Nail and Cuticle Care from the Inside Out

I would like to start this post by saying. I am not a professional...I am just sharing my routines and stuff I have learned, seen, or tried through the years of learning about nails and polish. 

When you love doing your nail as much as I do nail and cuticle care become a MUST...The removers and acetone used for detail cleaning can be very harsh and drying to the nail and cuticle. Without proper care your nails will become dry, prone to hang nails, peeling, and the WORST one is BREAKING!!

So for strong healthy beautiful nails you should start from the inside out meaning vitamins & nutrients. Nails are made of keratin protein like hair. So nutrition aids in the healthiness of our nails just like it does with hair. 

If you have weak nails it can be a signal of low b vitamins and protein. B-Complex vitamins will help build you nails strength back. ( I used to take them daily) 

Nails that are peeling can be a sign of  low vitamin C and taking vitamin D will help with proper absorbing of the vitamins and Vitamin E is very helpful with nourishing the skin, nails, and cuticles...Peeling can also be a sign of needing moisture so that brings me into the next section of nail and cuticle care moisturizing and using treatments. 

I use a cuticle pen several times a day. I have one in my purse and one at work in my desk at all times. I use it whenever I think about it. (The more you do it the more of a habit it will become and in the end you will think about it more :) 

I also soak my nails and cuticles 2-3 times a week. Right now Moroccan Argan Oils are my favorite. They are so moisturizing, nourishing, and fast drying. Whether you use cuticle or argan oil let a couple drops soak on your cuticles and spread to the rest of the nail..Let sit for 1-2 minutes and massage the rest into the cuticles and nail

If you  are fixing dry nails and cuticles I recommend doing this 3-4 times a week for 3-4 weeks to see GOOD lasting results..After that 1-2 times a week to maintain the results.

So you can also do TREATMENTS like strengthening base coats. They make several different treatments you apply under your polish but recently I came across Juleps Nail masks. ( If you dont know about Julep you need to ask ME!! I can give you a referral code and as a Maven you will get  MAJOR discounts!!)

So I discovered these nail masks and now I get a 5 pack every month with my maven box as long as they have it available. I first tried them in the mask trio pack that comes with Nail, Hand, and Foot masks and that is available as well. I love them all but benefit from the nail masks the most!!

Pictured above is the package of Julep Nail Masks and an image of them open. When using please note to keep them in order when separating as they are in order by size. Thumbs to pinkies for easier wear. You place them on one by one until all are in place.

My nails feel so soft and nourished after using these. Now they are not made for on the go use...This is more of  a pamper yourself for 20- 30 minutes a day while you just sit and relax  :) as you place them on your fingers and hold them in place ( I have the habit of massaging my fingers while they are on. I feel like I am doing extra moisturizing by rubbing it in) but you let them sit for 20-30 minutes then take off and rub the excess oils in your cuticles and nails. 

When finished with both those steps back to back...Your cuticles and nails will look and feel amazing...Below are my cuticles after doing the cuticle soak and nail masks. I will also finish it off with a hand butter or lotion. I love to moisturize ;) OH yeah next nail care post will be about Whitening!!

So I plan on posting a nail art tutorial tomorrow!!! Please check back in for that!! Until next time remember to ✌KEEP CALM and PAINT YOUR NAILS✌

Swatching Saturday!! !

I am so happy that my first official post is for Swatching Saturday!!! Every Saturday is what I call Swatching Saturday and I will swatch and talk about up to 5 polishes Indie and/or Mainstream  sometimes less than 5 like today :)

The polishes I am showing you today I have purchased for pleasure..They are both Indie polishes from the same brand...I have to say my favorite brand :) Sassy Cats Lacquer!! Mora is a lovely woman and boy can she make some lovely polishes!!! Right now I will be showing you a couple of her thermal polishes called Peach Mango from her Summer Sorbet collection and I pink I'm Purple from her Majestics collection. Both of which were on my most wanted  polish list...YES I HAVE A LIST OF MY MOST WANTED POLISHES. DON'T JUDGE LOL ...Later I will have to show you my whole collection of Sassy Cats Lacquer (I am proud they are beauties!!)


The first swatch I will be sharing is of Sassy Cats Lacquer called Peach Mango. It is a creamy thermal polish that is pastel yellow when hot to a pink coral color when cold. It Is Soo Freaking Pretty!!! It is called Peach Mango but it could easily be called strawberries and cream to me. It looks like french vanilla with a strawberry sauce on top! :)

(Here is a collage of Peach Mango but I plan on having macros and other types of pics for later posts. I am perfecting my baby slowly but surely :)

Peach Mango is creamy and smooth applies so good and the color changing process during application is AMAZING!! I love thermals now thanks Mora ;) Pictured above I used 2 coats over a clear base coat and a fast dry top coat. This changes during the day all day as the temp around you changes. It changes colors in the bottle all day long while the air turns on and off in my house LOL....I LOVE IT!!!

The next swatch for Swatching Saturday!! I Pink I'm Purple from Sassy Cats Lacquer. This is also a thermal but is more sheer like a jelly polish I used 3 coats over a clear base coat and a fast dry top coat. This polish is a pink color when hot and grape purple when cold. It has an amazing shimmer factor and I love my sparkle so of course this was also on my Most Wanted Polish List :) (2 crossed off the list Ahhh :)

My camera could not capture all the shimmer in this polish and our Saturday is coming to an end. I am too obsessed with both of these polishes not to do more playing with them so more pictures are coming for sure ;)

Until next time my friends remember ✌Keep Calm and Paint Your Nails✌

MegaNail Art blogging introduction

Hello fellow nail art or polish addicts!!  :) I am really excited to share with everyone my polish and nail art journey. I have always had an interest in polish but recently...well 3 years ago it has become an obsession or "addiction"  some people say at times (not without receiving a glare of course :) .... I say its my passion...my creative outlet and I am no where near stopping or slowing down...So with that said I am constantly buying polishes whether mainstreams in the stores or my NEW obsession Indie polishes!! If you haven't heard that term before it is a brand of polish that is hand made and sold by the individual who has their own business. My indie obsession introduced me to swatching which has begun a new love. It let's me try on and admire all the colors that I love. Now here I will be able to write detailed reviews of my swatches. I will also feature guest reviewers too! !

I will always though in the end top it off with some NAIL ART!!! :)

Soo...I will be posting a tutorial of each design I do. I will do step by step picture tutorials and sometimes maybe a short video..I do my nails at least once a week so you have guaranteed weekly tutorials maybe more of I'm feeling frisky that week ;)

Nail care routines and products I'll cover them! :) Anything related to nail art or polish is up for discussion on here!!

So what was my motivation to start this blog you say....Painting my nails makes me happy and I want to share and connect with others who have the same passion. I started an instagram account a few months ago its @meganail_art and I met soo many wonderful, fun, polish loving ladies and I want to grow my friendships and thought with this blog it would allow more detailed and closer look with my followers so please feel free to ask, comment or suggest. I will take tutorial requests too ;)

Well...In conclusion I hope you enjoy the journey to come as much as I have enjoyed the journey so far...

Until next time remember to ✌KEEP CALM AND PAINT YOUR NAILS! ✌