The world of cosmetics can be a confusing nightmare for a vegan. Some products in mainstream shops carry the leaping bunny logo of Cruelty Free International, but they may contain animal ingredients. It can be difficult to be sure of anything when even a detailed online search of the company comes up with mixed results.
It was with this in mind that I was delighted to be contacted by nail polish company, Liv Oliv with a proposal that I try out a couple of their products and review them for this site. A quick glance at their website told me they are a family run company here in the UK and all their products are not only vegan, but cruelty free and non-toxic as well – my kind of business. So, I happily accepted. They sent me a bottle of base coat, two garish colours (as chosen by me) and a bottle of top coat.
I advised them that I wouldn’t be reviewing for a couple of weeks as I was waiting for my nails to grow a bit. It seems their base coat also acts as a nail protector, so that was useful to know and I used it happily. On their website, Liv Oliv also sell hand cream and cuticle oil, which I can only assume also help with this process.
The day came when my nails were of a respectable length to try out the colours, so I started with a bright orange named ‘Tangerine Queen’ on my toes. After applying the base coat, the colour went on easily and didn’t smell as strongly as other nail polishes I’ve used in the past. This was most welcome. It was clear that one coat would be sufficient, so I applied the top coat and was pleased with the results. Now for my fingernails – I cracked open the purple sparkly bottle called ‘Amethyst Crush’ and began to apply it over the base coat. I had expected a block colour, but instead my nails were covered with purple-blue glitter that wasn’t edge to edge (see pictures.) I was surprised, (I wouldn’t have been if I’d have read the description properly) but the more nails I covered, the more I thought how fun it looked. It was perfect for a party, or an occasion when you don’t have time to be excessively neat. After I was happy with the amount of coverage, I applied the top coat and lamented the fact that I wasn’t heading out.
Liv Oliv do nail polishes for kids as well as adults and as I say, their cuticle oil and hand cream seem like a great idea. The range of colours is vast, so there really is something for everyone, whether your after a French manicure look, something pale, mid-range, bold and/or sparkly. They also sell nail art kits, if you have the patience for that sort of thing, and some nail polish thinner, which I didn’t even know you could get anymore. It’s really useful! I’ll definitely be purchasing from their gift box range in the future.
So, a week or so on and although coverage hasn’t remained perfect on a couple of fingernails (mainly due to my strawberry hulling technique I’d say) the polish on the rest of my fingers and toes is still party-worthy. The sparkly polish is especially easy to reapply anyway.
If you’re looking for nail polish and accessories made in the UK by a small, ethical business, then Liv Oliv is a great bet. There’s something so relaxing about browsing their products knowing that they’re all vegan and cruelty free. The website is really easy to navigate and you can shop by type of product, or colour for example. With party season coming up, they’re sure to have something for you or a loved one.
Highly recommended