If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

About Facile Nails

The headline is that Facile Nails won “Best Press-Ons” from Allure Magazine, which is a highly regarded award in the beauty industry. That is what piqued my interest initially, but I love that they are a woman-owned company located right here in North America.

Facile Press-On Nails Sizes

Facile Nails offers a variety of options in length, shapes, and finishes. The website is a little clunky so it will take some patience to find what you want, but there’s quite a bit to choose from.

What I Bought

I bought two different styles to try. I’m excited to try French Influence which is a coffin/ballerina, medium-length, semi-transparent ombre style. Glazed Donut (pictured below) is perfect as a winter white (which I did) or summer bright. It’s almond, medium-length with a chrome finish.

The cost at the time of purchase was $16-$19 per set.

Facile Nails Press-On Kit Product Overview

The press-on set includes 24 nails in 10 sizes, with multiples of the most popular size. This is key because most press-on sets only include two of each size but my index and ring nail are the same size so usually one slightly doesn’t fit.

Another benefit to Facile Nailes over other press-on sets I’ve tried is that they include both glue and nail tabs. When applying nails with the glue, the nails can last up to two weeks. The tabs can last up to a couple of days, they can be easily removed, and then the nails are reusable. By including both ways to adhere the nails there is a lot of flexibility in how and when we wear the nails!

Everything needed to apply press-ons is included in the press-on kit. Not only the nails, glue, and tabs, but also a file, buffer, and alcohol pad for proper prep, which is essential to making them last.

Results

In other press-on nail brands I’ve tried tabs can make the nail…bouncy, for lack of a better term. I used the tabs and didn’t feel that sensation. The tabs feel more like press-on nails applied with glue, which is great. One thing that is a little unusual is the longer nail curves down a bit, which I think is supposed to give it a more natural appearance, but my natural nails don’t so it looks a bit odd on me.

I had one nail pop off an hour after applying. When I reapplied it with a new tab, it popped off again later that night. I didn’t have any issues with any other nails, so I’m thinking maybe I didn’t prep that one nail correctly. It feels like it’s probably a user error.

Where to Buy

At the time of publishing Facile Nails are only available directly from their website.

Final Verdict of Facile Nails

When I looked at the nails throughout the day, they looked great! I love the option of glue or tabs, but they don’t fit my nails perfectly. I have rather long, square nail beds so even choosing the medium length, and cutting my nails short, I was still able to see some of my natural nails. If you have short nail beds or rounded tips, these would be great!

I won’t be buying them again strictly because they don’t fit my nail beds, but they could be a great option for you!

If you loved this Facile Nails review, check out these other nail posts:

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  Because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

Pin this post, and save it for later!

The post Facile Nails: An Honest Review appeared first on Very Obsessed.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

About Olive & June

Olive and June is a California-based, Woman-owned company (owned by Sarah Gibson Tuttle). Sarah opened a wildly successful brick & mortar nail salon in 2013 and launched the now-famous line of (long-lasting) nail polishes in 2019.

This luxury nail polish brand is vegan and cruelty-free and is 15-free formulated, which basically means it’s made without all the toxic things that so many nail polishes contain. The other key claim is that it is a gel-like finish but doesn’t require UV and comes off with a basic nail polish remover.

What is Available in the Olive & June Quick Dry Nail Polish Line

Olive & June launch their Quick Dry Nail Polish line in 2022 with 19 shades and a Quick Dry Top Coat. As of publication, they haven’t added any additional colors, but I’m hopeful they will. The colors are all glossy and range from opaque white to an inky black with a range of the rainbow in between.

I’m a big fan of the Olive & June mani system, which includes everything you need to get a salon-like manicure at home in one convenient kit, and what’s awesome now is that you can select long-lasting, quick dry, or a combination of both in the kit. If you decide not to get the system I highly, highly suggest you get The Poppy, which pops onto the top of the nail polish and gives you more control when painting. It’s a game changer when painting my dominant hand.

What I Bought

I bought two colors of Olive & June Quick Dry Polish, Smooch with is a bold red and Cateye which is an inky black. I also bought the Quick Dry Top Coat because if I’ve learned anything from Olive & June long-lasting polish is that the top coat makes all the difference.

The cost at the time of publishing is $7.50 per bottle or you can purchase the mani set. I’m a member (which means free shipping, discounts, and exclusive product) which brings the price per bottle down to $6.75.

How to Apply

It wouldn’t be Olive & June without The Poppy so of course it fits on the Quick Dry bottles to help with control of the brush.

Because the Quick Dry formula is thinner than Long-Lasting any imperfection on your nails (like ridges) could be visible. For this reason, I started out (after filing, buffing, swiping my nail with polish remvoer to make sure there was no residual oil) using the Ridge Filler. Then I proceeded to paint two coats of color and finished with the Top Coat. It’s important to paint thin layers to let each one dry fully. Since the Ridge Filler isn’t Quick Dry I let that dry for about 5 minutes, and then each color only about two minutes before going on to the next step.

Removal is super easy just using regular nail polish remover with a cotton pad, or skip the cotton pad and just use the Polish Remover Pot!

The Results

The polish genuinely is Quick Dry and will dry to the touch in about a minute! I wouldn’t go to sleep or right away as you might have some bedsheet lines, or drag something sharp across them, but to the touch it’s good to go. Without the Top Coat the polish isn’t matte, but it’s not a super high gloss finish. The Top Coat is key.

Now, the Quick Dry polish doesn’t last as long as the regular line, which is now called Long Lasting, which kind of says it all (meaning the Quick Dry is…short lasting?) Olive & June claims Quick Dry nail polish will last about five days, but I think it depends on how hard you are on your nails. I’m on a keyboard all day so for me it will last about three, but it’s enough to take me through the weekend and that’s amazing!

Where to Buy

Olive & June started as a DTC company and I still prefer buying directly from their website, as they have the best variety. Since I have the membership shipping is always free, but if you aren’t they also have free shipping with a minumimum purchase.

Along with Press-Ons and Long Lasting polish, Quick Dry polish is also available at Target. While Olive & June recently launched at Wal-Mart, they aren’t currently offering the Quick Dry line

Final Verdict of Olive & June Quick Dry Nail Polish

Olive & June Quick Dry Polish has been a complete gamechanger when I am getting ready and realize my nails don’t look up to par. Give me 5 minutes and I will have a salon looking manicure!

The only negative is Olive & June has sold out of colors pretty quickly, and I’d like them to add more variety.

Could the manicure last longer? Of course! But the tradeoff of only lasting a couple of days is definitely worth the Quick Dry option. The amount of time I spend painting my nails with Quick Dry is directly proportianate to how long it lasts. Quick Dry has become part of my regular rotation of nail polish. I’m OBSESSED!

If you loved this Olive & June Quick Dry Nail Polishreview, check out these other nail posts:

Olive & June Press On Nail Manicure Kit

Ohora Gel Stickers: Do They Work?

Olive & June Long Lasting Nail Polish Manicure System Review

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  Because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it on social media using the icons below!

The post Olive & June Quick Dry Nail Polish Review appeared first on Very Obsessed.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

About Marmalade Nails

Marmalade Nails is an Austin, Texas-based company that produces vegan and cruelty-free press-on nails. They also donate a portion of each sale to PetSmart Charities.

Marmalade Press-On Nails Sizes

Marmalade Nails offer a variety of options in length, shapes, and finish so it’s easy to find a design that works for you.

What I Bought

I bought two different styles to try. Slice (pictured below) is a short, round, modern classic style, and Purple Crush (pictured in header) which is a short, square, fun trendy style.

The cost at the time of purchase was $16 per set and free shipping.

What’s Included in Marmalade Nails Manicure Kit?

The press-on kit pretty much gives you everything you need to apply the nails, with no extra frills. Aside from 24 nails in 12 sizes, the below is also included:

• Nail File
• Nail Glue
• Wooden Orange Stick
• Nail Remover Tool

From my previous experience with press-on nails (read my Olive & June review here) I know it’s also key to prep the nail prior to application. For that, I also used nail clippers (to get the correct nail shape and ensure they didn’t show under the press-on) and nail polish remover since any traces of oils need to be removed.

How to Apply Marmalade Nails

Marmalade includes an application guide in the kit, but I found the website video to be the best. Here’s what worked for me:

1. Select the size nail that is the closest to my natural nail bed. I had to trim some of my natural nails down to not see them peek out of the sides since I selected a short, round style.
2. Prep natural nails by trimming down (see above), buffing (you can use the fine-grit side of the nail file), cleaning with nail polish remover, and pushing cuticles back with an orange stick.
3. Decide on the long, medium, or short-term wear glue application and apply glue accordingly.

How to Remove Marmalade Nails

In full disclosure, I have yet to remove press-on nails with literally 0 damage, but I found there was pretty minimal damage with this method.

File the finish off the top of the nails and soak them in warm soapy water. Marmalade includes a nail removal tool in each kit which is a bendable plastic piece that can be used to get under the nails. The trick is to know when to apply a little pressure to help the nail pop off or when to put your nails back in soapy water.

After the nails are removed, buff off any residual glue. The Olive & June nail strengthener has worked wonders in restoring my nail health quickly after press-on nail removal.

The Results

As noted above, I used the medium wear glue application and the nails lasted 6 days which is perfect for me! If the nails last longer than a week I get impatient and inevitably end up ruining my nails.

The actual press-on nail is pretty thin so it looks more natural than some of the other brands I’ve tried. One of my close friends thought my nails were done in a salon, so that’s a pretty major compliment for a $16 at-home press-on nail kit.

Where to Buy

At the time of publishing Marmalade Nails are only available directly from their website, but shipping is free and pretty quick. I like to buy a couple of sets at a time so I just have them when I need them.

Final Verdict of Marmalade Nails

These nails look the most like I just came from a salon. That is to say, they look great but I wish there were more variety in designs. If you are looking for fun nails there are a ton of options, but if classic nails are your thing the skys the limit.

If you loved this Marmalade Nails review, check out these other nail posts:

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  Because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it on social media using the icons below!

The post Marmalade Nails Review appeared first on Very Obsessed.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

About Olive and June

Olive & June is a California-based, Woman-owned company (owned by Sarah Gibson Tuttle). Sarah opened a wildly successful brick & mortar nail salon in 2013 and launched the instafamous line of nail polishes in 2019.

This luxury nail polish brand is vegan and cruelty-free and is 7-free formulated, which basically means it’s made without all the toxic things that so many nail polishes contain.

Olive and June continues to add to their line of products and in late 2021 they came out with press-on nails, which are available to buy online and at Target. One important note, since the nails are plastic as is the packaging is they are made with 94% of upcycled material.

Olive and June Press On Nails Sizes

The great thing about Olive and June press-on nails is they come in a variety of shapes and lengths, so you can find what style suits you best. 13 different sizes are included so there is a good chance you can find one that fits your nail bed, but more on that below in the ‘how to apply’ section

Lengths

• Extra Short
• Short
• Medium
• Long

Shapes

• Round
• Oval
• Almond
• Squoval

What I Bought

I tried Olive and June press-on nails when they first came out, but recently tried them again and bought the whole Press-On System in extra short Hot Strawberry. They offer a lot of limited colors and Hot Strawberry isn’t available now, so just know if you like a color buy them when they are available because you never know if they’ll be back in stock.

What’s Included in the Olive and June Press On Mani System

The Olive and June Press-On System includes either one set of nails or four sets of nails. I purchased the system with one set of nails for $54 and all of the below is what is included:

• Nail Remover Kit
• Nail Strengthener
• Nail Clipper
• File
• Buffer
• Cuticle Serum
• Cuticle Pusher
• Pouch (for extra nails)
• Storage Case

The nail remover kit is included in the system, and only in the system, and also has a few components:

• Press-On Remover
• Sponges
• Finger Covers
• Orange Wood Stick

A set of press-on nails includes the necessities so there is a little duplication with what comes with the system:

• Press On Nails
• Prep Pad
• Nail Glue
• File/Buffer Combo
• Orange Wood Stick

How to Apply Olive and June Press On Nails

Olive and June gives pretty clear directions, but after trying the nails two separate times, here’s what works for me.

1. Select the size nail that is the closest to my natural nail bed. This is important as the first step because since I don’t have short nail beds, but I had extra short fake nails, I had to trim my natural nails down to not see them peek out of the sides.
2. Prep natural nails by trimming down (see above), buffing, wiping nails with the prep pad, and pushing cuticles back.
3. Apply nail strengthener as a primer.
4. Decide on the long term wear or short term wear glue application. In my experience, Olive and June press on nails last about 8 days for the long term application and 48 hours for the short term.

If you are like me and don’t have short nail beds, but want shorter press on nails I recommend you buy either short or medium and cut them down to your desired length. The extra short was great for the length of the full nail, but since they were round there were a couple of fingers I could see my natural nail even though they were trimmed all the way down.

How to Remove Olive and June Press On Nails

The first time I tried Olive and June Press On Nails I didn’t buy the full system so I didn’t have the nail remover kit. This is an honest review and I will say, I used the long term application and they did not come off easy on day 8. I filed the tops of the nails and soaked them in the remover for a looooong time and I still had to pry them off, causing some damage to my natural nail.

Since I bought the press-on system for my second time trying I know have the remover kit but I didn’t need to use it because I did the short term application and they kind of popped off after 48 hours.

I can’t vouch for how well the kit works, but the next time I try them I will be doing the long term application and definitely be trying out the nail remover kit.

The Results

The long term application really lasts, and I got compliments when wearing them so I think they’re really good! The biggest element in them looking great is finding the right size and style to fit your nail bed, and prep is the key to making them last.

Final Verdict of Olive and June Press On Nails

I love the look of them…when I can get the right fit. I’m also somewhat of a commitment-phobe and generally prefer shorter nails so when I want them off, I want them off NOW. With that being said, if I have a special occasion I will absolutely be wearing these again and highly recommend them to a friend.

If you loved this Olive & June Press On review, check out these other nail posts:

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  Because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it on social media using the icons below!

The post An Honest Olive and June Press On Nails Review appeared first on Very Obsessed.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

About Ohora Nails

Ohora is a Korean nail brand that launched in 2019 with the first semi-cured gel nails with intricate designs on the market.

According to Ohora,

We use safe materials that are ISO quality certified. We produce toxin-free & safety certified strips.

Ohora.com

The technology is certainly impressive with one strip including the base, color, and top coat and curving to fit the nail, it isn’t the most clear what the exact ingredients of the gel nail strips are.

How Ohora Works

Ohora sets itself apart from other gel nail polish sticker companies because they ship the strips 60% cured. The UV lamp at home cures the nails 100%. The cured gel is a real gel, hard and shiny, just like walking out of a nail salon with a gel manicure.

Where to Buy Ohora Nails

There are three places where Ohora Nails are available for purchase in the U.S.

Vanity Table curates K-Beauty brands to sell in the United States, and they are an authorized licensed seller of Ohora.

Ohora now has its own website for purchase in the U.S. and offers the widest selection of designs and they also have frequent sales.

Like most things, Amazon carries Ohora nail stickers with Prime shipping.

What I Bought

In 2020 I had first tried Ohora and there wasn’t a huge selection so I picked a solid color. This time I chose two different designs since part of the benefit of using gel stickers is being able to have professional nail art done at home. Mellow is a combination of glitter, light pink, and houndstooth and Basic Nails No.11 is a sheer peach with a gold stripe on some of them. The price ranged between $13.50-$16.00 per design.

Each kit comes with an alcohol prep pad, nail file, orangewood stick, and gel strips. The lamp is separate but both Vanity Table and Ohora offer a free lamp with the first purchase.

How to Apply Ohora

After applying the gel strips on 3 separate occasions, doing research, and performing trial and error, below is what has worked best for me.

1. Swipe the alcohol prep pad over each nail to ensure there is no residue.
2. Select the size nail that is the closest to my natural nail bed.
3. Peel the stickers off the plastic from the opposite of the cuticle side (the plastic indicates which is the cuticle side).
4. Apply the nail sticker to my nail, starting at the center base of the nail. If the sides of the sticker don’t come close to the side of my nail bed, I stretch the sticker so it does. The sticker is flexible and stretches since it’s only 60% cured.
5. Use the provided orangewood stick and go over the edges of the nail, ensuring the best seal.
6. After applying, turn my hand over and do a rough clip of the excess sticker with nail clippers, making sure not to clip my natural nail if I want to keep the length (remember these aren’t press-on nails, you’ll need your natural nail to be the foundation). It seems like the stickers shrink a little bit when curing so keep the stickers slightly longer in this step.
7. (Optional)Take a brush (I use the one from my Olive & June mani kit) and dip it in 100% acetone. Swipe the brush around the edges of the nail. More details on that are below.
8. Cure each nail for 2 rounds of 60 seconds under the UV lamp.
9. File the cured nail anywhere it wasn’t perfect after clipping.

I note above that step 7 is optional. My original review calls out that my hair got stuck under the nails and after trying again 2 years later, my hair still got stuck (and you know these extensions aren’t cheap). I came across ThatOhoraGirl on YouTube and she had this great trick which is step 6. Running a brush soaked in acetone along the edges of the nail strip thins down the edges and makes for a much more seamless transition from real nails to gel strips.

Ohora offers a Glossy Gel Top Coat that you apply once the nails are cured. I haven’t personally tried this but it seems like it would also help eliminate hair snagging under the nails since it is creating a totally seamless transition from gel nail strips to real nails.

Ohora Gel Nail Strips Results

The first time I tried Ohora two years ago (review of that here) I removed the nail strips after 4 days because my hair kept getting stuck and it was annoying. This time around I was a lot smarter because I did my nails on hair washing day after I washed my hair, thinking that I would at least be able to keep them on for a week.

They have been fantastic! At a minimum, I’ve taken these off after 10 days, and that’s because one or so started peeling up, but by that point, my nails had grown so much anyway I needed to remove them. The quality is impeccable and they look like a professional salon gel manicure.

How to Remove Ohora

ManiMe is very easy to remove and caused minimal damage, only because I was impatient. The real way to remove is to soak the included orangewood stick in 100% acetone or nail polish remover and then slowly, gently pry it under the sticker. I was impatient and when the nail started peeling up I just kept going with it. The top layer of my nail is damaged in a few spots, but nothing extensive.

Final Verdict of Ohora Semi-Cured Gel Nail Polish Strips

Ohora looks like a professional manicure, is cost-effective, has many options to choose from, and lasts at least 10 days. The only major downside is getting that nail polish to be as close to the cuticle as possible. So, are Ohora nails worth it? For the price and how great they look, they absolutely are. I love these as an option and definitely recommend them.

If you loved this Ohora review, check out these other nail posts:

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it on social media using the icons below!

The post Ohora Nails Review: Are they Worth It? appeared first on Very Obsessed.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

About ManiMe

ManiMe launched in 2019 when founder Jooyeon Song, originally from Korea, saw a need to eliminate the pain point of going to a salon to get a professional manicure. Along with her business partner, David Miro Llopis, she created an idea for custom-fit gel nail polish stickers using 3D technology.

According to ManiMe,

Our stick-on gels are made of 100% Korean gel, similar to what you’d get in a salon. The only difference is that our manis and pedis can be applied in minutes, removed in seconds, and do not cause harm to your nails or require UV-curing. Also, our gel is non-toxic (10-Free) and cruelty-free.

ManiMe.co

How ManiMe Works

ManiMe sets themselves apart from other gel nail polish sticker companies because they are customized to fit your fingernails. There is no guessing which sticker to use for each nail since there is only one sticker for each fingernail. They do give you five extra in case you make a mistake while applying.

Once you purchase your product, you will then upload photos taken with your phone of your fingernails from multiple angles. It’s as easy as that! It took nine days from the time of purchase for them to arrive in the mail.

When they produce the stickers they make them longer than the images you upload to allow for nail growth. I was a little concerned because I had just cut my nails, but the stickers were more than enough to account for a longer nail length.

What I Bought

I bought custom nail stickers in the color Kyoto, a very light purple shade, for $15 and the Max Top Coat No. 2 for $8.

How to Apply ManiMe

After prepping your nails with the included alcohol pad, to remove any residue, you simply take the sticker from the plastic it arrives on and place it on your fingernail. I found it to work best to pull the sticker off from the far end (not cuticle side) and then place it on my fingernail cuticle side first.

A practice set of stickers comes with the nail so I defintely recommend practicing because it can be a little tricky until you get the hang of it.

They recommend wrapping the end of the nail down around your nail and then taking the provided nail file and filing the excess sticker off. That didn’t work great for me since I like to keep my nails on the shorter side. The second option they recommend is to use nail clippers and this worked a lot better.

After wrapping the excess sticker around my nails I took a nail clipper and clipped the sticker AND my nail together. If you are going to go this route then you will not want to shape your nails prior to application or they’ll be shorter than you want. Think of this as when a hair stylist cuts your hair while it’s still wet or once it has dried.

Once the stickers are applied and the excess has been removed you can stop at this point but I used a top coat over it to help seal everything in place and give an extra glossy shine.

ManiMe Nail Polish Results

This is an honest review of ManiMe nail polish stickers and I will be absolutely honest. I had mixed results. I actually bought two sets of stickers to test them twice before writing the post and had two different experiences. It’s most likely user error, but let me start with the pros and cons and then I can get into the different results.

Now, for the mixed results. The first time I applied them not using a base coat and you could see a horizonal ridge I had in my nail (I think from trying press-ons), but the stickers looked great other than that. The second time I used them I applied a base coat first (the Olive & June Ridge Filler) but there were some creases in the stickers at the end of the nail. It was almost as though there was an air bubble that I couldn’t get out and the stickers just didn’t lie flat against my nails.

What was consistent in both cases is that with the use of the top coat there was no gumminess around the stickers like there was when I first tried ManiMe in 2020. Also in both cases my nails lasted around 4-5 days until they started crackling or peeling. ManiMe claims they can last up to 10, but that hasn’t been my experience.

How to Remove ManiMe

ManiMe is very easy to remove and didn’t cause any damage. They just peel off! I found it easiest to peel them off at the end of a shower. When I didn’t have a base coat on they came right off with zero residue. When I did have a base coat on, it took a little more prying to remove them and I needed to use nail polish remover to eliminate the residue that the base coat left behind.

Final Verdict of ManiMe Gel Nail Polish Stickers

I absolutely love that ManiMe are custom fit and you don’t have to spend any time picking which sticker goes best on which nail. There may not be an easier, and more cost effective way, to have fun designs and nail art. My only complaint is that application isn’t always flawless, but I think with some practice one could get very good at applying the nail polish stickers. If they have a design that I like I would buy them again.

If you loved this ManiMe review, check out these other beauty posts:

How to Wear Lola’s Magnetic Eyelashes and Eyeliner

Saie Beauty: A Review of the Clean Beauty Brand

Olive and June Nail Polish Mani System Review

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  Because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it on social media using the icons below!

The post ManiMe: An Honest Review of the Nail Polish Stickers appeared first on Very Obsessed.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

My Experience with Manicures

As a self-proclaimed (and lifelong) beauty junkie, I have gone through several stages of nail care and manicures.

Back in the day, I tried acrylic nails which were too much damage and too much upkeep for my liking. When I lived in New York I would get great manicures at the salon and they were so affordable, but when I moved to Chicago the basic manicure wasn’t that less expensive than gel so that’s what I switched to, every two weeks for years. When Covid hit and going to the salon was out of the question I had to figure out what to do with my nails and thought it was the perfect opportunity to try out some home manicure brands.

Olive & June is the nail polish brand I chose to try that is traditional nail polish. Olive and June isn’t a gel polish, it doesn’t need a UV lamp and they aren’t stickers. It was what I was most familiar with from a home manicure perspective since I had bought my fair share of OPI and Essie back in the day (admittedly I was not as great about getting regular pedicures as I was manicures so nail polish came in quite handy).

While I was familiar with nail polish, I was inexperienced and had never been good at it. I would frequently paint outside the lines and chipping would happen early so I was eager to try Olive and June and see what they were all about.

About Olive & June

Olive & June is a California-based, Woman-owned company (owned by Sarah Gibson Tuttle). Sarah opened a wildly successful brick & mortar nail salon in 2013 and launched the now-famous line of nail polishes in 2019.

This luxury nail polish brand is vegan and cruelty-free and is 7-free formulated, which basically means it’s made without all the toxic things that so many nail polishes contain. The other key claim is that it is a gel-like finish but doesn’t require UV and comes off with basic nail polish remover (more on that later).

Originally only offered online, Olive & June is now available at Target as well.

What’s it Like to Use Olive and June Nail Polish and Nail Tools?

In order to get the full experience, I bought the Olive and June Mani System with the one polish selection. I followed the included instructions when using each tool (we’ll get into the details below) and was very, very happy with the initial results. The polish was easy to apply, thanks to the must-have Poppy, and the finish was smooth and shiny. Here is an honest review of each item & tool included in the mani system.

Nail Polish

Olive and June offer a wide variety of nail polish colors. Seriously, there isn’t a color that I’ve been looking for that I haven’t been able to find. They are just the right consistency, not too thick and not too thin. I find that 2-3 coats work best depending on the polish color and what I’m trying to achieve. After two years, the polish I got on day one is still the same consistency.

Note this review is for the Long Lasting formula. After publication, Olive & June also launched Quick Dry. For a full review of the Quick Dry formula, check out this post!

The Poppy

The Olive and June Poppy is a game-changer. Made from silicone, it pops onto the nail polish handle and its unique size and shape help with application, a steady hand, and more control. It’s surprising the difference it makes.

Pouch

A plastic zip-top pouch comes with the mani kit to store everything in it. I don’t use it to store the nail polish remover pot because I’m worried about it leaking, but I keep everything else except the polish in the pouch, which is nice.

Cuticle Serum

The Olive and June cuticle serum won an Allure Best of Beauty award in 2019, so it has rave reviews. It’s a serum that comes with a foam applicator tip, like the Charlotte Tilbury wands, and you are supposed to use it twice a day. I have tried it, but because I’m allergic to one of the ingredients I don’t really use it. Plus, two times a day feels like a lot for nail care so this step just isn’t for me.

Top Coat

Olive and June Super Glossy Top Coat is the pièce de ré·sis·tance of the manicure. It really is super glossy but aside from that, it’s what prevents the nail polish from chipping the minute you use a keyboard. They recommend reapplying every two days, but I never remember to do that.

Clean Up Brush

The Clean Up Brush is a no-brainer. While The Poppy gives you so much more control coloring outside of the lines is still bound to happen. When it does, this brush gets rid of polish where you don’t want it in a breeze. I can’t believe I hadn’t thought to use a brush before, but it’s a must-have.

Nail Polish Remover Pot

What’s nice about the Nail Polish Remover Pot is that you don’t need to use a cotton pad (although these are my favorite) to remove your polish and it makes dipping your brush so easy. With that being said, I didn’t repurchase it after I used it all because I found it didn’t really work the best with dark deep colors like red and black. If I used it with dark colors I got stain remanents on my cuticles, not cute.

Straight-Edge Nail Clippers

You can’t buy the clippers on their own, you have to get them in a system. They are fine, nothing special, but they are straight-edged which takes some getting used to. For a beginner like me who likes a rounded shape, I don’t prefer it, but if you want to create an almond or coffin, these are needed.

Nail File

It’s a pretty basic dual grit nail file, but it works.

Nail Buffer Bar

Like the nail file, it’s pretty standard but nice that it’s included in the mani system.

Other Products from Olive and June

Olive & June has created quite an assortment of products over the years. While I haven’t tried everything yet, below is a review of the items I have tried that aren’t included in the mani system.

Ridge Filler

One of the things I love about Olive and June is no base coat is needed, but if you do have some ridges this ridge filler is like a primer to create a smooth surface for nail polish application. I don’t normally use this, but after my impatience led to some damage during press-on removal (check out the full press-on nails review) I tried it and it made a huge difference.

Dry Drops

The Olive and June Dry Drops are applied after the glossy coat and make it so you can touch your nails in 80 seconds. I still wait longer than that to touch, and even so, they are still pretty fragile, not like a gel-manicure where they are 100% dry when you leave the salon. Still, they’re better than nothing.

Press-On Nails

I have a detailed review of the Olive and June Press-On Mani System, but they are amazing! I received several compliments and they stayed on really well (almost too well, per my ridge filler comment above).

Nail Strengthener

You can buy this on it’s own or as part of the Press-On System and it is great! It acts as a primer under polish or daily as an intensive treatment. I’ve been using it daily when I don’t have polish on and it’s really helped my nails repair the damage from the press-on removal.

What is Olive University?

As a novice when it comes to giving myself a manicure, I highly, highly recommend checking out Olive University! This is Olive & June’s free resource center to teach you all there is to know about polishing your nails, from beginner to expert. You can sign up for weekly Masterclasses as well where instructors from around the country focus on one specific area, like color story or shaping.

Everything I’ve watched from them has been great and I’ve learned a ton, like capping my nails, not flooding my nail bed…the list goes on and on.

Is Olive and June Worth the Hype?

Yes and no, it depends on what hype you are listening to. Is Olive and June like having gel polish? No, it’s not. You have to wait for it to dry fully and it isn’t flawless for two full weeks the way a gel manicure is. Is it an amazing nail polish? Yes, it absolutely is. I have never been able to paint my nails at home and have them look so good for so long. I would even say that if I get a regular manicure (not gel) at a salon, my nails look very similar to when I paint them at home with Olive and June.

Pros and Cons of Olive and June Nail Polish & Mani System

Final Verdict of Olive and June Nail Polish

I really like Olive and June nail polish and have recommended it to personal friends several times. It’s what I use most days (when I’m not trying out things for the blog) or if I don’t have an event, in which case I usually use something a little more permanent, like press-ons.

In all transparency, I seldom sit down and give myself a full manicure, but I wish I did. More often than not, I find that I need to get some color on my nails so I will pop on The Poppy and give myself two quick coats, and then will be out the door. In that case, my nails chip in a couple of days but it’s my own fault because I failed to apply the top coat.

When I do the full Olive & June manicure, including the Glossy Top Coat, my nails have lasted 8 days with no chipping, which I think is pretty impressive for an at-home polish. I absolutely think the Olive and June Mani System is worth it.

If you loved this Olive and June Nail Polish review, check out these other posts:

Olive & June Press-On System Review

Quick Dry Nail Polish Olive & June Review

Ohora Nails: Are They Worth It?

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  Because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it on social media using the icons below!

The post Olive and June Nail Polish: An Honest Review appeared first on Very Obsessed.

I had a pretty basic nail kit at home, for those winter months when I would do my own toenails, but I had never managed to perfect painting my own fingers.  After lots of Instagram ads, I decided to try three different methods.

Below is my honest review of each method, pros & cons, and what I’ll be using going forward.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

ManiMe

About

ManiMe nails found me with a targeted IG ad for stick-on gels.  They reminded me of the old-school Sally Hansen stickers from back in the day, but I assumed the technology had gotten better so I decided this could be perfect for someone who hasn’t given herself a manicure in years. 

The stickers are custom fit for your nail bed, which is key.  I remember back in high school trying to get the press-on nails from Target trying to best match the closest plastic piece to my nail bed and it’s nice not to have to go through that again.  The way it works is you take a picture of your own nails on your phone and upload it to their site, then the nails they send you fit your exact nail bed shape and size.  If for some reason they don’t, you can request an exchange.

Note: I reviewed these in depth a second time, check out the ManiMe post for additional thoughts.

Pro’s

• Easy to apply (no cuticle clean up, don’t need to have steady hands)
• Nail Art available
• Toxin-free
• Zero dry time

Con’s

• Have to prepare in advance and order (no spur of the moment manicures)
• Limited nail colors
• The color was slightly different than appeared online (bought watermelon sugar thinking it would be more berry but was more cherry, looks similar to what scarlet looks like online)
• At $15 for one set of nails, it’s cheaper than a gel manicure but more expensive than a bottle of polish you can use multiple times

FAQ

• How many days did they stay on?
  • After 6 days 2 of the nails got a little gummy on the tips
  • After a week the tips started to lift up and rollback
  • 9th day had to take them off
• How easy were they to get off?
  • Very, you just peel them off with water or lotion
• Did they damage nails?
  • Not at all
• Would I do it again?
  • Yes if I wanted to try some fun nail art or had an important event where I wanted a perfect polish

Tips

• Don’t cut your nails shorter than your finger pads.  In order to get the excess polish off, you wrap the stick-on over your nail and then take the file that’s included and file vertically straight down.  If your nails are shorter than the finger pad you won’t be able to file straight down and will have to go diagonally.  I did this for one finger (tried to clip nail instead of file, recommend filing so you don’t accidentally go too short) and when I filed vertically took the color off the top of the nail
• There is a sort of matte quality to them. It doesn’t bother me but I see there is a top coat polish they offer so if it’s something that bothers you, you may want to purchase that too, although it’s a normal liquid so you’d have to wait for it to dry. This could help with the gel getting gummy too, so maybe worth a try.

Olive & June Nail Polish

About

Olive & June is what I consider traditional nail polish that we all grew up loving, but better.  It’s vegan, cruelty-free, and free from 7 potentially toxic ingredients commonly found in nail polish.

There was a time I couldn’t go on IG without an ad popping up so I finally decided to try it.  I didn’t have high hopes, after all, I had spent years with OPI and Essie and my nails always chipped.  The reason I really wanted to try it was to see if the free-from would last at least as long as the traditional brands, and I was also intrigued by the Poppy (a unique bottle handle).

They offer a variety of kits.  I took the plunge and got the One Color Mani System (and bought an additional color) to get the full Olive & June experience.

Pro’s

• Familiar process
• The Poppy made application much easier giving me more control
• The clean-up brush made cleaning up the cuticles so easy (not sure why I’ve never thought of that before
• Wide variety of colors
• Dried quickly
• At $8 a bottle of polish, similar price to traditional high-quality brands
• Can buy online or from Target

Con’s

• Have to have somewhat of a steady hand to minimize clean up
• Although it dried quickly, still have to wait to dry between coats and topcoat (they now offer drying drops to cut down on this, which may be worth checking out)
• The nail clipper in the kit wasn’t the best quality

FAQ

• How many days did it stay on?
  • Started chipping after 9 days and by 14 I had to remove
  • Full transparency, I didn’t read that they recommend to reapply top coat every two days, so could have lasted even longer potentially
• How easy was it to get off?
  • Very, it came off with non-acetone nail polish remover
• Did it damage nails?
  • No, felt healthy and didn’t stain which I was worried about without using a base coat
• Would I do again?
  • Yes, love that I can have a variety of color, use it on my hands and toes, and don’t have to think ahead about ordering

Tips

• Free shipping starts at $40, so if you buy a kit and you think you might like it then it’s a good idea to order extra polish too (that’s what I did).  If you want to place a new order for polish you’d have to buy 5 bottles to qualify for free shipping.
• I got the best results when I used a cuticle exfoliator and pushed my cuticles back before painting.

Olive and June Press On Nails

About

Recently Olive & June launched a new product in addition to traditional nail polish, Press-On Nails. They have coined it an ‘Instant Mani’ since there is no drying time, no smudging, etc. All that is true, but it’s not quite instant, as I’ve learned.

The fake nails come in 21 sizes to support a variety of nail beds, they are non-toxic (just like the polish), are made of upcycled material, and come in 4 lengths and shapes. You can buy just the nails, the Press-On system, or individual components of what you’ll need to apply the nails properly.

What you’ll need for the nail application does come with the nails so it’s up to you if you want to buy the full system, more on that below.

Note: I reviewed these in depth a second time, check out the Olive and June Press On Fake Nails post for additional thoughts.

Pro’s

• No polish drying time
• Long-lasting
• No polish chipping
• Wide variety of colors
• Each nail set is $10 which makes for a very affordable manicure
• Olive & June provides an in-depth video to follow for easy application
• Looks very realistic, no thicker than a dip manicure at a salon
• Can buy online or from Target

Con’s

• Fit is key so need to be patient in finding the exact right nail size and shape
• You may need to cut your own nails prior to application
• It may be a commitment, they are hard to remove if you want them off before they naturally come off
• Does not feel environmentally friendly to throw away (recycle?) the nails not used
• Need to be prepared for a nail to come off at an inconvenient time and to reapply

FAQ

• How many days did it stay on?
  • They give different glue application directions for short-term wear and long-term wear and say that long-term wear will last 5-7 days
  • For this Olive & June Press On Fake Nail Review, I did the long-term wear application. By day 8 they were still holding strong.
  • Full transparency, on day two the last nail I applied, my left thumb, popped off. I was in a hurry during the application and definitely didn’t hold the nail in place for 30 seconds as directed, so I assume this is due to user error. I glued it back on and it didn’t budge until I tried to remove it intentionally.
• How easy was it to get off?
  • Difficult removal. Patience is a virtue with the press on nails. As I said, by day 8 they were 100% intact but I was ready to remove them. I soaked in water as they recommend but it did very little to loosen the glue (which is great when you want them on, but not so great when you are trying to remove them).
  • The Press On Kit includes the removal system, which at the time of publishing you can’t buy separately. This includes nail caps, sponges, and ‘remover’ (remover is just 100% acetone). Since I didn’t buy the kit and only bought the nails I didn’t get the remover system so I can’t speak to how well this works, but it’s definitely worth a try.
• Did it damage nails?
  • Kind of. Where the nails easily came off, towards the cuticles, there is no damage. Where the glue was still very much intact and I pulled the nail off, the top layers of my real nails came off with the press-on. I’m going to chalk this up to impatience.
  • The Olive & June Press-On Kit includes a nail strengthener, which you can purchase separately, which they recommend using before application. I didn’t use it, and I would assume you need to let that dry before application, but it may help with proactively reducing damage.
• Would I do again?
  • Yes! I bought two sets and once I give my nails a chance to get a little more healthy I’m going to try my second set. They look great and I received many compliments from people who couldn’t tell they weren’t my real nails.

Tips

• Prepping your real nails and finding the exact right press on for your nails is key to the manicure lasting a long time and looking real. So although once they are on there is no drying time, the time spent is upfront. The video is great, I recommend watching it fully through once, and then again as you are applying the nails.
• The first application will take the longest as you figure out which nails fit you the best. Luckily they are all numbered so make a note of it (I just use my note app on my phone) and the next time grab those nails and double-check they are still the best fit.
• There is no mention of it, but there is a little tab at the end of some nails, I speculate it has something to do with how they are manufactured. Just take the file and file that smooth.
• Depending on the shape of the press-on, and the shape of your real nail, you may need to cut your own nails. My nail bed is squoval and I bought round nails. Since they taper in I had to trim my real nails very short in order for my real nails not to peek through the press-on. I was OK with that since I like to keep my natural nails short, but some may not be.
• Even ‘short’ nails are relatively long, so it will take some getting used to doing things with them. Instead of doing things with the tips of your fingers, try using the side (like to put on earring backs or open a soda). Also, pay extra attention to typos (especially at work)!
• Be careful with the nail glue. If you get it on your finger, remove it before you touch a nail again. I made the mistake of having glue on my finger and then holding a nail down in place for 30 seconds. When I removed my finger the glue had made a noticeable matte spot on the nail.

Ohora Nails

About

I heard about Ohora nail stickers from my hairstylist, who always has the best manicure and nail art.  She didn’t have them on her fingers but she did have them on her toes and they looked so good, just like a gel pedicure.

Ohora is a Korean beauty company and Vanity Table is the licensed distributor in the U.S.  They offer semi-cured stick-on gels, which unfortunately are not custom fit.  Once you stick Ohora nails on your real nails you finish the curing process with a UV nail lamp.  Think of these like gel nail strips. You put the strip on and then cure it with the UV light like they do at a nail salon. At the time I placed my order there was a promo code to get the UV light for nails free. Otherwise, the UV light is around $18.

Note: I reviewed these in depth a second time, check out the Ohora post for additional thoughts.

Pro’s

• Ohora nails are the closest thing to a gel manicure that I’ve tried at home
• High gloss
• Easy to apply

Con’s

• Doesn’t give information regarding ingredients
• Limited solid colors
• Hair got stuck under the bed of the nail and continuously snagged

FAQ

• How many days did they stay on?
  • 4, but I had to take them off because the snagging kept pulling my hair out, and regardless if it’s my real hair or extensions, that can’t be happening.
• How easy were they to get off?
  • Pretty easy, dipped the included orange stick in nail polish remover and they came up 
• Did they damage nails?
  • No
• Would I do it again?
  • No, they take a decent amount of time to choose the right nail and then shape it and then cure it for them to not even last a week

Tips

• Spend extra time making sure the beds are flat with your nail to (try) to prevent hair from getting underneath
• They offer a new top gel, but I’m not entirely sure if you paint it on after you cure your nails.  It wasn’t offered when I purchased so I haven’t tried it, but it might help.

Final Thoughts: Best Nail Polish for Beginners

I was shockingly surprised that my Olive & June nail polish manicure lasted over a week with me typing on a laptop every day.  With the quick drying time, variety of colors, and lack of planning necessary, this is my go-to manicure.

For special occasions, I will be going with the Olive & June press on nails. They look the best, don’t snag my hair (like Ohora), are long-lasting, easy to apply, and affordable.

Love this post? Check out these other beauty reviews:

• Saie Beauty: An Honest Review of the Clean Beauty Brand
• Do SiO Patches Really Work?
• Lola’s Magnetic Eyelashes and Eyeliner Review

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. I am very obsessed with FTC compliance so check out my full disclosure for details.

The post Best Nail Polish For Beginners appeared first on Very Obsessed.