To celebrate Earth Day, Zoya has brought back their Nail Polish Exchange program. It’s a way for you to properly dispose of your old nail polish in exchange for some new Zoya 3-Free shades.  So if you have bottles of old crusty polish laying around that you just can’t salvage, even with a bottle of thinner, or if you’re looking to update your nail wardrobe, send your polishes to Zoya and let them handle the disposal.

Do you have old bottles of nail polish , used or unused, laying around, collecting dust and tying up your valuable money? If you do, and we know you do, then this is the perfect program for you.

For a limited time, kicking off in April, in time for Earth Day 2010, Zoya will replace your old nail polish (any brand other than Zoya, Qtica or Nocti) with any brand new Zoya Nail Polish shade and properly dispose of your old polish according EPA guidelines. Choose from over 300 ready-to-wear, formaldehyde, toluene, camphor and dibutyl phthalate free, award winning colors (Zoya Nail Polish was awarded the longest wearing nail polish in Women’s Helath magazine)! Yep, an offer that’s as good for the planet as it is for your beauty budget – Wow!

There is a minimum of 6 bottles and no maximum (exchange as many bottles as you want as often as you would like)

All you have to do is complete the form on the Zoya website, choose your colors, ship them your old polish and pay a $3.50/bottle fee for shipping and processing. So you’re paying half price for brand new Zoyas and clearing out your stash in an eco-friendly way.  What a deal!

You have from now until June 30, 2010 to take advantage of this offer.  What colors are you planning to get?

It’s Go Green Week on ALU! In celebration of Earth Day on Thursday, April 22nd I’m reviewing some of the great green polishes from this season that I haven’t yet shared. Included with the reviews are tips on how you can “green” your manicure routine. Last winter I was in Michigan visiting friends when I made pit stop at Meijer’s to check out the Massini brand of nail polishes that I’ve heard so much about.  The word on the interwebs is that Massini is made by Color Club and some of the polishes are dupes for the holographic CC’s. Of course, I got completely sidetracked when I spotted a bright green polish in the Sally Hansen rack.  I saw the Spring Tracy Reese shades backstage at Fashion Week last fall but hadn’t seen the core colors yet.  Grass Slipper from the Complete Salon Manicure line jumped into my cart and it’s a fantastic color.  Check it out after the jump!

If you missed my gushing rave for the Complete Salon Manicure formula when I wore it during NYFW, check out my review in my NOTD Challenge post. Long story short, the formula is smooth, glossy and long wearing even without base & top coat.  Though with Grass Slipper I HIGHLY recommend wearing a base coat to avoid staining.  Blue and green polishes are notorious for staining so always wear a base with those types of colors or learn to embrace smurf fingers.

Grass Slipper is a lime green that is very close to the paint in one of our bedrooms.  The one the boyfriend uses as his office.  I love unique wall colors and in our house you’ll find red, two greens, slate blue, yellow and purple. The green in the office/bedroom is called Jalapeno Jelly by Valspar and while I LOVE the color, Valspar paint is crap.  Seriously, avoid the brand at all costs.  Getting that instead of Behr was like the worst decision ever.

Getting back to Grass Slipper, the lacquer flows on the nail easily and dries with a nice glossy sheen though it’s not all that pigmented.  As I noted in my initial review of this line, the colors all seem a bit diluted so you need three coats to get them opaque.  As compared to the more yellow-based OPI Who The Shrek Are You? this color is much more flattering on me because it’s more green.  The overly yellowish greens make me look deathly

Now I know the brush is pretty polarizing among Fanatics but I personally love it. I like the curved tip that fits perfectly along my cuticle line. What I don’t like is the inconsistency. They aren’t all cut the same so I’ve had to do some trimming. Also, the long flat stick grabs paint like there’s no tomorrow so you REALLY have to wipe if off well to avoid excess polish flowing on the nail. All those things aside, I’m extremely pleased with Grass Slipper.

Go Green Week Nail Tip: Help the environment by properly disposing of your nail polish and treatments.  You CAN NOT just throw nail polish bottles in the trash, even if they are empty or dried up.  We’re dealing with hazardous chemicals here that can leach into the soil and contaminate groundwater.  Never pour polish down the sink or into a trash can.  Call your trash service and ask about hazardous waste disposal and take the time to responsibly dispose of your old polish.

Grass Slipper from the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure line is available now at drugstores nationwide.  Prices vary by location but keep your eyes on the weekly circulars for BOGOs and 50% off sales.

What do you think of Grass Slipper?  Who else is in love with the Complete Salon Manicure line?  Do we have any detractors?  Are you wearing green for Earth Day?  Or just wearing green period?

Disclosure: I purchased this polish from Meijer’s.

Welcome to Go Green Week on ALU! With Earth Day coming up on Thursday, April 22nd I’m celebrating with some of the great green polishes from this season that I haven’t yet reviewed. Included with the reviews are tips on how you can “green” your manicure routine. I’m kicking off Go Green Week with Leaf Him at the Altar from the Sephora by OPI spring collection Modern Flowers.  The collection itself didn’t really draw me in with the exception of the sheer purple & holographic glitter, It’s Bouquet with Me, and this standout green stunner.  Check it out after the jump!

Sephora by OPI (SOPI) is sometimes referred to as $OPI by fellow nail girls due to the fact that these polishes cost more than regular OPIs and to be honest, I don’t really understand the reasoning behind it.  The formula isn’t any more magical than a regular OPI nail polish.  The ingredient lists aren’t identical but I can’t tell the difference between them outside of the bottle and brush shape.  Personally, I really like the small round brush on the SOPIs and I’m sure anyone with thin nail beds does too.

Leaf Him At The Altar is a silvery green that reminds me of the hostas the previous homeowners planted in EVERY flower bed on our lot.  Not that I’m complaining, they are easy to maintain, but we must have 40 of them.  Anyway back to the polish.  The silver metallic shimmer leaves slight brush marks in the finish but if you make sure to wipe your brush off so there’s no pooling, it shouldn’t be an issue.  If there is a downside to this color it’s the pigmentation.  I needed three coats to get it opaque.

Now you know how much I love my greens and I have drawers filled with them to prove it so it continues to amaze me when I can’t find a dupe in my stash for a new color.  Leaf Him at the Altar is definitely unique to my collection and therefore a must-have for me.  I love that SOPI could create a cool green without it having any blue undertones.

Go Green Week Nail Tip: Invest in a glass nail file.  Instead of creating more waste using disposable files, purchase a quality glass nail file. Not only do they last forever and a day, they do a better job of sealing the nail due to the fine grit.

As I mentioned in Let’s Talk Files, my favorite place to stock up is GlassNailFiles.com.  Yes, the website looks sketchy but I’ve ordered from them many times and so has ALU Mom.  If I would send my mom there, you know it’s reputable.  Files come in varying sizes starting as low as $1.79/ea including a carrying case.  You can even customize a file with your name on it which makes a great gift.  Shipping is reasonable and fast so what are you waiting for?

If you object to online ordering check out the La Cross files sold at drugstores, Essie’s sold at ULTA and Sephora’s house brand file.

Sephora by OPI Leaf Him at the Altar is a limited edition shade available now on Sephora.com and retails for $9/bottle.

How many of you have made the switch to glass files?  Do you prefer them over paper files?  Who else picked up Leaf Him At The Altar?

Disclosure: A product sample was provided for review by a PR rep for Sephora. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

Happy Earth Day kids!

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the “greenest” person when it comes to my daily life. I do drive a gas guzzling SUV so I can get through rough Cleveland winters, I’m not great at turning out lights when I leave a room and I do use paper towels religiously. But what I love about Earth Day is that it’s a way to check yourself. A reminder to look at your lifestyle and find ways to improve it that helps the planet.

Last year I made a commitment to waste less paper. I was terrible about writing stupid notes on full sheets of paper only to toss them later. So I dedicated myself to utilize my PDA and laptop for all my random scribblings. It’s not huge but it’s a good step. This year I want to focus more on recycling. We have a great recycling program in my neighborhood and I’m going to be more tenacious in my efforts. I would also like to break my paper towel habit.

So what will you do? What small change will you make for a greener globe? If you’re thinking of greening up your manicure routine by switching to less toxic polish, look no further for I have your ultimate shopping guide. You may remember last year that I published a pretty comprehensive list of polishes based on ingredients, well I’ve updated and made it even more thorough. Check it out!

For quick refresher on the ingredients we’re talking about, check out, The Big 3 (toxic chemical that is).

Formaldehyde and DBP Free polishes – Carolyn New York, CND (Creative Nail Design) and NYX

Big 3 Free polishes – butter London, Calvin Klein, China Glaze (black label), Color Club, Essie, Finger Paints, Hard Candy, Illamasqua, Maybelline Express Finish, Maybelline Salon Expert, Nicole, OPI (green label) and Sally Hansen Salon

Big 3 Free, No Formaldehyde Resin – MAC, Milani, N.Y.C. Long Wearing, Nailtini (except Vodka), NARS, Nocti, Orly, PeaceKeeper, Pop Beauty Nail Glam, Rescue Beauty Lounge, SpaRitual and Wet n’ Wild

Big 3 Free, No Formaldehyde Resin, No Camphor – Chanel, Dashing Diva, Dior, Estee Lauder, Givenchy, Lancome, Lippmann, L’oreal, No-Miss, Nubar, NYC In A New York Color Minute, Revlon, Rimmel London 60 Seconds, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri, Sante, Shades by Barielle, Shu Uemura, Sinful Colors and Zoya

Water based, Big 3 Free, No Formaldehyde Resin, No Camphor, No Ethyl Acetate – Acquarella, Honeybee Gardens, Sula and Suncoat
Note: Some brands have changed their formulas over the past few years so bottles of their old formulas may still be on shelves. Please check labels before purchasing.

Some additional ways you can green up your manicure include switching to a reusable glass nail file like the ones mentioned in Let’s Talk Files, using natural nail polish removers and replacing your orange sticks with a metal cuticle pusher.

What are you doing today to green up your lifestyle?

butter London‘s Turn In Your Toxins campaign is back for Earth Day 2009 but in a whole new way. The first 500 people to log onto the butter London website on Earth Day, April 22nd, will win a bottle of 3 Free butter London lacquer to replace the toxic polish in your arsenal. Unlike last year where you had to live near a bL location to participate, we’re all eligible. [Edited to add: The giveaway begins at 8am PST/11am EST]

Though even if you miss out on winning a free bottle of polish, you can still join in on the Turn In Your Toxins fun by taking advantage of their special Earth Day promotion. Pick your own 5-pack for only $40 (a $30 savings).

Welcome to The Nail Files, a new series here on All Lacquered Up. The Nail Files will feature interviews with nail industry professionals, sharing their favorite products, manicure tricks, views on nail trends, back story, etc. I really hope you all enjoy it.

To kick off the series, I’m continuing the eco-conscious theme I featured in honor of Earth Day with green celebrity manicurist Jenna Hipp. Jenna spends her days styling the tips and toes of celebs like Jessica Alba, Sophia Bush, Fergie and Paris Hilton all the while keeping a focus on using healthy, earth-friendly products. She’s young (only 26) and gorgeous (a former model), yet she’s already racked up an impressive list of clients and editorial work. So getting the chance to pick her brain about all things nails was truly a treat.

What made you focus on celebrity and editorial work and how did you break into the industry?
This career most definitely chose me. Prior to the nail industry, I owned a photo rep agency in Los Angeles called “Hipp Artist Management”. I was an agent for a select group of fashion, beauty and celebrity photographers. Before that, I was modeling and doing makeup. Celebrity Manicurist Lisa Postma is the sole reason for my career change. She’s the one who made my new life possible because she believed in me and connected me with the right people.

It seems that a lot of celebrities are playing it safe with their nails. Who really dares to be different and fashion forward with their color choices?
Fergie is awesome! I love how she’s not afraid to make a statement and go all-out with her nail choices. My favorite is her domino design. Sophia Bush is also quite brave with her color choices. She loves the color Alive by SpaRitual. Kate Nauta from Transporter 2 is always using the brightest neons! I just used Orly’s Green with Envy on her. It’s Wild! And, of course, we can’t forget Rihanna. She rockin’ a different color every week. These girls definitely know how to use their nail color as an accessory, which I think is super fun!

Fergie has been the focus of an All Lacquered Up Celebrity Nail Watch due to her outrageously bold color and nail art choices. Where does the inspiration for her different looks come from?
Fergie likes what she likes. She’s not afraid to try something new and she’s definitely not afraid to make bold statements with her nails! Most magazines want a really natural nail, like the shoot I did for her for the cover of Glamour Magazine. She’s totally cool with that, too.

Do you see any celebrity nail trends emerging for summer? And who is wearing them?
The hottest colors this summer are bright and bold but still feminine and sophisticated. Reds and darker oranges, even the flirty pinks and lavenders are mixed with beige, grey, or orange undertones to give the nails a uniquely personal, chic finish that looks new and fresh on toes and fingers. Popping, happier, energetic reds mixed with oranges, tangerines. Avoid matching the hands with the toes. You don’t want to be too matchy-matchy!

My favorite nail color for summer is a bold, yet elegant, tangerine from SpaRitual called Plugged In. The color is flattering on just about anyone!

As far as neutral colors; matte baby pinks with a hint of melon or lilac mixed with a creamier white base. Not the usual shimmery pinks of the past several years. My favorite softer pinks are Orly’s First Kiss and Cupcake. For brighter, Butterflies is great summer pink! Dolly Parton has been wearing the best pink ever like SpaRitual’s Strike A Pose. I love it…and her! Seriously, if I could meet anyone in the world, it would be her!

I’m also seeing traditional summer fabrics used as nail texture. Heatherette and Tracey Ullman are rocking nails painted like the American Flag and we may also being seeing plaid and snake skin patterns too!

OK let’s talk green and healthy nail care. How does being a “green” manicurist affect your ability to work with artificial nails?
I do not do acrylic or gel artificial nails at all. When I work with a celebrity who has artificial nails I usually just do an organic deep conditioning treatment as well as hand exfoliation. And, of course, a polish change!

What are your favorite green nail products? Polish, treatments, tools, etc.
These are my favs that just came out:
SpaRitual Awakened Collection, Orly Love Collection and SpaRitual Open-Minded Organic Sugar Scrub (70% certified organic ingredients ).

These are my classic favorites:
Nail Polish

• Orly – 3 Free and no parabens, FD&C coloring or animal testing. They have a ton of fantastic, fun colors and the Manicure Miniatures are perfect for me as I have to bring so many polishes to photo shoots.
• SpaRitual – They use Vegan ingredients from around the world, including many specially sourced and selected plant essences that are wildcrafted or organic. The formulations are naturally colored and free of synthetic dyes.
• Priti Polish – An incredible boutique spa in Soho, Priti is 100 percent organic. All their nail varnishes are completely formaldehyde, toluene and DBP free.

Top coat - Nubar Diamond Shine & Seal and Zoya Armor
Bottom coat - SpaRitual Resurface Smoothing Primer Basecoat and SpaRitual Multi-Tasker Base & Top Coat In One
Cuticle oil – Nubar Cucumber Cuticle Oil and Carolyn New York Lavender Cuticle Oil
Nail polish remover – Nubar Cucumber Polish Remover (acetone free and smells nice) and Priti Soy Polish Remover (no petroleum by-products, non-toxic and biodegradable)
Hand cream – SpaRitual Instinctual Moisturizing Lotion (MY FAVORITE!!!!) and Burt’s Bees Healthy Healing Carrot Nutritive Body Lotion
Others – Farm Fresh Fine Foot Scrubs, Dermalogica Stree Relief Treatment Oil and Dermalogica Hydro-Active Mineral Salts

I’ve noticed brands that say they are “formaldehyde free” still contain the resin. What is the difference?
3 Free formula SHOULD be completely free of any traces of DBP, Formaldehyde and Toluene. However many lacquers say they are 3 Free but contain formaldehyde and toluene resin. Sometimes the toxic heavy metal lead acetate is included. A number of the common synthetic coloring agents have also been linked to cancer in some studies, especially the coal-tar dyes found in FD&C Blue 1 and FD&C Green 3.

What about the packaging? Does 3 Free and environmentally friendly packaging go hand in hand?
Green packaging is important as well! Green formula with environmentally hazardous bottles and packaging/manufacturing practices is so not cool! SpaRitual makes it their brand philosophy from start to finish to be eco-conscious and green. They recycle all by-products, run on the least amount of energy possible, avoid harmful chemicals and toxins during the manufacturing process and use recycled glass and FSC certified paper for all sales and marketing collateral, shipping and packaging.

Just a few things to know about how GREEN SpaRitual is…they are in eco-friendly bottles with soy based ink, recycled glass and shipped/produced to create the least stress on the environment. They’re also the first nail care company to get the “stamp of approval” from AVEDA, which means they can now be placed in all their concept stores.

Do you feel that the chemical free or more natural products are just as effective and long lasting as the conventional lines?
It’s known in the nail world that a lot of really natural lacquer collections usually lack color options and don’t have the best staying power. This is true for a lot of brands, but not for the ones I use which include SpaRitual, Orly, and Priti. They each have over 80 shades in their collections and a staying power that matches the toughest of lacquers out there!

What steps can we as consumers take to make sure our nail services are more earth conscious both at the salon and at home?
Education is the first step. Read labels to avoid toxic ingredients. Next step, find a green brand of polishes you love and take them to the salon. Make sure you bring your base coat and top coat as well. Jessica Alba keeps green products I gave her in the glove box of her car. That way she always has them with her. She’s very aware of the harm nail chemicals can cause, especially while being pregnant. She’s going to be the best mom!

What are your 5 “must have” eco-friendly nail polish shades for summer?
I LOVE Orly Bon-Bon this summer! It’s a creamy lilac that I used on Amanda Bynes for the cover of Seventeen and the cover of Harpers Bazaar International.
Spa Ritual Alive. This is Sophia Bush’s favorite color.
Orly Passion Fruit is so fun! A very bright pink, perfect for the girls who are bringing back the 80′s!
Priti Cornflower. It’s that perfect Navy everyone’s raving about!
Zoya Elodie. Such an incredible blend of pink and orange tones. You will get compliments everywhere you go!

And just for fun…
If you weren’t a manicurist you would be…
A photo agent once again. I loved everything about it…. I just make more money doing nails!

What was the last nail polish shade you wore on your tips? on your toes?
The last time I had my nails painted was for my wedding. Funny enough, I chose “One Night Stand” from Orly’s Divorcee collection. Ha! Isn’t that ironic?

Share with us a great nail moment from your career.
Oh, goodness. I’m so thankful for all my experiences. Working with Jessica Alba has got to be my favorite though! She’s just been so amazing over the past year. I can’t even begin to tell the world how much I love and appreciate her. She often has me over to her house for mani/pedi’s along with her hairstylist, Robert Ramos, his assistant Christopher, and her makeup artist, Lauren Anderson. We have such a great time getting Jessica ready for whatever event she has that day. It was really weird though when paparazzi started taking pictures of me leaving her house! I just ran to my car as fast as I could because I wasn’t expecting that at all!

I want to thank Jenna Hipp for taking the time to share her passion and stories with all of us. It was a pleasure. You can check out Jenna’s work on her website, http://www.jennahipp.com/. And for more info on the nail brands Jenna discussed click on the links in the “Nail Polish Links” section.

Big 3 Free. Non-toxic. Chemical-free. Water-based. Pregnancy Safe. Healthy. Eco-conscious. These are all buzz words that the polish industry throws at us to make their product look healthier, more eco-friendly, safer, etc. but, what does it all mean and who makes what?

UPDATE: View my 2009 Update – Check Your Ingredients.

If you haven’t read my post about Big 3 Free nail polish, I suggest you start there to familiarize yourself with the ingredients the term refers to. I use “healthier” in quotes to describe these lacquers since the jury is still out as to whether traditional formulas are really a health risk.

OK so you want a polish with less chemicals for health or environmental reasons. Which one is right for you? It all depends on the ingredients you want to avoid. Here I’ve broken down the brands according to what is excluded. I tried to cover the majority of the big and cult brands but if I missed one and you have ingredient info to share, please post it in the comments.

Of course, if you have allergies I suggest you still read the labels before buying. And remember, older formulas are still out there for brands that have made the switch to Big 3 Free.

Formaldehyde and DBP Free – Carolyn New York, CND (Creative Nail Design), Misa and NYX

Big 3 Free – butter London, Calvin Klein, China Glaze (black label), Color Club, Hard Candy, Maybelline, Nicole, OPI (green label) and Sally Hansen

Big 3 Free, No Formaldehyde Resin – MAC, N.Y.C. Colors, Nailtini (except Vodka), NARS, Nocti, Orly, PeaceKeeper, Rescue Beauty Lounge, SpaRitual, Wet n’ Wild and Zoya

Big 3 Free, No Formaldehyde Resin, No Camphor – Chanel, Dashing Diva, Estee Lauder, Lippmann, L’oreal, No-Miss, Nubar, Revlon, Sante and Sinful Colors

Water based, Big 3 Free, No Formaldehyde Resin, No Camphor, No Ethyl Acetate – Acquarella, Honeybee Gardens and Suncoat

So, how do these brands compare to their more chemical laden competition? Have you made the switch to less toxic polish? What has been the big difference in doing so?

While you’re at it, head on over to Total Beauty and give them a review. You could win a Saturn Vue Hybrid filled with eco-beauty products OR one of the many Daily Instant Win prizes.

Turn In Your Toxins!! Turn In Your Toxins!! Just saying it makes me feel like a 19th century Newsie. You know, the kind that got to dance and frolic with the hotness that is Christian Bale circa 1992. I gotta give it up to the brains behind butter London for coming up with an eye catching line.

In conjunction with Earth Day and in an effort to detoxify your nail routine the Seattle based nail lacquer brand is asking you to ditch your toluene, formaldehyde and DBP laden polishes. Just relinquish 3 bottles of your old, toxic, nail polish and receive a coupon for a FREE bottle of their 3 Free formula lacquer.

But where do you go to score such a deal? butter London has teamed up with BrandHabit to help you locate a nearby retailer. BrandHabit is an online boutique locator that finds where your favorite designers are carried; from major labels to indie brands, including butter London. Unfortunately, butter London hasn’t made it to every small town in the land but it looks like some of major metros are included. Head on over to BrandHabit to find out!

One way to easily green up your nail care routine is to replace your nail polish remover with a natural version. Choosing a natural remover not only helps the environment but your health. They rely on water and plant based ingredients rather than chemicals that can affect the soil and water supply.

Now I know that there is a lot of concern about acetone and the possible health risks. That exposure to acetone can cause cancer. However I’ve also read that it’s more of a concern if you are constantly surrounded by it (i.e. nail techs). On that issue I suggest you do your own research but here are a couple references I found:
Cosmetic Database, National Library of Medicine

I reviewed the No-Miss remover the other day but here are some more options.

Tate’s The Natural Miracle Odorless Nail Polish Remover is a local Cleveland area brand. Located in charming downtown Willoughby, Tate’s remover is made from 100% minerals and is dye, color, fragrance and cruelty free. They claim it takes off polish 50 times faster than traditional removers but I’d like to see the tests on that. Additionally this product is a multi-tasker. It can be used as a nail conditioner, nail strengthener, callous remover, wart eliminator, and cuticle remover. ($14.58)

Go Natural is non-toxic and contains Aloe Vera and Vitamin E to protect and condition your nail plate and cuticles. There are two versions of the remover: the first is a low odor, zero VOC formula for California residents that contains no solvents that can contribute to ground-level ozone; the second version is a completely odorless formula for use in all other states. ($5.25)

Low Odor Ingredients: Methyl acetate, butyl diglycol, aloe vera extract, Vitamin E, embittering agent, D&C yellow #11.

Odorless Ingredients: Methyl alcohol, butyl diglycol, aloe vera extract, Vitamin E, embittering agent, D&C green #6.

Suncoat Natural Nail Polish Remover is naturally derived from farm crops and does not contain any petroleum ingredients. It is non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and biodegradable. ($5.99, $9.99)

Honeybee Gardens Odorless Nail Polish Remover includes horsetail extract to strengthen nails and Vitamin E & Aloe to protect and moisturize cuticles. ($6.99)

Ingredients: methanol, methyldiglycol, trimethyl hydroxypentyl isobutyrate, equisetum arvense (horsetail) extract, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), aloe barbadensis leaf juice, denatonium benzoate (bittering agent).

Green Manicure Tip: Due to the oils and other ingredients used in these natural removers I suggest swiping your nail with vinegar before polishing to remove any residue that could cause the lacquer to lift or peel.