Can we just talk about Revlon’s ColorStay Gel Envy polishes for a minute.

I feel like if there is one drugstore brand that consistently does it right for nail polish, it’s Revlon. The brand has been around for.ever. and they are known for their pigmented, long-lasting nail polishes that rival salon brands like Essie and OPI. So imagine my excitement when they released a “gel” version of lacquers. Oh my god, stop the presses.

Aptly named Gel Envy, the line of varnishes includes an impressive full house of 30 shades to choose from (all with cute casino names), everything from subtle muted shades to red-hot neons. The two-step process includes the colour (which has a built-in base coat) and a “diamond” topcoat (sold separately). The set guarantees vivid colour, brilliant shine, and “life-resistant” wear.

So since you don’t cure these bad boys, they aren’t technically real gel polish. I already reviewed Sally Hansen’s version a few weeks back, but it’s basically the same idea. Long-wearing colour with shine that rivals gel polish. No curing needed and best of all, it’s a simple process to remove.

I received a ton of shades from the line (swatched below), and although I definitely liked some colours more than others, I have to admit that the pigmentation on these are great. Same goes for the consistency, wear, and dry time. Honestly, compared to any other drugstore faux-line of gel polish I have tried, these win hands down. I can easily get at least three days of wear before my nails start to chip. Plus, and the best part, the colours are amazing. They are so vibrant that they glow off your nails. There were some shades where I wasn’t expecting to like them and once I had the colour on, I thought it made my nails pop.

The only thing I didn’t like about the line was that some of the darker shades stained my nail beds once I removed the colour. It’s a catch 22 though, as when I tried the colour with a separate base coat, it didn’t last as long. So it’s either have stained nails (not all the shades, just some) or have colour that doesn’t last as long.

Regardless, I still think that Revlon knocked it out of the park with this line of polishes.  Check out your local drugstore for the full deck of shades.

Have you tried Revlon’s ColorStay Gel Envy polishes?  What were your thoughts?

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