While I don’t usually delve into beauty reviews, I have a soft spot for nail polishes. So, I’m shedding light on my experience with some products I recently tried from Londontown USA.
Historically, my go-to nail polish brands have been Essie and OPI. Their omnipresence in salons and accessibility in places like Target and local drugstores made them convenient choices. Additionally, I was keen on brands that were cruelty-free and devoid of the “toxic trio” – dibutyl phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde, and toluene. Both these brands checked these boxes.
But, a revelation earlier this year changed my perspective. I discovered that Essie and OPI, under the umbrellas of L’Oreal and Coty respectively, have ventured into the Chinese market. Given China’s mandate for cosmetics brands to undergo animal testing, this meant my trusted brands were no longer upholding cruelty-free standards. While I didn’t discard my existing collection (that’d be counterproductive to sustainability), I decided to pivot away from these brands.
In my quest for ethical alternatives, I stumbled upon Cruelty-Free Kitty’s nail polish recommendations and other insightful blogs. That’s where Londontown caught my eye. This brand stands out not just for being cruelty-free but also for its “9-free” promise. Beyond the aforementioned “toxic trio,” Londontown ensures its products exclude formaldehyde resin, camphor, xylene, ethyl tosylamide, parabens, and acetone. However, some, like a Refinery 29 author, have raised eyebrows, questioning if the “9-free” label is merely a marketing gimmick.
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Londontown’s origin story centers on a family botanical formula called Florium Complex. It’s in every product and supposed to improve the quality of your nails and manicure. Here’s what I tried:
- Lakur Nail color (Lady Luck)
- Kur Protective Top Coat
- Kur Instant Smudge Fix
