Current Nail Care Routine

Ola Beauty Lovers! I know its been a week since I last posted but what can I tell you, my daytime job is at a busy period at the moment so by the time I get home I am pooped to go back onto the computer to post. But I figured its Friday and here in Canada it is the long weekend, so I should get you readers something to read for the long weekend we have here in Canada. Right before school starts for the kids (I don't have any, I just mean in general) we have Labor Day Monday September 2nd 2013, a national holiday of which is great!

Today I am here to talk to you about my current nail care routine. I have always a lot of people telling me how healthy and amazing my nails look. Well sweet heart, it takes work. You think I was born with these nails looking so groomed? Honey let me tell you, once upon a time, I used to bite my nails to the nubs and they would bleed! Yes those were my childhood years. Then once I got into high school I discovered the acrylic nails. Boy are those horrible for your nails! By the time I graduated high school, out in the working world/college world I discovered I can get my natural nails looking as if they were fake but they are in fact all N A T U R A L.

I change my nail polish every 2 to 4 days. Depending on how much I like the color/formula and if I am not busy, but I always find the time to paint my nails :) that is just me. My ultimate favorite nail polish companies are OPI (#1), China Glaze (#2), and Essie (#3). I still use other brands like L'oreal, Sally Hansen, Sephora by OPI, but those 3 are my top 3 brands of which I own the most nail polish from. You can get OPI, China Glaze, and Essie at any Beauty Supply outlet or drug store.

Now in order for your polish to look utterly fantastic, you must take care of your natural nails. Every time I remove my polish I use this process religiously.

1. Buff my nails slightly (not a lot, do not get carried away) to to ensure that there are no lumps or bumps on the nail bed surface so that your polish applies smoothly.

2. File my nails to the length I am comfortable having them. ( I don't do this step every time because there are times I like the length of my nails so I don't touch the length. Only if I get a split nail or they are as long as claws is usually when I take out the file)

3. If required I will use the Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover to take away dead skin (Try really hard never to snip at your cuticles because that will make them mad!)

4. Wash my hands with my bath and body works hand soap. Yum.

5. Apply 2 coats of the "Growth Spurt" Nail polish base. This stuff is my holy grail. Any time I use this, my nails grow like weeds.

6. Let dry then apply 2 coats of my favorite color nail polish I am feeling at the moment. (Yes my colors change all the time, that's the fun in doing your nails girls!)

7. Let that dry then apply your top coat. My top coat at the moment is the Seche Vite. Love it! It dries instantly. Just what ever you do make sure when you use it that you have the window open so that you don't ingest those fumes. This one has a bit of a strong smell.

8. Lastly I apply 2 different kinds of cuticle oil. Sometimes I only apply one or the other and sometimes I apply both. The cuticle oil in the skinny tall bottle is suppose to promote strong, long healthy nails, and the cuticle oil in the small chubby bottle is just a mix of mango/jojoba/avocado oils. I mixed that small bottle myself with my own oils I have. ( Yes I am an oil freak. Comment below if you want me to post an article on beauty benefits of using natural oils).

Now you are thinking, my gosh woman that's a lot of steps. But for those true beauty lovers out there, you will understand that these steps are like a relaxing process. Once my manicure is done, I always apply the nail cream and cuticle oils every night before bed to help maximize my nails to their fullest potential.

Below is a photo of all the products I use except the nail polish. Its up to you which creams and oils you prefer to use, as everyone is different and also has their own preference. I usually switch up my cuticle creams after I finish one because I love to try out new things. But this is what I am currently using now. Also I will post here some photos of my nails after my manicures are done so you can see how well they are coming along. If you want to follow me on instagram, I post all kinds of nail swatches there on a regular basis. You can find me @Antoniettanacc

Please feel free to leave a comment and share with me your favorite colors you like to wear.

Until next time Beauty Lovers ❤
MacGirl25