Identifying the Best Manicures

Identifying the Best Manicures

What manicure will work best for your nail health? Undoubtedly, hands and nails have morphed into a major centre of focus within the beauty industry. So, we have the all-important manicure, a perfect way to keep the nails polished and healthy. Moreover, it's a great way to showcase personality and creativity. One advantage with manicures is that they always let you try some new color or nail design trends without the long-term, potentially expensive investments like clothing. You also avoid irreversible options (like having to cut your hair). Many factors generally contribute to choosing the best manicure. This may include your mood for the day, budget issues, upkeep, current trends, your lifestyle, and how long you want to keep the manicure. It's essential to weigh the pros and cons of different kinds of treatments before deciding what to go with. What's important is to ensure your nails and health are kept up to date and healthy.

Choose the best manicures for your nail health in 2021. So, what is best? Well, you might go for a basic manicure. You always won't go wrong with this- a regular manicure. Your technician will usually trim, file, shape, and buff your nails. The technician will also trim your cuticles by applying a cuticle oil treatment. Indeed, your hands may also get some love; some technicians will do this by wrapping your hands in a warm towel. Next, they'll apply lotion and massage the fingers and palms.

As an option, you may have some polish applied (some prefer to go bare- with some freshly buffed nail that emits a clear coat shine. The standard or regular manicure is generally inexpensive compared to others. This type of manicure can also preserve your nail health. But there are some downsides. If the technician applies polish, the seemingly flawless finish may not last very long. In fact, you might see the chips on the same day. Moreover, it requires some time for the polish to dry. If you aren't patient enough, you can get some smudges.

Gel manicure: Gel manicure ranks among the best types of manicure. The technician will use the same process to effect this treatment as the standard manicure; this is true right until the polish application stage. When it's time to add some color, your technician will apply several layers of polish; they'll then cure your nails using a UV light procedure. They'll also apply a topcoat. Note that once the gel is dry, it means it's really dry. There's absolutely no chance the polish will get smudged; moreover, it shouldn't chip for a few days. Gel manicures are generally long-lasting; most of the time, it takes up to 2 weeks without chipping. Actually, gel manicures appear more natural than acrylic nails. Further, a gel manicure will prevent tears and breaks and strengthen your nail. The downside with gel manicure is that you must get a professional to remove the gel polish. Take care- DIY removal can prove to be painful and damaging to the skin. Lastly, it's more limiting in terms of color choices.

Stick-on nail manicure: To be sure, stick-on nails are a fantastic option that usually comes with excellent results. Although you won't get the benefit of a cuticle treatment or a hand massage, your nails will certainly look nice; you won't have to spend much. It's important to know that stick-on nails have actually come a long way to become the excellent option that they are today. For the most part, stick-on nails are relatively affordable; you can even get some for $10 a set. They are also a low-commitment solution. And you'll get them with nail polish remover. Generally, stick-on nails won't damage your nail not unless you try to remove them improperly. Of course, there's a downside to using stick-on nails. First, stick-on nails aren't nearly as durable as acrylics. Also, it can be challenging to apply them perfectly unless you're perfectly coordinated with both hands.

Acrylic nails: We've had acrylic nails around for quite some time. In the 1980s, acrylic nails were actually quite popular. Acrylic nails are created by mixing powder polymer and liquid monomer; these are mixed and applied over natural nails. A few chemicals are used, and polish is applied over the top parts. If you like, you can get a gel coating fixed over your acrylic nails. The advantage of acrylic nails is that they are rugged and durable. Admittedly, they often break and pop off sometimes. However, they'll usually last until the nail beds grow out.

Beauty tips from celebrities

Beauty tips from celebrities

Either on the runway or the screen, most celebrities boast admirable beauty we all want to emulate. Believe or not, their beauty is not always a blessing from their genes or the magic effect of an airbrush on Photoshop. Their beauty is also due to certain products and practices. Like they say, it hurts to be beautiful. You have to know what product and technique will suit you best and commit to a beauty routine. Fortunately, some beautiful celebrities have share their secrets.

Gwyneth Paltrow, a classy actress renown for her beauty and eternal youth, confessed she is a fan of Bioderma’s micellar water and she says this cleansing solution is "the best make-up remover.” Accordingly, "it's unscented, doesn't dry your skin or sting, and gets rid of all your make-up with a few swipes. You're left with soft, clean skin." She added, "I use omega-3 oil. I love light oil on my skin. It's one of my favorite feelings in the world."

The academy-award winner Kate Winslet also gave away her beauty secret. "A good eye cream is really important when you are traveling, busy and stressed-that's when the dark puffy circles can get you."

Meanwhile, Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha shared her surprising style secret."My number-one beauty tip is to practice at home whatever you’re going to be wearing. Don’t just put something on because you think it's the look of the day or the season. Especially when everyone is saying there’s a look for the season, try it out and see if it really looks good on you and be good at it before you go out there wearing it.”

"My beauty tip is bronzer. Regardless of whether you're light-skinned or dark-skinned, wear bronzer. Put it on the periphery of the face, the décolletage, and the cheeks. It always makes you look like you just came from Ibiza! As for my fitness tip: Corsets!" said Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid, also known as Iman, a Somali-American fashion model, actress and entrepreneur. She is also a pioneer in the ethnic-cosmetics market.

Actress Rachel Bilson is another celebrity that relies on bronze. "I dust my cheeks and eyelids with bronzing powder for a natural glow."

Another member of the cult of the Bronzer is Eva Mendes. She said, "A shimmery bronzer is the perfect way to look alive. If you don't want to wear makeup, mix some with moisturizer. You'll look pretty but not made-up."

Arizona Muse, an American fashion model, also shared her beauty secrets: "My number-one beauty tip is to mix Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair with foundation. It just turns every foundation into the most sheer amazingness. For fitness, I do a lot of yoga. I love yoga. I think it’s so good for your mind and body, as well."

Carolyn Murphy is an American model and actress. In 1998, she was named VH1/Vogue’s “Model of the Year” and she was also one of the “Modern Muses” on the November 1999 millennium cover of American Vogue. Her popularity has been such that she represented Calvin Klein’s perfume “Contradiction.” Murphy also shared gave beauty advice to the women of the world. "My beauty secret is drinking a lot of water. I drink a lot of water and then I moisturise. Otherwise, I wish I did more fitness. I’m not a fanatic. I don’t think it’s very becoming for a woman to have a body like a man’s, which is super cut. I prefer to be a little more on the softer side, so I just keep it light with a lot of walking, yoga, and an occasional jog. But even that’s a lot of work!"

Actress America Ferrera also relied on water to boost her beauty. "Once I started drinking more water, my skin, hair and nails all flourished."

One of Charlie’s angels, Lucy Liu, mentioned she is a fan of Aquaphor. "When I was shooting a movie in Montreal, it was freezing. If you take a little bit of Aquaphor and dab it on your face, it keeps your skin looking fresh. I dubbed it Aqua For Everything."

The beautiful actress Liv Tyler employs an interesting technique to make her skin look flawless. "After applying foundation and a little blush, dust your face with translucent powder, then mist skin with a rosewater spray and lay a Kleenex over for a second. It makes your face seem flawless in a way that looks as if you aren't wearing any makeup."

The best face oils

The best face oils

Whether you are suffering from dehydrated skin, premature wrinkles or even oily skin, the right face oil can help you with a large range of skincare concerns and leave you with glowing, clear, rejuvenated skin. Although most people with oily skin are afraid to use face oils due to the fear of making their condition worse, this shouldn’t happy if you choose the right oil for your skin type.

The right face oil can protect your skin from free radicals, prevent fine lines and treat your blemishes, but they all vary so that is why you need to choose the one that suits your skin type. When you choose an oil, you have to base your decision on a few conditions. Oils are packed with natural antioxidants and fatty acids, so they can keep your skin from aging prematurely.

Face oils have many benefits. While it takes a while to see the effects of moisturisers, when you use a face oil, you see instant results. They can also be used in many ways, such as a moisturiser, makeup touchups, as a makeup remover, a lip balm, frizz fighter and under eye cream.

Here are some of the best face oils in the market:

Votary Face oil is a rosy, light oil meant to be applied overnight. You only need to apply two drops and it is absorbed by the skin very quickly. You will feel your skin much more moisturised after only one application and there is no filmy residue on the skin at all. The blend of natural oils is perfect for dehydrated skin and is great for changing seasons and for protecting your skin from poor air quality that can leave your skin looking dull.

Another facial oil that is only suitable for the evening is the Blue Orchid face oil by Clarins. This product is so oily one drop will suffice to coat the skin, yet it is not too heavy so it gets absorbed fast. This is a great way to hydrate your skin quickly.

Seaberry Moisturising Face Oil by Fresh is also a night oil. Although it is thick, it spreads well so you might just need one or two drops for your whole face. This lightweight facial oil is rich in antioxidants. Packed with beneficial fatty acids and other repairing acids, this oil is particularly beneficial for dry skin. This is facil smells like lavender and it is quite fresh, the problem is that it takes too long to absorb.

If you enjoy the smell of roses on your skin, then Una Brennan’s super facialist rose hydrate oil is the one for you. Although this oil is meant to be used overnight, you can also use it during the day under your foundation.

If you are looking for a facial oil that you can use night and day, opt for artemis hydroactive cellular face oil by Sunday Riley. Although it is thick, it does not feel heavy and its fruity and citrusy smell leaves your skin feeling fresh.

Packed with omegas and antioxidants, Pai’s Rosehip BioRegenerate oil protects the skin from environmental stress and damage. The oil also leaves your skin moisturised and feeling fresh. This is a great oil to use before going to bed, but let absorb before you actually lie down to keep it from staining your pillowcase.

If you are looking for a face oil that suits combination skin types, opt for Turnaround Revitalizing Treatment Oil by Clinique. This is an all-rounder oil that is very nourishing for dry areas but not too heavy for the T-zone and other oily areas.

Packed with tea tree oil, clary sage oil, juniper berry oil and lavender oil, Riddle Botanicals’ Relief serum is perfect to treat acne-prone skin. Although it is very moisturising, it doesn’t leave your skin feeling greasy as it is lightweight. The serum smells so well that you will think you are at a spa.

Rich in vitamins A and E as well as omega fatty acids 6 and 0, Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil is a beautifully silky oil that hydrates and soothes the skin without being too thick. As it is pure plum oil, the smells like plum syrup, strong and sweet.

What you need to know about Eczema

What you need to know about Eczema

Eczema symptoms vary from one sufferer to the other, but, in general, this skin condition manifests itself in the irritation of the outer layer of the skin.

What is Eczema?

The British Skin Foundation defines atopic eczema as “an inflammatory condition of the skin. Atopic is the term used to describe conditions such as eczema, asthma, seasonal rhinitis and hay fever, which often have a genetic basis. Eczema is the term used to describe changes in the upper layer of the skin that include redness, blistering, oozing, crusting, scaling, thickening and sometimes pigmentation (although not all of these changes will necessarily occur together).”

Dr Walayat Hussain, consultant dermatologist of Bupa Health Clinics, told Marie Claire UK, ‘Also referred to as “dermatitis”, eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that can make your skin red, dry and itchy,’ says Dr Hussain. ‘There are a number of different types, and the type you have determines which treatment options are best for you.’

If your skin gets easily irritated, itchy, you get rashes and it is so dry to the point that it cracks and bleeds, then it all points to eczema. The next step from here is to consult a medical specialist so they can confirm the diagnosis and prescribe the right treatment for your particular condition.

As atopic eczema affects the outer layer of the skin, it can appear anywhere on the body, from hands, arms, feet, legs, arms, torso, and even your face.

Types of eczema

Although atopic eczema is the most common one, there are as many types of eczemas as skin types and they all stem from different and they require their own customised treatment.

Seborrhoeic eczema is a kind a skin inflammation visible as yellowish, oily, scaly patches of skin that appear most commonly on the face and scalp but it can also affect other parts of the body.

Contact eczema (also known as contact dermatitis) is manifested as redness, itching and burning that appear upon the skin getting in contact with an allergen such as an acid or cleaning agent. Unlike other allergies that manifest themselves after exposure, contact eczema is developed over time; your skin becomes sensitive to an allergen. This type of eczema usually manifested on your hands, so try to pay attention to what it is that is causing that reaction and avoid it at all costs. Also see your General Practitioner so he can refer you to a Dermatologist who will be perform an allergy test to determine what is affecting your skin.

Dishydrotic eczema (also known as pompholyx) shows as tiny, fluid-filled blisters on your hands and feet. These blisters are extremely itchy and they might burst during the healing process, becoming more sore.

Atopic eczema is often found in people who also suffer from asthma, hayfever and allergies. ‘This can be genetic and you may notice your skin gets irritated on the face, in front of the elbows and behind the knees,’ Dr Hussain told Marie Claire. ‘It usually flares up if you have allergies and come into contact with soaps, detergents or other types of chemicals.

‘Although there is no cure for atopic eczema, your GP or dermatologist may prescribe you with a specific type of moisturiser known as an emollient. These work by restoring water and oils to your skin to soothe and hydrate it, as well as helping to repair the damaged skin.’

Treating atopic eczema

Although there is no permanent cure for atopic eczema, adequate treatment can help to relieve the symptoms and many cases improve over time. These treatments include self care techniques, such as reducing scratching and avoiding triggers emollients and moisturising treatments). You can also use topical corticosteroids to minimise swelling, redness and itching during flare-ups. Topical steroid creams, such as hydrocortisone, eumovate and betnovate, help with the itching, as they keep the cells from producing chemicals that flare up the skin as a reaction to the allergen.

Diet and eczema

What you eat can affect your skin condition since you might have an allergic reaction to it. “Although changes in your diet can’t cure your eczema, in some case it may help alleviate the symptoms and minimise flare ups,” Dr Hussain told Marie Claire. This is because some types of eczema are rooted in allergic reactions, and allergy to food is the most common type of allergy.