail kit.

One Facebook user also advocated for a $29 Aldi SNS powder nail dip kit, which she said had been “a great hack for saving money and doing nails at home”. Another also recommended purchasing replacement attachments from Ebay for when the accessories wear from use.

Nail tech warns against home UV light kits

However a nail technician said to be wary of at-home nail kits as she warned of nail allergies from regular use.

“You have done a great job of doing your own nails although as a professional I feel the need to advocate against these home gel kits as they are seriously becoming an increasing issue causing nail allergies,” the nail technician wrote in the comments. “Once you have an allergy, you have it for life, causing continuous issues and discomfort.

“If the allergen is reapplied, it occurs through prolonged skin contact or improperly cured gel. The main problem I see is the UV light as it is very likely that light will not consistently fully cure gel to a standard that is safe for consistent wear, especially for darker colours and colours with strong opacity due to there not being enough UV rays emitted as there simply isn’t enough lights or power.”

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But she did note that there are professional or salon-quality UV light devices that can be purchased online if you’re looking for a frequent home manicure.

That being said, the 5-in-1 manicure kit could be an affordable alternative to regular visits to the salon – but do your research and perhaps look into a separate UV or LED light device if you’re a frequent user.

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