Review: Oh So Wet! Quick Dry Topcoat

For those of you that follow my blog, you might have noticed my earlier post on my decision to be Big 3 Free.  As part of this decision, I decided against continued use of my once favorite quick dry topcoat, Seche Vite.  Consequently, I went out and bought myself a few topcoats to try, one of which being Oh So Wet! quick dry topcoat.

Oh So Wet! Quick Dry Topcoat

What it is:

It is described as a quick drying topcoat that is designed to be placed over any 7-day manicure.

My impression:

Prior to my exploration of the Big 3 toxic trio, I had never really thought about any other quick dry topcoats than Seche Vite.  After all, it was the go-to topcoat for everyone and was receiving such rave reviews--it was almost as if nothing at all could measure up.  Fortunately, I think I've found a pretty comparable topcoat in Oh So Wet! that meshes with my beliefs.  Though it did not dry as quickly as Seche Vite, it did take a much shorter amount of time than if I had used a typical topcoat.  I estimate that it probably took around ten minutes to feel dry to the touch and maybe another five or so for me to feel comfortable with the dryness.  While it wasn't as glossy as Seche Vite, it did give a relatively nice shine.  A plus to this was that unlike Seche Vite, I didn't experience any dulling of the color after a few days of wear.  I also did not experience as much chipping or any polish peeling off cleanly, though this could have also been attributed to my change in base coat from Seche Clear to Orly Top 2 Bottom.  I also liked that the consistency was a lot thinner than Seche Vite and more manageable.

My recommendation:

Although it dries a little bit slower and is a little less glossy than Seche Vite, I still think that this is a great topcoat.  I really like that it doesn't dull after a few days or cause the polish to peel off cleanly.  It also takes care of the main function of a topcoat--to protect a manicure.  I think that this would be great for anyone looking to try a Big 3 free topcoat.  I can really only compare it to Seche Vite, since that is the only quick dry topcoat I've used so far, but putting that experience entirely aside, I still think it's a great product worth trying out.

The rundown:

• Product:  4/5
• Packaging:  5/5
• Quality:  5/5
• Overall:  4.8/5
• Would I buy this again?:  Sure would!
• Where to buy:  Sally Beauty
• Price:  $4.49
• Pros:
  +  Big 3 free
  +  Affordable
  +  Dries quickly
  +  Glossy finish
  +  Applies well
  +  Protects manicure
• Cons:
  -  Doesn't dry as quickly as Seche Vite
  -  Not as glossy as Seche Vite

I hope you enjoyed round one of my Big 3 free quick dry topcoat reviews.  If you have any experience with this or know of any similar products I should try, please feel free to leave a question or comment below!

Disclaimer: I have not been paid to review the product featured above. I purchased all of the products reviewed in this blog post and did not receive them for free. I ensure that this is my true and honest opinion.

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The Choice to Be Big 3 Free

Truth be told, I was once a nail-biter.  From the end of middle school right up into halfway through my undergrad in college career, I used to bite my nails.  What changed that?  Finding my love of cosmetics and developing an interest in nailpolish changed all of that.  Along with that came my usage of what was then my holy grail topcoat, Seche Vite.

I'm sure those of you that are into beauty products as I am have seen it reviewed.  It has earned a reputation for itself as drying nailpolish faster than it would take to dry on its own while providing an attractive glossy finish and the protective properties of a traditional topcoat.  I'm sure that many of you have also seen the controversy surrounding its warning label:

WARNING! This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Now people have argued up and down about this, but the point of this post isn't to evangelize or try and move you to make the same decision I did.  It's not even to discuss Seche Vite specifically, as I'm sure there is a wide range of other products that have similar ingredients (e.g. - I read in a comment here that Chanel still makes polishes with toluene).  I just want to share what led me to this decision and, if you'd like, provide a starting point for your own research!

As listed on the website for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, the "Toxic Trio" of nailpolish ingredients are dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde and toluene.  According to the book A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients by Ruth Winter, M.S., these ingredients can pose a variety of different health risks.

Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP):
This ingredient is used as a plasticizer in nailpolish, but is also used as a perfume solvent, fixative, shampoo, and antifoam ingredient.  It can also be used as an insect repellent.  DBP has a low toxicity, but if if it is ingested, it can cause gastrointestinal upset.  Vapor from this ingredient can irritate both the eyes and mucous membranes.

With regards to side effects, DBP has been linked to gene and hormone changes in rodents.  In humans, it has been linked to genital abnormalities in infants and testicular cancer.  Additionally, the United States EPA and the National Toxicology Program suspect that DBP is toxic to development, the endocrine and gastrointestinal systems, liver, nerves, and kidneys.  It is also on the California Proposition 65's list of substances known to cause cancer or reproductive harm.

Formaldehyde:
Formaldehyde is currently on the Canadian Hotlist and is banned for use in cosmetics in both Swedena and Japan.  This ingredient, popularly known for its use in funeral homes, is also used in many cosmetic products as a disinfectant and preservative.  It is used in nail hardeners, nailpolish, soap, and hair products.  When used in cosmetics, it is often used as a disinfectant, germicide, fungicide, defoamer, and preservative.  Even though it might not be listed on the ingredient list, formaldehyde can be used as a preservative in other ingredients, such as lauryl sulfate.

In lab rats, it has been found to cause lung cancer.  Vapors from formaldehyde are irritating to human mucous membranes.  If ingested, formaldehyde can cause severe abdominal pain, internal bleeding, inability to urinate, vertigo, coma, and even death.  Skin reactions are common after exposure since it may be irritating and allergy producing.

Despite the risks, it has been concluded by the CIR Expert Panel to be safe to the great majority of consumers.  However, some may be more sensitive than others because of varying skin types.  Furthermore, it is encouraged that manufacturing of cosmetic products should take into account the minimum amount of formaldehyde necessary to provide the intended purpose.

Toluene:
Toluene, the offender in Seche Vite, is used in nailpolish up to 50%.  It is used mostly as a solvent, and in nailpolish it is used as a "nail strengthener" or hardener with the goal of achieving high adhesion and gloss. 

If ingested, toluene can cause mild anemia and can be used as a narcotic in high concentration.  Among the side effects are possible liver damage and skin and respiratory irritation.  The longterm effects of low exposure to toluene have been found in at least 20 cities where it is present in drinking water.

The CIR Expert Panel has determined that toluene is safe in its current use in cosmetic formulations.

Called to make a change by the public, many companies have decided to reformulate their polishes without these controversial ingredients.  Among brands that boast being free of the Big 3 are OPI, China Glaze, Essie, and Zoya.

Why I decided to be Big 3 free?
Though I had been using Seche Vite for almost two years and was vaguely familiar with the concerns on the warning label, I thought that I'd do some research.  After doing some reading and buying the book, A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, I thought it would be in my best interest to try and find an alternative.

Even though the degree of risk that I will experience some of the side effects mentioned above might be very small, I personally did not think that it was worth the risk.  I think that this is especially true since there now exist products that do not use these ingredients and still do a great job.  Why continue use if I know that the risk is there and that there are alternatives?

All in all, it's just nailpolish and I don't think that I could forgive myself if later down the line it turned out that I could have prevented something negative from happening.  I am well aware that nailpolish isn't the only arena in which potentially toxic ingredients exist and it probably isn't realistic to be totally free of toxins like these (I remember hearing in a class that women were found with toxins in their body that had been outlawed well before their lifetimes!), but that's why I'm taking the steps to become a little more informed and make my choices that way--one step at a time.

In response to this topic, I have sought out to find a Seche Vite replacement.  Stay tuned for my reviews to come in the next few weeks!

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Review - PICKerr UPerr

I feel as though I've used this enough times to write a decent review on it (well, I should hope so, anyway!). Some of you might remember this from my last haul post made a few weeks ago. The product that I will be reviewing is the PICKerr UPerr. Hopefully this will appeal to all you nail fanatics out there!

What it is:
The PICKerr UPerr is described on the Sally Beauty website as a double-sided wand used for picking up large and small rhinestones. The smaller end is used for smaller rhinestones while the larger end is used for larger rhinestones. The tips of the ends are made out of silicone, which allows for not only easy pickup, but also easy depositing. The tips do not need to be wet.

My Impression:
When I first saw this in the store, I will definitely say that I was a little bit skeptical about whether or not the product would work. I couldn't quite comprehend how something could easily grab onto something, but just as easily let go of it. I figured that I would give it a try since I was already there, I had plenty of rhinestones, and it was pink (my favorite color!). I have used it for two nail designs thus far (I made sure that I put plenty of rhinestones on the first time I used it!) and found it to be agreeable.

It definitely was able to pick up the rhinestones and let go of them just as easily. I can't really explain how it works--it just does! The only downside is that when I was using it, I couldn't just dip the PICKerr UPerr into the container and come out with a rhinestone. Rather, I had to lay the stones on a flat surface, like the table, for it to effectively be able to pick it up. Though the pickup required a little more work than I had anticipated, the dropoff was perfect--allowing me to precisely lay it down where I wanted. The rhinestone adhered perfectly to the desired area!

My Recommendation:
I definitely think that this is a handy tool to have. It keeps you from having to buy toothpicks all of the time, plus you can just keep this one handy tool in your nail kit or what have you. The big and small sides are definitely a plus because I know that there are a ton of different sized rhinestones. I wouldn't quite consider it a "must have," since it could be substituted with toothpicks or even the tweezers (I had no idea about the toothpicks back then, haha) I was using way back when...but I think that if you are looking to splurge on a little something extra or are looking to give someone that loves nails a small present, this would certainly be an option!

The Rundown:

• Product: 4/5

• Packaging: N/A

• Quality: 5/5

• Overall: 4.5/5

• Would I buy it again?: Should the other one break, yes!

• Where to buy: There are places online that sell them, but I purchased mine from Sally Beauty.

• Price: $4.49 online / $3.99 with Beauty Club Card

• Pros:
  + Sanitary
  + Two ends for different sized rhinestones
  + Releases easily and allows for precision
  + It's PINK!!!

• Cons:
  - The stones need to be on a flat surface for it to effectively pick up stuff

I hope that this review was helpful to you!!!

Disclaimer: I have not been paid to review the PICKerr UPerr. I purchased all of the products reviewed in this blog post and did not receive them for free. I ensure that this is my true and honest opinion.

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