I can’t believe how many people are asking me to cheat and tell them what the next product will be on this list. I can’t ruin the surprise for you, now can I? My #8 favorite product is something I use on myself almost everyday. Working as a makeup artist in the Vancouver T.V and film industry, continuity becomes important, so for nails that always look fabulous, we use O.P.I Nail Envy. Not only do I use it on my actors, but I personally use this product almost everyday. For those of you who have never heard of this Nail Envy I will tell you a little about it.
Nail Envy is a clear coat that you apply directly to your natural nail. You would apply two coats the first day and one coat everyday after that for one week. After one week you take it all off and start the process over. It supposed to work to protect your nails while keeping them strong, and does it ever.
I have always known about Nail Envy and have used it for clients and celebs for years now, but having acrylic nails myself, I never had the chance to use it. About 4 months ago I decided to take a break from having my nails done and did my natural nail felt so painful. They had been ground down so much under the acrylics that it hurt me to run my hands under water. I thought “I am gonna have to put the nails back on pronto. Until I get a chance to go back I will try some of my Nail Envy from my makeup kit.” It was amazing! I always knew it was a great product, but didn’t realized how strong it was. I decided that I wouldn’t go back to the acrylics anymore.
So what is the down side to O.P.I Nail Envy? The one thing that frustrates me is the fact that it has to be applied one coat daily. That can be very time consuming when you have a few busy days. I mean its not just the 5 minutes it takes to apply it that I am 
concerned about, but rather the drying time. Granted it does seem to dry quicker than most strengthening polish’s and works a lot better too. How many of you have 30 minutes each and everyday to do your nails? I know I don’t, so I tend to not use it exactly as directed. Not using it as directed does not give you the same results, but I find it works well enough for me.
Nail Envy runs for about $25 CAD and can be found at most drugstore. This product comes in a variety of options, for soft and thin nails, extra shine, and so on. My favorite of the Nail Envy’s is the original, I just find it works the best.
-Vancouver Makeup Artist
