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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Review: Target Up & Up Dip-It Nail Polish Remover

Longtime readers know that my preferred method for removing stubborn glitter nail polish is the Foil Method, which I first discovered on my pal Elvira's blog a few years ago. It truly makes removing pesky glitters a snap BUT if does take a little time to prep (cutting the foil sheets, applying each cotton ball/piece of foil to the nail, waiting a few minutes before removal, etc.).

About a month ago, I started to hear raves from both readers and bloggers about this Dip-It remover from Target. As you can see, it says right on the jar, "removes gel nail polish, glitter and artificial nails."

NOTE: I don't wear artificial nails or gel polish, so this review is solely based on how this product removes glitter nail polish.

 Target Up & Up Dip-It Nail Polish Remover
(retail: $2.49 at Target, 9.0 oz)

I assumed that this product was like other jar removers I've tried in the past that have a sponge/foam core that you stick your finger inside to help remove your polish. But I was wrong. Very wrong.



After you peel back the safety seal, you'll see a clear plastic seal underneath. TIP: Hold the jar AWAY FROM YOUR FACE when you puncture this clear plastic seal. Once the plastic is punctured, a little bit of the liquid may splash up, and you do NOT want to get acetone in your eyes.


After you remove the clear plastic film, you can see that the core of this jar is plastic and contains a circle of little plastic bristles:


The liquid is not filled all the way to the brim because, if it were, it would overflow when you place your finger inside the core:


For my first try, I decided to use one of the limited edition Salon Perfect Neon Collision polishes. I applied three coats of this polish to my bare nail and let me tell you, this polish is like glue when you first apply it to bare nails. It's incredibly difficult to even peel off the nail, let alone remove with remover (it does become easier the longer the polish is on the nail and it's actually easy to remove after about a day of wear, just FYI).

But since I knew that this polish sets like glue when you first apply it, I thought it would be a good one to test on the Dip-It:


After about 15 quick up-and-down motions in the Dip-It pot:

Absolutely polish-free!

So here's the deal: If you're expecting to put your finger in the pot once or twice, remove it and have a perfectly clean nail, you're going to be disappointed by this product. However, even though 15 up-and-down motions sounds like a lot, it actually takes less than 30 seconds to do this. I've tried removing a full manicure of three coats of glitter polish with base and top coat and none of my nails required more than 15 or 20 (at the most) quick up-and-down motions for complete removal. And it's even easier if you have more time and can let your finger soak in the acetone for a minute before you start using the bristles.

If the white residue on my clean nail above freaks you out, then you probably have never used pure acetone to remove polishes before. This is absolutely normal for acetone-based polishes, and all you have to do is wash your hands and the whiteness will disappear. All I ever use is acetone to remove my polishes, so I'm used to it. But I'm sure this could be disconcerting if you have never use acetone-based removers and you see a sudden white film on your finger, so that's why I'm telling you this.

TIP: Make sure you use an up-and-down motion when you dip your nail into this pot. Due to the construction of the bristles, it's not NEARLY as effective if you try to move your finger in a side-to-side or twisting motion. The bristles will feel way too soft and ineffective. So remember: up and down. You don't need to pull your finger all the out of the jar every time you go up and down though. Just use a quick up and down motion and you'll be fine.

As for what the bristles feel like, they're not rough and they definitely won't cause you any pain. To me, they feel like the plastic bristles on the CoverGirl Lash Blast mascara wands, but longer.

In case you're curious, I have also used this product to remove regular nail, non-glitter nail polish, and it works quite well for that too (you don't need nearly as many up-and-down motions). However, if you're wearing a super pigmented color (red, blue, black, etc.) you might see a bit of residual color on your fingers after removal, especially if the acetone in the jar is already colored from past uses. I have not experienced any transfer of old glitter (left in the jar from a past removal) onto my skin during use because the glitter pretty much sinks to the bottom of the jar.

FINAL VERDICT: If you're a Foil Method devotee who's curious about trying a different method for removing your glitters, I think you might enjoy this product but it might not completely take the place of the Foil Method for you.  If you've never tried the Foil Method to remove glitter polishes and all you know is the regular cotton-and-remover method, this might be a life-changing experience for you (and it's definitely more effective than the old-school jars that had a sponge core). Since I have used both the Foil Method and now Dip-It, I can see a use for both. If have a ton of layers on my nails (base coat, jelly polish, glitter polish, more jelly polish, more base coat and then two coats of top coat, for example), then I think I'll stick with the Foil Method because the direct, sustained pressure of a lot of acetone results in a very effective, clean removal. However, if I only have two or three coats of glitter polish on my nails and maybe a top/base coat, the Dip-It would ultimately be faster and more convenient because there's no prep-work involved. And if I only have glitter polish on an accent nail, then I will definitely reach for the Dip-It. Oh, and the Foil Method is still my go-to for glitter removal on my toes (there's no way you could use this jar on toes, unless you had freakishly long, skinny toes. In which case, ew. Nevermind). 

Have you tried Target Up & Up Dip-It Nail Polish Remover? I would absolutely love to hear how it works for you!

The products featured in this post were purchased with personal funds. For more information, click here.
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37 comments

  1. I LOVE this stuff. I've been using it for the past couple months and it is great. I love wearing glitter and my textured polishes but hate the removal and I am not a fan of the foil method so this is perfect for me.

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  2. Once you've used this a lot and the remover inside becomes too yucky with old polish, just pour it out and refill with fresh acetone.

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  3. Holy cow, this looks amazing! I have the jar with the sponge inside and that's ok for glitter, but this is an outstanding idea! Leave it to good old Target...I'm heading there tomorrow to pick this up! Thanks for your awesome review. Again, another product I would've never known about if not for this blog. <3

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  4. You mean I don't have to avoid glitter polishes because I'm too impatient for proper removal???! 0.o yayyy :D

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  5. Your toe comment made me ����

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  6. I am excited to try this G.! I was hoping it would actually work and not be like the old sponge removers. By the way, the photos are really great! Great job!

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  7. I hate the foil method and have been using this type of remover for about 18 months now. I'm only on my second pot so they last quite a while as long as you top it off with a bit more acetone when it goes low.
    I just wish I could use it on my toes then I wouldn't be so hesitant to use glitter there.

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  8. This is such a cool product! I wear glitter nail colors a ton during the fall/winter, and I know just how much of a pain they are to remove. I will definitely be on the look out for this remover. Thanks for sharing :)

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  9. Thanks so much for this review G. I've been wanting to try Gel nail polish but I haven't because I've heard what a pain it is to remove. Now I'm not so worried!

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  10. So excited to try this. I was thinking of trying the foil method, but seemed like it would take so much time to prepare. Years ago I had a dip polish remover for glitter from Sally Hansen and just loved it. I'm so glad you did this review. Off to Target tomorrow!

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  11. Thanks for this review - exactly why I read this blog and love it!!

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  12. I've been using this for over a year now and I love it! Walmart has one too by Onyx Professional, and while it is also 100% pure acetone, it does not leave your skin dry and ashy looking. It works great as well, but in my opinion it has kind of a weird smell to it.

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  13. Bought this at Tarjay right after I read this! Can't wait to put it to the test!

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  14. Works like a charm! Target is going to have a hard time keeping it in stock. Dip it is going to be very popular!

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  15. Works like a charm! Target is going to have a hard time keeping it in stock. Dip it is going to be very popular!

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  16. I've gone through 3 of these in the last year (I'm tough on them and destroy the bristles) and it's been a life saver. I've had problems with removing glitter if it's an older container, but still it is fantastic. This continues to be my go to for removing nail polish. And this post is my reminder I need a new one!

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  17. FINALLY, this great product is getting some recognition. I've been using it for a year and it has honestly changed my love of nail polish. My least favorite part of painting my nails is removing the nail polish and it used to take forever. After I got this, I could paint my nails every day and it would be no big deal! The only downside to this is how it dries out your skin. But washing your hands and using hand lotion and cuticle oil makes it better.

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  18. I don't use anything else to remove polish from my fingers anymore. I've got the one from Walmart and I LOVE it. It's so much easier and it produces so much less trash, which is why I initially bought it. I've had the same one for over a year and it's still going strong.

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  19. I used to use this, but noticed that my nails started to peel worse after a while so I had to stop. Now, instead of the foil method, I used Reesa's method (named after a member on MUA), which uses rubber finger cots instead of foil. It's faster than the foil method because you don't have to cut out pieces of foil, and the finger cots are reusable.

    Also, I never use acetone straight. I always add glycerin to it to make it less harsh, but it's still as effective as pure acetone.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Tiffany,

      What are "rubber finger cots"?

      Jennifer

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    2. Sorry, nevermind. I just saw Impoverishbypolish's link below (thanks!).

      Delete
  20. I don't have a problem with the drying effect of this product. I keep it next to my bathroom sink and rinse my fingers as I go, then use a moisturizing hand wash afterwards. Nail polish removers are harsh and should be washed off everytime you use it, with this I'm not tempted to skip that important step! I definitely recommend this product, no guilt inducing pile of cotton balls filling the waste bin (and leaving that lingering acetone smell), usually takes less than 5 seconds per finger for normal polish, and I'm amazed at how long you can go with one jar, and at a reasonable price. What's not to love?

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  21. I love this product. I've been using it for over a year now and it's my go to remover for all nail polish.

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  22. I freaking LOVE this thing. I still use the foil method when I have time but when I need my glitter polish off right now this thing is invaluable. Mine has turned purple thanks to a purple glitter polish but you can always dump out the stained acetone and put new in. The only downside to this product is it doesn't seal terribly well, if it falls over on it's side it well leak EVERYWHERE. So be warned. Besides that this is the best nail polish removing contraption I've come across.

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  23. If any of you, like me are far from a Target, CVS has the EXACT same thing. 100% acetone with the plastic bristles inside. I adore it! At CVS the price is $3.99.

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    Replies
    1. Yay! Now I just have to remember to buy it!

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  24. There are plenty of nail fanatics who swear by this type of remover for glitter. I tried it after hearing all the hype, but I still prefer the foil method. It just doesn't feel comfortable to me, especially with my pinky finger. Many people swear by it and I'm glad I tried it, but I wanted to let your readers know that it's not for everyone.

    Also, here's a post which describes the Reesa variation on the foil method in more detail: http://www.manicuremommas.com/2012/08/glitter-removal-tips.html

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  25. I've probably walked by this a million times thinking it was the old sponge to dip my nails in. Now I've got to get to Target so I can try this. I don't mind the foil method, but I'd love an alternative. Thanks for the great review!

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  26. I have the one from walmart, and after noticing my nails peeling terribly from the acetone I decided to dump it out and put non acetone remover in it (which normally I wouldn't use because it doesn't get my polish off). But combined with the bristles it still removes my regular nail polish like a dream, and my nails have quit peeling. Try it out if you don't like using acetone but could never get non acetone polish remover to work for you!

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    Replies
    1. There's one at Walmart!?!? Thank the lord, the nearest Target is half a state away!

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    2. Well, I know what I'll be using my bottle of non acetone remover for!

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    3. You can also try adding some glycerin to your acetone, it's a moisturizer that will counteract the drying effects.

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  27. Would you believe I JUST bought some this week??? I was skeptical but thought for less than $3 why not? I love glitter polish, but like most of us HATE the removal process. This works like a charm! I'm happy to know that I can re-use the container and refresh it with new acetone. I learned about this from another nail blog (can't remember which one) and am extremely pleased with the results.

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  28. I picked this up and used it today to remove a full mani of nothing but Sally Hansen Gem Crush glitter (stubborn stubborn stuff!). It worked great! It takes longer than the foil method but so much less messy! I was thinking about ordering an empty jar like this to use acetone in but then I saw your post! When it runs low I'll just clean it out and refill :)

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  29. I picked some of this up today and I am a convert! Love it!

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  30. Dang it! I just paid a dollar more for this exact same thing at Rite-Aid. Oh well, it works well enough that I don't mind having spent the extra buck. I now love this thing!

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