So I was asked to talk about my nail routine. I actually don't seem to have too many issues with my hands and I don't feel like I do too much to keep up with them but here's what I do.
About every other week I use Sally Hansen's Instant Cuticle Remover (in the blue bottle). I put it on all 10 nails, around the cuticles and then use a plastic cuticle pusher (the white stick with red tip). I don't trim or cut anything. I actually don't seem to have anything there really and I think the remover probably dissolves what little I have. So I just use that little tool to sort push and "scrape" the gunk leftover. EW!
I also use a crystal nail file about every other day to keep my length pretty much the same all the time and that way I also don't have to spend more than a minute or two doing that each time.
If I'm not painting my nails I then just slather some hand cream and CND Cuticle Eraser around the cuticles and that's it.
If I am painting my nails, I skip the CND Cuticle Eraser and hand cream step until after painting.
So first I use either Nubar Foundation Base Coat or Barielle Natural Nail Camouflage. I might need to rethink those two choices though because my nails seem to be a bit stained...but then again I do paint them a lot so a bit of staining is probably unavoidable.
After the base coat is completely dry I then apply whatever color I'm using, usually 2 coats. Then comes the fast drying top coat because who has time to wait really? Either Sally Hansen Inta Dri in the red bottle or Out The Door. Those are my faves.
So after the nails are dry I go on to the hand cream and cuticle cream. Though I tend to use mostly CND Cuticle Eraser I also have a couple of other items I rotate around. I like Lush's Lemony Flutter right now. I also just got myself Qtica's Cuticle Repair Balm and so far I really really like it.
For hand creams I really just use whatever is around. I've tried loads of them and I don't know that I have an absolute favorite one. But a few that I'd probably repurchase are Barielle Ultra Soft Hand Creme, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula hand cream, Lush Handy Gurugu, California Mango Mend, and Eucerin original moisture cream.
Another item I use a lot is of course nail polish remover. I tend to use whatever but I think I like these 3 the best. Zoya Remove +, Onyx Moisturizing Formula remover and ELF Nail Polish Remover Pads which are fantastic if you have any cuts or hangnails or anything that would sting/hurt with regular remover. You do have to scrub a little more but it's worth it to avoid pain. LOL Oh and I use felt instead of cotton with the removers.
So that's it. Hopefully it wasn't too long and boring. And mostly I hope it was helpful to someone out there.
:)
