Tag: Nails

HOW TO DIY THE PERFECT AT-HOME PEDICURE IN 10 EASY STEPS

Published on by Lee1 Comment

As tempting as it is to dish out money for a salon pedicure (with the soaking, foot scrubbing, massage — the works) it’s not always doable, especially when you already splurged on makeup in the beginning of the week and are left to question your self-control. So if you currently find yourself in a similar position and are in desperate need of a pedi, we’re here to prove that it’s possible to achieve salon-quality results pedicure in the comfort of your own home — for a lot less money.

STEP 1: Let Your Nail Polish Remover Do Its Thing

Completely remove any nail polish that’s still on your toenails using nail polish remover and a cotton pad. If you don’t have any leftover polish, you should still run nail polish remover over your nail to remove any excess oil.

Primp Tip: If you’re left with any weird stains or a yellow tinge (you’ll usually see this after removing darker colors, like red or black), rub cuticle oil over the surface of your nails to lighten any residue.

STEP 2: Soak Your Feet Like You’re at the Spa

Okay, before you start soaking, your first job—and this is important—is to go around your house and gather every candle you can find. Oh, and get yourself a glass of wine while you’re at it. The trick to making an at-home pedicure feel like a spa experience instead of, you know, rubbing your own feet in your too-small-for-comfort apartment is setting the ~mood~ at your makeshift pedicure station.

Once the ambiance is right, you’re ready to soak your feet—which softens tough skin and cuticles (and is downright relaxing). Lennon suggests using a basin (aka a really big bowl) if you have one, but your bathtub is also a sound option. Fill ’er up with warm water and add a liberal scoop of skin-soothing bath salts (Lennon recommends Côte Re-Treat Himalayan Pink Salt Soak, but you can also try my favorite Kneipp Mineral Bath Salts or just use a cup of kosher salt). Let your feet soak for a few minutes before moving to the next step. This is a great opportunity to multitask and try out that new face mask.

STEP 3: Get Rid of Dead Skin

After drying off your feet, use a foot file to remove any dead skin from callused (hard) areas. Parts to pay attention to are the balls of your feet, the sides of your feet and your heels. Scrape these areas until they feel smooth, but don’t overdo it. Try a pumice stone or foot file to gently smooth the skin. Then, switch your feet and repeat.

STEP 4: File and Shape Your Nails

Use a nail trimmer to achieve the length and shape you want (we recommend trimming nails straight across). Follow by filing the corners of your nails and buffing to make them smooth. According to Hadley, a big mistake people make at this point in the process is cutting their cuticles. “Trimming or cutting cuticles during a manicure or pedicure is purely cosmetic and sometimes it doesn’t benefit the nail in any way,” she explains. “The cuticle is a barrier to protect your surrounding skin and protect against infection.”

STEP 5: Apply Cuticle Oil

Apply cuticle oil to the base of your nail. Cuticle oil doesn’t just keep your feet soft and moisturized, but it also keeps your polish from chipping.

STEP 6: Moisturize

Take both feet out of the tub and dry them off with a towel. With a foot cream or body lotion, begin massaging your toes, feet, and calves until, well, you wanna stop. Moisturize your feet with an unscented lotion. “Scented lotions with synthetic fragrances can cause your nail polish to crack.”

STEP 7: Prep Your Toes

Use toe separators (you can buy a 12-pack for cheap online) to make painting your toes easier and avoid making a mess.

If you don’t have toe separators, Lennon suggests tearing off a piece of paper towel, rolling or twisting it into a rope, and weaving it through your toes to prevent the polish from smudging.

STEP 8: Apply Your Base Coat

Then, apply a thin layer of base coat on each nail. Follow with two thin coats of your color of choice, letting the paint dry for a few minutes between each coat.

STEP 9: Finally, Do the Damn Thing

Paint on your base coat and wait at least two minutes to ensure it’s dry. Don’t forget your base coat because it gives your nail polish something to sink into besides your actual nails.

STEP 10: Finish With a Quick-Drying Top Coat

Finish with a top coat so your nails maintain high shine and luster. Because nail polish takes about 12 hours to harden.

Primp Tip: Recommends sticking your finished toenails into cold water for a few minutes to make your nail polish harden faster and help it solidify.

Tell me: Do you do your own nails?


DO THIS BEFORE EVERY MANICURE FOR HEALTHY CUTICLES AND NAILS

Published on by Lee4 Comments

It’s time we put our burgundy polishes to rest (even though it was fun while it lasted) and start prepping our nails for summer. Summer is the perfect time to experiment with bright, poppy shades so I’ve rounded up some essentials to whip your nails into shape. So, before you splurge on the newest Essie collections, make sure your nail beds are ready for their close-up.

KEEP CUTICLE OIL HANDY

Happy cuticles make for happy nails. If you’re one to pick at or bite around your nails, keep a bottle of cuticle oil on your desk as a daily reminder to apply. Dab a little bit on each finger and gently massage it into your nail bed and around the cuticle area for a shot of moisture. Adopting this good habit will help take your nails from sad and dry to shiny and healthy. For easy travel and application, use Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil, which contains skin-conditioning oils that protects your cuticles.

APPLY A NAIL TREATMENT

I have strong, long and healthy nails but not everyone was born with long and strong nails beds. If your nails are constantly breaking, bending or chipping, add a nail strengthener like Essie Grow Stronger to your daily routine or try Essie Millionails every other day. Think of it as vitamins for your nails!

GIVE YOUR NAILS A GOOD BUFFING

To smooth away any ridges and prevent your nails from snagging and tearing, buff or file the edges at the first sight of chipping so that the damage doesn’t get worse! I love the Tweezerman Neon Hot 4-in-1 File, Buff, Smooth & Shine Block, perfect for giving nails a high shine finish.

APPLY HAND SALVE BEFORE BED

To keep your hands and nails healthy and moisturized, apply a thick layer of heavy-duty hand cream like Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve or the Intensive Treatment and Moisturizer for Dry or Callused Areas before bed. It may sound silly, but wearing gloves overnight will help the cream penetrate your skin, and smoother hands means less peeling and cracking around your nail beds.

I Started Drinking Collagen And I’m Obsessed With How It’s Changed My Skin

Published on by Lee3 Comments

Hey my loves, so I wanted to tell you about something that I think is completely amazing… Collagen! I’ve been drinking collagen for about 2 months so far, and I’ve noticed a huge impact on my skin and my body; it’s pretty incredible. Collagen (or gelatin) is a naturally occurring protein in your body, but as you age your body produces less, which leads to wrinkles, sagging skin, and joint pain – not ideal!

What is collagen:

Collagen is one of the building blocks of skin, so not only does it keep you looking young but it can heal your skin as well – seriously, it’s true! It helps to heal acne scars and scarring, as collagen mends and rebuilds the damage done to connective tissue, while it’ll also improve your bone strength and ligaments in the same way. The most noticeable difference I’ve seen from drinking collagen is the effect it has on wrinkles; because collagen strengthens blood vessels, it makes your skin softer, more elastic and prevents and fixes fine lines, (even pimples). Because collagen improves skin tissue strength and helps the body to replace dead skin cells, it promotes glossier hair, stronger fingernails, and firmer skin. And finally, and I have noticed this myself, it reduces the appearance of cellulite because it rebuilds the fibers that make cellulite more visible – insane!

Where collagen comes from:

So, if you’re wondering where collagen comes from, it’s basically derived from the bones and tissue of animals like cows, fish, chicken, and pigs. But not all collagen is created equal; you need to look into the source of collagen (which animal), as this can determine the effect it will have on your body and its potency – beef and fish are the best. The most effective type of collagen is marine collagen because it’s absorbed up to 1.5 times more efficiently into the body than any other type of collagen.

How to take collagen:

When I first heard about collagen, I started taking it in a pill form, and I noticed a small difference: my skin looked lifted, and my skin felt smoother. But when I started taking it as a powder, about 2 months ago, that’s when I noticed a significant difference in the texture of my skin. Even my scars have faded, and I swear my double chin has got tighter!

I’ll admit, in its powder form, collagen doesn’t taste great – it’s meant to be flavorless, but I feel like it has a kind of meaty taste to it. You can mix it with tea, smoothies, coffee or even add it to meals you’re prepping. I like to mix it with soup or hot chicken broth, which is a healthy way of having it and you don’t notice it at all. Depending on the formula you’re taking, different amounts are recommended. I use the Vital Proteins Pasture-Raised, Grass-Fed Collagen Peptides, and it recommends one to two times per day. I usually only have it once a day.

Just adding a scoop of Collagen Peptides to food or beverages gives you the vitamin boost you need to support healthy hair, skin, nails, bone, joint health, digestion, muscle recovery, and more.

  • Stir into water, fruit juice, or other beverages
  • Add to smoothies as protein booster
  • Mix with oatmeal, soups, or sauces
  • Add into recipes for entrees or desserts
  • Easy to use! The Collagen Peptides mix well in hot or cold liquids, making them an easy addition to whatever your diet might be

KEY FEATURES & ATTRIBUTES

Collagen is one of the most nutrient-rich proteins in the human body. Supplementing with Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides offers:

  • 20 g collagen per serving – supports overall health and wellness
  • 3,719 mg natural glycine – promotes healthy immune and digestive systems**
  • 100% pure collagen protein – clean, tasteless, and dissolves & absorbs quickly
  • Sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine to ensure a natural, high quality, and sustainable source of this nutrient 
  • Digested and absorbed by the body quickly for maximum benefits
  • Whole30 Approved & paleo friendly 
  • Gluten free
  • Dairy free
  • Preservative free
  • Non GMO
  • Hormone free

I’ve also tried more VITAL PROTEINS products that helps with collagen, which comes in different flavors and types that include some of the best-for-your-body vitamins and minerals. You can try collagen from aged 25 onwards when your body’s natural collagen supply begins to decrease. For me, I am only 22 and just wanted to give it a try but it might become a essential in my beauty daily routine – I’m obsessed!

Would you guys try collagen? Let me know in the comments below. X

“Just Cause” Gift Guide

Published on by Lee2 Comments

Holiday shopping can be so painful, amiright?? Running around town, looking for the perfect gifts for everyone, waiting in long lines, who needs it? It’s simply extra stress and takes away from time we could spend enjoying this magical season. I’ve made holiday shopping super easy with my no fail Gift Guide plus you can also use this guide to give someone a “JUST BECAUSE” present. Find something for everyone on your list, no matter what they’re into.

Sunday Forever:

Want to give a little magic? You can’t go wrong with Sunday Forever. They have an amazing selection from kimonos to candles and from crystals to fragrances and jewelry. They also offer gift sets, like the Good Vibes set. Bonus: They come packed in the cutest little boxes!

Contents include: 24K gold filled, adjustable evil eye bracelet, California White sage, and their “go sage yourself” lighter in a pouch. It wouldn’t hurt to get a little something for yourself too, right?

SugarBear Gummies:

Need something for the person who puts health on the top of their New Years resolution list? SugarBear has awesome vitamins that are completely personalized. Whether you want to give someone the gift of more energy, great skin, or even better health overall, they have a vitamin or set of vitamins for you! Health starts from the inside out and the new year is a great time to start a new regime.

How does the Women’s Multi differ from the Hair Vitamins?
SugarBearHair Hair Vitamins contain 13 vitamins and minerals to support normal healthy hair and nail growth.
Women’s Multi contains 5 nutrients to support healthy skin, 5 nutrients to support hair and nails, 6 nutrients to support energy for a total of 16 nutrients designed to promote total body wellness.

Can I eat the Women’s Multi and SugarBearHair Hair Vitamins together?  
Yes! They’re a perfect combination!

HANDMD SKINCARE:

In search of something for the skin care obsessed? Hand MD, has an incredible luxurious online store, which happens to be one of my new favorite shops and has a wide variety of cleansers, lotions and scrubs that are guaranteed to be free from nasties and totally toxin free. Can’t decide? Get a Ultimate Hand Care Bundle! Honestly, who doesn’t love shopping, especially when someone else is footing the bill. Check out their instagram, they are always having a great sale.

Cleanse, exfoliate, treat and moisturize your hands with the full anti-aging hand care collection. This bundle features Daily Dual Repair, Exfoliating Peel and Rehydration Cream along with the Hand Cleanser scent of your choice. 

What makes it so good? 
– Gentle ingredients Free of Mineral Oil, Paraben Free, Vegan, and Cruelty Free 
– Anti-aging elements Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, Sea Kelp, Jojoba Oil 
– Moisturizers Even better than your store-bought hand creams

” Our hands give us power. They provide us with expression. We use their strength to convey a message. You entertain with your hands. Cook. Clean. Eat. Work. Deliver.”

Hand MD has combined powerful anti-aging ingredients with luxurious moisturizers in each products to help you challenge fine lines and wrinkles. You’ll discover benefits of softer, smoother, radiant looking hands in just 8 weeks.

If you really think about it, we do everything with our hands. They make everything possible.

Until Hand MD, there hasn’t been something this revolutionary on the market that could help repair them. The main goal is to bring awareness to anti-aging and give women of any age the opportunity to reawaken their hands, so they look the way they feel inside.

Oral Care:

Need a gift for the person who has everything? Do they have a at home teeth whitening kit? Probably not. Check out White with Style to snag one. They also have the kits in different flavors. They now sell teeth whitening kits with charcoal, toothpaste and brush set too. It’s the most popular teeth whitening company backed up by top dental hygienists. Plus, their customer service is top notched and have a kit for everyone even smokers and coffee drinkers. Oh and also BLB readers get an exclusive discount! Enter code CRYSTALEE to get 90% off your enter order. You’re welcome!

Everyone loves cashmere right? It makes for the perfect and totally lux gift! Our friends at Naked Cashmere have something for her, him, and even our furry friends. From robes to slippers, they are a tad bit okay maybe very expensive but if you have a special person who loves cashmere or if you want to treat yourself then the price doesn’t matter.

Need something for a person who is hard to shop for? Get them a book or 2. Find out what type of books they enjoy and who is their favorite author. Make sure him or she doesn’t have that book first without giving away the surprise. While you are at it, get their favorite snack and their favorite candle. A book, snacks and a candle with a distinctive smell, especially one that is pleasant sounds like a great gift to me!

What are some of your favorite gifts that you received or gave?

Let us know in the comments!