I was in Walgreens the other day when I stumbled upon this HUGE display of Nabi Magnetic polishes. I stood in front of that display picking out colors for entirely too long. I was thinking about just getting all of them (and there were a lot, over a dozen), but then decided against it because I didn't want to spend that much just in case they weren't very good. But, now that I've tried on the four shades I chose, I think I might have to go back for more...
Nabi Magnetic Nail Polish in Candid. Candid is a greenish-greyish metallic base with lots of huge, chunky gold flake sparkle. When you expose it to the magnet, all the silvery grey-green parts pull away and leave the gold sparkles where they were and it looks flippin' amazing. In fact, it looks amazing even without using the magnet at all:
Nabi Magnetic Nail Polish in Dark Gold. This one's similar to Candid, but more of a golden-brownish-bronzy-warm color scheme. That flaky, chunky gold glitter is just as pretty in this one, but to my eye, it seems like there's slightly less of it than there is in Candid. Also looks amazing pre-magnet:
Nabi Magnetic Nail Polish in Wine. This one is a dark cherry red shimmer. No glitter in here, but it looks fine without it. I love the way this separates into black and red stripes when it's exposed to the magnet. I don't think I've ever seen another dark red magnetic, either. Super awesome.Despite the extremely amazing colors, the formula on these is pretty bad. It's very thick and stringy, and has that sort of globby, sticky, foamy texture that makes a thin, even, smooth coat nearly impossible. I'm sure adding some polish thinner would help, but I haven't tried it yet. I did three coats of each, and only the two gold-based ones needed the third coat. The brushes were okay but not the best. The dry time is very long on these. Oh, and the smell. They smell HORRIBLE. Bad, chemical, scary.
The Nabi magnet comes in three patterns, and each polish comes with its own magnet, attached to the lid like so:
"Mysteryious power of magnets to turn your nails into shimmery and 3D nail art work."
What I liked:
- Full size (0.5 fluid ounce) bottles.
- Extremely inexpensive. These rang up $4.99 each, magnet included. So far that's the most affordable magnetic polish I've seen. The China Glaze Magnetix are cheaper per polish online, but they don't come with a magnet like these do.
- Incredible color selection, including colors and finishes I haven't seen from any other brand. A dreamy, magnetic rainbow.
- DRUGSTORE MAGNETIC POLISHES! Yay!
- They each come with their own magnet.
What I didn't like:
- THE SMELL.
- Difficult, unwieldy, foamy-thick formula. Frustrating globby-stringy application.
- The magnets are weak.
- The stickers are sloppy and the magnets aren't attached very well. A lot at the store were broken on the display.
- The magnet comes in three patterns, but the Chevron is kinda wavy and the diagonal line is redundant because the straight line pattern can be used to duplicate it.
- Long dry time.
- Hard to position the magnet without the little plastic cuticle guard that the Nails Inc./China Glaze magnet has.
I'm really impressed by the color selection (Dark green! Red! Purple! GLITTER!!), but not the formula. The magnet is pretty weak (even weaker than the China Glaze one), but I'll just use a different magnet next time I use these. But, because of the low cost, I'm definitely going to pick up a few more colors next time I'm in Walgreens. At only $4.99 a piece, magnet included, I really can't complain much!
Any idea where someone in the UK could get my grubby mitts on these?! The dark gold and the Wine are a must have, I absolutely love them! Thanks for sharing theyre fab! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not really sure! I've always seen Nabi sold online/eBay or in random beauty stores, but never the magnetic ones (only just found out they existed when I saw these)
DeleteI really like the contrast on these! I may have to check to see if they have these at my Walgreen's!
ReplyDeleteThe glitter ones are extra pretty!
Deleteactuallly i just tried the gold shimmer one today and it seperated in less thn 10 seconds into lines and dried pretty fast!!! i had no problem with it. it wasnt clumpy or anything.
DeleteDark Gold and Wine are OMG awesome!
ReplyDeleteI was REALLY impressed with Wine. Black and red stripes! Love!
DeleteNabi polishes are the stinkiest I've ever experienced--this is including pre-B3F. The brushes and super-thick formula are definitely a turnoff! That being said... that dark red/black magnetic might get me on the magnetic polish bandwagon and 'Dark Gold' looks like tiger's eye after the magnet is applied!
ReplyDeleteI agree, the smell of these is ten times worse than any old, chemical-filled big 3 polish I own! But very pretty to look at (from a distance, while wearing a gas mask)
DeleteOoooh - are they any worse (surely not) than kleancolor? I seriously love these but if they're at the kleancolor scent level I may have to pass!
DeleteOh Nabi! I'm always tempted because they have such an awesome range of polishes, but they are hands down some of the worst smelling I have ever tried.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, super gross smell!
DeleteI didn't even know they made regular polish! The magnetic ones are the first I've seen.
DeleteWowwwwwww! I wish I had Walgreens here in Eastern Canada. I'd kill for that dark red one!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that Nabi is carried *somewhere* in Canada... I always thought it was an import brand since I'd only ever seen them online
DeleteOoh I love those colors. Time to go to walgreens!
ReplyDeleteOoh I love the colors! Time to hit up a Walgreens.
ReplyDeleteCheap and pretty, can't beat that! If you can ignore the smell, that is!
DeleteOhhhhhh those look awesome! I love the red!! And I don't even like red that much!!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it a beauty??
DeleteI love the colours and honestly it looks like these designs are so much crisper than a lot of the other more affordable versions of the magnetic polishes that have come out. I'll have to see if my local Walgreens has these in stock. :)
ReplyDeleteThey seem on par with every other magnetic I've used, would probably look even better if I used a good, strong magnet like the Nails Inc. one!
DeleteThese swatches may have changed my mind on magnetic polishes!
ReplyDeleteMagnetic polishes are SO COOL! I've been in love with them ever since that first Lancome and I'm always singing their praises, lol
DeleteLOVE THE EFFECT OF THIS POLISH VERY DIFFERENT
ReplyDeleteI LOVE THE RED ONE !
ReplyDeleteI called Walgreens corporate today and they are going to be getting rid of all Nabi Magnetic displays. Making room for the Sally Hansen Magnetics. Suckage because these really are awewsome polishes.
ReplyDeleteI called Walgreens corporate today and they are going to be getting rid of all Nabi Magnetic displays. Making room for the Sally Hansen Magnetics. Suckage because these really are awewsome polishes.
ReplyDeleteNOOOOO! So soon! I only just found out about these, now I have to hurry and find all the ones I want. Crap! But thank you SO MUCH for the warning. And the heads up about the Sally Hansens- super excited for those now cause I know they won't smell as bad!
DeleteDefinately the most effective and dramatic results I've seen from magnetic polishes!
ReplyDeleteWine and Dark Gold are GORGEOUS! I've never seen this brand before, but you better believe I will be on the lookout after seeing these lovely swatches!
ReplyDeleteThey're so nice in person- definitely take a look at all the colors on the display if you get the chance! There was a nice looking purple on there that I should have grabbed, haha!
DeleteDefinately the most dramatic results I've seen from magnetic polishes!
ReplyDeleteDespite the weak magnet, these still worked very well for me! But I did have to hold the magnet closer and longer to get the same effect I get from my other ones
DeleteDid you put topcoat on these? If so, how did it affect them?
ReplyDeleteNo topcoat in the pictures, but when I tried to wear one (had to take it off cause the smell was giving me a headache), I used Seche Vite with no problem. I did wait about six minutes before I applied it, though.
DeleteStinky as in SV topcoat? Worse? Different? Stinky even after they've dried? I really like the tiger's eye looking one, too, but not at the cost of putrescense....
ReplyDeleteDifferent AND worse. I actually don't notice much smell to Seche Vite, but these I can smell the entire time I wear them. It's like a strong chemical melting plastic smell, mixed with something formaldehyde-like. If you've ever owned a Kleancolor polish, or some of the generic brands that beauty supply stores sell, then you'll know sort of how it smells. I think the older BYS polishes have a similar smell, just not as strong.
DeleteThese look amazing!
ReplyDeleteThey are very pretty in person!
DeleteThese do look really nice.The smell of the Kleancolor polishes does not bother me,so I doubt these would bother me either,however,I wonder if hadding thinner to these would help the formula at all,Scrangie? Other than that,I don't expect we'll see them in my part of Texas,(why do I bother.)
ReplyDeleteIf Kleancolor doesn't bother you, you'll probably be fine with these. I haven't tried thinning them yet, though!
DeleteLove them! I think I'll get one to see if the smell is too much for me to handle.
ReplyDeleteI think Walgreens accepts returns, haha
DeleteOh my god Wine is just fabulous! But weak magnets make me saddd...the China Glaze magnet didn't even work for me so this will probably do nothing. At least I have my Nails Inc magnet...gotta check out the Walgreens near me now!
ReplyDeleteI had to hold the magnet closer and longer with these... definitely not my favorite magnet, but not unusable!
DeleteI was in two different walgreens today and stopped at the nabi displays in each store, but resisted them. Your swatches of wine and candid make me wish that I had picked them up, but strong smell and long dry time are cons for me too.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they are terribly smelly, but cheap. Hopefully another drugstore brand will do similar magnetic colors for a similar price, but with better formula and no scary smell!
DeleteAhh I was just getting ready to try some of these out when I saw this post. The smell. For $4.99 I will not be complaining much, but holy wow the smell. I can't inhale at all while I'm applying the polish or else I go into a fit of sneezes. (Sensitive to smells) The polishes are pretty enough and cheap enough for it to be amusing. haha
ReplyDeleteAh, sorry for the double comment. Where on the bottle do yours say the polish name? I don't know if it was on the display and I just didn't notice or if I am just being blind, because I got two and neither have a name.
ReplyDeleteNo worries! Mine have circle stickers on the bottom of each bottle, but you're not the only one who is telling me theirs are missing, so maybe I just got an extra special batch? lol
DeleteMy bottles had 2 stickers on the bottom. If you carefully pull off the top one the bottom sticker as the polish name and number on it.
DeleteMy bottles had two stickers on the bottom. If you peal up the one with the barcode you will find the stickers with the name and number of the color.
DeleteI am with Melissa Ann, mine had two stickers as well, the name was under the first.
DeleteI am with Melissa Ann. Mine also had two stickers on it. When I removed one, the name was under it.
DeleteI can't find the names either! I have four of them but don't know what they're called. Great swatches!
ReplyDeleteMine have little circular stickers with names and numbers on the bottom of each bottle. Must have fallen off at the store or something :(
DeleteI was at Walgreens today and they didn't have these. I need the red!
ReplyDeleteI went to another one looking for these again and they didn't have them- must only be certain locations :(
DeleteI think some locations just don't get them. I picked up mine yesterday at one I almost never go to. My usual Walgreens had all the new displays up for St. Patty's Day but not these. The same was true for the Color Club collections. Out of 4 stores only the one I usually go to ever had them.
DeleteI was at Walgreens today and they didn't have these. I need the red!
ReplyDeleteAw, bummer! The red is really pretty, the only red magnetic I have!
DeleteHmmm. I tried the black one, and it sucked really bad. I held the magnet for a whole minute and had barely anything. Walgreens let me return it. I've heard from others that it's a dud. I really like the 2 gold ones and the red you picked out though.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember if I saw the black one or not, but if I see it, I'll get it and try it. The four I have worked well, but the magnet was pretty crappy so I had to hold it closer than I'd normally hold it
DeleteWow. After actually wearing the polish a might have to backtrack on the smell. Hopefully a topcoat will help with it? It doesn't just give me a headache, I'm getting nauseous too. :(
ReplyDeleteDid ALL of yours have names or just some? I got the purple and the dark gold (I think) and they have a sticker with numbers and a barcode on the bottom but no names.
Yeah... it's pretty nasty :( Sometimes I can handle this smell, but just not right now apparently!
DeleteAll four that I have have the number, the name and the barcode, plus an expiration date symbol on the label. Very odd!
The magnate makes me sad. I fall under the "super curved nails" category and the designs always miss the tip and sides of my nails. I still haven't gotten a proper looking star with the China Glaze magnate. :,(
DeleteThe Icing and Claire's both have magnetic polish too that's fairly affordable since it's buy one get one half off. Their magnates are what I've had the most luck with so far. (Granted, I have only tried those, China Glaze, and now these Nabi ones.)
magnet* (I thought it looked funny when I was typing, But spell check didn't tag it at all!)
DeleteExpiration date?? lol... And how long are these good for?
DeleteI love the wine! I must drive through horrible snow and traffic tomorrow to Walgreens. Hope they have them!
ReplyDeleteHope you can find it! May be worth it to call first and not have to drive in the snow, though! *is terrified of driving in snow*
DeleteI have yet to see these at any drugstores in my area. However I did find them at an indoor swapmeet where I purchase my Kleancolor polish. There were 30 colors. 3 for 5$!! The woman selling them let me swatch a few on my nails because she was curious to see how they worked. I bought 12 including the 4 you did! The black and dark navy have the least magnetic effect. I can tolerate the smell and slow dry time for the quality and price. I can't decide which to wear first, if only I had 2 extra digits.
ReplyDeleteAww, man! :( I just ordered six of these from ebay (hint, hint to all international readers) and NOW I read they smell horrible. Strong smells have recently started to give me these horrible headaches that make me whimper. I'm afraid I won't be able to use them at all. :/ I'll have a good old temper tantrum if that's the case. These are the first magnetic polishes I've bought after wanting to try them for so long.
ReplyDeleteI ordered a set of six polishes where you could choose the colours yourself and couldn't decide on the sixth, so I just picked Candid randomly without seeing swatches of it. Seeing your pictures of it made me raise my eyebrows and say 'Wait, I ordered that?!'. :) Gold is not my colour, I haven't got any golden polishes. We'll see how I get along with it, it could be I'll like it anyway.
Okay, I actually gasped when I saw the first swatch. Love the sparkly gold magnetic look. And you're right, it even looks incredible before its magnetized. The green one is incredible, too. They ALL are. I'm in love. Thank you for swatching these!
ReplyDeleteyou made them look gorgeous! too bad for the formula and scent, but I really love them in these pics ;)
ReplyDeleteWow! These are definitely the most beautiful polishes in the world!
ReplyDeleteWow these magnets looks great! I'm loving the "teal" & wine one. Hope I can find them, I want to check out the smell for myself. Ha. & Thanks for your review, as always :)
ReplyDeleteI've been scouring Walgreens for these and none around me have them yet (I'm in Michigan). So I finally ordered three from eBay, Wine, Dark Wine and Black. Your swatch of Wine has me so excited to get them!!
ReplyDeletewow they look amazing!
ReplyDeleteThese are the first magnetic polishes that have appealed to me!
ReplyDeleteI have to say I am in love with that red colour! Shame its not available in the U.K.
ReplyDeleteI work at Walgreens. I put our the Nabi display up at my store--(I run the cosmetics department). The Nabi magnetic nail polishes are a special order that each store would have to do--so your local Walgreens may or may not have them. The person that said that they're going away is incorrect. They're not. Although Sally Hansen IS launching a magnetic nail polish sometime later in the year. I don't know exactly when--summerish. I know this because I have a Saturdate featuring it sometime in November I want to say.
ReplyDeleteI work at Walgreens. I put the Nabi display up at my store--(I run the cosmetics department). The Nabi magnetic nail polish display is a special order that each store would have to do--that's why some stores have it, while others do not. Stores that don't have it now, may decide to order it if they hear it sells well at the stores that do have it. Also, the person that stated that it is being pulled from stores is incorrect. It's not being pulled or sent back to make room for anything because it is not part of the cos wall, where the basic products are. If you see it in your local Walgreens, it is LE. The store may order it again--but usually we don't. Sally Hansen IS coming out with a magnetic nail polish later in the year--summerish. This will become basic next winter on the wall. I hope this helps answer any questions.
ReplyDeleteThe magnetic design came through so strongly! I was trying out my friend's Nabi magnetic polish the other day and I wasn't really getting any results so I just gave up. It was my first time trying a magnetic polish, but it just seemed to be taking so long. About how long do you think you had to hold the magnet for the design to show up?
ReplyDeleteI didn't count this time, I just held it until the lines seemed nice and strong. Maybe around 20 seconds? The longer you hold it, the better. And if you're not getting the design to show up, it's possible that your hands are shaking too much and interrupting the design, I have that problem occasionally
DeleteOh okay, I'll try it again, then. I probably was moving my hands. Thanks!!
DeleteOk cool. I'll have to try it again. I probably was shaking my hands. Thanks!!
DeleteSeeing your swatches made me obsessed to have these polishes. My South Florida Walgreens didn't have them, and the cosmetics people there didn't even know what magnetic polish was. I had to show them the CG magnetic polish I had on my fingernails so they could learn what it was. I bought 6 Nabi magnetic polishes on eBay for $21.50 with free shipping.
ReplyDeleteSweet deal, that's way cheaper than I got mine for at Walgreens!
Deletewow your swatches look amazing! I bought two of these and couldn't get the stripes to look nearly as pretty as yours. You're right the magnets are weak. I'm thinking of returning them :-/
ReplyDeleteI thought they were very weak but still useable. The worked fine for me to make the design, I just held the magnet closer than I do with the other magnets. Sorry yours aren't working for you :(
DeleteI didn't think they were that weak! If you put too thick of a coat on, I noticed the magnet pulling the polish up off the nail almost! I have a few dried polish marks on my magnet sticker now. :)
Deletelol @ the "f__kin magnets, how do they work" reference. anyway, these colors are really gorgeous. i'm not into the whole magnet nailpolish thing, but this may get me to try them. even if the formula kinda sucks, at least i'll have pretty colors to wear as regular polish.
ReplyDeleteAre these smelly as in nail polish BEFORE most companies went Big 3 Free? I wonder if they're that stinky because they contain icky DBP, Formaldehyde and/or Toluene.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty awful that they smell so awful because they are so beautiful, especially the green and the black/red. I would love to get the green, but I'm so highly sensitive to scents that I can just tell from your description I would be sent to the hospital for either an asthma attack or a migraine (or both) just opening that bottle. BOO!
Oh my god, I totally LOLed at the stones of attraction thing! What a mystery, I wonder how a magnet can form a pattern in nail polish.
ReplyDeleteBeing serious now, these are freaking amazing. I'm drooling over the red.
such a great review, i just bought one of these the other day and the formula is so bad I couldnt use it, I tried several times already but Im determined to try again. I dont know how you make them looks so beautiful, makes me want to get some even with the bad formula.
ReplyDeleteI bought one and I couldn't get the magnet to do anything at all. Not really sure what I did wrong. I tried to hold it over the nail right after I painted, about 15 seconds later, and a minute or two after and it had no effect. How did you get it work?
ReplyDeleteOdd! I didn't have any trouble getting mine to work even though the magnet was weak. 15 seconds is too long, and it definitely won't work after a minute or two. Has to be done immediately after painting, and you have to hold the magnet completely still, otherwise you won't get a good pattern. Are you holding the magnet close enough? If it's too far from the nail it won't work either
DeleteI have tried three different magnets and cannot get my dark purple to work. I will try my pink next. I did just like you Allison and left it on for more time each time with little to no luck.
DeleteI couldn't get the dark purple to work either. Terrible. Don't think I'll be buying this brand again!
DeleteYou can only do one nail at a time, put a coat on and immediately hold the magnet over it. If the coat is too thin, it dries too quickly and it has to be wet for the magnet particles to move through the polish towards the magnet. (I've done a lot of experimenting.)
DeleteI could not get it work- like at all! I got the polish on okay but the magnet didn't do anything! How'd you get it work?
ReplyDeleteI am with you Allison. I can't get the magnet to work either. I tired it on my toes first.... i sit here with still wet fingers trying to get this to work now. i did a google search to see if im holding the stinking thing right...... still nothing!
ReplyDeleteJust make sure you're holding the magnet completely level, and as close to the nail as you can without physically touching it. Have you checked here? http://www.scrangie.com/2012/02/magnetic-polish-instructions.html
DeleteIt is tricky to do at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be a pro at it in no time!
Mine done work either Allison!! :( i did a google search and found this page... in hopes to see how the thing should be held... highly bummed
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteomg i didnt care for magnetic nail polish at first but candid and the red one is so beautiful im willing to try these. I already checked the closet walgreens near me and they didnt have them..hopefully ulta supplying these but im going to check the other walgreens first. if not..then amazon here i come!!
ReplyDeleteI did not care for magnetic polishes at first but omgosh i have got to get my hands on candid and the red one! that is soo pretty. I already checked the closes walgreens near me and they dont have it...mmmm im hoping ulta supplying these. But im going to check the other walgreens first!
ReplyDeleteHmmm...I found these on nomorerack for $6. If they can be had at Walgreens for $4.99, I don't think I'll bother. ESPECIALLY since the formula isn't as good as it could be. I know, I know, they're cheap compared to other magnetics, but I have no patience! What a bummer, too, some of these colors are amazing looking.
ReplyDeleteThanks Scrangie, for being my go-to when I need to see what polishes are like!
I want these so bad, but I can't risk the smell. My favorite top coat- China Glaze Fast Forward- is too rank for me, so I imagine that these are going to be way too much. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI found these last month and they ARE awesome! The color selection is great. I found one store in my area that had them priced at $3.99! You can't beat that. The bottles I bought didn't even have a color name, only a number but I did pick one up that is a BEAUTIFUL teal, so maybe you green bottle was mislabeled. What I hated most was the magnets! I couldn't get them to make the beautiful images you got. I had better results with the CG magnet. Have you tried any other magnets? I do love these polishes, tho. Especially the price! I just couldn't bring myself to spend $15 on the Laylas.
ReplyDeleteI discovered these polishes on Ebay, where I paid $20 for 6 colors!! I shared them with my sisters. :) I got Candid, Blackberry, Cinnamon, Lilac, Splash, and Teal. I wore Teal for St. Patrick's Day. I usually don't like any sort of green, that's why I ordered Teal, thinking it was actually teal, lol. But I LOVED it!! Not crazy about Candid, but Blackberry, Lilac, Cinnamon and Splash have the same effect as Teal. Cinnamon was just too light of a color for the magnetic design to show up much.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm coming in a bit late to the party here, but I bought a couple of these after reading this back in march and just got to looking at it when I was using it recently, and I wondered where you found the name of the name of the colors? Neither of the bottles I got have a name on them anywhere. Thanks
ReplyDeleteMine have a label on the bottom with the name of each color, but if you look up at some of the previous comments, you'll see that a few other people had the same problem as you- missing labels :(
ReplyDeleteYeah I really should have read the comments above a bit more thoroughly. Thanks though. You are truly a polish Goddess
DeleteNo worries! Just wanted to make sure you know that other people were having the same problem, not just you :) And thank you, hehehe :D
DeleteI'm so sad about the missing name-labels :( The name is a BIG DEAL to me when making a purchase!
ReplyDeleteI got one today and the application process for me was pretty hard. It already started chipping ( even with a base and top coat). The odor was HORRIBLE! That stuff made my room stink SO bad in just the first couple of tries! I'm taking it back tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteI just got some today. I'm taking it back tomrrow. Very disappointed. The magnet was bad and the odor was bad too. It made my room stink in about 5-10 minutes...thats with the fan on
ReplyDeleteThat red one looks outstanding! Thanks for the reviews.
ReplyDeleteHow do you apply the nail polish and make it so pronounced?
ReplyDeleteGah! So pretty!
ReplyDeleteI actually don't the smell of these, kinda reminds me of blood with the semi metallic smell of them. They don't smell any worse than other nail polish.
ReplyDeletei bought some, didn't smell so bad but the magnet would not draw out the lines. disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI bought some and was disappointed. The magnet did not work, no lines came out. The smell was not too bad, not worse than any other polish. Probably won't buy them again, I've used other brands that do a lot better job, was trying because of the price. Your nails came out great.
ReplyDelete