I went throught a makeup phase, a skincare phase and now I’m going through a nail polish one. I have been really enjoying having my nails painted again after so long. I used to do it once a week when I was younger, so it’s actually really satisfying to be able to do it again!
As I’m always on the lookout for new nail polish, I was quite excited to find a Korean brand called Mecret. They have a range of 100% vegan and cruelty free water based nail polish. They say it’s low odour and easily removed as you can peel it off.
Their physical store is based in South Korea (Republic of Korea), but I bought mine from Gemhour. They are currently 9,900 원(won) if you buy direct from them, or they are on sale at Gemhour for $6.00 USD (approx. $8.65 AUD). I found it easiest to buy from Gemhour and the most cost effective too, since they are only 6g/0.21 fl.oz. My package also came incrediably fast, considering they ship from Hong Kong. I think I placed my order on Monday and it had arrived by the end of the week. They also gift you a UV lamp for all new orders and they added the Base Coat for me too!
Ingredients
The formula is water based, free of chemical solvents and animal derived ingredients as well as low odour. I agree with the claim low odour, however if you are as sensitive as me you might find the initial scent to be a little overwhelming. It’s more noticeable than I’d like honestly. I had thought I might not be able to use them but I tried again and it’s not as bad as I thought. If you can not stand any scent, I definitely wouldn’t recommend them unfortunately.
Application
The two colours I bought are a little tough to use. They’re a little thicker and not quite as smooth and fluid as they should be. If you apply it too thinly it’s very streaky, both in coverage and texture. If you apply too much it cracks straight away once dry. You definitely have to find the sweet in between.
The base and matte top coat are much easier to work with. The formula is very thin and watery, so make sure to remove the excess on the brush or you’ll flood your cuticles. Red Illumination is very thick, but it helps apply the unicorn skin flakes so it’s more noticeable in one coat.
Wear
These are definitely not the hardiest wearing nail polish I’ve ever tried. On my toes it wore really well, in fact I had to soak my feet to even have a chance at peeling them off after a week of wear! On my hands not so much but I have come to expect that. The matte top coat seems to seal the colour in quite well so that’s a bonus!
Removal
It’s really easy just to pick at any of the edges and then peel off the nail polish. It dries out the nail bed but doesn’t damage them. They don’t peel of in one satisfying piece though, so you will likely be picking little pieces off.
Shades
Base Coat, Phalaenopsis Beige, Plumeria Beige, Red Illumination & Matte Top Coat
I really like both shades I bought. In this photo I topped Plumeria Beige with the Matte top coat. They’re both very nice light nude pinks. The one I’m most excited about though is the unicorn skin topper. I love the shifting colours in different light, the fact you can wear it alone or as topper. I’m also extremely pleased the matte top coat is a lot easier to use, but also really works! I had suspicions that it might not, but it definitely makes a difference.
Final Word
I wish the formula of Phalaenopsis Beige and Plumeria Beige was a little easier to work with. If it was a little thinner, I don’t think it would apply so unevenly. It doesn’t really help that you need to apply thin layers or it does crack. They would also be better if the smell was less noticeable, however it’s nothing compared to most nail polish brands. I absolutely love Red Illumination and the Matte top coat though. I have been looking for a unicorn skin topper for a while now and I’m so glad I can finally use one. I also love the Matte Top Coat will give me an extra option. I’ve been really liking the matte finish! They don’t recommend using other nail products with this but I am interested to see if the Nailmatic top coat will help longevity.
Gone Swatching xo 