Good Things Come to Those Who Wait.
Written: Mar 04 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Long-lasting, easy application, nice bottle, relatively low price, high shine, rich colors
Cons: Takes forever to dry, must be ordered from Mary Kay, bubbles if applied too thick
The Bottom Line: If you have time to spend hours in patient application, you will be pleased with the results. Otherwise, pick another polish!
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| twenty3skidoo's Full Review: Mary Kay Signature Nail Enamel |
Before my sister got married two months ago, we decided it was a good idea to go in for a manicure. Well, my nails looked fantastic with the acrylic tips on them... But then they grew out some. And being the cheapskate that I am, I removed them rather than going into the salon to have them redone. So now I am left with halfway-grown out nails that are weak and peeling and in desperate need of some help to restore them to their former feminine state.
Ordinarily I am somewhat low-key when it comes to nail/makeup color. So I would never in a million years have thought to buy bright red nail polish from Mary Kay. But when I won some at a Mary Kay party the other night, I thought, eh, why not?
1. What is it?
This product is a high-gloss nail enamel that comes in 8 shades that coordinate with Mary Kay lipsticks (for those of us who have time/energy for such pursuits!). It comes in 9 ml bottles for $6.00 a piece.
The colors available right now are:
*lavender moon
*rich berry
*sunfire
*red hot
*white lace
*hot pink
*whipped pink
*mystic mauve
The bottle is made of heavy glass and is shaped in kind of a tear-drop shape. Very sleek, with a feeling of quality even just from holding the bottle.
2. Stuff on the box...
The box claims, Advanced, long-wearing formula provides a beautiful high-gloss finish that lasts.
Directions say to apply two coats and a top coat to protect the color and extend the wear.
3. Stuff NOT on the box...
Okay, here's what I think of this polish. First off, the color I tried was "red hot." It is exactly what it sounds like, a fire engine red. I applied it to my clean, bare nails.
It went on smoother than many other brightly colored polishes I have tried. There was very little dripping or bleeding off to the side, plus there seemed to be plenty on the brush to coat the entire nail.
After one coat, your nails will look great. After two coats, they will look great, and the shine and color will intensify. After the topcoat, they will look incredible. As in best they've ever looked. HOWEVER. You must not touch anything for about 12 hours after you apply it or it will smudge!
This stuff takes FOREVER to dry. I really mean it. Even when you think it's dry, and it feels dry, it goes on so thick that if you go to bed or something, you will wake up with strange textures imprinted into your polish. It is really great stuff, but it must be used with caution and patience...
4. How to use it so it will be fantastic...
This polish must be applied in several stages with large amounts of time elapsing in between them. It looks incredible and lasts like a dream once you get it on, but you MUST follow these directions or you will end up having to start from scratch:
*Apply one very thin coat of polish to clean bare nails. If you get this coat too thick, the polish will bubble once it's dry.
*Wait at least one hour.
*Apply a second very thin coat of polish to clean bare nails.
*Wait at least two hours.
*Apply a topcoat to nails.
*Wait at least one hour before touching anything, 3 hours before going to bed or doing laundry or anything else that requires extensive pressure to be put on nails.
This sounds like a lot of trouble, and indeed it is. However, once you get it on like this, just apply an extra clear topcoat every few days and the polish will not chip, fade or peel... pretty much ever. I find that it tends to grow off before it goes anywhere. Then you just remove it all and start again.
5. Is it worth all the trouble? Really?
That depends. I find that it is worth the trouble, just because after one afternoon of effort, I'm good to go for a couple of weeks. The color stays very well, and the polish shines and protects nails very well. I also like the way the bottle feels in my hands. It is nice and heavy, and the shape of the handle allows for good control during application. In addition, it has a little mixing ball inside that agitates the polish as you shake it before application to ensure even coverage.
For the price, you won't find a better polish in the color and endurance department. Most beauty salon polished will run in the $15 range, and this is only $6 a bottle. It is more than Wal-Mart polish, but you will use less, so it balances out.
If you are looking for convenient, quick-drying nail polish, pass on this stuff. It takes a very very long time to set, plus it requires that you order it from a Mary Kay person rather than just buying it in the store. It also does not come in very many colors, but the shades available are quite versatile and the color you see in the catalogue is a perfect match with what comes in the bottle.
If you have a little money and a lot of patience, give this polish a shot. It is worth the time, but only if you have the time! For speed and convenience... keep shopping!
Other Mary Kay products I've tried...
Oil-Free Hydrating Gel
Oil Mattifier
Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
twenty3skidoo
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Member: Kori Daniel
Location: Fayetteville, AR, US
Reviews written: 75
Trusted by: 11 members
About Me:
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." -H.D. Thoreau
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