Travelsupermarket.com Beauty & the Beach Competition

I have been made aware of a fab competition that Travelsupermarket.com has just announced and well, I just had to get involved.

The competition encourages entrants to post their favourite holiday looks for hair, makeup or nails.  If you want to get involved too, check out the details by clicking here http://www.travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/beauty-and-the-beach/


I have been asked to create a few holiday-inspired nails this summer and have had great fun playing about with different ideas.

I have become a Shellac and OPI Gelcolor addict and all my nail art is created using the colours from these ranges along with some nifty nail art tools and not forgetting glitter!

Below are a few looks that I have created for some clients and I hope they will make you smile, as I did when I was creating the looks.



Ibiza palm trees - these are hand drawn using Shellac colours, glitter & mica powders

Peace & Love - these were hand drawn using Shellac colours and a couple of nail art
stickers on the 'Love' finger (the peace sign was freehand, I'm quite proud of that one!)

Holiday madness - these were all hand drawn using Shellac colours, glitter and mica powders
(I think i was seeing palm trees and beach balls in my sleep after this one! Great fun!)


If anyone has any comments or ideas for nail art, I would love to hear them.  Post your ideas below in the comments box or on my Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/handsandfeetretreatuk

If you decide to enter the competition as well, then good luck and I look forward to seeing all the creations.

Zoya Natural Nail Polishes

Here's another brand that I have been wanting to try for a while now and if it passed my high standards then I would use it in my Salon.

I tend to scour my favourite blog sites for reviews on polish brands and there was an overwhelming positive opinion of this one.

It's not that well known in the UK really, it tends to be on a number of Organic and natural product retail sites, but not seen so much in salons that I know of. I may be proved wrong.

So, what is so special about the brand.  Here's what zoya.com say about their line:

"Zoya Nail Polish has been awarded as the longest wearing natural nail polish by an independent panel in Women’s Health Magazine. Zoya Nail Polish is a nail polish free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor. Nail Polish by Zoya offers over 300 gorgeous nail polish colors to choose from, plus 4 seasonal collections of nail polish every year. Zoya Nail Polish was specifically formulated to deliver the longest wear possible on natural nails."

The reason Zoya polishes are so popular with natural product enthusiasts is that it leaves out any chemicals which could be harmful and all the ingredients used are vegan friendly and not tested on animals.  Many salon brands now leave out 3 of the 4, but only a few take out camphor too, and not all can say they don't test on animals, or in fact use animal byproducts.  These polishes are great for pregnant women, children and anyone going through intensive medical treatments such as chemotherapy because there is absolutely nothing in them to worry about.

There is a lot of debate as to actually how much the chemicals in polish can affect us as they are in small quantities and in different forms to those that we normal associate with, for example formaldehyde.  This isn't a science lesson so I won't go into this any further.  But if you are concerned about what's in your products then Zoya could be the brand for you.

As mentioned above the range includes a great choice of colours and finishes along with their Colour Lock system which includes a polish remover (Remove+), 2 base coats (Anchor & Get Even Ridge Filler), a top coat (Armor), drops to speed up dry time (Hurry Up) and a solution to revive polishes should they thicken up (Renew).

I have tested the the Colour Lock system as a full manicure treatment and I am very impressed.  The Remove+ is fantastic with a pleasant smell (considering) and very effective at removing both creme and glitter polishes.  The polishes in general are a great consistency to work with and they compliment each other well when used as a system.  The Hurry Up drops do really help the dry time. I can't say how long to touch dry and fully dry as I haven't done that experiment yet.



Colour Lock System (L to R) Renew, Anchor, Remove +, Armor, Hurry Up
(Get Even Ridge filler not shown)

All in all the treatment side of this range is really good and well worth the investment.

Bottle - I love this bottle it is very elegant and nice to hold whilst painting.

Brush - the brush seems short at first sight but works really well being soft and manageable. It covers the nail well.

Consistency - all the colours I have tried have a really great consistency and coverage is good. Those solid colours are highly pigmented and the glimmers, shimmers and glitters are really eye-popping.

Here are the colours I tried.

(Used 1 coat of Anchor base coat, 2 coats of colour (3 coats for Miley & Elodie), no top coat)

Charla - an opaque sea blue/green with gold & silver glitter particles 

Elodie - a semi-sheer cream orange/pink coral

Erin - a sheer ivory with micro silver glitter particles (this photo doesn't really show the glitter, but it is very subtle)

Gigi - a sheer light pink with micro pink glitter

Jana - an opaque creme mauve/brown with a grey undertone

Julieanne - an opaque deep purple with multi-chrome effect and glitter particles

Lola - an opaque matte cream neon pink

Miley - a sheer cream lilac

Petra - an opaque deep aubergine/brown with a grey undertone

Purity - an opaque cream white, great for french tips

Casey - an opaque cream deep blackcurrant

Raven - an opaque cream black with a delicate silver shimmer

Shay - an opaque cream champagne nude with a delicate shimmer

Snowsicle - a sheer ivory shimmer with silver glitter particles

Kym - an opaque burnt orange/red with red/gold glitter particles

Overall - I love this range and it is great to use on myself and on clients.  I will definitely be getting more colours from this range.  The new Smoke & Mirrors Fall/Winter collection is now out and I can't say there is one colour I don't like.  Check it out here. 

Zoya colour polishes retail at £9.98 in the UK and can be either purchased from my salon, Hands & Feet Retreat, or from www.nailcareclub.co.uk  (www.zoya.com for international customers).

Determining your nail type

With all the different products on the market for your nails it can be very confusing to choose the right one for you.  Short of visiting your local nail technician and going through a thorough consultation and nail analysis, how will you know what nail type you have?

Well, it isn't always as simple as saying you are one type and you remain that type forever, of course not.  Nails are like skin & hair and are made up of the same protein; Keratin.  External and internal factors can affect the way they look and feel, they can also change slowly over time with age.  So, you need different products to counteract the negative effects to create healthy, strong and supple/flexible skin, hair and nails.

Most nails fall in to one of the following categories:

Healthy Nails
Recognised by good flexibility, healthy pinkish colour and a light sheen to the nail surface. 

Soft, thin nails
Recognised by peeling layers which are thin to the touch.  It can be caused by a lack of protection against everyday environmental elements such as detergents, gardening and general daily chores which cause stress to the nail. 

Excessively soft and peeling nails
Recognised by extensive peeling across the full length of the nail.  These nails are thin to the touch with a paper-like quality.  This type of nail splits very easily and breaks off as soon as any free edge appears. 

Hard, dehydrated nails
Strong, dehydrated and usually ridged, hard nails snap easily due to a lack of moisture.  These nails tend to break lower down the free edge and often the side wall of the nail.  Many people can suffer with this type of nail when taking medication or going through hormonal changes.  Hard nails need to be treated with conditioners to give flexibility and moisture.  Toe nails usually fall into this type.

Damaged/Sensitive nails (after enhancement use)
These nails will be very dehydrated due to the chemicals that have been used and could be damaged if the nails were not removed properly by a professional.  Sensitivity could occur if the nail has become dry and thin.  These type of nails will initially lack moisture, but will also need protein to strengthen them.

Note - There can be instances where you have some variation in the condition of your nails, so multiple products may be required to treat them effectively.

For the right treatments for your nail type see my post about the Nailtiques range.

Nailtiques treatment range

I want to share with you my secret to amazing healthy, long and strong nails; Nailtiques! 

I have used the products in this range for over 8 years since they were introduced to me by my mother-in-law (Natural Radiance Beauty).  I used to bite my nails and tear at the skin around them, which did not look or feel very nice.  Eventually I stopped my nasty habit, but I was left with weak, peeling and sore nails in desperate need of attention.  I tried everything from high street brands to salon brands, some worked a bit, but I was often left disappointed.  Until I found Nailtiques Formula 2 (and the rest of the range now too!) and I saw a change to the condition of my nails within weeks.

When I trained as a nail technician this was the range I was adamant I needed.  I got the Specialist training that was offered and I haven't looked at another brand since.  My clients now love it too and I haven't had one person come back to me and say it doesn't work.  Home care is essential with this range and sticking to the application guidelines is vital to get the desired long term effect.

Let me take you through the treatment range so you can understand what it is and how to use it.

The main part of the range are the different Protein Formula which have been created for individual nail conditions requiring specific treatment.  Each protein formula offers special ingredients to bond the nail layers together.  The formula build a strong, yet flexible foundation which is resistant to peeling, chipping and splitting.

Formula 1 - a perfect balance of proteins and conditioners to protect and maintain healthy nails, preventing them from becoming hard.  Formula 1 maintains strength and flexibility.
When to use? Best applied just before you go to bed on clean, dry, bare nails.  Formula 1 should be used 3 times a week on its own as a treatment or it can be used as a base and top coat with colour polish. 

Formula 2 - designed for soft, peeling and weak nails.  Formula 2 stimulates rapid growth and strengthens nails.
When to use? Apply daily without colour to clean, dry, bare nails.  Remember to remove weekly with Nailtiques Non-Acetone Remover.  Decrease applications and only apply colour when nails become stronger, finally graduating to Formula 1 for maintenance.

Formula 2 Plus - this formula is for excessively soft and peeling nails that haven't responded to Formula 2 within 4 weeks.
When to use? Apply Formula 2 Plus every day to clean, dry, bare nails.  Remember to remove weekly.  To allow the protein to work to its full potential, do not use colour polish. Once nails begin to improve you can graduate either to Formula 2 to continue to strengthen the nails or you may find you can move straight to Formula 1.  Formula 2 Plus should not be used after artificial removal.

Formula 3 - developed for hard, dry or ridged nails, especially toe nails.  Formula 3 is ideal for post-menopausal nails which can often be dry and brittle.
When to use? Formula 3 can be used on its own, reapplying twice a week, or as a base and top coat with colour polish.

After-artificial Treatment - this is a specially developed 2-part treatment that nourishes and replenishes nails with vital ingredients following artificial nail removal.  It acts quickly to strengthen and rebuild nails back to healthy condition. 

When to use? Apply Formula A every day for 5 days.  Remove layers and continue this cycle until the bottle is empty.  Continue the same process with Formula B.  Use Cuticle & Skin Gel to soften and heal cracked and dry cuticles.


The range also has a number of essential products, which have been specifically designed to work in synergy with the protein formula to encourage healthy natural nail growth.

Oil Therapy - a delicate blend of vitamin-enriched oils.  Oil Therapy is specially formulated to prevent and treat dry cuticles naturally.  This has a pleasant smell and is quickly absorbed into the skin.
When to use? Massage into cuticles as often as required to encourage nail growth.  Also excellent applied over colour polish to aid drying and help prevent smudges.

Cuticle & Skin Gel - Extremely beneficial for dry skin, Cuticle & Skin Gel can be used on all areas of the body.  Especially good for use on dry, cracked cuticles, elbows, calluses or any area that needs hydration.
When to use? Use sparingly anytime on skin which needs moisture.

Nail Moisturiser - a non-greasy, conditioning nail cream, enriched with soluble plant collagen to restore moisture and promote nail flexibility.  Jojoba and aloe nourish and condition the nail.
When to use? Use regularly to promote greater nail strength and flexibility in nails that lack moisture.  Apply a small amount to the nail before filing to prevent dehydration.

Hand Conditioner - combining pure aloe, jojoba oil, glycerin and natural soluble collagen, this deeply nourishing cream is lightweight, non-greasy and fast absorbing.  Formulated to re-hydrate and condition the hands and cuticles it softens the skin, but not the nails.
When to use? Use every day for soft, smooth hands and cuticles.  Great used at night as a treatment with cotton gloves.

Non-Acetone Remover - this remover strips nothing away but the polish.  Gentle and 100% acetone free, it contains aloe vera and conditioners which help to prevent dry, brittle nails and cuticles. This is fast and effective at removing any polish.
When to use? Use to prepare the nail for treatment application or a coat of fresh colour.







Applying the Protein Formula as a treatment (no colour)


Tip for easily removing polish - hold the saturated pad on the nail for about 10 seconds then pull away from the cuticle to remove all traces of the product.

Applying the Protein Formula as a base & top coat (with colour) 
As above perform a mini manicure and ensure that nails are clean, dry and bare before applying the Protein Formula.  Choose the right Formula for your nail condition and apply a thin coat to each nail, avoiding the surrounding skin.   Once you have applied this to all 10 nails you are ready for two thin coats of your favourite nail lacquer, allowing each coat to dry a little before applying the next.  I do recommend using the Nailtiques Colour Lacquers with proteins as this will enhance the effectiveness of the Formula rather than inhibiting it like other polishes can.  To finish, apply another thin layer of your Protein Formula of choice and allow to dry for a few minutes before gently sweeping over Oil Therapy to speed up dry time and nourish cuticles.

Tip for polishing nails - To prevent chipping swipe the brush round the tip of the nail to cap the free edge with each coat of lacquer. 

Caring for your Protein Formula
You should always keep the cap screwed tightly on the bottles to prevent air getting in and thickening the product.  I advise keeping the bottle in its box and in a dry, cool place in your house out of direct sunlight.  A bedside cabinet is always a good place to keep your products so you can use them before bed. 

Before applying the formula DO NOT shake the bottle as this will create air bubbles which can negatively affect application and trap unwanted air in the formula.  Instead turn the bottle over gently once and then roll the bottle between your palms to mix the ingredients. 

If you do find that the formula is starting to get thick, normally towards the end of the bottle, you can use Formula Fix.  A few drops replaces the lost ingredients which can vapourise over time if the cap is left off too long during application, or due to the cap not being on tight.  DO NOT use any other product to thin the Formula as this will negatively affect the performance of the product.

If you find that the cap is getting a little difficult to unscrew you may have a build of product on the neck of the bottle.  Simply saturate a lint free pad with Non-Acetone Remover and clean the neck of the bottle.  This should prevent it from sticking permanently.


Recommendations
To get the best results from this range it is recommended that you seek advice from a Nailtiques Specialist who can analyse your nails and prescribe the best products for your specific needs.  For salons that use and stock Nailtiques in your area you should contact Nailtiques directly if outside the UK, or Graftons International for those within the UK.  For those in the Cheshire and North Wales area you can contact me.

Do read the instructions carefully before using the products and follow the recommended routine for the condition of your nails to get the results you desire.


All Nailtiques products can be purchased from Hands & Feet Retreat - The Salon and will soon be available online at Hands & Feet Retreat - The Shop. Prices start from £4.50 in the UK.

Nailtiques colour lacquers with protein

Finally, one of my wishes has come true; Nailtiques has launched their colour lacquers with proteins *joyous celebration dance*!!!

The collection consists of 16 classic colours from a creamy, sheer white for french tips to the deepest garnet black. All the colours contain the fantastic protein formula that Nailtiques are famous for.  The treatment range is my choice for the salon as I get results every time on me and my clients.  Often I recommend using the clear treatment lacquers as a base and top coat to feed the nail whilst wearing colour sandwiched between it.  However, other colour lacquers tend to inhibit the work of the proteins, which is not ideal.  Now I can recommend the treatment with the use of these new colours and boom you have a quadruple dose of proteins to keep your nails in tip-top condition (don't worry you can't overdo it!).

Formula - this was the most exciting element for me as I was concerned that it would not stand up to some of my favourite lacquers.  But, I was very pleasantly surprised to see they have obviously spent their time getting it right.  It is smooth, well pigmented and glossy. 

Brush - to my relief this has also been updated to be flat and wider than the original.  It's not quite as wide as the OPI brush though, which is good in my book to cater for all nail shapes and sizes. Don't get me wrong the original brush from Nailtiques is fine to use with clear lacquers, but colour not so much. The new one is lovely to work with and ensures an even coverage in about 3 strokes.  2 thin coats of colour are all you need to get a great finish with all these colours.  Remember to use a base and top coat for the best, long-lasting results.

Bottle - square-shaped and it fits nicely in the palm of my hand whilst I'm using it on clients.  The bottle is 10ml in size, so it's smaller than some, but a little goes a long way.  In order to keep the price in the same region as other premium brands with the addition of the proteins, I completely understand their reasoning around the size.  Each bottle is priced at £10.95 in the UK.

So, let me introduce you to the colours...all 16 of them!
[Applied with a base of 1 coat Nailtiques Formula 1, 2 thin colour coats, no top coat]

301 Geneva - a light silver, white more for use on tips, but of course, as I have shown below, it can be used as a block colour, or this would be great for nail art.

302 Vienna - a sheer, creamy off-white for use on the tips for the french manicure look.  I have put one coat of 303 San Tropez over this so you can see the french effect better. I love this as I am not a fan of Tippex white tips, I prefer the more natural look of this one.

303 San Tropez - a cream peachy, pink sheer nude great for french manicure or that healthy look.  This one is great for warm skin tones.

304 St. Croix - a cream sheer pink, again great for french or that healthy nail look.  This is great for cool skin tones.

305 Cairo - a cream terracotta beige which is a good neutral going into this Fall as it has a caramel tone to it, which is going to be hot for the second half of the year.

306 London - this is a dusky, brown pink with a subtle silver shimmer running through it.  This is my mum's favourite go-to kind of colour as it's quite a good neutral without being too brown or too pink. Sophisticated is what I think she would call it.



307 Monte Carlo - a cream rose pink, very lady like!

308 Rio - a cream hot pink.  I love this juicy, bright colour and not just for my toes!  It's summer in a bottle to me.

309 Tahiti - a cream pink/coral.  The following two are fairly similar, but this one is more of a pink tone.  310 is more orange/coral and 311 is more of a red/coral.  This is in fact my favourite of the collection at the moment.

310 Maui - as mentioned above this is a cream orange/coral which is quite bright, you will definitely get noticed in this.  308 to 311 are all what I would class as hot summer colours.

311 Shanghai - a cream red/coral.

312 Moscow - this is a cream, good old fashioned/traditional red.  It does have that blue undertone to it so great for cool skin tones.

313 Vegas - a rich red with gold shimmer running through it.  Very aptly named in my opinion and reminds me of Christmas time.

314 Tokyo - this is a cream deep blue-based red which reminds me of cranberry sauce because it has this almost jam-like look to it.  It is a bit more on the sheer side as you can probably see from the picture, but it does still have good coverage with 2 coats.  It is just a different look and I like it!

315 Milan - a plum/burgundy red with gold shimmer running through it.  This is my kind of Fall colour as it has a bit more drama to it.

And finally the last colour in the collection...

316 Havana - this is a cream red/brown black with a huge amount of gloss to it.  It is not surprising that Nailtiques opted for this kind of colour in the collection as it is a staple in every ones collection for Fall/Winter.

So, there we have it, all 16 brand new Nailtiques Protein Colour lacquers.  They were well worth the wait and the only difficulty I have now is choosing which colour to go for! 

Nailtiques will soon be bringing out a base coat (Base wear with Protein) and top coat (Quick Dry Top Shine) for this range, which will compliment the colour formula.  I'll keep you posted as to when these are available.


The collection is available at Hands & Feet Retreat - The Salon and will soon be available online at my web shop Hands & Feet Retreat - The Shop.  Watch this space!

a-england Polish Review

a-england created by Adina Bodana was launched in January of this year.  I was reading an article about Adina and her new brand in one of my professional publications and was intrigued to read that her dream stemmed from being a little girl who loved to paint her nails with water colours.  This passion for beautiful things led into a fantastic fashion career working with some of the leaders in fashion.   Adina, who originates from Italy made England her home some years ago and her fascination with English history grew from there.  The collection, called The Mythicals, has brought together her two passions; polish and England.

The collection so far consists of 15 colour polishes, a base and top coat.  All the polish names are inspired by English mythology, hence the collection's name.

Of course, I would love to buy all the polishes simply from seeing the pictures on Adina's website and some of those posted by a number of beauty bloggers.  However, I managed, after much deliberation, to narrow it down to 3; a light cream, a dark cream and one with a gorgeous sparkle to it.  I do find the best way to test a brand is to go for a light, dark and a textured polish as you can hopefully see how the polish will perform across the board (in my opinion).

Formula - in 2 words, LOVED IT!  As a nail technician, and fan of quality polishes, I have tried quite a few different brands and I can say that this is a hit with me.  All 3 colours went on beautifully; smooth, great coverage, good level of pigmentation and the gloss finish is amazing (especially on Lancelot).  What I particularly liked about this formula was the kind of self-levelling ability it had making application look flawless in 3 strokes.  The pigmentation was so good in all 3 colours that you could get away with one coat.  However, as I always say, to get the best coverage and longer lasting wear, apply 2 thin coats making sure you use a base and top coat to sandwich it all together.  I didn't get the chance to try the base and topcoat from the range, but if the polishes are anything to go by then I would invest in these to try them out as a full manicure/pedicure treatment.

Bottle & brush - I love the look of these polishes, they are simple and classic.  The 13ml bottle size and square shape sits nicely in the palm of my hand when polishing nails in the salon.  The brush is round and just the right length to get good coverage in 2-3 strokes across the nail.  It fans out nicely in a controlled manner with the bristles staying neat on the nail. I also like the length and width of the cap as it gives me better control. A quality, well thought out, bottle and brush.

OK, so what did I go for. 
[The pictures taken below were all in natural indoor light and the polish was applied in 2 coats of colour with a base coat to start.  I left the top coat off so you could see just how glossy they are.]

Guinevere - a light, dusky lilac with grey undertones (a-england's description - beautiful elegant antique pale mauve the newest neutral shade already a classic).  This is my kind of colour as I am a bit of a purple/lilac/mauve fan.  This is a lovely shade that is indeed very elegant to wear.  The grey undertone gives it that sophisticated look, as lilac and purple can be a bit in your face for some, but not this one.  If I'm honest the picture below still looks a little more towards the lilac than it actually is.  It has more warmth than it truly shows here.  I can see myself wearing this all year round.

Guinevere

Tristam - one word 'WOW'.  A denim blue which is shot through with tiny silver glitter particles enabling this gorgeous look without a rough finish (a-england's description - night blue sky with starlight glimmer and glow).   I saw this on the website and couldn't choose between Lady of the Lake and Tristam, but my fascination with blue polish (although I love purple, which Lady of the lake is with the same sparkle as Tristam) took over and I decided Tristam needed to be mine.  It applies like a dream and 1 coat covers amazingly well.  This will look fantastic on toes, especially when the sun hits the glitter within it.  A must-buy!

Tristam

Lancelot - don't be fooled this is not black.  This is a black, plum/red colour (a-england's description - intriguing mysterious black red garnet).  I can see this being a go-to dark polish for those chic dinner dates and that office-to-party look that so many of us need on a Friday (I say us, I mean you as my young son has a better social life than me!).  The gloss is phenomenal on this one, even without a top coat and as mentioned above, the formula made it a breeze to apply.  I would probably keep this for the Fall/Winter, but it does make me wish away the summer months so I can start wearing this!

Lancelot

Overall - This polish range is going places.  This easily competes with the bigger, more well established brands, if not blows some out the water.  You can tell Adina has put a lot of thought and effort into the formula and colour selections for this collection, which will hopefully see her brand sky rocket.  I look forward to trying some more of the beautiful colours in the coming months, along with the base and top coat (and hopefully adding this to my existing brands in the salon and, maybe with permission, to my up and coming web shop too).  Well done to Adina and all the best for the future!

Product descriptions taken from the a-england website www.a-england.co.uk
Polishes are 13ml and retail at £9.00 each in the UK.


[All reviews are based on my own opinion and trials in my salon in North Wales, UK.  No other third party companies have been involved at any stage.]