Messy Manicurists, Rejoice! This $10 Tool Will Give You Perfectly Polished Nails
More often than not, some of our favorite buys are small, how-didn’t-I-know-about-this products that solve an everyday problem. That’s what we’re highlighting in our Little Lifesavers series: cheap, simple purchases that you’ll use on the daily. Hit “Add to Cart” and thank us later!
Problem: When it comes to painting my nails, I genuinely don't know how to do it without getting polish all over my fingers.
Solution: The Edge Perfection Easy Peel Polish Barrier makes applying nail polish a clean, mess-free process.
True life: I'm addicted to manicures. But since nail salons aren’t open just yet in NYC, I've been forced to pamper my nails at home — and let me tell you, it has not been going well.
How hard could painting your nails be, you may ask? When you have naturally shaky hands that only become shakier due to the copious amounts of caffeine I inhale daily, it can get pretty tough to try and put an even, no-mess coat of polish onto my nails. I can go through half a pack of cotton swabs and nail polish remover in one day, and picking off the excess bits of polish on my cuticles after they dry only ruins the hours — yes, hours — I spent perfecting my talons.
Though practice makes perfect, I knew I was going to need a little more help. That's when I discovered the Edge Perfection Easy Peel Polish Barrier, which promises a foolproof guard to help you create cleaner, more precise manis.
Here's how this $9.99 product works: You apply the liquid solution onto your cuticles and any area of skin surrounding your nails, and it dries down to a rubber-like finish that allows you to easily peel off any excess polish that finds its way to your skin. Just apply, polish, and peel, and you're all set.
But there’s one thing I should flag before I move on: This solution contains latex, which can be an allergen to many people. Try a patch test before you use this to see if you're allergic, and if you are, you may want to find another alternative or just stick to good ol' nail polish remover. However, you don’t have to worry about any other red flags lingering in this barrier: It’s 5-free, meaning there are no toxins like like thiuram or ammonia. It's also cruelty-free, vegan, Prop 65-compliant, and Canadian Cosmetics- and EU Cosmetics-compliant.
I don't have a latex allergy (humble brag?), so I was able to use this easy-peel barrier. But at first, it just wasn’t all that easy to use. My first trial ended up with goops of dried-up latex all over my nails, and polish being ripped off all over when I tried to peel off the barrier — and that was all on me for not reading the directions. Lesson learned: Follow directions more closely!
So, here's how to use it properly: First off, make sure you apply the barrier solution only to the skin around your nails, not your actual nails. If you get some on your nails, simply push it off with an orange stick or cuticle pusher to remove it. Then, apply your favorite nail polish and peel the barrier off before your polish fully dries. Peeling it off after your polish dries can result in your polish tearing or peeling off of your nail, leading to a less-than-desirable look.
Instead of painting your whole hand at once, the brand recommends working on two or three nails at a time, peeling, then moving on. Finally, use tweezers to remove the barrier in one swift, semi-circular movement — instead of trying to scratch it off or using your other nails — so you can avoid irritation or messing up your manicure.
After following the proper directions, my manicure actually looked like I’d gotten it done at the nail salon. I applied my polish as messily as possible, and used a dark green shade (Off Tropic by essie) to really test out the power of this barrier. To put it simply, I was impressed the second time around: Once I peeled off the barrier, it seamlessly removed all of the lingering polish on my skin and exposed a mess-free mani that seemed like it had been done by the most diligent professional.
It also made my at-home pedicures much less havoc to paint, even on my teeny-tiny pink toe nail. Just some tiny touch-ups were made around my cuticles, but other than that my DIY manicure session was a total success.
Now, I'm not even bluffing when I say I've packed this polish barrier in my essential manicure kit. It makes the process of painting my own nails way less anxiety-inducing, and as a girl who never knew how to color inside the lines, this is a definite game changer for me.
So, want to play professional nail technician at home? Then do yourself a favor and grab this bargain nail-barrier potion for perfectly polished nails, without the trip to the nail salon.
Read More:
The Thayers Witch Hazel Facial Toner Is An Under-$15 Skincare Miracle
Olive & June's Genius Nail Polish Handle Is Saving Me Money on Manicures
These Nontoxic Nail Polish Brands Are Better for Your Nails
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