Nail Apothecary from Elegant Touch

Elegant Touch are launching a Nail Apothecary Treatment range, which is thought as the ‘must-have’ medicine cabinet for your nails. The range consists of the ultimate in nail treatments with a remedy for all common nail concerns. All the products are ‘3 free’ and created with nourishing ingredients designed to strengthen, protect, repair and hydrate nails. The treatments deliver a dramatic difference in minutes and aim to transform your nails from the very first use.

My favourite ‘must-have’ product from the new range is the 24K Gold Ridge Filler. Although I don’t suffer with nail ridges, this product is versatile and creates a perfect smooth base and contains tiny flecks of gold shimmer which looks pretty alone or with a French Manicure and topped with the gel effect top coat for a gorgeous shimmer. You can also wear the gold ridge filler underneath or over the top of coloured polishes to add a subtle gold shimmer to your nails.

The range includes:

Cuticle Elixir (£7.95) this is a nourishing oil that helps condition and moisturise whilst smoothing and soothing damaged cuticles and contains jojoba and vitamin E.

Cuticle Eliminator (£7.95) this translucent gel cuticle remover softens overgrown cuticles to help ease removal. Nails are contoured and left looking smooth and clean.

24K Gold Ridge Filler (£8.95) this ridge filling base coat creates the perfect canvas whilst protecting and strengthening the nail containing omega 3, keratin amino acid and lingonberry seed oil.

Tough flex Base Coat (£6.95) contains a triple complex of plant keratins to help replenish the keratin in nails for structural support and strength, this conditioning base coat improves nail health encouraging healthy growth under nail colour. This is perfect if your nails have been weakened from wearing stick-on, acrylic or gel nails.

Super Matte Top Coat (£6.95) formulated without Toluene, Formaldehyde and DBP, this top coat creates a smooth matte finish on your manicure.

Gel Effect Top Coat (£6.95) formulated with acrylic materials, this top coat has a plumping effect to visibly lift and create a gel like look on the nail when used on top of nail colour. 

The Nail Apothecary range from Elegant Touch is available exclusively from Boots.com and launches in May 2015. 

The Perfect Manicure using Polish Pro

If you’re looking for products to help create the perfect manicure, it’s well worth checking out the Polish Pro range offered by NSI UK. Polish Pro products boast a light-cured polish formula that lasts for two weeks without smudging, cracking or chipping. In addition, the polish can be dried in a matter of minutes under a UV or LED lamp, meaning customers are able to walk away with fabulous nails in under 20 minutes. To achieve the best results, follow these simple steps:

Preparing nails

You should never apply new product before you’re 100 per cent satisfied that your nails are properly prepared. To do this, remove any existing polish with a cotton bud and nail polish remover. You should then exfoliate the hands before soaking them in a bowl of lukewarm water. This will soften the skin and make the nails more flexible.

After drying the hands on a soft towel, it’s time to shape them. Before you set to work with a file and clippers, define which shape and length of nail you require. To make the nails look longer and more elegant, gently push back the cuticles. This process is easier if use Vanish Cuticle Dissolve, which is a cuticle exfoliant and moisturiser. Before you continue, remove any leftover Vanish with a nail wipe saturated with Cleanse. This product removes surface oils and improves adhesion.

Applying the polish

It’s then time to begin applying the polish. Firstly, you should use a very thin layer of Polish Pro Base Coat. Apply this to all the nails and make sure you cap the edges. Ideally, you’ll then cure the nails for 10 seconds using a 36-watt UV bonding lamp. If you don’t have this piece of kit, the curing process will take longer.

Once the base coat is dry, you can apply a thin layer of Polish Pro in whichever colour your customer has selected. Make sure you cap the edges as you work. This layer should be so thin that it appears translucent. Cure the nails for two minutes before applying a second thin layer and curing for a further two minutes. Once you’re sure the nails are fully cured, it’s time to add a thin layer of Polish Pro Top Coat. This also takes two minutes to cure under a UV lamp.

Finishing touches

By this stage, your nails should look amazing, but your work’s not quite finished yet. For the best results, it’s important to remove the tacky layer using Cleanse and you may also want to pamper by using a drop of Nurture Oil to condition the cuticles. This product contains a blend of jojoba, soy, safflower, grape seed oils and wheat germ and it helps to prolong the flexibility and durability of nail enhancements.

Removal

One of the great things about Pro Plus nail polish products is the fact that they soak off, removing the need for scrubbing using harsh chemicals. To get rid of the product, lightly buff the surface of the polish to remove the shine. Next, pour a small amount of acetone into a bowl of water (just enough to cover the nails) and soak the fingers for around ten minutes. The layers of polish should then come away quickly and easily. Then all that’s left is to wash the hands and moisturise them. As long as you follow the right procedure, using Pro Plus products they provide professional manicures that gives a wow factor.

Little Mix Launch Nails with New Look & Elegant Touch

X Factor winners Little Mix have teamed up with Elegant Touch to launch a range of press-on nails and nail wraps exclusively for New Look.

The girls are a fan of nail art and have personally designed their own sets of nail-wraps and press-on nails, reflecting their own personalities and styles. The quality of these nails and wraps are fantastic with the studs, glitter and embelishment for the purse-friendly price of £6!

The Nail Wraps and Press-on Nails are available exclusively from New Look from next week! The launch kicks off on Friday 12th April with a exclusive store performance at New Look at Westfield, Shepherds Bush. What do you think of the Little Mix nail designs?

How to: Remove CND Shellac Gel Nails At Home

I have been requested many time to write a post on how to remove Shellac Nails at home so thought as I have just removed mine today I would explain the simple removal process for you do to at home! I will say however tempting it is don't pick or peel off the gel don't do it as this will damage your natural nails underneath. If you remove the gel properly yourself (or professionally) then there will be no damage to your natural nails. This step will also work for other Gel Polish brands and also makes removing Glitter Nail Polish far easier!

What you will need:
Acetone or Gel Remover, 
Nail File,
Towel (to protect your surface), 
Cotton Wool Pads, 
Aluminium Tin Foil,
Wooden Orange Stick (Hoof Stick), 
Nail Buffer,
Cuticle Oil,

Optional:
Moisturising Hand Cream, Nail Treatment

Step One:
Firstly gather all your tools in front of you and lightly buff over the nails using your nail file to break the top coat seal.  

Step Two:
Saturate a cotton wood pad with acetone and place over your nail, wrap a square of tin foil around the nail to secure. Repeat for both hands and leave to work for 10-15 minutes. If it is easier you can do one hand at a time so you can still function with the other!

Step Three:
After 15 minutes pull off each foil wrap and you will notice that the gel will have  lifted and become loose, and you can use the Orange Stick to gently push off any remaining gel.  

Step Four:
Buff your Nails using the Buffer to smooth any ridges and add a shine and massage in some cuticle oil. If your nails are weak or flaky you can apply a nail treatment and apply some moisturising hand cream if you wish. 

Let me know what you think if you try this at home. How do you normally remove your Gel Nails?

NOTD: CND Shellac Rosebud

Yesterday I attended Gibraltar Fashion Week and met the lovely Holly Byers who is a qualified Nail Technician that runs Nail Karma offering home visits in Gibraltar & Spain. I selected the shade 'Rosebud' which is a pretty pale baby pink colour perfect for the Spring. The benefits of Shellac are no chipping for at least two weeks; no drying time and a super shiny finish. 

You may remember I had Shellac Hot Pop Pink applied last month for my Grazia Magazine photo shoot. Holly kindly gave me a travel friendly bottle of CND Solar oil which is a nail and cuticle conditioner to take with me as it's essential to apply this daily when you have Shellac applied to keep your nails healthy and in tip-top condition. 

You can find out more about the nail services holly offers at www.nailkarma.com Have you tried shellac?