Those of you who have been reading BeautyXpose for a while know that I’m kind of a nail polish fiend. Some might say I’m obsessed, but I prefer to think of it more as an unwavering appreciation for the subtle nuances of nail lacquer application, durability, finishes and hues.

On the quest for the ideal lacquer that matches my mood, I’m well aware that I have the attention span of a flea and tend to switch my nail polish every three or four days (unless I’m testing how long one lasts for you, dear BX readers). That said, I know for most busy (read: normal) women, a nail polish’s dry time and durability is at the top of the list, which is why I jumped at the chance to review a nail polish line promising just that — Dazzle Dry.

As the name suggests, this four-step, non-toxic nail polish system from the folks at VB Cosmetics touts the ability to air-dry thoroughly in five minutes without UV light (but should be dry to the touch within 30 seconds). What’s more, Dazzle Dry claims to be the industry’s only Nitrocellulose-free polish (the ingredient that causes yellowing), designed with a color stable formula with a high shine top coat that is flexible enough to avoid cracking. But for all the green-loving ladies out there, the best part may just be that Dazzle Dry is “three-free” (free of toxic toulene, phthalate and formaldehyde).

Sounds great, but does it work? The short answer: Yes.

I had the pleasure of testing out the four-step system with two different fall-inspired lacquer colors and saw the results first hand, so to speak. To begin, I swiped a cotton ball doused with Dazzle Dry Nail Prep over each clean, lacquer-free nail in order to remove any residual oils. Next, I applied the Base Coat (only recommended for use on natural nails), which dried virtually instantly. I literally had no wait time at all after finishing both hands before I moved straight on to the actual color polish. From there, I tried on this beautiful cranberry color:

On the other hand, I opted to test this warm gold:

After finishing the final nail on the second hand, I was astonished to find that the first hand was completely dry after the first coat. The second coat took slightly longer to dry, though I only waited 30 seconds before applying the final top coat. Another 30 seconds later, and all nails were dry to the touch, exactly as promised.

While I was pleasantly shocked to see that the drying time was significantly reduced, there was still that little matter of durability. Would it last? After repainting my gold-colored hand with the cranberry so I didn’t look like a mis-matched mess, I decided to see how long I could go without getting the tell-tale cracks and chips that have me heading for the nail polish hills.

Guess what? The nail polish outlasted me. After seven days, I felt the undeniable urge to switch my polish due to the aforementioned flea-like attention span and new nail growth, so I caved. The thing was, there wasn’t one chip. Not one. Not one crack, either, which often happens even with the best long-lasting nail polishes (the top coat tends to get mini spider cracks all over from my nail abuse after five days).

In all, I find Dazzle Dry to be the Energizer Bunny of nail polishes: drys well, lasts long. The only down side I could find? It’s exceedingly difficult to remove with regular acetone nail polish remover, requiring about four times the regular amount of cotton balls I normally use, and even then, some staining occurs. But for chip-free nails that last as long as you want them too, it’s a small price to pay.

Try Dazzle Dry yourself at www.vbcosmetics.com.

Photos: VB Cosmetics, Anne Houseman/BeautyXpose
Disclaimer: Products furnished complimentary for review