It’s time to welcome in the New Year, which can only mean one thing – party planning! For those who revel in the opportunity to glam it up, here’s the NYE nail looks to complete your night’s (eco) ensemble.

No need to book into the salon – these NYE nail looks skip any tricky designs and stick to easy-to-apply all over color. The cherry on top? We’ve even picked out our favorite non-toxic nail polishes that will do the job beautifully.

3 NYE Nail Looks to Get You in the Party Mood

1. Precious Metals

Keeping your mani classy and chic doesn’t have to mean boring. Gorgeous metallics are all the rage right now, and nowhere do they look better than on nails. Go for a grownup gold with Treat Collection’s khaki toned Mixed Message. Kure Bazaar also has an incredible selection with Or Bronze, Or Rose, Or Pur, and Platinum.

2. Confetti Glitter

New Year’s Eve is the night to go all out, so don’t be afraid to stand out with a little glitz! Just a sprinkle of glitter is enough to do the trick, keeping it concentrated at the tips and fading it out across the nail over a base colour – try SpaRitual’s Golden Rule. Another way to rock this look is slick across a chunky glitter top coat like NCLA’s Hollywood Hills Hot Number to create a starry night sky effect.

3. Hot Holographics

Why just sport one color when you can have two? Duochromes are set to be one of the biggest beauty trends for 2017, so get ahead with a nail look that follows suit. For a non-toxic option, it doesn’t get more on-point than Zoya’s 5-free Olivera nail polish, a mermaid-esque hue that shifts between emerald and purple.

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As warmer weather rolls across the country, nails are becoming more visible. So, while you’re treating your hands and feet to lush treatments, considering dabbing a bit of non-toxic nail polish with spring inspired color on your nails.

1. Butter’s Flusher Blusher Patent Shine 10X Nail Lacquer

When it comes to non-toxic nail beauty, Butter is forward thinking. The company recently released its Patent Shine x10 collection. The new collection (the company also reformulated its other lacquers) is free of DBP, toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, and xylene, reports Into the Gloss. That makes it “Seven-Free.”

We’re in love with the above Butter color because it’s part of the brand’s new line designed to build healthier nails. Plus: It’s supposed to last 10 days. This bright pink color will keep your spirits bright on the worst of days. Priced at $18.

2. Butter’s classic Jaded Jack Nail Lacquer

I’m currently wearing this color and I love it. It’s bright, fun, and goes with any funky outfit I decide to throw on. Priced at $15.

3. Zoya’s Rayne

Zoya may not be Seven-Free, but the company is Five-Free. All of this brand’s nail polish doesn’t contain formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, dibutyl pthalate, or camphor. We love this color because it’s a dewy hue of blue. It also features a subtle metallic finish. Priced at $9.

4. OCC’s Pansy

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC) is a vegan, cruelty-free makeup company. The company carries a Five-Free line of nail polish. We love Pansy because of its perfect pastel color. Priced at $10.

5. Piggy Paint’s Snow More Cold Feet

Last but certainly not least is the water-based Piggy Paint. The company started by creating non-toxic nail polish colors for kids, but has recently expanded its line to include adult colors. My favorite? Snow More Cold Feet. It’s as white as the cotton drifting off of cotton trees in late spring. Priced at $7.99. Get the line’s full ingredient list here.

Do you have a favorite line of non-toxic nail polish? What’s your go-to spring color? Share your thoughts below.

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No matter the outfit, these nail polish colors will finish off your look.

I love manicures that last for weeks at a time, but I don’t love it when they only go with two outfits in my closet. (One in particular made me feel like an ’80s goth rocker when I wore it with my work clothes. Womp, womp.) Since then, I’ve forged relationships with nail polish colors that are versatile, but you know, not clear.

Trendy nail polish colors will come and go, but there are certain shades you should always have in your arsenal. The roundup below is proof that you can enjoy ah-mazing manis and pedis without the harsh chemicals found in other nail polish brands.

Do yourself and the environment a favor, and try these nail polish colors on for size:

1. Brown
Brown is one of those nail polish colors I never expected to like, but as it turns out it’s super-sophisticated and versatile – and you know, reminds me of chocolate. It goes with any outfit no matter the occasion without overpowering your look.

Try: Kure Bazaar in Sofisticato

2. Grey
Grey is one of the best neutral nail polish colors around: It’s chic and effortless with a sophisticated edge. (I didn’t even get sick of it during the whole 50 Shades of Grey thing.)

Try: Scotch Naturals Smokey Martini

3. Silver
While silver’s in the grey family, it’s got more bling to it. It’s a color that has bite: It’ll take you from your work presentation to dinner and drinks with ease (where you’ll brag about how you rocked your work presentation).

Try: OCC in Spanglemaker

4. Vibrant Pink
As far as nail polish colors go, bright pink doesn’t go with anything, yet goes with everything. Go as vibrant as your mood will allow – it’s a great way to add a punch of color to any outfit. In fact, let your nails be your accessory.

Try: Piggy Paint in LOL

5. Mint
While it’s typically known as a spring color, I’ve been wearing mint all year long. It’s a super elegant way to switch things up when you’re bored of your usual neutrals and blush pinks.

Try: Mineral Fusion in Glint of Mint

6. Blue
What I love about blue nail polish colors is that it doesn’t matter what shade you choose – cobalt, sky, denim – they make your nails look luxe without being too in-your-face.

Try: Ginger + Liz in Chase Me

7. Gold
Gold nail polish colors are timeless: They’ll make your casual summer outfits look glam, while stepping up that chunky winter sweater from the ’90s you just can’t let go of. You’ll also enjoy your digits looking like little Oscar statues – or, that could just be me.

Try: Button London in The Full Monty

8. Black
Or rather, almost black. You’ve got to check out the RGB polish below: It’s a mix between gray, navy blue and olive green – and it’s everything.

Try: RGB Cosmetics in Fighter

9. White
If you’re tired of the usual nail polish colors, go rogue with white. It’s a sleek and surprisingly edgy shade that’ll give any outfit you’re wearing a polished look (no pun intended).

Try: Butter London Cotton Alabastar

Check out all of the cool colors here:

What are your go-to nail polish colors?

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With the increased popularity of natural and organic skincare and cosmetic ranges fueled by some well known celebrities even launching their own lines, there has been more attention drawn to the many harmful ingredients in everyday personal care products like nail polish, and the benefits of going ‘chemical free’.

Most of us are becoming more mindful of what we are putting on our faces each morning, but one cosmetic item that’s gaining more attention for it’s toxic chemical cocktail, is nail polish. With summer soon upon us (which means it’s time for a pop of color for the pedicure!) it’s a good time to review what some of the more natural and less toxic options are for nails. Here are four brands leading the charge.

1. Scotch Naturals

Scotch Naturals describe themselves as smart, fun and forward thinking. They offer a revolutionary water-based formula and are free from many of the common toxins found in conventional nail polish such as ethyl acetate, acetone and heavy metals. The color range is quite extensive and come with quirky names like Hot Toddy, To Hell With Swords and Garter and Balmoral Punch. Scotch Naturals also offer a kids range called Hopscotch, with a range of ‘kidcentric’ cosmetics for mini beauty buffs.

2. Butter London

Butter London is perhaps one of the best known brands in the beauty world, made famous by being one of the pioneers of carcinogen free nail care. It was founded in 2005 by British entrepreneur Sasha Muir and says it is synonymous with all things Rock ‘n’ Roll, Great Britain and fashion. The line has become a fixture at fashion weeks and is a cult celebrity favorite. Interestingly, they have recently launched a range of lip glosses, to really a pack a punch.

3. Zoya

Zoya is named for one of its founders, Zoya Reyzis, a traditionally trained pianist from Russia, turned household beauty icon. She earned her cosmetology license after migrating to the United States in the late ’70s and began a pursuit of quality, natural ingredients. Her husband, a trained chemist, developed and patented a range of beauty products including a fast drying nail topcoat and a natural polish, which is how Zoya was born. The brand was recently awarded the ‘longest wearing natural polish’ award by Women’s Health Magazine. The best thing about Zoya is that it offers over 300 colors, plus four seasonal collections of polish, released every year.

4. Keeki

Natalie Bauss started Keeki as a simple kitchen experiment for her children and friends, but within a few short years, it has taken off as an international brand. Residing on an organic farm in West Michigan, Natalie started using local and homegrown ingredients, to create wholesome and natural products. All products in the range are gluten free, cruelty free and devoid of many of the nasty toxins found in conventional cosmetics. A number of products in the range, including the nail polish are also 100 percent vegan. Cute colors like Sour Apple Slushie, Midnight Snack and Glazed Donut, keep the range cute, accessible and creative.

Images: Zitona, Scotch Naturals, Butter London, Keeki Pure and Simple, Zoya

The post Nail It: The 4 Least Toxic Nail Polish Brands appeared first on EcoSalon.

Art and fashion picks to green your Saint Patrick’s Day 2011

March 17^th might be the only day out of the year when head-to-toe ‘greenwashing’ is universally accepted. As an Irish American lass born on Saint Patrick’s Day, I have been bathed in green since my stint in the womb. I also had a mother who resorted to drops of emerald food coloring to tint the raw milk on our dairy farm in honor of my birthdays. It is perhaps no coincidence that I now write about sustainable fashion and design, as my rural upbringing also found me crawling around on hands and knees in our alfalfa fields searching for the elusive and perfectly formed four-leafed clover. As a means of honoring all shades of green this Saint Patrick’s Day, here are a few of my favorite art and fashion finds to help you create some good green sheen, now and into the future.

Izzy Lane Cable Roll Neck Sweater £259.00

Awarding winning ethical fashion label Izzy Lane is an alluring example of how to responsibly pull the wool over your eyes for Saint Patrick’s Day with this luxe ‘Emerald Green’ hand-knitted cable rollneck sweater. Lane is an outspoken voice in the campaign for animal welfare and also an advocate for rare breed preservation and the use of British Wool in the British Textile Industry. This specific knitwear piece is made from Wensleydale yarn from rescued sheep.

The Andean Collection’s Açaí Cluster Chain Earrings $29.00

Amanda Judge and her amazing team of artisans in the Andean regions of South America have been unstoppable as as a force in the fair trade fashion and accessories movement. The Andean Collection’s jewelry and textile designs just keep getting more stunning with each season. This is not a function of simply getting lucky but of dedicated team work and genuine talent of several local artisans: Nancy, Olga, Viviana, Carlos, Cesar, and Christian. These naturally dyed açaí seeds and loops of metal chains are strung together to create a pair of one-of-a-kind cascading earrings.

JADEtribe Nina Clutch with Charm $85 from Juno and Jove

Kimberly Hartman of JADEtribe always knows how to sprinkle the textile goodness around with her ethically crafted handbags and clutches fairly made by women in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. Unique details such as the hand-braided beads and jewelry that jingles on this Nina Clutch or the incorporation of organically dyed and hand loomed traditional textiles makes each design a timeless expression of colorful, cultural storytelling.

LeAF Shimla Dress from Kaight $108

One cannot celebrate any holiday on the calendar without checking in to see what Kate McGregor at Kaight is offering as the truly green alternative to innovative and chic downtown dressing. This LeAF (Love The Earth Fashion) Shimla Dress is cool and versatile, and as Kate describes, “Can be worn either loose and breezy for hot days or cinched with a belt for a pulled together look.” Ethically made out of 100% organic cotton voile in India, it is a smart summer staple with year round layering possibilities.

A Perfume Organic GREEN perfume $65

On the beauty front, Saint Patrick’s Day would not be complete without the certified organic perfumery of Amanda Walker. A Perfume Organic‘s new signature perfume, GREEN, is an intoxicating herbal mixture of rose (New York’s state flower), black truffle, blue, Roman Chamomile, and an overdose of ylang ylang with a smooth woody finish. Ingredients are certified USDA organic. Now that’s something to get intoxicated on.

Scotch Naturals ‘Leprechaun Lynch’ polish $14.99

Just released in time for March 17th is this latest installment in the Scotch Naturals palette, ‘Leprechaun Lynch’. These non-toxic, water-based formulas contains none of the tongue-twisting chemicals found in typical nail polish: toluene, dibutyl phthelate, formaldehyde, acetone, and heavy metals. This cool mint creme color might be just the right way to don a hint of green without having to wear the entire head-to-toe shamrock get up.

Sculpture by Audrey Lavallée & Chloé B. Fortin, of BJIOS collective

But in all honesty, in addition to some dark ale and a possible pedicure for my winter weary feet, I will most likely spend Saint Patrick’s Day and my birthday dreaming about art, wild landscapes, and ways to green my life for the entire year, not just on one solitary day. With that in mind, I wanted to share these magical fiber, scrap textile, and rock sculpture forms handmade by my friends the French Canadian artists, Audrey Lavallée & Chloé B. Fortin, of BJIOS collective. I find these simple expressions to be wondrous in the identifying of green in the small things that we often trample underfoot or cast off like stones in well that has no bottom.  This represents the best of respectfully fashioning the future with resources at arm’s length and with a delicacy that demonstrates strength.

Image: Jennipenni

The post 7 Shades of Green for Saint Patrick’s Day appeared first on EcoSalon.

Ever try raising a completely ungendered little girl and/or extremely-liberated boy? Case in point, my brilliant and gorgeous niece Katherine (unfortunately, not the adorable girl in the pic). My sister and her husband presented our girl with toy tool sheds, small-palm basketballs, and mini-abacuses galore – and she went straight for anything pink and (deep sigh) princess. It was like trying to fight the tides from coming in with a small plastic bucket and spoon. Our girl and soon enough, her little sister after her, proffered up their tiny hands to us for shades of nail polish.

But as anyone knows who has smelled a nail shop, nail polishes can be quite the toxic beauty ritual. As we reported yesterday, traditional nail polishes contain chemicals like toluene, formaldehyde, and BDPs. Not exactly what you want to paint onto your kid’s toes, right? Luckily, there are some fantastic child-friendly nail care products that don’t contain any of these ingredients. We sampled two lines. So check out our picks for all the little girls out there who WILL have their nail polish, thank you very much – and for the mom, aunties, and fathers who love them.

Hopscotch Kids

This line is completely water based, containing no formaldehyde, phthalates, toluene or other petrochemical solvents. In fact, the primary ingredients are water, water-miscible acrylic polymer emulsion, and non-toxic colorants. And true to ingredients, if you open a bottle, you get only the slightest smell – nothing compared to the chemical blast you usually get.

How does work? This polish goes on with no streaks and dries quickly. I used it to paint my own nails and the nails of my six and 10-year-old nieces. They loved it. It offers up a non-streaky, bright blue color that dries very quickly. However, it does chip rather easily.

The coolest thing about it? With a little elbow grease, you can wash it off in shower. Sure, it’s not the best choice if you’re a grown-up looking for a long-lasting manicure. (And as I’m sure the manufacturer would point out, it’s not supposed to be for us oldies.) But this would be my pick to put on my little one’s little digits.

Hopscotch Kids also offers a nail polish remover. Frankly, since I could get the polish off with soap and water, I’m not sure why it’s necessary. You cannot use this remover with traditional nail polishes, but should you want to check it out, it contains water, fatty acids and plant-based alcohols, nontoxic surfactant and organic butter.

Suncoat Girl

This is another water-based brand without phthalate plasticizers, toluene, formaldehyde, acetates, alcohol, glycol ethers, FD&C dyes. It is completely free of a chemical scent – and I’m pretty sure I have one of the more sensitive noses on the planet, since I can detect and scorn a person who is smoking a block away.

This polish went on a bit streaky and didn’t last very long. Also, it peels off. (Another great way to avoid traditional nail polish remover.) One benefit to this peeling nail polish? My 10-year-old niece thinks this is the absolutely coolest thing. Who knew nail polish could be an interactive sport?

FTC Compliance

Image: abbybatchelder

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