Jessica Cosmetics Sping 2014 - Coral Symphony

Bright cream colors abound this season! 

This season, Jessica Vartoughian, founder and CEO of Jessica Cosmetics International, brings you to the coral depths of a warm gulf reefs filled with a glowing creamy collage of various pinks, corals and glowing whites!

I've always been a big fan of Jessica Cosmetics nail treatments and color polishes.  They last much longer than most of the major professional brands I've used.  As always, Jessica Cosmetic color polishes are Three-Free, that means they are Formaldehyde, Toluene and DBP (Dibutyl phthalate) free.  Jessica Cosmetics nail colors and treatments have always had longer wear and less chipping, and now they have a new "STRETCH FORMULA" that stretches while drying to reduce chipping even more!  It expands as it drys so it will move with the natural nail for increased wear-ability.  Their colors are intense, rich, and they flow without the streaks or lines that you find in other brands.

So what are this season's colors?  I'm going to show you from left to right of the above photo but on my model's nails.  You'll notice that glossy Cream colors are hot this season!

Ocean Bloom is a lavender infused pink that is reminiscent of a sea flower.  I will admit that all of these colors just make me want to try snorkeling as soon as I find myself near the ocean.

Can Starfish look as vibrant as Starfish Glow?  This reminds me of a newer, more modern version of an 80's neon pink. (Yes, I was doing nails in the 80's)  I believe I may have actually seen this lively color on the tips of a starfish I received as a kid.

Monsoon Melon does not remind me of a desert monsoon that I see so often in the South West.  This color shines forth like a creamsicle on steroids!  And I don't mean that in a bad way! This coral is the height of summer fashion.  Try it, I just know you'll love it as much as my model and I did.

Tropical Sunset has to be my client's favorite color so far this Spring.  Hot coral and yes, Tropical Sunset is about the best name that could be given to this rich exciting color!

Do you want a bright, bright, pure white to give your nail art some pizzazz?  Use it as a french tip, as a base below your glitters or add more punch to your nail art.  This color does not streak!  It goes on smooth and flawless!

I think I found Barbie's color for this spring season!  lol  Conch Shell is the perfect pink for those that cannot part with their seasonal pinks.  The coverage is smooth, creamy and like all the colors in this collection, it is reminiscent of all the high colors you'd expect to see in a coral reef.

To see more of what Jessica Cosmetics 

has to offer for natural nail care, check out their website! 

www.jessicacosmetics.com

It's a Girl Thing - Jessica Cosmetics New Spring Line

I love Jessica Cosmetics! Not just because they sent me a special preview of their new Spring collection but because in all my 30+ years in the nail industry, they have the BEST polish line for natural nail wear-ability!  You heard that right!  I have never had a nail polish line that delivers such long lasting wear and coverage.   Today I want to share their new Spring collection, "It's a Girl Thing"!

Jessica Vartoughian has been touted as the "Manicurist to the Stars" and she has decided that her newest collection should feature some fabulous girls that are in her life.  Introducing Ava, the "New Kid in Town," Alexis "Ruby Empress," Amira the "Smitten Kitten," Alia a "Sun-Kissed Beauty," Nadia the "Sterling Queen" and Sophia who's "True Blue"!  Each girl plays dress up in her favorite color that is inspired by her distinctive personality.

Alia - Sun Kissed Beauty

Alia "Sun Kissed Beauty" is a deep stylish sunset-orange.  

This color is a cream color and is vibrantly hot! 

Great color for dark, tanned or olive skin but as you can see, 

it looks fabulous on fair pink skin too!

Ava - New Kid in Town

Ava the "New Kid in Town" is a sweet lavender cream polish. 

It's not a shy color but not bold either.  Just the right amount of coverage.

Nadia - Sterling Queen

Nadia the "Sterling Queen" is a sophisticated silver-gray 

with a little hint of shimmer but not a frost.  

My model and I found this color surprisingly elegant 

and felt that the bottle did not do it justice.

Amira - Smitten Kitten

Amira, the “Smitten Kitten” is a described as a “smart and joyful pink”.   

I find this pink cream polish to be playful and full of life! 

 If you like pink, you’ll love this!

Sophia - True Blue

Sophia is considered "True Blue".  Sounds like an honest, forthright person to me!  

I would probably trust the person who inspired this rich robin egg blue polish!

The coverage was incredible too… Stunning!

Alexix - Ruby Empress

Alexis, the "Ruby Empress" is a heart-throbbing creative red 

with just a hint of yellow undertones.  

This dynamic red will be the perfect summer shade!

 There you have it!!  "It's a Girl Thing" will be available the end of this month through Jessica Cosmetics online and at fine salons and spas internationally! In addition, Jessica Cosmetics colors are formulated with antioxidant vitamins for maximum conditioning and UVA/UVB protection from the sun.  They are quick-drying and Three Free (toluene, formaldahyde and DBP free)!

Prevent Polish Chipping and Peeling

This is the most common issue most people have with regular nail polish.  So what are some of the causes of nail polish chipping and peeling?

PROPER NAIL PREP- This is the most important step to prevent polish peeling.  If there is any natural oils on your nails, the polish will peel up, usually in sheets.  To effectively remove oils from your nails without thinning them (ie, buffing), wash your hands with soap and water and use a nail brush to clean around the cuticle and under the nail.  After washing your hands, cleanse the nail surface with a nail prep or rubbing alcohol. After prepping your nails, immediately apply your base coat of polish.  Note: Do not let the nail surface you want to polish touch your skin or hair before you apply your polish.  If you do, you put oil right back on the surface and your polish might peel.
 
USE BASE COAT - Base coat nail polish is usually more "rubberized" than other nail polishes and can cling to the natural nail better than applying polish without it.

USE A TOP COAT- A top coat will not only protect your polish color and add shine but it also adds durability and hardness. After your manicure, if you apply a top coat every 2-3 days after your manicure and cap around the tip of your nail where you file, your polish will last longer than if you do not.

WATER - Washing your hands before you polish is a good idea but too much water after you polish your nails, especially the first 4-6 hours afterward, can be detrimental to your manicure.  In the first 4-6 hours, your polish is still not completely dry, your nails will swell and expand the polish with the nail.  When the nail drys and shrinks back to it's normal size, your polish won't and increase the chance of it chipping when it finally does finish drying.

OLD OR CONTAMINATED POLISH - Old nail polish is thick and hard to work with.  It also takes forever to dry!  Some people decide that they need to thin out their polish with polish remover but this breaks down the polish in a manner that reduces it's adhesion properties.  Thin your polish with Nail Polish Thinner.  This can be found in your local beauty supply.

For more information on how to properly thin out and care for your polish, 

see Reviving Old Nail Polish and Maintaining Your Favorite Nail Polish.

Nail Polish Techniques Made Simple

I've shown many people how to polish a nail so that they do not get the polish on the cuticle.  I even describe in in my book "The Secret to Beautiful Natural Nails".  I describe it as a 4 Stroke Method, until now!  I love this easy visual from The Polished Perfectionist.  The reason I love it so much is it shows the initial polish brush placement on the nail.

1. Place the polish brush on the nail and fan out the brush slightly
2. Push the fanned out polish brush slowly toward the cuticle making certain to leave a "hairline" area bare between the cuticle and the polish.
3. Pull the polish brush to the tip of the finger.
4. Polish one side by placing the brush to the side of your original starting area and fill in the one side without touching the skin
5. Polish the other side
6. Polish the very tip of the nail where you would file it.

Don't forget when you are polishing your nails it is important to use a base coat (it holds the color to the nail and prevents chipping and peeling), your color (usually 2 coats) and a top coat (for shine and increased durability).

If you get a little polish on your skin, have an manicure stick handy.  Apply your top coat and apply a small amount of the top coat to your skin where the color is.  Wipe off the topcoat and color polish from your skin, avoiding the nail itself.  No polish remover necessary if you are dealing with a small area.  To help with drying, apply a cuticle oil, like CutiOil, to the cuticle area of your nails (don't be afraid to be generous) and have a cup of ice handy.  The cold cup of ice chills your fingertip as you hold the cup and sets your polish up faster.   It usually take 15 minutes for your polish to set up enough not to smudge and about an hour for it to not dent.

For further reading on Natural Nail Care, see 

"8 Tips on How to Grow your Nails Faster and Stronger" 

Trip to a Nail Salon

A regular client of mine came in the other day and wanted to tell me a story about her trip to Texas and a nail salon that she visited with her son.  They wanted to get a pedicure together.  She remembered all I told her about how to make certain that the salon and the technician were clean and especially sanitized.  (See "Finding a "Well-Manicured" Nail Salon/Technician")

She told me that one of the first things she noticed was that the technician brought out the implements and they were in a sealed bag.  She said that she thought, "This is a good sign".  But then she noticed that they used some of the same implements between herself and her son.  She then started to notice more!  She didn't see anyone clean the foot bath before they sat down for the pedicure and didn't see any of the foot baths being cleaned in between the other clients.  That's when she started praying "please don't cut me, please don't break my skin"!

The part that shocked her the most was after the pedicure, she saw the technician rinse the pedicure implements in cold, and she emphasized it wasn't hot, water, dry off the implements in a towel then put the implements back into the bag and resealed the bag.  Ugh!   They hadn't even been sanitized!  And they were probably like that before they were used on her!

In a salon, implements need to be sanitized for a minimum of 10 minutes in disinfectant that kills bacteria, viruses, fungus and tuberculosis.  Pedicure foot baths must be cleaned out and sanitized with the same type of disinfectant between every client!  There are many different products that can be used to disinfect properly.  Some of them are Barbicide, Ultracare, Cavicide and Citrus II Germicidal Cleaner (all are registered trademark). 

Who wouldn't want a quality manicure set? This one is Awesome!!!
INOX Stainless Steel Manicure Set in Nappa-Leather Case

Here is where I would suggest that more people should start bringing their own implements unless you know for a fact that the salon and technician are cleaning and sanitizing regularly between clients.  I have found a few manicure sets through a company called Zamberg.  They have high quality manicure and pedicure implements along with complete manicure sets that will last you a lifetime compared to the cheap tools you find elsewhere.  The nice thing is that you can sanitize your own implements with something as simple as alcohol.

Maintaining Your Favorite Nail Polish - Nail Polish Series - Part 3

We all have that favorite bottle of nail polish... You know the one.  In Part 1, you learned how to revive and thin out your old polish. You could try to do that again but you've already thinned it two or three times.  If you thin it one more time, it'll start chipping sooner.  In Part 2, you found out how to keep your nail polish from getting thick too soon, just by keeping the neck and cap clean.  So now what?   It's such a waste when only get a half of the color out of the bottle before you have to throw it away.  There is an answer.

If you have a specific nail polish color that you really like, you should buy two bottles of the polish color.  

Use one of them to polish your nails.  
Use the second bottle to refill and refresh the first bottle!  
Simple!  

Clean the neck and the cap of the bottle you use to polish with.

Use your "refill" bottle to fill up your "polishing" bottle.

Fill a small amount of your "polishing" bottle 
with some fresh base coat of the same brand. 
Remember to keep the necks of all the bottles free of any spilled polish.
Cap your bottles then shake the "polishing" bottle 
to mix the fresh polish in with the older polish.  
If you plan to use it right away, you should let all the bubbles inside settle first.

You now have a fresh bottle to polish with and you can store 

your "refill" bottle somewhere away from direct sunlight and heat 

so you can use it again when you need it.

This way, you get one and a half bottles of the polish color out of the two bottles instead of only getting half of the color out of each bottle.

Keep all your polishes fresh this way.

I even keep a large bottle of base coat to refill the bottle I use regularly.

Using this technique, you won't degrade the integrity of the nail polish and it will be less likely to chip later as it wears on the nail.

I hope you've enjoyed the Nail Polish Series.  Send me a message if there is a topic about Natural Nails, Nail Care or Nail Polish that you would like some insight into.  I'm happy to share my knowledge and experience!

Caring for Your Nail Polish – Nail Polish Series – Part 2

     We all have that favorite bottle of nail polish in our private collections that we absolutely love but it’s beyond saving.  We can’t open the bottle, and if we can, it’s a goopy mess and our heart breaks when we hear it go “thud” in the garbage can.  How could we have let our favorite color get so bad.

     The key is to not let nail polish build up around the neck of the bottle or up into the cap.  When the polish builds up on the neck and cap of the bottle, it allows air into the bottle which then thickens the nail polish.  In Part 1, we learned how to revive that old bottle of nail polish that was hard to open and was practically too thick to use.  Now we are going to see how easy it is to prevent that from happening too fast.  And you don’t need to keep your nail polish in the refrigerator (see “Keeping Your Polish Fresh”)

     It’s all in how you wipe the excess nail polish from the brush before applying it to your nail.

This is not the proper way to wipe off excess nail polish.  

     This will definitely allow the nail polish to build up around the neck of the bottle very fast.  If you insist on doing it this way, be prepared to wipe off the neck of the bottle every time you polish, before you tighten the lid, to prevent it from getting into the cap.

An easy way to minimize polish on the neck of the bottle 

is to wipe off the nail polish this way.   

     You may need to clean this up every few times you use the polish because it you may still get a little polish on the neck of the bottle.  The nice part is that it won’t be as often and all your excess polish goes back inside the bottle instead of on the neck and inside the cap.

Watch for Part 3 in the Nail Polish Series “Maintaining Your Favorite Nail Polish”

Reviving Old Nail Polish - Nail Polish Series Part 1

Working as a nail technician, you learn quickly that you need to maintain your nail polish collection for optimum use and to save $Money$!  Today I'm going to show you how to reclaim an old, and probably favorite, bottle of nail polish.  We all have something like this lying around.  When you shake it, you can barely hear the metal blending beads.  And trying to open it is nearly impossible.  I'm not saying every bottle of nail polish can be saved, especially if it is too far gone.  Once some of them have been saved, they still may not last as long as you want and eventually you will have to purchase a new bottle.  We’ll cover “Getting the Most Out of Your Nail Polish” in    Part 3. Today, we'll be saving OPI's Ruble For Your Thoughts It's pretty thick and I can barely hear the blending beads.  For this task, we’ll need Polish Remover, an Eye Dropper,  Polish Thinner and a Base Coat Nail Polish.       If you cannot open the bottle, one of the best methods I've found is to put polish remover inside the lid of the polish bottle.  Turn the bottle up-side-down and slowly drip polish remover down the side of the bottle, so that it runs down the side and fills the cap with remover.  Let it sit this way for about 10-15 minutes.  I found that this works better than hot water poured on the cap.  But keep that method in mind if this doesn't work easily.  Let’s just hope we don’t need a pair of pliers to grab a hold of the lid.  Do not use the pliers on the glass part of the bottle! After you get the bottle open, you'll notice that if you  try to apply the nail polish, it goes on "goop-ey". Look at all the nail polish on the neck of the bottle and inside the cap.   This is what was gluing your bottle shut.   We'll need to clean this up first. Remove the brush stem from the cap with a lint free paper towel  soaked with polish remover.   This will aid you with cleaning it easily.    Then fill the cap with polish remover and let it soak and soften.  Clean the neck of the bottle.

 After 10-15 minutes, clean out the inside of the cap 
by stuffing the paper towel down inside and twisting the cap 
like you are tightening the cap onto the paper towel.  
You may need to re-soak to get all the nail polish 
out from the inside of the cap.

Now it’s time to thin the polish and make it work-able.  

Here, you will need a nail polish (or nail lacquer) thinner 

and a base coat nail polish.  

It is always optimal, but not always necessary, to use matching brands, 

such as OPI for the thinner.  I do not have an OPI base coat, 

I only have a Jessica base coat for this demonstration. 

Add enough polish thinner so that the blending beads move freely. 

*Note* Do not use polish remover as your thinner.  
It breaks down the polish but in a manner that 
the nail polish qualities become compromised. 
 In other words, your favorite nail polish will probably 
chip faster than it ever did before.

Now add a little of your base coat nail polish to increase adhesion 
to the nail and minimize the risk of chipping polish.

Replace the brush stem and the cap and tighten the cap on to the bottle.   

Shake the bottle vigorously to blend everything together

You will find that the polish will apply smoother 

with less streaking and last you a little bit longer overall.  

I hope you learned something from this tutorial.  
Stay tuned for Part 2 of the Nail Polish Series where 
I will show you how to easily prevent the build up of nail polish that 
threatens to thicken your polish once more called “Caring for Your Nail Polish”

       Working as a nail technician, you learn quickly that you need to maintain your nail polish collection for optimum use and to save $Money$!  Today I'm going to show you how to reclaim an old, and probably favorite, bottle of nail polish.  We all have something like this lying around.  When you shake it, you can barely hear the metal blending beads.  And trying to open it is nearly impossible.  I'm not saying every bottle of nail polish can be saved, especially if it is too far gone.  Once some of them have been saved, they still may not last as long as you want and eventually you will have to purchase a new bottle.  We’ll cover “Getting the Most Out of Your Nail Polish” in    Part 3.

Today, we'll be saving OPI's Ruble For Your Thoughts

It's pretty thick and I can barely hear the blending beads.

 For this task, we’ll need Polish Remover, an Eye Dropper, 

Polish Thinner and a Base Coat Nail Polish. 

     If you cannot open the bottle, one of the best methods I've found is to put polish remover inside the lid of the polish bottle.  Turn the bottle up-side-down and slowly drip polish remover down the side of the bottle, so that it runs down the side and fills the cap with remover.  Let it sit this way for about 10-15 minutes.  I found that this works better than hot water poured on the cap.  But keep that method in mind if this doesn't work easily.  Let’s just hope we don’t need a pair of pliers to grab a hold of the lid.  Do not use the pliers on the glass part of the bottle!

After you get the bottle open, you'll notice that if you 

try to apply the nail polish, it goes on "goop-ey".

Look at all the nail polish on the neck of the bottle and inside the cap.  

This is what was gluing your bottle shut.  

We'll need to clean this up first.

Remove the brush stem from the cap with a lint free paper towel 

soaked with polish remover.  

This will aid you with cleaning it easily.   

Then fill the cap with polish remover and let it soak and soften.

 Clean the neck of the bottle.