Good nail strips are hard to come by, and only one brand comes to mind when I think about potentially buying some. Which is why I was extra delighted when this exact company contacted me with an opportunity to review their products and host a giveaway for my readers. Ladies, I present to you, Incoco Nail Polish Applique! For this review I was sent two beautiful shades: Zig and Sugar Plum. Zig is a gorgeous silver glitter base with a colorful zigzag pattern a-la Missoni. Sugar Plum is a lilac creme with cool pearly shimmer.
I was first introduced to Incoco via Glossybox last November, but finally got to actually try them in action only in February when I started packing for my trip to Florida. It’s not surprising that I didn’t even consider trying for several months, because my experience with nail stickers was negative for the most part. After all, how different can they all be from each other? Turns out, I was really missing out. Read on to find out more!
About Incoco:
“The research and development for non-liquid nail polish began in 1988, and with more than 20 years of advancements in innovation, Incoco has opened an entirely new category in the cosmetics industry. Incoco is the first and only manufacturer of 100% real nail polish appliqués – taking nail polish out of the bottle and transforming it into self-stick strips. Incoco headquarters are located in Clifton, New Jersey, USA, where everything from development to formulation, production and packaging takes place. The company has produced hundreds of millions of products for global premium cosmetics brands, and its groundbreaking technology is globally patented, bringing a new world of possibilities to the nail polish realm. Incoco nail strips go beyond shades, finishes, and designs – they bring innovation and convenience to modern women everywhere.”
I must say that these are the easiest-to-use nail wraps from the ones I’ve tried so far. It literally took me a few seconds to apply them, stretch, and tear off the excess. Then all you need to do is file the edges a little bit so it looks neat, and you’re set! I had to readjust them a few times at first, but I figured out the proper positioning pretty quickly.
Each strip consists of three layers – base coat, color, and top coat – just like your typical manicure process, except you don’t need to wait between steps and there is no drying time. I also found out that the formula is 3-free, so it doesn’t contain the main toxic offenders often found in cheap nail polish – Toluene, Formaldehyde or DBP.
For this manicure I applied Sugar Plum on my thumbs, pointers and pinky fingers, and Zig on my middle and ring fingers. I didn’t want to waste the scraps, so I cut out half-moons from the leftovers of Zig and used them for the french tips.
One of the claims on the package states that your manicure will last up to 14 days, but I managed to extend it beyond the two week mark. You can read my previous review here, but long story short, the strips survived a pretty intense two-week vacation without any chipping. I only took them off was because my nails grew out so much, and it just looked strange.
Pros:
- Easy to apply
- No drying time
- Long-lasting
- Chip-resistant
- Removed with regular nail polish remover
- Salon results without salon price
- You can reposition the strip until you get the perfect result
Cons:
- Once open, the strips will dry out pretty quickly, so it’s better to use up the whole package at once
- Sometimes none of the sizes will match your nails (I had problems matching the strips to my pointer fingers)
The verdict: At $9 per manicure, these strips cost as much as a bottle of decent nail polish, so it might not be very practical to exclusively use them. However, if you have a formal event planned, or just simply have to look your best from tips to toes for an important interview, date, or holiday, these are hands down the best nail strips for the task. One example – bridal manicure, it’s ridiculous how much some salons charge for one! With Incoco strips you’re guaranteed salon results without the salon prices 🙂
Check out Incoco website and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube to receive the latest updates about new releases and special promotions.
And now the fun part you’ve been waiting for! Incoco is giving TWO! of my lucky readers an opportunity to win a pack of Nail Color Strips or Nail Design Strips of their choice. Enter below for your chance to win (US only).
Good luck!
