Is Olive & June worth the hype? In this post, I will be sharing my honest review of the Olive & June manicure kit ‘The Everything Box.’
*DISCLAIMER: I purchased this kit and NO AFFILIATE LINKS ARE USED IN THIS POST. However, if you purchase using my link HERE you save $10 off your order over $50 and I get a free polish.
Before we proceed, I should mention that I was originally shopping at the Olive & June site to purchase ONE nail polish.
The beautiful creamy toasted shade HGC, named after Ailsa Emmel, aka @_happygocurly_, who I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in person and is such a positive influence and fun follow on Instagram. Check her out, thank me later.
Choosing My Mani Kit from Olive & June
I’ve been DIY’ing my manicures for years; in fact, it is one of my favorite ways to practice self-care. It’s so gratifyingly fun, and my nails are always the healthiest when I stray away from the spa. What’s more, I can regularly buy new colors and tools with the money I save.
After a few minutes of browsing the Olive & June site and knowing that some of my tools needed to be replaced, I was certain that I wanted to try one of the Mani Kits. Currently, there are four different kits available, starting at $42 up to $80 dollars.
I decided to go with ‘The Everything Box’ which retails for $80 and includes the complete collection of tools, six nail polishes shades of your choice, a topcoat. Plus the Poppy, a patented universal nail polish bottle handle I had been inquisitive about trying, so I was very excited.
Side Note: I’m accustomed to using a cuticle pusher and trimmer to cut away dry skin. Therefore, I was instantly skeptical when I didn’t see either sold on their website. However, in their Mani 101 how-to, they advise against clipping away your cuticles. Instead, they recommend using the buffer and using cuticle oil regularly to keep your cuticles healthy and looking good.
That detail alone varies so much from the trusted salon-quality routine I’ve been following for a while. But, I’m always game for learning new tips and tricks, so I kept an open mind.
Also noteworthy, even though shipping was free with my order, the order confirmation and tracking took over two weeks. Then it took another two weeks to arrive, probably a COVID-19 related delay.
By the time the box arrived, I had to wait two more weeks because I had caved and got a gel manicure for an event I was attending.
Unboxing and Using the Everything Box
The sand-colored box itself is reusable and a great place to keep your tools organized. It has a magnetic closure, and a little built-in shelf inside to hold your phone.
BONUS: Not mentioned on the website. The tools come inside a plastic resealable pouch, great for storing and travel.
Below I’ll go through the tools in the order of the steps I took, which are all outlined by Sarah Gibson Tuttle founder of O&J on the website HERE.
1. Flat-edge Nail Clipper:
First, use the clippers to do 90% of the shaping. Sarah does this with polish on for visibility, but I didn’t have any color on mine already. Something I had never consider until now is the difference in the types of nail clippers. For instance, flat edge clippers are best for trimming and shaping the nail tip with a clean finish.
2. Dual-grit Nail File:
Next, use the grit foam board to gently smooth and shape 10% of your nails without fraying them. Sarah also recommends filing in one direction so that you don’t overdo it.
3. Nail Polish Remover Pot ~ $8:
The next two steps are to prep, first with the 2020 Best of Beauty award winner, all you have to do is dip your finger into the center of the pre-soaked sponges and twist until your nail is polish-free.
4. Buffer:
Then use the buffer to smooth and even out the edges and surface of your nail plate. Also, use it to gently remove dry skin and hangnails without needing to snip them away. After that, dip your fingers back into the nail polish remover pot to remove any oils. This tip is key to a long-lasting manicure.
5. The Poppy universal polish bottle handle ~ $16
The next step is painting, but first, I added the POPPY tool to the polish I was using. This tool aids for a comfy grip, more control, and even steady strokes.
6. Your choice of six 7-free nail polishes ~ $8 each:
Finally, it’s time to paint with one of Olive & June’s long-lasting polishes with salon-quality results.
Sarah explains that there is no need to apply a base coat since it’s already formulated in the polish. Each nail got two coats, making sure I painted the top edges to prevent chipping and waiting two minutes between coats to allow drying.
So far, both shades I’ve used apply smooth and streak-free in two to three strokes or less and dries fast.
Highlighted Ingredients: Besides a salon-quality, all O&J polishes are free of dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, or xylene.
I should note that at first, The Poppy felt awkward, but after that, I did notice that by having something bulkier to hold on to I was able to slow down and paint each nail with more ease. Moreover, it helped painting with my non-dominant hand.
After applying color, Sarah suggests you wait 20 minutes before applying the topcoat.
7. Clean-Up Brush for easy touch-ups $8:
If there is one tool/step I had never considered in all my years of doing my own nails, is a clean-up brush. This step now takes away the pressure of being too exact. Once you’re finished painting your nails, dip the brush into your nail polish remover pot and use it to clean up any slip-ups or to define lines.
The brush is flat and stiff with a narrow tip that easy slides around the nail edges.
8. The Super Shiny Top Coat ~ $8:
The last step to protect your color and prevent chipping for a fresh 7+ days manicure.
9. Nourishing Cuticle Serum ~ $16 0r buy 2 for $30:
Allure Best Of Beauty winner. The non-greasy, fast-absorbing hydrating formula can be applied anytime anywhere.
Remove the cap, twist the pen 2-3 clicks to release serum into the foam tip, then apply all around the cuticle. For best results, use twice a day as part of your at-home nail beauty routine.
Olive & June ‘The Everything Box’ Review
So, what’s the verdict?
First things first, the quality of the tools, as well as that of the polishes make this kit 100% worth the price. Besides that, it’s also a great kit for anyone who is new to DIY’ing their manicures.
I found the tips Sarah shared very helpful, and I will be adding them to my routine. For instance, how prepping the nails by soaking onto the polish remover to remove oils is key to a long-lasting manicure. Also, how using a clean-up brush makes all the difference.
However, if, like myself, you are accustomed to using a cuticle pusher and clippers to remove cuticles, the “Everything” kit will feel incomplete. And, even though I used the buffer to smooth my cuticles instead of clippers, I ended up over buffing my nails and not the cuticles.
Nonetheless, I resisted using the clippers and opted for using the cuticle serum more frequently. I’m happy to say that I noticed an improvement, but, I’m nowhere near ready to unsubscribe to my clippers.
Sarah recommends against cutting your cuticles at home because when you do, you are actually leaving your nail unprotected from bacteria and fungus. In my case, Im very comfortable and make sure to always disinfect my tools.
That said, I agree with Sarah, and if you are not comfortable with clippers, using cuticle oil regularly is the best way to keep your cuticles healthy and looking good.
In conclusion, I would recommend any of Olive & June’s mani kits, as well as the nail polishes. Moreover, I’m looking forward to using the kit as part of my bi-weekly mani, as well as gifting it to my friends and family!
Will you give Olive & June a try?
