GET HOT NAILS - BEST PRACTICE TIPS!

I am jealous of girls who have consistently manicured nails; because my job is very hands-on at times I am constantly breaking mine and chipping the polish. When I do find the motivation and attempt to lavish them with TLC, it always seems to be a ridiculous time of night when I can't keep my eyes open. OR, it's just as I'm about to leave the house. I've got into a routine of looking after my nails that I'll happily share with you. I find this keeps them in nice shape, they look healthy and the polish lasts for days. Even if you're not into fuschias and corals and deep reds, there are easy ways to keep them looking groomed and classy. You can still achieve a manicured look without the steady hand!

Let's go.


Step One - Banish The Gunk


Ok, first of all - wash your hands. It's disgusting to think where those bad boys have been. Use a nail brush if you have one handy. Get right in there. All sorts of stuff gets underneath your fingernails and it's nice to start with a clean palette.


Step Two - Destroy The Evidence


Next, get rid of any traces of existing nail polish. The best tools I've found for this task are a pack of cotton wool pads (not balls), and a moisturising nail polish remover. The pads will cover a larger surface area and you can then flip them over and use the reverse side. Cotton wool balls shrink into a tiny fluffy mess so I tend to avoid them.

While it may not be an issue for some, I do find that my nails can look very dry. My favourite nail polish remover is Cutex Moisture Guard. It protects your nails, has a whitening formula and most importantly it does an excellent job of stripping off polish. It also seems to prevent staining around the nails and on fingers when taking off any wild colours.

Then use a moisturiser or hand cream (a light one works best), making sure to get in around the cuticles.

I'm not exactly fond of nail polish remover pads as they can be very greasy and smell repulsive. However if you are in the habit of letting your polish chip away without properly removing it, these babies might be for you. I like to keep a tub in my locker at work. As I mentioned earlier, my job dislikes my nails.


Step Three - File Under "Boring"


This is actually the part I hate the most - shaping. If your nails are particularly unruly, cracked or uneven, then cutting them with nail scissors should be your first step. Another thing I happen not to be a fan of are nail clippers. They're not very precise and give you a brutal nip if you're not careful. Trim carefully with the scissors until nails are the length you desire, and of an even shape.

Then grab a nail file or emery board. I have an amazing glass nail file. It can be cleaned and reused for INFINITY - probably. If you've never heard of glass files they really are a must-have and you can find them in lots of places. ASOS currently do a pretty Bourjois one for an amazing £2.75, so add one to your basket the next time you place an order. If you use an emery board it is important to replace it every once in a while as they do gradually wear down and are less effective. You will find you have to file the nail harder which can cause breaking.

The best advice I was given was not to file back and forth. Always file in sweeping strokes in one direction only, ideally toward the middle. Another tip is to never try to file the sides as they are a supporting structure to the nail. An easy rule to stick to is to follow the shape of the base of your nail, and if you prefer squared nails just file straight at the top.


Step Four - Look At The Shiny Shiny


My secret nail weapon (how many times can you say nails in one post) is a really good base and top coat. I use Sally Hansen Double Duty which is a strengthening polish. There are other, more ridiculously named base and top coats by Sally Hansen if you prefer - Diamond Strength Diamond Shine Base & Top Coat, INSTA-GRIP Fast Dry Base Coat, Mega Shine Extended Wear Top Coat, Nail Quencher Hydrating Base Coat, and, my personal favourite, Sally Hansen Super Shine Shiny Top Coat. Say that after a few mojitos.

Sticking to the beautifully simple Double Duty Top & Base Coat, just a layer or two of this keeps nails strong and gives a really nice shine. This beats having to manicure your nails, and if they are nicely shaped then just a clear coat of polish makes a huge difference.

If you are intending to wear a coloured polish over the top, apply a base coat and let it dry properly. This means no tackiness when you run your finger over the top. As an example my base coat dries in about 2 minutes.


Step Five - Colour Injection


Nearly there!

When the base coat is dry pick out a polish. A few of my favourites:

Rimmel 60 Seconds in 430 - Coralicious



Barry M Nail Paint in

150 - Red Glitter



288 - Silver



273 - Raspberry



Natural Collection in Café Manicure


You'll notice I don't really spend a fortune on nail colours unless I really really like them. If you follow the steps properly you should get as much out of a cheaper polish as a more expensive one, although you may need an extra coat.

Now paint on your polish. Try to use three strokes per nail - one down the middle and one down each side. Don't overload the brush or it'll go all Mr Blobby.

Let this coat dry completely. Be warned as this can take up to half an hour, so put your feet up and let someone else make you a cold drink. And maybe read you a story.

Use your discretion when adding another coat. Some polishes are vibrant and thick enough that you will only need one coat. Others, like Rimmel's Coralicious that I mentioned above, look too transparent with just one coat.


Step Six - Glossed Over


Finally add your top coat when you are sure your nails are completely dry. A second coat of polish usually takes longer to dry than the first, so again, put those feet up. Sometimes I let my polish dry at night, go to bed and add the top coat in the morning just to make sure there's no tackiness left. A quick drying top coat will ensure your nails stay fresh and prevent chipping.

A handy tip if you have longer nails is to paint the top coat over the edge of the nail and slightly underneath the tip - this will create a seal and help to stop your nails breaking.


And believe it or not, you're done! This seems like a long post but the basics are in bold. I'm off to fix mine!

SOAP & GLORY - A TESTIMONIAL

I am a bit of a flutterer when shopping for beauty essentials. There are brands that I favour for impulse buys - a new eyeshadow, a bargain nail polish (hello Barry M), a lipgloss that I'm going to fall out with in an hour's time because in the harsh reality of daylight it makes me look ill - but somehow when it comes to everyday products I am always looking for a better alternative.

When I run out of something (something staple, like a moisturiser), I tend to give it a mini-review in my head. I weigh up the pros and cons, the value for money, the smell and the texture and sometimes the packaging. I am constantly asking myself if there is something better out there.

I then find myself in Boots as I can't possibly resist those 4 advantage points for every £1 spent. Screw it if it's cheaper elsewhere. Come Christmas I'll have enough points to buy myself a giant tub of that body butter I'll have just wrapped up for someone else.

And then I'm a bit stuck. There are dozens of brands in front of me and a hundred mixed messages in my head. I read about THAT shampoo in a magazine. Sounded good, but it made my friend's hair greasy. This mascara looks like it works wonders, but I'm not a fan of the brand. This concealer is HOW MUCH?!

I am however safe in the knowledge that I can't go wrong with Soap & Glory.

My favourite products right now:

Soap & Glory Flake Away

Soap & Glory describe this as "a spa-strength dry skin body polish". I describe it as the holy grail of body buffers.
It contains shea butter, sugar, peach seed powder, sea salt, grapeseed and almond oils(!) and it smells divine.
It might just be my favourite body product ever, which is why I couldn't even bear to take a stock picture from their site, I had to use my own romantic snap.
The consistency is of a sugary paste, with small grains that minimize discomfort. Apply this to damp skin in the shower in small circular motions until most of the grains are gone, then rinse.
The results are phenomenal. My skin is very dry in places as I suffer from dermatitis, and the thing I notice most about Flake Away is how moisturised my skin feels after I use this. It's almost like there is a layer of moisture on my skin. I usually finish with a body butter but to be honest if you miss this step, you shouldn't notice any dryness or tightening of the skin whatsoever. It eliminates bumps and roughness and leaves your skin glowing.
If you feel like your skin is dull, flaky or just in need of some TLC, I highly recommend this. I'm on my third tub in the space of a year.

Boots usually retail at £6.36 for 300ml. Their website currently says "Now £4.24".

Soap & Glory Off Your Face Cleansing Cloths

This is a new product from Soap & Glory's facial skincare range. I received mine as part of a birthday gift (you've missed it, it was Monday) and couldn't contain my excitement at something so simple. As usual the packaging is cute and they smell great too.
Apparently they contain "PORESHRINK-RS", so over time they visibly shrink your po res. I have a problem with large pores on my cheeks so I will be interested to see what difference these make.
That aside, as cleansers they remove every last bit of makeup if used properly. They are a reasonable size, so unless you really cake on the makeup one should be enough. They also contain toners, and on the back it advises to use a little extra pressure when you use them to exfoliate your skin also. This is another issue I have as I feel like my face never glows, and always looks dull. I have very dry patches around my nose and mouth. So far I have noticed a difference both visually and to the touch. My skin is brighter and smoother without being greasy. I always finish with a moisturiser at night and the results are impressive.

Boots currently retail at £2.65 for a pack of 25. Usually £3.97.

Soap & Glory Clean On Me Creamy Clarifying Shower Gel

The first product I ever bought from Soap and Glory and it's still a favourite. The huuuge tub lasts for ages. I'm only on my second one of these!
The dispenser is really handy and a little really does go a long way. The shower gel has a built-in body lotion, and you can really feel the difference compared to other gels that smell nice at the time but dry out afterwards. It has a really creamy texture and is very gentle. As I said, I suffer from dermatitis so I sometimes have to be careful that what I'm using isn't too strong, but I find that Clean On Me works well. It settles my skin and if I have any itches or irritations it actually seems to improve them. It smells gorgeous long after you're finished using it. And the packaging makes me giggle.

Currently retailing at Boots for £3.33. Normally £5.00


I swear I'm not secretely working for Soap & Glory. Or Boots, for that matter. If only...