6 tips for keeping nails healthy this summer {and beyond}

Cutex, known for their fabulous nail care products, has shared with me some nail tips {pun intended} that i think you'll love! since saturday marks the first official day of summer, i can't think of a better reason than now to prep those nails for the season...

"there are so many opportunities to be outdoors during the summer and, while we know to protect our skin, protecting our nails is just as important," says Barbara Hershfelt, director of sales and marketing for Cutex. "nails may look beautiful on the surface but to keep them healthy, it’s vital to care for what’s under the color."

i couldn't agree more ~ so, as promised, here are 6 fabulous tips on how we can properly care for nails {and cuticles} this summer…

1. sunscreen isn’t just for the skin. nails are made of protein and need as much protection as our skin does. when lathering on the sunscreen, remember those hands and feet ~ ­especially the cuticles. cuticles serve a purpose; they seal in moisture and protect new nail growth as it emerges from the base of the nail. sun, wind and sand can dry cuticles and nail folds {the areas of skin that frame your nails}, which is bad for nail growth.

2. cover your head and nails. dermatologists recommend donning a baseball cap or cute floppy hat to shade the head and face from the sun’s harsh rays. Cutex recommends coating nails with a polish, base coat or ridge-filler to protect nails against the elements. the Cutex clear basecoat, Baseworx, contains biotin, the only supplement scientifically proven to improve nail health. Baseworx not only lengthens the life of manicures, it is also the perfect protection for those heading sea-side, where high salt and moisture can soften and split nails.

3. keep infection at bay. according to the American Academy of Dermatology, about 50% of all nail disorders are caused by fungal infections. people tend to go swimming, exercise, and visit spas more often in summer. while those places are great for relaxing or keeping fit, any damp place ~ like a locker room ~ can breed fungus, so be sure to wear some type of footwear at all times when in public. feet can also become hot and sweaty in the summer. open-toed shoes or light sandals can help keep feet dry and healthy.

4. oil-up to protect and moisturize. dermatologists suggest coating hands and nails in natural oils to moisturize. when you're looking to change polishes, reach for Cutex Advanced Revival Nail Polish Remover. named 2014’s Best Nail Polish Remover by NewBeauty Magazine, Advanced Revival combines the power of acetone with the nourishing and natural botanical oils of apricot seed, flax seed and perilla, for stronger, healthier nails. plus, Advanced Revival removes polish twice as fast as other brands. that means more time to spend enjoying summer!

5. dramatic nails? ditch the harsh salon acetone for diy removal. do you take your nails to the extreme with gel or glitter polish? extreme nails don’t have to mean extremely harsh nail polish remover. try at-home removal with the new Cutex Gel Polish Removal Kits or SPA Formula Nail Polish Remover {read my review here!}. these products work as well as 100% acetone, yet moisturize and condition nails even after the first use.

6. go naked! even with the best products, nails still need a rest. if your nails are brittle, break easily or just look unhealthy, dermatologists recommend ditching the polish for three months. still need a little shine? try Cutex Baseworx, which uses bio-ceramic technology to bind to the protein in nails, strengthening them in the process.

fabulous tips, right? many thanks to Cutex for the advice on keeping our nails in gorgeous, heathy shape! for additional nail care advice, how-tos and product info, visit cutexnails.com 

info and images courtesy of Cutex

manicure must-have: Cutex SPA Formula Nail Polish Remover

 
 happy post-oscar day to you, beauties! have you recovered? if you live anywhere outside the pacific time zone and stayed up to watch, you are quite fabulous i have to say! i was happy when the broadcast was coming to an end before 9pm. 

i'm an early riser, so…

that's not what i'm here to talk about, of course, but my reason for mentioning it {besides the obvious} is the fact that there were some fabulous manicures being rocked on the tips of hollywood's movie stars last night. but just like us regular gals, they'll have to take it off at some point.

if i could recommend a remover to any of them, it would be the one i'm currently loving from Cutex:  SPA Formula Nail Polish Remover.

when it comes to nail polish remover, there was a time that i used 100% acetone exclusively. i loved it for its speedy removal and it was fabulous at dissolving even the glitteriest shades without issue. until i found myself using more and more cuticle oil to keep my poor tips from looking so wrecked. that stuff is harsh and was doing major damage ~ not pretty!!!

so, i made a choice and switched to a nourishing formula ~ what a difference! and while my cuticles and nails were happier, i was using less glitter polish. i couldn't help but think, "if only there were something that combined the strength of acetone, but without being so harsh…"

and {as if they heard me!} that's when the fabulous people representing Cutex contacted me to share the news regarding their newest innovation…

Cutex SPA Formula Nail Polish Remover.

combining the power of acetone {98.7%} with natural botanical nourishing oils {including apricot seed, flax seed and perilla oils}, users of gel, Shellac, glitter and other hard-to-remove nail polishes need this in their lives. Cutex SPA is amazing in that it works as well as 100% acetone, and yet still moisturizes and conditions nails after each use.

"we are thrilled to offer a new solution for women wanting a powerful nail polish remover formula that is both nourishing and strengthening and without the damaging effects of pure acetone remover,” said Barbara Hershfelt, director of sales and marketing for Cutex. "our 100-year heritage is founded on new and innovative products and SPA Formula is the perfect solution for nail enthusiasts who desire to keep their nails looking and feeling healthy, strong and beautiful."

how excited are you about this?!

i certainly am! my excitement {you get that i'm thrilled about this, right?!} is so hard to convey here in writing, but i love this stuff! it's incredible at removal and, just as it promises, nourishes nails, never leaving them or my cuticles feeling dried out; i no longer have to avoid wearing {and ultimately removing} a glittery polish manicure...

yay!

Cutex SPA Formula Nail Polish Remover is available in select stores nationwide; purchase online at cutexshop.com.

product featured sent to me for review consideration; opinions and thoughts are my own; pics taken by me :)

beauty on a budget: Give Yourself a Manicure at Home

if you're like most people, you're doing what you can to save money. doing your own nails at home is a great way to do that, but you don't have to give up your regular manicures altogether. by learning to do your own at least twice a month will help you keep money in the bank.

here's a fabulous formula for giving yourself an amazing mani at home:



**first, remove any polish that you have on your nails. i recommend any Cutex brand. i do use acetone to remove darker polish especially if it has a glitter or shimmer to it-- it just works faster. make sure to get in between the cuticle and the nail to remove any remaining polish that is hidden. continue this process until all the old polish has been removed.

**using a nail file, smooth and shape your nails. once you've done this, soak your nails in warm water to soften up your cuticles. if you are short on time, use a cuticle remover and gently push your cuticles back using an orange stick.

**once this step is completed, i like to use a cuticle oil (or olive oil) and hand moisturizer. not only to pamper my nails and cuticles, but it helps to keep the polish from sticking to my skin later on. before moving on, be sure to swipe a polish remover over each nail to remove excess oil from them-- oil and polish do not mix. :)

**next, it's time for a base coat. Seche Ridge Filling Base Coat works fabulously. this will ensure your manicure will last as color will have something to adhere to. also, a base coat will protect your nails from discoloration.



**once the base coat is dry, it's time for your color. if you're a newbie to at-home manicures, practice with lighter nail colors, as they are easiest to work with (when applying, remember that thin coats are better than thick ones-- it will dry quicker and prevent the dreaded bubbles). to apply, place the brush about half-way down your nail, push downward (this causes the bristles to fan out) until you almost touch your nail bed, then reverse and sweep upward. repeat on each nail.

**for the second coat, start by sweeping the brush horizontally across the top of your nails-- this basically creates an edge of polish and helps prevent chipping (if you get it on your skin, you can remove it when you're finished). after this, apply your second coat of polish, paying close attention to creating a smooth even surface. allow a couple of minutes to go by if you decide on a third coat.

** now it's time to apply the top coat. this important step will not only help make nails appear shinier, but it will protect your manicure.

and that's it! at least my version of it. do you have any tips or tricks you use for giving yourself a manicure? share in the comments!

xo