Desperately Seeking Persistent Polish is a series where I wear a nail polish for seven days and take before and after pics to document the condition of my paws over the course of the week!
As you know, I’m still nursing my slashed Freddy Krueger fingernails from The Great Gel Debacle of 2018 back to health, which is why I’m feeling Dermelect. They’re a line of polishes designed to help heavily damaged, brittle nails.
I haven’t seen or heard a lot about them… I feel like they’ve been on the down-low, but you can find them at Ulta.
Their formula is infused with keratin to strengthen nails, and after spending a week with this gorgeous, foggy lilac gray cream called Tribeca ($14), dare I say that my paws are looking the best they’ve looked in weeks? — especially the tips of my nails. They’re looking much healthier and stronger.
I usually avoid pastel creams because they chip like crazy on my nails (like, seriously, I’ll usually see big chunks missing at the base within a day). Plus — ugh — I’m not into layering the three or sometimes four coats it takes to boost creams up to full opacity. I’d rather spend those precious minutes of my life doing more important and pressing things…like watching people taking baths with their cats and rapping about it.
Tribeca only chipped a bit, and I only needed two coats!
I’m surprised how well it held up over the course of seven days. For the record, I used the same base and top coat I’ve been using throughout the 7 Days series.
It held up even better than my Smith & Cult rose gold glitter mani a few weeks ago, which had been the best performer in the series so far.
Tribeca is a “do” for me. Give it a whirl if you feel like a foggy, moody pastel.
Day 1
Day 7
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
That’s a pretty color! I’ve never heard of that brand. Question: Are you using a base or top coat when you’re testing out these polishes?
I recently tried the Essie gel couture line and I’m really liking it! It seems to last quite a while without chips. I held off for a while because of the higher price but I caved when I got a coupon at Target.
Hi Rachel,
Yes! I use the same base and top coat from Smith & Cult every time for consistency. I figure after I find a few long-wearing polishes I like, I can then start doing base and top coat testing! I hear the Orly base coat is excellent. I’ve tried and liked the Essie Gel Couture polish line. Really pretty colors and they dry super fast. What colors have you worn?
Right now I have on “Galavanting” which is a burgundy wine color, perfect for fall. And I just bought “take me to thread” which is a purply mauve. My go to top coat is Seche Vite, except when using these Essie couture polishes you’re supposed to use their topcoat.
Ahh, Seche Vite! Old school fave. I’ve been wearing that on and off since 2002! Only thing I don’t like about it is how it gets so goopy so fast.
It really looks impressive for day seven, wow!
I know, right?
Have you tried Zoya nail polish? It’s the only polish that will last a solid 4-5 days on my nails, and that’s without reapplying top coat. Plus it’s a 10-free formula!
Hi Kristen,
I have! I used to wear them back in the day. 🙂
This really is a super pretty color. It makes me feel like Easter. 🙂
If you use Essie gel setter as a top coat, you will have a long lasting, incredibly shiny manicure that lasts a week.
Love that color. It makes me want Cadbury Mini-Eggs, though, and it’s a long time until I get them.
Have you tried taking Biotin? I have thin, brittle nails and taking Biotin has helped a lot. Plus, they come in gummies. (I’m such a kid at heart.) Olly brand makes a great gummy called Undeniable Beauty.
Nailtiques Formula 2 Nail Protein is what I used to rejuvenate my nails after my disastrous gel manicure. I’m still using it a few years later. You can get it almost anywhere except Sephora, which irks me to no end because I buy bottles on the regular and I want to get points!
I’m going to Ulta Thursday, I’ll check out Dermelect. I’ve never heard of it and I love Tribeca! Lavender is one of my colors.
Never heard of this brand, but if it helps improve the condition of my nails it might be worth trying. My nails are crummy even without a gel manicure to ruin them. That color is really pretty.
That poor cat in the video. Unless you own a tiger or a bengal cat, I don’t believe in bathing them. Dear Daughter is away at outdoor survival school, so I have Nibbler for two weeks. Dear Daughter is going to have to do some really great begging to get this cat back. Mwahahahaha!
That idiot bathing his cat should be ashamed of himself, the cat is clearly not happy and wants to get out but he just continues with his inane rapping, Moron! If he lived here in the UK I’d report him to the RSPCA.