I really liked the idea of a nail polish pen because it sounded so much easier than dealing with a regular polish bottle and brush. The whole point of a marker-style applicator is supposed to be quick, controlled application, so I was curious to see if it would actually make doing my nails easier.
Unfortunately, the pen applicator is about the only thing I liked about the Sweeney Nail Polish Marker. The polish itself was thick, gloppy, streaky, and difficult to control, and after trying two of the 4 colors I bought, I had the exact same experience with both.
Key Takeaways
- The pen applicator is a clever idea, but the polish comes out in inconsistent blobs.
- The formula goes on thick and uneven instead of smoothly.
- The color is streaky and needs multiple coats, but adding coats does not fix the uneven application.
- The polish lifts from the nail easily, making the whole process feel like a waste of time and money.
What Is the Sweeney Nail Polish Marker?
The Sweeney Nail Polish Marker is a nail polish designed in a pen-style applicator rather than the traditional nail polish bottle and brush. Instead of dipping a brush into a bottle, you turn the pen to release the polish and use the built-in applicator directly on the nail.
That format was actually what caught my attention. I like products that make little beauty routines easier, and being able to grab a pen and paint my nails without opening a bottle sounded incredibly convenient.
Unfortunately, the execution was a completely different story.
Why I Tried It
I bought the Sweeney Nail Polish Marker because I was interested in the pen format. I thought it would give me more control over the application and make doing my nails quicker and less messy. I also had four colors to try, so I figured I would have enough opportunity to see whether the formula was actually good or whether I had simply picked a bad color.
After trying two of the four, though, I was already seeing the same problems over and over again.
My Experience With the Sweeney Nail Polish Marker
The first thing that annoyed me was getting the polish out. You have to turn the pen several times before anything comes through, which isn’t necessarily a problem on its own. The problem is that when the polish finally does come out, it doesn’t come out in a nice, controlled amount. It comes out as a giant blob.
So instead of getting a small, manageable amount that I could brush across the nail, I was suddenly dealing with way too much polish in one spot. Then came the actual application.
The polish is thick and gloppy, and it does not brush onto the nail smoothly. I would try to spread the blob across the nail, but the polish would leave uneven strokes behind. Trying to go back over those areas to smooth them out didn’t really help because the polish would move around or come off instead of blending into an even layer.
It also dries quickly, which would normally sound like a positive thing. With this formula, though, the quick drying actually made the application more frustrating because I didn’t have enough time to smooth out the strokes before the polish started setting.
The result was a nail covered in visible uneven lines rather than a smooth coat of polish. The color itself was also streaky. One coat wasn’t enough, so I tried adding more, but that created another problem. When the first coat was already uneven, adding another coat didn’t magically make everything smooth. I just ended up with more layers sitting unevenly on the nail.
I tried two of the four colors I had, and both gave me essentially the same experience. That was when I stopped thinking I had simply chosen the wrong shade and started thinking the formula itself was the problem.
Another thing that really bothered me was how easily the polish lifted. It doesn’t stick particularly well to the skin around the fingers, which might sound like a good thing when you’re cleaning up around the nail. But it also lifts from the actual nail surprisingly easily. So I was dealing with polish that was difficult to apply, difficult to smooth out, required multiple coats, and then didn’t seem particularly committed to staying where I had put it in the first place.
At that point, I had spent more time fighting with the pen than I would have spent simply painting my nails with regular polish.
What I Loved
- The pen format is a genuinely convenient idea.
- It is easy to hold and use like a marker.
- The concept could make nail application much quicker if the formula worked better.
What I Didn’t Love
- You have to turn the pen repeatedly before polish comes out.
- When it does come out, it can release a huge blob.
- The formula is thick and gloppy.
- It leaves uneven strokes on the nails.
- It dries too quickly to smooth out properly.
- The color is streaky and needs several coats.
- Adding coats does not solve the uneven application.
- The polish lifts easily from the nail.
- Two different colors gave me the same problems.
Is the Sweeney Nail Polish Marker Worth the Price?
For me, no. The pen applicator is the one part of this product that I found genuinely interesting, but a clever applicator can’t make up for polish that is difficult to apply and doesn’t stay on properly.
I would much rather use a traditional nail polish that flows evenly from the brush than spend extra time trying to convince a marker to release a giant blob and then fighting with that blob across my nail.
By the time I finished trying to get an even coat, I had spent more time correcting the polish than actually enjoying doing my nails.
Who I Think Will Love It
I can see the pen format appealing to someone who specifically wants a marker-style nail polish and likes experimenting with different beauty formats.
But for me, the applicator isn’t enough to make up for the formula.
Who Should Skip It
I would skip this one if you:
- Want smooth, even application.
- Don’t have patience for multiple coats.
- Prefer polish that gives you time to smooth out the edges.
- Want something that stays firmly on the nail.
- Are buying it specifically because you expect the pen to make doing your nails easier.
Alternatives
- Sally Hansen Insta-Dri
- Essie Expressie
- OPI Nail Lacquer
- Olive & June
Conclusion
I really wanted to like the Sweeney Nail Polish Marker because the pen applicator is such a good idea. Unfortunately, that’s where my enthusiasm ends. The polish comes out inconsistently, usually after several turns of the pen, and when it finally does come out, I get a giant blob instead of a controlled amount. It goes on thick and gloppy, leaves uneven strokes, dries too quickly to smooth out, and the color is streaky enough to require several coats.
I tried two of the four colors and got essentially the same result with both. The polish also lifts easily from the nail, which made the whole application feel even more pointless. The concept is interesting, but the actual product was a frustrating experience for me.
Would I Buy It Again?
No. It was a waste of both money and time for me.
Would I Recommend It?
No. The pen applicator is a nice idea, but the formula makes it much harder to get a good manicure than it should be.
Also read my similar review of the FaceLove Changing Foundation Stick