Alessandro Lucky Violet Nail Polish Review!

Alessandro Lucky Violet Nail Polish

Alessandro Lucky Violet Nail Polish ($9.50) is a fabulous soft purple with a blue pearl that makes this purple appear as more of a cool-toned purple/violet. I love purple nail polish, especially dark purples during the Fall/Winter and pastel purples during the Spring/Summer, but I rarely ever really wear mid-toned purples - I'm not quite sure why, but I think it has something to do with it being one of my most worn nail polish colors when I was a kid. I can't help but see purple as a very adolescent shade, but nevertheless, I think it's a really fun color and one that could be enjoyed all year round.

I found the formula to be a bit thick with this color and I couldn't get completely even coverage until I applied three coats. Despite this, each coat dried fairly quickly. You can surely get away with two coats, but I thought three looked best for full opacity. In the photo of my nails, I applied three coats to my pointer finger and two coats to the rest.

Sometimes square shaped bottles can be a little awkward to handle when painting the nails, but I love that the cap has grooves on each side for your thumb and pointer or middle finger to sit comfortably in as well as ridged grooves on both sides of the cap for a good grip. Really effective design.

I'm hoping my manicure will hold up for at least 5-6 days. I'll edit this post later letting you know how well it held up without chips.

If you live in Europe, Alessandro might be a familiar brand to you, as it's one of the leading European luxury nail polish/nail care brands. It wasn't until just recently they launched their extensive line of gorgeous nail polishes in the USA. They are actually a sister brand to Tweezerman, so you can find their products on the Tweezerman website (by clicking the Alessandro tab at the top of the screen) or by visiting http://www.alessandro-international.us. You can also find some of their products at Beauty.com.

Have you ever heard of, or tried this brand? Let me know! I'm interested in trying some of their other shades.

 

A Quick Review - Nail Magic Nail Hardener and Conditioner!

Nail Magic Nail Hardener and Conditioner

I just wanted to quickly share with you a product that I've been using constantly for the past several weeks and have seen great results with!

This winter my nails have really taken a beating to the dry air. In just one day, I broke 4 of my nails on one hand (all while grocery shopping and running errands). Any slight ding and my half of my nail was gone. It was at the point of ridiculousness, so in desperation I made a quick run to Sally's, which happened to be in the same mall - jagged nails and all.

So I walked out with a bottle of Nail Magic that was recommended to me by the sales associate.

Nail Magic contains a blend of ingredients that not only strengthens the nails, but also conditions them. It treats splitting, chipping and repairs weak and/or damaged nails.

You can use it alone, applied as a base coat, and it even says that you can use it as a top coat (which I haven't tried).

I've been applying two coats to my nails and leaving them bare of any other polish. In the bottle the liquid is tinted pale pink, but it applies clear and makes the nails look a little more primped and shiny.

I'm kind of hard on my hands with household chores so it does wear off my tips within a couple of days, but when it does, I'll usually just remove it with nail polish remover and apply it again.

Glass Nail Files by Mont Bleu.

I've ditched using a standard nail file for the past year or so, and switched over to glass files. Although I'm no professional, I've gathered a few nailcare tips from nail bloggers and beauty communities along my blogging journey that seem to know a lot about nails.

When picking a nail file, I always pick a really fine grain in order to avoid damaging my nails. I use to have a really big problem with my nails splitting/peeling - realizing later that it was due to the pure acetone nail polish remover I was using a couple times a week. A blogger recommended looking into a glass file to avoid any further splitting of my nails, so I purchased a glass nail file from Sally's Beauty Supply and have been using it ever since. Metal files and emery boards can sometimes be too rough on the nails, especially if they are brittle already. Glass nail files are very gentle on the nails and yield a very smooth result. 

Glass nail files are also very easy to clean, and will last for years. You may pay a few dollars more for one, but it's worth the investment. 

To clean a glass file, simply run it under water. 

Unfortunately glass files aren't as widely available as emery boards and steel files are, and the ones that are available usually aren't very cute or trendy.

I recently discovered Mont Bleu, and was given the opportunity to try a couple of their files. Mont Bleu is a Czech based company that specializes in the making of Glass Nail Files, that are hand decorated with Swarovski crystals and/or unique patterns & designs, delivering quality products worldwide. Although their main product is glass nail files, they also have a selection of other accessories including: glass foot files, tweezers, compact mirrors, costume jewelry, manicure sets and more.

Their files come in a velvet sleeve (not pictured) which is perfect for traveling and to prevent any damage to your nail file. Because it's glass, if you drop it on a hard surface, it can break, so keeping it in the protective sleeve will protect it.

Mont Bleu has a ton of different designs, and they actually use Swarovski crystals, as opposed to cheap, plastic rhinestones. I'm really enjoying my mini file, and keep it stored in the pocket of my handbag.

They are also very affordable at around $7-14 each. To view all of the designs, check out their website at http://www.design-glassware.com/1-home.

Cheryl also posted a review for Mont Bleu recently, click the image below to be redirected to her page.

Disclaimer: This post contains a product sample provided by the manufacturer for consideration. All opinions expressed in this post are my own, and reflect my honest opinion based on my personal experience with using this product.

Sally Hansen Cuticle Remover Review!

Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover

•  Dissolves Dry Cuticles in 15 Seconds
•  Melts away and breaks down excess cuticles in seconds
•  Smooths and softens cuticles
• Can also be used to remove stubborn calluses

DIRECTIONS

For cuticles, squeeze a thin strip around cuticles and under nail tips. After 15 seconds begin to gently push back cuticles with a cuticle pusher or manicure stick. Wash away excess immediately and thoroughly with warm, soapy water.
For calluses, apply to callused skin for 1 minute. Wash away excess immediately and thoroughly with warm, soapy water.
Do not leave on longer than 1 minute.
Keep fingers away from eyes during use. Do not use more than twice weekly or on broken or sensitive skin.

Lately, I would keep hearing about this product and how it's a "favorite" among many bloggers. It was one of those products that I was meaning to purchase for some time, and never really got around (or made an attempt) to purchase it. Finally, I decided go purchase it, after a failed attempt of cutting my cuticles using a cuticle nipper. What's really great about this product is the ease of use. It's pretty much a no brainer. It takes less than a minute (more like 5 seconds) to apply the thin gel around your cuticle and then you wait for 15 seconds, push your cuticles back with a cuticle pusher and rinse your fingers. It almost instantly softens the cuticles so they are easy to push back and it peels off, or dissolves the excess cuticles on the nail - which is typically hard to remove otherwise. I've been using it 1-2 times a week and my cuticles are looking so much better. I'll admit it, my cuticles were looking pretty bad. I was debating whether or not to get a professional manicure, just so they can clip my cuticles for me. I'm so happy this has saved me the hassle. It has also helped my nail polish last longer because my polish would always end up chipping or lifting off near my cuticle - because basically, I would be polishing over the excess cuticles on my nail bed on some nails. This is a product I'm going to definitely re-purchase and always have on hand to maintain clean cuticles.  Highly Recommend! Plus, it's only about $4.

INGREDIENTS

Water, Potassium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10 30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Juice, Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (Licorice Root)

What are some of your Nail Care Must-haves?

Did you know, your nails need moisture too?

 Did you know one of the main factors in maintaining healthy nails is moisture? This may not sound like rocket science, and it may possibly be obvious to many, but It never really crossed my mind.

Although my nails can grow fast, long, and are very strong, I had very dry nails. And when I say had, I'm only talking about a week ago. I started researching the problems I had with my nails. 1) Some of my nails would curve and 2) Several of my nails were (minor) peeling.

So with a little research, I realized my nails need moisture. So, I started applying unrefined shea butter to my hands and nails and night and then going to bed, letting my nails absorb the moisture. I've had this problem with my nails for a couple of years now (curving and peeling) and within a week, my nails have minimal, if any curving and minimal, if any peeling. I was staring at my nails the other day in confusion. None of my nails were curving. They looked the beautiful way they look after I've taken a long shower. Then I quickly realized that what I've been doing has been working.

How to recognize if your nails lack moisture:

1) Your nails break easily/they seem brittle.

2) "Splitting"or "Peeling" of the nail - separation and breaking of the protein layers due to depletion of natural oils and moisture content.

3) Your nails look dull and dry 

4) Your nails curve inward at long/medium lengths

There are many reasons why your nails can be dry. If you use an acetone nail polish remover, although it takes your nail polish off faster than any other remover, it can dry out your nails. If you do a lot of housecleaning, wash your hands often and expose your hands to lots of chemicals, it can be damaging to your nails. If you do none of these things, and your nails are brittle, it could be a vitamin deficiency.

Nails are made up of keratin, a protein, which is produced by the skin cells too. As proper nutrition is an important part of skin care, nails too need adequate nutrition for its healthy growth. Vitamin deficiency can lead to brittle nails, along with many other conditions. A deficiency of the following vitamins, like, vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin C, and vitamin D, may result in brittle nails.

• Vitamin A deficiency can adversely affect the health of the nails, as this vitamin aids the body to process proteins. As protein is one of the main constituents of nails, a deficiency of vitamin A affects the nails and makes it brittle and dry. It is also said that retinoid (a derivative of vitamin A) deficiency may also cause brittle nails.
• B vitamins are also essential for the nails, especially biotin or vitamin B7 and vitamin B12. B vitamins strengthen the nails and prevent dryness of nails, darkening and the occurrence of curved ends.
• Vitamin C deficiency can lead to hangnails, swelling of nail tissues and brittle nails. These conditions may be painful and cause infections too.
• Vitamin D and calcium are also needed for healthy and strong nails. Vitamin D deficiency affects the absorption of calcium ion in the body, which in turn results in brittle nails.

Start out by making a goal for yourself to take in more vitamins a day. Try drinking a full glass of juice a day that contains all of the major vitamins. If you would like to limit your sugar intake, there are lower calorie/sugar options available. If you don't care for juice, try out Vitamin water! It contains most, if not all of the same vitamins as juice. There are also low calorie options available. If you want to ditch both, take a daily multi-vitamin (if you are not eating a well balanced diet).   

As always, drink lots of water. This goes not only for your nails, but your overall health.

If your hands are dry, most likely your nails are too. Apply a moisturizing lotion to your hands a few times a day. If you're too busy throughout the day, apply lotion to your hands in the morning and at night - as a part of your skincare routine.

Moisturizing Treatments for your nails:

There are so many different treatments you can use, and they will all be effective. Try using a heavier, emollient cream at night on your hands and nails. Make sure to rub the cream with small circular motions on your nails. A favorite of many is Petroleum jelly, Aquaphor (jar), Pure Cocoa Butter, Unrefined Shea Butter, etc. After you have applied the cream to your nails, go to sleep and let your nails absorb the moisture. If you'd like, you can wear thin, cotton gloves so it won't rub off on your bed sheets.

Pour a little olive oil into two small (or one medium) sized bowl and let your nails rest in the oil for 10 minutes. Then, rinse. (You aren't only limited to olive oil!)

Continue moisturizing your nails as much needed. You can see improvements in as little as a few days to a week.

The most important thing to remember is to ALWAYS replenish the moisture in your nails once you have removed moisture.

For other nail tips, check out my Nail Routine post here!

(Sources: http://www.buzzle.com/)

My Nailcare Routine + A Few Tips for Healthy Nails!

I receive several questions daily about my nails, in regards to the health and upkeep of having them long. In this post, I'm going to address everything I do to maintain my nails, as well as a few tips!

Some background info about my nails: Through my adolescence, reaching adulthood, I never took that great of care to my nails. Although I always denied that I was a "biter", I was indeed a biter. I wouldn't bite my nails as they would grow, but I would bite my nails once they would chip or tear. I would also "pick" my teeth/gums with my nails, which was a terribly nasty habit that would cause breakage of my nails. I believe a lot of my biting occurred from the cause of nerves. When I'm nervous, I tend to want to bite at my cuticles. How gross, and embarrassing. In the past, maybe three-four years I kicked my bad habit to the curb because I was sick of having little third grader looking nails. ***You may notice from my NOTD posts that my middle fingernail looks a little funny. It looks like it may be chipped. My middle finger is actually crooked, as is my nail. When all of my fingers are straight, and I look down at my hand, my middle finger and nail curve slightly left, while all of the others are straight.

My natural nails

My Nail Routine
1) I remove my old nail polish once it has chipped. Most of the times it is around 5-6 days. Sometimes more, sometimes less. I use Acetone (any brand). I've purchased Acetone from CVS, Walmart & Target. They are all the same (to me). I use Acetone because it removes the polish from my nails much faster than non-acetone formula. Although non-aceone formulas are much more gentle.
2) I file my nails. If necessary, I will trim them. But I prefer filing them down because I tend to cut too much with a nail clipper. I bend my fingers with my nails facing toward my body, and one by one file the nail straight across. It's very important not to file quickly back and forth, or as many call it, "sawing" because it weakens your nails and can cause them to peel. You want to file your nail in the same direction. I do not touch the sides of my nails until the end. Once I bend my fingers and match up my cuticles and see they all match in length, I will slightly soften the corners of my nails so they aren't pointy. This only takes a couple of swipes with the file. I do not round them out. I use a standard medium grit nail file.
3) After my nails are filed, I buff them. I actually prefer not to use the buffer on the smoothest side. Although it makes your nails the shiniest/smoothest, it also makes the nail polish not adhere to the tips of your nails as well. I don't spend too much time buffing, I just do it until my nails aren't as sharp. I use a standard buffing block.
4) My cuticles actually don't require much maintaining. If necessary, I will gently push my cuticles back using a cuticle pusher. It's important not to push them too hard because it can cause dents in your nails. I usually skip the cuticle step, but it's good to do it once a week. It's nice to do it after a shower while they are soft.
5) I apply a base coat. I'm extremely guilty of skipping this on a normal basis. But when I do use a base coat, I use my Seche Base Coat. A base coat prevents your nails from getting stained. I always try to remember to use a base coat when I wear red polishes, because red stains more than any other color. A base coat also helps give your nail a smooth, even canvas for your nail color.
6) I apply my nail polish, slow and steady. I try to lay the brush down a tiny bit away from my cuticle for a more, "polished" (is that a pun? lol) look. Depending on the polish I used, I'll wait until it's dry to the (light) touch and apply a second coat.
7) After my polish has dried, I apply a top coat. My favorites are Seche Vite and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat. I'll try my best not to handle anything in the next half hour that will smudge my nails (getting dressed, putting on shoes, cleaning, etc).
8) I usually apply a hand lotion after I do my nails because the acetone nail polish remover dries out the cuticles. If I feel that they need intense moisture, I'll apply a heavy cream to them at night. The only cuticle cream I own and use is Burt's Bees Lemon Cuticle Butter. Or I will use Vaseline, Shea Butter or any other concentrated cream.

Some things that can help maintain healthy nails:

• Don't use your nails as tools. Do not "pick" at things with your nails (example: picking off hard to remove labels, scratching residue off surfaces, picking your teeth, etc)

• When cleaning with chemicals or doing dishes, use rubber gloves. Too much moisture makes your nails temporarily soft and bendable. When your nails bend, your nail polish will chip. Also, harsh chemicals will weaken your nail. So toss some rollers in your hair and get some yellow gloves and be a complete fashionista! haha

• Keep a nail file with you in your handbag. At the first sign of a chip or snag, smooth it out right away. Any snags or uneven edges can catch onto clothing and other items and cause further breakage. I can't speak out of experience, but many people swear by glass/crystal nail files for a smoother result.

• Apply hand lotion daily. Not only does it help your hands, your nails get dry too and need some moisture (but not too much). Peeling is a sign of dry nails as well as brittleness.

• Biotin supplements aid in the health of your hair in nails. I don't take Biotin daily anymore, but when I did, my nails would grow much quicker. I would take 1,000-3,000 mg daily. Any more than that can cause breakouts - So, test it first. You can purchase Biotin from your local drugstore for a few dollars.

• Try drinking water more often - this is a must for your overall health, skin, everything!

My nails at a short/medium length

My nails at a long length