Manicure & Pedicure Tips

Manicure & Pedicure

A professional manicure and pedicure is a luxury, and it is also time-consuming and can be expensive, especially when maintaining a polish job. But there are some simple home remedies that are inexpensive and will allow you to enjoy the feeling of a salon manicure and pedicure. So rather than go to a spa and have to return in a few days to have your fingers and toes repainted, do them at home yourself.

Removing Old Polish

Polish can become chipped and unsightly, so keep it looking fresh by removing all traces of old polish from your nails. Use a non-acetone nail polish remover to keep from drying out the nails and hands or feet.
A paper towel or cotton ball works best when removing old polish, as toilet paper or tissue can come apart and absorb too much of the polish. A paper towel can help you apply friction without it tearing apart. Always use a clean side of the paper towel for each nail.

Bath Oil

Bath oil

For an excellent moisturizer for the hands, heat 1 cup of baby oil with 1/2 cup of water in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Use a larger bowl or pan and the same ratio of oil and water to soak the feet. Soak in the solution for 10 to 15 minutes, which will loosen dead skin and the cuticles and soften hands and feet. Use a pumice stone over all rough areas to leave the skin with the kind of professional glow you would have after leaving a spa treatment.

Vinegar

Vinegar

Because chipping polish can be a nuisance, apply a light coat of white vinegar to the nails using a cotton ball. Allow the solution to dry and then paint your nails. This will moisturize the cuticles and set the polish so that it lasts longer. After the nail polish dries wash your hands and feet in warm soapy water to get rid of the vinegar smell.

Manicure tips

Giving a manicure, or manicuring as it is called professionally, was once considered only a luxury for the rich. More and more women (and men) now have regular manicures. Manicuring is derived from the Latin word manus which means hand and cura which means care. Manicuring improves the appearance of the hands and nails. Giving a manicure isn’t hard once you know the basic steps.

Remove the old polish. Moisten a cotton ball with nail polish remover. The type of polish remover depends on your personal preference. Press the cotton ball over the nail for a few seconds to soften the old polish. Wipe gently with the cotton ball on the nail starting at the base of the nail to the tip. This keeps old polish from smearing into the cuticle.

Shaping the nail is the next step. The fingernails should be filed into oval tips. Begin on the left hand with the little finger and work towards the thumb. Hold the finger between your thumb and the first two fingers of the left hand. Hold the fingernail file in the right hand. Slant the fingernail file so that the filing is done mostly to the under side of the nail. File each fingernail from the corner to the center, going from right to left and then from left to right. On each side of the fingernail, stroke in one direction only. Repeat the process on the right hand.

Softening the cuticles is accomplished by soaking the fingers in a small finger bowl filled with soapy water. A few drops of mild dish soap added to water in the finger bowl works well. Carefully dry the hand by holding a small towel and place, the hand on the towel. Dry the hand while simultaneously pushing back the cuticle and skin on each fingernail. Be very gentle.

Apply cuticle remover by following the directions on the cuticle remover tube or bottle. Gently loosen the cuticle with an orangewood stick or cuticle pusher. Keep the cuticle moist while working. Wash gently and dry.

Clean under the free edge of the fingernail by dipping a cotton-tipped orangewood stick in soapy water and cleaning under the nail from the center outward to each side.

Sometimes it is necessary to remove dead cuticle or hangnails with small scissors or cuticle nippers. Be very careful when you do this.

Apply cuticle oil or cream at the base of the nail. Brush nails gently in a soapy water with a downward motion. Dry hands and nails thoroughly. Next use a very fine emery board. Buff nails giving them a smooth beveled edge. Wipe nails to remove any particles of cuticle or dead skin.

Apply base coat using long strokes. When the base coat is dry to a light touch apply polish. Apply polish lightly with strokes from the base to the tip. Excess polish on cuticle or nail can be easily removed with cotton tipped orangewood stick moistened with polish remover. Apply a top or seal coat. Brushing the top or seal coat around and under the tips of the nail will give the nail added protection.

The final step is to apply lotion. This can be done if time permits. Nails need to be completely dry. Start at the wrists moving down to the fingertips with light rubbing motion.

Cosmetics

Beauty Products: Cosmetics

By Maria

The traditional way of shopping for cosmetics often includes an excursion to the mall, an overwhelming array of beauty supply counters, and a persistent salesperson offering you the one product you never knew you needed. But finally, an alternative to this tradition has arrived. With the dawn of the World Wide Web, online shopping and information for numerous cosmetic lines is available. Most of these cosmetic sites offer online ordering, product descriptions, and beauty advice.

Web users seeking cosmetic advice and makeup tips need go no further than the web site of their favorite cosmetics line. The web sites of many companies, including Clinique, Cover Girl, Avon, Mary Kay, and Revlon offer skin typing, color selection advice, and makeup tips. Cover Girl goes the extra mile, using astrology to match your life events with beauty advice. For the international customer, Lancome offers a multilingual web site tailored to the language of your country. If searching for information on science research, look to L’Oreal’s site to learn about their studies on dermatological and cosmetic issues. The most obvious convenience of online cosmetic sites is the ability to choose and order products through the company's web site. Most sites offer this useful service to their online customers.

The next time the urge to shop for cosmetics hits, don't just run to your car and head for the nearest shopping center. Instead, jump on your computer and connect to the Internet to search for cosmetic resources online. Online cosmetic shopping opens a whole new world for customers seeking to fill their beauty needs. Whether you're seeking beauty advice and information or an easy way to purchase products, the World Wide Web is a convenient option for your cosmetic needs.