Behind the Line: RGB Cosmetics's Gina Carney

Allure Daily Beauty Reporter

By Sophia Panych, Allure magazine

Gina Carney, RGB Cosmetics' cooler-than-cool founder and creator, recently stopped by Allure to show us her fall collection. I'm pretty familiar with her line of all-natural polishes, so I took the opportunity to learn more about Carney's story-and how her brand came to be a favorite of manicurists, celebrities, and fashionistas alike.

So, how did you end up founding RGB?

I was always mixing and layering colors because I could never find the exact shade I needed, and when I was working as a sales associate at Barney's in Chicago people would constantly compliment me on my nails. All the positive feedback on my color concoctions finally inspired me to create my own line of polishes, so I packed up and headed to Los Angeles in May 2008, and by June of 2009, RGB was launched.

Why was it important for the line to be green?

To me, being green isn't a fad, it's part of my lifestyle-so I always felt the line needed to reflect that. I didn't even approach manufacturers that I knew wouldn't be able to make what I wanted. And we're actually "five free" which means we don't include formaldehyde, formaldehyde-resin, DBP, camphor, or toluene.

How many colors did you launch with?

We started out with 10 shades, calling them the RGB Ten. They were minimalist shades like the classic red, taupe, black, and white, that I felt everyone needed in their polish collection. Now we're up to 26 shades, including a base and top coat.

Were you always a nail fanatic?

I was always a fan of nail polish and I always had to have a manicure-having clean nails is very important to me. But my background was in fashion, both in terms of my education and early career choices.

So did you have a collection of hundreds of polishes before you launched RGB?

Actually no, I don't like clutter and I don't like having too much stuff. I had the basics, one red, one black, but then the company would tweak it or discontinue it, so I'd have to go and look for a new one, or mix and layer to create the exact shade I wanted.

Do you have a shade you are most proud of?

I'd have to say Toast. It was part of the first collection after RBG Ten was released back in August 2009. I created it long before the greige trend hit the market, and to this day it's still our best selling shade!

How does your background in fashion influence RGB?

I create all my new colors by looking at the fashion trends for that season. Like for the fall collection, I was inspired by the fabrics and textures I saw on the runway, as well as all the anoraks and army green we saw. Our polishes are sold in high-end boutiques alongside clothing, so I think it's important that they stand up to that.

You're launching "nail foundations" along with your fall collection? Can you tell me a little about these?

I collaborated on these with celebrity "green" manicurist Jenna Hipp, who has been a fan and supporter of RGB since the beginning. She approached me with the idea of nail foundations and we began to create the collection. They work just like foundation for the face, offering full coverage, hiding nail imperfections and enhancing your natural skin tone. They're available in four shades and will retail for $16.

Can you share with us some of your best nail tips? Do you usually get a manicure or do it yourself?

I do both. When I get a manicure I love to go to the Tamara Dahill Salon in Toluca Lake, and since they carry my entire line I don't have to bring my own. My best tip for doing your own nails though is to make sure to clean them before applying the base coat. This removes the oils and allows the base and polish to adhere to the nail. Also, using base and top coats from the same line ensures the best results since those formulas are created to work together.

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Photo Credit: Courtesy of RGB