If you've seen some of my previous nail polish reviews you'll know that I'm a big fan of products that deliver a gel nail effect. Yes, a real salon gel manicure lasts for ages, but they can be pricey, UV-lights aren't very good for your skin and sitting through the application of coat after coat of polish can be tedious as hell. Not to mention the awful removal process. I like being able to just slap on a color and top coat at home, without any fancy lights, and getting shiny, long-wearing color in just a few minutes. Well, Wet n Wild recently came out with 1 Step Wonder Gel Nail Colors that further simplify the process. I've put the shade Peri-wink-le of an Eye - a lovely cornflower blue - to the test to see if it really gets you that gel look in just a few brushstrokes.
Let's start with the application. The brush for this polish is wide, flat and rounded, much like the one in Wet n Wild's MegaLast Nail Colors. I'm a huge fan of those nail polishes and I love how easy application is with this wide brush. It makes for quicker application and less streaks. The formula itself is very opaque and pigmented, though you do end up with some streaks on the first coat. I would say it takes two coats to have a nice, even finish. Although you get a smooth, opaque finish and a pigmented color, I wouldn't really call it a 'gel' polish. Personally I associate gel nails with a ton of shine and this really doesn't deliver that kind of look. The polish has some shine but I feel like to really get a gel nail look this would need to be a 2-step system with a shiny top coat.
Where this does approach gel nail standards is in its longevity. To really test this baby out I applied two coats, with no base or top coat, and wore it on my nails for over two weeks. I made it through a whole week with just some light chipping on the end of my right hand's index finger (always the first to get ruined in my experience). I've had the polish on for 15 days now and though the color definitely doesn't look fresh, the majority of the center of my nails is still intact. You can clearly see the growth at the base of my nails and chips and wearing at the tips but personally, I don't think an Essie nail polish would have worn even half as well on my nails, even with a strong top coat. I'm definitely impressed!
I think now that I've tested the longevity I'll be popping my Seche Vite Top Coat over this in the future - just because I like my nails super shiny and I think it'll really add that extra gel-like shine. This polish came in at around $4.99 and taking into account the ease of application and wear-time I'd definitely say it's worth it.
I think the term 'gel' is really more to help with marketing than anything else because what this really is is an amped-up, longer-lasting version of their MegaLast polishes. But I can't really blame them as I don't think "Even More MegaLast" would have quite the same ring to it. If you're already a fan of Wet n Wild's MegaLast nail colors but want something that'll last even longer on your nails, this is the formula to pick up.
How do you feel about at home gel nail polishes? Have you tried any you love and recommend? Any that didn't work for you?
Wet n Wild 1 Step Wonder Gel Nail Color
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Labels:
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Drugstore beauty,
drugstore makeup,
gel nails,
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