THE (mani)CURE
Manicurist provides a solution to contemporary toxic nailcare
‘Clean’ beauty has been a buzzy subgenre of cosmetics for some time, and thanks to Sephora, it’s easier now than ever to browse brands that align with one’s formula preferences. I’ll admit that my vanity has experienced a bit of a rebrand since the ‘clean’ beauty movement has made its way to my algorithm. That being said, the one area of cosmetics that I struggled to ‘clean’ up was nailcare.
Nail polish is one of those products that feels innately, and unavoidably, toxic like gasoline or your freshman year ex-boyfriend. And while there may be a lesser-evil available on the shelf, it’s still a highly-flammable shelf.
Well, I finally put the fire extinguisher down when I discovered THE MANICURIST.
This French line has finally blessed us weary consumers with non-toxic nail care products. Don’t believe me? They proudly boast a formula that is derived with up to 83% plant-based ingredients. Besides being vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free, the nail polishes exclude known harmful ingredients: Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde Toluene, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Triphenyl Phosphate (TPHP), Xylene, Paraben, and Phthalate. The good will doesn’t stop there. The brand is also devoted to environmentalism; the packaging is sustainably-crafted and the glitter products are bio-degradable.
It’s important to know that there are two main product lines at THE MANICURIST: Green Flash and Green. So what’s the difference? Let me break it down for you.
Lasts up to 21 days
Strengthens nails
Removes in 1 minute without acetone
Instant drying under LED lamp
Starter kit with 5 colors ($115)
Starter kit with 3 colors ($95)
Starter kit with 1 color ($75)
Lasts up to 7 days
Drying without LED lamp
Intense shine
Starter kit with 5 colors ($89)
Starter kit with 3 colors ($75)
Starter kit with 1 color ($49)
Outside these two product lines, the brand also offers a variety of nail-related accessories such as glitter, powder, manicuring equipment, nail serums, lotions, and a children' s nail polish line. They have a regularly-updated blog, diagnostic tools, and even a virtual try-on feature that allows you to visualize the color of a polish on your nails.
All that being said, I think it’s clear why this brand has been widely-praised. Their shoutouts can be found in Forbes, CNN, ELLE, Marie Claire, Vogue, Cosmo and more. Even their Instagram is followed by nearly 1 million people.
Aside from Printemps (a French-based department store) in NYC, I’m currently unaware of any shop that sells THE MANICURIST’s line. For the time being, I sincerely recommend checking out their website to begin cleaning up your beauty routine.