Sometimes you are painting your nails in a rush, or maybe you have shaky hands, or (let’s be honest) you’ve never been able to color within the lines.
You are then stuck with paint on your skin, making you look like an amateur nail artist.
I bet you wish you went in to get yours done.
Don’t! You can follow the steps below to learn how to remove nail polish from your skin.
Keep reading to learn what items you will need.
What You’ll Need
Now that you have all the materials you need, read on for step-by-step instructions showing you how to remove nail polish from skin.
1. Brush remover around nails and cuticles
Grab an old but clean makeup brush, preferably a thin angled brush.
Dip it into acetone nail polish remover and brush the remover around the nails and cuticles.
Doing this should remove the nail polish from your skin and cuticles.
Be careful not to remove any nail polish from your skin as you paint.
2. Rub remover around nails and cuticles with a makeup swab
Similar to the step above, you can use a pointed makeup swab to remove nail polish from the skin.
You dip the swab into the acetone nail polish remover and rub it along your skin and cuticles to remove the nail polish.
3. Rub remover around nails and cuticles with a cotton-covered toothpick
If you have neither a makeup brush nor pointed makeup swabs, you can use a toothpick and a cotton swab in a pinch.
Gently tear at the cotton swab to remove some of the cotton.
Wrap that cotton around the tip of the toothpick.
Then, as above, dip the tip into the nail polish remover, and begin to rub the cotton-covered toothpick around the nail to remove the nail polish.
4. Apply peel-off base coat polish on nails and surrounding skin
If you have on-hand peel-off base coat polish, you can apply that to your naked nails before applying your nail polish.
Apply it beyond the nails and onto your skin.
5. Apply nail polish to nails
Then, take your nail polish and apply however many coats you would like onto your nails.
While you can apply with less caution as you would without, avoid painting the peel-off-covered skin to minimize the possibility of ruining the nail polish on your nails.
Also, ensure that where you are painting does not paint wider than the peel-off base.
6. Peel off polish from the skin with a toothpick
Once the polish has dried, use a toothpick to begin peeling off the polish from the skin.
The peel-off base coat should allow for this to happen pretty quickly.
Ensure you are cautious when removing the peel-off base coat as you do not want to remove the polish on the nail accidentally.
7. Apply tape around your nails
Before applying any nail polish, you can use clear tape and cover the skin around your nails and anywhere you do not want the nail polish to get onto.
8. Apply nail polish to nails
Then apply your nail polish to your nails.
Again, focus only on applying nail polish to your nail to avoid any possible mistakes from later removing the tape.
9. Remove tape from nails
While the polish is reasonably dry, remove the tape from your nails.
You will want the nail polish not to be fully dry, as you may end up removing some of the polish from your nails when removing the tape.
Video Instructions
- Step 1 (:56) — Brush remover around nails and cuticles with a makeup brush
- Step 2 (1:38) — Rub remover around nails and cuticles with makeup swab
- Step 3 (2:08) — Rub remover around nails and cuticles with cotton covered toothpick
- Step 4 (2:41) — Apply peel-off base coat polish on nails and surrounding skin
- Step 5 (2:53) — Apply nail polish to nails
- Step 6 (3:01) — Peel off polish from the skin with a toothpick
- Step 7 (3:25) — Apply tape around your nails
- Step 8 (3:40) — Apply nail polish to nails
- Step 9 (3:46) — Remove tape from nails
FAQ
Can I Remove Nail Polish From My Skin Without Nail Polish Remover?
Additional ways to remove nail polish from your skin do not involve harsh acetone nail polish remover.
One very popular method is to wait until you shower for the nail polish to loosen and peel off from your skin.
If you have already showered and need an alternative method, you can rub toothpaste on the skin.
Doing this should help to remove the nail polish.
Not as abrasive and intense as nail polish remover, but still effective is the combination of vinegar and lemon.
The acidity should help break down and dissolve the nail polish from your skin.
In addition, many products that contain alcohol, such as rubbing alcohol, perfume, and hand sanitizer, can aid in the removal of nail polish from the skin.
Other methods have more of an oil base to loosen the nail polish from the skin.
Coconut oil, petroleum jelly, vitamin E oil, and baby wipes are often used to remove nail polish and moisturize for both the skin and the cuticle.
Is Nail Polish Harmful For My Skin?
Technically nail polish is not meant to be harmful if used for its prescribed purposes, i.e., on your nails.
If you do get nail polish on your skin, it is essential to remove it as soon as possible to avoid any seeping nail polish chemicals being absorbed by your skin.
The jury (of scientists) is still out on the effects of nail polish on skin, but you should still not be slathering your skin with it in any case.
Due to this, you will want to make sure you supervise children around nail polish as they are interested in applying it to their bodies.
