Nail varnish remover - what’s happened to it?

[RoofFlower]

Just bought some new nail varnish remover as my old bottle ran out and it’s rubbish. So I bought another type and that’s rubbish too.
Only cheap brands to be fair but that’s all I’ve ever used but I’m having to rub for ages to get the nail varnish off! Can anyone recommend a brand that doesn’t take 30 minutes to get your nail varnish off?

Good question - I thought the same about my current bottle which is a Sainsbury’s own brand but didn’t realise it was “a thing”. Have they had to change formula or something? I have a Boots bottle waiting to open but it might need to be pure acetone next.

I used this and it was pretty good? They also have a 98% acetone one as well

groceries.asda.com/product/nail-polish-remover/cutex-nourishing-nail-polish-remover/1000268010298

Same thing here! I bought two bottles of my usual from Boots and it was useless not only did it takes ages to remove the polish but it left my fingers really sticky even after washing my hands.

I don't live near an Asda unfortunately so I will keep trying until I find a brand that actually works.

I use Mavala - the blue one - for all the above reasons.

I thought it was just me! Used it once, got there in the end but my god it took a while.

Same here! I bought a new bottle of the purple one from boots and it took 6 cotton wool pads to get it all off and I ended up with very pink fingers.

I don’t think it’s the remover that’s changed, I think it’s the quality and chemistry of the nail varnish. I do my nails myself, and find that different types / brands of nail varnish react differently to remover. Some come off easily and others are really stubborn. The gel-like ones being the worst.

I just buy bottles of acetone and use that. I don't have the patience for faffing about with bottles of nail polish "remover" that doesn't.

I use Boots own brand, I rate it over more expensive products.

recently found lidl 's own brand which is better than the superdrug one i have been using

Best one I found was a cheap thing in Bodycare - it’s a wet sponge in a little grey tub that you stick each finger into. A bit disconcerting to say the least, but it’s brilliant

It’s not just me then. I originally thought it was the particular brand of nail varnish I was using that was difficult to get off but it’s all types. I shall continue the search and report back if I find anything good.

Ive always called it nail varnish btw.

Buy a ‘gel nail remover’ - it seems to be stronger and more effective

I've always called it nail varnish too, but understand the meaning of nail polish.

Yup. DD bought some big standard Superdrug one and it takes ages to remove anything - previous to that I had some ‘extra strength/gel/glitter’ remover which was brilliant. Am going to stick to that in future as it’s a false economy otherwise as went through loads of product and cotton pads!

An expensive way of buying acetone!

Wow I was thinking this myself recently. My nails are still tinged green because the supposed remover I have been using is probably 90% water 10% acetone. I will keep an eye on this thread for a better brand.

Cutex ultra powerful is good. Although anything with glitter is still a bit tricky. I often soak a cotton wool pad in remover and then hold that onto the nail for a minute or two to help it along.

Cutex ultra strength (I think it's called). It's designed for glitter and gel nail polish. Literally one pad gets rid of all my nail polish. Couple of quid from Boots/Wilko/Savers/everywhere.

Not really. £3 for 250ml from Superdrug is cheaper that when I buy acetone for removing actual gel nails.

(my above post was in response to the poster who said gel nail remover is an expensive way of buying acetone)

I get the Cutex acetone free nail polish remover. Just hold the cotton ball down on your nail for a couple of seconds and then wipe the nail polish off. The only time I have difficulty is if I have glitter on my nails (just hold it down for a little longer).

I like the 'tub' ones you put your finger in and swirl it round. Does the job pretty quickly, plus no chance of klutzy me spilling the stuff. I used to get one by Bourjois but now get Nails Inc. I also have a bottle of Mavala somewhere as I love the polishes anyway.

However, in desperation after my friend had done a red/white/blue theme on my fingertips during the Jubilee and I then had to remove it before a funeral (on the bus!). I think I got it from Boots and it took several goes.