Established 2017 • Melbourne Made
Our Timeline | Australia’s First Dropper Cuticle Oil
From a clinical afterthought to a salon desk staple, this is how Unicorn Lab rewrote the rules of Australian nail care and turned cuticle oil into a product clients actually wanted to use.
2015–2016 • The Beginning
From Frustration to Formulation
This is how I rewrote the rules of Australian nail care.
My journey didn't start in a boardroom; it started out of pure frustration. Back in 2015, I spent years salon-hopping, desperately trying to find a nail tech who could execute the high-level nail art I wanted. When I couldn't find one, I decided to do it myself.
I started my own business focused exclusively on the kind of art you couldn't get at standard salons, and spent the next few years relentlessly taking classes and upskilling.
By late 2016, I launched Emerson Crystals, becoming an authorized Swarovski distributor for nail techs. But my brain was always looking for the next creative outlet.
2017 • The Epiphany
The Epiphany & The Generic Bottle
In early 2017, I branched out into a new project: Black Mica Cosmetics. My goal was to create highly pigmented liquid highlighters and pressed pigment palettes.
One day, while mixing these liquid highlighters, I stared down at the swirly potion in front of me. I was absolutely mesmerized. It was stunning—unlike anything I had ever seen. My brain went into overdrive. I HAD to do more with this, but what?
Then, my eyes settled on a bottle of cuticle oil. It was a completely generic wholesale oil with a label that literally just said "CUTICLE OIL 250ml"—no brand, no details, and absolutely no ingredients listed.
I grabbed an empty dropper bottle that was designed for my liquid highlighters, poured the mixture in, shook it, and applied it.
I sat there in shock. The product was gorgeous, and the dropper applicator was absolute genius. Why did no one sell it this way? A hygienic dropper felt so... luxe. I ran to Google and searched every major brand dominating the Australian market—Sally Hansen, OPI, CND.
Nope. All brush bottles.
A hygienic dropper just made sense, and no one was doing it. I immediately purchased 50 clear 15ml dropper bottles and hit the fragrance suppliers, eventually settling on the first five scents: Bubblegum, Skittles, Watermelon, Strawberry Cocktail, and Berry. We still carry this scent range today.
Formula Research • Transparency From The Start
The Chemistry: What Was Actually in Cuticle Oil?
I spent weeks deep-diving into cosmetic chemistry. What was actually in the cuticle oil we were all blindly using? What I found horrified me. The market was dominated with fillers, often hidden behind buzzwords like "Repair Serum", "Nail Strengthening Serum" or "Vitamin E", even when the ingredient list told a very different story.
Ingredients that shaped the “No” list
- Silicones: Commonly used for slip and a silky feel, but they mainly improve surface texture rather than contributing plant-based conditioning lipids.
- Mineral Oils: Often used to reduce moisture loss, but primarily act as an occlusive barrier rather than a source of conditioning oils.
- Ethyl Acetate: A fast-evaporating solvent used in nail products, which can contribute to a drier feel if not carefully balanced.
- Propylparaben: A preservative used to extend shelf life, but some brands choose alternatives for frequent-use skin-contact products.
- Heavy nut oils and wheat germ: Allergy concerns, heavier skin feel, scent-clashing potential and shorter shelf-life considerations.
The 500 Dalton Rule
I came across the 500 Dalton Rule in dermatology, which suggests that smaller molecules are generally more likely to pass through the skin barrier. While this principle is often discussed in transdermal science, it highlighted an important point when reviewing cuticle oil formulations.
Many oils on the market felt heavy or greasy, sitting on the surface rather than absorbing efficiently. I wanted a lightweight, fast-absorbing formula that conditions both the nail surface and surrounding skin without leaving a greasy residue.
The Unicorn Oil formula direction
- Fractionated Coconut Oil: A fast-absorbing, highly stable oil that acts as a lightweight base for daily use.
- Jojoba Oil: Known for lightweight conditioning and a soft skin feel without a heavy residue.
- Moroccan Argan Oil: A deeply conditioning oil rich in Vitamin E and squalene. While primarily surface-acting, it helps hold smaller nutrients against the skin, allowing them to be absorbed over time. This contributes to soft, hydrated skin, reduces water loss, and supports nail flexibility to help prevent lifting or cracking.
- Pure Vitamin E: Included to complement the Vitamin E naturally present in Argan oil and support a conditioned nail and cuticle area.
Why the formula matters today
That ingredient research became part of the wider Unicorn Lab standard: a lightweight, fast-absorbing, vegan and nut-free formulation approach that moved cuticle oil away from generic afterthought and into daily manicure aftercare.
Explore the current Unicorn Oil formula and range, or compare formats through the bulk refill collection.
A Decade of Disruption
The Unicorn Lab Timeline
What began as a 250ml generic bottle experiment became a Melbourne-made cuticle oil range, a retail salon-supply store, a scent-led client experience and a private label manufacturing pathway for nail professionals.
The Rebellion Begins
After I settled on the formula, and collected myself from the realization consumers had blind trust in the products we were sold, it was time to make my cuticle oil. I was obsessed with the way they looked and smelled in the clear glass dropper bottles. It was unlike anything I had seen in the Australian market: unique, new, a Unicorn in the cuticle world. Unicorn Oil.
- July: I made 10 of each scent with a DIY label. I sold out in 3 hours. Techs demanded more. I was also named a Nail Rep for Nail Perfect Australia.
- August - September: I upgraded to round labels, released 30 of each scent, and introduced branded boxed packaging—an industry first for cuticle oil. We gained local media attention, and I pledged $1 from every oil to Beyond Blue, raising nearly $1000.
- October: The 5ml Mini was born. It was another industry first to offer multiple size options. I also hired Elisa to join the team to keep up with restocks.
- December: I took the brand to the public with my first market stall in Werribee.
Recognition & Evolution
- By March, the Unicorn Oil line had expanded to 20 scents.
- Awards Season: I won 2nd place in Photographic Nail Art at the West Coast Cup, and 1st place at the Brisbane Hair & Beauty Expo. By September, I was named Digital Influencer of the Year (AUS/NZ) and featured on the front page of my local paper.
- The Educator’s Edge: In October, I formally became an International Nail Perfect Educator.
- Bottle Rebrand: I introduced professional Scent Menus to the industry and upgraded my bottles to feature my printed logo in gold to match the brand at the time.
- December: Emerson Crystals officially rebranded to Unicorn Lab. I released Deviate Nail Magazine, selling nearly 500 hard copies, and started a YouTube channel to educate the public on industry truths like "The Gel Powder Scam."
The Retail Store Era Begins
- March 2019: I attended my first nail trade show as a stallholder selling Swarovski and Unicorn Oil.
- July 2019: I attended Nail Fest Sydney as a stallholder.
- YouTube: I posted my first YouTube series dedicated to nail education and debunking nail scams.
The Preston Store & The Lockdown
- March 2020: I hosted the Victoria Nail Retreat—a 3-night camp with yoga, business workshops, and nail classes. It was a massive success, just one week before the COVID-19 lockdowns hit.
- April 2020: Crazy, I know, but I signed a lease and started shop renovations. We added waterslides and glitter to our lineup.
- June 2020: I announced the opening of Unicorn Lab in Preston, but our doors were open and closed periodically to the public due to lockdown. I also added glitter to our product line.
- October 2020: To cope with the endless lockdowns, I changed our LED shop sign on Bell Street daily with lockdown-related references such as "This year has been all panic, and no disco" and "Keep calm, only 83658 more days of lockdown to go" just to keep myself and the locals entertained.
- December 2020: I released Tramp Stamp stamping polish.
More Fragrance, More Format Innovation
- 2021: We rebranded our bottles to white lids with a pink logo and continued to add more fragrances to the line. We released Candy Couture, a full gel extension system.
- 2022: We launched our personal 3ml cuticle oil twist pens, added 30mls to our Unicorn Oil range, and celebrated another rebrand with new and improved box designs for our 5ml, 15ml and 30ml. Our droppers changed from white to pink.
- 2023: When our lease ended, we moved back to online-only retail to balance family and work life without sacrificing our quality.
- 2024: We rebranded to pink cuticle oil pens and changed the 15ml and 30ml packaging to luxury-feel magnetic close boxes, while also expanding into Room Sprays.
Empowering the Industry
- We officially surpassed 70+ handcrafted scented cuticle oils in our signature line.
- We launched the DIY Lab, a manufacturing portal allowing nail techs a private-label service to create their own custom Melbourne-made nail serum brand for their own salons.
- Our Scent Matchmaker quiz pairs you with your personal scent vibes, while the Bottle Visualizer and Refill Calculator help customers and professionals plan their next format.
- Unicorn Lab’s cuticle oils became Australian Made certified, supporting the next stage of local manufacturing, wholesale growth and brand trust.
I didn't just join the Australian nail industry. I took a generic 250ml bottle of unmarked cuticle oil, an empty liquid highlighter, and a refusal to accept the status quo, and I completely rewrote the rules.
Today cuticle oil with dropper applicators are now the industry standard for many brands. With many choosing to add their own aesthetic shimmer.
The Wider Industry Shift
The Evolution of Cuticle Care: 2010 to Today
Why 2017 Was the Turning Point
Before 2017, your only choice for cuticle care was a brush-on bottle, with ingredients you didn't understand, and a product you felt no value in using. By borrowing the glass dropper format from the world of high-end facial serums, we proved that nail care could be both premium and hygienic.
While the "Big Three" legacy brands were still manufacturing millions of brush-on bottles, we were hand-making sparkly, dropper-dispensed oils right here in Melbourne. We didn't just follow a trend; we created the blueprint for what modern Australian nail care looks like today.
Why The Brush-On Format Was Flawed
From Functional to Experiential
Before 2017, the nail care industry largely treated skincare and nail hydration as separate. Products rarely addressed the needs of the skin around the nails, stopping at the wrist, and formulations reflected that. Through my experience as an educator, I identified three key gaps in the market:
1. Cross-Contamination Risks
Traditional brush-in-bottle applicators meant technicians were dipping the same brush into the bottle repeatedly, creating the potential for bacteria and skin cells to mix into the product.
2. Reduced Product Quality
Repeated exposure could cause oils to become cloudy, lose potency, or oxidize faster than expected, shortening their useful life.
3. Limited Sensory Appeal
Many oils were purely functional—lightly scented or clinical—offering little in terms of visual appeal or enjoyable application.
How Unicorn Lab Broke The Mold
What Changed From 2017 Onwards
Apothecary-Grade Hygiene
In early 2017, we introduced the professional glass dropper in Australia, applying clean beauty standards typically reserved for high-end facial serums. This innovation minimized contamination risk and helped ensure each drop remained fresh and potent.
Visual Innovation
While many brands relied on simple, unremarkable formulations, we developed our original sparkly formula, turning nail treatment into a product that was both functional and visually appealing—something clients genuinely wanted to use.
Pioneering Leadership
By the time a major international brand introduced a dropper-based line globally in 2017, Unicorn Lab had already established itself as the local innovator in Australia. Rather than following the market, we were helping define it.
The Legacy of Transparency
From one bottle to Australia’s most recognisable scented cuticle oil experience.
Today, that same spirit of innovation drives our Clear Beauty standard. We’ve evolved from addressing hygiene to focusing on formulation science—ensuring our 12-free, vegan, allergy-conscious oils are not only clean in name, but effective in supporting nail and cuticle health. What began with a new delivery system has now expanded into thoughtfully engineered formulations designed for real results. This commitment to both safety and performance is what sets Unicorn Oil apart in the Australian market.
This is why we call Unicorn Oil - the best cuticle oil in Australia.