Formula X Smooth Nail Ridge Filler Base Coat

As you may imagine, my nails aren't in fantastic shape due to the constant polish changes. So, I rely upon great base and top coats to disguise my brittle nails. Lately, I've been loving Formula X Smooth Nail Ridge Filler.

Formula X Smooth Ridge Filler ($14, 0.4oz) is a Sephora exclusive, and one of the priciest pieces in the Formula X collection. It's still significantly cheaper than ridge fillers from other brands found at Sephora like Deborah Lippmann or Dior. It's milky white in shade.

Please don't laugh at my awful nails from several months ago.  Here's a shot demonstrating how it looks on the nail:

Overall, this doesn't change the tone and you could still wear a mostly sheer polish.  I'm not sure how it would work with jelly polishes, but Smooth pairs nicely with most other ranges.

Although its only advertised as a ridge filler, I find that Smooth functions well as a base coat. It prevents nail staining and is a stable base for nail polish. I find that it significantly improves the appearance and performance of my manicures.  And at $14, it's a worthwhile investment, especially if you switch polishes frequently.

NOTD: Formula X Evocative

Today's NOTD is Formula X Evocative, a soft camel neutral shade.  It's almost a bit boring for my taste, but appropriate and professional.

Two coats plus Formula X topcoat on my nails.

The System by Formula X: A Second Look

I previously lamented about my experiences with the new Formula X and The System here.  In the month since, I picked up a set of my own during the VIB Sale (haul here).  I've been wearing it with every mani since, and have some new observations about The System that make it worth revisiting after just one month.

Just a quick word of warning- if this is incoherent at all, I haven't been able to have anything but clear liquids for almost 36 hours and I'm a bit shaky.

To review, The System consists of four Steps.

Step 1: Cleanse (blue liquid)
Step 2: Primer (pink base coat)
Step 3: Color
Step 4: Shine (top coat)

I purchased this because I enjoy matching polish with top/base coat.  As it turns out, Formula X can be used with any number of polishes.

Test #1: Formula X

I documented my woes in this post. I found The System lasted less than one day without a chip.

Test #2: Burberry

I'll save my full review of Burberry polish until later, but The System lasted two days for me with this formula.

Test #3: Dior

I tried it on two different polishes; I got the same result. About 2-3 days without chips with The System.

Test #4: Tom Ford

This had the best result, but I'm not sure if it's the nail lacquer or The System.  I got 5+ days wear.  I haven't tried other top coats, but got great wear time with The System and won't be trying others any time soon.


Overall, now that I've looked at The System for a full month, I find it a great value and would recommend it for anyone.  At $32 for three steps plus a bottle of colored lacquer, it's a deal.  Even though my wear times varied wildly, it's the best that I've found (aside from Deborah Lippmann's Gel Lab paired with Deborah Lippmann polishes) on the market.

Sephora Formula X: Wunderkind and Formula X: The System

Today's NOTD doubles as a formula review.  At a local VIB Rouge event, I had my nails done.  The cast member used Formula X: The System on my nails, giving me the ability to test its durability.

Wunderkind is a beautiful darkened indigo/purple shade.  Sephora describes this as "midnight blue pearl".  These swatches are with two coats, and with The System.

The System consists of four steps.

Photo credit: Sephora website

Step 1: Cleanse.  Following nail polish removal, Cleanse will finish cleaning the nail and provide a better base for the base coat to adhere.

Step 2: Base Coat. This is designed for the Formula X System

Step 3: Color

Step 4: Top Coat. Formula X is shiny as-is, but this will kick it up about 10,000 notches.

Overall, I loved the look that Formula X: The System gave me. It looked gel-like, but my nails ate the polish like usual.  I had my nails done on Sunday morning. By Sunday night, there was a small chip on two of the nails.  By Monday night, I had to remove the polish because half of my index nail was gone.  Others have gotten much longer wear than I did, but The System wasn't a success for me.  However, I'll likely still pick it up because I prefer to pair matching base/top coats with my polishes when possible and it's a decent deal.

Pricing/Availability: Formula X polishes are $10.50-$12.50 at Sephora, The System retails for $32 with your choice of polish.

Formula X For Sephora Nail Polish- Pyrotechnic

Normally, I'd save one of these type of posts for a NOTD, but the new Formula X for Sephora line was a huge release, so I wanted to take the time to fully review the formula, not necessarily the color I got to test.

For those unaware, Formula X for Sephora was launched within the past week, and it will be taking the place of the Sephora for OPI collection since the contract was not renewed. 

Formula X for Sephora has multiple categories, with different price points.

• $10.50: New Classics, New Neutrals, Electrics, Translucents
• $12.50: Chromes, Sparklers, Holograms, Brilliants, Superwatts, Celestials, Shifters, Lusters, Xplosives

Sephora is currently offering Pyrotechnic, a "dynamite red," as a 100 point perk in the Beauty Insider program both in-store and online.  That's how I received my bottle.  Pyrotechnic is considered one of the "New Classics."

I wouldn't have necessarily picked this if I was paying with money rather than Beauty Insider points due to the plethora of bright red cremes and jellys in my collection, but I'm happy to have it now.

Formula-wise, this is wonderful.  It was essentially a one-coater, and self-leveled.

In terms of wear time, I got two days without chipping, which is on-par with Chanel, Dior, and Deborah Lippmann.  I'll be checking out additional shades from this line, especially the glitters  that look exceptionally unique.

Bottom Line: Beauty Insiders, nab this perk to test the formula yourself- you won't be sorry.  Sephora seems to have nailed this new line and the price point is in most customers' comfort level.