I recently got a chance to test drive this brand new item from (new-to-me brand) IT Cosmetics. It's a two-in-one nail care pen; twist the base to dispense a hydrating cuticle gel or use the cap to push back cuticles with a gentle rubber cuticle pusher. 
This is a click-pen style packaging, similar to a Stila Lip Glaze. You twist the base, it clicks, and eventually the product will be dispensed through the brush on the opposite end. The cap features a soft, rubbery cuticle pusher tip. It is removable in case you don't like how it looks. The label peels back to reveal an ingredients list and a little more information on the product.
(That shiny plastic part is just the safety seal that comes on the pen.)
The brush end. 
The texture of the cuticle treatment is rather gel-like. The closest thing I can compare it to is warm or room temperature CND Solar Balm. It melts on contact with skin.For the cuticle pusher end, start with moisturized or damp cuticles and gently push them back with the tip of the rubber cuticle pusher. Be careful not to push too hard or you could hurt yourself.
INGREDIENTS: Sweet Almond Oil, Olive Fruit Oil, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sunflower Seed Oil, Beeswax, Tocopherol Acetate, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Retinyl Palmitate and Tocopherol, Flavor, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Inositol, Panthenol, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Collagen.
What I liked:
- Pen-style dispenser is convenient, non-messy and portable. It won't leak in your purse!
- Cuticle treatment inside is effective. It has a good lineup of ingredients and it feels and acts very similar to my favorite oil, CND Solar Oil.
- Has a very pleasant light scent. It smells fresh and sweet but I can't put my finger on what exactly it smells like.
- The rubbery cuticle pusher is gentle, you won't cut yourself or scratch your nails with it. Just be careful not to push too hard and accidentally ram it under your cuticle- ow.
- If you dispense too much, you don't have to use it all. Just leave it on the brush and put the cap back on. The gel-like texture keeps it from running or dripping.
What I didn't like:
- The packaging looks a little cheap. It's not too bad, but it's not something I'd be showing off/applying in public.
- This is an oil so it can leave an oily coating on your fingertips until it fully absorbs. Be careful not to handle paperwork immediately after applying!
- There's not much product in here, and with daily use you'll finish it in no time. I used mine 2-3 times a day and it was gone in a week.
- It's expensive for the amount of product you get ($12.50 for 0.05oz)
- Once you peel back the label to view the ingredients, it never sits completely flat again and you'll eventually need to remove it completely.
- The cuticle pusher end will fall off if you're not careful, but can easily be put back on.
Overall, the product performs very well. I liked the formula of the cuticle oil and I had good results from it, and the soft cuticle pusher is a nice touch. It's convenient to carry since it won't leak. However, it contains very little product and won't last very long. You can purchase an entire 0.5 oz bottle of most salon brands of cuticle oil for around $5-$10 (depending on where you shop), so the Nail Love pen at $12.50 for only 0.05 oz is not a very good value. It is nice and portable, ideal for keeping in your desk or purse for moisturizing emergencies, and it does work well, but it's pretty expensive for regular/daily use.
This is available directly from IT Cosmetics, $12.50 for 0.05oz.
(This was sent for review.)
So, not refillable in any way? If it was, $12.50 for the portable dispenser and a cheap price on the refill *would* be worth it. Otherwise...meh!
ReplyDeletelove, lore
Sally Hansen makes a similar cuticle treatment pen (Maximum Growth Cuticle Pen). I wonder how it compares to this, since it's much cheaper.
ReplyDeleteLore, hmm... good question! If I didn't already throw out my empty one, I'll see if I can take it apart somehow to see if that's even possible. Never thought of that!
ReplyDeleteUnknown, I haven't tried that, but I'll look for it next time I'm at the store so I can try it! I like the pen dispenser but wish it didn't run out so fast.
I really hate carrying bottles in my purse...spillage fear, so while I like the pen idea too, I do not like the price! Lore's comment got me thinking; I found an online store that sells empty click pens in three parts so I think I shall get crafty and give this a try using my own cuticle oil.
ReplyDeleteWhat is that site? Or what do I search google for to find it? Thanks!
DeleteIt Cosmetics is a higher price point aimed cosmetic company that sprung to fame about 2 yrs ago out of the NYC area with 2 main products developing a cult following - their concealer which since then has fallen off the bandwagon as as much of a cult fav....then there is the It Cosmetics brow pencil - one shade supposed to do it for all. Many love it - for me, it has a tish of red in it that does not make it taupe enough for me to consider it truly neutral. Also the brow pencil has really been a knock off of what was first a QVC sold products from Model's Preferred...and now on HSN under a new name called BFF (Cosmetics???). That company makes the better brow product that is one shade for all based on the same technique as to how much you apply and how hard you apply it. Both It and BFF have a brush on the opposite ends from the color point that is NOT in a wood pencil but a cylandar that does not need to be sharpened. Frankly, not been impressed enough with It Cosmetics to branch out and try this product. I have bought into some of the hype for what was a fab concealer, fab brown pencil, fab finishing powder that was not supposed to be like any other and looked white in the jar. All were for me, over priced, under preforming. There are so many good cuticle products out there. If you find ones you like and use it all the time, you will have good cuticles, hydrated nail beds and smooth skin around the nail beds off up toward your finger from your nail were we tend to get hang nails. It can take a lot of work to remember for some to do the needed hydration to get success...but it is possible and you don't need to use expensive products for the most part doing it. Sally's has a lot of good ones. Barielle makes some of my all time favs. Many love the LUSH products (I don't like the scent for some reason on LUSH). But from this consumer's trials with IT Cosmetics, I am done with them. Over priced, under preform - usually an impluse by that ends up being a crap shoot.
ReplyDeleteFor those who like the pen concept - you might like to try both OPI for Sephora's similar product - super portable - works well. Also as mentioned above - SH similar product in a pen. Also OPI Avoplex Cuticle Oil To Go. But please do just use the pens for on the go in your purse. Still the best means to get the hydration one needs into the nail bed and surrounding area is with non pen products that come in cream pots & polish type oil bottles...use what works for you EVERY NIGHT and more often if you can.
ReplyDeleteSounds great but that price is too much. This would be so great to use. Really easy to use, plus a cuticle pusher. If it was refillable it might be worth it.
ReplyDeleteThe Body Shop had a pen like this with their Almond Oil - I loved the brush and soft cuticle pusher, and I LOVED the almond scent - but like this one, it was all gone after about a week after I used a few times a day. Boo :(
ReplyDeleteI have exactly the same product only mine is from branded as being from The Body Shop!
ReplyDeleteI love the Body Shop pen as well. Though I prefer metal cuticle pushers
ReplyDeleteYeah for that price that's not a lot of product. I like to carry a tub of Bert's Bee Cuticle butter in my purse. It's not the greatest but it works.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone else - if it was refillable, it would be worth it. I would love a portable cuticle oil pen for my purse! But the price is just too high for such a small amount, especially for people who like to moisturize at least 3x a day like me.
ReplyDelete