Wear Red Day Nail Lacquers

Katrina Bowden

Red catches people's attention. Perhaps it's because this bold and beautiful color symbolizes everything good in life--courage, loyalty, honor, success, fortune, fertility, happiness and passion.

It has also become an effective tool to raise awareness for women's heart health. The first Friday of February has been designated as Wear Red Day to kick off National Heart Month and recognize worthy efforts such as the Go Red For Women movement by the American Heart Association. So if you're not sporting a red dress, blouse, sweater, shoes, lips or nails today, you might get pinched a la St. Patrick's Day. 

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women. More die from it than from all forms of cancer combined. Plus, experts estimate that 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.

Today's an ideal opportunity to have a heart-to-heart with your health--and nails. Consider the following luxurious lacquers to honor Wear Red Day. 

 SHINE: Babor Ultra Performance Nail Color Baccarat. BEAUTY: Formula designed to provide quick-drying and long-lasting benefits. BEACON: Contains no methylbenzene or formaldehyde. Also supports Dolphin Aid. 

SHINE: Dazzle Dry Garnet. BEAUTY: Part of the Jewel Effects collection, which also includes Ruby. BEACON: Vegan, and contains no formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate or nitrocellulose. 

SHINE: Milani Techno Red Neon. BEAUTY: Top your tips with a pop of brilliance. BEACON: Free of dibutyl phthalate, toluene and formaldehyde.

SHINE: Sally Hansen Right Said Red. BEAUTY: Micro-encapsulated time-release technology infuses nails with advanced wear and shine ingredients. BEACON: Contains no dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

SHINE: Scotch Naturals To Hell With Swords & Garter. BEAUTY: Water-based formula serves as an alternative to solvent-based polishes. BEACON: Hypoallergenic, 100% biodegradable, vegan and cruelty free. Also contains no formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, acetone or heavy metals.

SHINE: SpaRitual Stiletto Shimmer. BEAUTY: Formula blended for better shine, dry time and coverage. BEACON: Vegan, and contains no synthetic dyes, dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

SHINE: Sumbody It's My Party. BEAUTY: Become the life of the party with this confetti shimmer look. BEACON: Contains no animal oils, artificial preservatives or synthetic chemicals.

Caught Red-Handed!

Red evokes passion and empowerment--and there’s no better way to begin 2011. 


To kick off the new year, SHINE celebrates with a big bottle of champagne and a little bottle of red hot nail polish. Both help brighten and lighten the mood of a cold winter night.

While we’re on the subject of French bubbly, we hear that Essie plans to take us on a European vacation this spring. Its St. Tropez nail lacquer collection features six subtle but sassy colors, including French Affair (cotton candy pink) and Topless & Barefoot (opalescent nude). Oui can't wait!

BEAUTY: In the meantime, enjoy crimson classics such as Lacquered Up by Essie. May your New Year’s resolutions include red lipstick, red hair, red shoes, red wine--and most of all--red nail polish.  BEACON: Essie supports ovarian and breast cancer research.