Right off the bat I want to say I am not a nail salon kind of a gal. I really don’t love paying to get my nails done because it’s pricey (I prefer to spend my cash on other things) and my nails grow so crazy fast that I’d be going weekly. Salon nails just don’t make sense for me. I love doing my mani at home, but was super curious when I heard of a new polish brand on the scene – and I couldn’t find many Olive and June reviews out there.
I took the plunge and ordered a few colors. I’ve been painting my nails with exclusively Olive and June nail polish for about a month now and wanted to share my own experience with this lil’ Olive and June nail polish review.
What exactly is Olive and June?
Olive and June originally started as a Southern California based nail salon. Think like – the ideal and most perfectly picturesque type of salon. That’s Olive and June.
At some point the founder recognized a huge opportunity – making the Olive and June polishes easy to shop online and use at home. Now having been featured in major publications (like Forbes) and loved by celebrities and us peasants alike, the brand has become a major name when it comes to nail care.
The entire idea of the brand, particularly when it comes to the at home items, is making DIY pretty nails easy. We don’t all have time to head to a nail shop every time we need a manicure. I love the focus on getting great nails from the comfort of my own home.
So what’s the deal. What makes Olive and June different than other polish brands?
Honestly? The branding. The experience. The marketing. The style.
And YES the quality is bomb in comparison to other major nail polish brands at a similar price point.
But at the end of the day I do think the quality of Olive and June polish is somewhat similar to the other polish brands I’ve used and loved in the past. I’d say this polish beats out my old faves in terms of quality by just a hair (I find the end result of the formula to be shinier and stronger, ultimately longer lasting), but it’s not a huge difference. What IS a difference is the price – but we’ll get there.
Olive and June really does succeed in their marketing. I sort of see them as like the Glossier of nail polish if we’re being honest – their branding is cute AF. All the packaging has a clean, streamlined look. I think we can all admit we millennials are suckers for marketing, and I’m definitely a sucker here. I love the look of these polishes on my bathroom countertop.
Is Olive and June Expensive?
I find Olive and June to be incredibly reasonably priced given the quality is so damn good. A bottle of polish runs, at the time of this blog post, at $8 a pop. Given that the Essie Gel Couture polish is currently $11.50 on Ulta’s website – I’d say Olive and June is a steal.
These polishes are also really affordable when you start comparing them to the cost of actual trips to a salon. A lot of my friends like to get gel nails done at their salons, which especially in cities like San Francisco (where I live!), the cost can really add up. I’m pretty sure a single trip can run around $50 with tip. So I’d say an $8 bottle of polish that gives you tons of coats is a huge cost savings.
The Olive and June Mani System is another great way to get value for money. The kit comes with all the nail essentials needed to give the perfect at home manicure or pedicure. The Mani System comes with the Mani-perfecting Clean Up Brush, acetone-free polish remover pot, a pair of straight-edge nail clippers, a dual-grit nail file, a salon-quality nail buffer, their patented bottle handle (the Poppy), the Super Glossy Top Coat, and the Olive and June award-winning cuticle serum. Target sells a condensed version of this set for only $20.
All in – is Olive and June worth the hype?
I recognize this post is just a rant about a nail polish brand in a world where there’s plenty of deeper, richer content that needs space – but if you landed on this page for the real deal on the Olive and June hype. YEP. They’re worth the hype.
The polishes are relatively affordable, give great shine and finish, and do last longer than a standard DIY at home manicure. I’m into the entire situation and can confirm Olive and June is worth it.
My favorite products.
The Olive and June Poppy
I am OBSESSED with Poppy. Basically this little nugget is a grip so that you can more easily hold the nail polish brush. Which is GENIUS.
You first pop off the cap of your polish and then pop the Poppy on – and proceed to paint struggle free. I had no idea a larger and firmer grip could make painting my nails myself so much easier – but it truly makes a huge impact.
I also think there’s something really important about this product to say when it comes to inclusivity. Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty line was fairly revolutionary when it came to designing products that were easy to handle for those who may have joint issues or general trouble maneuvering small beauty tools. I think Olive and June’s Poppy is another amazing product that might actually be opening up an entire world of beauty to consumers who may otherwise have had a hard time using their products.
The topcoat
The polish itself is awesome – but the topcoat I think is what really makes the quality of the products shine. Literally.
I can’t really speak to the ingredients used, but what I can tell you is that the results of this topcoat are noticeable. Utilizing the topcoat gives my nails an instant gloss and shine once applied. My DIY at home manicure also seems to last much longer than manis I’ve given myself with other topcoats. I won’t lie – I’ve even used the Olive and June topcoat on non-OJ polishes. Whoops.
Nail art stickers
The brand makes so many different fun nail art stickers to add extra pizazz to your at home manicure. And I’m obsessed. I found so many great options at Target and love to add these to my nails for a little extra flair. Like, if I’m feeling EXTRA fun, ya know?
Cuticle serum
Okay – not exactly the sexiest of products, but it’s important. This cuticle serum helps keep cuticles healthy and hydrated. The formula is also vegan and cruelty free, as a little added bonus.
I speak from personal experience when I say that cuticle care is one of the first aspects of a manicure that’s quickly forgotten when done at home. A regular, in salon manicure will absolutely involve cuticle maintenance – but at home it always seems like such a drag. I’m definitely thankful for a product that focuses on caring for the cuticles, even when DIYing your mani.
Where to buy Olive and June nail polish.
You can shop polish and other products at the Olive and June Target collection or on their website! I personally do not recommend shopping Olive and June nail polish Amazon – or any other retail site. The Olive and June nail polish Target collection is longstanding and legit – and so is the Olive and June website proper. I personally have a hard time vouching for any other retailers.
My final thoughts? They’re worth the cash – and easily my new fave way to get at home mani perfection.
Other products I’d love to see from Olive and June
Foot care
Olive and June nail polish can absolutely be used for pedicures (along with some of their other products), but I’d love to see them come out with more food specific care items. I actually could see myself being that person to purchase a bubblegum pink Olive and June branded foot bath or perfectly packaged foot cream and exfoliating stones.
My final thoughts? They’re worth the cash – and easily my new fave way to get at home mani perfection.
Brand gear
This may seem a little over the top – but can we get some cute Olive and June gear? Glossier launched select styles of hoodies, duffel bags, and more – and their die hard fans absolutely ate them up. My husband and I both own pink Glossier hoodies (and apparently so does a certain famous actor). Olive and June nail polish branding is so well done, I’d be super curious to see what the team creates when it comes to other product categories.
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