Cosette's Beauty Pantry

Hello everyone! Do you have dry cuticles? Are your nails breaking and splitting?  Try this  DIY nail soak recipe  to  strengthen nails and prevent splitting . This nail soak will also  soften and hydrate cuticles . Unfortunately, this winter has been rather harsh on my nails (and skin)! Many use moisturising hand creams throughout the day, especially after washing and before bed. But sometimes, you can still have dry nails and cuticles. The cuticle protects your nails by acting as a barrier against bacteria. It can get dry and crack easily, especially during the colder months. Dry cuticles will flake, crack, or peel and this may allow bacteria to enter your nails and cause an infection. Without adequate moisture, our nails can become brittle, break and peel easily. If you are dealing with dry nails and cuticles, this  DIY nail soak recipe  is just what you need.   Ingredients: 1 cup of hot water 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil (moisturising and strengthening) 1 teaspoon lemon juice (

Hello everyone! Check out this list of things you can do to maintain strong and healthy fingernails.  P.S. -   If you want more detailed information,   check out the related posts linked at the end of this post!  Stop biting and picking your nails. When  filing , always  file  in a single direction.   Never saw  back and forth! Make sure you’re using the right file; you don't want to use a grit that's too high for your nails. Use an acetone free nail polish remover, acetone will dry out your nails. Give your cuticles a much needed massage .   Use cuticle oil or olive oil to massage your cuticles and nails after you have removed polish. Let your nails breath!   Try to give your nails a break from nail polish, at least for 24hrs once a week.   This will also help keep that dreaded yellow stain at bay.  Buff once every couple of weeks. If your nails are extra brittle and prone to breakage keep them short and use a  nail strengthener  consistently!

One of the most common and irritating stress relieving habits is definitely biting nails.   Biting nails can lead to broken skin on the   cuticle which can lead to infection.  When biting your nails you are also transferring bacteria and germs from your fingernails to your mouth!  Nail biting is a bad habit that is not easy to quit. WOW! These are my brother's NOTD ;) Here are some tips that can help... Identify triggers It could be boredom, or stress or a particular time of day. Love your nails Get a manicure and paint the nails to make them look at their best.   Artificial nails These will protect your natural nails for some time until they grow out. Make them taste bad Apply a clear, bitter-tasting   nail polish   to the nails.  This is one of the most popular methods used to try to break the habit. Keep you hands occupied In case the problem is stress or boredom related try another activity that uses the hands. Increase calcium and magnesium intake

It's almost Spring aka sandal season !   It’s time to show our toes to the world.   Here are some tips for a perfect pedicure . Step 1: Remove old nail polish with an acetone-free nail polish remover. Step 2: Add Epson salt and your  favourite  scented oil to warm water and soak your feet for 10 minutes.   This step does more than clean your feet, it also softens dead skin cells in preparation for exfoliation.   Step 3: Dry your feet with a clean towel.  Exfoliate with a scrub.  Check out this post if you want to make your own sugar facial/body scrub.   Massage each foot for a minute or two with a quarter-size blob of scrub.  Start at your heel and work your way out to your toes, ankles, and calves using circular motions.  If you have dry skin, you can also use a wet pumice stone on your feet.  Rinse your feet with warm water. Step 4: Using a toenail clipper , trim your nails straight across, then smooth the edges with a nail file.  Make sur

Hello everyone!  How is 2012 going so far? If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to take better care of your hands and nails , keep reading for some great tips! When most people think of nail care they think of their nail problems like peeling.  Nevertheless, your cuticles (the skin immediately around the fingernail) also contribute to nail health and appearance.  Neglected cuticles are prone to hangnails and dryness, whilst bitten or badly cut cuticles may become infected.   Follow these simple steps to proper cuticle care : ·          Avoid using harsh soaps when washing your hands as they can cause dry cuticles. ·          Exfoliate your hands once a week. ·          Keep your cuticles moisturised .  Massage moisturising hand cream onto your cuticles, and slip on a pair of cotton gloves every night before you go to sleep.  Also, apply oil (olive oil or almond oil) on the fingertips and massage your nails with it.   ·          Never cut your cuticles