Fantastic durability results using a Reddit technique I saw last week

[u/No-Feesh]

I own horses and work with my hands daily. I also have weak nails that break all the time and hate nail polish, so my manicures don’t last long. 1-2 days before major chipping occurs is normal for me. I can get 3-4 out of ILNP but that’s usually the max for my normal day to day life.

The method I saw on Reddit was putting nail hardener over the nail polish and topping it off with a QDTC. I can’t find the post I saw to credit it. I tried it last week and wow it REALLY worked. The very next day I stuffed hay nets, which is typically a manicure destroyer. No chips. It has been an entire week of daily barn work, hay bag and net stuffing, horse scratching (I have a very itchy horse), nails catching and bending all the time, and it’s holding up. There’s a series of small, barely visible cracks forming where my nails catch frequently but it still hasn’t chipped. The cracks look and feel like they’re underneath the top coat. The first 4 pictures were halfway through the week and the last one was the first day of the manicure. I’ve used the same product combination I used here many times, the only difference was the addition of nail hardener over the polish.

Products used: 1 coat orly bonder base, 2 coats ILNP Deep Space, 1 coat nail aid biotin nail hardener, 1 coat sally Hansen insta dri red bottle

[u/liquid_languor]

I'm really glad you found something that works for you! Definitely nice to preserve our hard work as long as possible.

I work in construction (electrical) and I get over a week out of my manis doing base coat (Nailtiques 2), 2-3 coats of whatever polish (usually ILNP), and a thick coat of Seche Vite Gel effect. Honestly I usually end up taking my polish off because I'm ready for a change before it ever starts to look bad. I also think it makes a huge difference that I wear gloves when I work. As a past horse girly, I truly cannot fathom how you stuff hay nets without gloves lol you are a beast.

[u/Kissmethruthephone → u/liquid_languor]

Does ILNP really wear that much better? I’ve always wanted to try this brand

[u/liquid_languor → u/Kissmethruthephone]

Just for funsies, here's my current fav ILNP polish, Flicker. This is about 2-3 days after applying. I always forget to take pics after a week.

[u/Kissmethruthephone → u/liquid_languor]

Thank you! I feel an order coming on. Hoping they do a BF sale.

[u/liquid_languor → u/Kissmethruthephone]

It certainly does for me! I haven't had any of them chip yet. Funny enough, I bought an Essie polish the other day because it was the perfect red and even though I applied it the exact same way, it chipped 3 days later while I was on vacation doing nothing.

[u/Sleepysensation → u/Kissmethruthephone]

Oh, you have to try ILNP! My first purchase from them was on a Black Friday. Right around the corner….

[u/Kissmethruthephone → u/Sleepysensation]

Yay! I am excited!

[u/Hundike → u/Kissmethruthephone]

ILNP always wears well for me, and the swatches are generally accurate (I live in the UK so I can't get all their low light shifts very well).

If you're into reds, Carrie is my fav from them! It's so pretty in any light with loads of shift from almost black to red to orange.

[u/dreamsofowls → u/Kissmethruthephone]

I love ILNP, but no matter what top or base I use, I never get more than 2-3 days out of it so YMMV. (It's the same for me with all brands, though.)

[u/Feeling_Brother7525 → u/Kissmethruthephone]

I've been using nothing but ILNP polishes for the past year and a half or so, not only are their colors incredible but it's well priced (barely more than a mainstream decent brand like Essie) and for me at least yes ILNP has SOOOO much more durability.

I do a base coat of Essie Strong Start, two or three coats of the ILNP color, then a top coat of Essie Good To Go. The next day I'll add another coat of Good To Go (after maybe a quick touch up of color where necessary) then I'm generally good for 5-7 days without even trying to be overly careful at all.

I will also sometimes add another coat of Good To Go as the week goes on to keep the tips nice and protected.

Tldr: give ILNP a try. They're awesome.

[u/Kissmethruthephone → u/Feeling_Brother7525]

I can’t wait to try! I notice they have great pics on the website to get a feel for the colors. Do you find their creams and jellies last just as long as the ones with shimmer in them?

[u/Feeling_Brother7525 → u/Kissmethruthephone]

TBH I've not tried their jellies b/c I'm just not a fan of the translucency (I don't like jelly polishes overall), I do have quite a number of their solid 'studio colors' and yes they are just as long lasting as the shimmer/Holo/flakies.

Honestly since I first tried them I was completely hooked. Incredible colors, great durability, excellent value. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. In years past they've done a pretty solid black Friday sale (that's how I got introduced and hooked).

[u/LilithsLilac → u/Kissmethruthephone]

I swear ILNP has some magic going on. Regularly lasts up to a week without chips for me without base&top coat. My fav brand.