Nail Service.

I think nails are the beauty foray that alot of people tend to overlook when it comes to care and general upkeep. Myself included for the most part. 

Sure, it's all fun and games when Essie release their seasonal limited editions and it comes time to switch up our summer pastels for our winter nudes but what about when our nails need a breather? when the peeling starts and the chips are inevitable? I don't know about you, but that isn't fun in the slightest.

It's vital that we maintain a weekly nail care routine to keep our claws in check and our polish in place - welcome to mine.

I like to buff/shape my nails on a weekly basis, just to keep them ridge free and at a reasonable length that I can actually function - it's still a mystery to me that girls can live comfortably with those gigantic, pointy falsies. I mean, how do you access your eye cream if your finger can't fit into the tub? You can pick up nail buffers and files from pretty much anywhere for cheap prices. 

Cuticle sticks are another must for me. Is it odd that my cuticles grow really fast? I feel I'm pushing them back everytime I re-paint my nails. These double ended ones are great because one end helps push cuticles back and the other is good for digging out all the dirt that's lurking beneath your tips. Make sure to wash yours in mild soapy water to prevent bacteria build-up.

Where would any of us be without hand cream? I have numerous hand creams but the Vaseline Healthy Hands and Stronger Nails is my all time favourite. It targets both hands and nails so it's perfect for keeping the dryness at bay whilst simultaneously strengthening your talons. It's non-greasy formula works great for handcare on the go too - especially now we're coming into the colder months.

I also suffer from dry, flaky skin around the nails from a few years back when I was a notorious biter so I like to keep mine soft and supple with the Avon Nail experts Cuticle Conditioner. I just paint it around the nail and work it in. I then follow this up with the Avon Diamond Strengthening Complex and I like to use this each time I take my nail polish off - for this I use Superdrug's Nourishing Nail Polish Remover and a few cotton pads. As we all know, nail polish remover (try to buy one that's acetone free) can be quite stripping so it's essential to keep the actual nail as strong as possible if, like me, you like to paint your nails on a more-than-average basis.

Lastly is your colour of choice. I've been loving Essie's Sand Tropez recently, a lovely beigey nude that goes with every ensemble. 

To prevent chipping for as long as possible be sure to use a top coat - I like the Seche Vite Top Coat for a nail look that's both glossy and long-lasting.

Lauren 

xo