Product Spotlight: ELF Nourishing Cuticle Pen [How to fake it: Healthy Nails Pt. 1]

I'm digging this review out of the pile, because I feel like I didn't give the ELF Nourishing Cuticle Pen enough blog lovin'! It is certainly worth the $1 and then some, and I will explain why.

Price: $1.00

What they say: Relieves dry nails and flakey cuticles. The unique pen delivery system moisturizes cuticles effectively and the quick dry formula allows for a no mess application. Fortified with Vitamins E, A, C, Pro-Vitamin B5 and Aloe, this fast-acting complex deeply hydrates, nourishes and seals in moisture. The key ingredients Avocado and Almond Oils help to condition nails and cuticles for improved appearance. The result is softer, easy to manage cuticles and healthy hydrated nails.What to do: Remove cap. Brush onto cuticles and bare nails as often as needed.Ingredients: Isododecane, sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, tocopherol, ascorbyl, panthenol, aloe vera oil.

The good stuff:
Inexpensive
Sleek design
Portable
Moisturizing & effective

The low-down:
Can get a little oily if you use too much

My take: I'm really satisfied with this! It really does seem to nourish and moisturize my dry cuticles and keep them that way for awhile. I use this often. If you apply too much though, it does tend to get a little oily. Other than that, no complaints!! [review from: August 15, 2009]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Now, on to my reasoning! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Now, I am certainly not a nail afficionado, and no, I honestly do not even take very good care of my nails. I abuse them with constantly changing up nail color, never using a base coat, peeling off the old polish, going over old polish, etc.

And probably my worst offense yet? Ripping off my false nails.
The sorry state of my nails after the damage was done:

Gross.

Now, I don't need anyone to tell me this was a bad thing to do, because of course, I knew it was :P I literally peeled off the top layer of my nails due to my impatience...

I wore my Yukiumi nails for a week, but I decided I wanted to take them off... after soaking my nails in warm water for like... 10 minutes (instead of the recommended 30), I got tired of waiting and decided to just pull them off. Horror! Well, I do have pretty resilient nails... and it was late, and I was tired and wanted to get it done with. So there (needless to say, I will not be so impatient next time and do it properly) :P

But obviously, I cannot leave my nails looking like that! Yuck! And that's where ELF Nourishing Cuticle Pen came to the rescue! It was really one of those products that I bought, used a few times, deemed "satisfactory" and then stashed away in a dark corner, never to be used again. However, the first thing that popped into my mind to fix the horrid state of my nails was that cuticle pen! So I dug it out of hiding.

Even though it is a "cuticle" pen, I had this "brilliant" idea to just rub it all over my nails (why the heck didn't I read the product description better?!). And VOILA! My nails look and feel sooooo much healthier. Not dry and peeling like before! I was skeptical that they would stay that way (I figure they would just dry out again once the effects wore off), but they actually stayed "nourished"! : ) Whoo! Although the surface was still a bit ridged/bumpy to the touch and slightly discolored (this is where part 2 comes in... stay tuned), at least my nails look 100% better than before!

So in conclusion: if you tend to abuse your nails like I do, this is definitely a must-have in your nail stash!!! It does an excellent job at nourishing cuticles, as well as revitalizing worn-out nails. I would HIGHLY recommend this product, and at only $1, you've got nothing to lose!

Stay tuned for part 2...

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