In the Time Of Butterflies — Give Back With The Lauren B. Cares Chrysalis Collection
According to the non-profit research organization Economic Roundtable, nearly 1 million people in the city of Los Angeles experienced homelessness over the last nine years, with around 13,000 people winding up on the streets each month and half of these being children. Having made Los Angeles her home, manicurist, nail enthusiast, and entrepreneur Lauren Berkovitz, CEO and founder of the eco-friendly luxury nail care company Lauren B., decided to do her part to end chronic homelessness, creating a limited-edition collection designed to raise funds for the non-profit organization Chrysalis. Launched in 1984 to help the homeless population on Skid Row, Chrysalis has evolved from a clothing and food distribution center to an expansive program that emphasizes long-term solutions to eradicate homelessness. Prioritizing self-sufficiency and personal agency, Chrysalis focuses on providing low-income and homeless individuals with the resources to find and retain employment — including placement in transitional jobs that allow people to gain the work experience necessary to re-enter the job market. Moved by the organization’s mission, Lauren B. released the Lauren B. Cares Chrysalis Collection ($75 at LaurenBBeauty.com) and vowed to donate 20% of the proceeds from the sale of each kit to Chrysalis.
The Lauren B. Cares Chrysalis Collection includes the: Lauren B. Beauty Nail Perfecter, a faintly tinted and fast-drying base coat that creates an ideal canvas for a manicure and features a pretty matte finish; Lauren B. Pacific Palisades nail polish, an opaque and high-intensity orchid violet; Lauren B. Mulholland Drive nail polish, a deep, mysterious, nocturnal purple that borders on midnight blue; Lauren B. Hollywood Blvd. polish, featuring specks of gold, green, magenta, turquoise and red glitter suspended in a clear base, creating a fun and perfectly flashy top coat; Lauren B. Gel-Like Top Coat, which gives nails a shiny finish and increases your mani’s longevity; and Lauren B. Nail Polish Remover Pads, which come in a portable round container for easy on-the-go polish removal.
The polishes, base coat, top coat, and nail polish remover pads are formulated without any toxic ingredients such as formaldehyde, DBP, toluene, formaldehyde resin or camphor, and are both vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.
I love the Lauren B. Nail Perfecter for creating a minimalist, no-polish manicure (yes, that’s a trend!), since it gives nails a bit of coverage without making them look “done” and the matte finish feels modern and sophisticated. The Nail Polish Remover Pads, meanwhile, are simply genius — they don’t contain acetone and therefore don’t weaken your nails, instead featuring gentler ingredients that remove color effectively with a few swipes. Moreover, each of the 15 pads is enriched with aloe leaf juice to nourish and soften hands. Best of all: the pads smell nothing like your ordinary nail polish remover! In fact, they smell a bit like strawberry candy! Usually, when I reach for a nail polish remover, my husband and son grimace, cough, and even leave the room due to the strong and decidedly unpleasant scent. With these nail polish remover pads, they actually leaned in closer, wanting to pinpoint the nature of the scent. It personally reminds me of the strawberry-flavored Lip Smackers I used to wear in middle school.
As for the nail colors in the collection, take a look at the three options below:
PACIFIC PALISADES
This creamy polish is the star of the collection, the monarch butterfly in this kingdom. It’s a really chic, medium-intensity violet color reminiscent of exotic orchids and blackcurrant or blackberry macarons. It’s completely opaque so that two coats will offer full coverage and the finish is creamy but shiny and slick.
MULHOLLAND DRIVE
Purple lighting abounded in David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive film, creating the movie’s eerie, dream-like, dazed mood. In fact the film even opens with a group of dancers doing the jitterbug against a purple background. This aptly named blackened purple nail lacquer, then, also conjures up a sense of mystery and intrigue. Though it’s described as an “electric purple,” I’d say it’s significantly darker than that though it’s rich blue base steers it away from any eggplant, raisin, or mulberry territory. It’s evocative of the dark purple shades you might see during twilight and, as a result, has that witching hour feel to it.
HOLLYWOOD BLVD.
Though it can be used on bare nails, the Hollywood Blvd. lacquer is best when applied as a top coat. As you can see from the photos, it has a clear base and features multi-colored bits of glitter in various shapes and sizes, making it look like bits of tinsel were shredded then sprinkled atop your fingernails for a festive effect. The amorphous quality of the glitter and the fact that the specks aren’t identical in any regard actually adds a sense of excitement to the polish, giving it an impromptu, impulsive, spontaneous feel.
Well, that’s all, gals! The kit is not only filled with some gorgeous shades, but it’s an excellent way to support a very important cause. And, with holiday season around the corner, this collection could make for a great gift.
