Let’s face it, mani/pedi’s aren’t the healthiest or the best for the environment. The polishes are full of toxins, bad for you and bad for the land fill. And let’s not even talk about the harsh chemicals we need to remove the coveted color. It’s sad, but true. So it looks like we’ll all just have to get by with just a buff and a file.

Just kidding! I haven’t had bare toes since 1998. I don’t really want to start now. Thanks to the whole slew of new products popping up with less nasty chemicals and improved pigmentation, I don’t have to and neither do you.

I decided to conduct a little experiment, a Pepsi Challenge, if you will, and put a polish sans toxins up against a very popular brand of traditional polish, who shall remain nameless. The traditional polish’s contender is Butter London, a brand from Seattle (and recently featured in Vogue, In Style, People, Lucky – you name it.  They’re blowing up!).  They have a “3 Free” policy, which means none of their polishes or products contain Formaldehyde, Toluene (a soil contaminator that can effect the nervous system) or DBP (which has been linked to cancer and infertility). They have a no animal testing policy and their color selection is completely cutting edge and I pretty much want one of each.

Butter – blowing raspberries

Here are my findings:

Application: Both polishes went on smooth and even. I quickly realized why I pay $35 every three weeks to have a professional paint my toe nails. Apparently I have the painting skills of a four year old. Color: I used Butter’s “Blowing Raspberries” (reddish) and the traditional brand’s “Moonlight Over Moscow” (deep purple, almost black). That’s right, I’ve had two different colors on my toes for a week and a half and I live in LA where it’s still warm, so hullo! open toe. All for you, my Lovlies. Both colors were evenly and deeply pigmented. Drying: Here is where the most noticeable difference is. Butter’s polish took about 15 minutes longer to dry thoroughly than the traditional brand. Durability: It’s been 10 days and not a chip on either foot. Conclusion: Extra drying time is well worth kicking the toxins to the curb.