Spring is Coming!!

Don't get me wrong, I love winter. I love sweaters and scarves and boots... but the sheer amount of snow and ice that the MoArk area got the past couple of weeks just really got me down. Probably because I was trapped inside my apartment for most of it, but that's besides the point. I missed sunshine and moderate temperatures, so this weekend and this upcoming week will definitely be enjoyable.

360- "Mellow Yellow"

I got so excited about the weather that I went and got a bright new polish color.  Yellow.  (Too bad yellow is NOT my color, but I don't care. Spring is coming!)  Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear #360 "Mellow Yellow" truly looks like sunshine in a bottle.  It's so vivid and everything a yellow ought to be.

One coat. Super thin!

Four coats later...

The only downside I could see to this polish is how thin it is.  One coat definitely does not do the job well.  In fact, I used four.  Other than that small issue, I love this color.

Random question... How do people decide what shape to make their nails and HOW DO THEY DO IT SO PERFECTLY?! The struggles of an uncoordinated person with oddly shaped nails.  Nail beds are still wonky. #Girlprobs, I guess.

P.S. Now that I look at the pictures, the yellow doesn't look all that bad with my skin tone... Hmm...

Let's Talk Cuticles

Let's be real here.  I, Megan, have never touched my cuticles.

Ok. I tried a cuticle trimmer when I was like seven-ish and it hurt really bad and I bled (because I didn't know what I was doing obviously, I was seven!).  I was then promptly traumatized and never touched them again.  And I think my nails have suffered for it.

I have super short nail beds, and the edges of them are not curved.  They're straight across.  My nails always peel, and they're almost always brittle.  I thought to myself, "There must be a way to change the shape of my nail bed."  That's how I came across this.

I wanted to shout from the sky.  I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH BAD NAIL BEDS!  Kristina has some really great tips that I am now adopting into my nail care routines, like the nail brush and buffing down (gently) any flakes.  Definitely going to be doing those.

But there was one thing I balked at.  Cuticle care.  Flash backs to that trimmer episode abound.  I followed a link on her blog to a basic manicure video, where she does a prep routine.  I'll link it here.  She mentions a cuticle remover and cuticle oil.  The oil was way too expensive for this broke college kid at the moment, but I bought a cuticle oil in the same brand as the remover.

I tried it out this afternoon and I'll give you my first impression. It tingled, which now that I think about it is understandable as it is eating away at your cuticle.  I followed Kristina's steps and I really enjoy the ease I had at reshaping my cuticles.  It was gentle and I actually used a cuticle trimmer again and didn't hurt myself, which I would say is a win!  

Top (before) Bottom (after)

Already they look better (to me at least).  I followed this up with Sally Hansen's "Hard as Nails" base coat and two coats of  Ulta Professionals' "Island Hopper".  I think I see an improvement in the manicure already with my taken care of cuticles.  Tonight before bed, I'm going to use the cuticle oil (as per directions).  I'll definitely do a catch up post if I notice any nail changes.

Ulta Professionals "Island Hopper" in a little baby bottle. So cute.

Do you take care of your cuticles? Send me tips below!-  Megan