Step two of three.

This is the second step/item on The Royal Mani set. If the last post was all about cuticle pre-mani prep, this one's pre-polish. Like, literally before you paint on yet another shade of pink, red, or nude. ;P

DISCLAIMER: I'm reviewing the products individually. I'm doing this so that you won't read a long ass and so that the reviews are more in-depth and not just an overview. The items can be purchased individually and are not set exclusive; this factored in my decision to write reviews on each product. Hopefully, the reviews can help you decide on whether the products are worth your buck or not. The posts are not, in any way, sponsored by OPI.

Nail Envy is yet another category of OPI for nail care. The Nail Envy line is one that's primarily for nail strengthening and it has a lot of products for different nail conditions. It has one that's for dry & brittle nails, for soft & thin ones, for sensitive & peeling nails, and for maintenance. I also like that it has two finishes: matte and shiny, and are also available in different shades of pink (Hawaiian Orchid, Samoan Sand, Bubble Bath, & Pink to Envy). The one that's included in the set is one that's in the Original Formula.

This one looks yellowish in the bottle but don't worry, it's pretty much clear when painted on. So what exactly is it? It's a nail strengthener, one that's meant to make your nails harder, stronger, and longer. (A "that's what she said" vibe is strong on that line huhu.) Some nails are just brittle and soft so the Nail Envy line helps take care of that. This Original Formula is formulated with wheat protein and calcium, and this one is targeted for those who have weak and damaged nails. 

You can use this two ways:

A. On its own.

-If you have a week or two to spare and you want to make your nails stronger, use the weekly way. Apply two coats on the first day the follow it by one coat every other day. On the seventh day, you can remove it or reapply. 

B. As a base coat.

-I recently tried using it as a base coat and I definitely recommend using it this way. Instead of your usual base coat, apply one coat of the nail strengthener, let dry, then apply your polish of choice as usual. 

The product's consistency is pretty much like a base coat. It's very easy to work with as it's not gloopy or thick. It just spreads easily and evenly across the nail beds and it dries fairly quickly. The brush is the standard OPI polish brush that's paddle-like so it just makes application faster and really efficient. I kid you not, this just works magnificently. The longer I have it on, the harder and less chippy my nails become. It's not too hard that my nails feel like rocks; it just made my nails feel more stable and less bendy. And based on my observation, it a pretty good base coat. I haven't experienced any polish chipping yet and my polish still looks pretty intact.

My nails aren't too problematic but it's nice to use products that help make my nails be in better shape and condition. This Nail Envy nail strengthener is one that's dual purpose so while it conditions and repairs your nails, it can also make your polish adhere and last longer. Two in one deal? Yes, please! So if you're looking for a nail strengthener but don't know the condition your nails are in, I recommend picking this one up. Two thumbs up!