Beauty Tip of the Day - Manicure Week - The 5 min manicure!

We're all in a rush most of the time, whether its work or family commitments we rarely have time to sit and pamper ourselves. A couple of years ago, painting my nails would be a daily occurrence, I would sit for ages at the weekends painting intricate designs on each nail, adding glitter and stones, a real work of art. I would paint them but not really give myself a proper manicure or allowing them anytime to breath or heal in between. Doing that, mixed with general life left my nails breaking, peeling, and my cuticles were a mess, just generally looking horrible.

I went for an emergency appointment to my friends salon and had a manicure with an OPI gel top coat. They looked so much better and now the length is getting just where I want it to be.

If you don't have the time or the money however I've done a quick DIY manicure that should take no longer than 5 minutes!!

What you'll need....

1. A nail file, I like a glass file rather than an emery board as I think its less harsh, but use what you've got.

2 . A cuticle pusher, you can use an orange wood stick if you prefer but I think this is quicker.

 

3. A good base coat - for what ever you need, a strengthener, a ridge filler, a growth stimulator.

 

4. Cuticle Oil - can be found at a boots or superdrug - don't miss this step!!

 

 

If you've got slightly more time and you want to add colour you will need...

 

5. A colour polish

 

6. A top coat - I like a chip resistant

 

7. Quick drying spray - again available at superdrug or boots.

 

 

 

Ready....Go!

 

1. File all nails, making sure you only sweep the file in one direction to get the desired shape

 

2. Use cuticle pusher to push back all cuticles removing any excess from the nail bed, leaving nail bed clean

 

3. Apply a very thin layer of base coat, this will dry very quickly if you have applied a thin layer.

 

4. Apply a drop of cuticle oil to the cuticle of each nail and rub into whole nail, this will leave your nails looking nourished and perfect!

 

If you have a little more time....

 

After step 3 applying your basecoat...

 

4. Apply two coats (if needed) of your chosen polish

 

5. Apply a thin layer of top coat

 

6. Spray all nails with quick drying spray

 

7. Finally apply a drop of cuticle oil!

 

And your done!!

 

If you keep practicing this technique your nails will look healthy and perfectly polished in no time at all!!

 

Hope you find this helpful, if you have any favourite products of any of the above let me know.

 

Hannah x

Beauty Tip of the Day - Manicure Week - How to remove Glitter Varnish

This week on my blog is Manicure Week! I've had a few questions on how to's for nails so this week is dedicated to that!!

Thought I'd start with a subject close to my heart - Glitter Nail Varnish!!!! I LOVE glitter polishes, my favourite brand for their glitter range and great prices is Barry M. Here are some of my favourites...

Gorgeous!!!!!! Doesn't glitter just make everything better!!! I think a glitter nail can compliment most outfits and look great on a night out! 

Only problem is....taking it off!! Before I discovered this method, I would dread the moment where I had to remove the glitter. I don't know about you but I would sit there with my cotton wool and a whole bottle of remover to be sat there 30 minutes later, used cotton balls all over the floor, no remover left, varnish stained fingers, and not much paint on the nail but the glitter would still be holding on!!

No more my friends!! No more!!

All you need is -

1 x bottle of any nail varnish remover

10 x small strips of kitchen foil

5 x cotton wool pads cut in half to give you 10 halves

Step one - soak the cotton wool half in remover and place over your nail.

Step two - wrap that with a piece of kitchen foil.

Step 3 - After 5 mins or so, squeeze the foil and pull off your finger! You will find all the varnish has been removed and your ready to apply a base coat for your next colour.....probably another glitter now you know how easy it is to remove!! ;-)

Hope this helped my fellow glitter fans!!

Also worth a mention is Barry M's newest collections!!

A new matte finish foundation in 5 shades for only £5.99

And three new eye and cheek palettes £6.49 each

I'm really looking forward to trying these, they've been out for a few weeks but I haven't seen them in stores near me yet. Time to shop!!

If you've tried any of the new products please let me know what you think!

Hannah x

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Men's Tip Monday - Manicure Week

This week on my blog is all about taking care of your nails, so time to put the MAN in manicure! I'm not saying you need to go as far as a polish, that's a bit excessive but a manicure, even a 5 minute DIY job is better than nothing.

Why? Because nice, clean, short, tidy nails say a lot about a man and his hygiene standards. A man with long dirty nails is not a man that you want holding your hand or cooking you dinner, trust me guys, if I'm thinking it, other girls are thinking it too.

I only have two rules for you really,

1. Keep em' clean

2. Keep em' short

So what if you don't want to go to a salon because your too embarrassed? I've got a few essentials that every man should have to be able to do a quick DIY manicure at home.

A nail brush - great for cleaning your nails, especially if you have a job where your hands are always filthy! Available in most supermarkets or drugstores like boots.

Second thing - Nail Clippers . Unless you have used scissors for years on your nails and your happy with them, get clippers, great for keeping them short, styled and it's super quick and easy to use. Again you can pick these up at supermarkets or drugstores.

Last but not essential (this maybe a step too far for some so just keep scrolling if it is!) 

A Nail File. If you have used the clippers and cut your nails short, you may find you hacked away without much regard to the shape your leaving behind leaving them uneven and catching on your clothes. Keeping a nail file handy when you've trimmed you nails just finishes them off. Lightly file in one direction two or three times to leave the free edge of the nail smooth.

And in no time at all you will be done!! See, it wasn't that painful was it!!

Hannah x

Winter Make Up - My Winter Nails Wishlist!

I was going to tell you about my favourite nail products that I'm currently using and show you what they looked like on etc, but my nails right now are hideous!!!! I'm currently having a bad hair and nail situation where my hair is falling out and my nails are breaking off, lovely isn't it!! So rather than ruin the lovely products I was going to show you I'm going to show you what my Winter Nails Wishlist is......

Starting with butter London's Horse Power Nail Fertiliser! It uses a herbal ingredient called Horsetail, which is meant to have amazing effects on strengthening and repairing your nails. Which is exactly what I need, however it comes with a £17 price tag so for now it goes on the Wishlist!!

Second is a product that's been out for a while now, Revlons Scandalous nail enamel. How beautiful! I've tried to buy this a couple of times now but it's never in stock! As you know I'm a bit of a magpie and I tend to be especially drawn to pink shiny things, so I would like to add this to my collection! It's around £6 so great price for such a pretty thing!

Essie, Essie, Essie.....I'm in love....with a nail polish....again!!! This is Essie's Sole Mate, a rich deep plum perfect for this time of year! Of all the colours I'm showing you today this is number 1 on my list!! Total perfection! 

Just read this description from Essie - 

I created this intoxicating, rich plum shade as a love potion for women who were looking for true love. I had found my soul mate and hoped that every woman in the world would find hers too. What can I say? I’m an eternal optimist and a romantic.

Gorgeous. You can now get Essie in super drug and boots which is great, and they are around £8.

And again! This is Belugaria, one on the new polishes from Essie. It's described as a jet black nail lacquer laced with highly textured matte glitter with flashes of rainbow holographics. Enough said!! Absolute beaut and I need it in my life! Not a fan of a plain black nail varnish, but a black GLITTER nail varnish - I'm all about it!!!

And last but by no means least - the perfect red carpet RED!! Dior Rouge 999, This iconic red has been perfectly designed to fuse to the nail to prevent chipping, and create intense colour and shine. As this is a little special it's around £18 and can be picked up from a Dior counter in selfridges or debenhams.

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So those are the products that have made my Wishlist this winter, what's on yours?

Hannah x