Which brand of gel nail polish is the best? And is it really the best thing for you?

February 12th, 2013 2 Comments

As a girl who can’t keep a manicure for longer than 4 days, I was really excited about gel with its promise of no-chipping for two weeks!

My first experience with gel polish ended the day after I had it applied when it all peeled off. You can understand I was a cynic for a while. However, as the market grew, I figured I should give it another shot at a new salon. I lucked into having a very meticulous esthetician (Traci at Trina’s Nail Salon in Buckhead) give me a fabulous manicure that lasted the two weeks the gel polish promises! Since then, I’ve been a gel junkie and have tried all the brands with a couple different girls at Trina’s salon.

So far I’ve tried: Shellac, Gellish, Voss, and OPI. I’ve heard about: Akzentz, Bio Sculpture Color Gel, CalGel, Dashing Diva Gelife, IBD, the list goes on. For more on brands, go here.

What I’ve found is that it’s not the brand of polish that matters, but who tends to your cuticles and how they apply the polish.

Your cuticles must be pushed and cut back as far as possible. When they grow back to the edge of the polish, they push against it, causing the polish to peel up. Also, if the polish is applied over your cuticles, your mani doesn’t stand a chance. So you’ve got to run the gamut of estheticians before you find the right one. Then choose your polish on color not brand.

Wait, there’s more.

After getting a few gel manicures I started to think, “this can’t be good for my nails.” Kind of like the hair extensions that made my hair thick and beautiful…until I took them out. In a gel manicure, they buff off the enamel of the nail, apply chemicals to replace it, and then bake it dry almost instantly with UV light. Ugh. If you want to read about the effects of the chemicals, click here. It seems the one we need to look out for is BHA, butylated hydroxyanisol, which is a “cancer-causing agent.” The UV light is pretty self-explanatory.

I never get to the part where I have to soak it off, which dries out your nail bed. I find peeling it off to be a great distraction while sitting in horrific Atlanta traffic. (I’m sure that’s bad for your nail bed too.) I let my nails rest a week before returning to Trina’s for more gel. It’s really the only thing that has ever worked for my nails. I’m thinking about wearing finger-less gloves from now on to protect my hands. As for the BHA, I’m just hoping it gets fried in the baking process.

And you? Now that you know the facts, will you continue to get gel manicures. Leave your comments below!

Tweet this!

What can you do for the unavoidable wrinkles?

January 15th, 2013 4 Comments

It comes back to the same answer every time: botox.

Now that we’ve crossed the big 3-0 threshold, my friends are not only starting to get botox, but also getting over the shame factor of it. With my friends over 40, we share our experiences with different doctors and dilutions in laughter because it’s no big deal.

If I could exercise to tone my face, I would, but I can’t. Cremes don’t penetrate deep enough into the skin to weaken muscles, which is why they don’t work.

I did this video with my client Dr. Sturm-O’Brien in which we show her technique and educate people on why you should get botox: to fill and prevent wrinkles. Watch and see my experience; there are two things that make her technique extraordinary!

A lot of doctors are now offering Dysport as a cheaper alternative to botox. But after hearing Angela’s explanation of it (she blogged about Botox v. Dysport here), I have stuck with botox.

More from Angela on MTM later. In the meantime, if you’re interested in plastic surgery or non-surgical cosmetic procedures, tweet her @DrSturmObrien or check out her blog. It’s well written and really interesting! I’m very proud of her.

Tweet this!

11 new tricks for fabulous hair

January 8th, 2013 No Comments

Rinse apple cider vinegar through your hair after you’ve shampooed and conditioned to seal down the hair cuticle. (via GarnierUSA)
Use a vented paddle brush to dry your hair faster (this Goody one looks awesome!) and then a medium-sized round brush with boar and nylon bristles.
Wipe down your flatiron plates with Windex or a damp cloth so styling products don’t form residue that will diminish the iron’s capabilities on your next use.
Splurge on a dryer that has lower heat and higher wattage. You’ll get a stronger wind for a quicker dry without hair shaft swelling from intense heat. (My two favorites here.)
Wrap a silk scarf around curly hair that has been blown out straight for 10 minutes to maintain bounce without getting the curl back.
Apply a dollup of “nurishing” or “hydrating” hair oil to your hair BEFORE you shower. Let it sink in for 10 minutes and then hop in the shower. This will give you a sleek blowout. (I like Moroccan products and use the LIGHT oil, but usually AFTER my shower….)
Use a lightweight aerosol shine spray instead of hairspray after you blowdry to tame flyaways and keep out moisture. (I use Biolage by Matrix Color Care Sheilding Shine Mist.)
Seek out finishing spray with UV. Just like your skin, your hair and color treatments need protection. (The Biolage spray above has UV.)
Opt for a root booster instead of mousse for extra volume. (I like Catwalk Root Booster by TIGI)
Keep your eye out for products to try next. Your hair will become accustomed to your favorite products and no longer respond to them after a while.
Eat healthy to improve your hair. Foods like Salmon that is high in omega 3 fatty acids, turkey supplies protein, green leafy veggies with vitamin A and C helps follicles produce a natural conditioner. (Read the full list here.)

(Info gathered from Allure Magazine, GarnierUSA, and my own experience.)

Tweet this!

Win my favorite cosmetics!

December 4th, 2012 No Comments

If you’ve been with me for a while, you know Jouer is one of my favorite makeup brands for everyday wear. I fell in love with them when their publicist sent me a box of product a few years ago. I have gotten A LOT of free cosmetics over the years and none have become an instant favorite like Jouer.

I know it’s hard to put your faith a new brand, which is why I try to do as many giveaways as I can. This holiday, I’m giving away two big swag bags with products I love including Jouer cosmetics.

Click here to see the guide and the details to enter the giveaway. It’s too easy not to!

Right now, I’ve put Jouer’s “Elizabeth” hydrating lipstick ($20) on my MTM Holiday Gift Guide as the perfect gift for girlfriends and moms. They don’t know what they’re missing.

“Elizabeth” is a “rose” color: a very soft red that tops off your makeup with a pop of color instead of dominating your look. It’s doable during the day and great for casual nights out. I’m more of a nude girl when it comes to lip color, so I was surprised I loved it so much when Neal put it on me in my makeover at Henri Bendels. Since then I’ve been wearing it every other day and get compliments every time I do. My girlfriends have all been fans, so “Elizabeth” became an obvious choice for their Christmas gift!

Tweet this!

Nail trends straight from the streets of NYC

October 2nd, 2012 No Comments

Multi-colored nails and…Ombré?! Yes, ombré!! You think your nail lady could make that happen??

I don’t think either are for me, but they look hot on these fashionistas.

Tweet this!

An quick spritz will save your vacation tan

June 26th, 2012 1 Comment

I this spray to maintain my summer glow. Over the years, they’ve been improving it so there is no way it streaks or turns you orange. After you dry off out of the shower, spray yourself down, wait only a minute, and then moisturize.

The key is that you really need a base tan before you can use it.

One can runs about $10-12 at CVS or Walgreens.

Tweet this!

Open sesame!

June 12th, 2012 No Comments

At CVS a month ago this Almay concealer got my attention. It claims to “instantly awaken your eyes and reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness.” Sold!

I’ve been using it daily and it delivers on all three fronts. It’s like coffee for your eyes. Something in there actually tightens your eyes and makes them feel more open in the morning! As with most concealers, the thin creme doesn’t take care of all of the darkness, but my eyes certainly look better after I apply it. For $9, I’m more than satisfied and will buy another tube.

Almay Wake-up Concealer $8.99

Tweet this!

I’m getting serious about these face serums.

April 3rd, 2012 1 Comment

You know how once you see something once and really notice it, then you start seeing it everywhere? That’s how it was for me with face serums a few months ago.

So I randomly tried the dermalogica skin hydrating booster ($54) tester on my hand one day in the airport massage spa. One drop on my fingers melted into this silky smooth gel I easily spread over the back of my hand. Wow. Almost instantly my skin was moisturized, smooth, and tight. Even the little creases vanished! Without hesitation, I whipped out my credit card thinking this would be the ultimate moisturizer after a long day in the sun in Asia. To this day, the booster continues to be an instant anti-aging method in my opinion.

When I returned from vacation, I found the Kiehl’s Corrective Dark Spot Corrector ($50) on my doorstep. Promising to lighten spots and even out skin tone, this serum has been clinically proven to be magical. I have been applying it nightly under my night creme, and I can actually see and feel a difference. Everyone is advertising dark spot treatments, as I know you’ve seen. This one actually works.

Both serums have helped improve the texture of my skin, which is a big thing for me. Botox works for wrinkles, but cremes fail me on the texture. These serums have proven to keep my skin looking young and fresh….in my eyes anyway.

(Full disclosure: Kiehl’s provided via PR.)

Tweet this!