{I was given these Ella+Mila polishes for the purposes of use and review. All opinions expressed are my own…enjoy!:)}
My nails have not been this long and strong since I was in high school – almost 30 years ago. Over the past years, I have done acrylics and gels. I have also just clipped my nails and worn them short. I could never find a polish that would stay on my slightly oily nail beds for more than 3 days without chipping…until now. Ella Mila to the rescue!
Photo credit: Dee Dean
My new discovery
After several years of searching for the perfect polish, I feel like I have gotten pretty doggone close. Ella+Mila entered my life a few months ago on a whim. I visited the website and fell for the pretty shades. I also saw that these polishes are 7-free. What does that mean? According the Ella+Mila site:
“All Ella+Mila polishes are not only made without the 3 common chemicals found in nail polishes (Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde), but also without 4 other very dangerous chemicals (Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, TPHP and Xylene). Ella+Mila polishes are FREE of these SEVEN chemicals.”
More and more, I appreciate products that have less chemicals in them, especially the products that I put directly on my body. (Incidentally, Ella+Mila is branded as a vegan product.) And I am pretty happy with the fact that Ella+Mila is made in the USA!
Photo credit: Dee Dean
Ella+Mila offers a wide range of colors in different styles, including opaques, textured (think: matte), an my favorite, metallics. The line also offers collections of colors, such as BonBon (pastels), that showcase similar colors palettes and intensities. In addition, EM has nail treatments such as their cuticle oil, a soy nail polish remover, and a gel-like top coat.
My Experience
So, the generous folks at Ella+Mila sent me 4 colors, the cuticle oil, and the soy polish remover. I gave them a try, and here are some of my thoughts:
- These polish have serious staying power. For my DIY manicure, I applied a base coat, 2 layers of color, and the What the Gel? Topcoat. What I found was that on average, my mani lasted 4-5 days, with virtually no chipping. That is a BIG plus for me. {Note: I HATE to paint my nails and then have them chip. It feels like a such a big waste of my time when that happens.} I was pleasantly surprised and impressed! I even was able to do things like wash and style my daughter’s hair (putting my hands in lots of water) and clean my home while keeping my nails looking good. WIN.
- Each layer dries fast. Because I am left-handed, I paint the nails on my right hand first. But the time I finished doing my left hand, the first application on my right hand hand already dried! It was easy to get my mani done at home and everything set in a short amount of time.
- The colors are pretty amazing. Ella+Mila offers a range of shades that are rich and varied – there are colors that work for all skin tones. I have to say that I LOVE the metallics, like Gilded and Mirror Mirror.
- Even 1 coat stays well. I was in a rush a week ago to attend a dinner party. I needed to paint my nails, and so I used a base coat and one coat of the Gilded polish, followed by the topcoat. I was just trying to get through the night with my mani, but it lasted several days after that, until I decided to remove the polish!
- The price points are reasonable. Many of the full-size polishes and treatments are priced at $10.50. I don’t mind paying that for a polish because: a) I know that my manicure will last and it is good for my nails, and b) a regular salon mani can cost $20 a pop anyway. I save in the long run!
A Little More about the Ella+Mila Treatments
The Oil Me Up Cuticle Oil smells delightful (I have a weakness for a good-smelling treatment product). It is easy to apply and soaks in well. My cuticles felt pampered indeed 🙂
Photo credit: Dee Dean
The Soy Nail Polish Remover has a really pleasant smell. It is more of a 3-step process: wipe all nails, wait 30 seconds, then work the polish off. It takes a little more work to remove, and a few more cotton balls than I usually use. However, instead of dried-out skin around my nails that I get with regular acetone, my nails were left oiled and nurtured!
Photo credit: Dee Dean
Photo credit: Dee Dean
I am so glad to have found the Ella+Mila line of nail products. No longer do I have to go to the salon to get long and strong nails and a beautiful manicure. I can get a lasting mani done at home with less chemicals and a savings of money and time.
And if you would like to give Ella+Mila a try, click HERE for my referral code. It will give you $5 off your purchase, yay!
Here’s to healthy nails and fun manis,
