I can only blame myself for this one. I had perfectly good luck with what I was already using, yet I saw this new product from Revlon called ColorStay Always On Nail Enamel and I had to try it out. I figured if this looked perfect for 10 days, hey, why not? For after 8 days my current regime would start to peel. Granted, what I had been using (OPI Natural Nail Base Coat, OPI Nail Lacquer and OPI RapiDry Top Coat) did actually stay looking good for about 7-8 days and on some occasions even longer. But it always started to peel after that... so of course there's the thought, this one may be even better. Ha.

What is it? What is it supposed to do and all that

Revlon's ColorStay Always On Nail Enamel comes in a clear plastic box which has two small glass bottles inside. One bottle is the nail lacquer ("Always On Color"), the other is the top coat, or as Revlon calls it, the "Always On Sealant", each bottle holds 1/3 fl. oz. of product which is a bit less than the usual nail polish bottle holds (1/2 fl. oz.). I purchased my set at a local drug store as they'd just gotten these in a month or so ago. I believe I paid around $8 for them. ouch

Revlon claims that they have found the breakthrough in nail color with these products. They claim that their products can give and keep a manicure looking perfect for up to 10 days. Up to 10 days. (Key words here are up to). Revlon also claims that their product will give the nails great color and high shine. Their final claim for both bottles in this system is that their product will not turn the nails yellow as some products tend to do.

The difference in Revlon's two step system is this. You must use both steps and only both steps. You are not to use any other product along with them. So, no base coat and no other top coat are to be used. If you've been doing your own nails for years, like me, you may think how odd is that? I thought there is no way this can work as well as what I'd been doing, and turns out I was right. But I'm getting ahead of myself there.

Revlon says the Always On Color is "Exclusive Acrylic Color technology for superior adhesion to nails." And the Always On Sealant is a "Protective Sealant for exceptional wear and chip resistance."

- above quotes taken off the back of the box

My Revlon ColorStay Always On Nail Enamel Experience

I'll admit that I honestly thought this product would be at least as good as what I'd been using. It wasn't. But you may want to know more than that (if not, feel free to move on), so here goes. I'll break it down and tell the good stuff first and then go on to tell why I think this product is just a huge marketing gimmick, thus I hate it as it's a total farce.

The Good

The brush applicator on both bottles is of decent quality. I know, that sounds bizarre. Like, who really cares? I never did until I'd used OPI products for a couple years and then bought a very cheap nail product and saw what a huge different a good or bad brush can make. Having a good quality brush means the product will go on easily and is easy to control. This equals less time is needed for the manicure. Always a good thing.

Having used Revlon's ColorStay Always On Nail Enamel I can honestly say that this product hasn't seemed to leave my nails yellow at all. This however, isn't a big "Oh Yeah!" for me as I have never had this problem with nail products.

I had no idea how these products would be for drying time. Years ago all I used was Cover Girl's Nail Polish and it took literally 30 minutes for that stuff to dry. Now that I'm spoiled with OPI and their RapiDry Top Coat I'm not cool with sitting around acting helpless for a half an hour. I've found Revlon's ColorStay Always On Nail Enamel dries fairly quickly. In less than 10 minutes for each product. Not too shabby, especially since you don't really have to wait for the nail color to be completely dry to apply the sealant.

The Bad, The Awful, The Horrid, or simply, Why I hate this product

First, the color selection really sinks. I realize, this product is new and since Revlon wasn't really sure how it would do on the market, no doubt they didn't want to make a hundred or even twenty color options available. This, I feel was actually a mistake. There are a total of 15 shades available. I know, that sounds like an okay amount. But from what I saw, there was actually only one, maybe 2 shades that I would purchase. The rest were too bright, or too dark, or too warm toned for me. Or else they just didn't look like anything special. The one shade I figured I'd be safe with since I tend to like only very light or sheer colors on my finger nails was True Camisole Sheer.

The brush may be nice and allow you much control which would allow for even application without too much trouble if the product wasn't lumpy. No, there aren't actual lumps in it, but this stuff would not go on evenly as far as the color is concerned to save its life! I've tried and tried and no way. Maybe I got a bad bottle. Maybe I picked the wrong color. I don't know. But looking at my nails you can tell that there is more color on parts than on others, sheer camisole shade or not! It's sheer, but varying degrees of sheer.

Anyone who has painted their nails, or had someone else paint their nails knows full well that the scent nail polish products give off isn't pleasant. Some are better than others, but Revlon's ColorStay Always On Nail Enamel is by far the worst I've ever used as far as smell goes. This stuff seemed to actually give off fumes that reeked! My husband always complains about the smell when I paint my nails, but this time I had to agree with him. It's pretty bad.

There was no great shine. Sure, there was some shine, but nothing more than one could get by simply buffing their nails. I do expect a little more than that from a product - and this one even claims it gives high shine. Ha. It doesn't.

All of that said the biggest disappointment with this product, or why I will never buy it again and why I recommend you save your hard earned cash is because it does not come close to living up to its long wear claims. Sorry Revlon, but you suck. No wait, I do like your new Moisturous Lipcolor, so you don't totally suck, just about 70% of the way, you suck.

But seriously! I bought this product because hello! ColorStay! That means it will last, right? Plus, look at those claims. Impressive, for sure. However, by day 5 the color on my nails was starting to peel. By day 7 there were big and small pieces missing and it wasn't because I was bad and peeled it off (which is what usually happens when I use OPI). This stuff just came off on its own. All by itself, it slowly comes off. Forget about wearing it up to 10 days, if you make it to 7 you're lucky. Now for those who are saying, but up to 7 days is even pretty good. Well, not compared to what I'd been using and doing and especially not when there are so many other cons to this product. The wear just isn't there. It's not good. It doesn't stay on. Period.

bops_mom's Recommendation

Surprise! I don't recommend you buy this one. Spend the extra cash and purchase some products from OPI's line. You really won't end up spending more time each month doing your nails than if you used Revlon's ColorStay Always On Nail Enamel. OPI lasts longer, looks better while it lasts longer and it just all around much better even at $6 a bottle (have you ever used up a bottle of nail polish? Yeah, me either). If you really must spend some cash at the drug store on a new beauty product to buy, check out Revlon's new Moisturous Lipcolor. It really is pretty nice.


Thanks for reading!

~ Melissa :o)



Products I do recommend:

OPI Natural Nail Base Coat
OPI Nail Lacquer
OPI RapiDry Top Coat



Recommended: No