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

beauty spotlight: Melvita Rose Nectar Beauty Hand Cream

bonjour, beauties! hope you're staying warm and taking care of yourself, your skin and especially those hands. i myself have been keeping my skin moisturized with hand and cuticle creams, oils and lotions in an effort to avoid the dreaded dry hands syndrome that we all experience this time of year. from the cold weather to washing my hands multiple times a day, it's a constant battle...

while the hand and nail creams i currently use work beautifully, as a beauty-loving gal, i'm always curious about other products that will enhance my beauty lifestyle, new or otherwise; it just so happens  that i was introduced {via my inbox} to a product that sounds like something i would enjoy ~ 

Melvita Rose Nectar Beauty Hand Cream. 

a non-sticky, gently conditioning cream formulated especially for hands and nails with castor oil, helping to strengthen and nourish skin. it also combines ultra-moisturizing properties of rose floral water, rose seed milk and wild rose petal extract.

given the description, it sounds like quite the luxurious treat for hands {dry cuticles beware!}, wouldn't you say? after further research {oh, it sounds much harder than it was}, i was delighted to discover this hand cream contains organic, fair trade ingredients, is not tested on animals and available in 2 sizes: a full size 75ml {a bit more than 2.5 ounces} and a travel-friendly 30 ml {1 ounce} size, perfect for tossing into any handbag ~ love that!

Melvita Rose Nectar Beauty Hand Cream and the full range of Melvita products are available here in the states at its two retail stores in san francisco and newport beach, california. if you're not nearby, you can also browse and purchase at their online boutique, usa.melvita.com.

tell me: what products do you use to pamper your dry hands during the winter season?

info and image courtesy of the brand's PR

Julep Zoe and Samantha + a giveaway!!! {closed}

as my love for nail polish grows {really...it's only slightly out of control! *wink}, i love discovering new brands. like lipstick, gloss and mascara, nail lacquer is something that we gals can purchase as a way to treat ourselves without breaking the bank.

one brand i was recently introduced to, and have had the pleasure of using, is Julep. you may have heard of them by now since they recently started a fun program for nail polish lovers {more on that in a minute} and are being featured quite frequently in print and online.

Zoe is a fierce shade of metallic bronzy tangerine, just fabulous for fall and a shade i wouldn't have picked to wear had it not been sent to me. however, after wearing it, i'm an official fan.


the hot pink, Samantha, is characteristically more *me*, but since i'm in full autumn/winter mode, i've actually only worn only once.

i'm beyond thrilled with Julep's 4-free formula {that means it's free of formaldehyde or formaldehyde resin, toluene and DBP}; it applies smoothly and lasts with little wear {this is with regard to my personal i-don't-wear-a polish-longer-than-3-days, but i do plenty of handwashing, housework and everyday stuff, like typing, with my hands}.


the range also includes items for keeping hands and feet gorgeous. products like Facial for Hands Glycolic scrub {pictured, above} -- an amazing, simple way to pamper hands at the end of the day! -- spf 30 hand cream and a fun at-home spa pedicure set, just to name a few, is a perfect indication that the brand puts thought into their products when it comes to hand and nail care, but still keeps it fun ~ also makes me wish i lived closer to one of their salons!

another thing i love is that they have come up with, and so excited to share with you, is their Maven program. it allows polish-aholics to receive a set {called a sneak peek box} of their products each month, based on a fun style quiz you take via their website; from there, a selection of products are chosen for you {not-yet-released shades and products, as well as cult faves, plus a surprise}; if for some reason you don't like what is selected for you before the box is sent, you can request what they call a "shelf pull", and they'll select new shades for you. in addition, you'll have access to purchase products from their full line of goodies at 20% off.

each sneak peek box is worth over $40, but membership is less than half and ships for free! you choose when you want to receive your box, or you can skip the month {p.s. ~ if you like the box, but need a fabulous gift, you can opt to have it sent to your gal-pal-- it will arrive wrapped and pretty at her door!}.

sounds fab, right? needless to say, i love the polishes and am in love with this program. since i already belong to a few shoe clubs, and now style and beauty clubs, i figured this was clearly the next club to join! :)

would you like to join? what if i told you could have a 3-month membership for FREE?

you can...because i'm giving one away to one of you, compliments of Julep!!

{the crowd goes wild!} yay!!

i haven't run a contest in over a year, beauties, so i'm truly excited about this for you!

**entry is super simple -- here's how:

*email me, bgmcontests@gmail.com, with Julep in the subject line
*include your full name and mailing address and tell me what your favorite nail color is!
*next friday, december 9, 2011, i'll announce the winner {chosen at random}. u.s. entries only, please.

in the meantime, feel free to take advantage of this offer: enter code beautygirlmusings at checkout and your first sneak peek box will cost only $5! :)

be sure to follow Julep on twitter {@julepnailparlor} for fab tips and nail advice, and learn more about the brand and full range of products by visiting julep.com

good luck!!

*read please: entering this contest means you are giving me permission to forward your name and email address to representatives of Julep for fulfillment and mailing of contest prize. failure to include information requested will disqualify your entry. one (1) winner, chosen at random, will receive the prize mentioned. duplicate entries will not improve your chances of winning. giveaway sponsored by Julep. some restrictions apply. open only to US residents only. entries will be accepted through 11:59 am PST on thursday, december 8. winner will be announced december 9, 2011. thank you. :)

VB Cosmetics Cuticle Oil with Shea Butter

hangnails are dreadful to look at and painful to have. cuticle oil is a great product to keep them at bay and keep nails looking healthy. my current fave is VB Cosmetics' Cuticle Oil with Shea Butter. since i have an issue with getting hangnails, i have to be very attentive to my hands (seriously, i can get them constantly if i'm not careful-- such a pain, literally). if you've ever experienced them, you know what i'm talking about.



this surprisingly ungreasy oil gives my nails and cuticles a nourishing treat each time i use it, about once a day. along with shea butter, this contains safflower, avocado, grape seed and canola oils. application is simple, just brush on and rub it in. i like to use it on my toes, too!.

you can find VB Cosmetics Cuticle Oil with Shea Butter at vbcosmetics.com

xo
product featured was sent to me by the brand for review consideration