Quick answer
Treat kids' nail polish and stickers like a small craft kit: apply thin coats on clean, dry nails, remove peel-off polish by soaking rather than picking, and store the bottles upright with lids tight. A little unicorn nail polish set stays usable longer when stickers go back in their sheet and polish never sits in direct sun.
Set up a spill-friendly workspace before the first coat
Work at a table covered with a washable mat or a sheet of parchment paper, and keep a damp paper towel within reach. Have your child rest their hand flat on the table rather than holding it in the air, which reduces wobble and drips. Keep the polish bottle on the mat between coats so a tip-over stays contained.
Why thin coats matter for peel-off polish
Peel-off formulas release cleanly only when each layer is thin and fully dry. A thick blob may look dry on top while staying soft underneath, so it tears and leaves residue when peeled. Two thin coats usually outperform one heavy coat, and they also cut drying time.
Keep stickers separate from wet polish
Stickers applied over tacky polish slide out of place and pick up lint. Let polish dry completely before adding stickers, and press each sticker down at the edges so it stays put through handwashing. Return unused stickers to their backing sheet right away; loose stickers curl and lose their adhesive.
Step-by-step care routine
- 1. Prep nails and workspace: Wipe each nail with a dry tissue to remove oils, then lay out a washable mat and a damp paper towel. Keep bottles capped until you are ready to paint. Checkpoint: nails are completely dry before the first coat.
- 2. Apply two thin coats: Brush a thin layer from cuticle to tip, let it dry, then add a second thin layer. Avoid flooding the skin around the nail. Common mistake: one thick coat, which dries unevenly and peels in patches.
- 3. Let polish dry fully before stickers: Wait until the surface feels firm and no longer tacky, then press stickers on and smooth their edges down. Checkpoint: a sticker stays flat when your child bends their finger.
- 4. Remove peel-off polish by soaking, not picking: Soak fingertips in warm water for a minute, dry them, then lift an edge and peel slowly. If it resists, soak again rather than scraping. Common mistake: picking at a dry edge, which leaves flakes and can tug the nail.
- 5. Clean bottles and close them tightly: Wipe the bottle neck and threads with a damp paper towel, then screw the cap on firmly. Store bottles upright in the tin or a cool drawer away from sunlight. Checkpoint: no polish residue on the threads, so the cap will not stick next time.
- 6. Refresh stickers and check the set: Return unused stickers to their backing sheet, flatten curled edges, and discard any sticker that has lost its adhesive. Check bottles for leaks before closing the tin. Next step: store the closed tin in a dry spot, not a bathroom where humidity can affect adhesive.
Product facts that affect care
- Martinelia Little Unicorn Nail Polish & Stickers Combo: The Martinelia Little Unicorn Nail Polish & Stickers Combo comes in an illustrated tin case with three nail polishes and stickers. The tin doubles as storage, so returning bottles and stickers to it after play keeps the set together and protects bottles from rolling off a table.
- Martinelia Magical Unicorn Lip Gloss & Tatttoo Stamp: The Martinelia Magical Unicorn Lip Gloss & Tattoo Stamp is packaged in a unicorn-shaped tube and comes in two colors. If your child also uses this gloss, wipe the applicator and close the tube after use so shimmer and color stay contained and the tube does not leak in a bag.
