NailPlex Pen, Nail Strengthener and Cuticle Moisturizer, 2 oz / 5ml

Not it

Smells like hella chemicals. Don’t do it.

Protien for your nails

I wasn’t sure what was in this as the description is rather vague. The box itself lists the ingredients as “Hydrolyzed Keratin, Water, Dimethyl Sulfone, D-Panthenol, Preservative, System MBS-1” which is not that much information as “preservative” can mean just about anything.That said, Keratin is a common ingredient in protein hair treatments and so my assumption is this is basically a protein treatment for nails. It is NOT a nail or cuticle oil – you apply it and it absorbs into the nail/evaporates fairly quickly. There is a faint odor that I don’t really like. It’s not strong, but if you are sensitive to scents it’s there and sort of gas-like smelling.If you have hair that benefits from protein treatments this will probably work for you, if you don’t this is likely to make your nails dry instead. You will still want to use a regular cuticle oil especially if you have dry skin. It did not work for me for those reasons but your mileage may vary.

This cuticle moisturizer is not oily

Reviewing NailPlex Pen, Nail Strengthener and Cuticle Moisturizer, 2 oz / 5mlIf you have used cuticle pens before, you are probably aware that you have to turn the top of the pen numerous times before the moisturizer comes out. Make sure you don’t get impatient because it takes quite a few turns of the pen. This cuticle pen solution is not oil based. I applied it to all of my nails and by the time I went back to massage it into my cuticles it was basically dry. I now rub in the moisturizer after applying it to each nail. I did find that the moisturizer stays a little sticky for a while, but I don’t find that bothersome. After applying the moisturizer, my cuticles looked refreshed and the dry skin was not visible. By having the cuticle moisturizer in the pen, it makes it easy to stick in my purse or in my travel bag. I put one pen right by my recliner so that I apply it while watching TV. Even though this moisturizer works well, I think it is too pricy for my liking. I have used comparable products for a fraction of the price.

Not for me! 😞 No safety seal & NO instructions on priming & using these pens 👎

One of the first things I learned when starting my nail journey, (10 years ago), was the importance of nail nutrition. I am a huge proponent of cuticle oil, and have discovered a lot of really effective & nourishing nail products within the Indie nail community. When I saw these Nailplex pens, made by Pharmablue Labs for $65 a set, I just had to see what kind of miracle elixir for nails they had created, because charging that much for 2 of these nail pens blows my mind.First off, nothing was safety sealed; the package just contained 2 pens in a dirty, unsealed box. Secondly, I don’t like that you can’t see how much liquid each pen contains, due to the placement of an opaque silver sticker on the outside, which obscures the view of the actual liquid contents inside the barrel. According to the manufacturer’s claims, each pen contains 3ml (a mere 0.10 fl oz) of product – but you cannot see inside the tube, so who really knows? 3ml is indeed the standard size for Indie made nail (oil) pens, but those pens are clear, so at least you can see through them. They’re not $37.50 each, like these are, either.I was also shocked & taken aback that no instructions were included on how to get these pens working. This is quite presumptive of the manufacturer to assume that everyone will automatically know this information. It’s also lazy to overlook the importance of providing details on how to prime these applicators for use. I have experience with cuticle pens, so I will gladly explain: Each pen has a small clear reservoir, located directly under the brush tip. You have to twist the base of the pen to get the liquid to pull up into that reservoir, so it can flow out of the brush for application. Initially, on my first use, I had to twist the pen bottom around 25 times before any product began to flow. Each time you twist the pen you will hear a click, but you should definitely keep watch on that reservoir… because you don’t want to overfill it and have your precious nail elixir spilling out overboard. This stuff is too expensive to waste a single drop. After the initial set up of priming the pen, every time you want to apply this product, you will have to twist the base a few times to dispense the fluid.This is a US made product. Pharmablue Labs is located in Winter Haven, FL. The full ingredients are listed as: Hydrolyzed Keratin, Water, Dimethyl Sulfone, D-Panthenol, and Preservative System MBS-1.These are not your typical nail pen ingredients. This formula is an intensive nail treatment. Keratin & D-Panthenol is used topically for strengthening thin, damaged, peeling nails. Extended use can provide thickness to fragile nails, but the results are cumulative.Every nail/cuticle pen I’ve ever used has been oil based though, (which adds hydration), and primarily consists of Golden (Cold-Pressed) Almond Oil, Sweet Jojoba, Sunflower Oil, and vitamin E.I have used A LOT of different brands of nail *oils* over my decade long nail career – which pretty much do the same thing: add moisture to reduce curling, and hydrate to prevent splitting/peeling & breakage (from your nails becoming too dry). The only nail *treatment* product I’ve found with an ingredients deck similar to this is Nailtiques Formula 2 Plus, which is a fraction of the cost (for more than double the amount of product that both of these pens provide).So, the million-dollar question: is THIS the miracle elixir that will make your nails look like they’ve been perfectly sculpted at the salon? NO. There simply isn’t enough product between both of these pens to make a significant difference. The (only) instructions say to apply this twice a day, BUT for you to experience a noticeable improvement, the truth is – you’ll need to keep that application regimen up for at least a couple of months.To me, this product is simply a convenient nail pen applicator set containing a tiny amount of expensive high-end ingredients… formulated for folks that have no budget. I don’t hate it, but I don’t see the value in it, either. For an intensive nail treatment, I would go for the 7.5oz Nailtiques keratin product, for a number of reasons. Furthermore, I know I will NOT be able to afford to continue using Pharmablue Labs to see any long-term benefit, so I’m just gonna stick with the tried-and-true nail oils that have delivered exceptional results to my nails & cuticles for over a decade.