Essie Instant Dry Oil Review

I recently received Essie's Instant Dry Oil. It's marketed as a 'perfect polish protector' that 'helps prevent smudges and dents'. It retails for $8, about the same as a bottle of Essie nail polish. 

It comes in a bottle the same size and shape as regular Essie polishes, but the brush is a bit more sturdy and stiff (I think it's a tiny bit longer as well). Application is easy, as the product is pretty watery/smooth, and goes over your nail quickly. It doesn't really dry up (derp. it's an oil), so it's hard to tell when your nails are dry. It stayed on my nails until I brushed them against my clothing or something.

Essie's 'Brooch the Subject' with Sally Hansen Salon Effects in 'Laced Up'

It did make my nail polish pretty smooth, even though Essie polishes generally dry quickly/smoothly. But it did seem to take off some of the shine that normal Essie polishes have. I didn't use a top coat either. The manicure lasted exactly one week before there was significant chipping at the tips, but it seemed to last a bit longer than usual (my usual mani lasts around 5 days before a significant chip). I have healthy nails/nailbeds/cuticles, so I didn't notice an improvement in them. Maybe if you often use acrylics or have weaker nails you would.

The thing is, this stuff if just perfumed mineral oil!!! LOOK!!

 

 ..and mineral oil is cheap! The generic Walgreens kind retails for $5.49 for 16oz, this bottle is only .5 fl oz, and retails for $8.... come on. (If you were to buy 16 oz of Essie Instant Dry *cough*Mineral*cough* oil, you'd spend $256 instead of $5.49 at Walgreens, lolol)

Pros:

• dried my nails quickly
• (may) have improved the overall length of my manicure

Cons:

• manicure wasn't as shiny as usual
• THE PRICE!!!

Would I purchase it again? NO WAY. At least not this fancy schmancy Essie branded mineral oil. I could just go to Walgreens, and get it for like waaaay cheaper. or 

*TIP* Dipping your freshly painted nails into a tub of really cold water for about 30 seconds dries the nail polish super quickly and is super affordable.