There are two times in the year when I feel drawn to orange nail polish more than usual: the summer and in the fall (especially around Hallowe’en, my favourite holiday).

A simple bright orange sometimes is just the pop of colour you need to take a monochromatic outfit to the next level.

I purchased INGLOT O2M Breathable Nail Enamel 618 a while ago and finally got around to wearing it.

So how did INGLOT O2M Breathable nail polish in shade 618 fare in this nailphile’s book? There’s one way to find out!

INGLOT O2M Breathable Nail Enamel 618 Pictures

INGLOT O2M Breathable Nail Enamel 618 Swatches

All swatches have:

• OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener (Used as a base coat)
• 2 coats of INGLOT O2M Breathable Nail Enamel 618
• KBShimmer Clearly on Top Quick Dry Top Coat (Provided by Harlow & Co.)

Artificial Light Photos

Natural Light Photos

Claim: TRUSTED

Note: INGLOT doesn’t make any claims about the colours (which is what I usually base nail-polish “claims” on, so I based the claims on the formulation).

• Made with a new polymer (KS-02) that allows oxygenation of the nail (Maybe – I can’t test this out.)
• Smooth formulation (Yes – the consistency was smooth.)

Key Notes

• Name: INGLOT O2M Breathable Nail Enamel 618
• Amount: 11 mL (0.37 oz)
• Retail Price: $17 CAD (I purchased this nail polish.)
• Where to Buy: INGLOT Toronto store, INGLOT Canadian website & INGLOT US website

INGLOT O2M Breathable Nail Enamel 618 Review

Colour

INGLOT O2M Breathable Nail Enamel in 618 reminds me of a traffic cone because it’s a lively orange that definitely gets your attention. However, it’s not neon or blindingly bright. It’s darker like pumpkin puree. (That’s making me excited for the fall, my favourite season that’s filled with pumpkin goodies!)

Since this orange is vibrant, it provides a good contrast against my skin tone. These high-contrast shades fall within my comfort zone because they highlight my nails rather than make my nails blend in.

Finish

It mainly has a creme finish, but it had some jelly nuances that I noticed in its application. The finish is nice and shiny.

Application & Formula

INGLOT O2M Breathable Nail Enamel in 618 wasn’t as pigmented as the other shade I reviewed on here (682).

This goes on a bit sheer, and you’ll need two coats to build up the opacity and to minimize any bald patches or obvious streaks.

It has a thin consistency, and you need to pay extra care during application to avoid accidentally flooding your cuticles.

When I removed this polish, some lingered around the edges of my nails where the skin is drier.  I’m not a fan of that. Maybe if you use a stronger nail-polish remover like 100% acetone, it would come off easy and breezy from the little crevices around the cuticles, however, I don’t want to use such an abrasive remover. So far, the strongest remover I use is the pink version from Sally Beauty Supply that contains acetone, but it’s not 100% acetone.

Value

The high price tag sets this in league with luxury polishes. When a polish costs $17 CAD, I expect much more from it than from lacquer that’s a fraction of it.

Nail-Polish Name

Part of the fun of nail polish is the creative side – the name of a particular colour. Sometimes nailphiles buy lacquer because of a clever name.

With INGLOT nail polishes, there’s no witty, colourful name. Each is assigned a number, which I find harder to remember than a name. Plus it makes me think of the numbers assigned to criminals in prison. Numbers strip people of an identity and distance them.

(Hehe, if I were to give this a name, I’d call it Tangible Tangerine, off the top of my head.)

Ingredients

INGLOT O2M Breathable Nail Enamel doesn’t contain Toluene, Formaldehyde, DBP, or Camphor.

Animal-Friendliness

INGLOT O2M Breathable Nail Enamel isn’t tested on animals. If you’re trying to make more conscious shopping choices, you can rest easy with this one.

Breathable Nail Polish

Although this is the second INGLOT O2M Breathable nail polish that I’ve reviewed on here, it’s the third one I’ve worn.

What makes it breathable? Apparently, it lets oxygen and moisture reach the nail by allowing air and water through. A typical nail polish doesn’t do this, which is why the INGLOT O2M Breathable lacquers are healthier.

Pros Juicy, bright orange Smooth consistency Inglot claims that it uses a polymer (KS-02) that allows oxygenation of the nail

Cons Streaky formula Not as opaque as other INGLOT O2M Breathable Nail Enamels that I’ve tried

Final Verdict: 7/10

I hold luxury polishes up to a really high standard, so I was disappointed at first that the initial coat was streaky. However, with a second, I was happy to see that it evened out nicely.

What’s your favourite luxury-polish brand? Would you pay more for a healthier nail polish? Are you more demanding of luxury polishes than drugstore lacquers?