Hi guys! Welcome to my very first blog post! I've decided to keep it simple and a little cliche and share with you my nail care routine. All products listed have been purchased with my own money.
Before I get into it, I should mention that I have an acrylic overlay on my natural nails, so the care of my actual nails is pretty average. I've never been able to grow my nails long without them breaking so acrylics were my solution to that. If I could, I would love to grow out my natural nails, however just don't have the patience, so continue with acrylics I shall. No judgement please!
Base Coat:
Due to the acrylic overlay, there's no point in me using a base coat to strengthen and protect my natural nails. I do, however use a UV topcoat purchased from eBay to smooth and even out the nail after I file down any lifting that occurs near the cuticle area. I do this before I paint my nails when it is needed - usually once a week depending on how much liftage there has been. I use a small 9W UV lamp, also from eBay, to cure the topcoat for a few minutes and then use a cotton pad and some methylated spirits to remove any stickyness. I then paint my nails as normal.
Cuticle Care:
With all the filing down of my acrylics and acetone used to remove polish, my cuticles tend to get a bit rough. To keep them as soft as possible, I use Burt's Bee's Lemon Cuticle Balm. I use this several time each day and have 3 of the mini 8.5g balms - one at work, one in my handbag and one by my bed.
I try to avoid trimming my cuticles and push them back with my thumb nail or my cuticle pusher after a shower. Sometimes, especially after a refill, I do trim any jagged bits and any hangnails with my Manicare Cuticle Clippers.
Even though I do the best I can to keep them my cuticles in good condition, they aren't perfect. As you can see below, there has been a big improvement from when I wasn't doing anything at all!
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| Feb 2013 August 2014 |
Hand Care:
To keep my hands silky smooth, I use a couple of products.
During the day, I use Garnier Intensive 7 Days Protecting hand cream, which I keep in my handbag. As the tube states, it is fast absorbing, non greasy and intensively moisturizing. It also smells great which is an extra added bonus! I put this on in the morning and during the day depending on how dry my hands are feeling. At first, I was applying as much as I would with the hand cream I had before this and it wasn't absorbing very quickly. Now, I only use a pea sized amount and am getting a much better result.
During the day, I use Garnier Intensive 7 Days Protecting hand cream, which I keep in my handbag. As the tube states, it is fast absorbing, non greasy and intensively moisturizing. It also smells great which is an extra added bonus! I put this on in the morning and during the day depending on how dry my hands are feeling. At first, I was applying as much as I would with the hand cream I had before this and it wasn't absorbing very quickly. Now, I only use a pea sized amount and am getting a much better result.
Before I go to bed most nights, I put on a generous amount of Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream and pop on my moisturizing gloves to stop it wiping off on my sheets while I sleep. It's not as fast absorbing as the Garnier cream, which is why I don't use it during the day, but it's still my number one favourite. It makes my hand super soft by the time I wake up and I also love the smell. I've had this tub for almost a year and I still haven't used it all!
If you made it to the end of this, thank you and well done! If you have any questions about the products used, please ask.
