Two tricks I use to keep my nails healthy

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!)

Hello!


You may have noticed the my nails got a little short there for a little while. That happened because I strayed from two of my tried-and-true tricks for keeping my nails healthy--a strengthening basecoat and glass nail files. 


In particular my go-to strengthening basecoat is Barielle's Nail Rebuilding Protein:

Barielle Nail Rebuilding Protein

When I started blogging, I had a very difficult time getting the nails on my right hand to grow enough to have any length at all past the fingertip, or to file evenly. I also had at least 2-3 major breaks on my left (swatching!) hand each year. Since I started using Barielle Nail Rebuilding Protein, I have no problem growing out the right hand, and went nearly two years without a major break on my right.


Of course, maybe that was just coincidence, since I started taking better care of my nails overall when I started blogging. Well, I know now that's not it, because I stopped using the Barielle to test out another basecoat I received a while back, a non-rebuilding basecoat which worked fine for what it was--but it became clear within a few weeks that I need something stronger, because I was back to having weak, splitting nails on my left hand, and I had three breaks on my right hand. Not okay! So you know I instantly jumped back on the Barielle bandwagon, and my nails are growing out beautifully again.


As for my second go-to, I've fallen in love with Aveniro's glass files:

Aveniro nail files

Aveniro nail  and toe/foot files

Aveniro toe/foot file

I love that not only do they come in three sizes (regular and purse-sized), but they have a massive one to use on your feet! It has a rougher side for use on calluses, and I get *a lot* of calluses on my feet, so this really helps me to a good home pedicure. The nail files also have a slightly different grade on each side, so you can file down and then shape with first the one then the other side.


I went back to non-glass files briefly before testing these out, and the difference was massive. My nails split like crazy when I use non-glass files, but hardly split at all when I use these. And when I combine with the nail rebuilder, my nail health is improved leaps and bounds. :)


Big hugs,
M. xoxo

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Review: Messy Mansion Glass Nail Files

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!)

Hello!


We all know the first step to an awesome mani is using the right tools to care for our nails. And for me, glass nail files are a must-have nail tool.


I tend to struggle with the nails on my right hand (ironically, I'm left-handed), especially my index and middle nails--they split, chip, and break like crazy. Back in the day when I used to wear acrylic nails, those nails would actually wear down at a noticeably fast rate, so I suppose it's no surprise that now that I wear natural nails, they'd take quite a beating.


The only thing that works to keep them in any sort of decent shape involves two things--a rebuilding base coat (I prefer Barielle's), and glass nail files. When I use both of these together, I can actually manage to get natural length out of even those two problem nails. And my favorite glass nail files are from Messy Mansion:

Messy Mansion glass nail files

Messy Mansion glass nail files

Why are they my favorite? Three reasons. First, they're excellent quality. I've been using my set for months, and they perform well, are effective but gentle on my nails, and still look brand new. I'm extremely impressed.


Second, you get two files, one the perfect size for your purse. I absolutely have to have a nail file with me whenever I leave the house--many nail owies have been saved from being complete nail disasters by a strategic application of my file to prevent a complete break.


Finally, I love the cases they come with. Other glass files I've had come with a little fabric sleeve, and my file slips right out of it in my purse. These close well, and keep your file from scratching up everything else you carry with you:

Messy Mansion glass nail files

Messy Mansion glass nail files

What can I say--I love these files and hope to never be separated from them! If you haven't yet tried a glass nail file, get one asap--they do so much less damage to your nails while still getting the job done effectively and quickly.


You can find these beauties in the Messy Mansion store.


Happy filing!
M.

Review: It Girl Nail Art Luxe Cuticle Oils

(Press samples ahead!)

Hello!


One of the absolute must-have in my nail care routine is cuticle oil. I have one on my nightstand. I have one in my purse. I have one in the glove compartment of my car. But--not all cuticle oils are created equal.


For me, two issues are most important. I am a compulsive hand-washer--it drives me nuts to have anything on my hands that I can feel, so I have to have cuticle oil that absorbs into my skin quickly. Like, withing a few minutes type of quickly. I'm also very sensitive to smells--a scent that's too perfume-y or chemical-y will trigger a migraine for me. So certain brands of lotions and oils are instantly out for me.


I'm a fan of It Girl Nail Art's stamping plates and polishes--they're top notch quality, and I know everything that Nicole does, she puts her heart into and makes sure she puts out the best product possible. So, I had high expectations for her new line of luxe cuticle oils.


I made a video so you can see how I personally apply cuticle oil, and can see how these go on and absorb:

Her cuticle oil comes in two types of applicator, rollerball and brush. Let's start with the rollerball:

It Girl Nail Art Rollerball

It Girl Nail Art Rollerball

It Girl Nail Art Rollerball

Do you remember when lip glosses used to come in roller balls like this?? OMG, good times--NOT. Luckily, this applicator is much, MUCH more appropriate for cuticle oil; it limits the amount of oil that comes out at once, but still puts out a reasonable amount. I do one or two swipes around my cuticle and that gives me plenty to rub around my nail and up to my first knuckle.  These bottles come with 10ml of product.


Here's a look at the brush applicator:

It Girl Nail Art brush applicator

It Girl Nail Art brush applicator

It Girl Nail Art brush applicator

The brush application allows me a little more targeted application. When my cuticles are struggling more than usual, I can use the brush to really get down in around them, and get the oil between my nail and my cuticle a little more easily.  It's also good when you just need some oil on your cuticles, but the skin on your fingers is just fine, so you don't want to use a bunch extra.


You click the end segment of the applicator, and oil will come out of the tip through the brush. If you click a lot, you'll get a lot of oil. If you click just a little, you'll get just a little, so you have good control that way, too. You'll see in the video it can be a little deceptive to see when you've clicked enough the very first time, so err on the side of clicking too little until you see the oil coming out. This applicator contains 2ml of product.


The oils are made from apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, castor oil, grapeseed oil, vitamin E oil, and jojoba wax ester. There are no nuts anywhere near these suckers, and they are cruelty-free.

So how did these measure up? In terms of absorption, these are excellent. I apply rub in, and by the time I'm done with the last finger, the first is absorbed well enough that I don't have that icky ewww-there's-something-oily-on-my-skin feeling. After a few minutes, it's completely absorbed.


The effects are long-lasting. Unless I wash dishes or something like that, I only need to apply once a day to keep my cuticles looking good.


With respect to scent, I was very pleasantly surprised. I've tried three fragrances, Pina Colada, Lemon Sweet Tea, and Chai Latte (one of the new fall fragrances she just released). They're all yummy yummy to smell, just like the real thing, and even right out of the applicator they aren't overpowering. As the oil absorbs, the smell mellows into a lingering hint that makes me want to keep sniffing my fingers (which, in public, can draw you some odd looks, take it from me). The Pina Colada makes me feel like I'm on a Hawaiian vacation sipping cocktails by the beach. The Lemon Sweet Tea, which I was initially skeptical of, has turned out to be my favorite--there's a light citrus scent with just a hint of tea to give it a little backbone. And the Chai Latte--one of my favorite drinks to splurge on--makes me feel like I'm sitting in my favorite cafe gabbing with a friend.


I mentioned Nicole just released several fall fragrances: Apple Cider, Candied Ginger, Chai Latte, Cinnamon Roll, Pumpkin Pie, and Rosemary Fig. I love the idea of giving yourself a little dash of fall pampering with your favorite seasonal scent on your fingertips! Aromatherapy is real, my friends, and any way you can induce a little extra feel-good in your day is an excellent thing, I think. :)


You can find It Girl Nail Art luxe cuticle oils in their shop; you can also follow It Girl Nail Art on Instagram and Facebook for news and sales. I have a feeling Nicole's gonna have some awesome fragrances coming out for the winter/Christmas season...


Happy pampering!
M.

Review: Scrub Love coffee body scrub

(Press samples ahead!)

Hello!


Today I have something a little different to show you--Scrub Love coffee body scrub, an awesome exfoliant/moisturizing scrub that contains one of my very favorite things--coffee.

Okay, so I know what you're saying--this is a nail blog! You're right, I have never reviewed anything on this blog that isn't nail-related, and I'm not going to now. The moment Scrub Love approached me, I was curious to see how a coffee scrub performed compared to a sugar scrub or a mani bomb for my fingers and cuticles, as well as see how it worked on the rest of my skin. So let's take a look and see what I found out.

Scrub Love Mint Temptation coffee body scrub

Scrub Love is a body scrub made with coffee, moisturizing oils, and other all-natural ingredients designed to exfoliate and nourish your skin. The contain no artificial colors, fragrances, parabens, or preservatives. You know this blog is cruelty-free, so one of the first things I checked out was how they source their ingredients and test their products: they never test on animals, are organic, fair-trade (important when it comes to coffee), and Rainforest-Alliance approved. In case you don't know what the Rainforest Alliance is (I didn't), it's a non-government non-profit dedicated to preserving tropical forests. They vet products, farms and forests to be sure they are sustainable environmentally, socially, and economically, and are audited by the Sustainable Agriculture Network. The upshot of all of that is, I can feel good about using it, and so can you.


There are currently three scrubs to choose from, the Original Lovin', Mint Temptation, and Coconut Affair. Each has slightly different ingredients for different purposes, and are priced slightly differently (more on price later). They sent me the Mint Temptation for review:

Scrub Love Mint Temptation coffee body scrub

The back of the package explains the ingredients and what they do for your skin:

Scrub Love Mint Temptation coffee body scrub

And how to use the product:

Scrub Love Mint Temptation coffee body scrub

The package is water proof and resealable so you can keep it right in your shower. I was really curious to see what the product would look like, and it looks just how you'd expect for a product that doesn't throw in a bunch of unnecessary stuff to make it into some sort of mystical-looking potion--it looks like a bunch of wet coffee grounds:

Scrub Love Mint Temptation coffee body scrub

Scrub Love Mint Temptation coffee body scrub

How do you use it? You take about a walnut-sized handful and scrub it over your body. Here is about the density I used (apologies for the bit of steam in the picture, but yes, this is my actual arm in my actual shower):

Um...you have a little something on your arm: Density of Scrub Love I used for my tests

Once you've scrubbed it over your skin in small, gentle circles, you can either wash it off right away, or wait a few minutes. I chose to wait. Also, when I was rubbing the grounds onto my skin, I made sure to use the front of my fingers as well as the back, to get that exfoliation action on the skin around my nails, and of course, my cuticles. Then I spent a little extra time rubbing directly around my cuticles, like I would with a sugar scrub:

Scrub those cuticles: Scrub Love action on my paws

Scrub those cuticles: Scrub Love action on my paws

Here are the questions I wanted to answer:

Does it work? 

Absolutely. My skin felt invigorated--I'm not sure if that's just the coffee scrub itself, or the peppermint oil in this particular scrub, but I felt a pleasant tingling very much like the tingling you get from those plumping/cooling lip glosses. My skin was also very well moisturized, and felt smooth to the touch even a few hours later.

This was true for my hands and cuticles, as well. To give this the ultimate test, the day I took these pictures I did not use any other form of exfoliation or moisturizer, just the Scrub Love after washing with soap and water. Then I gave it a hard test--I worked, typed, even did a long outdoor work out in the sun and sea air. Came home, cooked, washed up, worked some more--and then before bed took pictures of my cuticles:

My cuticles on coffee: Scrub Love's effect after a hard day

My cuticles on coffee: Scrub Love's effect after a hard day

My hands had zero other care that day--no cuticle oil, no balm, not even any lotion, and this is what they looked like at the end of the day. Not perfect to be sure--but darned close. Maybe you're lucky enough to have cuticles like this naturally, but I am not--normally I have to use cuticle oil or balm at least once if I don't want my cuticles to look like snakes shedding their skin. For me, this is amazing.


Will I smell like I've been working in a Starbucks all day?

No. The scrub does have a coffee smell when you're using it, but Mint Temptation left me with a very soft woodsy scent. The coffee is definitely a part of that, but is no longer detectable as coffee. I tested out my husband to see what he thought of the smell without telling him what it was and he could barely detect any smell, certainly not coffee.


Will it stain my shower?

No. I made sure to wash down all the grounds when I finished, and haven't noticed a problem. I don't know that I'd recommend leaving any grounds just sitting in your nice white tub, but if you do a little swish, you should be fine.


Is it affordable?

I've been using a walnut-sized amount, and I find that covers all of my body except for my back (which I can't reach on my own) just fine. Using that amount, I should get at least 10 uses out of my pouch, possibly more. The Mint Temptation sells for $16.95 (Original Lovin' is $14.95, and Coconut Affair is $17.95), which means about $1.70 per use. That's about the same as the cheapest mani bomb I've seen (most are more), and maybe just a titch more expensive then when I use sugar scrub on my hands--except that I'm using the Scrub Love on my ENTIRE body, not just my hands, and getting the benefit from that. In theory, you could just use it for your hands, and get a ton more uses out of it, and thus a much cheaper per-use cost--but I love how this makes my body feel, so there's no way I'm going to skip that. So, if you mean is this an every-shower sort of product--no, and it's not meant to be. But as a few-times-a-week thing, I think it's in a reasonable price range.


Can you use it on your face?

Yes. But I'd do a test first if you're prone to break-out, since the moisturizers are powerful.


Does it dry out/mold once you've opened the package?

Not that I've noticed. Just reseal, and you should be fine.


EDIT: Will it clog your drain?

A reader asked me about this, and I googled it--apparently coffee scrubs can clog your drains. I've been using this for almost 3 weeks with no problem, but that doesn't mean it isn't building up. The best suggestion I've found that I like is to buy one of those mesh strainers for your drain--I'm going to pick one up the next time I go by Home Depot. :)


So would I recommend Scrub Love, and would I buy this again with my own money? Yes, and yes. I will be placing an order for another pouch of the Mint Temptation, and I want to try the Coconut Affair as well. I love how this product makes me feel while I'm using it and after I'm using it, and I think it's a wonderful treat for anyone looking for a little bit of pampering now and then in their routine. You can also find Scrub Love on Facebook and Instagram.


Happy Scrubbing!
M.

Nail Care: How I care for my nails

Hello!!

I've had several requests for a post about how I care for my nails, and I've finally been able to put that together.

The simple answer, and I apologize in advance, is that I don't really do much. For the most part, I'm fairly lucky with respect to my nails--they are mostly strong enough and have a pretty decent shape. So, before I begin, let me say that just because I do or don't do something, that doesn't make it right! I know I'm lucky with my nails and may not have to do things that are important for other people. And, there may very well be better products out there than the ones I use--I'd love to hear about it if you think so, I'm always looking for what works best. So my recommendations are purely based on what I've managed to find, and like. Please do not take anything I say here with anything other than a huge grain of salt. :)

That said, I do have several problem issues. One is, especially on my right hand, I tend to get splits and peels, and once they start, it's hard to stop them, and it can be very frustrating. The second is, I'm a bit of a germ-o-phobe, so I tend to wash my hands a lot, and that makes my cuticles a bit dry and tough. Finally, when my nails get longer, they curl at the tips. I'll talk about all of these issues below.

Complete manicure:
When I do a complete manicure, here's what I do:

1) Remove polish.
Back when I did my nails only 1-2 times a week, it didn't matter what sort of nail polish remover I used; I honestly couldn't tell the difference. But since I discovered Konad and started blogging, I remove my polish almost every day (except on rare occasions), and sometimes more than once per day. Since doing this, I've found that I can tell more of a difference, and need to use something a bit more high-quality on my nails. My solution has been Zoya Remove Plus Nail Polish Remover, Which you can find here. A side benefit of this polish is that it comes in a pump bottle, which is a life-saver around my highly destructive kitties and my highly clumsy self--no open polish remover bottles to be knocked over:

You can also buy a bigger refill bottle which makes the remover a bit more economical. It's not cheap regardless, but if you change polish frequently, it's worth the money, imo.

2) Cuticle remover. 
I'm not going to recommend a particular one for you, because I'm currently looking to switch myself, because my old brand is owned by a non-cruelty-free company. But, this is a crucial part of my complete manicure and pedicure routine. I apply the remover gel, let it sit according to the directions, and then remove, while pushing my cuticles back with an orange stick. If you don't know what an orange stick is, you really do know, you just don't know that you know (did you follow that?). It's one of these guys:

You can get these just about anywhere, including Sally Beauty and any drugstore...but I get mine on eBay, where they run about a dollar per metric crap-ton (which translates to about 50 in my own personal language). I use the slanted side to push my cuticles back and simultaneously remove the cuticle remover gel. I constantly wipe the end clean on a paper towel while I do it. You can buy plastic ones that can be reused, if you clean them carefully. I just use the biodegradable disposable type. :)

3) Wash your hands thoroughly. 
I do this by using a sugar scrub to further exfoliate the cuticles and surrounding skin, and then wash with soap and water. You can use any exfoliant, but I got some Qtica Grapefruit Surprise Sugar Scrub free with an order I placed with Zoya, and I've fallen in love with it. It smell great, works great, and you don't really need much, so it lasts for a fairly long time:

You can find it by clicking here. You want to make sure to wash your hand well, because if you leave cuticle remover on your skin, it will not end well for you.

4) Cuticle oil!
I finish up with cuticle oil. I love California Mango Magic cuticle oil, which was recommended by Colette of My Simple Little Pleasures. I agree with her that it smells great, and I love that it absorbs quickly--I hate to have oily fingers, yuck!!

You can find it at Sally Beauty by clicking here.


Routine maintenance
Whenever I think about it, I will toss on some cuticle oil, and some Hard As Hoof. I am mentioning the Hard As Hoof to be completely honest about what I use, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it. I can't say that I've seen a ton of difference since I started using it, but I also don't use it as often as it says you should, so I haven't given it a fair test in that respect. But, I do love the way it smells, and it makes me feel pampered, so I'll use it up and then decide if I want to get more.

I file my nails 1-2 times a week, depending on how fast they are growing (mine seem to grow faster in summer, but maybe this is just my mind messing with me, lol). Here is the exact file I use; I got it at Sally Beauty but can't find it on their on-line site:

I've been told to file my nails in only one direction, and to 'bevel' them once I'm done--but neither of these things does a darn bit of good for me, I can't tell any difference between when I do them and when I don't. So, I don't. I file my nails straight across the top whichever direction strikes my fancy at the moment (such a rebel!), parallel with my nail cuticle; I then file the sides of my nails so they come out from the finger straight, and then finally I round the edges slightly, just enough so they don't catch on anything.

Oh, and I *always* use a base coat. Always. No matter what. Don't actually care which one--I have about 10--but I always use one to prevent staining and to make polish removal easier.


Breaks, splits and peeling
I keep my nails fairly short, but even so I do get some breaks. And once I get a break, I tend to get a never-ending cycle of splits and peels coming off of that break...the break causes some peeling around it, which weakens that part of the nail, which then breaks or peels, which weakens the nail around it...you get the picture. Luckily, I have found a solution, again from Colette at My Simple Little Pleasures. She has a tutorial on patching your nails (You can find her updated tutorial here.), and the products and technique she recommends have been brilliantly successful for me--and have had unexpected side-benefits. I originally tried her technique to try to grow out a break on the side of my nail, and I discovered two extra benefits...first, the patches also allowed the nail to grow out to the point where the peeling/splitting stopped too. So, I tried it on a second nail that had been caught in the never-ending peeling cycle, and wore it until my nail grew out about 1/4 of an inch. While it was growing out, I filed it and treated it otherwise as normal...and when I finally took the patch off--no more splitting or peeling! The patch had given the nail a chance to grow out enough so that the weakened area no longer sabotaged the nail below it, and it's been beautiful and strong ever since. The second benefit was that the patch, when worn on the tip of my nail, almost completely eliminated the curling; I'm not sure why, but my guess is that the extra strength kept the edges from curling under. I have not tried wearing patches solely to keep my nails from curling, but every once in a while I'm tempted to do just that. I'm also not sure that this would work with longer nails, I just know it works with mine, so I thought I'd mention it. :)

UPDATE: My friend Dina of Secretary's Nail Art has suggested to help my curling, I soak my nails once a week in a warm bath with a bowl of argan oil or almond oil. I'm definitely going to try this!

What I don't do
Here are a few things I don't do, just so you don't wonder if I just forgot to mention them. I don't take any sort of special vitamins for my nails. Maybe I wouldn't get the curling if I did, but I've never heard of that helping anyone else in that respect, so I don't bother. I also don't buff my nails unless I have some unusual problem going on (a bump due to smashing my nail or something like that); I don't like to do anything that can weaken my nails, even a little bit, and buffing takes off part of the top layer of the nail. Nor do I use ridge-fillers on my fingernails (I *do* use these on my toenails at times, because my toenails are tragic beyond understanding). Most polishes work well enough to fill out imperfections on my fingernails in my experience, and the few that don't, I don't need to own.  Let me say again that this doesn't mean these things don't work great for other people! I just haven't found them that helpful for me. :)

So there you have it, that's my routine. I'm sure I've forgotten something, so I'll probably need to update later, lol! I'm not sure if I covered everything that people wanted to know, so if I didn't definitely ask me. :)

I hope this wasn't too too too boring for people...Thanks for reading if you made it this far! :)

M.