Poshé Nail Care Products

The Importance of Proper Nail Care

LTK: What are some of the dangers that common ingredients in nail care products may cause?

LB: Many problems can result from using improper products, including dehydration of the nail by formaldehyde. This ingredient has been classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and as a probable human carcinogen by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. It's also one of three ingredients – the others are toluene and phthalates – that are recognized by California's Proposition 65 as "known to cause cancer or developmental toxicity." Toluene also inhibits oxidation, which means that nail polish won't stick to the nails.

LTK: Poshé's top coat has a new formula. What makes it different from its previous version and how does it stand out from the other top coats on the market today?

We’ve removed the phthalates, chemicals that are used in nail polishes as a leveling agent, to reduce brittleness, and as a plasticizer. Poshé Super-Fast Drying TopCoat differs from the others in many ways. It dries to the touch in one minute or less, then it dries through all layers of polish, top to bottom, bottom to top in five minutes or less. You don't have to wait between layers. Also, Poshé’s double-patented formula will not yellow.

Many fast drying topcoats simply seal the polish underneath, which delays the drying time up to 40 minutes. It’s impossible for many women to have regular manicures because they simply do not have the time to sit around and wait for their nails to dry. Our formula is chip resistant, so manicures last longer. We've actually received complaints from nail technicians who say their clients don't have to get their nails done every week – they can go up to two weeks!

Based on independent lab studies, no other topcoat on the market dries faster or shinier than Poshé's. The next shiniest topcoat is almost 40 percent less shiny! It's also great for refreshing an existing manicure – just brush it on and it will dry in less than a minute.

Slick this on to refresh your manicure.

Pamper Your Nails

LTK: For those DIY types, what are your tips for a perfect at-home manicure?

LB: Start with clean, dry nails. Spray your nails with alcohol to make sure they are completely free of oil or dust from filing your nails. Choose a non-yellowing basecoat, depending on your nail type:

• Healthy nails – Poshé Fast Drying BaseCoat
• Weak, peeling, eggshell nails – Poshé Nail-Strengthening Treatment BaseCoat
• To treat or prevent fungus, mold, yeast or bacterial infections – Poshé FDA Registered Anti-Microbial BaseCoat (perfect for pedicures!)

Follow with two coats of fashion color, and add another coat of any of the above BaseCoats (high-end spas and salons use this trick). Top off with Super-Fast Drying TopCoat. Don’t blow on your nails – let them air dry for the fastest glossiest shine available.

LTK: Winter can be especially hard on the hands, making diligent nail maintenance important. What can we use to keep our hands happy?

LB: Our chemists developed a high-end anti-aging hand and nail treatment called Potion of Youth Age Defying Hand and Nail Crème. This product moisturizes and exfoliates dry skin for younger, healthier looking hands and nails and contains anti-aging peptides, Retinol and ingredients to improve collagen synthesis and help fade age spots.

LTK: What would you recommend as the most basic nail care regimen that everyone can stick to, regardless of a busy schedule or other commitments?

LB: Many women just like a natural, finished look that they can achieve with Poshé Nail-Strengthening Treatment BaseCoat, which conditions and nourishes nails to make them strong and healthy. It has enough of a gloss to give a polished look. Instead of harmful chemicals, we use protein for strength, calcium for hardness, and ProVitamin B5 for flexibility.

This, as well as our base coats, contains a ridge filler. In our 40s, our nails can start showing signs of age. Ridges in the nail become more prominent during these years so it’s a good idea to use basecoat with ridge fillers. Once the ridges are filled, the polish will go on much more smoothly and it will have a shinier, more finished look.

Our AHA Cuticle Care is great for women on the go. It exfoliates dry skin and prevents hangnails, and it's great to keep in the desk drawer at work!

The Future of Poshé Nail Care

LTK: What's next for Poshé in 2008?

LB: We have many products that we are developing for launch in the near future. Our focus is nail and hand treatments. Our professional following is important to us so we will be offering larger sizes of our popular nail treatments to the trade, as well as expanding our display options for their retail clientele.

Learn more about Poshé at the company's official Web site.