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! As we all know, a  nail file  is a tool used to gently grind down and shape the edges of nails. Nail files may be emery boards, ceramic, glass, crystal, plain metal files or metal files coated with corundum. The surface of a nail file is referred to as its  grit . The smaller the grit number is, the coarser a nail file is and vice versa. I’ve put together  a list of nail file types available  to help you select the best nail file for your nails. Emery board Emery boards are the most accessible nail files. Their biggest downfall is that they cannot be cleaned as their base is cardboard. Emery boards are available with different grit sizes. The   coarser side is used to file down the nails, whereas the finer side is used to shape them. Double-sided nail file These nail files have two grits, a lower and a higher grit. A double-sided emery board with a  180/240 grit , is strong enough to remove length but will not damage your nails. Anything less than 180 grit could da

Hello everyone! We've all had it happen: after perfecting our  manicure , we look down and realize our nail polish has chipped. It's frustrating and annoying to see all that hard work go to waste. While many of us may blame  nail polish  formulas, the problem could actually be the application technique . With these simple tricks, you can extend the life of your manicure and prevent chips . Always wipe each nail with remover before applying polish.  Then wash your hands with soap and water to get rid of any remaining oil. Do not file your nails in different directions.  If you're treating your nail file like a saw, you're making your nails more prone to peeling and breakage.  Buff your nails.   This will remove any residue and get rid of ridges. Apply a base coat.  Polish will adhere best to nails prepped with a base coat. Not only does a basecoat protect your nails from stains, but it also fills ridges and strengthens nails. Do not shake the bottle.  Simply roll your n

Hello everyone! Long nails are perceived by many as being classy and stylish.  However, long nails may not be worth the looks. Below are six (6) reasons to opt for short nails instead of long ones. 1.  Practical Short nails give you the freedom to do all the things that you love without restrictions - you can easily do your chores, pull your zipper, buckle shoes, play with your pet or young children and wear contact lenses.  People with long nails know the pain of trying to do the simplest, everyday tasks.  Typing on a keyboard, opening containers, and even fiddling with buttons can prove to be difficult with long fingernails in the way.  2.  Fuss-free The last thing you need on your worry list is the possibility of breaking a nail.  Keeping long nails also pose a health hazard to you and the people around you.  Constantly poking yourself in the eye -  not fun! 3.  Hygienic Health and hygiene go hand in hand.  Fingernails can harbour dirt and germs, leading to the spread of infections.

Hello everyone! Healthy nails are essential for any fabulous manicure and pedicure .  However, many women, and men, don’t have the beautiful, healthy nails they could have, simply because they’re making one or more common nail care mistake .  Keep reading to find out what you should and shouldn't do to have beautiful, healthy nails. These are the six most common nail care mistakes ; I also added links to previous related articles:  Don’t use a back-and-forth motion when filing your nails. - Read this:  Tips for strong and healthy nails Don’t over-buff your nails.  - Read this:  Make them shine...with a nail buffer! Don’t trim your cuticles.  - Read this:  Tips for healthy cuticles Don’t forget to moisturise your cuticles.   Don’t skip the base coat.  - Read this:  Three methods to whiten yellow nails Don’t leave nail polish on for too long. Check out the infographic below: Source -  urbanewomen.com Do you make any of the above mentioned nail c

Hello everyone! Today I have another NOTD post for you.  This time it's a mani-pedi nails of the day .  I hope you like it!  This is what I'm wearing on my nails today... I applied two coats of  pink nail polish and then one coat of the silver crackle polish on top.  I applied the silver polish only on my middle and ring fingernails. Oh, and I'm also wearing the same colours on my toenails! Do you wear matching polish on your fingernails and toenails?  If not,  what are your  favourite mani-pedi colour pairings?  Leave a comment and let me know!

Hello everyone! In today's post I will tell you everything you need to know about removing a gel manicure at home ! One downside to gel manicures is the removal.  You can’t just use a regular nail polish remover.  It’s also very tempting to pick and peel off the polish once the nail starts to grow out or the gel begins to lift.  DON'T DO IT!  This will essentially damage and weaken your natural nails.  Salons do offer to remove the polish for you but, this would cost you time and money. Fortunately you can remove the gel at home yourself, the same way your nail technician would!   You will need: For the soak-off method - nail file / emery board nail buffer pure acetone 10 cotton balls 10 small pieces of foil an orange stick For the file-off method - 2 nail file / emery board (a course one and a finer one) nail buffer The soak-off method: NOTE: Choose a well lit and ventilated area!   Soak 5 cotton balls in acetone and lay them on