Butter London Review: Your New Go-To for Clean, Luxurious Nail and Makeup Products
Hey there, beauty lover! If you‘re like me, you‘re always on the lookout for the latest and greatest in clean, high-performance makeup and nail products. Well, let me introduce you to a brand that has totally stolen my heart lately: Butter London.
In case you‘re not familiar, Butter London is a British import that started with a line of toxin-free nail lacquers and has since expanded into color cosmetics and skincare. They‘ve developed quite the cult following over the years, and after finally trying some of their best-sellers for myself, I totally get the hype.
In this super in-depth Butter London review, I‘m going to dish on everything you need to know about the brand, from their best products to customer reviews to helpful FAQs. By the end, you‘ll see why Butter London has earned a permanent spot in my beauty rotation (and why they might just become your new fave too!). Let‘s get into it!
The Scoop on Butter London
Butter London came onto the scene back in 2005 with the goal of shaking up the nail polish industry. Founder Sasha Muir teamed up with pro manicurist Nonie Creme to create a line of high-quality lacquers in fashion-forward shades, minus the typical nasty chemicals.
From day one, Butter London has been all about crafting products that are stylish and safe. They started with "3-free" nail polish formulas that nixed formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP. Then in 2013, they upped the ante with "10-free" polishes that are free of 10 common chemicals of concern like parabens, xylene, and camphor.
But Butter London polishes don‘t just get props for what they leave out. They also include nourishing, good-for-your nails ingredients like:
✔️ Vitamins E, C, and B5
✔️ Calcium
✔️ Tea tree oil
✔️ Bamboo extract
✔️ Diamond powder (yes, really!)
Since expanding beyond just nail products, Butter London has maintained their "skincare-powered beauty" philosophy. Everything they make is cruelty-free and free of parabens, mineral oil, petrolatum, sodium lauryl sulfate, phthalates, BHA and triclosan. The brand has even coined the term "skin-vestments" to describe their nutrient-packed cosmetics that help improve your skin over time. Pretty genius if you ask me!
It‘s no wonder Butter London has earned accolades from the likes of Allure, Glamour, and Elle and become a Fashion Week staple for top manicurists and makeup artists. Their polishes in particular are known for delivering salon-quality results at home.
My Review of Butter London‘s Best Sellers
Ok, now that you‘ve got the backstory, let me walk you through my experience with some of Butter London‘s most popular products. Spoiler: I‘m practically a walking Butter London ad at this point!
Patent Shine 10X Nail Lacquer
You guys, I am OBSESSED with Butter London‘s Patent Shine 10X lacquers. I tried two shades – Her Majesty‘s Red (a true red) and Afters (a dreamy teal) – and was blown away.
The formula features bamboo extract and diamond powder to help strengthen and harden nails, plus a special shock-resistant polymer that gives you gel-like cushion, wear and shine without any UV lamps or soaking. The 10-free formula means you‘re not getting any questionable chemicals either. Win-win!
The brush is really easy to work with and deposits just the right amount of product. Two thin coats gave me completely opaque coverage. I actually had to double check that I wasn‘t wearing gels – the shine was THAT good.
In terms of wear time, these definitely outlasted typical polishes on me. I got a solid 4-5 days with very minimal tip wear and chipping, even without a base or top coat, which is kind of mind-blowing for me.
The only slight downside is that the formula can take a minute to fully dry down, so you do have to be a bit careful for the first 15-20 minutes. A quick-dry top coat solves that though!
For reference, other highly-rated polishes I‘ve used are Essie Gel Couture and Olive & June – and I think Butter London blows both out of the water in terms of the gel-like finish and staying power. The shade range is fantastic too, with lots of unique and trendy options.
At $18 a pop, these are definitely pricier than the polishes you‘d grab at the drugstore. But I think the salon-level performance makes them SO worth it. I already have my eye on at least 5 more shades!
Melt Away Cuticle Exfoliator
If you struggle with dry, gunky cuticles like me, you need this product in your life. The Melt Away Cuticle Exfoliator is this thick blue gel that you massage into your cuticles to gently dissolve dead skin and soften everything up.
I was a little unsure how well this would actually work, but I‘m happy to report that it 100% lives up to the claims. After just a couple minutes, my cuticles were noticeably smoother and tidier looking – no nipping or cutting required. All the icky dead skin just wipes away. It‘s so quick and easy!
I love that the formula is clean but still effective. It contains exfoliating AHAs and BHAs to do the heavy lifting, plus aloe and apple fruit extract to soothe and hydrate. I‘ve been using it 1-2 times per week and have already noticed my cuticles looking healthier overall.
My one tip is to not let it sit for more than a minute or two before removing. I got distracted the first time I used it and left it on for probably 4-5 minutes…and ended up with slightly tender cuticles afterwards. Lesson learned! 60-90 seconds is the sweet spot.
At $18, it‘s not the cheapest cuticle treatment out there. But considering how well it works and how long the tube is lasting me, I think it‘s 100% worth the price. Goodbye, scraggly cuticles!
Double Decker Lashes Mascara
On the makeup front, I was most excited to try the Double Decker Lashes mascara after seeing it recommended by several beauty YouTubers. It promises to deliver 200% more volume, dramatic length and curl – basically the works.
The wand is definitely unique – it has this tiered bristle situation going on that looks intense but actually makes it really easy to coat every last lash. I was a little worried it would be clumpy, but that wasn‘t an issue at all.
I have pretty stubborn, stick-straight lashes and this mascara held a curl incredibly well – even without using a lash curler first. Just one coat gave me the biggest, flutteriest lashes. Seriously, I looked like I was wearing falsies! The effect is definitely dramatic, so if you‘re into a more natural look, this maybe isn‘t the mascara for you.
What I really loved is that it didn‘t smudge, flake or transfer AT ALL. My lashes still looked perfect 12+ hours later, with no raccoon eyes in sight. A lot of volumizing mascaras I‘ve tried end up smearing everywhere, so this was a very pleasant surprise! It‘s also really easy to remove with makeup remover or cleansing balm.
Formula-wise, it contains vitamin E and tea tree oil to help nourish and strengthen lashes over time. Always appreciated! It‘s a true black shade, which makes the lash-boosting effect even more intense.
At $20, Double Decker is on par with prestige mascara prices at Sephora. Considering the wow-factor results though, I‘m happy to shell out the extra dollars. I‘d say it performs just as well as my previous favorite, Too Faced Better Than Sex, if not better.
Plush Rush Lipstick
Last but not least, let‘s talk about the Plush Rush lipstick. I‘m forever on the hunt for comfortable, non-drying lipsticks with great color payoff – and this one absolutely nails it.
I got the shade Lucky, which is this gorgeous blue-based mauve-pink. It‘s the perfect mix of a neutral and a statement shade, if that makes sense? Like it definitely brightens up my face but is still wearable for everyday.
The texture is heavenly – it‘s so soft and cushiony and just feels amazing on the lips. It contains a blend of lip-loving waxes and polymers for that "plush rush" effect. No dragging or tugging whatsoever.
The color payoff is intense in the best way. One swipe yields complete, even coverage and a demi-matte finish that looks polished but not flat. It almost blurs out the look of lip lines too, which I personally love.
Despite packing a punch pigment-wise, the formula is still really lightweight and comfortable. It has solid staying power too – I got 4-5 hours of wear, even with drinking and snacking. The color wears off evenly and didn‘t leave my lips feeling parched afterwards.
My favorite detail is the chic rose gold and lucite tube with a magnetic closure. It just looks and feels so luxe to hold! Also, I‘m a sucker for anything that won‘t accidentally pop open and destroy the inside of my purse.
There are 14 shades total ranging from neutral nudes and pinks to bold berries and reds. I definitely plan on picking up a couple more!
These lipsticks are $22 each, so again, not the cheapest. But for a clean, comfortable lipstick that delivers saturated color, I‘m willing to pay a little extra. The packaging and overall experience just feel really high-end.
What Others Are Saying
Of course, I‘m just one opinion! To give you a broader view, I combed through dozens of Butter London reviews from customers and beauty experts. The consensus? This brand knows what they‘re doing.
On Butter London‘s website, their top products consistently earn 4.5+ star ratings. At Ulta, the Patent Shine 10X nail lacquers have an impressive 4.3 out of 5 based on over 1,000 reviews. People rave about the impressive shine, smooth application, and lasting wear. A few call out the higher price point, but most agree they‘re well worth the splurge.
The Double Decker mascara and Plush Rush lipstick have earned similar praise for their impact and comfortable, long-wearing formulas. One Ulta reviewer said Double Decker "provides the false lash look without the fuss" and another said Plush Rush was "the most luxurious lipstick I have ever used."
Beauty editors are on board too. Butter London products have won awards and earned write-ups in major publications like:
- Allure
- Glamour
- Cosmopolitan
- Byrdie
- Refinery29
- Well+Good
Butter London has also received love from makeup artists and nail pros who have used the products on A-list celebrities for red carpet events and photoshoots. Noted fans include Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, Kerry Washington, and Viola Davis to name a few.
All in all, Butter London products have developed a reputation for delivering high-impact, camera-ready results while still being gentle and non-toxic. While no product is one-size-fits-all, the overwhelmingly positive feedback speaks for itself IMO!
FAQs on Butter London
To round out this Butter London review, I wanted to answer some frequently asked questions about the brand. If there‘s anything else you‘re dying to know, feel free to DM me!
Is Butter London vegan and cruelty-free?
Yes! Butter London is certified cruelty-free by PETA and Leaping Bunny. All of their products are vegan as well, with the exception of a couple lip products that contain beeswax.
What is 10-free nail polish?
10-free refers to nail polish made without 10 major toxins and chemicals of concern commonly found in traditional lacquer. Butter London 10-free polishes exclude:
- Formaldehyde
- Formaldehyde resin
- Toluene
- DBP
- Camphor
- Ethyl tosylamide
- Xylene
- Parabens
- Acetone
- TPHP
Instead, they include nourishing, strengthening ingredients like vitamin E, bamboo extract, and diamond powder to help improve nail quality over time.
What does clean makeup mean?
While there‘s no official definition, clean makeup usually refers to products formulated without ingredients that have been linked to harmful health effects. At Butter London, clean means leaving out parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, formaldehyde, and more.
How long does Butter London nail polish last?
With the Patent Shine 10X formula, I‘ve personally gotten 4-5 days of wear with very minimal chipping – even without a base or top coat. Several other reviewers have reported up to 7-10 days of wear. Of course, everyone‘s body chemistry is different and certain activities can affect longevity. But in general, these polishes have great staying power!
Are Butter London products safe for sensitive skin?
With gentle, non-toxic formulas free of common irritants, Butter London products tend to work well for sensitive skin. However, it‘s always a good idea to check the full ingredient list and do a patch test first if you have specific allergies or skin issues. When in doubt, consult your dermatologist!
Where can I buy Butter London?
You can purchase Butter London products directly from their website, butterlondon.com. They also have a store locator to find retailers near you, including Ulta, Nordstrom, Macy‘s, and Amazon.
Does Butter London have sales or promotions?
Butter London typically offers a couple sitewide sales throughout the year, like 30% off for Black Friday. You can also sometimes find value sets that let you try multiple products at a slight discount. I recommend signing up for their email list to be the first to know about any promos!
The Final Verdict on Butter London
Alrighty my friend, we‘ve reached the end of this super long Butter London review. If you‘ve stuck with me this far, I commend you – and appreciate you letting me geek out about nail polish and lipstick for a hot sec!
I think it‘s pretty clear by now, but I‘m a huge fan of Butter London. The brand has seriously raised the bar for clean, high-performance nail and beauty products in my book. Every product I‘ve tried from them has delivered exactly what it‘s promised and then some.
I know some people might be hesitant about the higher price point, which I totally get. But I‘m a firm believer that you get what you pay for, and with Butter London, you‘re getting top-tier formulas, good-for-you ingredients, and the most beautiful packaging. It all just feels really luxurious and special.
Some of my top picks to start with:
- Patent Shine 10X lacquers for the shiniest, longest-lasting DIY mani
- Melt Away Cuticle Exfoliator for soft, neat cuticles without nipping
- Double Decker mascara for insanely voluminous, miles-long lashes
- Plush Rush lipstick for creamy, saturated color that feels amazing
Ultimately, if you‘re looking to treat yourself to clean beauty products that perform like the most boujee makeup and nail care…I think you‘ll love Butter London. They‘ve definitely made me a believer!
As always, I hope this Butter London review has been helpful and given you all the deets you need to make the best decision for you and your beauty routine. Feel free to drop any other questions below – I‘m always happy to chat!
