Makeup Monday

nails by eegrego160 featuring deborah lippmann

Moroccanoil styling product, $46 / Deborah Lippmann / Julep nail treatment / Essie , $16 / butter LONDON Handbag Holiday Cuticle Oil / Blade Rubber Stamps Blade Rubber Stamps Blade Rubber - Corners Scroll..., $4.82

One of my must-have items is cuticle oil. I am obsessed with cuticle oil. It makes my nails always look fresh - even between fill-ins or new manicures.

 I have several different brands in various dispensers. One of my all time favorites is a $4.99 bottle from Sally Beauty. I have had the same bottle for at least two years. It's huge. It comes with a brush and I keep it on my vanity.

 Every time I wash my hands, I put on my oil and hand lotion. I have a tube with a roller ball from Julep that I keep on my desk at work and in my purse. This one is quickly becoming a favorite of mine because of the scent alone. It reminds me of the spa at the Aria hotel.

 I also use my oil on my tootsies! Gotta keep those toe cuticles looking good, too.

 I love looking at different photos of polish colors on non-celebs. The one thing that bothers me is when the cuticles are dry and just plain raggedy. Nothing (except the polish island) can make your nails look worse.

 I posted the Moroccan oil as a possible cuticle oil. Why not? It's oily AND it smells delicious! A little pricey for cuticle oil, but what the hey!

Another one that I used a lot was one by Deborah Lippman. Again - the smell is divine.

 Happy Monday!

Shellac

How many of you ladies have used the Shellac polishes?  I kept hearing about it and how wonderful it was, but never actually got around to using it until just recently. I had the pleasure of having my finger and toenails done recently on our cruise. The system my tech, Tandy (love her), used was by CND (Creative Nail Design). It promises:

• 14- day wear
• Mirror Finish
• Zero Dry Time
• No Nail Damage

 

  I am on Day 3 of my fingernails and Day 4 for my toes. They look amazing! Seriously, they dried in no time and are SUPER shiny. I used to do the acrylic nail thing, but decided to grow my own nails out instead about a year or so ago. I was a HUGE acrylic French mani girl.  I recently started using all sorts of colored polishes - thanks to Julep, NARS, Chanel, etc. I must say I am now sold on the Shellac system in the Frenchie for my fingernails.  I only hope I can find someone here who can them them like Tandy!  On my toenails, I opted for a coral color. So pretty - especially in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean!

 Basically, they apply the polish and you put your hands under a UV light to dry them. I've been thinking of purchasing one for my regular polish changes at home- just to speed up the drying process. I am completely sold!

 So, have you tried it? Do you think you will? What are your thoughts about it if you have tried it out?

Makeup Monday

Photo credit: Cafe Mom

This isn't actually a makeup post. It's a Mani post. Given the fact that spring is upon us, I thought it would be neat to post about how to give yourself the perfect manicure. I used to be the girl who always had the perfect French manicure. How in the world could I ever have anything else on my nails? I was "traumatized" when stylist claimed that the French manicure would become a thing of the past - 25 years ago! Mind you, that was quite a while ago and I have learned there are quite a few more important things to be "traumatized" over. Anyway, my wearing of  only the French manicure has ceased - for a little while anyway. I discovered I liked  colored polish on my nails.Maybe it stems from the fact that my three year old niece and I have a wonderful bonding time when she comes over and I paint her fingernails and toenails. Her little nails look so cute with the bright pink she loves - OPI no less. My current faves are both by Chanel, but I've seen some Essie ones I'd like to try as well. Having artificial nails requires every two weeks (or less depending on nail growth) nail maintenance. I honestly used to love having this done.  Doing my nails at home, I can change the polish anytime I want. Anytime as long as I have an hour to spare. I still suggest going at least once a month to have a good manicure done - cuticles, buffing,etc.  But for those in between times, I suggest DIY.
OPI  has the neatest tool. You can actually try the polish out on a hand - on line. You adjust nail length and skin tone. PERFECT!
I typically do a polish change while I am writing blog posts or surfing the net. However, I found this perfect little How-to guide from Fashion Allure's website:
12 easy steps to the perfect manicure:

1. Schedule at least one hour for the whole process and another hour for drying.
2. Prepare necessary tools: a few washable pads, a nail polish remover, a wooden stick, a nail olive, a nail file, a nail polisher, a nail conditioner and a fancy lacquer.
3. Remove the old nail polish remains with an acetone-free remover.
4. Apply some nail olive (olive oil) onto your cuticles. Leave it for a while until they get soft and get rid of the unwanted cuticles with a wooden stick. Be gentle.
5. Get the right nail shape with a nail file (have you tried a glass one?). Short rounded nails are on-trend now.
6. Use a nail polisher but remember not to do it more than once in a week.
7. Remove nail olive (olive oil) with a remover, wash your hands with a soap and make sure your hands are dry.
8. Apply a thin coat of nail conditioner. Wait until dry.
9. Apply a first (thin) coat of a nail polish, remember to do it thoroughly. Wait.
10. Apply a second one, this time using some more nail polish.
11. Use a nail dryer while on a rush or a cold cold water.
12. Now relax on a couch, watch a telly or do anything you like as long as it doesn’t involve your hands

Remember to wear rubber gloves when doing household chores involving water or chemicals and garden gloves for yard work. This will save your manicure.