NAIL CARE . BACK TO BASICS
Maintaining a nail care routine at any time of the year can be bothersome when you're as lazy as I, but with the winter winds well on their way I make it a mandatory part of my 'Sunday' routine in order to avoid dry, uncomfortable hands and cuticles. After years of trial and error with various nail care products I have finally assembled my very own three-step system that delivers fabulous results without excessive time or effort.
After properly filing and shaping my nails I turn to the Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Lab ($48) to remove and perfect my cuticles. This 4-piece kit includes a cuticle remover, pusher, oil, and cream, alongside an simple step-by-step guide that ensures no matter your skill level the results always reflect salon quality. I originally questioned whether this was possible given the absence of a cuticle clipper – not that a cuticle clipper is a tool I enjoy using; my experience is limited to finding myself mesmerized by their use in the salon, to mimicking these techniques during my at-home-manicures, resulting in a crime scene. Unfortunately, the end result is never pretty. Luckily, the Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Lab alleviates this concern entirely, making cuticle care so simple that you don't even need to soak your nails. Use of the Cuticle Remover and Pusher requires minimal force, as the combo is ultra powerful, removing cuticles in mere seconds. Skin is then supplemented and re-hydrated thanks to the Cuticle Oil, which helps to prevent future splitting and cracking, and finally the Ultra-Nourishing Cuticle Repair Cream, which is packed with patented raspberry stem cell extract, red algae, shea butter, sodium hyaluronate, and vitamins A, C, and E, to instantly nourish, repair, and relieve dry cuticles. I then turn to OPI's Nail Envy in Original ($18) to strengthen and protect my nails through the use of wheat protein and calcium, which results in nails that grow stronger, harder, and longer, with the added benefit of minimal cracking and breakage. I've been using this as my weekly base coat for well over a year now, applying two thin coats at the beginning of the week, and will never turn to another nail strengthener as the rest simply don't compare.
To finish off the manicure I apply a generous layer of the LUSH Helping Hands Hand Cream ($20) to keep my hands hydrated and smooth for the remainder of the day. The combination of calming chamomile, soothing honey, and cocoa butter has been saving hands worldwide for years, and gives this cream it's signature scent, which is mild enough for even the most sensitive noses. Some other key ingredients include marigold and lavender oils to soothe sore hands, shea butter and almond oil to provide moisture, and linseed mucilage, which is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. Together the ingredients envelop hands in a layer of moisture that lasts throughout the day without ever feeling greasy. It's quickly become my most reached for hand cream, regardless of whether I'm spending the day at home, or am running errands.
This finely curated team of manicure products has saved me a lot of time and money over the past few weeks thanks to decreased salon visits, and yet I find the results comparable, if not better. I would highly recommend incorporating these products into your next at home manicure, especially the Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Lab, it's AH-MAZING!
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What are your go-to nail care products?
Let me know your favourites in the comment sections below.