Making Your Mani Last

Doing your nails takes time and effort, so I try to keep my manicure looking as fresh as possible for as long as possible.  Chips and peels can look really sloppy, so take some of these simple measures to prolong the life of your polish:

1.  Wear gloves to wash your dishes 
Dish washing gloves will not only save your nails, but your skin too.  That prolonged exposure to water and dish soap can dry out your skin as well as take a toll on your nails.  In addition, handling all of those dishes can scratch polish.  I just keep a pair of gloves next to my sink so that I never forget to wear them.  It takes almost no effort to put them on and keeps your hands looking and feeling so much nicer.

2.  Start wearing a base coat
Many of us like to skip the base coat, but it's equally as important as the top coat.  A base coat like the Essie First Base Base Coat ($8.50 at Ulta) will help create a sticky surface on which your nail polish can cling.  The base will also prevent your polish from seeping into your nails and causing discoloration or damage.  Just make sure that you're using a base coat, not simply a clear nail polish or a top coat (a base and top coat combo product is perfectly fine).  It's a quick and easy step that will really make a difference!  Like a base coat can attract polish, oily substances can cause a barrier between your nail and polish.  Don't moisturize your hands right before you apply polish unless you wipe down each nail afterwards.  The moisturizer will sit on nails and prevent the polish from drying and sticking to your nail properly.  Also, be sure to remove any cuticle oil that you have applied.

 
3.  Choose your top coat wisely
A top coat is also important in putting a protective barrier between your polish and the outside world.  It's most convenient to opt for top coats that will quick dry your nail polish.  But to keep your polish sealed onto your nail for a long time, look for "no chip" formulas like the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat ($6 in drugstores), which happens to have a quick dry formula (dries in 30 seconds).  Most top coats have some form of protection against UV related fading/discoloration.  For summer days in the sun, look for a specific UV top coat like the Avon Nail Experts UV Gloss Guard Top Coat ($6.50 on avon.com).  It also leaves nails beautifully glossy.  To make your mani extra long-lasting, refresh your top coat every 2-3 days.

4.  Skip the hand sanitizer
Although alcohol doesn't remove nail color completely, it can definitely remove the finish on your nail polish, discolor it, or allow it to chip more easily.  Since most hand sanitizers contain alcohol to kill germs, constantly using them can wear away at your nail color.  Instead, try to wash with soap and water if you can.  I have also found that hand sanitizers with natural alcohol are a little bit more gentle as well.  For example, the Jao Hand Refresher ($10 on amazon.com) is formulated with alcohol derived from grapes as well as other natural antiseptic oils.  This natural product kills germs without the harshness that can over dry skin and eat away at nail polish.


5.  Change the color of your polish
In general, dark polishes and matte finishes tend to be the most obvious when they chip.  So, try light, shimmery pink shades, which provide less of a contrast with skin color and deflect light.  They make for a very classic, elegant look that matches with any outfit.  When these polishes chip, they look way neater than darker colors.  Zoya Nail Polish in Melanie ($8 on zoya.com) is a nice light shimmery pink color, and Zoya is one of my favorite brands because it's Big 5-free!  Glittery polishes also deflect light, but I find that many of these formulas peel more easily. 

I find that I my manicures usually hold up for about a week, but I definitely experience some chipping along the way, which can get on my nerves.  We don't usually have time to redo our nails multiple times per week...unless you can do it fast.  Sometimes, I just can't stand chips and prefer to do a quick polish change mid-week.  Just soak of the polish with the Sephora Collection Instant Nail Polish Remover ($10 at Sephora).  This product is my favorite remover because it makes removing polish effortless.  You simply insert your nail into the sponge opening in the bottle, and the nail polish dissolves instantly.  And with no strong unpleasant remover smell.  

Then, apply some Sally Hansen Insta Dri Fast Dry Nail Color ($5 at

Ulta).  With the way that the brush is designed, you only need 1 stroke, and the formula is thick enough, where you only need 1 coat.  As the name implies, it dries in 60 seconds.  So, the whole process (including removal and dry time) takes 10 minutes.  The Insta Dri polish definitely chips faster than regular polish (it usually lasts 3-4 days for me), but it's definitely a lot quicker and more convenient. Two Insta Dri manis end up keeping my nails looking neater with the same amount of time that it would take to do 1 manicure with ordinary nail polish and remover.

How do you keep your mani looking fresh?

How to Fake a Gel Mani

When it comes to my mani, I'm all about the shine...and I've found the shiniest of shiny top coats, Sally Hansen Big Shiny Top Coat ($6 at Ulta).  I put it over my nail polish one day and was delighted to see that it made my polish look as shiny as a gel formula.  The thicker formula makes it look glossier than any other top coat that I've tried and helps protect your polish from chipping.  This is a great gel-alternative for me.  Even though I really like the mirror shine of gel manicures, I don't generally get them because I find that they can be a little too harsh on my nails.  Luckily, I can fake one with Big Shiny.  For the optimal gel effect, use Big Shiny over a thicker polish formula.  I used Sally Hansen Insta Dri ($5 at Ulta), but you can also try Revlon ColorStay Longwear Nail Enamel ($8 at Ulta).

One of these pictures is a gel mani and one is a Big Shiny mani.  Can you tell which one is which?

Marble Nails

I'm usually pretty conservative with my nails...I tend to go with the French mani look because it's simple, classy, and matches with everything.  But I must say that sometimes, seeing all of the fun, bright nail colors in stores, makes me more adventurous with my nails.  I'm pretty awful with nail art, so I've found that marbling it is a quick and easy way to spice up my manicure.

Use your nail polish brush and drop a dot of each color (that's about 1/4 the size of your nail) on your nail. It works best with "gooey" formulas like Sally Hansen Insta Dri ($5.49 at drugstores) or Revlon Colorstay Longwear ($7.99).  I prefer the Sally Hansen Insta Dri because it as you can infer from its name, it dries in 60 seconds (just make sure you seal it with a top coat to prevent chipping).  Then, take a toothpick, and swirl the colors together in a circular motion, covering the surface of your nail.  And voila!  You have nails that are interesting, yet not over the top.

Sally Hansen 2013 Limited Edition Rent the Runway Insta Dri Collection in Style Steel and Pink Fast.


What do you think?

Glitter French Mani - Yay or Nay?

I simply LOVE French manicures because they're clean, elegant, and most importantly, they match with anything.  

French tends to be my default nail style.  But today, I decided to add some sparkles to my mani to spice up the look while still keeping it professional.

Get the look...

• 1 coat of Sally Hansen Salon Manicure Smooth and Strong Base Coat ($7.99 at Ulta):  ALWAYS use a base coat to protect against polish seeping into your nails (causing them to turn yellow)  I find that the Sally Hansen one is pretty fortifying and protective. 
• 1 coat of NYC Long Wearing Nail Enamel in French White Tip ($0.99 in drugstores):  I know a lot of people, who struggle with
  
  painting the tips, like to use white nail art pens.  Those pens may give you a smoother application, but an actual brush will give you more control when you are painting, and polish formulas generally stay on better.  I like the NYC white polish for French manis because the brush is relatively thin, and the formula has a higher viscosity...perfect for nail tips!  Considering how cheap this stuff is, it lasts a pretty long time, which is always a bonus.
• 1 coat of Essie Nail Enamel in Mademoiselle ($8 at Ulta):  Really you can use any
  
  sheer pink (or other color) that you'd like.  I like the Essie polishes in general because I find that they're more long-lasting than other brands. Mademoiselle is a nice balance between sheer and color.  However, it may be too pink for those of you, who prefer a more nude French mani.
• 1 coat of Confetti Long Wearing Nail Color in Dreamdate ($1.99 at
  
  CVS):  This is actually my first time using a Confetti polish.  So far, I'm liking it.  The brush is really nice, and the color is just what I was looking for (An ultra sheer pink with tiny glitter particles).  We'll see how it holds up!  But if you want a more matte, sparkle-free look, trade this coat for another coat of Essie Mademoiselle.
• 1 coat of Sally Hansen Mega Shine Extended Wear Top Coat ($6.99 at Ulta): 
  
  When it comes to finish, I'm all about the shine.  The shiniest top coat that I've used is Mega Shine...I absolutely obsessed with it.  Don't forgo the top coat!  It sets the whole look and keeps your polish from chipping as quickly. 

What do you think about a French mani with a little bit of sparkle?

A Manicure That Can Withstand a Week at the Beach

Have you heard about gels, the latest craze in nail color?  How do you they work?  Similar to regular nail polish, you apply a gel base coat, then as many coats of the gel color as you desire, and finally, a gel top coat.  Each coat must be cured for 30 seconds with a UV LED light.  Afterwards, there will be a little bit of an oily residue left on your nail, which you simply wipe off with an alcohol wipe.  

The biggest names in the business currently are Sally Hansen, Nailene SensatioNail, Kiss Everlasting, Red Carpet, and OPI.  Most of these brands sell some type of starter kit, which include all of the products that you need for a few gel manicures, refill kits, and individual gel polish colors.  Gels are definitely pricier than nail enamel.  Starter kits will be at least $50 (LED lamps are expensive to produce!), and a bottle of gel nail polish will be at least $10.  But, at a normal nail salon a gel manicure can cost around $25.  The DIY kits are pretty easy to use, so it's a great cost-efficient way to get those elegant gel nails.

Why are gels great? 

• They last 2 weeks with a shiny finish and no chips no matter how much cooking or cleaning you may do - very professional looking!
• No dry time - After you cure the last coat, you're done :)

The downside?

• The removal process is pretty awful I must say.  You have to soak your fingertips in a special gel remover for 15 minutes to loosen up the formula before you scrape it off.  Many people claim that gels damage your nails.  If you don't remove it properly, it definitely can.  It's super tempting to try to rip the gels off before the 15 minutes is up when you see the first sign of peeling.  You really need to wait the full 15 minutes and perhaps even longer until there is no longer any polish stuck to your nail. 
• The LED lamp does emit UV light, which can increase your risk of developing skin cancer.  Personally, when I use it, I always slather some sunscreens onto my fingers as a precautionary measure.
• Gels are a thicker formula than regular nail enamel, which means that you have to be a little bit more precise.  If you make a mistake, you can't simply wipe it off instantly or clean up around your cuticles with regular nail polish remover.  Another reason why you really need to be careful that you don't get any gel on your skin during the application process is that in order to harden, the gel polish is transformed under UV light.  If there is any gel polish on your skin, you will feel a slight burning sensation.

Since gels are a relatively new on the market, there is a smaller shade selection available across brands.  As I mentioned, gels give you a more professional look, meaning that they are less suitable for funky nail art looks because they come in more traditional colors and in fewer "fun" shades.  They are also thicker and a little bit harder to work with for nail art.  Many brands are however, branching out and beginning to offer classic nail styles in gel form.  Nailene Sensationail, for example, sells French, shimmer, metallic, magnetic,

and glitter gels.  Additionally, Sally Hansen produced their famous Salon Effects nail appliques in gel form with their Insta Gel Strips ($15 at Ulta).  Basically, they work just like regular gels, but the gel is in a sticker that you stick on your nails.  They definitely don't hold up as well as traditional gel polish (they peel more easily).  The nice thing though is that they remove with ordinary acetone nail polish remover.  And they come in cool patterns and prints that are hard to create with traditional gels.

In my opinion, gels are a cool concept, but I'm just a little concerned about the potential health risks associated with using them consistently.  Frequent exposure to the UV light is definitely dangerous and risk of cancer is even stated as a warning on the packaging of gel kits.  As with new drugs, we don't know enough about gels yet.  I am still a little bit cautious of the formula because we don't know if prolonged use can permanently damage your nails or worse, your respiratory system (due to the fumes).  There are already debates as to whether or not gels damage your nails.  If you don't remove them properly, they definitely can.  Even if you do remove them properly, many people that I've talked to, have found that although they don't necessarily weaken your nails, gels are definitely harder on your nails then regular polishes are.  For those of you, who use gels regularly, try a fortifying and conditioning nail treatment between manicures to prevent any potential nail damage.  I would recommend being selective about your gel manicures.  Personally, I use gels only for my annual beach vacation, where my nails will be exposed to extreme wear and tear from sand, salt water, and chlorine, and I can't be bothered with retouching my them.

I did my nails in Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish in Back to the Fuchsia ($12 on drugstore.com) for my beach vacation last week.  It's a really pretty hot pink color.  Check it out:

 


















How do you feel about gels?

Cosmetics You Should Buy Organic

We hear all of the time that there are certain produce and meat items that you should buy organic.  How about personal care products?  Well there are definitely a few beauty products that have a bad rep.  So, you should try to go natural when it comes to these:


1.  Hand Soap

90% of Americans wash their hands at least five times per day (American Cleaning Institute).  Unfortunately, most popular hand soaps including Softsoap and Dial products use triclosan as a cleansing agent.  In other words, Americans are exposing themselves to one of the most potentially toxic personal care ingredients on the market multiple times per day.  Most natural hand soaps are triclosan-free and just as effective at killing germs.


Product Recommendation:  Method Gel Hand Wash ($3.99 at drugstores)


2.  Nail Polish

Nail polish can be filled with toxic chemicals.  The most dangerous chemicals found in nail polishes are the Big 3: formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate.  The majority of popular nail brands have removed these chemicals from their formulas.  Even without the Big 3, nail polishes contain other controversial chemicals, which make it a water-resistant varnish.  In fact, nail polish is extremely flammable and emits fumes.  In landfills, it can leak harmful toxins into the soil and water...all red flags that should make you question how safe nail polish actually is.  Although nail polish in general can pose health risks, natural products pose fewer and come in many of the same pretty colors :)

Product Recommendation:  Zoya Nail Polish ($8 at Ulta)


3.  Deodorant

Attention women!  A recent study conducted by the Journal of Toxicology found that 99% of women with breast cancer had at least one type of paraben present in their breast tissue.  Why?  Drugstore deodorants often contain either parabens, which mimic estrogens in the body as well as aluminum.  In addition, many breast cancers develop in the area that is close to the armpit, where the large pores can absorb anti-perspirants.  In general, these parabens and aluminum can be dangerous, but on your armpits, you are putting yourself even more at risk.  Keep in mind that the study was preliminary, did not consider how many parabens were present in non-cancerous tissue, and did not actually prove any causal link.  But, my philosophy is better safe than sorry!

Product Recommendation:  Desert Essence Dry by Nature Deodorant ($6.25 at Whole Foods)


4.  Body lotion

Many grocery store body lotions are filled with parabens, phthalates, and mineral oil...yikes!  However, most people end up smoothing this stuff over their entire bodies and allow it to sit on the skin for hours.  Since body lotion is a product that you are exposing your entire body to, you should put extra effort into making sure that your moisturizer is a healthy one.
 
Product Recommendation:  Kiss My Face Moisturizer ($11.95 at drugstores) 


What products do you buy natural?

Healthy Nail Art

Nail polish can be full of toxic chemicals, but that doesn't mean you have to opt for colorless nails.  A healthy solution to getting trendy nails?  Try nail appliqués!  These are nail stickers that you place over your entire nail.  You then file off any excess sticker with a nail file and you're done.  No dry time, no fumes, and no nail polish left on your skin.  And you can get great looks that are difficult to do with regular nail polish!  When you are nail, you simply remove it with nail polish remover.

I really like the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips ($7.99 at drugstores).  They have some really nice styles ranging from animal print to glitter to plain colors, and they last up to 10 days. 

I tried the Sally Hansen stickers in their "Wishnets" pattern.  What do you think?