Nail polish is one of the few products that fashion and beauty lovers can indulge in without remorse. And for those on a budget, a drugstore find like Revlon's new ColorStay Longwear Nail Enamel ($8.99 at London Drugs) may be more appealing than a department store or salon brand. The revamped formula--free of formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP and available in a variety of on-trend colours--promises gel-like shine and chip-proof colour for up to 11 days when worn with a base and top coat.
I first saw ColorStay Longwear Nail Enamel in action at the Revlon x London Drugs media preview I attended. The greige shade 'Bare Bones' stood out as my favourite, so much so that I bought a bottle when I spotted it in-store.
Compared to other nail polishes I've tried, Revlon's latest offering is kind of hit-and-miss. The overly long brush stem picked up excess polish which dripped down to the bristles, resulting in goopy rather than thin layers and flooded cuticles. Air bubbles marred the surface of more than a few nails.
Despite the uneven results, the polish was noticeably, almost mesmerizingly, shiny. It lasted almost 7 days with only one chip and some wear around the tips, after which the chipping rate accelerated. By day 8 or 9, it had chipped so much I had to remove it.
The final verdict: If there's a colour in Revlon's new ColorStay Longwear Nail Enamel line that you really like, go for it. But otherwise you might be better off spending the same amount of money or a couple dollars more on OPI or Essie.
UPDATE: According to my gorgeous friend Anya, you need to use the special top and base coats in this line to reap the full chip-proof benefits of ColorStay Longwear Nail Enamel: "I heven't tried them yet, but Revlon's educator, Leeanne Colley, told me that you have to use the line's base coat and top coat to get the full benefits. The polish is UV sensitive so if you put regular old top coat over it, it won't work its magic." Thanks for the tip!
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I heven't tried them yet, but Revlon's educator, Leeanne Colley (https://twitter.com/#!/LeeanneColley), told me that you have to use the line's base coat and top coat to get the full benefits. The polish is UV sensitive so if you put regular old top coat over it, it won't work its magic.
ReplyDeleteAnya, thanks for the tip. I guess the top and base coats in this line are there for a reason! Even with the special base and top coats though, I don't see how the problems with the formula being so thick can be avoided.
ReplyDeleteawesome review... i always love to find nail polish that lasts forever how annoying though that you have to use their topcoats and base!!
ReplyDeletex0
annette
www.theversastyle.com
7 days with no chipping is pretty amazing in my book! i might have to try it (with base and top coat, i suppose! thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of the same tips Anya gave regarding using the base coat and top coat from the same line to fully reap it's results.
ReplyDeleteI'm super tempted to try it out, my only vice is that I've never really liked Revlon's top coats. Perhaps this line will fare a better?
I don't use Revlon make up at all but I DO love their quality of nail polish, they last long considering how much they cost!
ReplyDeleteThe ColorStay top coat is really good. I use to buy it because it really made my polish last long. If I ever see this Revlon polish on sale, I wouldn't mind trying it out. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteI got Spanish Moss and Rainforest and the base and top coats. I've got Spanish Moss on now and I love it (it matches my eye color) The polish feels very luxurious and the way the polish perfectly and slowly came down the stem onto the brush meant I didn't have to dip into the bottle for each finger. I think I did four fingers before needing to re-dip. It was a one-coater for me. I really like this polish and think I'll go look at the other colors next time I'm at Walmart.
ReplyDeleteI have quite a few of these colors plus the base and top coat and get excellent wear. Not only that but I've found so far that my Essies and Chanels wear like iron as well with the base and top. I've been using them with everything for about the past month. Only thing is dry time is a little slow.
ReplyDeleteI have quite a few of these colors plus the base and top coat and get excellent wear. Not only that but I've found so far that my Essies and Chanels wear like iron as well with the base and top. I've been using them with everything for about the past month. Only thing is dry time is a little slow.
ReplyDeleteLove your color choices and LOVE this line! Here is my mini-review for anyone interested :)
ReplyDeleteIn addition to this line's top and base coat, I have purchased:
Pale Cashmere
Wild Strawberry
Bonsai
Blue Slate
Fall Mood
French Roast
Amethyst
Indigo Night
I have been collecting/using this line since its debut in my local drugstore in January and I fall deeper in love with each color purchase!
APPLICATION: The ease of application varies depending on the color, I've noticed. For example, Amethyst is borderline goopy and somewhat difficult to meticulously manipulate, while Bonsai is fairly thin and easier to manipulate with the brush. Depending on the color, the polish is roughly 85-99% opaque after the first coat - definitely a great characteristic! If you are relatively quick with the application, you can avoid any streaking in the first coat; however, a second coat will take care of any streaking easily. Anything more than two coats will most certainly result in bubbling/bumps.
LONG LASTING: Let me begin by saying that I am rough/clumsy with my hands and have my hands in water constantly. With that said, this line of polish is perfect for the active working girl! More often than not, this polish will last me at least 7 days (with the use of the corresponding base/top coat). Caveat: there is still the normal wear on the color at the tips of the nails associated with typing and whatnot.
BASE/TOP COATS: It will be worth your while to purchase the base/top coat because it DOES make a noticeable difference in the life of the manicure. I even use the base/top coats with other brands of polish to prevent chipping on my favorite colors.
DRY TIME: Be warned, this line does take a while to dry. If I were to guesstimate - dry to the touch in approximately 8-10 minutes. I usually allow myself an uninterrupted complete episode of my favorite pointless reality TV show after I apply the final top coat before I use my hands for anything :)
ALL IN ALL - WONDERFUL, LONG LASTING LINE OF POLISH!