I wash my hands. A lot.
I do it to lessen my odds of catching colds and because I’m a little obsessive.
Perhaps my almost unnatural love of hand cleansing is what has me so stoked about the Essie Naturally Clean collection. The products in the release are 100% natural and contain essential oils like eucalyptus (a natural antiseptic), vitamins and antioxidants. Essie went au natural with Naturally Clean and shied away from harsh chemicals, yea!
The collection had me at hello.
I like the light lemon scent of these five products and their minimalist packaging. Of the five, I’ve tried three:
Purifying Nail Polish Remover ($6 for a 4-fl. oz. bottle; $16 for a 16-fl. oz. bottle)
Viva la FAST!
This stuff works like greased lightning! It removes nail polish faster than you can say the words, “Why, yes, Christian Bale, you may certainly massage my feet.”
Purifying Nail Polish Remover effortlessly lifted the remnants of the Essie Spring 2009 swatches (aka the infamous “broke ass manicure“) that were still clinging to my nails.
I soaked a cotton pad in it, pressed it down on a polished nail and then wiped from cuticle to tip. It only took one swipe — amazing! Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+
100% Purifying Hand Treatment with Nourishing Botanicals ($24 for a 8-fl. oz. bottle)
Essie loaded Purifying Hand Treatment with lots of good stuff: aloe and vegetable glycerin to moisturize skin, eucalyptus oil to sanitize and vitamin-enriched rice bran for antioxidant protection. It’s like an all-natural version of Purell with added moisturizers.
At $24 it’s hella expensive — certainly more expensive than Purell — but it’s natural, works well, feels good and, thankfully, a little goes a long way. A pea-sized amount thoroughly cleans and moisturizes both hands. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A
Purifying Hand Wash with Nourishing Botanicals ($14, 8-oz. bottle)
In winter, frequent hand washing can leave my paws feeling tight and looking ashy.
A moisturizing hand wash, like Purifying Hand Wash with Nourishing Botanicals, is a total winter must; otherwise … do you remember V, The Final Battle? — remember the scaly lizard people? Yeah, like that.
Purifying Hand Wash contains moisturizing coconut oil and aloe vera. It foams up into a soft, rich lather but doesn’t leave a film after I rinse it off.
I go through crazy amounts of hand soap, and $14 seems like a lot to pay for Purifying Hand Wash, but it may be a nice way to indulgence your hands when they’ve been good.
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B
Big things come in small packages: Essie Spring 2009 minis!
A few select colors from the Essie Spring 2009 collection are now available in an $18 four-pack of mini-bottles. The set includes One of a Kind, Mesmerize, Flawless and Status Symbol. Hello, awesomeness!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Congrats to the winners of the Essie Spring 2009 giveaway: Courtney L, Tammy, Ashely and Mimi!
Vampy Varnish says
January 28th, 2009 at 7:57 amOMG V! I used to watch that TV series, I can’t believe you remembered it, LOL. I think I will definitely try their NP remover but the other stuff is so expensive and I, like you, wash my hands 8 million times a day. I just wish they would create a hand wash that would help keep polish on instead of help it chip because the damn hand washing is the main cause of my chips!
Vampy Varnish´s last blog post..Vampy Varnish Tuesday Poll
cloudburst says
January 28th, 2009 at 8:20 amWhat are the ingredients in the nail polish remover? I have a hard time believing they can make an “all natural” remover.
Alison says
January 28th, 2009 at 8:26 amThese sound great, thanks for the info
Rovie says
January 28th, 2009 at 8:48 amI’m gonna have to try that nail polish remover because my current one sucks. But then again it was super cheap so it’s probably one of those things where you get what you pay for.
Stephie says
January 28th, 2009 at 9:08 amWoo. If I find it I will for sure get my hands on that Essie Polish Remover. I’ve been looking for a “natural” one for a while. Thanks for the heads up 🙂
Nessa says
January 28th, 2009 at 9:21 amI might have to spring for the nail polish remover! 🙂
Nessa´s last blog post..A Sinful Colors System Challenge
p. potter says
January 28th, 2009 at 9:51 amomg, I obsessively wash my hands so much that they’re permanently dry between my knuckles. I just can’t help it!
I don’t know if I could fork over the dough for the soap, because I, like you, go through many bottles in a short period of time. And I’m good with Purell Handwipes for my santizer.
Interesting idea, Essie–but it seems like weird timing with the economy being in the crapper and all.
p. potter´s last blog post..Death by Bra
Glosslizard says
January 28th, 2009 at 10:29 amOk, the fourth in this line-up should be a hand lotion with spf!
katee says
January 28th, 2009 at 10:29 amI’ll probably give the nail polish remover a try – although I am really addicted to Zoya’s Remove.
katee´s last blog post..Shades by Barielle Sun Goddess Collection for Spring 2009
Shefali says
January 28th, 2009 at 11:10 amHey Karen! I know this is lame, but due to economical reasons I stopped going for manicures this year. I seriously haven’t done my own nails for like 10 years.
So here is the lame question: are there any nail polish removers out there that don’t have acetone and are not so toxic? Is this Essie one an option? I don’t want to have all the fumes of nail polish remover with my little one around. Thanks!
Amanda says
January 28th, 2009 at 11:28 amthanks for the info Karen-these are intriguing, especially the polish remover. I hope my ulta gets them in!
Courtney L says
January 28th, 2009 at 6:08 pmHmm, Shefali- you can get them at target without acetone, but im pretty sure they still smell. 🙂
Shefali says
January 28th, 2009 at 9:59 pmThanks Courtney! I will definitely check some out there!
Karen says
January 29th, 2009 at 9:12 amHi Vampy Varnish,
LOL — honestly, I have no idea why my parents actually let me watch that show. Watching it scarred me for life. You know what’s totally lame? I was even scared by the creepy alien alphabet/writing on the ships.
Karen says
January 29th, 2009 at 9:12 amHi Cloudburst,
The ingredient list:
Acetone, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Eucalyptus Oil, Limonene, Alcohol Denat., Rtinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Denatonium Benzoate.
Yah, the acetone is kinda questionable. I wonder if they meant 100% to refer to certain products in the group, like the hand sanitizer.
Karen says
January 29th, 2009 at 9:12 amHi Alison,
You’re welcome!
Karen says
January 29th, 2009 at 9:12 amHi Rovie,
Oh good! If you want a drugstore option I heard Cutex makes a good one called “Cutex Essential Care One Step Nail Polish Remver Pads” are also good. I’m going to try those next!
Karen says
January 29th, 2009 at 9:13 amHi Stephie,
The remover does contain acetone… dunno if that’s a concern but it’s on the ingredient list.
Karen says
January 29th, 2009 at 9:13 amHi Nessa,
I like it! It works so freakin’ fast!
Karen says
January 29th, 2009 at 9:13 amHi P. Potter,
Do you have a favorite soap? 🙂
Karen says
January 29th, 2009 at 9:13 amHi Glosslizard,
Good call! And I would like it to strengthen my nails, too!
Karen says
January 29th, 2009 at 9:13 amHi Katee,
I haven’t tried that one. What do you like about it?
Karen says
January 29th, 2009 at 9:13 amHi Shefali,
The essie one isn’t acetone-free. I have tried drugstore non-acetone removers. They work… but you gotta put some elbow grease into the process. It definitely takes longer. But like Courtney L says, they are stinky.
Karen says
January 29th, 2009 at 9:14 amHi Amanda,
Oh great! I hope you like it. 🙂