# India Anaïs > India Anaïs is a beauty house from Hoofddorp, the Netherlands. It makes nail lacquer, press-on nails, lip glaze, lip liner, eyeliner and nail care in amethyst and gold, in small numbered editions. Édition No. 01 (The Amethyst Edit, autumn 2026) sold out; Édition No. 02 opens in spring 2027 and adds eight press-on nail designs. The site publishes sourced guides on nails, lips and eyes in English and Dutch. ## Key facts - Brand: India Anaïs (also written India Anais), monogram AIJ. Website: https://indiaanais.com/ (English) and https://indiaanais.com/nl/ (Dutch). - Based in Hoofddorp, Noord-Holland, the Netherlands. Contact: hello@indiaanais.com. - Packaging: square glass bottles and tubes with an amethyst cap, a gold ring, the hand-drawn AIJ monogram and the INDIA ANAÏS wordmark in gold. - Status: Édition No. 01 sold out in autumn 2026. Édition No. 02 opens in spring 2027. Visitors can join a one-email notify list. - Prices (EUR, incl. VAT): nail lacquer 12 ml €32; press-on nails set of 24 nails €36; lip glaze 6 ml €29; lip liner 1.1 g €24; eyeliner €26 to €29; nail care €18 to €30. - All products are made for the European market under the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Nail lacquers are air-dry formulas that dry by themselves in the open air. - Every guide starts with a short answer and lists its sources (EU law, dermatology bodies, cosmetic chemists, trade press). Editorial policy: https://indiaanais.com/editorial-policy/ ## Products ### Nail Lacquer (https://indiaanais.com/nail-polish/) - [Violet Spell](https://indiaanais.com/nail-polish/violet-spell/): Amethyst crème. €32, 12 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [Amethyst Glaze](https://indiaanais.com/nail-polish/amethyst-glaze/): Sheer glass jelly. €32, 12 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [Moonstone](https://indiaanais.com/nail-polish/moonstone/): Milky opal pearl. €32, 12 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [Nebula](https://indiaanais.com/nail-polish/nebula/): Magnetic cat-eye, air-dry. €32, 12 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [Velvet Nocturne](https://indiaanais.com/nail-polish/velvet-nocturne/): Magnetic velvet. €32, 12 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [Gilded Hour](https://indiaanais.com/nail-polish/gilded-hour/): Gold foil shimmer. €32, 12 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [Rouge Anaïs](https://indiaanais.com/nail-polish/rouge-anais/): Chili cherry crème. €32, 12 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [Milk Veil](https://indiaanais.com/nail-polish/milk-veil/): Sheer milky white. €32, 12 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [Twilight Shift](https://indiaanais.com/nail-polish/twilight-shift/): Thermal colour-changing. €32, 12 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [Aurora](https://indiaanais.com/nail-polish/aurora/): Violet-to-gold multichrome. €32, 12 ml. Returns in spring 2027. ### Press-on Nails (https://indiaanais.com/press-on-nails/) - [Violet Spell Almond](https://indiaanais.com/press-on-nails/violet-spell-almond/): Amethyst crème · almond · medium. €36, 24 nails. New in spring 2027. - [Moonstone Glaze](https://indiaanais.com/press-on-nails/moonstone-glaze/): Milky pearl · oval · short. €36, 24 nails. New in spring 2027. - [Nebula Cat-Eye](https://indiaanais.com/press-on-nails/nebula-cat-eye/): Magnetic cat-eye · almond · long. €36, 24 nails. New in spring 2027. - [Gilded French](https://indiaanais.com/press-on-nails/gilded-french/): Rose French with a gold line · squoval · short. €36, 24 nails. New in spring 2027. - [Rouge Anaïs Coffin](https://indiaanais.com/press-on-nails/rouge-anais-coffin/): Cherry crème · coffin · medium. €36, 24 nails. New in spring 2027. - [Aurora Chrome](https://indiaanais.com/press-on-nails/aurora-chrome/): Violet-to-gold chrome · almond · medium. €36, 24 nails. New in spring 2027. - [Amethyst Marble](https://indiaanais.com/press-on-nails/amethyst-marble/): Lilac marble with gold veins · coffin · long. €36, 24 nails. New in spring 2027. - [Milk Veil Gold Leaf](https://indiaanais.com/press-on-nails/milk-veil-gold-leaf/): Milky sheer with gold leaf · oval · short. €36, 24 nails. New in spring 2027. ### Nail Care (https://indiaanais.com/nail-care/) - [The Base](https://indiaanais.com/nail-care/the-base/): Ridge-smoothing base coat. €28, 12 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [The Glass Top Coat](https://indiaanais.com/nail-care/the-glass-top-coat/): High-gloss quick-dry top coat. €28, 12 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [Gold Drop](https://indiaanais.com/nail-care/gold-drop/): Cuticle oil with jojoba and vitamin E. €30, 10 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [The Magnet](https://indiaanais.com/nail-care/the-magnet/): Double-ended cat-eye magnet. €18, 1 piece. Returns in spring 2027. ### Lip Glaze (https://indiaanais.com/lip-gloss/) - [Aura Kiss](https://indiaanais.com/lip-gloss/aura-kiss/): Mauve rose glaze. €29, 6 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [Amethyst Glaze](https://indiaanais.com/lip-gloss/amethyst-glaze/): Cool violet glaze. €29, 6 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [Moonstone](https://indiaanais.com/lip-gloss/moonstone/): Milky opal glaze. €29, 6 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [Violet Cola](https://indiaanais.com/lip-gloss/violet-cola/): Blackcurrant glaze. €29, 6 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [Iced Violet](https://indiaanais.com/lip-gloss/iced-violet/): Cool lilac glaze. €29, 6 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [Aurora](https://indiaanais.com/lip-gloss/aurora/): Two-tone violet and gold glaze. €29, 6 ml. Returns in spring 2027. ### Lip Liner (https://indiaanais.com/lip-liner/) - [Plum Line](https://indiaanais.com/lip-liner/plum-line/): Deep plum liner. €24, 1.1 g. Returns in spring 2027. - [Cola Line](https://indiaanais.com/lip-liner/cola-line/): Cola brown liner. €24, 1.1 g. Returns in spring 2027. - [Bare Line](https://indiaanais.com/lip-liner/bare-line/): Rose nude liner. €24, 1.1 g. Returns in spring 2027. ### Eyeliner (https://indiaanais.com/eyeliner/) - [Midnight Muse](https://indiaanais.com/eyeliner/midnight-muse/): Liquid liner, midnight black. €29, 1 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [Gold Vein](https://indiaanais.com/eyeliner/gold-vein/): Liquid liner, liquid gold. €29, 1 ml. Returns in spring 2027. - [Plum Ink](https://indiaanais.com/eyeliner/plum-ink/): Gel pencil, deep plum. €26, 1 ml. Returns in spring 2027. ## Guides (English) ### Nail polish - [The complete guide to nail polish](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/the-complete-guide-to-nail-polish/): Nail polish is a nitrocellulose film that dries in air. Learn the finishes, how to choose a colour and coats, how long it lasts and how to remove it. - [Bubbles in nail polish: why they appear and how to stop them](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/bubbles-in-nail-polish-causes-and-fixes/): Nail polish bubbles when air is trapped in the film: a shaken bottle, thick coats, heat, humidity, oily nails or old polish. The cause and the fix for each. - [Crème, shimmer or jelly: the three base finishes compared](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/creme-vs-shimmer-vs-jelly-nail-polish/): Crème is opaque and flat, shimmer has fine light-catching particles, jelly is sheer and glossy. Look, coats, dry time, wear and removal for each finish. - [Does nail polish expire, and how to store it](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/how-to-store-nail-polish-and-shelf-life/): Nail polish lasts about 2 years unopened and about as long opened if the cap seals well. Signs it has gone off, storage rules and reviving thick polish. - [How long nail polish lasts, finish by finish](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/how-long-does-nail-polish-last-on-nails/): Regular nail polish lasts 3 to 7 days on fingernails, longer on toes. Wear times per finish and activity, what shortens them, and a 5-day routine. - [How many coats of nail polish you need, and why thin beats thick](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/how-many-coats-of-nail-polish/): Most nail polish needs a base coat, two thin colour coats and a top coat. Thick coats stay soft and chip. Sheers, foils and magnetic polish differ. - [How to choose a red nail polish for your undertone](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/how-to-choose-a-red-nail-polish-for-your-undertone/): Cool undertones suit blue-based reds, warm undertones suit orange-based reds, neutral can wear a true red. Test your undertone with veins and jewellery. - [How to fix a smudged nail without starting over](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/how-to-fix-a-smudged-nail-without-starting-over/): Fix a fresh smudge by smoothing it with a remover-dampened fingertip, then a thin coat of colour and top coat. Which fix suits which smudge, when to redo. - [How to make nail polish dry faster](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/how-to-make-nail-polish-dry-faster/): Thin coats, a quick-dry top coat, drying drops and cool moving air make nail polish dry faster. Cold water and hot hairdryers only make it feel dry. - [How to match nude nail polish to your skin tone](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/nude-nail-polish-by-skin-tone/): The right nude nail polish for fair, light, medium, olive, tan and deep skin, how to find your undertone in two tests, and how to avoid the mannequin hand. - [How to paint toenails at home](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/nail-polish-on-toenails-pedicure-guide/): How to paint toenails: trim straight across, push cuticles, degrease, base coat, two thin coats and top coat. Polish lasts 2 to 3 weeks on toes. - [How to travel with nail polish](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/how-to-travel-with-nail-polish/): Yes, nail polish can fly: bottles of 100 ml or less in the 1 litre liquids bag for the cabin, toiletry limits for the hold. Leak-proofing and heat tips. - [Luxury versus drugstore nail polish: what you pay for](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/luxury-vs-drugstore-nail-polish-what-you-pay-for/): Expensive nail polish costs three to six times more per millilitre than drugstore polish. What the price buys (pigment, brush, bottle) and what it doesn't. - [Nail polish colours that flatter pale, olive and deep skin](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/nail-polish-colours-for-pale-olive-and-deep-skin/): Which nail polish colours flatter dark, olive and pale skin: the jewel tones, reds, nudes and metallics for each group, and the undertone rule behind them. - [Nail polish for short nails: the colours, finishes and shapes that add length](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/nail-polish-for-short-nails/): Sheer nudes, milky whites and glossy mid-tones make short nails look longer. An oval shape, a micro French and thin coats help. Mistakes that shorten them. - [Nail polish or gel polish: which is right for you](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/nail-polish-vs-gel-polish-which-is-right-for-you/): Gel polish cures under a lamp and lasts 2 to 3 weeks; regular polish air-dries and lasts 3 to 7 days. Wear, removal, nail health, cost and the EU TPO ban. - [Quick-dry drops, explained](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/quick-dry-drops-explained/): Quick-dry drops are a solvent and oil blend that sets the surface of wet polish within minutes and stops smudges. How they work, how to use them, limits. - [Sheer or opaque nail polish: which coverage to choose](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/sheer-vs-opaque-nail-polish/): Sheer polish lets the nail show through and builds in thin coats. Opaque polish covers it in two. When to pick each, how to layer sheers, the glass look. - [The six classic nail polish shades every wardrobe needs](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/classic-nail-polish-shades-every-wardrobe-needs/): Six classic nail polish colours cover every occasion: sheer nude, milky white, true red, oxblood, black and deep violet. What each does and how to wear it. - [What a base coat does, and why almost no manicure should skip it](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/what-does-a-base-coat-do/): A base coat is a clear, tacky film that helps polish grip the nail, stops dark pigments staining it and can fill ridges. The types, and when to skip it. - [Which top coat is best? Glossy, matte, quick-dry, gel-effect and glass compared](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/top-coat-types-glossy-matte-quick-dry/): The best top coat for most manicures is a glossy quick-dry one, refreshed every 2 to 3 days. Matte, gel-effect and glass top coats compared, with dry times. - [Why nail polish chips, and how to stop it](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-polish/why-nail-polish-chips-and-how-to-stop-it/): Nail polish chips when the film lifts at the free edge, cracks and flakes. The causes are oil, water and thick coats. How to cap the edge and stop it. ### Press-on nails - [How long press-on nails last, and how to make them last longer](https://indiaanais.com/guides/press-on-nails/how-long-do-press-on-nails-last/): With nail glue, press-on nails typically last one to three weeks; tabs are made for a day or two. What decides wear time, and how to make a set last longer. - [How to apply press-on nails so they last](https://indiaanais.com/guides/press-on-nails/how-to-apply-press-on-nails/): Clean, dry, oil-free nails, the right size for every finger and 30 seconds of pressure per nail. How to apply press-on nails so they last, step by step. - [How to remove press-on nails gently](https://indiaanais.com/guides/press-on-nails/how-to-remove-press-on-nails/): Soak in warm, soapy water with oil for 10 to 15 minutes, then lift gently from the side. How to remove press-on nails and care for your nails afterwards. - [Press-on nails, gel or acrylic: which is right for you?](https://indiaanais.com/guides/press-on-nails/press-on-vs-gel-vs-acrylic-nails/): Press-on nails, gel polish and acrylic nails compared: application, wear time, removal, EU rules on TPO and HEMA, and which to choose. ### Complete guide - [Acetone or acetone-free remover: what dermatologists say and when each one is right](https://indiaanais.com/guides/manicure/acetone-vs-acetone-free-nail-polish-remover/): Acetone removes polish faster with less rubbing; acetone-free is slower but milder on dry skin. When to use each, soak times and dermatologist aftercare. - [Clean-up with a brush: the salon edge at home](https://indiaanais.com/guides/manicure/how-to-clean-up-nail-polish-around-the-nail/): Clean up nail polish edges with a small flat brush dipped in acetone: trace the cuticle line and side walls, wipe the brush, repeat. Then oil the skin. - [Cuticle care without cutting: soften, push, oil](https://indiaanais.com/guides/manicure/cuticle-care-without-cutting/): Push back cuticles after softening, never cut them: the cuticle seals the nail matrix against infection. Softener, a steel pusher, then daily oil. - [Dotting tools and striping brushes: sizes, control, cleaning](https://indiaanais.com/guides/manicure/dotting-and-striping-tools-how-to-use-them/): Use a nail dotting tool by dipping the ball tip in a drop of polish on a palette and touching it to the nail; hold longer for a bigger dot. Sizes and care. - [Dry times per layer: how long to wait between coats](https://indiaanais.com/guides/manicure/nail-polish-dry-times-per-layer/): Wait 1 to 3 minutes between thin coats of nail polish, until the coat is no longer tacky. Polish is touch-dry in 3 to 5 minutes and fully hard after hours. - [Easy nail art for beginners: five first designs, the tools and the steps](https://indiaanais.com/guides/manicure/nail-art-basics-for-beginners/): Five easy nail art designs for beginners: dots, a single line, a half moon, a gold tip and negative space. The tools, the steps, dry times and fixes. - [French tips at home: the smile line, three ways](https://indiaanais.com/guides/manicure/french-manicure-at-home/): Do French tips at home with a sheer pink base, a thin white tip painted freehand or with a guide, and a clean-up brush for the smile line. Steps and fixes. - [How to remove gel nail polish at home without damaging your nails](https://indiaanais.com/guides/manicure/how-to-remove-gel-polish-without-damage/): File the shine off, protect the skin, wrap acetone-soaked cotton in foil or cling film for 10 to 15 minutes, then lift gently. Why peeling damages nails. - [How to remove glitter nail polish: the foil method, the peel-off base and the timing](https://indiaanais.com/guides/manicure/how-to-remove-glitter-nail-polish/): Remove glitter polish with acetone-soaked cotton sealed under foil for a few minutes, then one wipe. Or use a peel-off base next time. Steps and aftercare. - [How to remove magnetic and chrome nail polish: air-dry, gel cat-eye and chrome powder](https://indiaanais.com/guides/manicure/how-to-remove-chrome-and-magnetic-nail-polish/): Air-dry magnetic polish wipes off with ordinary remover. Gel cat-eye and chrome over gel need filing and a 10 to 15 minute acetone soak. Steps, aftercare. - [How to remove nail polish: press, hold, wipe once](https://indiaanais.com/guides/manicure/how-to-remove-nail-polish-properly/): Remove nail polish by pressing a remover-soaked pad on the nail for 30 to 60 seconds, then wiping once from cuticle to tip. Acetone is fastest. Oil after. - [How to repair a split nail without losing the length](https://indiaanais.com/guides/manicure/how-to-repair-a-split-nail/): A split nail in the free edge can be repaired at home with a tea-bag wrap or nail glue in about 10 minutes. When to file, when to cut and when to see a GP. - [Nail prep: the ten minutes that decide how long polish lasts](https://indiaanais.com/guides/manicure/nail-prep-file-buff-dehydrate/): Prep nails for polish in three moves: file the free edge in one direction, buff once with 240 grit or finer, then wipe with alcohol. No water soak. - [Nail shapes explained: which shape is strongest, which suits your hand, and how to file each one](https://indiaanais.com/guides/manicure/nail-shapes-explained-almond-squoval-coffin/): Seven nail shapes compared: round, oval, square, squoval, almond, coffin and stiletto. Which are strongest, who suits which, and how to file each one. - [The salon manicure, done at home](https://indiaanais.com/guides/manicure/salon-manicure-at-home/): A salon manicure at home takes about 45 minutes: soften cuticles, file, buff, degrease, base coat, two thin colour coats, top coat, oil. Steps and timings. - [The three-stroke method: how to apply nail polish neatly](https://indiaanais.com/guides/manicure/how-to-apply-nail-polish-the-three-stroke-method/): Apply nail polish neatly in three strokes: centre, then each side, starting a hair's width from the cuticle. Thin coats, capped edge, 1 to 2 minutes apart. ### Special-effect polish - [Aura nails and built-in pearl: two ways to make a nail glow softly](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/pearl-and-aura-nails-explained/): Aura nails are a circular gradient inspired by aura photography, airbrushed in salons and sponged at home. Pearl polish glows from inside the formula. - [Chrome powder or chrome polish: the mirror and the metallic](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/chrome-nails-powder-vs-polish/): Chrome powder rubbed onto tacky gel gives a true mirror that wears 2 to 3 weeks. Chrome nail polish gives a metallic foil with no lamp and shorter wear. - [Colour changing nail polish: the microcapsule chemistry behind thermal lacquer](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/thermal-colour-changing-nail-polish-how-it-works/): Colour changing nail polish uses leuco dyes in microcapsules that switch at a set temperature. Why the tips change first, and how long the effect lasts. - [Five classic cat-eye nail patterns and where to hold the magnet](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/five-classic-cat-eye-nail-patterns/): Cat eye nail designs depend on where you hold the magnet: a single line, a diagonal, a French curve, a star with a double magnet, or all-over velvet. - [Glass nails and jelly nails: sheer colour under a sheet of gloss](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/glass-nails-and-jelly-nails-the-sheer-look/): Glass nails are sheer jelly polish in thin coats under a high-gloss top coat, so the colour looks set under glass. How they differ from glazed donut. - [Holographic, multichrome or duochrome: three shifting finishes, three different pigments](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/holographic-vs-multichrome-vs-duochrome-nail-polish/): Holographic polish splits light into a rainbow by diffraction. Duochrome and multichrome shift colour by interference. How each works, with a table. - [How glow in the dark nail polish works](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/glow-in-the-dark-nail-polish-how-it-works/): Glow in the dark nail polish uses strontium aluminate, a phosphor that stores light and glows for hours. Charging it, how long it lasts and how to wear it. - [How the cat-eye magnet works, in plain words](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/how-the-cat-eye-magnet-works/): Magnetic nail polish works because iron-oxide flakes turn to follow a magnet's field lines while the coat is wet. Distance, time and shape set the pattern. - [How to apply magnetic cat-eye nail polish at home](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/how-to-apply-magnetic-cat-eye-nail-polish-step-by-step/): To apply cat eye nail polish, paint a thin first coat, then a second coat one nail at a time and hold the magnet 3 to 5 mm above it within 20 seconds. - [How to do chrome nails at home, with a lamp or without one](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/how-to-do-chrome-nails-at-home/): How to do chrome nails at home: cure a no-wipe gel top coat 30 seconds, rub chrome powder onto the tacky layer, seal and cure. Or metallic lacquer, no lamp. - [Magnetic nail polish troubleshooting: why the cat-eye fails and how to fix it](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/magnetic-nail-polish-troubleshooting/): Cat eye nail polish not working comes down to four faults: magnet too far or too late, coat too thick, pigment settled, film not set. Each has a fix. - [Matte nail polish: how the finish works, how it wears and how to keep it clean](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/matte-nail-polish-guide/): Matte nail polish scatters light with silica so the surface looks flat. Matte formula vs matte top coat, why it shows wear and oil, and mixing in gloss. - [Shimmer, glitter or micro-flake: what the particle does to the finish](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/shimmer-vs-glitter-vs-micro-flake-nail-polish/): Shimmer uses fine mica that dries smooth. Glitter uses cut plastic pieces that add texture and cling on removal. Micro-flakes lie flat between the two. - [Special effect nail polish, explained finish by finish](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/special-effect-nail-polish-explained/): Special effect nail polish covers magnetic cat-eye, velvet, chrome, holographic and thermal. How each works, with dry time, wear, removal and difficulty. - [Textured nail polish: how sand and sugar finishes work, wear and come off](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/textured-and-sand-nail-polish/): Textured nail polish dries to a gritty, sandpaper-like surface from fine glitter and matting agents. Sand vs sugar, wear, top coat or not, and removal. - [Velvet nails: the magnetic finish held at a distance](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/velvet-nails-explained/): Velvet nails are a magnetic polish effect: the magnet is held about 0.5 cm away and swept, so the flakes lift into a soft all-over glow with no hard line. - [What is magnetic cat-eye nail polish?](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/what-is-magnetic-cat-eye-nail-polish/): Cat eye nail polish is a magnetic lacquer whose iron-oxide flakes form a band of light under a magnet. Gel or air-dry, and how it differs from chrome. - [Why chrome nails fade, and how to seal the mirror so it stays](https://indiaanais.com/guides/special-effects/why-chrome-nails-fade-and-how-to-seal-them/): Chrome nails wear off because the powder is loose pigment on the surface. Seal it with a top coat, avoid hot water and refresh the seal every few days. ### Nail care - [Biotin for nails: what the studies found, and what they did not](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-care/biotin-for-nails-what-the-evidence-says/): Does biotin help nails? Three small trials from 1989 to 1993 reported firmer nails at 2.5 mg a day. None had a placebo, and high doses distort blood tests. - [Breathable nail polish: what it is, what it changes and what it does not](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-care/breathable-nail-polish-what-it-means/): Breathable nail polish has a film that lets water vapour and oxygen through. It changes little for nail health and is a different claim from wudu-friendly. - [Brittle nails: why they snap, and the routine that helps](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-care/brittle-nails-causes-and-care/): Brittle nails usually come from water, detergents, remover and age; low iron and thyroid problems are the causes to rule out. The oil-and-glove routine. - [Cuticle oil: what it does, which oils matter, and how often to use it](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-care/cuticle-oil-ingredients-and-how-to-use-it/): Cuticle oil keeps the skin around the nail sealed and the plate flexible so it bends before it snaps. Jojoba, almond, vitamin E; twice a day; over polish. - [Do nails need a break from polish?](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-care/do-nails-need-a-break-from-polish/): Nails do not need to breathe: the plate is dead keratin fed by blood, not air. A break helps with remover damage, staining and gel thinning, not oxygen. - [Hand cream and your nails: what works, and why](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-care/hand-cream-and-your-nails/): The best hand cream for nails pairs a humectant (glycerin, urea) with an occlusive (petrolatum), applied after every wash and under cotton gloves at night. - [Healthy nails: the care guide](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-care/healthy-nails-the-care-guide/): A nail care guide built on dermatology: how nails grow, what dries them out, a weekly routine, what ridges, spots and peeling mean, and when to see a GP. - [Nail anatomy: the seven parts of a nail and what each one does](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-care/nail-anatomy-plate-matrix-lunula-cuticle/): Nail anatomy explained: the plate, matrix, lunula, nail bed, eponychium, cuticle and hyponychium, how fast nails grow, and why the matrix matters most. - [Nail care in winter: how to keep nails from splitting when the air dries out](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-care/nail-care-in-winter/): Winter nail care comes down to water: cold air and heating pull it out of the plate. Oil twice a day, cream after washing, gloves outside and at the sink. - [Nail changes that need a doctor: the warning signs, and what a GP or dermatologist will check](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-care/nail-changes-when-to-see-a-doctor/): See a doctor about a nail if you see a new dark streak, a nail lifting from its bed, pits, thickening, pain or a red swollen nail fold. The warning signs. - [Nails and diet: what to eat for stronger nails](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-care/nails-and-diet-what-to-eat-for-stronger-nails/): Food for strong nails: protein, iron, zinc and B vitamins from a mixed diet. Spoon-shaped or grooved nails can signal a deficiency that needs a blood test. - [Nails, water and housework: why wet hands break nails and chip polish, and what to do about it](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-care/nails-water-and-household-cleaning/): Water swells the nail plate and detergents strip its oils, so nails split and polish chips after housework. Gloves, full drying and oil after every wash. - [Peeling nails: why it happens and what helps](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-care/peeling-nails-why-it-happens-and-what-helps/): Peeling nails (onychoschizia) happen when the keratin layers at the tip separate, usually from water, two-way filing and remover. Causes and a 6-week plan. - [Ridges on nails: the vertical kind, the horizontal kind, and what each one means](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-care/ridges-on-nails-vertical-and-horizontal/): Vertical ridges on nails come with age and dryness; horizontal Beau's lines follow illness or injury. How to buff safely, fill ridges and when to see a GP. - [White spots on nails: what they mean, and why calcium is the wrong suspect](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-care/white-spots-on-nails-what-they-mean/): White spots on nails are usually leukonychia from a small knock to the nail matrix, not low calcium. They grow out in 6 to 9 months; a few need a GP. - [Yellow nails after polish: pigment stains, the base coat that blocks them, and the yellow that is not a stain](https://indiaanais.com/guides/nail-care/yellow-nails-after-polish-causes-and-fixes/): Yellow nails after polish are stains from red, orange and dark pigments. A base coat blocks most of it and stains fade in two weeks. When yellow is fungus. ### Complete guide - [3-free, 5-free and 10-free nail polish, explained](https://indiaanais.com/guides/ingredients/3-free-5-free-10-free-nail-polish-explained/): 10-free nail polish leaves out ten substances the brand has chosen, from formaldehyde to TPHP. What each count excludes and what EU law already requires. - [Fragrance in nail polish: the solvent smell and the scented kind](https://indiaanais.com/guides/ingredients/fragrance-in-nail-polish/): The smell of nail polish is its solvents, ethyl and butyl acetate. Scented polish adds a perfume released once dry. In the EU it is listed as parfum. - [HEMA allergy: why gel nails cause it and regular lacquer does not](https://indiaanais.com/guides/ingredients/hema-allergy-gel-polish-vs-regular-polish/): HEMA is a methacrylate monomer in gel polish. Uncured gel on skin can cause a lifelong allergy. EU law limits it to salon use. Regular lacquer has none. - [How nail polish works: from wet coat to hard film](https://indiaanais.com/guides/ingredients/how-nail-polish-works-film-formers-plasticisers-solvents/): Nail polish works by evaporation. Solvents leave, nitrocellulose chains lock into a film, plasticisers keep it flexible. Why thin coats dry harder. - [How the EU cosmetics regulation applies to nail polish](https://indiaanais.com/guides/ingredients/eu-cosmetics-regulation-and-nail-polish/): Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 governs every nail polish sold in the EU: prohibited substances, the responsible person, the CPNP, labels and the TPO ban. - [How to dispose of old nail polish](https://indiaanais.com/guides/ingredients/how-to-dispose-of-old-nail-polish/): Old nail polish is flammable and never goes down the sink. In the Netherlands the glass bin usually takes it; in the UK and US it is hazardous waste. - [How to read the INCI ingredient list on a nail polish](https://indiaanais.com/guides/ingredients/how-to-read-an-inci-ingredient-list-on-nail-polish/): An INCI list names every ingredient in descending order of weight. Below 1 percent the order is free. Colours are CI numbers after a plus-minus sign. - [Nail polish during pregnancy: what is known and what to do](https://indiaanais.com/guides/ingredients/nail-polish-during-pregnancy/): Nail polish dries on the nail plate and very little is absorbed. Pregnancy charities see no reason to avoid it. What to know about fumes, gel and lamps. - [Natural origin percentages on nail polish, explained](https://indiaanais.com/guides/ingredients/natural-origin-percentages-explained-iso-16128/): A natural origin percentage is the share of a polish, by weight, from plant or mineral sources, counted with ISO 16128. In polish the solvent sets it. - [Nitrocellulose, the polymer that makes nail polish a film](https://indiaanais.com/guides/ingredients/nitrocellulose-in-nail-polish/): Nitrocellulose is the film former in most nail polish. What it is, where it came from, why it gives gloss and hardness, and what water-based polish uses. - [Plant-based nail polish: the claims and the chemistry behind them](https://indiaanais.com/guides/ingredients/plant-based-nail-polish-claims-vs-chemistry/): Plant-based nail polish uses solvents fermented from cassava, corn or sugar cane and cellulose from cotton. Pigments and resins stay synthetic. - [The TPO ban in gel polish: what changed in 2025](https://indiaanais.com/guides/ingredients/tpo-ban-in-gel-polish-what-changed-in-2025/): TPO, the photoinitiator in gel polish, has been prohibited in EU cosmetics since 1 September 2025 under Regulation (EU) 2025/877. What salons and users do. - [Toluene, formaldehyde, DBP, camphor and TPHP: what they did in polish and where the EU stands](https://indiaanais.com/guides/ingredients/toluene-formaldehyde-dbp-camphor-and-tphp-explained/): Toluene was a solvent, formaldehyde a hardener, DBP and camphor plasticisers, TPHP a plasticiser still in use. What each did, the concern, the EU status. - [Vegan and cruelty-free nail polish: what the words mean](https://indiaanais.com/guides/ingredients/vegan-and-cruelty-free-nail-polish-what-it-means/): Vegan nail polish has no carmine, guanine, shellac or other animal ingredients. Cruelty-free is about testing, banned in the EU since 2013. How to check. - [Water-based nail polish: the pros, the cons and who it is for](https://indiaanais.com/guides/ingredients/water-based-nail-polish-pros-and-cons/): Water-based nail polish uses an acrylic emulsion in water in place of nitrocellulose and solvents. Low odour, slower drying, shorter wear, peels off. - [What is in nail polish, ingredient by ingredient](https://indiaanais.com/guides/ingredients/what-is-in-nail-polish/): Nail polish is a film former (nitrocellulose), plasticisers, resins, solvents and pigments. What each one does, how the film forms and what EU law allows. ### Eyeliner - [The eyeliner guide](https://indiaanais.com/guides/eyeliner/the-eyeliner-guide/): Eyeliner types compared, how to draw a wing, the line for hooded, monolid and older eyes, what eye doctors say about the waterline, and how to remove it. - [Brown or black eyeliner: how to choose](https://indiaanais.com/guides/eyeliner/brown-vs-black-eyeliner-which-to-choose/): Black eyeliner gives the most contrast and reads as a drawn line. Brown reads as shadow and suits daytime, fair hair and older eyes. Plum is the third way. - [Coloured eyeliner: purple, gold and blue, and where to put them](https://indiaanais.com/guides/eyeliner/coloured-eyeliner-how-to-wear-purple-gold-and-blue/): Coloured eyeliner works when the colour is opposite your eye colour on the wheel and goes in one place: lash line, inner corner or above the crease. - [Eyeliner for hooded eyes](https://indiaanais.com/guides/eyeliner/eyeliner-for-hooded-eyes/): Eyeliner for hooded eyes: map the line with your eyes open, keep it thin, draw a batwing that shows when the eye is open, and stop transfer onto the lid. - [Eyeliner for mature eyes](https://indiaanais.com/guides/eyeliner/eyeliner-for-mature-eyes/): Eyeliner for older eyes: a soft gel pencil in brown or plum, a thin line on the outer third with a small lift, a smudged edge, and a bare lower waterline. - [Eyeliner for monolids](https://indiaanais.com/guides/eyeliner/eyeliner-for-monolids/): Eyeliner for monolids: draw a thicker line than feels natural, check it with the eye open, pick a straight wing or puppy liner, and tightline for density. - [Eyeliner with contact lenses and sensitive eyes](https://indiaanais.com/guides/eyeliner/eyeliner-with-contact-lenses-and-sensitive-eyes/): Put lenses in first, draw liner on the skin at the lash line, skip the waterline and glitter, and take lenses out before remover. Optometrists explain why. - [How long eyeliner lasts, and how to keep it clean](https://indiaanais.com/guides/eyeliner/eyeliner-hygiene-sharpening-and-shelf-life/): Eyeliner lasts 6 to 12 months after opening by its PAO symbol, but eye-care professionals advise replacing it after 3 months, sooner for waterline use. - [How to do winged eyeliner, step by step](https://indiaanais.com/guides/eyeliner/how-to-do-winged-eyeliner-step-by-step/): Winged eyeliner in seven steps: find the angle from the lower lash line, dot the tip, connect, build thin to thick, match both sides and fix a wobble. - [How to remove waterproof eyeliner gently](https://indiaanais.com/guides/eyeliner/how-to-remove-waterproof-eyeliner-gently/): Waterproof eyeliner dissolves in oil, not water. Hold an oil or biphase remover on the closed lid for 20 seconds, then wipe outward once without rubbing. - [How to stop eyeliner smudging under the eyes](https://indiaanais.com/guides/eyeliner/how-to-stop-eyeliner-smudging/): Eyeliner smudges when lid oil, tears or a hooded fold move a soft formula. Prime and powder the lid, set pencil with shadow and keep the lower line short. - [Pencil, gel, liquid or kohl: which eyeliner does what](https://indiaanais.com/guides/eyeliner/pencil-vs-gel-vs-liquid-vs-kohl-eyeliner/): The four types of eyeliner compared on precision, wear time, smudging, ease and removal, with what is inside each formula and which one suits beginners. - [Tightlining: the invisible line that thickens lashes](https://indiaanais.com/guides/eyeliner/tightlining-how-to-line-the-upper-waterline/): Tightlining fills the gaps between upper lashes so they look denser with no visible line. The six steps, the right pencil and the eye doctors' view. ### Lip liner - [How to make lip liner last all day](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-liner/long-wear-lip-liner-tips/): Lip liner lasts longest on an exfoliated, balm-free lip, filled in, blotted and given a second thin pass. The steps, the formulas that last, what to avoid. - [How to match lip liner to lipstick or gloss](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-liner/how-to-match-lip-liner-to-lipstick-or-gloss/): Match lip liner to your natural lip colour for an invisible edge, one shade deeper for definition, or contrast for a cola lip. Undertone rules and a table. - [How to overline lips so that nobody can tell](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-liner/how-to-overline-lips-without-it-showing/): Overline lips by 1 to 2 mm at the cupid's bow and centre of the bottom lip only, in a shade that matches your lips, blurred inward, gloss at the centre. - [How to stop lipstick and gloss feathering](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-liner/how-to-stop-lipstick-and-gloss-feathering/): Lipstick bleeds when its oils run into fine lines around the mouth. A waxy lip liner, a dry base, a concealer edge and thin coats stop it. Step by step. - [How to use lip liner, from the first stroke to the last blot](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-liner/how-to-use-lip-liner/): Lip liner draws the lip edge, stops colour feathering and gives gloss a base. How to choose the shade, line, overline, blend and set it so it lasts. - [Lip liner as your only lip colour](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-liner/lip-liner-as-full-lip-colour/): Lip liner filled in over the whole lip gives a soft matte colour that lasts longer than lipstick. How to fill, blot and balm it, and which pencils work. - [Lip liner with gloss: the two-step combo](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-liner/lip-liner-with-gloss-the-two-step-combo/): The lip liner and gloss combo is liner filled in and blended, then gloss on the centre. Why gloss needs a liner to last, the steps and three combos. - [Lip liner, lip pencil or lip crayon: what the names mean](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-liner/lip-liner-vs-lip-pencil-vs-lip-crayon/): Lip liner and lip pencil are the same thin product under two names. A lip crayon is a wider, softer stick worn as lip colour. Formats and uses compared. - [Nude lip liners by skin tone, matched to your lips](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-liner/nude-lip-liners-by-skin-tone/): A nude lip liner should match your natural lip colour, not your skin. Pink-nude, peach, caramel, mocha or plum-brown for fair, olive, tan and deep skin. - [What lip liner does, and why gloss needs it](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-liner/what-does-lip-liner-actually-do/): Lip liner draws the lip edge, fills the fine lines that make colour bleed and gives gloss a matte base. What it is, how it works, three ways to apply it. ### Lip gloss - [The lip gloss guide](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-gloss/the-lip-gloss-guide/): Lip gloss is a shine product built on oils and polybutene. Learn the gloss types, what makes one sticky, how to layer it over liner and how long it lasts. - [Glossy lip trends 2026 to 2027](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-gloss/glossy-lip-trends-2026-2027/): Glossy lip trends 2026 to 2027: cherry cola, blurred lips with shine, glass lips, cold-girl frost, jelly, two-tone, and what the Spring 2027 shows added. - [How long does lip gloss last, and how to extend it](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-gloss/how-long-does-lip-gloss-last-and-how-to-extend-it/): Lip gloss lasts about one to three hours, less with food and drink. A filled-in liner base, a blot and thin coats keep the colour when the shine has gone. - [How to wear gloss over lipstick](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-gloss/how-to-wear-gloss-over-lipstick/): Gloss goes over lipstick, not under it. Blot the lipstick, keep the gloss to the centre and use a matte or lined base so the colour stays. Steps and pairs. - [Lip gloss for dry lips](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-gloss/lip-gloss-for-dry-lips/): Dry lips do best with a gloss-balm hybrid built on shea, castor oil, squalane or ceramides, applied over exfoliated, balmed lips. Skip menthol and scent. - [Lip gloss hygiene and shelf life](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-gloss/lip-gloss-hygiene-and-shelf-life/): Lip gloss expires. Most tubes show a 12 or 24 month period-after-opening symbol, and a changed smell, separated oil or grit means it is finished sooner. - [Lip gloss, lip balm, lip oil or lip tint: which does what](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-gloss/lip-gloss-vs-lip-balm-vs-lip-oil-vs-lip-tint/): Gloss gives shine, balm gives care, oil gives comfort with a soft sheen, tint gives colour that stays. Compare all four on shine, care, colour and wear. - [Matching lip gloss and nail polish](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-gloss/matching-lip-gloss-and-nail-polish/): Matching nails and lips works when hue and finish agree: jelly gloss with jelly polish, pearl gloss with milky pearl. Three pairings, one undertone rule. - [Plumping lip gloss: how it works, what is real and who should skip it](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-gloss/plumping-lip-gloss-how-it-works/): Lip plumpers work two ways: irritants like menthol and capsicum cause brief swelling; humectants like hyaluronic acid smooth the lip. Both are temporary. - [Seven ways to use clear lip gloss](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-gloss/seven-ways-to-use-clear-lip-gloss/): Clear lip gloss is a shine coat with no colour. Wear it over liner or a tint, on lids and cheekbones, to set brows, over lipstick or alone as a glazed lip. - [The lip layering guide: liner, colour, gloss](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-gloss/the-lip-layering-guide-liner-colour-gloss/): Lip layering is a three-coat lip: liner as base coat, colour in the middle, gloss as top coat. The order, the amounts and which liner suits which gloss. - [What makes a lip gloss non-sticky](https://indiaanais.com/guides/lip-gloss/what-makes-a-lip-gloss-non-sticky/): Stickiness comes from the shine polymer polybutene. A non-sticky gloss thins it with esters and plant oils. How to read the label and test gloss in a shop. ## Journal - [Amethyst Glaze: the cool-toned glazed lip](https://indiaanais.com/journal/amethyst-glaze-the-cool-toned-glazed-lip/): Glazed lips, done cool: the Amethyst Glaze is a clear high-shine lip with a faint violet cast. Three steps, 2026 trend data and the amethyst nail to match. - [Amethyst nails: how to wear purple in 2027](https://indiaanais.com/journal/amethyst-nails-how-to-wear-purple-in-2027/): Purple nails are the runway colour for 2027. How to wear amethyst cat-eye, sheer lilac, deep amethyst crème and plum velvet, with lip and liner pairings. - [Cloud Dancer nails: the white of 2026, three ways](https://indiaanais.com/journal/cloud-dancer-white-nails-pantone-2026/): Cloud Dancer nails: how to wear Pantone's 2026 colour of the year as a milky wash, a soft French or a pearl white, with steps, polishes and sources. - [Eyeliner trends 2027: purple haze, gold corners and glossed lids](https://indiaanais.com/journal/eyeliner-trends-2027-colour-is-back/): Eyeliner trends 2027 from the spring runways: coloured liner in purple, gold and icy blue, tightlining, inner-corner accents and glossed lids, sourced. - [Festive nails for December: Sinterklaas, Christmas and New Year](https://indiaanais.com/journal/festive-nails-for-december/): Christmas nails 2026 by occasion: chili red for Sinterklaas, a moonstone French for the office, violet velvet for Christmas, gold tips for New Year's Eve. - [Gold-veined lips: the kintsugi lip](https://indiaanais.com/journal/gold-veined-lips-the-kintsugi-lip/): Gold lip art made wearable: one hairline gold vein from the cupid's bow under clear gloss. The kintsugi idea, three steps and a gold vein on one nail. - [How we name our shades: stones, hours and light](https://indiaanais.com/journal/how-we-name-our-shades/): Nail polish shade names explained: how Hermès, Chanel, Dior and OPI name and number shades, and the house system of stones, hours and light, with a number. - [Moonstone lips: the modern frost](https://indiaanais.com/journal/moonstone-lips-the-modern-frost/): The frosted lips trend is back for 2026, done softly. Moonstone lips are a milky, blue-white opal sheen over bare lips. Three steps and the nails to match. - [Nail polish trends for autumn and winter 2026 to 2027](https://indiaanais.com/journal/nail-polish-trends-autumn-winter-2026-2027/): Nail trends for winter 2026: jewel tones, velvet and cat-eye in plum, dark metallics, milky whites and short round shapes, with runway and press sources. - [Spring 2027 nail trends, from the runways](https://indiaanais.com/journal/spring-2027-nail-trends-from-the-runways/): Nail trends for spring 2027 from the New York SS27 runways: amethyst cat-eye, pearlescent satin, frosted blue, chili red and buffed natural nails, dated. - [The gilded cupid's bow: gold light on one point of the lip](https://indiaanais.com/journal/the-gilded-cupids-bow/): Gold highlight lips, done small: a gold sheen on the cupid's bow and the centre of the lower lip over a sheer glaze. Steps, base shades and matching nails. - [The lip stack ritual: liner, colour, top, in 15 seconds](https://indiaanais.com/journal/the-lip-stack-ritual-liner-colour-top/): The lip stack is a numbered three-step lip combo: liner, tinted glaze, clear top, done like base, colour and top coat on nails. Steps, pairings, wear time. - [The making of the Amethyst Edit](https://indiaanais.com/journal/the-making-of-the-amethyst-edit/): How the Amethyst Edit was designed: an amethyst and gold colour code, ten numbered lacquers in nine finishes, a small batch and a sold-out first edition. - [The mani-lip match: one shade, one finish, nails and lips](https://indiaanais.com/journal/the-mani-lip-match/): The mani-lip match puts the same hue and the same finish on nails and lips. Where the idea comes from, how to match a finish, three duos, the photo format. - [Violet Cola lips: the cola lip in plum and blackcurrant](https://indiaanais.com/journal/violet-cola-lips/): Cherry cola lips, done in plum: Violet Cola is a deep plum liner filled in, with blackcurrant gloss pressed on the centre. Three steps and oxblood nails. ## Glossary - [Beauty glossary](https://indiaanais.com/glossary/): 65 terms on nails, lips and eyes, one definition each. ## Dutch (Nederlands) - [Homepage](https://indiaanais.com/nl/) · [Gidsen](https://indiaanais.com/nl/gidsen/) · [Press-on nagels](https://indiaanais.com/nl/press-on-nagels/) · [Nagellak](https://indiaanais.com/nl/nagellak/) ## Optional - [The House](https://indiaanais.com/the-house/): the story of India Anaïs - [Craft and formula](https://indiaanais.com/the-house/craft/) - [Press](https://indiaanais.com/press/) - [Beauty Mirror](https://indiaanais.com/beauty-mirror/): virtual try-on in the browser - [Full text for language models](https://indiaanais.com/llms-full.txt)