Pixi, created over 10 years ago, was launched in Soho, London by Petra Strand. Petra has more than 20 years of experience as a makeup artist and a product developer. She is also a working mother of two; and Pixi is about multitasking products for women with no time to spare. Pixi’s entire line has always been cruelty free.

Pixi’s mission “to bring out the natural beauty in all women – to make women look like themselves, only better.”

Website for the US where you can look at their products and find stockists; and at the Website for the UK.

Pixi sent Evening Emerald, one of three new shades recently released by Pixi, and is $8.00 US/ £8.00 UK. 

The Ingredients

Toluene, Formaldehyde and DBP free

There’s been a lot of controversy over these ingredients and whether or not they’re toxic. Deemed, the “toxic trio,” tests have shown that they’re harmful in very large concentrations. So there are no tests to examine the much smaller amount you’re exposed to with nail polish.

Pixi uses butyl acetate instead of toluene. But the MSDS sheet — the same information that has people scared about toluene — can paint equally as unflattering a picture for butyl acetate as for toluene. It’s irritating for the eyes and respiratory tract. But here’s the thing: Those tests involve much higher exposures of butyl acetate than in nail polish. In fact, butyl acetate could be potentially carcinogenic (Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology).

This isn’t to say that butyl acetate isn’t safe in nail polish, but rather to explain that many ingredients (Vitamin C, for example!) can be toxic in large quantities. So it’s important to study the effects of the small amounts in nail polish.

The ingredient, Benzophenone-1  is an ultraviolet stabilizer that will resists color changes when the dry film is exposed to sunlight.  That means it will not give you protection from the sun, just the nail polish color. While polish can give some protection, it’s total protection, which is why some nail polish companies are working to create polish with UV-filters (Skin Cancer Foundation).

As always, when you’re outdoors, wear sunscreen on your hands!

As for the safety of Benzophene-1, it has been assessed by the Cosmetics Ingredient Review Panel and found to be safe.

Ingredients: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Anhydride Copolymer, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Benzophenone-1. May Contain: [+/- D&C Red 6 Barium Lake (CI 15850), D&C Red 7 Calcium Lake (CI 15850), D&C Red 34 Calcium Lake (CI 15880:1), D&C Yellow 5 Aluminum Lake (CI 19140), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Red Iron Oxide (CI 77489), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Black Iron Oxide (CI 77491), Mica (CI 77019), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163)]

Using Pixi’s advertising claims for the nail colours, I am rating them:

1. Yes, the Evening Emerald was able to withstand wear and tear. That included doing tasks like washing dishes.

2. Saturated colour with a high gloss finish? Yes!  Hopefully the photos show that Pixi’s Evening Emerald is a gorgeous, shiny shade.

3. I used two coats of polish in the photos; and I did not add a top coat. I agree that it did apply smoothly.

4. I did find the polish to have a chip-resistant finish. Still no obvious chips after 4 days!

5. Yes, there is built-in UV protection to prevent polish discoloration.

Loved the polish, and the gorgeous colour. Highly recommend Pixi’s Evening Emerald!

For another of my reviews on a Pixi Beauty product, please check out my post: Pretty Eye Perfection