By BR Amelia
Does nail polish go bad? Can it go off? When should we chuck it? Never have I ever had cause to think about any of this. Not in my twenty odd years of applying nail polish, but the other day I sat down to refresh my polish and after applying a new polish I kept smelling... CAT PEE.
It was horrible. I couldn't figure out where it was coming from, but then I realised every time my nails went towards my face that this astringent stench would waft its way up my nostrils.
So, what are the signs your nail polish has gone bad?
1. If it's thick and gluggy then it's on its way out. ALTHOUGH - you can save it with a little nail polish thinner (such as the Orly Nail Lacquer Thinner). But if it doesn't work, or you have to add thinner more than a few times to the point that the thinner is interfering with the polish's ability to apply properly, then it's time for it to go to the nail polish heaven in the sky.
2. What if the polish has separated? Give it a good shake. If it becomes one and stays like that it's good to use. If it separates quickly? Thank the polish for its service then say goodbye.
3. When the top's so crusted you can't get it open. Sure, the product inside might be fiiiiiine, but if you need to break out the pliers or pop the top in the door jamb area then twist the bottle really hard to open it then you're on the way to a potential glass shattering injury (and let's not talk about how hard it is to get nail polish off floors and walls...). Just do an Elsa and let it go.
4. What about if it's old? On closer evaluation of my nail polish collection I've noticed some of the polishes have a wee sign on them saying that once opened you've got two to two and a half years to use it before binning it. EXCEPT... here's the thing. I couldn't understand this. Nail polish is filled with solvents that are the enemies of bacteria, so how could it go off that quickly? Turns out certain countries demand an expiry date in order for a product to be released into the wild. So that's why it's there - it also explains why after over a decade one of my nail polishes still looks great, smells great and applies great. That cutie tootie isn't going anywhere!
5. When it smells or has changed colour? If there's an obvious change of smell or has significantly become discoloured, then yes - get rid of it, just in case. Why risk it?
So how can we ensure the longevity of our polishes?
If you are wanting to get a long life out of your polish your best bet is to store it upright in a cool, dark spot. Easy peasy!
I will need to go through my collection, there are some real oldies in there