Manicure Perfect
By Jennifer Berg

Sporting the perfect manicure ensures a polished appearance-- pun intended. There’s nothing quite as glamorous as pointing to a pie-chart with a French-manicured tip. Now there’s a Power Point presentation! And what’s more fun than wiggling bubblegum pink fingers and toes? Our point precisely.

But, as with all things, the beauty of perfect polish is fleeting. All too soon the cracks appear and it’s time to whip out the remover. Then it’s time for paint thinner odor and the fear of spilling the nasty stuff that will eat through anything in its way. Or is that necessary? A little bit of research onto the dark world of polish remover has revealed new hope: help is on the way.

The good people of Once Removed--a company that creates exceptional products for modern nail care-- have recently launched new Nail Polish Remover Wipe-Off Pens ($3.99). This is the first-ever product that effectively removes nail polish without using harsh chemicals. Which means…no more noxious fumes! What a reason to celebrate—and take a deep breath. The pen contains Aloe to moisturize and condition nails as well as calcium to harden and strengthen them. Plus, the pen is lightweight and portable, so quick color changes are a breeze.

Another new product from Once Removed is the Cuticle Pusher Pen ($4.99) with treatment serum. The serum contains natural oils and vitamins that promote healthy cuticles. The ingredients will penetrate and hydrate the tough outer nail layer and absorb quickly into the skin so there’s no greasy residue left on your hands. The precision tool pen contours to the shape of cuticles so it dispenses just the right amount of essential oils. And the oils are good (and safe!) enough to eat: macadamia oil heals damaged cuticles and avocado oil adds deep moisturizing and conditioning benefits. Best of all, the pen has a padded nib that pushes cuticles gently into place; none of the “ouch” factor of metal and wood implements!

So take out your pens, it’s time to primp and polish!

Both new products are available online at Amazon.com.