[[ Honeybee Gardens Nail Polish Remover ]]
After stomping my feet and having a hissy fit, I decided to look into natural alternatives. I found that you ladies in the US and Canada have plenty to choose from...unfortunately, in the UK, we have a choice of about three. All three are ridiculously priced and can't be bought in any 'brick and mortar' stores (well, only dinky salons in the middle of nowhere). After having yet another hissy fit about that fact, I begrudgingly parted with £10 for 120ml of remover by Honeybee Gardens.
Ingredients: methanol, methyldiglycol, trimethyl hydroxypentyl isobutyrate, equisetum arvense (horsetail) extract, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), aloe barbadensis leaf juice, denatonium benzoate (bittering agent).
The only ingredient that this shares with my previous nail polish removers is denatonium benzoate, so I hoped and prayed that it wouldn't be that which I was allergic to!
The Honeybee Gardens remover feels quite oily to the touch and sinks in to your skin, unlike regular polish which tends to evaporate. It is a tiny, titchy bit less effective that regular polish, so removing layered polish, nail art and glitter can be a bit of a pain! Because of this, you also have to use a bit more remover than you do with the usual stuff, so I'm pretty choosy these days about when I wear polish because I still begrudge spending £10 to remove it. However, my nails are stronger and less flakey, tips whiter and my eczema hasn't flared up since I started using Honeybee Gardens natural nail polish remover, so I guess I can't complain!
The Honeybee Gardens remover feels quite oily to the touch and sinks in to your skin, unlike regular polish which tends to evaporate. It is a tiny, titchy bit less effective that regular polish, so removing layered polish, nail art and glitter can be a bit of a pain! Because of this, you also have to use a bit more remover than you do with the usual stuff, so I'm pretty choosy these days about when I wear polish because I still begrudge spending £10 to remove it. However, my nails are stronger and less flakey, tips whiter and my eczema hasn't flared up since I started using Honeybee Gardens natural nail polish remover, so I guess I can't complain!
I ordered mine from Mollycoddles of Rochester on eBay. Also available from Naturisimo, priced at £10 for 120ml of product.
Honeybee Garden's own nail polish line is water based, so I'm suprised it worked on regular polish! Good to know though...and glad it worked for you :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review! I have heard of Honeybee Gardens before. I always wondered how effective their polish remover was. I guess now I know. I don't get eczema, but I get a rash around my eyes from something in either polish or polish remover. I wonder if this stuff would work for me!?
ReplyDeleteAt least you've found *something* that works for you. Not being able to wear polish isn't the worst thing in the world but at least you can wear it on nights out and stuff. £10 is silly though!
ReplyDeleteSo glad that my eczema doesn't flare up from nail polish remover. It's great that you've found one that works though. Wish things like this were cheaper and more accessible in the UK :) xxx
ReplyDeleteI too have eczema, I slather my hands with olive oil before I remove polish. As long as I remove it quickly then wash my hands in aqueous cream afterwards, I find I can use even the cheapest remover (unless I'm having a bad flare up). Eczema and asthma have been a lot better since I dropped refined sugar and gluten from my diet-not easy tho!
ReplyDeleteI have eczema all over my hands, arms and shoulders, but I've been fortunate enough to not react too badly to nail polish removers as long as I keep it away from the eczema spots on my hands. Glad to see that you found a remover that doesn't irritate your skin!
ReplyDelete-Kieran
What abput using pure acetone?
ReplyDelete@ Naturalla Beauty, I guess they figured more people would buy it if it worked with regular polish, too :)
ReplyDelete@ The Peach, it's just as good as regular remover, just takes a tiny bit more effort. I'd definitely try it out - it's probably cheaper in the US, too.
@ Robyn, yeah, exactly! I was devoed I couldn't wear it at first, but after a few months polish free I'm not too bothered whether I wear it or not any more! Usually just for events, now.
@ Katy, haha, yes, be very grateful indeed! Though I'm grateful mine doesn't flare up because of solvents/ soaps - which seems to effect a lot of people. I wish the same!
@ LUCEWOMAN, that's an interesting way to go about it! I might risk it once my remover runs out....Dropping refined sugar for me would be easy - I don't have a huge sweet tooth or eat junk food. I even use fruit sugar in tea and baking! Gluten would be a problem, though!
@ Kieran, I feel sorry for you with it spread so far :/ It would drive me nuts!
@ Jess, pure acetone used as a regular remover would be waaay too drying/ damaging to the nails and surrounding skin.
I use 100% acetone on my nails. Unless you have extremely dry skin it will work really well. You use less product and less time to take off the polish. Afterward, wash your hands with warm water and soap and maybe put on a thick lotion or oil (such as extra virgin coconut or olive oil) and put some socks or mittens over them and let them soak overnight. I'd only do that if your skin gets super dry. I use it everytime I take off my polish and I'm a frequent hand washer and my nails and skin are fine.
ReplyDeleteCheck that you are not allergic to an ingredient in the nail polish rather than or in addition to the remover. I've had a bad reaction all over my face due to polish, and according to my dermatologist, it's quite common!
ReplyDelete