How Do You Sample Nail Polish?

October 15, 2009

Yesterday I took a little jaunt down to Sephora to check out some new nail polish shades. I was fixated on the bluish-green-toned Ocean Love Potion ($9), perfect for that oceanic nail trend we've been seeing as of late. After looking through the display case for my new favorite turquoise shade, I noticed a small sign: "Please do not paint on fixture." Although I question the idea of trying out polish on your nails in the first place, isn't it just as bad to create visual clutter, particularly when specifically instructed not to do so? What's your try-it-on philosophy?

Nail Polish Bella Poll

35 Comments

fifthdaughter 3 years 8 weeks

I just bought Ocean Love Potion last night at Sephora! It is such a beautiful color. But I either paint it on my nail or buy a color after I've seen swatches online.

Ayu 3 years 30 weeks

I usually don't try them. But then again in my city the polishes are already swatched all around like on the picture above. I either buy polish based on online swatches or because it looks interesting and is cheap enough that I don't feel bad if it's not perfect.

Autumns_Elegy 3 years 30 weeks

Theres a cheap beauty brand in Aus called BYS (Be Your Self) and they make little swatches where you can actually fit your nail underneath to see what it looks like. Usually I buy by looking at the bottle, if I'm not sure I put a little on the end of my longest nail and wipe it off.

Autumns_Elegy 3 years 30 weeks

Theres a cheap beauty brand in Aus called BYS (Be Your Self) and they make little swatches where you can actually fit your nail underneath to see what it looks like.Usually I buy by looking at the bottle, if I'm not sure I put a little on the end of my longest nail and wipe it off.

untitled 3 years 30 weeks

The only things I ever "Test out" is shampoo, lotion, deodorant, etc. And by test out I mean open and smell them to see if I like the scent. I've never even thought of testing nail polish.

sarasonne 3 years 30 weeks

I've never tried before buying and I never will because when I buy a new bottle of polish from a store, I want it to be a BRAND NEW bottle of polish, not something a bunch of people have used already. Not classy, people.

Allytta 3 years 30 weeks

you have to test! pigmentation always differs. i just got ELF polish and it turned out to be so watery and almost see through. 3 coats! and now it looks OKish. I usually get the same result with just one coat.

Allytta 3 years 30 weeks

haha that would never happen in England :)

miss leanne 3 years 30 weeks

No I don't, that's a giant pet peeve of mine. The worst part is, you usually see this around the bottles that cost no more than a few dollars.

Baby Girl 3 years 30 weeks

If there's a tester I'll try it on my nail if they're not already painted. I usually go by the bottle. I hate when I see people painting fixtures. I think they should put a roll of tape at the display to sample TESTERS the way texasgirliee described.

3 years 30 weeks

It's in a clear bottle, and it's not like foundation or concealer where you need an exact match. I guess you might want to check out texture, but I've never thought to sample it.

3 years 30 weeks

i use a piece of scotch tape! i ask for a piece of tape at the register, then tape it to my hand. i then test the polish by painting a stripe on the tape. that way i get to see the color on my skin which still being sanitary!!

poizenisxkandee 3 years 30 weeks

something i learned from a favorite blogger, who learned from a lancome counter, was to place a piece of tape (scotch tape, any kind of clear tape) on the nail and paint that. you can see what it looks like on you and not have to share germs. works at counters and places that have testers. drugstores and some beauty stores dont have these; so i check nail/beauty blogs and ask around; then look at the bottle and take a chance.

poizenisxkandee 3 years 30 weeks

nylorac 3 years 30 weeks

ok painting your toenail with the sample polish is disgusting, and i'm happy that sephora has considerate employees who would throw that out! and fragrant strips are my favorite way to test them out as well... when people paint on the fixtures i find that really rude especially when the strips are usually right there for use! and if they're out of them, painting my own nail and then using nail polish remover right afterward is a good alternative.

sillyone06 3 years 30 weeks

If there is a tester bottle, I do a small drop on my actual finger. It prevents me from painting my nail, and that way I can see what it looks like when it dries.

ffxgirl1 3 years 30 weeks

i usually end up taking a risk. i also was fixated by ocean love potion and bought it. luckily i loved it!

Gdeeaz 3 years 30 weeks

I don't get why the companies who make the polish don't make swatches themselves. The Sephora I go to places a piece of tape below each row of polish and it has a swatch of the color.

Miss Bree 3 years 31 weeks

ew kim! I'd like to say it surprises me, but I worked at at a department store for a while and lets just say some people (i.e. multiple people) just couldn't seem to make it to the bathroom sometimes....ew. On that note, I never try on nail polish. Darker colors are usually pretty accurate to the bottle, and I generally know which brands I like and how the consistency of the polish will turn out. I suppose I've been burned by some pinks and reds, but eh, a small sacrifice to the beauty gods. I do, however, try lotions at Sephora, Bath and Body works, etc, but that's about it.

Miss Bree 3 years 31 weeks

ew kim! I'd like to say it surprises me, but I worked at at a department store for a while and lets just say some people (i.e. multiple people) just couldn't seem to make it to the bathroom sometimes....ew.On that note, I never try on nail polish. Darker colors are usually pretty accurate to the bottle, and I generally know which brands I like and how the consistency of the polish will turn out. I suppose I've been burned by some pinks and reds, but eh, a small sacrifice to the beauty gods. I do, however, try lotions at Sephora, Bath and Body works, etc, but that's about it.

3 years 31 weeks

at one of the beauty stores in the mall, they have tape that we can put on our nails and then paint the color over it! its a lot easier to view the color :]

lemuse20 3 years 31 weeks

I may open the bottle and examine the color on the brush, but that's it. It slightly annoys me to see spotches of polish all over the displays...

3 years 31 weeks

You do realize it's the same thing as when you go and get a manicure or pedicure. Those brushes have been on other people's fingernails and toenails. It's not so much as gross as it is rude to use some nail polish that I might be buying. I realize one swipe is nothing, but think how many people do it. On that note, I test on my fingers to see if I like the color. :) Sorry.

ren_kr 3 years 31 weeks

I usually scope out the marks that other pple had made before me if the color is there or i wave around the bottle over my nails to and try to visualize it on my nails. I agree with how unsanitary it is to try it on you nails and not purchase the bottle you opened.

3 years 31 weeks

Why don't stores just put a strip of Plexiglass over the fixture structure itself and invite testing on that, or something similar? Probably would cost just a few dollars to install. That said, I go by the color in the bottle too.

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35 Comments

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