Nails 101: The Basics of Grooming

I get a lot of questions about my nails. I've always done my own nails and I have never been to a salon to get them done. At this point, I feel as if I don't need to pay anyone to give me a manicure. Through trial and error over the years I have come up with many tips and trips that help me to achieve a professional looking manicure without the salon price tag. I'm going to have a few posts all about nails to answer a lot of the questions I've gotten over the years.

For the first nail related post, I'm going to start with the basics of grooming the nail to prep it for painting.

Tools Needed:

1.     Crystal Nail File

2.     Cuticle Trimmer

3.     Cuticle Remover

4.     Cuticle Stick

5.     Cuticle Cream/Balm

6.     Hand Cream

Step One: Cuticles

The key to a polished, professional looking manicure is neatly groomed cuticles. When the cuticles are over grown and ragged, it can make the entire manicure look sloppy. Think of your cuticles as the picture frame that ties everything together. You wouldn't put a $1 plastic frame on the Mona Lisa, would you?

1.     The first thing I use to keep my cuticles in check is a cuticle trimmer . There are some people who are avidly against cuticle trimmers. What it does is trim the excess skin off, making the cuticle instantly shorter and neater. However, it can make the cuticle grow back faster and thicker. I don't have any issues with this, mainly because I do this weekly and this is not the sole method I use to groom my cuticles. Please be careful when using a cuticle trimmer. Use it to trim off the dead skin around the nail like hangnails, or any skin that has grown over the nail and is starting to lift off. You DO NOT want to press down too hard or cut into the cuticle bed. This could cause damage to the cuticle bed and also cause infection. That is why I am a fan of the cuticle trimmer from Revlon that is linked above. It’s not too dull or too sharp, which prevents you from going a little crazy; it will just get the dead skin. If you are anti-cuticle trimmers, then by all means skip this step.

2.     The second thing I use on my cuticles is a gel cuticle remover. My current favorite is the Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover. After I've trimmed my cuticles, I apply a small amount of the cuticle remover to each cuticle and then spread it around with a cuticle stick. I let it sit for about a minute and then gently use the cuticle stick remove any extra dead skin and push the cuticle back. Wipe this off and then wash your hands. Think of this step as if you're exfoliating the nail. It gently lifts up dead skin cells, leaving the cuticles neat and the nail nicely groomed.

Step Two: Filing and Shaping the Nail

It's time to put down the nail clippers and the sand paper emery boards. In my opinion, the best way to shorten, shape and file your nails is with a crystal file. Nail clippers can cause the nail to split and peel, especially for those with weak nails. Emery boards can also be too rough on the nail and cause splitting. I personally never cared for how emery boards feel against my nail while filing. A quality glass file effectively shortens the nail through filing and creates a smooth edge with no splitting or peeling. Over time, you'll have stronger nails. A glass file can also last a life time, that is if you don't drop it! I paid about $7 for a quality glass file on Amazon back on 2011 and it's still going strong. You may initially think that paying upwards of $10 for a nail file is a tad ridiculous, but I assure you, it’s a great investment and will pay for itself, as it should last you a lifetime opposed to constantly purchasing emery boards that need to be replaced often.

To shape my nails, I simply file back and forth in a straight line. Some suggest that you should only file in one direction because the back and forth motion can weaken the nail. I have never experienced this, but file in whichever direction you prefer and works best for you.

My favorite nail shape is a short, square nail. I file the nail down in a straight line to the desired length and then softly round out the edges so the points of the nail aren’t to sharp. You may need to take the glass file and gently run it underneath the nail to remove any nail remnants from filing.

**QUICK TIP: To best achieve the perfect shape of whatever your desire nail shape may be (round, pointed, square, etc.), file your nails right before removing you old manicure. This way, you won't get distracted by you natural nail line, which naturally grows out unevenly. Having nail polish already on the nail when you file helps you to really see the shape you are making!

Step Three: Moisturize!

You can file your nails perfectly and have pristine cuticles, but if you aren't constantly pampering and moisturizing your hands afterwards, it's a bit of a waste. To maintain the health of your nails you need to moisturize them and do it often!

·      Cuticle Creams: Cuticle creams are especially formulated with the cuticles in mind. They are often times richer and more concentrated than hand creams and also have ingredients that help to strengthen nails. Consistent use of a cuticle cream helps to prevent peeling and splitting nails, dry and peeling cuticles and hang nails.

o   Recommendations:

1.     Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. This is a staple product for me. It has a light, fresh lemon scent and does an excellent job of moisturizing and nourishing cuticles. I prefer to use this during the day, throughout the day as I remember. If my nails are being temperamental and are peeling just a bit, this sorts it out. It has more of a balm texture than that of a cream, so it's not heavy or sticky on this skin. A little goes a long way and at just $5-6 per tin, you can't beat the value!

2.     Christian Dior Abricot Nail Creme. I discovered this heavy-duty gem this past winter when it was so cold and so dry outside that my hands literally hurt from how dry my skin was. None of my lotions and potions were saving my skin. I stumbled upon the Christian Dior Abricot Nail Creme online and it had great reviews so I decided to take the plunge; a $27 plunge. I know! I know! But it was so worth it! This product is heavy, thick, rich, emollient and all those good words! Because it is so gooey, it is suggested for nighttime use. When applied at night before bed, it brings your cuticles back to life the next morning and the more you use it, the better the results. I don't much care for the smell, but I'll deal with it because I no longer have to suffer from dry winter skin. Never underestimate the power of eBay. Check there so see if you can find it for a few bucks cheaper.

·      Hand Creams: Much like cuticle creams, avidly using hand creams keeps your hands in tip-top shape. They moisturize the nails and cuticles, but predominately keep your hands soft and provide a line of defense against the elements when used regularly, throughout the day.

o   Recommendations:

1.     LUSH Helping Hands. I also discovered this product this past winter when my hands were painfully dry. I was in the market for a heavier hand cream to use at night and this fit the bill. It has soothing ingredients like chamomile, marigold and lavender to provide relief for painful hands. A little goes a long way and I always wake up with super soft hands the next morning. This is on the pricey side; 3.5 ounces will set you back $18.95, but it's a quality product with wholesome ingredients that will last you a while. Side note: I recently applied this to sunburned arms at night and woke up with soothed skin that was not angry and pink. Brillant!

2.  Crabtree & Evelyn Verbana and Lavender Hand Therapy. Any scent/formulation of the Crabtree & Evelyn hand creams is good so just pick your poison! Right now I'm really into the Verbana and Lavender scent; it's bright but warm. These hand creams are not too heavy so they are great for daytime use. They just get the job done. The 3.5 ounce tubes retail for $22, but I often find them at my local TJ Maxx for around $7, so when I see them, I stock up!

I know this post was long, but I hope it was helpful! I have a few more of these Nail 101 posts planned, so keep your eyes peels for the next post in the series on how to actually paint your nails perfectly (probably the top question I'm asked!).

- Alana

Weekend Bits & Bobs: Lippies, Masks and Cold Mountain

Happy New Year! I’m going to start a post on the blog titled “Weekend Bits & Bobs.” I snagged the phrase “bits and bobs” from the British. In a nutshell, it’s equivalent to the American phase “odds and ends.” 

For these types of posts I’ll feature a few items or maybe even something completely random, that I either used a lot over the weekend, stuck out to me, or made the weekend more pleasant, peaceful and relaxing.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey and YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in #9 Pink Caress. Both of these shades are the typical everyday pink shades. They don’t lean too bright, too red, too pastel, or too brown. They are the type of pink shades that look flattering on almost everyone and are easy to wear whether you are wearing a full face of makeup or nothing at all. Both are very similar in terms of color. Honey is a bit more mauve than Caress Pink, which is a bit brighter. Both have great, smooth, pigmented formulas and noteworthy lasting power on the lips. I kept my makeup simple and understated this weekend and wore quite dark clothes, so I wanted shades that would perk up my face, and these fit the bill.

C.O. Bigelow My Favorite Lip Balm 8 Hour Overnight Recovery. I have a lot of lip balms and I’m on the hunt to find the best of the best. I’ve owned this one for a while now, but have never really gravitated towards it. I decided to give it a go this weekend and I’ve really been enjoying it. It’s quite thick, though not sticky. It contains 5% shea butter and has a pleasant, sweet fragrance that is not cloying. I do have to be careful not to get it outside of my lip line, or I fear it may cause some clogged pores, as it is quite emollient. When I wake up in the morning, it’s still there and my lips feel smooth and hydrated even after I eat breakfast, wash my face and brush my teeth in the morning. It’s a great lip treatment for those dry winter lips.

Illamasqua Monogamous. After the saturated green and red polishes I sported on my nails in December, I was in the mood for something simple, clean and understated. Monogamous thus landed itself on my nails. Monogamous is a nude shade, though it has strong pink undertones. I don’t have a polish like this in my collection. This is my first time trying an Illamasqua polish and I’ve got to say, I think I like it. It’s difficult to get a nice formula on a polish that is this beige. The formula on this polish is creamy, smooth, pigmented and easy to control. It actually dries to a semi-matte finish, but a topcoat makes this nice and glossy. Two coats made this polish perfectly opaque.

Clinique Turnaround 15 Minute Facial. First, let me get the disclaimer out of the way: Clinique discontinued this product but if you are lucky, you may still be able to find it online. Never underestimate the power of eBay! They replaced it with Turnaround Instant Facial. This came in the mail last Saturday and I ordered it because the concept really intrigued me.  It claims to give you the effects of microdermabrasion without the harsh effects. It contains salicylic acid and other non-physical exfoliants that are supposed to reveal smoother, brighter skin after leaving it on for 15 minutes, when using this mask once or twice a week. I’ve only used this mask once, but will be using it again tonight. To me, it’s the perfect Sunday mask. It has shimmer in it, so it even looks flattering on after it dries down to a matte finish. It’s not drying like most masks I use. I actually leave it on for 30+ minutes, because I like to live on the edge! When I rinse this off, my skin feels so smooth and soft. And in the morning, after the first time I used this, I noticed my skin just looked nicer, though I couldn’t quite pinpoint what the difference was. I’m looking forward to slathering this on again tonight and settling down with a book and a cup of tea while this works its magic on my face. A perfect Sunday night treat.

Cold Mountain by, Charles Frazier. I started reading this book in December and I’m almost finished. I’ve really been enjoying this book and I will do a proper review on it once I’ve finish reading it. I look forward to the weekends just so I can get cozy and settle in with this novel. It really is beautifully written. When the Clinique mask is on, this is the novel I’ll be diving into.

Those are my Weekend Bits & Bobs for this first week of January. My goal is to have post for this new series on the blog every Sunday, so keep your eyes peeled.

What were some standouts for you this weekend?

- Alana

Fall and Winter Make-Up Essentials

It’s my favorite time of the year people! November to January is prime time for me! I love the weather, Thanksgiving, Christmas and the prospects of a New Year. I also look forward to breaking out my warm cozy sweaters, boots, scarves and changing up my make-up routine just a bit. Like most people, I start whipping out deeper lip and blush colors and go for a more “flawless” face look.

So let’s talk about my staple make-up products for the fall and winter seasons! As a disclaimer, the majority of the products in this post are high-end products. I’ve been experimenting more with higher end makeup and I have really grown to like what I’ve tried out so far!

Lips

Clockwise: Dior Ultra Addict Gloss in #652, NARS Russian Doll, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey, YSL Rouge Volupte Shine #2

Swatches from Left to Right: YSL Rouge Volupte Shine #2, NARS Russian Doll, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey, Dior Ultra Addict Gloss #652

 *My lighting makes everything look too red. I'm going to work on different lighting. But in the mean time bear with me. The YSL and NARS lipsticks are a lot deeper and more purple than shown. 

·      YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick in #2 – What would be a fall/winter makeup look without a berry lip? I’ve wanted to try one of these YSL lipsticks for AGES but the price tag is nauseating! One of these bad boys is $35. But I ransacked the Internet and on eBay I scored this one for significantly cheaper. I should do a post on how I find good deals on eBay and not get ripped off by scammers. Hmmm, that’s an idea…. But this is a beautiful lipstick. It’s got a light, smooth, pigmented formula, think Revlon Lip Butters, but not so soft to the point where you feel like it’s going to crumble when you apply it. It smells like a Jolly Rancher and you can wear it sheer or build it up to an intense berry. It isn’t overly shiny, provides a nice sheen to the lips and leaves behind a nice even stain on the lips as it wears off. It claims to be moisturizing, but I’m not too impressed with how well it “moisturizes” my lips.

o   A great drug store alternative is Revlon’s Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Crush. It has a different finish on the lips because it’s a stain, but the shade is in the same family.

·      NARS Russian Doll – Don’t be fooled by how dark this lipstick appears in the bullet. It’s extremely versatile. It has a satin finish and I prefer to wear it as a stain by lightly applying it to the lips and then really working it in with my finger. This is a deep, cool burgundy shade with purple and brown undertones. This can be built up to full intensity if you want to go for a really vampy look. I think this would look amazing on really pale skin with a subtle, smoky eye and flawless foundation. Literally like a porcelain doll (I see what you did there NARS).

o   Other lip products of a similar shade (though different finishes) are Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Raging Raisin and YSL Rouge Volupte Shine #1.

·      Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey – This a great, everyday lip color. I gravitate more towards this product in the cooler months because it has more mauve, brown undertones than Rimmel’s Show Off/Apocolips in Celestial or YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick #9.

·      Dior Ultra Addict Lip Gloss Glow in #652 Mischievous Rose – The Dior Addict Glosses are my Holy Grail favorite lip glosses. The texture is so silky, smooth, shiny and luxurious. They are pigmented, hydrating and make your lips look unreal. They don’t last incredibly long on the lips because the formula is so slick, but I don’t mind. Mischievous Rose is a brown toned rose shade, that once it warms up on your lips, it looks so natural and pretty without being over the top. When I saw this in the tube I was scared it would be too brown, but it’s not once applied. Good stuff Dior, good stuff. I have no dupes or similar products to this one. 

Eyes

·      Urban Decay Naked2 Palette – For what ever reason I tend to stray away from eyeshadow in the warmer seasons, but once things start to cool down, I break this bad boy back out. Even though I have warm, yellow undertones to my skin, I prefer taupe eyeshadows and there is something about this palette that screams fall and winter to me. It’s slightly cooler toned than the original Naked palette, but still won’t look odd on those of us with warmer undertones. It’s got a ton of shimmer shadows and three matte shades that make it versatile; perfect for a simple every day look, or a festive sparkly look for those holiday parties.

·      Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze – This is the perfect eyeshadow base for the Naked2 palette and it works well on its own. Another eye product I really only break out during this time of the year because it’s a taupe shade.

Cheeks 

Swatches from Left to Right: theBalm Mary Lou-Manizer, NYX Mocha, Milani Red Vino, Tarte: Breathless, Embraced, Whimsy, Bashful, Irreplaceable.

*Again, my lighting makes everything too red. My bad!

·      NYX Blush in Mocha – This is the perfect everyday blush shade that goes with a variety of looks. In the summer I tend to go for blushes like NARS Orgasm, theBalm’s Hot Mama or Milani’s Baked Blush in Luminoso, but once things start to cool down, I want shades that lean more on the berry side. This blush just gives the perfect flush with a matte finish. It’s also at a great price point to at around $5.

·      Milani Baked Blush in Red Vino – This blush looks horrifying in the pan and it is insanely pigmented, so you do need to use a light hand, but when applied lightly, it gives such a beautiful berry hue to the cheeks. It is laced with gold shimmer, so it also provides a nice glow to the cheeks. I remember the first time I wore this, a coworker asked me why I looked so flushed. This is one of those blushes that makes you look like you’ve been in the cold for a few hours. It’s a great quality blush at around $7-8. Can’t beat that!

·      Tarte Pin-Up Girl Blush Palette – This  is my first Tarte purchase and I’ve wanted to try their 12 Hour Amazonian Clay blushes for a while. So, when Sephora had Tarte’s holiday blush palette, I snagged it. I really like this palette and it has a great selection of shades for any look you may want to do. It has three matte blushes and two with subtle shimmer. The main reason I wanted this palette was for the matte tan blush (perfect for when you want to wear a bold lip) and that purplish blush next to it with the subtle sheen. Very pretty.

theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer – I’ve wanted this highlighter for aaaages! Literally, I think at least two years, but I always talked myself out of it. But I finally caved and purchased it and I have used it practically everyday since getting it almost two months ago. Like I said earlier, I tend to go for more of a golden sheen on the cheeks in the warmer months and I like to cool things down in fall and winter. I wanted a highlighter that would still compliment my warm skin tone, while also complimenting the cooler toned blushes I start to wear again. This is also such a nice highlighter; soft and pigmented. It’s easy to go over board with this though, so apply with a light hand!

Face

·      Laura Geller Spackle Primer in Ethereal – I love to mixed this in with the Rimmel Stay Matte Primer. It provides such a lovely glow to the skin and really makes your foundation look nicer.  I wouldn’t say this is shimmery, it’s more opalescent. It doesn’t look glittery at all, it just glows. Perfect if you’re trying to achieve that flawless skin look that people strive more towards when the weather is colder. It really makes you look “lit from within.” This is also a very generous size. Most primers come in 1 ounce tubes. This is 2 ounces, so you are getting more for your money.

·      The Body Shop Extra Virgin Minerals Liquid Foundation – I can only wear this foundation when it is cold and dry outside because otherwise it will slide off my face. It has a dewy finish and I find it to actually be quite moisturizing. This is not an oil free foundation, but it does not break me out. It has light to medium coverage and gives a natural look to the skin. It’s perfect for those cold winter days and you want a foundation that’s going to provide some extra moisture to your skin.

·      Chanel Vitalumière Aqua Foundation – This foundation has a huge hype around it and I’ve been curious about it for quite sometime. I finally got my hands on it and I like it quite a bit. I have the shade B40, which is the perfect shade for me when I don’t have a tan. It’s wears nicely and has a satin finish. It feels like nothing on the skin. It has light to medium coverage and I feel like the longer I have this on my face, the better it looks. It really makes my skin look flawless. The wear time is great on my skin, for me being having oily skin. For the price point I wanted it to really perform, but at the same time I didn’t want to like it so much because then I’ll want to repurchase when I run out. Guys, I like it too much. So long money. Send me a post card from France, signed by Chanel (that ain’t gonna happen). Lovely. Pricey. But lovely.

These are all my makeup staples for Fall and Winter. Quite a long post I know, but I really wanted to share these items with you all! So for those of you who actually read everything, you're the best!

That are you cold weather makeup staples? Have you tried any of these?

- Alana 

Top 10 Summer Beauty Essentials of 2014

Like most chicks, I’ve got a thing for beauty products. Makeup, skin care, hair care, if it comes in pretty packaging, pretty colors, and claims to work miracles, I’m all over it.

This summer I discovered some great hot weather beauty staples that really made a difference in my skin and makeup routine.

1.     Rimmel Stay Matte Primer – I have oily skin and in the summer my skin can turn into a grease slick. I’m talking, I just face planted a pile of fried chicken, oily. So makeup products that claim to be oil controlling really appeal to me. I’m a big fan of the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Translucent (I’ve gone through at least 3!). Now primers can be pretty pricey, so when Rimmel released their Stay Matte Primer (I think I paid no more than $5 for mine), I jumped on it. This primer really works for me! It doesn’t control oil all day, but it controls it for a few hours before I feel like I need to blot.

2.     Blotting Papers – Speaking of oily skin, I could not have gone through summer without blotting papers! I just buy the Target brand and they work just as well as the Clean & Clear ones. I used to think there was nothing special about blotting papers. Why not just use a tissue? Wrong! I was so wrong! They do make a difference because they really absorbed the oil on the skin and don’t disturb your makeup as much as blotting with a tissue.

3.     Dior Ultra Addict Lip Gloss Glow in #256 “Negligee Pink” – Man, oh man! This is by far, hands down my favorite lip gloss. It’s not sticky, feels luxurious and smooth on the lips, and makes the lips look unreal! And do I even need to mention the packaging!?  I pair this gloss with a lip liner that is almost the exact shade of my lips and it gives such dimension and shine to my lips. The color is in the nude family, with enough pink in it to not make the lips look dead. It also pairs wonderfully over nude lipsticks. For those of you who love a bronzed, glowing makeup look for summer, this gloss is the perfect compliment. I need to buy a back up… 

4.     Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Shine in “Pink Cognito” – The formula of this lipstick is fantastic! It is so light and smooth it feels like a balm. It is not fully opaque, which for a shade like this ,works well. Pink Cognito is Dior’s Ultra Addict Gloss #256 in solid form, just a little deeper in color. It’s perfect for no makeup days, light makeup days, or those days when you want to wear a full face of makeup and a dark smokey eye. The pink undertones keep it from being too nude on the lips. And paired underneath the Dior Gloss? Perfection!

5.     NYC Sunny Bronzer – I actually purchased this bronzer a couple summers ago, but didn’t start wearing it almost everyday until this summer. It’s only a few shades darker than my skin tone. I just use a blush brush to apply it on the perimeters of my face and down the sides of my nose. It’s the perfect shade, not too muddy, not too orange and blends easily. It just makes the skin look healthy.

6.     theBalm “Hot Mama” Blush – This has definitely been my go to blush this summer and I don’t think it gets enough recognition in the beauty community. It tends to get over shadowed by NARS Orgasm and Benefits Coralista. Now, I own NARS Orgasm and Hot Mama is extremely similar, and as much as I love Orgasm, there is something I prefer about Hot Mama. It doesn’t appear as pink on the cheeks as Orgasm and the gold sheen in it is finer. It just gives the most gorgeous, sun kissed look to the cheeks. I get compliments when I wear this blush. These type of compliments: “You’re face looks so good! Like a magazine add! I don’t know what it is, but keep doing it!” It’s the blush! It’s always a good thing when people can’t pinpoint what it is, and your cheekily thinking, “that my friend, is the power of a good blush.”

7.       NARS Illuminator in “Orgasm” (old packaging) – I apply this after my primer and before whatever foundation I’m wearing, if I decide to wear foundation that day. I was worried at first that this would look like I wiped glitter all over my face. Mixed with my oily skin, I also was scared that this would make me look like a disco ball. Again, I was quite wrong. This gives the skin such a healthy glow, that “lit from within” look. It keeps my foundation from looking flat and dull, especially since I gravitate towards products that give the skin a matte finish. Orgasm is the perfect shade for summer because the gold shimmer in it gives the skin a warm glow. 

8.     Maybelline Fit Me Powder in 240 “Golden Beige” – I rarely wore liquid foundation this summer. Living in a climate that has humid summers, liquid foundations can just feel down right gross on the skin. This powder matches my skin tone perfectly. It’s light and gives me just the right amount of coverage (I don’t like full coverage anything). First, I just apply a little bit of concealer where needed and buff this powder all over the face and my skin looks flawless, without looking cakey or heavy. It looks very natural and feels lightweight on the skin. Perfect for hot weather.

9.     The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner – This toner is very nice! It smells clean and feels refreshing on the skin. I don’t have a problem with this toner making my skin feel tight and stripped. I even started applying it down my décolleté, and down my back and it has really helped to keep my skin clean and clear. Definitely a summer staple!

10.  The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil - This stuff right here is just. So. Good. I purchased it on a whim early on in the summer. I thought it was going to be too heavy for my oily skin, especially in the summer. However, my skin drinks this up! This serum has really made all the difference in my skin. It has helped to smooth out the texture and tone, and since using this I have had ZERO breakouts, even during that time of the month. I already had a good skin care routine that kept my skin clear, for the most part. But once I added this into my routine, my skin went to the next level. In the summer I strive to wear less makeup because of the weather. This has made that possible because I don’t want to cover up my skin with a lot of products. It’s just made my skin that good.

Those are all my beauty staples from this summer. We still have a few more weeks of hot weather left before it cools down for autumn. I know I’m going to get a few more miles out of these products before I switch up for the upcoming season.

What were some of your beauty staples this summer?

- Alana