Today, more and more nail addicts are looking for polishes that are as beautiful as they are safe. But whether with classic polish or semi-permanent polish, is a beautiful manicure possible without risk to the nails? And conversely, can a bio-sourced polish have the same tenue and finish as a traditional polish? At Manucurist, we believe yes, and we provide the proof in this ultimate guide to next-generation polish.
Let's start by recalling that, like hair and skin, nails absorb what is applied to them. So you need to be very careful when choosing your cosmetic products. A next-generation polish is a natural nail polish whose formula respects your nails and whose environmental impact is controlled. Here’s how, at Manucurist, we concretely implement this concept of responsible beauty.
A bio-sourced polish
Beware of appearances: "bio-sourced" does not mean "organic". An organic ingredient comes from certified agriculture, free of pesticides and GMOs, whereas a bio-sourced ingredient refers to a plant-based material. At Manucurist, Green™ polishes are bio-sourced up to 83% and Green Flash™ polishes up to 84%. The goal is to find plant-based alternatives to solvents or plasticizers derived from petroleum. And yes, it’s possible, here are some examples:
- 🌽 Corn is used to produce acetyl tributyl citrate, which allows the polish to form a smooth and shiny layer.
- 🎋 Sugarcane provides ethyl acetate, which ensures the fluidity and easy application of our polishes.
- 🍠 Cassava is used to extract butyl acetate, which also fluidifies and facilitates the application of the polish.
- ☁️ Cotton provides nitrocellulose, which ensures the polish’s durability.
These ingredients are not necessarily from organic farming, but they help reduce the product’s carbon footprint, use renewable resources, and offer a biodegradable product with formulations that are gentler on the nail.
Cassava, sugarcane, cotton, corn, potato… our plant-based alternatives to replace petroleum-derived solvents and plasticizers.
A polish with natural actives
A next-generation polish is one in which plant-based ingredients not only replace synthetic molecules but also bring many benefits to your nails. At Manucurist, we constantly seek to harness the extraordinary powers of plants for manicure care. You’ll find them especially in our Active™ care polishes and our base coat, top coat, removers, and other nail care formulas. Here are the ingredients we use to:
💧 Hydrate: raspberry extract, moringa seed extract, plant collagen, pomegranate extract, coconut oil, rapeseed oil...
🍽️ Nourish: sweet almond oil, avocado extract, castor oil, peach extract...
💪 Strengthen: green tea extract, spinach extract, lemon extract...
🛡️ Protect: pistachio gum, hibiscus flower extract, ginseng extract...
🍇 Natural antioxidants: beetroot extract, grape extract, cranberry extract, blueberry extract, walnut oil…
Do good to your nails thanks to the powers of plants.
A vegan polish
Choosing a next-generation polish also means choosing a more ethical and responsible beauty. All Manucurist polishes are vegan, meaning free of any animal-derived ingredients in their formulation, production, or manufacturing (no carmine, cochineal-derived pigments, or animal keratin). It’s not always obvious, but animal-derived products can hide in unsuspected ingredients like certain dyes or plasticizers. This is the case with shellac from cochineal, widely used in the cosmetic industry and in many semi-permanent gels to improve their tenue. Not at Manucurist, whose product ranges are certified by The Vegan Society.
Easy and safe application and removal
As we’ve seen, a bio-sourced composition does not make the polish harder to apply. Thanks to the chosen plant-based alternatives, it retains all its fluidity and plasticity and dries quickly. At Manucurist, we have chosen LED lamps rather than traditional UV lamps often used in salons. They have the advantage of curing semi-permanent polish faster, emitting less intense UV rays and consuming less energy. To combine the LED lamp and application essentials, you can also choose a Green Flash™ semi-permanent polish kit, designed for a complete home routine.
A next-generation polish also means removal that respects the nail. No more acetone removers or filing or sanding removals that leave nails in poor condition! We favor gentle methods, using bio-sourced remover enriched with vegetable oil, to remove color easily and quickly while hydrating the nail plate.
LED lamp and gentle remover for a smooth & easy application and removal of polish.
👉 More info on classic polish removal here and on semi-permanent polish removal there.
A polish that doesn’t sacrifice performance
Here too, a next-generation polish has nothing to envy from a traditional polish and must be just as high-performing! Green™ and Green Flash™ polishes check all the boxes:
✨ Mirror shine, gel effect.
🌈 Over 90 vibrant polish colors, from delicate nudes to iconic reds, including pop, pearly, or glitter shades.
⏱️ Impeccable tenue up to 7 days (with Green™ polish), up to 12 days (with Green Flash™ polish).
A bio-sourced polish formula that’s always ultra desirable!
An eco-friendly polish all the way
At Manucurist, responsible commitment is global: from what’s inside our polish bottles to packaging, accessories, and logistics practices. Here are some concrete examples:
♻️ Polish, care, and remover bottles made of recyclable glass, compostable boxwood sticks, biodegradable nail art glitters.
🌲 Cases made of GOTS-certified organic cotton (Global Organic Textile Standard) and brush handles made of FSC wood (from sustainably managed forests).
📦 FSC-certified packaging boxes, no plastic overpackaging, packaging chips made 100% from corn starch, optimized supply chain.
A greener manicure also involves fairer actions, from formulation to the last mile. Although there is still much to do, every action counts!
In short, choosing a next-generation polish means favoring formulas based on natural-origin ingredients, safe for you, without sacrificing style and the pleasure of an easy and long-lasting beautiful manicure. It would be a shame to miss out, wouldn’t it? 🌳🐰💅
