Monday, January 30, 2012

Recent NOTD: Revlon ColorStay Midnight

Today I am back at my computer full time after spending last week once again enjoying the mountains in northern Idaho. Here's one of the snaps I took at Schweitzer Mountain:



If you're a regular reader, you might be thinking "what Sally Hansen strips did she wear this trip?" The answer is "none". I did bring some along, fully intending to put them on as soon as I called an end to the wear test I was doing of one of the new Revlon ColorStay shades, Midnight, a deep teal-leaning blue creme. I usually have no qualms about mixing brands between base, color, and top coat, but in ColorStay's case, I went ahead and bought the base and top coats, since I remember the previous incarnation of the line when the color and top coat were only sold together, as a system.



Still, I was curious to see if the matching base and top coats made a difference, so when I did my manicure a week before I left for my trip, I used the Revlon ones on most of my fingers, but my usual base and top coats on my ring fingers (all over a first layer of the Esmalte strengthener). I used two coats of Midnight.



It dried a touch darker than the bottle color, but definitely still looked blue even in low lights which made me happy. It was plenty shiny with both the Revlon top coat and my usual Sally Hansen Insta Dri.





The displays for this relaunch tout "Up To 11 Days of Shatterproof Color" (the fine print says that's when used with their base and top coats). I'd originally intended to take this off after about a week so I could put on strips for my trip, but when it came to that point, the polish still looked pretty good, so I left it on. Here it is six days in, showing some tip wear but no chips, and it's still fairly shiny.



Six days later, so twelve days total, I did have a chip, and more tipwear, and some weird texture on some of the nails that is more likely the fault of cleaning products I was using at the ski condo than the polish (it happened on both Revlon and Sally Hansen top coated nails). I found the big gap at my base from nail growth more distracting than the wear, actually. This shot also shows the dark face of this color; this shot was taken under the fluorescent light in the ski condo kitchen.



Based on my experience, which is admittedly not a scientifically valid sample, I'd say the new ColorStay is long lasting and doesn't require the matching base and top coat to be that way. I did like the ColorStay top coat; it dried almost as quickly as the Sally Hansen Insta Dri and held up equally well.

Since I subjected you to chips and tipwear, here's a pretty picture to make up for it, sunset fading over the mountains one night of my trip:



Since I didn't spend very much time online in the mountains, it's going to take me a bit to catch up with comments and emails and such. Please bear with me.

22 comments:

  1. You are making me miss skiing so much! I am definitely planning a trip out west next year if it kills me! Thanks for such an awesome review, I can't believe you wore that polish for 12 days!!!

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  2. Thanks for the swatches! Glad to know those polishes hold up. And lovely photos:)

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  3. This color is freaking amazinggg!!

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  4. That last picture is my favorite it is very beautiful! But great swatch post Karen, I was just looking at Revlon ColorStay polishes today ^_^

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  5. Gorgeous mountain photos! Swoon!

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  6. great info... I bought 2 from these ColorStay, I love the formula thats for sure! WOW stunning sunset pic.. LOVE <3

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  7. Wow that is amazing! I can't wear polish that long because I get bored with the colors and have to change it frequently. I also pick at it haha.

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  8. Wow...good to know that the Revlon had some staying power. The last pix is gorg!

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  9. That color is almost as beautiful as that last picture!

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  10. Love the picture! Glad to know this polish can last!

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  11. Very impressive!! I like the color too. Love the scenic pictures ;0).

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  12. Pretty pictures :) Wow so nice that the polish wore well!

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  13. Nice to have you back :) - wonderful snow photos - and polish too LOL

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  14. Impressive wear indeed! Lovely shade too

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  15. Love the snow pics :D
    After 6 days your nail polish really seemes fie, not bad after 12 days either :)

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  16. I never thought it was possible to wear nail polish for such a long time! Amazing!

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  17. It looks so pretty there in Idaho! I love snow and mountains! That blue is so pretty as well!

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  18. Yarrrr. After reading this, I may have to try the Insta Dri top coat. I love Insta Dris, and I love quick-dry top coats, and I don't think I like the Revlon top coat I've been using.

    I'm such a sucker for the Insta Dri colors, but trying the top coat honestly never occurred to me.

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  19. Wow!!! The nail polish hold up that long, amazing.

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  20. nice color :-D
    brrrr, it looks so cold on your pictures ;-D

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  21. Great color and I am happy you did that review that has not come out in my area yet.

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  22. Same results for me thus far with 2 different shades of this formula. I did take it off early 2nd time because the growth plate was a cavern like yours shows - reminds me of days when I did not get into my acrylic fill appointment and I had bald spots at the base of the nail! I am MAJOR impressed and looking forward to some major expansion of color and finishes in this line. It's better than anything I have used ever in stay power.

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Thank you for reading and commenting! I greatly appreciate knowing I'm not just talking to myself here. :) I'm moderating most comments now due to the spate of spammers who claim to be looking for sexy times.