351
people found this helpful, as of 2023
ranked #66,036 most helpful
out of 571,544,897 reviews
★★★★☆
Good product, bad distributor
I purchased this product in hopes of replacing my previous standard non-acetone nail polish remover. Here is my review broken down in parts:
Packaging: When it arrived I was excited. Seeing as I paid $13.00 for this small bottle, I had expected a full bottle of the solution. This was not the case (and is the reason for my less than perfect review). As I show in the uploaded image, the bottle is missing approximately 2cm from the top of the bottle (or for better reference- up to the purple label, rather than what is seen in the image). Based on the amount I would normally use, that would be anywhere from 2-3 full nail removal. I am very unhappy about this.
Performance: Once I received it, I decided to test it out right away. I recently switched to Butter nail polish (free from formaldehyde, and all carcinogens), and in order to have a lasting manicure it requires a base coat+2 color coats+top coat. I applied this to one nail, and a standard 2 coats of Essi nail polish + top coat (don't use base coat here, I have a home made nail strengthener that I use before application) on another. I allowed them to dry for 15 min and then proceeded to use the Lavender remover. There was no noxious smell whatsoever, with just a whiff of lavender being the only thing I sensed. The nail polish came off very quickly, didn't require more than 5 seconds of rubbing per nail. I have not tested a full ten nails, but based on the results I have seen I believe dabbing quickly, waiting 10 sec and then rubbing in circles to remove will work well and require only one partially saturated cotton ball. It is a bit oily, but I just washed my hands well after use, to remove excess.
Ingredients: As I am very careful about what I permit to touch my body or skin, I have decided to break down the ingredients.
- Propylene Carbonate- low hazard, no carcinogen proof, strong irritant on skin in base form (diluted cosmetic version is safe), no toxic effects discovered in research. It is a synthetic compound, but that doesn't mean that it is bad.
- soybean oil methyl exter- used in cosmetics or for car and asphalt cleaning; meets clean air standards (meaning non-toxic if inhaled); non-toxic, bio-based. There has been a possibility of a connection between soybeans and breast cancer in research, but seeing as this is a diluted amount and used on nails (low absorbency into out system), I do not believe this is a concern.
- tocopheryl acetate- good old Vitamin E, great for softening skin and cuticles and when penetrates the skin (which it easily can) 5% is converted to free tocopherol and provides beneficial antioxidant effects ([...]); helps protect against ultraviolet rays when absorbed. On to (slight) concerns: it is a human skin toxicant or allergen (but with low impact as a whole); animal studies have shown tumor formation at high doses; uncertain environmental toxin (known as env. toxin, but with unknown effects). Basically, this is a modified form of Vitamin E, done so to improve shelf life, but which therefore sacrifices some quality and possibly takes on toxic effects.
My final rating is 4/5- ingredients are sound (there is no way you can be 100% super natural/organic/non-toxic when it comes to something like nail polish); effect is good; packaging needs to be more strictly regulated.
May 2014 · Beauty and Personal Care · verified purchase