It’s important to do all of your research before investing your hard-earned money into anything, especially when it comes to a product that is applied to your body. This article will cover everything you need to know about the ingredients in dip powder; what they do, how they’re made, and whether or not you really want to use them.
What is Dip Powder?
Dip powder is a nail treatment made of acrylic polymers. It’s gaining popularity tremendously, especially among women who don’t have the time or the energy to deal with touch-ups every week. Dip powder is a strong, resilient nail color that can last an entire month with proper preparation and care.
Dip powder is used on natural nails, full cover nail tips, or half-cover nail tips. It’s similar to acrylic, but instead of applying it with a brush, you simply dip your nail into the powder, making it much more user-friendly and better for women who want to do their nails at home.
How is Dip Powder Used?
Dip powder kits not only include a powder but also require a few dip liquids in order to work. After all, pouring powder over your nail with nothing to hold it there won’t do anything!
Firstly, proper prep is key to a long-lasting, smooth manicure. After buffing the shiny layer of your nails off, use an alcohol wipe to remove excess dust and oil. Paint your first layer of base&bond onto your nail and dip it into the dip powder of your choice. Wait for it to dry and apply another layer of base&bond. Dip the nail into the powder again. Wait for it to dry and paint a layer of activator. Wait for it to dry. Apply a top coat if desired.
For a more in-depth explanation, read our guide to doing dip nails at home.
How Do Ingredients Change the Way Powders Work?
Like food, dip powder ingredients are key to efficacy. Poor quality ingredients will result in a bumpy, uneven application that only lasts only a few days, if even. Some dip powders only last a few hours before chipping because they don’t use enough acrylic in the formulations.
Additionally, it’s important that the powder contains enough pigment in order for an opaque application. If you need to do more than two layers of dip powder, throw it away. Any more layers and you’ll be left with a bulky, bumpy mess.
What is Fairy Glamor Dip Powder Made Of?
Fairy Glamor is an artisan quality handmade dip powder and acrylic brand located in Texas, USA. We use only the highest quality ingredients.
Acrylic Ester Polymers
Acrylic ester polymers are the base ingredient for any of our dip powders. Acrylic polymers are the “building blocks” of any dip powder or acrylic. When used hand-in-hand with dip liquids (which we will go over later), these polymers are activated and bond together like cement. Once dried, this impenetrable layer perfectly coats your nails, giving you that dip powder manicure you know and love.
Acrylic ester polymers have been evaluated by the FDA and are not considered to pose any considerable harm to dip powder users. These polymers are derived from acrylic extracts.
Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is an antiseptic and is often found in acne-fighting face washes and treatments. It helps to dry out the nails and provides a smooth base for the dip powder to stick to. If there are excess oils on the nails, the dip powder will not properly stick, which is why chips, flaking, and lifting occurs.
Benzoyl peroxide is FDA approved and is available in over-the-counter situations. There are no reported side effect cases of benzoyl peroxide in dip powder or acrylic. Benzoyl peroxide is created by mixing hydrogen peroxide and benzoyl chloride.
Titanium Dioxide
Titanium dioxide is a mineral pigment that, in its purest forms, is a bright white. This pigment is added to dip powders to increase opacity, brightness, and overall *pop* of the color. It’s a common active ingredient in sunscreens because it protects against UV rays and is even used to color certain foods.
Titanium dioxide is approved by the FDA and is found in thousands of different household products. This special mineral is derived from refined brookite, rutile, and anatase, which are all naturally-occurring minerals.
The Other Guys
MMA
Methyl methacrylate is a common ingredient in cheap, low-quality dip powders and acrylics. It’s extremely dangerous as it causes numbness, extreme nail damage, or even leads to natural nails falling off the nail bed. Because of this, MMA is illegal in the United States. However, the FDA is extremely underfunded when it comes to checking beauty products, so many products containing MMA are still sold on the market.
Additionally, foreign nail products often contain MMA. If you’re purchasing products from a foreign distributor (especially from China), do your research on the ingredients.
Do not confuse MMA with PMMA. Polymethyl methacrylate is not the same thing as methyl methacrylate. PMMA is definitively safe for use.
What About Dip Liquids?
Dip liquids are the make it or break it of a dip powder set. If the ingredients and ratios are wrong, your manicure won’t last long at all.
Here are the ingredients in Fairy Glamor dip liquids:
Ethyl 2-Cyanoacrylate
Ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate is the glue of a dip powder system and is often found in certain nail glues. In fact, ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate is the main ingredient of many types of superglue. But don’t be alarmed! This just means that the dip powder has a strong glue to stick to.
Ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate is completely non-toxic and has been ruled out as a carcinogen. It’s totally safe for skin and nails (we don’t recommend putting glue on your skin). There’s a lot of chemistry that goes into the making of this active ingredient.
Vitamin E Acetate
Vitamin E acetate is a supplement of Vitamin E. Vitamin E is an essential vitamin to both skin and nails as it is a soluble nutrient that provides moisture and strength to collagen and keratin in your nails.
Vitamin E is important in dip liquids because they help replenish the nutrients that were lost in the nail prep process.
Fairy Glamor dip powder systems are one of the least damaging on the market due to our Vitamin E addition to your dip liquids. When you use our dip powder kit, you’re also strengthening your nails!
Calcium Pantothenate
Calcium pantothenate is a calcium salt that is rich in Vitamin B5. Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid, plays a key role in red blood cell creation and converting food into usable nutrients. In nails, Vitamin B5 acts as a humectant, moisturizing nails and improving strength and flexibility.
Like Vitamin E, Fairy Glamor adds calcium pantothenate to our dip liquids to reinforce the natural structure of the nail and reduce potential breakage and/or damage.
4’-Bis(2-Benzoxazolyl)Silbene
Yeah, we’re not even going to attempt to pronounce this one. This ingredient is in gel top coats and is the resin base, meaning it’s what allows the gel to be cured. This liquid layer protects dip powders, increasing the longevity of your mani. Additionally, it adds tons of shine to your nails for the perfect, smooth, glossy manicure you’ve always dreamed of.
Where to Buy Safe Dip Powders?
Fairy Glamor does a deep dive into the safety of the ingredients in our artisan dip powders. We promise that we never use harmful additives or useless fillers; our ingredient list is what you get!
Be sure to check out our homepage as we’re constantly dropping new limited edition collections or try out our subscription box if you’re looking to build up your color collection and find your new favorite color! You can also go directly to our dip powder collection to search through our full collection of over 200 shades and finishes.
*Disclaimer. Ingredient ratios are different depending on the color and finish of the dip powder. The preceding ingredients are in all of our dip powders and liquids.
