As a nail fanatic, it is my firm belief that everyone needs a good hand/nail care routine, with products they trust and that work well for them. After all, our hands take quite a beating on a daily basis, so they need all the TLC they can get.
I thought as a bit of a change I'd show you some of the products I use and love and will happily hand over my money for again and again.
First off is my
Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File.
I have the
small, but it also comes in
large or you can purchase
both in a set.
This nail file calls itself the 'Rolls Royce of Nail Files' and I have to agree. It has won awards for it's brilliance. Apart from being more pleasing on the eye than your average nail file it is also better for your nails. It 'simply turns your nails to dust' leaving a beautifully smooth and sealed free edge. Because of this you can break all the nail file rules and file in which ever direction you please, even back and forth, which is a big no no with your usual emery board.
The surface of the file comes with a lifetime guarantee, so as long as you take good care of it you should never need another nail file again. The small version comes in an aluminium case so you can pop it in your handbag without having to worry about it getting broken or damaged in anyway and cleaning it is as simple as running it under warm water.
It says it helps with peeling and splitting which is one of the reasons I bought it,
I'm fairly certain this file has, along with a few other products, been the solution to my problem with peeling and splitiing nails. I completely adore it and can't see myself even looking at another file ever again.
Next is my
CND Solar Oil.
I have tried dozens of cuticle oils, balms and creams but nothing has lived up to this little bottle of loveliness!
Another multi award winning product. It is a blend of Sweet Almond oil, Jojoba oil and Vitamin E which 'deeply penetrate and protect nails and cuticle area'.
This is another product which I hold responsible for improving the state of my nails. Just like any other cuticle oil you apply it to the cuticle and massage it in to the cuticle and surrounding skin, I try to apply mine every evening.
The list of ingredients are - Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Simmondsia
Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil,
Parfum (Fragrance), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E).
Solar oil is a pleasure to use and leaves my cuticles feeling wonderfully soft and conditioned. I like to use it like a bit of a nail treatment in winter by applying it generously to each nail then soaking them in warm water for a few minites. This makes the cuticle super soft and in perfect condition to be
gently pushed back using a cuticle pusher.
Love, love, love.
For hand cream I used another CND product.
The
Almond Hydrating Lotion.
I was actually given this by a friend who bought it in a local nail salon. The link I have provided is to an eBay seller who I have never used personally but has a 100% rating.
On the bottle it says 'A silky-smooth hand and body lotion that quickly absorbs into the skin leaving a soft, satin feel and a light almond fragrance. Contains a whipped blend of jojoba oil and vitamin E.'
Silky-smooth and quickly absorbed it certainly is!
I am very fussy when it comes to hand products. I hate anything that I can feel on the skin for too long, it makes me want to go and wash my hands and as I usually apply my hand creams straight after washing my hands this leads to a slightly ridiculous cycle.
This one is perfect though, one pump dispenses just the right amount and it sinks in quickly leaving my hands feeling soft and smooth with no slimy residue!
The scent is yummy, it smells almost exactly like Mr Kipling Almond Slices. It's not at all overpowering and once on the hands I can barely detect it at all which I like because I'm not so keen on anything too strong smelling on my hands.
Ingredients are as follows - Aqua (Water) (Eau), Cetearyl Alcohol, Simmondsia
Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Helianthus
Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate,
Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate,
Panthenol, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Ceteareth-20,
Tetrasodium EDTA, Parfum (Fragrance), Methylparaben,
Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben,
Phenoxyethanol, Isobutylparaben, CI 19140 (Yellow 5).
So there are my three must have hand and nail products!
There are a few other tools and products I use when doing my nails but none that I have much of a preference on type or brand but if you would like to see what else I use or a post about my manicure routine from start to finish let me know and I will be happy to oblige!
♥ A ♥
