What: Incoco Nail Polish Appliqué
What It Is: Originally from Korea, Incoco nail polish appliqués are “real nail polish in a dry strip form,” which includes the base coat, color coat, and top coat all compressed into one single layer for a quick, fuss-free application. It's said to be more concentrated than liquid polish, is chip-resistant, and should last up to 14 days. And since it's made of 100% nail polish, you can also have it easily removed using regular nail polish remover.
IMAGE Incoco
Incoco Nail Polish Appliqué in Evening Spell, P395, incoco.com.ph
Current Condition:
I have square-shaped nails, which I don’t really like to stress too much about. Back when I was in college, I had more time to regularly visit a nail salon for a mani-padi sesh, but lately I find myself less and less inclined to paint my nails—not that I don’t like how they look, mind you; I just can’t stand the thought of having to sit there for three hours for a manicure, only to have it ruined as soon as I reach for my wallet to pay for the service. Of course, there’s always the option to do it myself, although there’s no way I can do it as flawlessly. Not to mention, I’m pretty sure that choosing to go down the DIY road will take me an even longer time to finish. So, thanks, but no thanks.
Which is why, when I first heard about Incoco, I was instantly intrigued. No mess, fuss-free application? Chip-resistant? Absolutely no drying time? Sounds too good to be true, but I just had to try it for myself!
How I Used It:
For this review, I chose a set of solid-colored nail appliqués priced at P395 each, which is more or less the cost of a basic manicure. If your nails are pretty short (and if you don’t make a lot of mistakes in the process), then you can probably use one set for two applications. The package came with a pink nail file and an instruction manual in 11 different languages. The instructions are straightforward and easy to understand, but if you need more help, let me break down how I used it:
Step 1
Find which size of nail polish strip will best fit your nails. There are eight different sizes to choose from.
Step 2
Once you find the perfect fit, remove the clear cover (it helps seal and protect the strips since they’re 100% real nail polish).
Step 3
Remove the nail polish strip by gently peeling it off.
Step 4
Remove the silver tab from the other end of the polish strip. (As I've told you earlier, if you have short nails, you can use each strip for double application. That said, you might want to save the other half for your other hand.)
Step 5
Like a sticker, carefully place the strip onto your nail. If you’re already satisfied with the positioning of the appliqué, you can smoothen it by running your finger over it until it’s wrinkle-free.
Step 6
Remove the excess by creasing the strip over the tip of your nail and by filing in a downward motion.
Repeat the process on both hands, and voilà! You’re done DIY-ing your manicure.
Conclusion:
This is already my second set of Incoco nail polish appliques; during my first try, it took me about 20 minutes, but this time around I only needed 10. True to its claim, the application is easy, mess-free, and obviously a lot quicker than having to book an appointment with a nail salon. Also, a quick sniff of the appliqués will tell you that they are indeed 100% real nail polish. My manicure stayed on for an entire week with barely a chip, and then it made it through another one before I decided that it was time to take out my nail polish remover from its drawer.
Overall, I’d say forget getting a manicure! Give this K-beauty invention a try, and who knows, it might just change the way you do your nails.
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