One Editor Puts Her Nails to the Test on Her Summer Getaway

After neatly packing sundresses, sandals, and swimsuits into my carry-on, I wrote a checklist so I wouldn’t forget any details in the morning: phone charger, passport, mani/pedi. Ugh. Why do I always forget about my nails until the last minute?

I know many women feel me on this. You glance down at your hands remembering that colorful nail polish you intended to use, rush to paint it on, and run out the door — only to spot increasing chips and smudges as the day wears on. Before heading out for my beach trip I decided to use a longwear nail polish with base coat and color in one and it was such a time saver. I applied two coats of a pretty berry shade, let them dry for five minutes, and then painted on an ultrashiny top coat to lock in the look. On my way to the airport, I looked down and was relieved. So far, so good — even despite the last-minute application.

I arrived at the airport with time to spare, but despite my penchant for being early, it's hard to avoid at least one spaz moment before getting to the gate. At the security line I jammed my hand into my purse, twisting my fingers through headphone cables on the hunt for my boarding pass. I felt a sense of panic until I felt the paper between my fingertips. Whew!

Of course, this was the moment when I remembered my fresh manicure. Chipping a nail before I even departed for my destination would be brutal, but it's been known to happen. I slowly removed my hand from my bag and breathed another sigh of relief. The high-performance nail polish didn't smudge or chip. Impressive.

For this getaway, my girls and I had one mission: spend as much time at the beach as possible. As the beauty junkie of the group, I parked under an umbrella and obsessively slathered on SPF 50 while we chattered away for hours.

It was time for that obligatory selfie to make everyone back home envious of my tropical vacay. And despite hours squishing sand between my toes, the top coat's DiamondFlex technology kept my pedicure intact and ultrashiny for a photo-op.

Traveling always brings out my adventurous side. After a day of lazing in the sand, my friends and I decided to take our morning workout on the road and enjoy the scenery with a long group bike ride.

I threw on a sundress, swapped my flip-flops for cute slip-ons and off we went! Manicure maintenance could never keep me away from an exciting activity. After a fun-filled afternoon on my bike, it was nice to glance down and know my ding-resistant top coat still looked as flawless as the day I painted it on.

I'm a firm believer that there's no better end to a long day in the sun than a frosty, indulgent treat piled high. (Sorry, not sorry.) When the toughest decision you'll make all day is picking a flavor of ice cream (or two), you know it's been a great day.

Really, what is summer without racing the clock to prevent a frozen treat from melting down your hand? Thankfully a sticky situation didn't mess up my manicure's shine, and the salon-quality polish lived up to its claim of life-resistant wear.

Hoping to absorb every last drop of vacation, I spent my remaining hours poolside and had to rush to get packed and ready to go before checkout. Le sigh.

Time to quickly cram my three swimsuits, four dresses, five pairs of shoes, and about 15 tops into my suitcase. OK, fine, maaaybe I did a little shopping. But thanks to a little coaxing — and a nail enamel with shatter-proof strength — I was able to close and zip my suitcase without ruining my mani.

And just like that, the trip is a wrap. Reflecting on our memorable love-filled girls trip and the gorgeous resort, I put my key in the door and immediately snapped back to the reality of my tiny one-bedroom apartment in New York, and Summer coming to an end.

Just as my post-vacation blues were about to set in, I realized that my manicure lasted the whole time and was still shiny. Victory! My nails survived the challenge, and were ready to take on the next adventure.

Want your tips and toes to last, too? Try this chip-resistant nail polish and top coat at home and see how your manicure holds up.

Disclaimer: The photos included in this post are of a model's hands, not my hands, but all thoughts, experiences, and opinions are my own.

Shop more from Revlon®!