Vedure NailSpa at Vedure Wheelock Place
#04-06
Te: 6732-6448

#B2-09
Marina Bay Sands Robinsons
2 Bayfront Avenue
6688-7402

Priti Organic Treatment: $75 for manicure/$85 for pedicure

THERE'S nothing more uplifting than to finish off your new Chinese New Year ensemble with perfectly manicured nails. But while the idea itself is simple, finding a non-harmful and eco-friendly way to tart up your nails isn't quite so straightforward.

That is, until Vedure NailSpa launched the Priti Nail Treatment last November.

The Priti range of nail products was created by ex-model Kim D'Amato who came up with the idea of Priti during her pregnancy.

All Priti NYC polishes are completely non-toxic and made without toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DHB) and formaldehyde - all carcinogenic ingredients, which make them completely safe for use on children and mums-to-be who want to beautify themselves for Chinese New Year. The brand also has a 100 per cent biodegradable, non-toxic and non-carcinogenic Soy Polish Remover.

To start, a special plant-based anti-bacterial spray is used to prepare the treatment area to ensure a chemical-free environment. The treatment proper begins with a soak with salt, rosemary and mint essential oil, a nice little natural touch to start things off.

This is followed by a scrub made of sugar, tapioca starch, camphor and cinnamomum oil and a soothing massage before the nail colour is applied.

Fans of gel nail polish will be happy to know that Priti NYC's nail polish not only dries fairly quickly, it is also rather chip-resistant. While its durability cannot compare to that of regular gel nail polish, it lasts long enough without too much care and after even prolonged typing on the keyboard.

To add to that, it is great to see that Priti NYC is available in over 100 different shades including metallics, mattes, bright neons, rich darks and classic nudes as one of the main problems with nail products that are made using mainly natural products has been a lack of variety.

The Priti Nail Treatment strikes a good balance between style and substance. Long-lasting nail polish that is non-toxic and looks good? It's about as close as you can get to having your cake and eating it.

This article was first published in The Business Times.