When it comes to nail polish, a handful of brands stick out as go-tos. Nails Inc, Essie and OPI – the love for the suits-all ‘Funny Bunny’ seems everlasting – are some of the famous names making at-home manicures more fun than faff. But every so often, a new nail brand pops up that surprises and delights us, and IMO, Pleasing has cemented itself as a core contender.
Founded by singer and sell-out performer Harry Styles, who is rarely spotted without a joy-inducing manicure, the brand sits separately from most celebrity-founded beauty ventures. Rarely will you see Styles popping up on the Pleasing Instagram or pushing the products through his own social media or press interviews. Why, you ask? Well, the products speak for themselves, carving out a niche in the beauty space without overtly selling themselves through the brand’s association with Styles.
Starting off with nail varnish, now famous for its sphere-topped design and added nail sticker sets, the brand has expanded to include a range of skincare. Although the vibrant colours of the nail polish may not have seeped into the skin products (green doesn’t quite hit the same on your face as it does on your toenails, apparently) the mood-boosting sentiment is made just as apparent.
Colourful cartoon-like packaging, impressive ingredient lists and an online description that easily explains how each product works are just some of the reasons that I, along with over a million others (according to its Instagram) are fans of the brand. But it isn’t just the look of these products that make them so popular.
Collaborating with a different charity for each collection, Pleasing sets out to support communities that could use a helping hand. The latest launch, Pollinators (which you can read about below), is partnered with Project Roots, a US-based nonprofit educating people on how to grow food while supporting homelessness and those with food insecurities. Looking good and doing good is very pleasing indeed.
6 of the best Pleasing products to shop now
Below, I’ve listed six of the best Pleasing products, including its bestselling nail polishes, the multi-tasking Pleasing pen and the skin-smoothing acid drops. And remember, the brand slogan says, “We’re Pleasing, never perfect”, so don’t be afraid to play around with the Pleasing nail polishes even if your DIY nail art is more atrocious than avant-garde.
Pleasing The Pollinators Set, £72
The Pleasing polishes dub themselves as being 12-free, meaning they don’t include a whole list of potentially irritating ingredients such as fragrances, parabens, toluene and more. Inspired by nature, the bright and bold range of four polishes include blue, white, peach and green to resemble ponds, buttercream and peaches. Easy to apply with a rich colour payoff, the latest collection of colours is just as punchy as the other now-famous products.
The Pleasing Pen Special Edition Gold, £33
The OG Pleasing Pen is actually tinted blue, but this gorgeous gold option has come through as a special edition shade. Housing two serums – one for lips, one for eyes – with small steel roller ball applicators, it coats each area while soothing at the same time. To work out which is which, a small sticker sits at the bottom of each tube – otherwise, they look identical. Lingonberry, okra and hyaluronic salt all sit within the eye gel, while the lip treatment uses marshmallow root to help retain moisture.
Pleasing Acid Drops, £39
One of the brand’s bestselling products, the Acid Drops do away with dull-looking skin, leaving only a fresh-faced glow. Malic acid, aloe vera, hibiscus acid, lemon and papaya are all included, exfoliating the face and brightening the complexion.
Pleasing Everybody Oil Matte Moisture Glow, £50
Suitable for everybody – as the name suggests – this lightweight oil is sweet and citrusy. Packed with a cocktail of skin-loving ingredients, including jojoba seed, bergamot fruit, buckthorn berry and bitter orange flower, it quickly absorbs into the skin, boosting moisture and soothing irritation.
Pleasing The Perfect Polish Set, £72
Pleasing nail polishes can be bought separately, mixed and matched or sold as a set of four, and it’s easy to see why this quartet has been dubbed ‘perfect’. With a shade to suit every style and occasion, from inky pearl to granny’s pink pearls, it mixes everyday basics with standout shades. And the adorable letter nail stickers just make them even sweeter.
Pleasing Hand + Nail Balm, £28
Of course, it was only natural for Pleasing to produce a hand cream perfectly complimenting its nail polish products. Shea butter, snow mushroom and apricot make up the majority of the ingredients, making a deeply moisturising balm with no sticky or greasy residue. It also looks incredibly cute too.
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