The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - The Telegraph Magazine
Beauty brains/the manual
Annabel Jones
Quick-fix nails and CBD skincare
A new polish has become a fast favourite
‘Is Shellac bad for your nails?’ is one of the questions readers ask me the most. While I’m not sure it is ‘bad’ exactly, I do know that those who shun gel manicures for traditional polish tend to have the best nails – and more money in their shoe fund. I have to confess though, I do adore a gel manicure, mainly for its long-lasting results, and since its invention 10 years ago I have become something of a slave to the manicurist’s chair. I could be tempted to return to the days of DIY if I could find a polish that’s quick-drying and as glossy-looking as gel. There’s CND’S Vinylux, which is a hybrid of gel and polish, and tends to last longer than ordinary varnish. But one of the main gripes about regular nail lacquer is that it takes so darn long to dry – even if you diligently hold your hands underneath an air dryer for the recommended time, the truth is that most polish takes a good 24 hours before it’s hard enough to withstand a few knocks (even if it says otherwise). As a person with little patience or skill for the fiddly act of painting one’s own nails, I have been pleasantly surprised by Expressie, a new quick-drying vegan nail colour by Essie. If applied in thin coats, I find it extremely fast drying (I’ve counted 60 seconds dry to touch), but its best asset is the patented reversible angled brush that makes application (almost) as easy with your non-dominant hand as with your writing hand. You’ll be pleased to know that the shades are on point, with 20 classics including Seize the Minute, a deep red, and my current favourite, Bolt & Be Bold (right).