Nails

Twinkle Tips

Written on December 15, 2010 at 7:51 am , by April Franzino

The holiday season puts us in the mood for a little glitter—and the new batch of festive, glitter-flecked polishes are the perfect way to put a little sparkle in our step. Our picks for tips and toes, from left:

• OPI Nail Lacquer in Sparkle-icious, a mix of fine fuchsia, blue and gold glitter
• Deborah Lippmann Nail Color in Boom Boom Pow, a super-glitzy gold made with real 24k gold dust
• Mattese Elite Nail Polish in Nutty Hat Guy, a mingling of silver, red and green sparkles

We promise, just glancing at your spangled fingers will make you smile! Will you try a festive glitter polish?

Favorite Find Friday: CND SolarSpeed Spray

Written on September 17, 2010 at 10:06 am , by April Franzino

We give ourselves an at-home pedicure once a week, and would be lost without CND SolarSpeed Spray. A spritz or two over our just-painted toes gives them shine and helps them dry fast. We even do another once-over before putting on shoes to be safe, and re-spritz throughout the week to add shine if the lacquer’s looking dull. Plus, like the original CND SolarOil, the formula contains (and smells of) nourishing sweet almond oil. Do you do your manicure/pedicure at home? If so, how do you speed up drying time?

Miracle Manicure

Written on September 10, 2010 at 9:37 am , by Fitness Magazine

This past summer, after what seemed to be endless trips to the nail salon, my manicurist pleaded for me to give a gel manicure a try. She guaranteed it would last two weeks, with no chips or scratches. I reluctantly agreed, and could not be more satisfied with my decision. After two weeks, my gel manicure was not only chip-free, but shiny as well. Although pricier than traditional manicures ($20 at my salon), the long-lasting results pay for themselves! It is recommended to have the gels soaked off by a nail professional during your next visit to the salon.

OPI Axxium is the most popular gel brand used in salons, and offers over 30 shade options. Just be sure to choose wisely; you’re going to be wearing the color for a while!

Have you tried a gel manicure? If so, what did you think of it?

-Nina Ramadan, beauty intern

Putty Goes Pretty

Written on August 25, 2010 at 12:13 pm , by April Franzino

Step aside, pale pink: There’s a new neutral nail hue for fall—putty. These mushroom-esque mixes of gray and beige are perfect for active lifestyles; the colors are easy to paint on and the errant post-workout chip won’t be obvious. “Putty shades are fabulous on both hands and feet,” says Essie Weingarten, President and CEO of Essie Cosmetics, Ltd. “They’re universally flattering, so any skin tone can wear them, but they look best on shorter, well-manicured nails.” Our putty polish picks: Deborah Lippmann Nail Color in Waking Up In Vegas ($16; below left), and Essie Nail Polish in Chinchilly ($8; below right). What new polish hue will you treat yourself to this fall?

Fresh Off the Runway: Hot New Nail Trends

Written on June 16, 2010 at 2:39 pm , by Fitness Magazine

With the spotlight on designer duds and over-the-top hair, it’s easy to miss a model’s manicure on the runway. But look a little closer and you’ll see the hottest trends, hands down. Eleanor, FITNESS’ beauty director, went backstage at Spring Fashion Week 2010 to get the scoop on this season’s most popular looks from Roxanne Valinoti, nail artist for CND.