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.

How to Heal Fingertip Cracks and Fissures

I've had a few people asking me lately about fingertip cracks or as I consider them fingertip fissures.  These fissures are very painful and can inhibit the afflicted persons daily activities if they are bad enough.  I'm not surprised to hear of this issue as fingertip and cuticle cracks and fissures, along with hangnails, happen more in the winter months due to the drying effects of colder temperatures and indoor heating. 

 Before you try to fix this on your own, know this first, if you feel that the area is infected, see a doctor immediately.  You should not proceed with any of the following if there is any redness and swelling, or if there is any chance of pus forming.   Taking a chance with blood poisoning is worse than trying to deal with the fissure.  Soak your finger in warm salt water and call your doctor immediately.

If there is no infection present, there are a few things that can be done to help heal these fishers once they occur.  The first thing is to remove the excess skin on each side of the fissure.  What you will need is:

1.       Super Glue (if fissure is in danger of opening further)

2.       Cuticle sissors or nippers

3.       A 100 or 180 grit emery board

4.       An antibiotic ointment

Trim back the excess skin on each side of the fissure with a clean cuticle nipper or scissor.  Use caution when trimming the excess skin to prevent from cutting too low or making it bleed.  The fingertip fissure can even be filed smooth with a clean emery board. 

If the fissure keeps splitting, clean your hands thoroughly with an antibacterial soap, cleanse the area with hydrogen peroxide (use this only once as it will eat away at live tissue) then use super glue to hold the fissure together and gently file off the excess skin.  This excess skin keeps pulling the fissure apart and prevents the split from healing.  And don’t be afraid of using an antibacterial ointment and Band-Aids if necessary.  

If this condition is not the result of extreme temperature changes or does not clear up with added moisture to the affected area, see a doctor.  Fingertip cracks and fissures can also be caused by skin conditions like contact dermatitis and eczema.  Also, products like harsh detergents and soaps with sodium lauryl sulfate can also cause this problem, along with fungal infections and under active thyroid conditions.  

One of the best things is to prevent the cuticle and fingertip fissures before they start.   Use a good cuticle oil daily and lotion your hands and fingertips regularly.  If you are extremely prone to these types of fissures, use a cream with Urea or Papaya Enzyme/Pineapple Extract as one of the ingredients as these help to soften the proteins of the skin to let emollients penetrate easier.

These tips on Fingertip Fissures is brought to you by Bella10 Nail & Skin Care.
Click here for more about Bella10.

6 Tips for Winter Skin & Winter Nails

Winter can bring on extra challenges in natural nail and skin care.   

Of course we all know lotion helps with winter skin, but even using lotion regularly sometimes doesn't help. Dry, rough and flakey skin, even splits or fissures can develop with the colder temperatures.  

Can winter weather also affect our nails they way it affects our skin?We all experience dry winter skin but many of us forget the effects that the winter can have on our nails. 

Nails grow slower because our metabolisms are usually slower in colder months. They do not regenerate the way they can in the warmer months.  In addition, extreme temperature changes due to cold weather and indoor heating can dry out the skin.  Your skin (and nails) expand and contract just as anything else when exposed to temperature changes. This constant expansion and contraction from indoor and outdoor temperature changes can make us loose our protective natural oil barrier which protects our skin and keeps it hydrated.  Therefore, winter weather means dry, rough, and even cracked skin.  Dry skin leads to dry nails… Dry nails increases nail breakage, and peeling.  So how can you minimize winters impact on your nails and hands?

1. Wear gloves or mittens when outdoors. For an extra kick, apply a good hand cream to your hands before putting them on.
2. Never underestimate the use of a good cuticle oil, like CutiOil.  The important part is to use it DAILY!  It will not only reduce or eliminate hangnails, it will also minimize nail breakage and peeling. A drop or two of CutiOil on extremely rough skin, in addition to your hand cream would be extremely beneficial in replacing the natural oils that have been lost!
3. Keep your nails shorter if necessary.  If you need to take down more length, use a quality nail clipper and never clip down your nails unless they have soaked in water for at least 2 minutes.
4. Use a gentle nail file to minimize nail peeling.  I like glass or crystal nail files or you can use an emery board with grits from 220 to 400 grit.  File your nail from side to tip, don’t saw your nails with the file as this can create more peeling later.
5. Avoid extreme temperatures.  Very hot water for showering and washing your hands will dry out the skin and nails.  Be certain to lotion your skin after washing to help replenish the oils lost that help keep your skin moisturized.
6. Apply your lotions and oils at night.  Night time is when your body goes into "repair mode".  Plus, applying your lotion and oils to your hands, feet or nails at night will lessen the chance you will wash it off quickly.  No need to over-apply unless your skin and nails are extremely chapped.  In this case, socks or gloves may be a great idea.

Bella10 Nail & Skin Care products are made to help mimic the skin's natural oils unlike products with mineral oils or petroleum.
 
Bella10 Nail & Skin Care products are natural, non-toxic and will help repair dry, chapped, and rough winter skin when used regularly. 

Get yours today!

To learn more about fingertip fissures and how to help heal cracked skin, see
"How to Heal Fingertip Cracks and Fissures"