Showing posts with label nails. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nails. Show all posts


There are lots of odd things you come across when going cruelty free or are trying to use vegan products. Nail polish remover was one i didn't think about even checking into for a while but it turns out there are lots of options out there and i'm about to share some with you!






 .
Ella & Mila | Soy Nail Polish Remover - $11.50- 29.50
(find them here)
This vitamin enriched soy-based remover contains lavender oil and vitamins A, C and E. The packaging is really damn cute and comes in 4oz or 16oz options.
Ella & Mila also have awesome nail polish options and some really lovely lip products, you can find my video featuring them here. Discount code "Ella40" gets you 40% off.

Sienna Byron Bay | Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover & Polish Remover Wipes - $18-30
(find them here & here)
If you desire nail polish remover in the swankiest packaging ever, this one is for you. It comes in a bottle or in wipe form and contains soy and vitamin e. Super Swanky.

Lauren B | Nail Polish Remover & Cuticle Treatment - $18 
(find them here)
This cute little bottle contains Geranium and Petitgrain oils to moisturize and invigorate nails and cuticles. Lauren B is also the maker of one of my favorite cuticle oil treatments too.

Aila | Nail Colour Remover - $22
(find them here)
This soy based formula with argan oil not only removes your nail polish but also treats skin with Vitamins A, C & E (vitamin E being a personal favorite of mine 😎)! It also has 5 stars on Petit Vour, one of my favorite vegan and cruelty free sites that has some of the most thorough reviewers out there.

NCLA | Take It Off Remover Sheets - $19
(find them here)
Another soy based remover that strengthens as it works and this time in handy little individual packs perfect for travel or quick removal on the go. NCLA also have a great range of vegan and cruelty free nail polishes that are 5 free (so, no formaldehyde, DBP, Toluene, Formaldehyde Resin and Camphor) and are bringing out new shades all the time. Their nail wraps are also super fun!

Madam Glam | Express Polish Remover & Remover Wraps - $10-12
(find them here & here)
Now time some less botanical options! Madam Glam offer a handy little pot of remover you just put your nail into, twist and your polish is removed. They also have wraps that i use to remove both gel polish and glitter polishes!
If you want products to build nail enhancements that are vegan and cruelty free, MG is the place to go. I've used their gel polishes, gel builder and also polygel to sculpt my nails and LOVE their products. I also have a 30% discount code for their site which is just "Rhian30" at checkout.


(note: affiliate links and codes are used, these help support my blog and channel)
I've had lots of questions on nail products lately so figured i'd film a round up of all of my favorites from gels, to non-toxic options and even nail wraps!






PRODUCTS MENTIONED:

Madam Glam One Step Gels (sweet melody, VIP & only you) - http://bit.ly/2hd41mb 

Madam Glam LED Light (its gold now!!!) - http://bit.ly/2jMuO9M 

NCLA (nudes vol1, nudes vol3 & glistening scales) - http://bit.ly/2jfw98n 

NCLA Nail Oil - http://bit.ly/2hiMWnN 

OCC (pleasure model, covet & starling) - http://bit.ly/2jfvW4Y 

Pacifica (wonderland, rainbow top coat & dolphin) - http://bit.ly/2jfoerS 


Aila Nail Color Remover - http://bit.ly/2jrRR6C 




Note: affiliate links are used

I was lucky enough to get my mitts on this NCLA "You Can't Swim With Us" set at Beauty Con LA and had to share this beautiful mermaidy palette with you!


The collection is comprised of 2 glitter polishes, 2 holographic glitter polishes and one gorgeous iridescent.

All of the NCLA polishes i've tried have the same amazing formula, great brush and speedy drying time. Their products are all vegan, cruelty free, non-toxic and free from formaldehyde, DBP, toluene, formaldehyde resin and camphor.



I decided to go for "Seashell Dress" across all nails and then accent 2 with "Glistening Scales" which truly does look like gorgeous pearly scales!

What are you loving on your nails lately?

I won't pretend to be a nail professional but this is how i get my nails to grow out after treating them poorly.




Day 1

  • Remove all residual polish.
  • Push back cuticles and trim any dry skin- be careful not to Black Swan your fingers when you do this.
  • Shape the edges so they're more rounded and can't catch on anything.
  • Apply a layer of both base and top gel polish.
  • Use nail oils and hand lotions galore for the next 7 days!


Day 7

  • Buff the previously applied gel polish to give a smooth surface.
  • Push back cuticles and trim any dry skin.
  • Start to shape your nails how you like them but try and retain your length.
  • Apply 2-3 coats of whichever gel color you prefer.
  • Oils and lotions again!!


Day 14 (some people might like to wait longer)

  • Remove your gel polish with foil, acetone and cotton balls.
  • Trim/file them all into the same length and shape.
  • Push back cuticles and trim any dry skin.
  • Treat yourself to a nice gel mani... maybe half moons or french!
  • Oils and lotion until it becomes second nature.. your nails will thank you and your hands will look young and fresh!



Tips to stop biting nails

  • Set reminders on your phone to stop biting/chewing.
  • Tell people around you to remind you if they see you do it.
  • Take up a new hobby that uses your hands to keep them occupied.
  • Wear a dark lipstick so you try and avoid putting your hands near your mouth at all.


Products i use



Other useful videos

Vegan nail polish with food names? Frick yes i'm interested.

















Palate polish are a vegan, 5 free nail polish brand with the cutest packaging and food-related names.
You can find them all over the US, especially Portland OR... you can find lots of stockists here.

The two i tried were Rose and Nori. Both have a thin consistency which i actually prefer since they usually dry faster. I did 3 coats of each.

















I think these would be awesome gift ideas for any food and nail loving friends and family; plus you get to support a smaller company in the process!

Find Palate Polish here.


Here i show you how to repair a split nail with a teabag and how i got this semi-natural french mani using Madam Glam gel polishes!


What i used:
  • Nail repair: Nail Glue, Tea Bag & Buffer
  • Madam Glam Perfect White
  • Madam Glam Shimmer White
  • Madam Glam Base & Top Coats
  • Madam Glam Mini LED Lamp
  • Rubbing Alcohol & Cotton Balls
  • Orange Stick
  • Acetone
  • Pura D’or Nail Therapy Oil



You can find my previous Madam Glam Video here. 

My Pura D’Or Review Video is here. 

Find Madam Glam polishes here and i'm not sure if this code still works but, worth a try! 30% off with code “rhian30”.

And sign up for their subscription service here and get 3 gels a month for $29!


If you ever can't decide between two nail colors, Madam Glam might just have solved your indecisive nail issues!


























These photos are both their Color Change Gel Polish in "Man Eater". The color difference in this polish is subtle but i love it! The top photo is at normal or low temp and is a pretty raspberry with the finest sparkles and the bottom photo is at low temp and turns a deep plum (obviously the sparkles remain).

Some of the other polishes have a more obvious color difference which you can see swatched on their site but i love the subtle change in this shade! Although you might not see the color change much in the summer months, this might be a fun way to brighten up winter nails.

Vegan gel polishes that change color? Yes please.

Find Madam Glam polishes here and use code "rhian30" for 30% off!



FTC: This polish was sent to me free of charge but this post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own 'cause i don't have time for anyone elses <3

May Favorites are here and i'm loving this month's selections!




Products mentioned:

  • The Tree Kisser Tote 
  • Furless Body Contour Brush Set
  • Vita Liberata Trystal Mineral Bronzer
  • Dose Of Colors Liquid Lipstick in Stone (swatches here)
  • Gerard Cosmetics Shimmer of Hope Gloss
  • Pacifica Transcendent Concealer in Light (used here)
  • Kat Von D Lock It Tattoo Foundation in Medium 57 (list of her vegan items here)
  • Butter London Nail Lacquer in Ladybird
  • Mini Diamancel file
  • Harvey Prince Petaly Noir Perfume
  • Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics Body Scrub
  • Soap & Glory Flake Away Scrub
  • Loving Tan Deluxe Bronzing Mousse in Ultra Dark
  • Soap & Glory Scrub Your Nose In It Scrub
  • Soap & Glory Heel Genius and Hand Food
  • OCC Pleasure Model Nail Polish
  • Mejuri Dainty Claw Ring
  • Markkit Paired Up Rings in Gold
  • Water Tracker App (bought in a bundle, i believe)

And for those interested, the new lights are available here on Amazon.


I've been a fan of Butter London polishes in the past after acquiring some minis so when a lovely lady from their team emailed me to see if i'd like to try some of their vegan polishes... the answer was obvious.



Their entire Patent Shine collection is vegan as well as formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, DBP, toluene, camphor, ethyl tosylamide and xylene free.

Now, i'm no chemist and don't know what half of those are but i do like to go by the rule that if you can't pronounce it, you don't wanna wear or eat it.


I featured the nude color, Shop Girl, in last week's #manimonday but thought i'd do swatches for each since i know how much i rely on swatches when picking out colors. The swatch images are untouched so you get a clear idea of the true color and they're taken out of direct sunlight.

I used 2 coats of each.

Butter London Patent Shine 10X Lacquer in "Chat Up"

Butter London Patent Shine 10X Lacquer in "Over The Moon"

Butter London Patent Shine 10X Lacquer in "Shop Girl"

Butter London Patent Shine 10X Lacquer in "Her Majesty's Red"


The formula of these isn't like any i've used before... its somewhere between a gel and polish and applies like any other regular polish.

The problem i have with non-gel polish usually is that, once dry, it becomes fragile and due to natural movement in the nail itself, they chip and peel. I had none of this with these polishes because they seemed to move with my nail and remain softer even though they were hard-wearing.

You can read a little more about the benefits of these polishes here.



So onto the fun stuff, Butter London wanted to share the love with you guys too so they sent another 2 sets of these 4 beautiful polishes for me to give away to you!

I've posted a graphic on instagram so you can "regram" to enter and the rules will all be there, too.

Let me know which your favorite color is and happy entering, lovelies!



My internet has failed me today so i just have a little nail update for you.

I'm obsessed with this color so had to share with you guys.






Butter London asked if they could send me some of their range but limit it to their vegan items and this was one of the polishes sent.

Shop Girl is described as "opaque soft beige creme" and is part of their super shiny patent shine range.

Which colors are you loving on your nails lately?


I've made a few changes to my nail care since i posted my last gel manicure video so i thought i'd post a little update in addition.


(here's the original video for those who missed it)



While filming that video i used a UV light which, looking back on, was really a poor choice. I did use UV gloves when i remembered but ultimately using a UV light is a ridiculous idea.

Madam Glam changed all that by sending me their LED light to try and WOW, what the hell was i doing with that giant UV thing?

(can we just appreciate the size difference alone?)

So the main difference in my nail routine is that it takes about 1/4 of the time it did before. UV lamps cure a lot slower than an LED lamp (read more about it here) along with upping your chance of skin cancer.

Since i've been using the LED lamp i've noticed my nails get a lot less flakey and so my manicures last longer, my nails remain stronger than before and i have minimal, if any, damage from almost exclusively using gel nail polish.

You should still be able to get 30% off using the code "rhian30" if you're interested in their products. 



Another change i've made is that i've been shaping my nails with a Diamancel file (number 1).
I've found my nails stay smoother longer, don't split and i don't have to file off as much to get a smooth finish.


They have many files to choose from including foot files but i've found their number 1 file is perfect for me. I also use it to seal off any edges if a gel manicure starts to lift or chips. The fine grit creates such a smooth edge.

On top of its other obvious pros, i've found that these just don't wear out. I had one for years and it was just as effective that entire time, until i lost it. You can keep them clean with just soapy water and a soft brush and its good as new again.



Lastly, and possibly one of my favorite additions is the Pura D'or Argan Oil Nail Therapy. I've been using this on my nails nightly or whenever they seem dry and its made a world of difference.


Their oil contains Argan oil (obviously), lemon oil and biotin and has the most delicious fresh scent. 
It's perfect for a nightly treatment, to apply after a manicure to give a beautiful shine and repair any damage from filing and just whenever you need to feel a little pampered.

As a chronic nail/skin biter (disgusting, i know), i find this helps me stop doing that. Whenever i catch myself picking or biting nails anxiously, i reach for this and take the time to rub it into each nail and its quickly becoming a new habit. Not only does this replace the old habit of biting my nails by occupying my hands but it makes me more determined to break the habit because my nails are making such great progress.

Pura D'or often have discounts for new customers or orders over a certain amount so check their store for other treatments for hair, acne, scarring and more.


Share some of your favorite nail care tips below!


♡FTC♡

This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you purchase one of the products mentioned via that link, i’d receive a small % of the sales.

If you do not wish to use these links, you can find the company info via google :)

The LED lamp and nail oil were send to me, free of charge by their respective companies.

This post is not a sponsored or paid advertisement.

All opinions expressed are my own and 100% honest.
I got you, boo.


I mentioned this in my February Favorites and have since had some questions on it and how it compares to the traditional UV lamps so here's a little break down!




What is a nail lamp?

UV or LED lamps are used to cure or harden gel polishes. These polishes last a lot longer because the polish is sort of... baked on to the nail.


UV vs LED

UV lamps have the same harmful effects as the sun or tanning beds, not something you want concentrated on your hands over and over again. Not only does it have the possibility of causing cancer, but it will age the crap out of your hands. Generally they take around 2 minutes to cure each coat.

LED lamps eliminate the harmful side effects AND cure the polish a lot quicker, around 30-60 seconds per coat depending on the polish instructions. There really is no down side.


The Madam Glam Pocket LED Lamp

This thing is seriously adorable (note the size comparison to my old lamp in my February Favorites video) and powerful at the same time. 
What you'll receive is the cute little mini lamp and it's AC power adaptor. 
It cures your nails in 30 seconds per coat and it still blows my mind every time.

One thing i've had problems with in the past is getting my thumbs to lay flat when curing. The reason this is important is that if you don't hold your fingers flat, the polish can slide down to the lowest edge of the nail. 

To eliminate this i usually paint 4 fingers on one hand and the thumb of the other hand and cure those at the same time, this way you can hold them all totally flat. This lamp makes it super easy to hold your fingers and thumb on the edge of a table or surface, too.

There really is no downside to this new lamp, its not damaging; its tiny; its fast.

You can find the lamp here and they are always running sales!


(Madam Glam "Vivid Purple" Gel Polish)



FTC: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a % of the sales. If you do not wish to use these links you can find the company via google :)
The product was sent to me, free of charge, by Madam Glam but this is not a paid or sponsored advertisement.
All opinions expressed are my own and 100% honest.


Its hard to say exactly when i started to want a bleeding goats head on my nail but, y'know, i got it in the end and thats what matters.



I ordered these nail decals on etsy a few months back and promptly forgot about their existence until recently. After finding them hiding in my nail box, i decided now was the time.

The instructions say its best to use these on light colored polish so i used a white gel polish on my nails to get started. The decals themselves apply like transfer tattoos, just peel off the plastic; press onto the nail; run under the tap or dip in water until backing comes off; and then top with a couple of coats of clear polish.

Simple and a great little gift idea!

http://saramlyons.myshopify.com/


I seem to get a lot of questions about subscription boxes lately so i thought i'd share a great vegan one with you!

Vegan Cuts offer beauty and snack subscription boxes and also full size, discounted items!
Its a great place to get inspiration from when starting on a cruelty free crusade.


I mentioned it in my October Favorites but god damn this is too good of a product/deal not to share again.

You can get 30% off these awesome gel nail polishes with the code YGEL30OFF used right here.

This color is honeydew, in case you're interested.

I recently picked up these HUM supplements from Sephora to try out and while i give them a go i wanted to introduce you to HUM. Not only can you purchase their products individually but you can take their free simple test and one of their nutritionists will create a vitamin plan for you that you can get delivered monthly.!


They have a huge range of supplements for every problem or deficiency including a 4 week detox, immune support, healthy eye support, weight loss support and probiotic digestive support. They have vegetarian and vegan options, too.

I've had so many questions about supplements and i've never really taken them too seriously but i really like this company so far so i'll be interested to see how these help.
A little while back now i received some goodies from both OCC and AKay Style so heres the little show and tell to go with it!

 The OCC Cosmetic Coloring Pencils can be found here, they come in 12 colors and are all vegan and cruelty free.
They're all VERY pigmented, as with the rest of the OCC products and can (mostly) be used on eyes or lips!
A Kay Style are an awesome vegan, cruelty free and non-toxic nail polish company who have AMAZING colors!
I've had loads of compliments on my nails when wearing their colors and they're really hard wearing. I was also really impressed with their top coat even though i've been a die-hard Seche Vite fan for years... could this be the vegan, non-toxic version i've been looking for?!