E.L.F. Essentials Nail Polish Review

E.L.F. Essentials Nail Polish is one of the main cosmetic products offered by budget beauty brand E.L.F. (or "Eyes Lips Face"). This product can be purchased as a single bottle, or in inexpensive gift sets on E.L.F.'s website and at select Target stores. For a single bottle, this nail polish retails for just $1, with sets increasing by the buck per bottle. I've found many other E.L.F. products to be a good value, easily competing with more expensive brands. So as an E.L.F. fan and a card-carrying nail polish junkie, I was more than willing to shell out a buck to see how this polish lacquers up.

I chose the Light Red shade, which is a classic red similar to MAC Cosmetics' iconic Russian Red lipstick. I started out with the E.L.F. Essentials Nail Polish like any other, with a smooth nail surface and an even application of base coat. As I applied the polish, I quickly became skeptical about whether or not it would provide enough coverage. The formula is somewhat watery and thin, and didn't look like it would be opaque enough when dry. Like most reds, this polish looked pinkish while wet - which also didn't inspire my confidence. Many cheap nail polish brands require layer after layer to finally break out of that deep pink shade and show up as a true red.

After two layers were applied and dried, the nail polish showed up as the candy apple red shade visible in the bottle. After applying a top coat, the whole shebang dried to a shiny finish (displayed in the photo above). This nail polish is advertised as having a quick drying formula, but seemed to dry only marginally faster than standard types - and that speed may have been due to the aforementioned thinness of the formula. I personally don't mind the extra drying time, but I wouldn't recommend E.L.F. Essentials Nail Polish as a speed-dry nail enamel.

Aside from the price and it being an E.L.F. product, the main thing that got my attention about the E.L.F. Essentials Nail Polish was the fact that it's advertised as being chip-proof. My fingers are constantly clacking away on a keyboard, washing dishes, and doing a number of other tasks that make it tough to keep my nails looking good. My manicures frequently chip or flake under the abuse I put my hands through, and I usually need to start touching things up around the third day. This polish actually lasted a bit longer than some competing brands I've tried, and made it to 5 days without needing a touch-up.

Though it lasted nicely, the polish began to fade around day 6. I found this unexpected detail to be somewhat puzzling, since fading often occurs due to sunlight. Not only does my topcoat contain UV protection to reduce fading, but my nails also weren't exposed to natural sunlight for any measurable length of time. I can only attribute the fading to some flaw with E.L.F.'s formula. The fading signaled the end of this nail experiment for me, so I removed it at the end of the 6^th day. Red shades are notoriously difficult to remove, due to the pink stains they can leave around the fingers. I'm happy to report that E.L.F. Essentials Nail Polish wiped away quickly, without getting sticky or leaving a mess behind.

All in all, I'd say this nail enamel is a middling buy. If you're not concerned about it being a quick-dry polish or having the color last for the full 2 weeks of a salon manicure, the $1 price tag and nice look (while it lasts) makes a strong argument. E.L.F. Essentials Nail Polish is best suited for women who like to change their nail color frequently, or only need to get a few days from their manicure.