This is my manicure with Scotch Naturals nail polish from Green Girls Night Out – Chicago only 25 hours after getting it! I mentioned the other day that the next morning it already wasn’t looking so great and then by that night I had no choice but to take it off. The product is so natural and so much better than traditional polishes and even my fav – Zoya – but as much as I want to like it, it’s not at all practical. I would never purchase this stuff. My girlfriend who got a manicure with me was in the same boat – by the following evening her’s looked awful as well – so it’s not just me! Bummer
Category : Beauty
I first mentioned Zoya here, and then again when I was wearing it the day I got engaged. I’m definitely a huge fan of their great polishes. They’re vegan and don’t contain the usual toxins that other polishes do. The reason I bring it up today is that I just realized I got a manicure Wednesday, January 26, meaning it’s been 12 days! It still looks pretty good, doesn’t it?! My nails have lost their luster but I’m sure I could have put another layer of the top coat on and that would have done the trick. I use Zoya’s Anchor (base), polish, Armor (top) and their fast dry oil. The combo makes for a very long lasting manicure – and this is after spending a lot of time in the ocean! You’d have thought by now it would have totally chipped off! If it wasn’t for them growing out and there being a gap between my polish and my finger, I could keep it on for even longer!
Category : Beauty
Skin Deep is an awesome database that I frequently utilize to find out what is in certain products how how safe it is for use on my body. Start with the cosmetics you currently have to find out their level of toxicity. If you find that your products are not worthy of your skin it will be time to do some shopping. Make a list of the new products you’ve been wanting to try and then head back to the database to search and see if they’re any better. I’ve made several product recommendations on this site so you may want to give them a try. They’re not perfect either though, in fact you’re not really going to find anything that is not at all a risk but look for stuff with the lowest numbered rating and give it a try. The only way to avoid all chemicals to to not wear make-up and for example to use safflower oil as a moisturizer all over your face and body. I see a lot of criticism out there about supposed “green” beauty products and cosmetics not being so “green” after all. I think the key is to realize that the safest thing is to not use commercial products at all and use food/plants to take care of your skin. Cosmetics are artificial – not natural so no matter how much of them come from natural ingredients, the manufacturer will likely have to use something synthetic for color or as a preservative. If you’re not into being ultra natural and going without or using an oil for moisturizer, then you’re going to take some type of a risk. Use this database to make the decisions that are right for you.
So I finally made it to CiCi Nails in Lakeview for a mani-pedi with Zoya non-toxic nail polish. They have all 300 colors which is fantastic and have a great space with plenty of parking. It was a little far north for me so not ideal for the future. The service was friendly but I wouldn’t say the mani-pedi were the best I’ve ever had. My feet were pretty dry so I was looking forward to a good scrub down but the foot file she used was so old there was nothing left of it as far as filing ability. All of the surface had worn off! I love spa pedicures and love the leg massage that comes with it while applying scrub and lotion but this one left something to be desired. Same thing with my hands and arms during the manicure. The other issue was that she applied the polish a little heavy around the edges and didn’t remove the excess polish around my nail beds. I left and had to go home and take care of it myself. The long term problem with that is that once it dries and is thick at the edges close to the cuticle, once the polish comes off the skin is leaves a thick area on the nails which will start to chip a lot faster than usual. I’m not sure I’ve explained that very well so sorry. Finally, it was a little on the pricier side ($47) which they claim is because Zoya polish is more expensive but as far as I know it isn’t that much more than OPI or Essie. Anyway, I LOVE that they carry Zoya as it is my new favorite polish but I think that I’ll just stick to my usual mani-pedi spots and bring my own bottle of Zoya with me.
My new found love for Zoya, toxin free, vegan nail polish, has led me to Cici Nails in Lakeview where they use Zoya! I now have plenty of bottles of my own Zoya polish but I love the idea of supporting a business that uses such great products so next time I need a mani – pedi I’ll be heading to Cici’s and I’ll be sure to review them after I’ve been!
3323 N. Lincoln Ave.Chicago, IL 60657
Business Hours:
Mon – Sat
10AM to 8PM
Sunday
11AM to 5PM
(773) 880-0989
Category : Beauty
I have been wanting to try Zoya (VEGAN – animal free) nail polish for quite some time. I’ve heard rave reviews about it – not only for being toluene, formaldehyde and DPB free but because it really does stay on for a good amount of time without chipping.
Zoya is offering a nail polish exchange to help you go green. You simply send in a minimum of 6 old, toxic, full of chemicals nail polish and then they send you a corresponding number of bottles of eco-friendly Zoya polish for only $3 a bottle! The great part is they have over 300 colors to select from!
click over to https://www.artofbeauty.com/exchange/default.html to exchange your old polishes for something healthy and new!
I’ll be sure to update you all once I try my new polishes!






