This is the Art Beauty podcast where we are always reaching for truth in beauty. Remember the brands on the show are not paying to be here, so we get to ask them the questions we know you want answered. Because you deserve to be informed so you can make the best choices for yourself. With that said, I'm Amber Milt and today, my fabulous co-host is Christina Kao. She is the founder of La Mini Macaron, which is a line of at home nail care products and DIY gel manicures.
We're going to be talking all about this for my DIY girls. You're going to absolutely love this. But before we get into that, welcome to the show, Christina. How are you doing today? Thanks Amber, I'm so excited to be here and to meet you. I'm so excited, too. So, I mean, we are right now in the thick of winter here in New York City. Where are you located? I'm in Barcelona, so it's not as cold as New York. I used to live in New York, so I know how it can get.
It's fairly sunny here, but yeah, we get a little bit of the chills this time of year. I am so jealous. So by the way, my husband and I, we went to Barcelona and both of us agreed that of all the places in the world, that is a place we can move to tomorrow because we loved it. First of all, the city itself is so beautiful. Gaudi's artwork everywhere and architecture. Yeah, the people were great and I love the whole lifestyle, right?
So tapas, eating little bites because I like to eat a little bit of everything. And then also, I mean, it is just, you know, you've got the beach, you've got the city, and the people were just so magical. It's a wonderful place. I think you've got that Mediterranean spirit, like you said, tapas as in the day time, sangria and cover at night. So it's really a lovely, magical place for sure. You are so lucky. Now. Were you originally from Barcelona? No, I am from Alabama.
Okay. Which is very surprising for most people. My family is from Taiwan, so I was born in Alabama, but my parents moved there when? Before I was born. And then I grew up there and then I moved to New York. So I was living in New York City for a while and then I moved to Shanghai. So I was in China for a bit, and then I headed over to Europe. gosh, you are just living the dream life.
With that said, you know, I know that we are all still in this idea of New You New Year, new you, and in your case, new nails. And I think that sometimes our nails are something that maybe take a little bit of a back burner in terms of care, but yet are so important. I am a Germany girl now, generally at this point in the New Year, I try to give them a break, but it's hard when you're doing work. I work with New Beauty magazine, lot of stuff on camera. Like they always have to look good.
So, you know, when it comes to this idea, we had a great podcast on sort of nail rehab with the doctor who is like, No gel nails, let them go bare. But more realistically, I feel like, do you have some, you know, tips for those of us who, like, just can't go without our gel? Her can't go without a mani? Definitely. I mean, I'm one of those people. I think the the reason I got into gel is because when I used to work in a marketing corporate job, I needed to have my nails done all the time.
I was doing a lot of events. I like having my nails perfect polish, finish looking. It pulled together my outfit, and then I was getting into the cycle of always having my manicure that needed to be done and then having to get into the salon to get them painted, which would take time. And then you are booked back in for your removal, right? Because you needed to have them help remove it.
And so I was always in the lover of the the look and the effects of like that gorgeous chip free, shiny mani that will last you like 3 to 4 weeks. But I didn't love the time that it took. And you know, and I mean, I think when you go to the salon, a lot of people say, well, it can be damaging. And that is how people think about gel often. And I tell people that when you go to the salon and what's damaging is not the polish.
What's damaging is the removal process actually, because you see them file it down. Right. And I think that's what people are afraid of. When you file it down, it's thinning out your nail, then you're getting another manicure and then that's getting that's going to have to be removed later. So that whole process, I think, can burn out your nails. You know, I'm a big fan of doing it at home now, where I control the application, I control the removal.
So, you know, I tell people, just don't file so much, you know, like if you're changing it up weekly, like we have a product, you know, our products, you can change it weekly. It's a one step. So it's really meant for you to be able to do it when you want, you know, change up the manicure to match your outfit or your mood that week. But when it's time to remove, it's very easy to do that. And then, you know, it's a bit lighter on the nails.
So also another thing that we've seen, have you heard of gel cycling? Amber I have not, but but maybe I have or it's kind of like give it a break in between your gel polishes. Okay. Okay. I mean, yeah, it's what it sounds like, but it's definitely popped up more, I think, with, you know, in the press and people have been writing about it and I know people have been talking about it.
So as you know, with the pandemic and people were at home being able to do your own manicure, really became a thing. I think a lot of people got good at it. Right. And like you save your time. You're not having to, like, run to the salon. So that habit has stuck around. But if you're doing it regularly, you do want to take some breaks. And so that brings in your nail care as a break in between.
And I do recommend if you're doing it really regularly, probably every month or two, just take a week off, right? And like rebuild your nail a bit. It makes a difference. And I've done that before where, you know, when I've had a little bit of downtime, I try to do like almost a month off. It certainly doesn't get rid of all the damage. But going back to the damage, you know, I know that my nail tech, she pulls out the drill and I'm always like, I want to tell her not to.
But, you know, I get it. It's a time thing for them. But I that's where I kind of fell in love with this idea, especially of your kit, which is can we just talk about this? How adorable is this at home, Kit? This is your little gel light, which does look like a delicious macaron cookie, but you have these gel removal wraps. And I think if nothing else, you know, if you have the time, because, look, I admit it, I like to go to the nail.
You know, they freshen up the cuticles, like when I do my nails at home, they never look as good as when somebody else is doing them. But it's time, it's money. And, you know, you lived in New York, New York. There's a salon in every street. But I think of all my women around the world who have to get in the car, drive to the salon. Right. Do that, you know, So it is even more of an investment in time.
But I think these gel remover wraps are a game changer because I'm I'm really you know, when I when I opened this kit and I was like, wait a minute, I could do this. I think that you've made it so easy so that we can avoid some of that damage that we know is going to happen in most salons. I hate to say it, but it's going to. Yeah, I think, you know, when you go to the salon, the manicure system that they're using is a three step.
So they're doing the base, the color, the top door colors, two or three coats. There's many layers in between and before they start, they're filing the nail, right. Because they want the polished wood here. It's going to last longer. They're giving you value. If your manager lasts a month. But then when you go back, it's really stuck to your nail. Like, that's the whole point.
So that's where they pull out the drill because it is the fastest way to break down those topcoat layers and get to removing. You will see that they wrap it right? So they will wrap it with acetone you're soaking off. That is the process for removal. I think what I like about the at home process, I mean, definitely there are gels that are the three steps and you can do those at home too.
We do a one step because our product was really meant for people who have never really tried it before, wanted to get into doing gel at home, but not having it be something really difficult or a huge commitment. I love these colors that you're showing so fine and we have a lot of like fun pop colors because what I love about having my Mani done is when it's really eye catching and I see like a great color and people always compliment me when they see these like really bright colors.
So yeah, I think when you're doing it at home, you know, definitely the one step, it's a base color topcoat all in one, the three and one formula and it allows you to do it in 15 minutes. It's very light on the nails. So I always like to say easy on easy off. The removal process with the wraps that you showed is the same as the salon where you're soaking off. So you're going to want to like, file the surface of the Mani that you want to remove just a little bit to break it up.
And then you wrap wait about 15 minutes, it'll have that shatter effect. I'm sure you know that effect. Well, if you're a gel lover and then it's it'll just kind of come off. You can use the cuticle stick to push it off. We also have tools to help you remove it pretty easily. And yeah, it's just really meant to be easy to do. Gives you the freedom to do it whenever you want. You can remove it when you want the wraps, do remove salon gel. So if you are a regular salon user you can use those.
I would just make sure you follow a little bit more because if you're doing that three step, you want to break into it, but then it just the acetone will penetrate and it'll kind of soak off. So I do recommend giving it a try sometimes if you want to DIY, if you're traveling a lot, it's great to bring it with you on the go. If you are a salon, go and you have a chip nail. It's always nice to have a little system with you right when you're out on the road. So you know, we keep it real here.
And full disclosure, because I got it until Kristina Day, I was like, I haven't tried this yet because again, my nails have been under like they've had to be camera ready. And I just was like, let me just go to the professionals that said they are starting to chip a little at the top, right? And most of the time, 90% of the time when I go to the salon, I bring my own gel polish. I find that like I have a signature pink color that is basically this. So I'm so excited because this is my jam.
But then today I was thinking, and I'm so glad you told me that this is not a three step because I was like, I'm just going to paint them over clear again because they're starting to look whatever. I realized I have that here. I think, though, that being able to go back in and like have a chip nail fix, like you said, as somebody who's on the go, being able to go in, even if you have a professional do this, but then being able to touch your own nails on the girl is so clutch.
Do you have a lot of people who write in and tell you this is what I use it for? Definitely. I think we're so pressed for time right away. Yeah, we have so many demands now more than ever. And I think, you know, when there was the pandemic, people had more time. They were at home. But now we're like running around out and about again. So many things we have to get to. I'm the same. I have a little get together later. And I touched up my nails.
I didn't want to redo them and, you know, I think with these polishes, you can just go over it with like one coat, right? If you have a little snag or you want to just, like, freshen it, make it glossier, you know, if it's been one or two weeks, just go over with another coat and it'll do the trick. So are your polishes, you know, let's speak about the polishes really quickly, because one, I didn't realize and my bad that this is a one step.
Are they meant to be left on as long as a traditional gel manicure? Like maybe I'm going to say 2 to 3 weeks, I think a month. God bless if you can keep your nails for a month. But 2 to 3 weeks, I mean, are these days last as long? So the ones that gel, I usually say will last 7 to 10 days. They're really designed to be light on your nails. So they're not going to go the 3 to 4 week distance the way the Salon one does, because the salon has that base color top.
It's all kind of sticking to each other and it's all built up. The one step is really light, you know, you can paint it on now if you want it to last longer, you could do a third coat. We also sell a gel topcoat separately, so you know, it's funny because we don't really talk about our gel topcoat a ton because we are really known as that One-Step 15 minute mani and yet the topcoat is actually the single best seller of all the single bottles.
When I see that every year, I'm like, That's so strange. But I think psychologically people like having a topcoat. We don't blush at a time because we're like, Hey, you know, this is all about convenience. It's fast when you need a touch up, when you need a mani express mani, you don't need to have all those tools and all those layers. But we do have a lot of people who like to have it, and I think maybe they want it for the two or three weeks, you know, that longer extended lasting.
And you know, is your top coat is it compatible with other brands of Polish. I know a lot goes into the formulations of these but like let's say for example, I was to order the top coat I needed to freshen up the mani today. Is that something that you could do on the go? We get this question a lot like is are are any of our policies of how can we mix and match with other lamps? Can other polishes work with our layouts?
So this question of mixing and matching, I would say generally, yes, you can use different polishes and different layouts and you can use the topcoat over if you have a gel mani that you want to give it another week or two, you can use it. It's really about the curing. So depending on what you're painting, whether you're painting with ours or another brand, you are going to want to read that polishes sure time.
So you know, our topcoat will cure in 30 seconds because it's part of the system of our lamps. You know how many lamps are 30 seconds. So our whole system is like every cure is 30 seconds and then you're dry. You can do another layer if you want. But I think if you're using, you know, a more professional brand, it might say, Hey, you're the top coat for 120 seconds, right?
So you just read the instructions on the bottle of the polish that you're using, and then there's lots of different lamps out there. So depending on what lamp you're using ours, we have a mini. We have a deluxe set that dries four fingers at a time. So just depends on on what you want to do. So this is a one step. So it's one finger at a time. It's the 32nd, you know, the lighter you punch the button, the light will go on and it's 32nd dry with our polish, it's 30 seconds.
So if you want to use it with another brand, just make sure you read their instructions. You know, if they need 60 seconds, just, you know, hit the button twice. But yeah, it goes with a USP, which I think you're looking for. But on the. Other hand, right now, USB stick. Yeah. Yeah. It just look. How cute this is and. Then it's so portable, so and then. Yeah, blind everybody and fast. So one finger.
I mean, I got to say, you know, we have valentines coming up and Valentine's coming up and what a great gift to give that person who is on the go, who is a traveler and you know, with a little bottle of polish. Now I can you take this polish, let's say, because I want to take a step back. We've talked to people before. You can mix and match stuff. But keep in mind, and I tell this to my managers all the time, because they'll pull out a topcoat from one brand.
You know something from SC or OPI, you know, and they're polish from another and a different base coat. And I've told her before, I'm like, you know, these are really designed to go together. It's not the campy used mix and match, but they're, they're designed, right? You've got chemists who've spent time and energy making sure that they work with the system that said, could we take this to our, you know, manicures? We didn't want to do it at home and then take this on the go. You can.
So I also do it. You know, I will not say that I never go to the salon. I do sometimes go to the salon because they do help clean up if I need it. What they do is they'll use their own base because they want it to last a long time, right? So and then they'll layer our color and then you can either bring our topcoat or use their topcoat, but you can certainly use the color you can sandwiched in between.
And then the little lamp can go with you wherever you need, you know, and just touch up as you need. I mean, I'm telling you, everybody who's ever traveled, you are just singing. You're like changing my life right now because, come on, this would fit like, in a pocket somewhere. Is it safe to travel with it through the TSA? No problems, right? yes. it's so funny. We had one of our influencers make a video of her painting her nails on the plane and it went super viral.
I think it was like 7 million views or something. And people were asking, they're like, doesn't it smell the job? Polish doesn't smell the way nail polish does. Like gel polish is fairly low in terms of the odor and then the polish isn't flammable, which people never know this, but regular nail polish is flammable. The gel is not. So you can do it on the plane and then you plug it to your laptop or a battery charger and just save some time.
Like just paint your nails while you're on the flight or paint your nails while you're, like, waiting by the gate. No, I mean, I suppose. And just to show people. Yeah. So I just plug this in. I was looking I have like a little computer port here, but it is your USB and, you know, it's really nice too. It's the Usb-c. So you probably have this charger for some sort of thing in your arsenal. So here you go. You're charged in, you're ready to rock. I want to show you something.
Amber So the little lamp has a magnet. I don't know if you know, but it flips around. So if you crack that, you can pop the times on. Okay? yeah. Okay. And then you can actually take the base and then just flip it so that it's like, instead of being like, a salon, I just, like, flips around and you can see it. Yeah, it should. Yeah. And then basically that's how you do your toes. So if you want. More, I'm going to.
Do this right. Now. I'm like literally about to get on the flight and I've been rehabbing my toes for months now, but I was like, man, I'm going to be maybe in sunny weather. yeah. So this is how you so some people don't know that. It's very funny because we have some customers who like, shove their toes into the hole. I'm like, No, turn it around. It's a magnet. And then when you push the button, you have all that space to put your foot under there. God. And so you're on them. But your.
Yeah, but you're like on the floor, you're on the sofa, you know, you just have extra space because your toes are small. I actually have two toes at a time. So that just because you terms are tiny, right? You just like paint to layer paint two toes sticking under there. 30 seconds. Do again, you know, do your big toe bite. So I was thinking about this and I was like, my gosh, it's not even my big toe. That would be hard to get in.
It's that little janky one that has like the I don't know about mine is like that little, like, little nub. The sad thing. Yeah, that would be. Wow. So any other tips that we have like you know in terms of I mean I think that this is like a game changer and it's no wonder that your brand has taken off and has become so popular because there is no I've never seen anything like this that makes on the go either DIY total or touch ups so accessible.
Is there any other tips that you have for people who may be trying this for the first time? Yeah, I think so. Gel polish is super thick and it's much thicker than regular nail polish, so the application technique is very different. So I think just you have to have a slightly different mindset to I would say the most important tips I recommend is make sure when you are prepping your nail, you're going to want to file the surface.
That's what they do at the salon because you're roughing up the surface a bit for that gel right here. But then you're going to want to cleanse the surface as well and remove all the oils, because if your nails are a bit oily, it's easier for the gel to peel off. Okay. So just, you know, either use alcohol to cleanse it or we have like manicure pads that we sell for, like they're kind of like these like little small campaign pads, but just cleanse it. But normal alcohol works.
Then when you're ready to apply, the polish is very thick. So when you open the bottle, you will want to swipe the brush. Yeah, this is great. I love this shot. We showed this in a lot of tutorials. Swipe the brush a lot, get everything off and when you paint that first coat, your brush is going to be almost transparent. You're going to cover the nail, but it's going to look almost transparent.
Okay, So you don't want to paint it like nail polish because I think the intent usually with regular polish is you go for full coverage, right, Because it's air drying pretty quickly. Gel doesn't dry at all until you go under the light. It is staying liquid, which I love because it's actually much easier to work with because if you're new to it, you just want to do that very transparent and layer. You care for 30. You can go a little bit like with a little thicker layer, just cover it.
But if it it's like retracting a bit, just go over it, right? So you can go over it and over it. It's perfect and then you cure. So that's what I really like about Gel is that you can take your time and you can get good with it. You're not pressed for time because of the whole air dry thing that regular nail polish does. So when we're doing this, do you dry in between coats? Yeah. Exactly. So you're going to work finger by finger.
So that is a one finger layup and then you're going to paint one, cure it, repeat cure. Then you move on to the next finger. Some people paint all four fingers and then they're like curing, hearing, curing. And I say, don't do that because the best application is as soon as you paint, you want to reduce your air time because it'll shrink a little bit.
Like once that gel retract a little bit because the base like you're not doing a separate base because usually when you're in the salon, they do a separate base coat. When they do the color, it's it's all sticky. So then it's not retracting. But one step gel will shrink a little bit. So you want to work. Once you've got it covered, go into the lamp, then you cure and then you repeat.
I also would say, you know, people always ask me like, but doesn't it take ages because you're doing one finger at a time? And so what I tell them is actually because it's a three in one, right. You're not doing separate base color talk, right. Like you're doing your color twice. But if you had to do all those other layers, you are actually having to paint multiple layers. So it does though I would say it takes 15 to 20 minutes.
You know, I would allow for a little bit more time when it's your first time and it probably takes like one or two times to get it really right, Like you get more of it. But I mean, definitely go very thin. And usually when I show people, like when I paint it, it looks almost transparent. But yeah, there's coverage that's the effect you want. And so that's just the first coat and then the second coat will give you that kind of full coverage that you want.
And if not, you said you could do up to a third coat. You can do a third coat. So if you're doing more like sheer or light color, like a pale pink, a third coat is good. If you want more of that color, payoff, the darker colors, the brighter colors. We just do too normally. So that pink, that bright pink, that you got too is good, you know? Yeah. And then, you know, it's not sticky when you're done.
So usually in the salon, you know how they're like wiping it down and cleansing it after the top coat. So ah, once that gel isn't as sticky, once it's dry, you're good to go. This is such a game changer. Now, if people want to order this, well, I'd be sorry. Let's talk about the pricing of this. So this came. This mini lamp came in a beautiful kit with your charger with this, and this one came with the pearlescent color. So what is the price point for that? So the mini jump out here kit is $38.
That coalescence kit has been our best seller all year. It's that glazed donut, very glaze nail effect. And the pearlescent is great because it can be worn alone for that very sheer hollow look, but it can be layered over a color. Yeah, and a bit of a hollow over that. So yeah. This is what I'm going to do right here. This. Just to top it up, can we just say $38 is less than one single gel manicure? That's. I think we did like, a calculation.
Like if you did your mani every I don't know if was like every week or two weeks. It's like a dollar 30 a manny, you know, something like that for a year. So it's crazy. That is. I mean, that's insane. And if people want to know more about this, I was on your blog. You've got so many great tips and tutorials on how to use this other awesome topics specifically for nail care. If people want to know more about this, where's the best place for them to go?
So we're on Instagram Le Mini Macaron and our website is leminimacaron.com, and you can find the products also at select Target at Ulta. So just look around were around. Amazing and you know before I let you go and I hate to put you on the spot here is there like a special color that you love or are there any other cool nail trends that you're seeing now in 2024? okay. So every time it's the new year, we always say New Year, new nails our team every year. That's a rallying cry.
And I do feel that in the early parts of the year, like the first few months, people kind of go back to basics, right? So sheers, last year we launched our new Sheer’s collection. It's so, well, creamy colors, pale pink, milky. I mean, you've heard about the milk, nails everywhere. I think that's really around this day. It's just so, so universal, so popular. I love that. Christina, I want to thank you so much for being with us.
I mean, I'm going to thank you for everybody listening who has ever had their nails done because this kit seems like it's an absolute game changer. I'm going to make sure when I do this for the first time, I will put it up on social so that everybody can see how easy it is to use. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. thank you so much, Amber. And enjoy that cover tonight for me.
And of course, if you at home listening have some questions you want me to pass on to Christina or her team, I'm always happy to do so. You can email me at Hello at Art Beauty podcast dot com. You can find us on social media, Instagram, YouTube, @ArtBeautyPodcast And as always, we will see you next Tuesday, hopefully with some banging nails by right.