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

hair therapy: protect tresses and hair color with Keratin Complex

 from humidity and chlorine, heat styling and UV exposure, hair is put through so much. if you have color-treated hair, it's especially vulnerable and may be in need of damage control. nourishment and pampering with the right products will help keep your gorgeous tresses looking vibrant and healthy.

speaking of products, allow me to introduce the Timeless Color Fade-Defy Collection from Keratin Complex. this line includes shampoo, conditioner, and deep conditioning masque that promise to not only fight off frizz and protect that fabulous hue you love {and spend your hard-earned money on}, but they also contain UV-absorbers to protect your hair from scorching, damaging rays {which is actually good for all hair types!}.

infused with keratin, the Timeless Color Fade-Defy Collection works to reinforce the natural protective barrier in your hair; it sounds like a fabulous system for keeping hair gorgeous all summer long! for added styling benefit, you might also like to consider Keratin Complex Bold Hold Maximum Finishing Hairspray ~ it will keep hair in place and make styling a breeze.

have you tried Keratin Complex? they have many products to choose from for all hair types! visit their website, keratincomplex.com.

info and image courtesy of Keratin Complex

travel-friendly beauty from amarte + jane iredale

 jetsetting to a tropical destination? taking a long weekend away with friends? with your future travel plans in mind, you might appreciate some new travel-friendly finds ~ these creative goodies promise to make it easy to take a hollywood-worthy beauty routine with you, anywhere...

take a look at these 3 great spring break picks below: a TSA-friendly cleansing powder, a dry sunscreen and a collection of pre-measured makeup remover swabs.

Amarte Daily ExfoliPowder  {AmarteSkinCare.com} ~ a 2-in-1 "wonder wash" comes in powder form and uses refined, plant seed-based exfoliants to remove dry dull skin and gently cleanse. this formula is so delicate you can use it daily. to activate, simply shake the powder onto hands, add water and lather into a creamy cleanser; smooth over skin, rinse and reveal a more radiant complexion.

jane iredale Dot the i®Makeup Remover Swabs {shop.janeiredale.com} ~ pre-measured eye makeup remover swabs boast an absolutely residue-free finish, thanks to a blend of organic botanicals; the formula is gentle, alcohol-free and even safe for contact lens wearers and sensitive eyes. make quick and easy corrections without lugging liquid makeup remover in your suitcase {it's a favorite product of actress Helen Mirren}!

jane iredale Powder-Me SPF {shop.janeiredale.com} ~ this is a dry sunscreen that can literally be used from head to toe {on the body, face and scalp} for UVB/UVA spf 30 protection. water resistant for up to 40 minutes, the Powder-Me SPF contains titanium dioxide and natural clay which is completely free of contaminants and atmospheric pollutants. available in three shades: Translucent, Tanned, and Golden.

even when you're away from home it's super simple to stay gorgeous…

visit each brand's websites of more info!

info and images provided by brand's PR

holiday 2013: Mary Kay Purple Passion gift set

for this gift giving season, Mary Kay has some gorgeous sets that i think are definitely worth your time and consideration. one in particular i'd like to recommend {sent to me by the brand} is their Purple Passion set...i think it's beautiful!

the Purple Passion set is all about creating an uber-flattering plummy-purple eye ~ a fabulous look just in time for all of those parties you're planning to attend; it features products from MK's At Play™ range. "On the Horizon" Baked Eye Trio is versatile and can be used in so many ways to create a smokey eye. the Mary Kay At Play™ "Purple Smoke Eye Crayon" can be used both as a liner and a shadow, and it gives just the right amount of shimmer in its purple color ~ love that!

finally, one of my mascara faves, Lash Love, comes in the shade I ♥ Plum; it offers all the same lash-enhancing benefits in a beautiful, eye-catching color. the formula defines, adds volume and doesn't clump. the formula is a bit on the wet side, so i like to allow it to dry a bit between coats.

discover every awesome gift idea ~ contact your MK rep or visit the website, marykay.com

products featured sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

hair therapy: Pureology Reviving Red

attention all you fabulous red-haired beauties! Pureology has some gorgeous new hair goodies to keep your color looking and feeling its best...

the new Reviving Red collection was created for all shades of red {strawberry blonde to copper, ruby to deep mahogany}, and is the first all-natural line of products specifically designed to keep the hardest-to-maintain hue vibrant and long-lasting.

just like all Pureology products, this range is 100% vegan. Reviving Red formulas are also made with beneficial ingredients like lycopene extract {a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes and other vegetables} and fair trade jaljala oil.

products include:

Reviving Red Shamp'Oil
a concentrated, oil-infused, sulfate-free cleanser that helps maintain vibrancy, replenishes hair and reduce colour bleeding.

Reflective Condition
a gentle detangler to restore hair, intensify light reflection and increase vibrancy and shine.

Illuminating Caring Oil
formulated to seal the cuticle aiding in maintaining the glossiness of your fabulous red and copper hues.

Red Reflect and Copper Reflect Enhancers 
each is a color-depositing conditioner created to keep hair color vibrant between salon visits.

i don't have red color-treated hair, so i can't tell you how well these work, but i do know is that they contain the Oleo Antifade Complex also found in the Precious Oil-Care range {a serious plus}. and i'm such a fan of the Pureology brand in general, that i had to share! i'm quite certain that these Reviving Red products are just as fabulous. :)

visit pureology.com for more info about Reviving Red as well as the whole range of products ~ they have something for every every hair concern!

products featured sent to me by the brand's PR for review consideration

fabulous handbags: Rebecca Minkoff

Rebecca Minkoff.

heard of her? of course you have! at least that's what i have to think. mainly because she's very well known, and her bags are everywhere.


i have been introduced to her and her handbag collection, and i didn't know i knew. i knew of the bags-- i've seen celebs wearing them-- but not who the designer was. it turns out, Rebecca created one of my favs (that i don't actually have, but drool over) ever. the Nikki Bag.

loved by stars like Lauren Conrad, Vanessa Minnillo, Jessica Alba and Hillary Duff , this bag is slouchy, yet able to fit a 12" computer. talk about a multi-tasker! the Nikki hobo features maximum utility while still remaining very cool, and is the best bag for a day to night look.




of course, Rebecca creates so many other bags that are sought after and loved. for example, the Morning After Bag-- the bag that started it all. it was originally created by Rebecca for her friend, Jenna Elfman. now, it is everywhere, in seven colors, and even in a mini version. Hayden Panettiere and Lindsay Lohan are a huge fans of this one!

the Market bag (featured in the Sex and the City movie in Yellow) is perfect for those lazy sundays, and in my opinion, every other day! this bag is the perfect size to fit just about anything.









isn't it fabulous? love!!




the Clutch is oversized, but compact, and perfect for the must-haves you can't leave home without. the luxury of a RM handbag but small enough for your hurried days (or nights) on the town.



Rebecca Minkoff designs fabulous handbags, lets face it. and the ones i have featured are not all of them! so head over to her website, and see for yourself.



xo


visit spasofamerica.com
photos: rebeccaminkoff.com

Redpoint Advanced Color Cosmetics

i was introduced to Redpoint cosmetics at the Total Beauty blogger summit this past weekend.

the sleek red packaging catches your eye, but finding out, and actually trying, what is in that packaging is what will keep you using it.

Redpoint is more than makeup. it’s a revolutionary line of color cosmetics infused with breakthrough anti-aging and skin transforming complexes, to make you look and feel better than you ever have.



featured in countless magazines, including this month's SELF magazine, Redpoint is suiting up to take the beauty world by storm with their discovery of new chromactive technology-- taking makeup performance to a completely new level.




stay tuned for my reviews of a few Redpoint standouts...






xo



p.s.--yes, that's me in the photo having a "touch-up" with some Redpoint products.