Kokova Magazine

When it comes to nail polish many of us think no further than the colour we would like and whether it will stay on. But what about the ingredients that go into the polish and the effects that these can have on our nails and even our health?

So when a pot of JACAVA Toffee Apple Red nail polish landed at the office we were pleasantly surprised to discover that this opulent non-toxic nail polish is billed as the world's first '8-free' nail varnish - free from DBP, Camphor, Formaldehyde, Toluene, Cellophane, Parabens, Phthalates and Animal Ingredients. JACAVA never test on animals and their nail polish is also vegan friendly.

All JACAVA nail polish uses a premium, high gloss, long-lasting and nourishing formulation to help your nails stay stronger and grow longer. Designed in London and made in the UK, JACAVA is a quintessentially British nail polish brand.

So with this information in mind we were keen to try this product to see if without all the 'nasties' it would perform to the same levels as our regular brands.

First and foremost the general opinion is that this is an amazing colour; toffee apple red certainly lives up to its name.

Red is one of our favourite polish colours - and one that we hardly ever find to our satisfaction.

On first impressions JACAVA have got this shade spot on. A perfect red!

The varnish is packaged in a sleek glass bottle, finished with 22 carat gold print that adds a subtle luxury to the brand. It only takes a little shake to wake up the ball and mix up the colour before we can open the bottle for our first application.

The bristles on the brush are slender and long - perfect for allowing us to paint to the edge of the nails without overloading the cuticles - a welcome change from the recent trend of squat short brushes that have been coming our way. The extra length of wand allows for this to sit comfortably in your hand so you can steady the brush for a more professional application.

The liquid is smooth on application, flowing easily and staying liquid, with no hint of 'gunking' or clogging throughout the time we have tested this polish. This is definitely a positive over polishes that last no more than a few applications before rendering themselves useless.

The length of the brush and the finer bristles will also ensure that we can reach the bottom of the bottle and not waste a single drop.

Colour-wise, the end result is a very good copy of the colour advertised, and achieved with no more than a couple of good coats.

Wearability with reds and many bold polish colours has always been an issue and chipping is something we have yet to really find a way around. Even the most professionally applied polish can chip during everyday wear and unless you are able to spend your days without washing up or using your hands to any real degree we think that we would be hard pressed to find a colour that stays completely unscathed.

JACAVA does give you a run for your money though and performed no less than expected - a few chips to the tips were maintained and re-covered throughout the wear and the reapplication remained flawless with no visible signs of repair. This is achieved because of the way the polish stays so fluid, even during re-application it does not drag on the pre-applied areas.

Standard drying time was needed and we used a JACAVA top coat with UV inhibitor to seal in the colour. We would recommend a base coat to avoid the hard job of removing the red colour, as it will sit and stain your nails, like any other polish.

With a price tag of around £14.50 you are not looking at the cheaper end of polishes but when you consider that many of the £6 - £7 bottles only last for half their liquid life before clogging or have brushes that leave you unable to access all the contents then they are a case for false economy. You may as well invest in a polish that has staying power while in the bottle, at the very least, and JACAVA certainly offer you that.

Another plus is the smell. Many polishes smell strongly from the bottle and continue to emit a smell when dried and in place. This JACAVA polish carried a less dense lacquer smell while being applied that completely dispersed once dry.

On the whole we couldn't say that the JACAVA wore any different to any other good quality brand available on the market - but it certainly didn't fair any less and when you consider that they have removed the 'nasties' from their bottles it can only be a forward choice.

Would we consider them for future purchases? Yes. Simply for the fact that the polish is free from many of the chemicals we would prefer not to use - as well as the fact that the colour lasts, performs as expected and if the other colours in the range are as good as the one we tested then at least you know what you are getting before you open the bottle.

For more information and to view the whole range visit www.jacava.com