In the world of nail polish, there are various colors, formulations, finishes and prices. But what is the difference between cheap nail polish in drugstores and a $50 bottle of designer brand in luxury department stores, plus mainstream salons and independent nail polish brands?

According to experts, the main differences that affect prices are marketing and packaging.

"The reality is that nail polish technology is quite mature and hasn't changed much over the years," cosmetic chemist and co-host of The Beauty Brains podcast Perry Romanowski told the Huffington Post. "The biggest difference between expensive products and cheaper products is mainly the packaging. The bottles of expensive products look better and the brushes may be better to use, but in terms of color and technology, there is not much difference."

Economies of scale also play a role here. Compared with independent nail polish brands that do all the work manually, larger nail polish companies can buy and produce nail polishes in bulk faster and in more quantities. Cheap nail polishes are not necessarily of lower quality than more expensive nail polishes, and nail polishes produced by small brands are not necessarily of inferior quality.

In fact, if you buy nail polishes with special finishes in the market, smaller independent brands are usually your choice.

"The batches of these individual formulations are much smaller, so they can do more experiments, such as using more expensive pigments, iridescent flakes and flashes," a beauty YouTube blogger with 238,000 subscribers and more than 2,000 nail polishes Kelli Marissa's growing collection, told the Huffington Post.

In a crowded market, high-quality packaging (such as outer boxes or unique nail polish bottles) and customized formulas are investments made by some brands to stand out.

Annie Pham, founder and creative director of Cirque Colors, told the Huffington Post: “A brand without a lot of capital may cooperate with a private label company that can provide a catalog of standard colors and stock packaging for you to choose from. Enter the market quickly." "Brands that want to stand out may want to work with contract manufacturers that can provide laboratory and formulation services, but all of this comes at a price."

Pham added that brands often invest in unique packaging, such as fancy boxes or custom bottle caps, which also increase the cost of the product. Big brands with a lot of capital and resources can buy nail polish and packaging in large quantities to reduce costs, so they sell products at prices lower than independent nail polish brands.

Although a beautiful box or bottle will not affect the performance of the polish, a good quality brush will.

"The more expensive brushes are made of more elastic fibers and can better maintain their shape over time," Romanovsky said. "This makes the application easier to execute and gives users more control. Cheaper brushes may be suitable for the first few applications, but over time they start to wear and lose their straight shape. Contains appropriate plasticization The nylon fiber of the agent has the best effect."

Crème (pure color opaque polish) and transparent nail polish are everywhere, but polishes with special finishes, such as holographic, multi-color and thermal (color changes with temperature), as well as mixtures such as irregular and iridescent flakes. More Expensive to make.

"Cream and tulle are very standard-you can see them everywhere-and generally cheaper to produce," Fan said. "Due to the cost of materials and the labor involved in formulating these ingredients, the production costs of colors with unique finishes are higher."

She added that using unique pigments requires additional steps, including sourcing, finding reliable suppliers and thorough formulation testing.

No matter how much you decide to spend on a bottle of nail polish, investing in a high-quality primer and a high-quality topcoat (not a two-in-one combination) is the key, “because this is what really matters,” Marisa said.

"I always recommend reading or watching reviews to understand other people's experiences with [brand]," she added.

In terms of distinguishing what is "quality" and what is not "quality", there may not necessarily be a specific formula that applies to everyone. Instead, you should find primers and topcoats that are suitable for your body's chemical reactions. This may be a trial and error process.

"There are different types of primers, from normal to ridge filling to peelable," Pham said, adding that the same is true for topcoats, with quick-drying and gel-like options. "They all have different uses, and each method definitely has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, a'gel-like' topcoat will not dry as quickly as a quick-drying topcoat because of the higher viscosity."

“Custom formulations are a way for brands to stand out, but in terms of longevity, primers and topcoats are really irreplaceable,” she added. "These two products are the key to making longer-lasting nail art."

So what is the difference between the two? The primer is used to protect your nails from staining and to help the polish better adhere to the nails.

"A good primer will make your manicure last longer, so even if you use a cheap nail polish, a more expensive primer will help the nail polish stick to your nails better," Marisa Say. "The primer can only go so far, but it is still important, especially if you are just starting out and don't want to invest in super expensive nail polish."

The topcoat has a completely different function. It seals your manicure with a shiny gloss (or matte finish) and protects the polish underneath from chipping or staining.

"Most high-quality topcoats are quick-drying topcoats," said Marisa. "You need to use a top coat to help the layers underneath completely solidify. This is how you avoid leaving bed sheet marks on your manicure after you sleep. If you are using a cheap top coat, your manicure may require a lot of It takes a long time to dry completely-if it has ever happened."

Although Marissa does not recommend buying cheap drugstore primers or topcoats, high-quality brands such as OPI, Essie and Seche Vite are everywhere.

"You don't have to go to a boutique to buy a special base shirt and top, but it is a good thing to invest in a good one," she said.

When buying nail polish, you often see "non-toxic" safety statements, such as 10 and 5 free, which means that the nail polish does not contain certain ingredients, such as camphor and formaldehyde. But Romanovsky said that this is often a marketing gimmick.

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"Standard nail polish is still safe, even if it includes the'free' chemicals that people are now selling," Romanovsky said, adding that the nail polish not only contains safe amounts of toluene and formaldehyde resins and other ingredients. And they actually help nail polish perform better.

For example, toluene “is volatile and evaporates quickly, so your nail polish dries faster,” Romanovsky said. "Formaldehyde resin helps nail polishes adhere to nails better, so that they last longer without chipping."

“When a brand tries to make their products stand out, fear marketing is an effective way to scare consumers away from competitors’ products and switch to their own products,” he continued, emphasizing those who have not advertised 10 times or The 5-time polish-free is as safe as the labeled one.

Although nail polishes made with alternative ingredients will not last or dry so quickly, Romanovsky says that some consumers accept these trade-offs to avoid perceived risks.

Kelly Dobos, former president of the American Association of Cosmetic Chemists, responded to Romanowski's views on the overall safety of nail polishes available on the market.

She told the Huffington Post: “I find that'freedom' statements are often rooted in misunderstandings and misinformation, even if they are in good faith.” “According to FDA regulations, all cosmetic products in the United States are Consumers must be safe. Good cosmetics manufacturers will conduct a series of tests and toxicological evaluations before putting their products on the market, so as long as they all comply with federal laws, they can say a comparison without scientific evidence. The other safer is unfair."

In fact, Dobos points out that when a cosmetic ingredient becomes unpopular, eagerness to replace it can lead to the use of ingredients that the manufacturer is less aware of.

"Even nail polishes that claim to be'free of' can contain potentially harmful ingredients that are safe when used as directed," she said.

Of course, if you are allergic to specific ingredients in nail polish, the "free of" statement and general ingredient labels can help you avoid them. In addition to allergies, your natural nails can also protect against the chemicals used in nail polish.

"The nail plate is made of dense keratin, the same material as the hooves and paws of animals, and can act as a barrier against absorption," Dobos said.

The color of the nail polish in the bottle may not reflect the way it is applied to the nails, and it will not tell you any information about the formula (including pigmentation or smoothness of application). Whether you shop in person or online, some research beforehand can help you make an informed decision about which polishes to add to your collection.

Marissa said this is especially important for cheap nail polishes, because pigments and formulations may be affected.

"I personally like LA Colors and think it is an interesting and cheap brand suitable for people to enter, but some colors are mottled and transparent, while others are opaque and self-leveling," she said. "It depends on the specific shade."

Viewing samples other than the well-lit studio photos and digitally created images you see on a brand or retailer’s website can give you a better idea of ​​what nail polish looks like in real life.

"I always say that you should check multiple reviews to look at nail polishes under different lights and different skin tones," said Marisa. "If you can, find someone who is closest to your skin tone, so you can see how it looks on you, especially for sheer polishing."

On her YouTube channel, Marissa photographed the entire nail polish series on camera and expressed her opinion on the color and application experience. Instagram is another place where you can find various color palettes. Some brands (such as ILNP) have dedicated labels for specific shades, which makes it easier to find swatches from Polish professionals and novices.