Mani Monday: OPI Infinite Shine

I am a big fan of nail polish. Since I typically do my own manicures I have dozens of bottles at home and am always interested in trying out new brands or new formulas, especially when it comes to polishes that claim to have staying power. It can be so frustrating to have spent time carefully painting my nails only to have it chip off an hour later. When I heard OPI came out with a formula that has gel mani shine and lasts up to 10 days I desperately wanted to try it. Now that I have, I had to share my OPI Infinite Shine review.

Application: OPI Infinite Shine requires three bottles – the primer, lacquer and gloss. The primer goes on smoothly and dried quickly. The lacquer is also easy to apply but almost has a weird, chalky consistency. The gloss takes forever to dry, and I have to be very careful longer than usual not to smudge it. But, if it is for a longer manicure overall, I will wait.

Day 1: Dang it! A small chip on my thumbnail, but to be fair, it happened when I was tearing open a container.

Day 2: By night I notice another small chip on my left pointer finger after ripping open a taped box. I also notice the nail polish has started to “erode” from the edge of my nail.

Day 3: Yet another chip at the base of my nail (I don’t know when that happened). At least my nails are still shiny. But are they “gel shine?” Eh, close.

Day 4: No new chips.

Day 5: No new chips, but I’m starting to think my nails aren’t looking too hot.

Day 6: The photo below is of day 6 of wearing OPI Infinite Shine. As you can see, there are a few chips and the nail polish doesn’t look new anymore. I decide it’s time to take it off, not even getting close to the 10 days OPI promised.

Removal: The removal process is soak-free, thank goodness, but it isn’t clean and easy. The lacquer leaves behind red residue and I finally give up trying to remove it, figuring it’ll wash off in a few days. It does, finally.

Verdict: What do I say for my OPI Infinite Shine review? I know it might not sound that impressive, but the polish did stay on a little longer and look a little fresher than most of my at-home manis do by day six. But that still doesn’t match Infinite Shine’s marketing If it was simply supposed to be a new base coat and top coat with longer staying power, then sure, I’d say I got what I wanted. But since I bought the bottles for $12.50 each (higher than typical OPI products) with the hope of an at-home gel mani, I was pretty disappointed.

I’d read several other reviews saying the same thing, that it doesn’t live up to the “gel manicure,” but I just had to know for myself. Now that I do, these polishes will be going back to the store. OPI makes many other great products that I’d prefer to purchase.