ella + mila Body & Nail Care

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I have been following ella + mila since I met them at Cosmoprof North America back in 2015, and wow, how they have bloomed! Recently, I got a little care package in the mail with some great colors that I can't wait to show you but what I really needed was their nail and body care that was included!

duri Systems

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 It's hard to believe that I started this blog 4,271 days ago. That's almost 12 years! I do believe I'm one of the longest (semi) active nail blogs left in the United States. One of my favorites from the beginning was duri. I used their Rejuvacote Nail Growth System for years - sometimes as just a base coat, sometimes as the full nail growth system. Much has changed in twelve years and duri has expanded their line quite a bit!

Sally Hansen Nail Cuticle Serum

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It seems trivial now, but I really miss getting my nails done. I used to go every two weeks to a local salon... pedicure, then 2 weeks later for a manicure, 2 weeks later for a pedicure, etc. It was a great way to relax and I just felt better about myself. Once I got married, got a day desk job, had more kids and the salon changed around, it's been harder and harder a biweekly appointment somewhere.

tweexy Wearable Nail Polish Holder

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I swear, that's not an octopus up there. Today I have the tweexy, the original wearable nail polish holder. Wear it on two fingers and be able to polish pretty much anywhere on the go.

The tabs on the side serve a purpose. Instead of trying to jam your fingers through the "ring" holes, you squeeze the tabs to open the finger rings, put your fingers around the rings, and let go of the tabs.

Then put your bottle of polish into the opening and push down to make sure it's in there sturdy.

Now polish!

So the good thing is that you can put this on any fingers - most people will probably decide to use their middle and ring fingers like so.

But for that super unfashionable claw look, you can use your index and middle fingers.

For reference, I'm using a bottle of Milani in "Lady-Like Sheer". The opening appears large enough for just about every type of bottle I own. I do wish the space was a little deeper so the bottle sat down even further, but I didn't have any issues while using it.

I'm keeping Bonbon Pink for myself but let's have a giveaway for the Sapphire Night (shown above) and Spa Green! Open internationally to all those ages 18 and up - ends on 29 February 2016!

tweexy can be purchased through Amazon (affiliate widget is on the right hand side of the screen). Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.



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Red Carpet Manicure Cuticle Balm

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So I'm working on getting my cuticles to be pretty and camera ready and today I have Red Carpet Manicure Cuticle Balm by my side to help me out! This professional salon strength cuticle balm instantly nourishes and conditions rough, ragged cuticles. 

This 15 mL/0.50 fl oz balm is seated inside of a glass jar and contains sunflower seed oil, palm oil, beeswax, jojoba seed oil and many other ingredients that are all about hydrating and nourishing.

Don't be scared by the green - it goes on clear. You may need to stir the pot a little as some of the oils may have settled. Then apply a small amount onto your cuticles until completely absorbed. If desired, use a cuticle pusher to gently push back your cuticles.

Naked nails! You can see some shine... while this is promoted as a non-greasy formula, it is a little oily. I was leaving residue on my desk and keyboard up to 30 minutes after applying. This is probably best used before bed so you don't transfer oils everywhere.

You can purchase Red Carpet Manicure Cuticle Balm at Ulta Beauty, Ulta.com and RedCarpetManicure.com Join the conversation on social media with Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Tree Hut Shea Moisturizing Hand Lotion Coconut Lime

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Are you suffering from dry hands this winter? Our weather has been all over the place - 30s in the morning and then jumping to 70s in the afternoon. All that equals havoc on my hands and nails. Today I'm trying Tree Hut Shea Moisturizing Hand Cream in Coconut Lime.

This hand cream has a list of natural ingredients to help repair the skin, moisturize, promote elasticity, promote anti-aging, reduce sun damage, polish, condition and rejuvenate the skin. Whew. That's a lot coming from a hand cream. But with Certified Organic Shea Butter, Argan Oil, Lime Extract, Coconut Extract, Avocado Oil, Safflower Seed Oil and Chamomile Extact, it's easy to see how they can pack so many claims into a 3 ounce bottle. Did I mention the cost is only $5.99?

Tree Hut Shea Moisturizing Hand Lotion is also paraben free, no DMDM (a preservative), made in the USA AND doesn't test on animals. 

But let's be real, I wonder "Does it smell good?" and "Is it greasy/oily"?

From the above photo of the cream on my hand, you may be worried.

Amazingly, this is definitely a non-greasy, non-oily hand cream while giving a feeling of moisturizing and conditioning. I was able to type within 10 minutes of applying. And the smell? Pure Heaven. Now, I love both coconut and lime, so that helps but it doesn't smell fake or artificial. It's also not so strong that you just smell like sunscreen and a margarita. A+ in my book.

Tree Hut Shea Moisturizing Hand Lotion may be purchased in retail stores found through their website in three scents - Coconut Lime, Moroccan Rose and Tropical Mango. Because of the price point, I'm seriously looking and picking up the other two. And if you check out the retail store locator, you may be surprised - I'm able to find this hand cream at my local Wal-Mart! I didn't realize it was so readily available.

Tree Hut has lines of scrubs, butters, sun protection, lotions, soakd and washes/soaps in a variety of scents. Join the conversation on social media by Liking them on Facebook, Following on Twitter, Following on Pinterest and Following on Instagram.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Weleda Pomegranate Nail Care Pens

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Let's talk cuticles. There are so many different products out there to help soften, cut, clean up and remove your cuticles. There are just as many techniques. No matter how you do it, cuticle care helps keep your hands clean, soft, and healthy. Today I have the newest addition to the Weleda family: Pomegranate Nail Care Pens.

Now, please note that the press samples I received were in the German packaging. The products launching this month here in the USA are written in English.

This is a two part system that can be used alone or in combination with the Weleda Pomegranate Firming Hand Cream. You can also just use the Cuticle Softener Pen or the Nail Care pen independently of each other.

First I have the Weleda Cuticle Softener Pen ($17, 0.1 fl oz). This is a hard wedged shape sponge that is automated soaked with the cuticle softener (you do not "pump" the tip like some softener pens). The pen contains a rich blend of plant oils featuring 98% organic ingredients to help condition and remove cuticles. Apply the pen to your cuticles, allow to absorb briefly and then carefully push your cuticles back using the tip. Again, it's a hard wedge so feel free to apply a bit of pressure. The pen includes 3 replacement tips on the bottom that are covered by a protective see-through cap. Replace as needed.

No doubt about it, my hands are in rough shape. I normally get a professional manicure once a month but with the holidays, my Dad's illness, and work, I just haven't had time. Instead, I'm left to my own devices and so this is my before photo. I don't have incredibly overgrown cuticles but they are definitely there.

I followed the directions and carefully pushed back my cuticles. Can you see a difference? While some of my cuticle is still attached to the nail, it did help - especially on my middle finger which was overgrown.

Next is the Weleda Nail Care Pen ($17, 0.07 fl oz). So this is an easy-to-use brush application with 91% organic ingredients including vitamin-rich plant oils and moisturizing shea butter, as well as chamomile extract and beeswax. 

To use, twist the bottom end of the pen until you see a bead of oil, massage into your hands and cuticles until absorbed.

After application - shiny happy hands! I was surprised that the Nail Care Pen was more of a wax oil than an oily oil. That's good for me because I don't like oily hands. As the hour went by, I noticed that my hand really did look healthier - because I compared it to my Cinderella hand (you know, the hand that does all the work but never gets photographed?) which is still dry, rough, and without nail care.

Now, at $17 each, this is a little pricey for a nail care system but considering how little you have to use at each application, I can see that these pens will last you at least a couple of months if you're applying daily, and then the price point becomes more manageable. I especially feel that these are great to keep at work because it requires little maintenance and dries without being oily.

Weleda products can be purchased on their website. Join the conversation on social media by subscribing to their YouTube, follow their Instagram, like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and follow on Pinterest.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Nail Butter

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Happy Wednesday! Today I have a nail care product to share with you that is my happy answer to another "nail cream" that I do not care for.

Nail Butter is an all natural, zero preservatives, FAMILY SECRET! butter for nails. Yes, really. Founder Christina Cole's grandmother was a dental hygienist who had weak, thin nails and dry cracking cuticles due to frequent hand washing. So Christina's dad Frederick developed a proprietary blend of natural ingredients that both enhances nail growth by stimulating circulation to the nail matrix while also restoring moisture to nail beds and cuticles. 

To use, apply a small amount to each of your nail beds and massage with an upward motion for 30 seconds. Now, for best results, you are to apply Nail Butter twice a day for 30 days, and then once a day after that. I currently don't have a set schedule of when I apply but it would be good to get on board with this.

Not only is this all natural, but it's also made in the USA - homemade on the Cole farm in Athens, Georgia! It's also cruelty free, is NOT tested on animals, paraben free, sulfate free, phthalate free, free of artificial dyes and you can even recycle the packaging.

Nail Butter comes in a frosted glass pot, naturally scented with either Gardenia, Lemongrass or Lemon + Gardenia. 

I received the Lemongrass scent. Now, there's a certain "flutter" out there that comes in a black pot that nail bloggers have RAVED about for years. I was really excited to try that stuff but MAN to me, it smells like old bandaids inside of a garage. I can't get behind it. Nail Butter, on the other hand, isn't nearly as offensive to me with their lemongrass scent. Good news for those of you super sensitive to any fragrances... they are working on a fragrance free version. Their alternative right now is to stir your pot, leave it open for a few hours and the scent should start to dissipate. 

This is an older photos (hence the long nails) taken 5 minutes after applying Nail Butter. You can see that my hands are slightly shiny but not overly oiled. After about 15 minutes, I feel safe to type on my keyboard again and do not leave any residue behind. This is more of an "at home" product for me, particularly when I'm headed to bed.

Nail Butter is available on their website for $24.00 with free shipping located in the USA but international shipping is available as well for a cost. You can also check their Retailers tab on their website to see where else you can purchase both in the USA and Internationally.

Keep up with Nail Butter on social media: Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Follow on Instagram and Follow on Pinterest.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

(seed) Healthy Hand Cream: Relaxing Lavender

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Many moons ago, I wrote about a brand called (seed) on the blog Beauty Debutante. Unfortunately the post isn't available anymore but I was reminiscent about it on Twitter last year & the brand reached out to me to see if I'd like to try their Hand Cream. Then life got ridiculously busy and it's been sitting here on my desk saying "USE ME". Finally, tonight after noticing how dry my hands have become, I decided to grab the bottle and USE IT.

First off, (seed) was launched in 2009 by Rebecca and Benjamin Gournay because they wanted to focus on making healthier choices. I originally tried out their soap & body lotions and overall I was happy with it. (Be nice, this photo is 5 and a half years old.)

The Citrus lotion was a great wake up lotion each morning and the Lavender Sage was great for when I was ready to wind down in bed. The soap was a neat addition to my routine, although I'll admit, I didn't use it until it was gone. I'm more of a body wash person.

Body wash you say? (seed) launched their own body wash in 2015 along with new lip oils and custom blend body care. Want to see more? Check out their website!

Back to the Hand Cream! So (seed) says that it's rich and creamy without any greasy after-feel. This was pretty important to me because I type a LOT at work, and I can't have an oily keyboard. Also I hate the greasy feel that happens with many lotions.

So far so good! Then came to rub in and test. I was excited to feel that my hands felt moisturized without feeling greasy. I even put more on my hands just to make sure I had put enough.

(seed) is paraben free, cruelty free, soy free, phthalate free, gluten free and does not contain any artifical colors. As you can see on the front of the bottle, it's grape seed enriched as well. The lavender was just the right amount of flowery goodness scent and I found myself sniffing my hands (as strange as I'm sure that looks) because it truly is relaxing.

And the cost? Only $8.95 for a 3.5 fl oz (100 mL) bottle. When you only need about a dime for both hands, this lotion is going to last you a good while for great quality.

Now what's better than reading my review? WINNING A BOTTLE FOR YOURSELF! And thanks to (seed), I have a bottle of the Healthy Hand Cream: Fragrance Free and a bottle of the Healthy Hand Cream: Invigorating Citrus to giveaway. The giveaway runs today until midnight of 20 January 2016. Open worldwide to those 18 and older. All terms and conditions may be found in the Rafflecopter widget - please wait for the widget to load fully.


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(seed) can purchased on their website. You can Like them on Facebook, follow on Twitter, follow on Instagram and follow on Pinterest as well.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Bella il Fiore Mani & More Accessory Kit & Giveaway!

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Have you heard of Bella il Fiore yet? This company was brand new to me, but it really caught my eye with their Mani & More Accessory Kits. Bella's manicure accessory kits contain all the essentials for maintaining beautiful, well groomed nails at home or on the go. The snap case is perfect for dropping in my purse and I don't have to worry about it accidentally opening.

As shown above, each kit contains a cuticle pusher, tweezers, nail file, cuticle snippers, scissors and nail clippers. 

Inside the lavender case that I received, you can see the pretty purple paisley pattern inside. I was excited to add this to my purse because my last mani-case is really worn down and comes apart (it was a free one). The tools are sharp but not so sharp you're going to hurt yourself. It's also really nice to have the added tweezers!

And now, let's give away the silver case seen above! Check out the pattern from the inside:

It's a lovely mint paisley! Giveaway starts today and lasts for one week (ending at midnight April 29th.) Open internationally to those 18+! Please allow the Rafflecopter widget to load in full.

Bella il Fiore Mani & More Accessory Kits are available for $19 each on their website. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+.


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Oil Essentials: Lavender & Rose Hip

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It's been awhile since I did any type of posting on my nail care routines but this new product from Oil Essentials provided a great chance to introduce you to another way to keep your hands soft and protected! Cuticle oils have been the rage for awhile now, and I was finding myself buying more and more of them but not always using them. Either I wasn't a big fan of the smell or how they applied or how they soaked into the skin.

Oil Essentials is a collection of beauty oils that is made with natural and sustainable blends of essential oils and fortified with an advancing anti-aging Luxmeadow E Complex along with powerful yet gentle extracts. They are free from parabens, sulfatez, phthalates and synthetic colors and are safe for most people with sensitive skin.

There are currently 6 different oils out there - Seabuckthorn Berry and Borage, Omega 3/6/9 and Evening Primrose, Neroli and Avocado, Argan and Wheat Germ, Sweet Almond and Macadamia and the product I am using, Lavender and Rose Hip. Each oil helps your skin and hair in different ways.

The Lavender and Rose Hip oil is a soothing blend of lavender and rose hip oils, with the added nourishing effects of coconut, sunflower and meadowfoam seed oils.

As you can see, the bottle comes with a long eyedropper top or you can just use the oil that collects along the tube of the dropper. On top of being used for my cuticles, you can also add a drop of the oil to your favorite skin or hair-care products but I haven't gone to those lengths yet.

I took one drop of the oil and spread it on all my fingers and gently rubbed the oil into my skin. This photo was taken about 5 minutes after the oil was applied and as you can see, my hands are still super moisturized. I have absolutely nothing on my naked nails - not even base coat (and it's RARE that I don't have base coat on - this was after a swatching session). You can see that my hands appear healthy, and very moisturized. About 30 minutes after applying, the oil was completely soaked into my skin. Before that point, anything I touched left an oily residue (like my camera) so be aware of that when applying.

I have been using this oil weekly now and I'm happy to say my cuticles are pretty happy with me. The scent is very pleasing to me being a mix of lavender and rose (my two favorites) but isn't so overpowering that I get a headache. Also, you can see that this bottle is large - 50 mL. In comparison, a bottle of China Glaze is only 14 mL.

The best part for me is the price and the location to buy. Oil Essentials launched this spring in Rite Aid, Target, H-E-B and Walmart. While I don't have a Rite Aid nearby and the nearest Target is an hour away, I live within minutes from H-E-B and Walmart so I can easily go pick up another bottle when I run out, and I plan to. Then there's the price... Each bottle of Oil Essentials is only $12.99. YAY. Considering I only used one drop per oiling session, it may be awhile before I run out, but it's so great to know that it's nearby and affordable.

Oil Essentials [website] is available for $12,99 at Rite Aid, Target, H-E-B and Walmart. Join the conversation with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Soap & Paper Factory Shea Butter Hand Cream

Did the hard winter wreck havoc on your hands? It definitely did for me and so I've been looking at all kinds of new products to help take my hands back to their soft self.

Soap & Paper Factory Shea Butter Hand Cream in Bouquet ($18, 2.3 oz.) is a beautifully scented hand cream, loaded with the finest oils available in nature. Carefully selected, these oils will sooth and protect, leaving your skin feeling silky and bursting with vitality. Soap & Paper Factory’s Hand Creams are free of parabens, phthalates, and petroleum.

Available at http://www.soapandpaperfactory.com/

What are you using to soften your hands? Share with me in the comments!

The Original Pedi-Sox

Image Courtesy of Original Pedi-Sox Facebook Page

When I received an email asking me if I'd like to try the Original Pedi-Sox, I was all over it.  I've heard of Pedi-Sox, but I had never seen them in person... although the idea was genius!  I hate having cold feet in the winter but getting a pedicure and wearing shoes is pretty difficult unless you are getting a Shellac pedicure, so it was always the same... hop out the door and try to jump in the car before freezing in flip flops.

Not only can you wear Pedi-Sox for your pedicure appointment, but you can DIY it at home as well - slip on your favorite body lotion and put on your Pedi-Sox to keep your heels moisturized through the night.

So I received 3 pairs and was eager to go test it out.

I had two small issues.

The first was I didn't know how to put them on!  I looked at it three times before finally thinking "I got this."  However, you can see that I definitely didn't have it and was actually wearing the Pedi-Sox upside down.  The brand name is supposed to be up at your ankles, not down at your toes.

Secondly, these are "one size fits most" type of deals and as you can see on my left foot - I'm busting out.  I have psoriatic arthritis and it affects different parts of my body.  The one that is affected the most is my left ankle.  It swells up with fluid and gets cranky - and this was no exception.  You can see how much thicker it is to my right ankle.  Because of this, it was hard to get the Pedi-Sox on (and frankly, I question if me putting them on upside down didn't help any).  However, I will totally wear them again because I think it's just too cute.  They have all kinds of designs now - solids, stripes, even ones that resemble Mary Jane shoes.

The Original Pedi-Sox [Website | Facebook | Twitter] can be found on their website or through distributors (also on their website).  They offer both retail and wholesale sales and they are taking on new distributors as well.  Each pair is $9, are machine washable and are a acrylic and nylon blend.
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Poshe Nails Fast Drying Base Coat Update

Update from my last Poshe post!  I've been using Poshe fast drying base coat under all my manicures and on my bare nails since 18 February.  Today is now 18 March and not only did my nails grow nice and long but my manicurist told me that they felt stronger than she's ever felt - and I've been going to her around once every 6 weeks for over a year now!  While I loved Rejuvacoat by Duri, they didn't make my nails as strong as Poshe has!  So, here are my nails on 1 March - right before I had a manicure done.

Looking lookie!  I'm pretty darn pleased with myself.  And with Poshe!

In my press release post of Poshe products, I had some ladies share that where Seche Vite has failed them, Poshe has redeemed itself.  You can see their website as to where to purchase their products in the US (my local Sally's has them!).  I've seen the price range from $5.50 to $7 for their base coat.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Lady Bug Nail Polish Holder

Have you heard about the Lady Bug Nail Polish Holder yet?  It's a high-strength, durable plastic half-circle holder that has rubber grips on the bottom to angle the holder so you can keep your hands free when polishing.

Now, I normally don't need to worry about holding my nail polish until I get to about half a bottle.  Then I'm constantly having to tilt the bottle to get to the awesome nectar inside.  


Here is the top of the holder:

You can see there is a foam insert that is diamond shaped.  This helps you fit a variety of nail polish bottles with relative ease.

It holds smaller bottles like CND without any issue.

Square bottles like Dr.'s REMEDY work well too.

The only bottle in my stash that didn't fit was deborah lippmann.  The large square was just too wide for the pre-cut foam, and while I could somewhat wedge it in there, I was worried about tearing the foam.

Here's an "action shot" of my CND Air Dry properly tiled in the bottom.


The one feature that I wish this had was some kind of weight to help keep the holder in place.  While the rubber grips keep it tilted, more than once, I accidentally knocked the holder from the slanted position (above) to the middle rubber grip, so that the nail polish bottle was standing upright.  It didn't topple over or anything.


Currently, I'm holding nail art sticks in my holder as I'm working on a super secret project, and I have been using it when doing a full manicure and need to get to the last 2/3rds of my bottle.


You can purchase the Lady Bug Nail Polish Holder at Amazon for $7.95.  They are looking to be more widely available in the coming year - so ask your favorite salon about it!  ;]  You can follow Lady Bug Nail Polish Holder on Twitter.


Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Poshe AHA Cuticle Care

Continuing with the Poshe line, I decided to test out their AHA Cuticle Care - a unique blend of Alpha Hydroxy Acids and botanicals are specially formulated to exfoliate and hydrate problem cuticles. It can also be used on elbows, feet and other dry areas. Great for preventing hangnails while promoting healthy nail growth.


A squeeze tube with a precision tip.

Be careful, one little squeeze goes a LONG way.

Then just rub it into your finger and enjoy the softness!

Before polishing your nails again, make sure to wipe your nail with nail polish remover to clean any oils or lotion off the nail plate.  I prefer using Zoya Remove+.


Typically, I apply cuticle lotion, balm, or oil at least once a week but I really should be doing it every day especially in the dry heat.  I used to get terrible cuticles but with proper maintenance and care, you can help avoid them!


You can see their website as to where to purchase their products in the US (my local Sally's has them!).  I've seen the price range from $5.50 to $7 for their cuticle cream.


Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.