Let's face it: nail polish removers stink of chemicals, and when formulated with harsh, drying ingredients like acetone, toulene, and DBP, they're not exactly earth- or body-friendly, either. Recently, the folks from the Philly-based skin and makeup boutique, A Beautiful Life, sent over a sample of their naturally-based, three-free Soy Polish Remover ($20). See what I thought of the eco-friendly product when you read more.
Formulated with citrus extracts and essential oils, this polish remover, which smells a little powerful in the bottle, settles into a mild and pleasant-smelling grapefruit scent once it hits your fingers. To be fair, I used the remover with both the brand's nontoxic, soy-based Nail Lacquer in Rockstar ($12), a subtly shimmery purple, along with a somewhat similar — albeit sparklier — not-so-natural offering from Milani called Purple Outline ($4).
While I found that I had to let the remover settle in a moment or two longer than a traditional formulation, once the pigments were loosened, I was left with a squeaky clean nail. I discovered that instead of wiping away the polish, I had to wiggle it away with a bit more pressure, although surprisingly, I didn't have to use more product than I'd normally would. Bonus? The polish lifted off right into the cotton pads as opposed to being redistributed in a thin watered-down layer all around my nails and surrounding skin. While it's a little pricey at $20, since this soy polish remover is gentle, effective, and free of harsh ingredients, it's well worth it. Have you tried a soy-based remover?