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      How To

      3 Ways to Find a Vegan Nail Polish

      3 Ways to Find a Vegan Nail Polish

      Advertising Claims Can Be Misleading, Luckily, It’s Not Hard For You To Verify A Company Or Product’s Claims To Be Animal-product And Animal-cruelty Free.

       

      Vegan nail polish, like other vegan goods, does not contain animal-derived ingredients. Recently, vegan nail products have gained popularity among consumers — even non-vegans — because they tend to be safer to wear. Yet vegan ingredients are not an industry standard, so it can be difficult to find 100% vegan-friendly nail products.

      The easiest way to make sure your nail polish is vegan is to buy only from 100% vegan-friendly brands, like LBK Nails. Otherwise, you’ll need to do some research to find out if your preferred brand, finish, and/or color contains only vegan ingredients. These steps are a good way to start:

       

      Method 1 - Check The Ingredients List

      Nail polish formulas are comprised of three elements: color pigments, a suspension base for preventing separation and ensuring consistency, and adhesive polymers, which allow polish to stick to your nails and resist chipping. Nail polishes often rely on non-vegan ingredients to make them lustrous, shiny, thick, long-lasting, and, specifically, red. Though there are substitute ingredients for each that are not animal-based (that accomplish similar effects), they stick around in many formulas because brands and manufacturers know they work.

      Unfortunately, reviewers sometimes find that vegan nail polishes are thinner, dull faster, chip more easily, and also just don’t sufficiently protect their nails, so part of your research process should be checking customer reviews to find which vegan nail polishes have the best formula.

      When shopping for vegan-friendly nail products, the most common non-vegan ingredients to look for are:

      1. Guanine (also called “Pearl Essence” or “CI 75170”): This is a shimmery substance that adds sparkle and luster to many polishes. However, it is primarily derived from a variety of fish scales.
      2. Carmine (also called “Crimson Lake,” “natural red 4” or “CI 75470”): Carmine is an extremely commonly-used bright red pigment made from crushing scale insects.
      3. Keratin: Often added to strengthen and give a healthy shine to nails, keratin is sourced from the hooves, horns, feathers, and hair of a variety of animals, including cattle, horses, pigs, and rabbits.
      4. Oleic Acid: This is an (unnecessary) additive that most often acts as a thickener and adhesive base in different nail polish formulas. Though it is responsible for giving some polishes a hard, smooth, single-coat finish, it is primarily made of animal-derived oils and tallow.

       

      Method 2 - Check The Label

      Luckily, if you are unable to find a full ingredients list, you can also look for one specific thing on the label or packaging. Hint: it’s not the phrase “vegan friendly.” That’s because businesses can say a product is vegan-friendly while still using some non-vegan-friendly practices (like animal testing). However, the Vegan Society operates a certification and labeling process that ensures all items bearing a Vegan Society trademark label are guaranteed 100% vegan and cruelty-free.

       

      Method 3 - Check With A Knowledgeable Organization:

      Lastly, if you are still unsure (because you can’t find the ingredients list, or don’t have access to the label), a variety of different organizations maintain comprehensive lists of vegan products, including PETA, Vegan.com, and other reputable websites. You can also always contact the manufacturer directly to inquire about their vegan-friendly and cruelty-free ingredients and policies.

      How to Extend the Wearability of Your Nail Polish

      How to Extend the Wearability of Your Nail Polish

      So you want a long-lasting manicure, but you don’t want to get acrylics. It can be confusing figuring out what practices will extend the wearability of nail polish without causing damage to your nails, especially with durable, long-lasting, but potentially nail-damaging gel and UV-dried polishes gaining popularity. Do try new things to keep your nail polish looking better, longer, but don't worry; we’re here to help.

      1. DO follow a good nail care regime. But DON'T over-wet or over-buff.

      Use an oil-based cuticle softener and cuticle pusher to gently press your cuticles back, creating an edge around your nails. Lightly smooth your nail surfaces with a fine grain buffer. Even if your nails are naked, wipe them with nail polish remover or distilled white vinegar; otherwise, dirt and oil may prevent the polish from fully adhering.

      Avoid soaking your nails. Nail beds absorb moisture and expand when soaked (like sponges). Even if you dry your hands afterward, your still-damp nail beds introduce moisture under the polish and contract as they dry, causing lifting and chipping. Also avoid over-buffing the nail surface, which thins the nail plate causing brittleness. If you still have ridges, bumps, or pits after a quick buff, apply ridge-filler to create a smooth surface.

      1. DO apply multiple treatments. But DON’T get rushed, heavy-handed, or use non-compatible products.

      Use a base coat to max out the adhesive strength and flexibility of your nail polish. For extra-long wear, apply two layers of base coat to the tips where chips form fastest. After the base coats dry, apply two coats of your chosen nail color using 2-3 smooth strokes from cuticle to tip (including the free edge). Follow up with a gel-like top coat when your polish is almost dry. A top coat hardens and protects, and application while the polish is still damp enables it to penetrate the color. Apply top coat to the free edge, too; this seals the edge and adds extra staying-power where it shows the most damage.

      Be careful not to apply any coat too fast or too thick. Wait two minutes between coats and keep them thin. Thicker layers take longer to dry, increasing the chance of trapping moisture or air bubbles between coats (both cause lifting). Also remember that mixing B3F and non-B3F polishes (including base and top coats) can trap moisture and cause uneven drying and smudging. Using products from the same brand can prevent mix-ups.

      1. DO take care of your nail polish. But DON’T sweat it if you can’t always.

      Though nail polish seems dry within minutes, it can take 24 hours to dry, harden, and set. That’s why professionals recommend not submerging freshly polished nails in hot water for at least 6-12 hours.

      Even after nail polish has set, some everyday activities can reduce its wearability, including soaking your hands in hot water and exposure to alcohol-based products (like perfume, hairspray and hand sanitizer). To prevent damage, wear rubber gloves to hand-wash dishes, and blanch your nails in ice water then towel dry and moisturize after showering or hot-tubbing. Wipe any alcohol-based products off your nails quickly and gently with non-abrasive cloth. If you lead a particularly nail-damaging life, you should apply top coat every 2-3 days to reseal your nail polish.

      Why is Basecoat important?

      Why is Basecoat important?

      Why is basecoat so important to healthy nails, long lasting polish?

      There are multiple reasons for this. I often hear from consumers that their nail polish doesn’t stay on or it chips. This can be caused by many things.  For example: Are your hands in water constantly? Do you do a lot of typing? Do you like to spend time in the garden planting those beautiful flowers? Sometimes I even hear that basecoat isn’t necessary and it’s just a company trying to sell you something else.

      The fact is basecoat is amazing and was created to protect your nail bed from pigments in your nail lacquer.

      You see, the type of nail bed you have (and they’re not all the same) can determine how the pigments interact with your nail plate. Have you ever gone to take nail polish off and realized your nail bed is now the color of the polish you were just wearing? This happens when you fail to use a basecoat and the lacquer penetrates layers of your nail. This is known as nail staining and it is no fun.

      In order to remove nail staining you must subject your nails to additional nail polish removers which in turn can dry your nail plate out.  In the worst cases, the only way to remove the stains is to use a 180-grit file or use a buffer to file away layers of your nail. Using the right basecoat protects you from this…it acts as a barrier from the lacquer to your nail plate.

      Additionally, in response to why your lacquer might only stay on a short time, the fact is that basecoat increases lacquer longevity.   Using LBK Nails basecoat will greatly increase your wear ability along with proper preparation of the nail plate.  Because your body creates oils, it is essential to ensure that you are removing any oils from your nail plate. You can do this by simply wiping your nails with alcohol before application.  

      So, why then is basecoat necessary to extend the wear of your lacquer?

      Basecoat is formulated to act like double sided sticky tape…very unique and extremely important.  Its formulated 1) to stick to the nail plate on one side while at the same time protecting the nail bed and 2) to grab the pigments in the lacquer on the other side and to hold it all together on the nail bed.  

      So, if you are having trouble with staining or your lacquer doesn’t seem to hold up the way you would like it to, give LBK Nails basecoat a try.

      Just remember to always start with a clean dry surface when applying the basecoat.

      I hope this resolves some of the issues you might be having with your lacquer!

      8 Clever Ways to Reuse Empty Nail Polish Bottles

      8 Clever Ways to Reuse Empty Nail Polish Bottles

      You must admit it – you have never thought about reusing all those unfinished or empty nail polish bottles, right? Well, instead of throwing them away, there are lots of ways on how those exact bottles can be revived and reused.

      You will be amazed how these bottles can find their use in your home!

      We have selected the top 8 clever ways of how to reuse the empty nail polish bottles that do not require a lot of time of skills. Take a look!

      1. Storing loose eye shadow or glitter

      For those that apply eye shadow or glitter, you know how common it is to find loose or broken eye shadow that makes a mess around your makeup drawer. An empty and clean nail polish bottle is the perfect solution for storing loose or broken eye shadow. You will easily be able to reach it with an eye shadow brush. The same goes for glitter, sparkles, etc.

      1. As a mini flower vase

      There is nothing cuter than having an entire shelf, desk or a window filled with miniature vases with a variety of flowers. It creates a very unique look different from using a regular sized vase. 

      1. Sign holder

      For special events like weddings, birthday, etc., the empty bottles can be used as fancy and stylish sign holders. They can be accessorized with embellishments, lace or shiny stones.

      1. Ring holder

      Painting the empty nail polish bottle will instantly give it a new look. This new look is the perfect addition for the jewelry drawer or under the mirror for storing all your rings in one place.

      1. Nail Polish Remover

      If the bottle does not contain nail polish, it can certainly contain remover. It is perfect for traveling or just as a part of your go-to makeup bag.

      1. Candle Holder

      Another decorative use for an empty nail polish bottle is a candle holder. Placed on the terrace, table or the patio, this candle holder will be as unique as it gets.

      1. Travel size oil container

      Transporting any kind of oil is tricky because it might create a mess in your luggage. But, for a short trip, the empty nail polish bottle is the perfect storage for it.

      1. Garden decorations

      A whole variety of garden decorations using empty nail polish bottles can be created. Empty nail polish bottles may be filled with sand, stones or or other material and hung on the trees in your garden for a unique and beautiful garden arrangement.

      With these clever suggestions, you will never need to throw an empty nail polish bottle again.