...I'm just visiting. Geeze I've been gone for so long I forgot how to compose a post. I recently did a haul and decided to do a wear test on CDN's Vinylux.
Showing posts with label CND. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CND. Show all posts
Friday, September 19, 2014
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Winter is coming
This is a public service announcement. Depending on your area of domicile, you may experience extreme bouts of blustery cold whether. In such cases, exercise extreme caution. Your nails and cuticles are in dire straits without proper protection. Make every effort to moisturize your nails and cuticles 2-3 times a day, everyday, and wear gloves when bearing the elements.
What am I using at the moment?
I caved and bought CND's Solar Oil about a year ago. I always hesitated to make the purchase because of the price. I have SO many moisturizers; do I really *need* one for $16/oz? No, but I finally bit the bullet for curiosities sake. It's nice and light. Many oils tend to be heavy and greasy, but this one absorbs very quickly. Also, I really enjoy the sent and you will too if you like the smell of almonds.
I picked up Nail Tek's Renew oil a couple of years ago and yes I bought a HUGE bottle (4oz). Guess how much I've used? I barely put a dent in it. I like it. It's a good reliable nail and cuticle oil. It is heavier (more greasy) than CND's Solar oil and needs a lot more time to absorb.
**Note to self... stop being so eager, 4oz is a bit much. I might need to start moisturizing more than my cuticles.
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula is still in heavy rotation. I talked about it before in this post and this video.
Cutemol is in even heavier rotation. This has got to be one of my favorite products for winter time. A little will go a long way. Like I've mentioned before in this post, it has a funny smell but does a fantastic job as a moisturizer and skin and cuticle protector. Rough and ragged skin is transformed pretty quickly too. I am always amazed what 2-3 days of consistent use does for my cuticles.
I mentioned this before, but I want to do a thorough break down and review of Cutemol. I will try to work on this post for the future.
Aquaphor too, like Cutemol, is a life saver. Since this ointment is on the heavy side, I use smaller amounts and it behaves nicely.
Clearly I think moisturizing is important. Click here for more relevant posts on the topic.
P.S. I am excited for Game of Thrones to start back up in a few long months!
What am I using at the moment?
 |
| Image Credit |
I caved and bought CND's Solar Oil about a year ago. I always hesitated to make the purchase because of the price. I have SO many moisturizers; do I really *need* one for $16/oz? No, but I finally bit the bullet for curiosities sake. It's nice and light. Many oils tend to be heavy and greasy, but this one absorbs very quickly. Also, I really enjoy the sent and you will too if you like the smell of almonds.
 |
| Image Credit |
I picked up Nail Tek's Renew oil a couple of years ago and yes I bought a HUGE bottle (4oz). Guess how much I've used? I barely put a dent in it. I like it. It's a good reliable nail and cuticle oil. It is heavier (more greasy) than CND's Solar oil and needs a lot more time to absorb.
**Note to self... stop being so eager, 4oz is a bit much. I might need to start moisturizing more than my cuticles.
 | |
| Image Credit |
 | |
| Image Credit |
I mentioned this before, but I want to do a thorough break down and review of Cutemol. I will try to work on this post for the future.
Clearly I think moisturizing is important. Click here for more relevant posts on the topic.
So, remember.... Winter is coming
 |
| Moisturize... I'm watching you. |
P.S. I am excited for Game of Thrones to start back up in a few long months!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Retail Therapy
Down in the dumps? What better therapy is there than buying crap you don't need? I know money can't buy love or happiness ... wait! Or can it? ... only for a second ... umm so I bought hours worth ...
I have lemmings, but hardly ever quench them purposefully.
So when I just happen to find these, my heart did a back flip.
I love you Ross. Not only do I get to dress for less, but you help me find rainbows.
.... and you have Color Club
... lots of Color Club
Color Club - Beyond the Mistletoe
In my depression, I took my nails down real short. I actually really like them.
BACK UPS ... always necessary.
I love going to gently used Walmarts.
I find beauties like Heart Breaker :)
Pure Ice - Heart Breaker over China Glaze - Wagon Trail
I seriously love my nubs.
Blue and Green at the same time!
YOU NEED THIS.
Go find a Walmart in the middle of nowhere.
You know me and sheer whites ....
Essie!
I don't own much Orly ... that has been remedied.
Finally ... these are mine.
China Glaze to the rescue!! Lots of backups and new kids.
ICE ... Exactly like KleanColor.
Okay I am done ... for now.
So when I just happen to find these, my heart did a back flip.
In my depression, I took my nails down real short. I actually really like them.
BACK UPS ... always necessary.
I love going to gently used Walmarts.
I seriously love my nubs.
Go find a Walmart in the middle of nowhere.
Essie!
I don't own much Orly ... that has been remedied.
Finally ... these are mine.
Okay I am done ... for now. You guys are the best. <3
Monday, April 18, 2011
Nail Hardeners - Dimethyl Urea based treatments
Okay enough laughing people, lets get back to business! Today's post is a continuation of the Nail Hardener series. This series is miles long and the other posts are linked below:
Categories of Hardeners and Formaldehyde Based Treatments
Are Formaldehyde Hardeners right for you?
Protein Based Hardeners
Formaldehyde + Protein Based Hardeners
Formaldehyde or Protein Based Hardeners + Moisturizers
Fluoride Based Nail Treatments Part I
Fluoride Based Nail Treatments Part II
Nail Conditioning Treatments and DermaNail Video Review
If you are too lazy to read the other posts (tisk tisk) here is a short summery to make this post make sense.
The goal of healthy strong nails is a balance between nail hardness and flexibility. Hard nails are great, but there is such a thing as over hardening the nail plate. The harder that your nails get the more brittle they become. The nail plate must balance both characteristics, hardness and flexibility, to retain health, stability, and length. We can balance the hardness with nail flexibility by moisturizing and taking a break from nail hardeners intermittently if needed.
Your nail bed is comprised of a protein called keratin. This protein has naturally occurring cross linkages in the filaments which give nails their hardness. However, not enough cross-links and the nail is very flexible and lacks strength. One way to create more cross-links in keratin is with the use of formaldehyde (see links above). However, formaldehyde is not for everyone for several reasons (again see links). A good replacement for formaldehyde based nail hardeners is Dimethyl Urea (DMU) based treatments.
Dimethyl Urea works exactly like formaldehyde in that it creates more cross linkages in the keratin, but has two main advantages:
1. Does not excessively create cross linkages
2. Is not likely to irritate skin
Apparently the cross linkage mechanism is much more controlled and fine tuned and therefore does not excessively harden the nail plate. You do not need to take intermittent breaks like with formaldehyde (but you be the judge of that). Always evaluate and re-evaluate your nail situation periodically.
Products containing Dimethyl Urea (DMU):
1. Creative Nail Design (CND):
Toughen Up
2. Dr. Lewinn's:
Revitanail Apricot Nail Strengthener
Renunail Sensitive Pink Nail Strengthener
I am sure there are smaller brand name companies out there containing Dimethyl Urea as the active ingredient, but I have not come across them easily. Please feel free to comment if you know of another.
Who should use Dimethyl Urea based treatments?
People who want an alternative to formaldehyde. Click here to find out if you would be a good candidate for formaldehyde based treatments, hence DMU based treatments.
And I'm going to leave you with a few words of wisdom ...
... moisturize your nails like it's your job <------another moisturizing post ... with VIDEO :D
Next Up: Nail Conditioning Treatments DermaNail
Categories of Hardeners and Formaldehyde Based Treatments
Are Formaldehyde Hardeners right for you?
Protein Based Hardeners
Formaldehyde + Protein Based Hardeners
Formaldehyde or Protein Based Hardeners + Moisturizers
Fluoride Based Nail Treatments Part I
Fluoride Based Nail Treatments Part II
Nail Conditioning Treatments and DermaNail Video Review
If you are too lazy to read the other posts (tisk tisk) here is a short summery to make this post make sense.
The goal of healthy strong nails is a balance between nail hardness and flexibility. Hard nails are great, but there is such a thing as over hardening the nail plate. The harder that your nails get the more brittle they become. The nail plate must balance both characteristics, hardness and flexibility, to retain health, stability, and length. We can balance the hardness with nail flexibility by moisturizing and taking a break from nail hardeners intermittently if needed.
Your nail bed is comprised of a protein called keratin. This protein has naturally occurring cross linkages in the filaments which give nails their hardness. However, not enough cross-links and the nail is very flexible and lacks strength. One way to create more cross-links in keratin is with the use of formaldehyde (see links above). However, formaldehyde is not for everyone for several reasons (again see links). A good replacement for formaldehyde based nail hardeners is Dimethyl Urea (DMU) based treatments.
Dimethyl Urea works exactly like formaldehyde in that it creates more cross linkages in the keratin, but has two main advantages:
1. Does not excessively create cross linkages
2. Is not likely to irritate skin
Apparently the cross linkage mechanism is much more controlled and fine tuned and therefore does not excessively harden the nail plate. You do not need to take intermittent breaks like with formaldehyde (but you be the judge of that). Always evaluate and re-evaluate your nail situation periodically.
Products containing Dimethyl Urea (DMU):
1. Creative Nail Design (CND):
Toughen Up
2. Dr. Lewinn's:
Revitanail Apricot Nail Strengthener
Renunail Sensitive Pink Nail Strengthener
I am sure there are smaller brand name companies out there containing Dimethyl Urea as the active ingredient, but I have not come across them easily. Please feel free to comment if you know of another.
Who should use Dimethyl Urea based treatments?
People who want an alternative to formaldehyde. Click here to find out if you would be a good candidate for formaldehyde based treatments, hence DMU based treatments.
And I'm going to leave you with a few words of wisdom ...
... moisturize your nails like it's your job <------another moisturizing post ... with VIDEO :D
Next Up: Nail Conditioning Treatments DermaNail
Friday, February 4, 2011
Shellac Problems and Questions
I thought I would publish a conversation with a reader who has been having problems with Shellac. Perhaps this will be of help to everyone :)
If you missed the series on using Shellac to fix a nail break they can be found here:
Part I - Introduction to gel polish
Part II - Application
Part III - Removal
Video
Comment 1:
So after seeing your first post about CND Shellac I went and purchased some for myself. I followed your steps and the CND steps to a t! Loved the results.. AT FIRST. Within a day, it all peeled right off!
Response 1:
hmmm ... First lets try to eliminate a few reasons why this may have happen.
How long did you cure the shellac for?
What UV light did you use?
Were your nails completely dry (and oil free)before application?
After you put on the shellac did you shower immediately after in hot water?
Comment 2:
Well I checked to see what the Wattage was on the CND UV lamp and it was 36W, wouldn't it be the same then!? Plus the polish says only 10 seconds in the UV light. Anyway-- I did different numbers of layers on each nail some 2 some 3 depending on how thin or thick. I let the cure 2 minutes after each coat.
February 2, 2011 9:56 PM
Response 2:
Each gel product needs a specific amount of UV light intensity (output) to cure it in a specific amount of time. Although your UV light is 36W, which is the same as CND, wattage is related to how much power it uses, NOT to how much light it puts out (output). How much light intensity a UV light puts out (output) is related to the number of bulbs, their placement, and any mirror (or reflective elements) part of the lamp.
It seems that since you are not using the CND lamp (even if it is the same wattage) it does not have enough intensity to cure Shellac in the time stated by CND. The gel is not curing properly, even if it seems hard. Since my lamp is crappy and not CND's, I cure mine for way longer than what CND says. Furthermore, I put tin foil all around it to give more reflection.
Since you have product and a UV light, try to Shellac again, but this time cure 4 layers worth for 4 minutes each time. :)
BTW, I have a 6W light and it works the way I described (*4 min cure per coat), proof that wattage is not as relevant as intensity (output). Good luck!
Let me know what happens! <3
If you have any questions or problems let me know! :)
If you missed the series on using Shellac to fix a nail break they can be found here:
Part I - Introduction to gel polish
Part II - Application
Part III - Removal
Video
Comment 1:
So after seeing your first post about CND Shellac I went and purchased some for myself. I followed your steps and the CND steps to a t! Loved the results.. AT FIRST. Within a day, it all peeled right off!
Response 1:
hmmm ... First lets try to eliminate a few reasons why this may have happen.
How long did you cure the shellac for?
What UV light did you use?
Were your nails completely dry (and oil free)before application?
After you put on the shellac did you shower immediately after in hot water?
Comment 2:
Well I checked to see what the Wattage was on the CND UV lamp and it was 36W, wouldn't it be the same then!? Plus the polish says only 10 seconds in the UV light. Anyway-- I did different numbers of layers on each nail some 2 some 3 depending on how thin or thick. I let the cure 2 minutes after each coat.
February 2, 2011 9:56 PM
Response 2:
Each gel product needs a specific amount of UV light intensity (output) to cure it in a specific amount of time. Although your UV light is 36W, which is the same as CND, wattage is related to how much power it uses, NOT to how much light it puts out (output). How much light intensity a UV light puts out (output) is related to the number of bulbs, their placement, and any mirror (or reflective elements) part of the lamp.
It seems that since you are not using the CND lamp (even if it is the same wattage) it does not have enough intensity to cure Shellac in the time stated by CND. The gel is not curing properly, even if it seems hard. Since my lamp is crappy and not CND's, I cure mine for way longer than what CND says. Furthermore, I put tin foil all around it to give more reflection.
Since you have product and a UV light, try to Shellac again, but this time cure 4 layers worth for 4 minutes each time. :)
BTW, I have a 6W light and it works the way I described (*4 min cure per coat), proof that wattage is not as relevant as intensity (output). Good luck!
Let me know what happens! <3
If you have any questions or problems let me know! :)
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Nail Fix - Shellac Removal
Shellac removal is as easy as the foil method ... actually it's exactly the same!
This is Part III of the Shellac Nail fix series. Links for the other parts are at the bottom of the post.
Would you like to see a video of this process?! Click here.
Step1:
Get a cotton pad (or cotton ball or felt) only as big as your nail. This will decrease your exposure to acetone. Soak the pad really well with acetone. Place the pad on top of your nail, making sure it covers the entire nail bed. Place a piece of foil on top of that. It should look like the sandwich pictured to the left.
Step 2:
Start folding the foil around the acetone laced cotton pad that is on top of your finger nail.
Not sure all these pictures are necessary, but what eve's.
Squeeze the foil at the base of the finger to prevent leakage or evaporation of the acetone. Make sure the pad is held taut on the nail.
Step 3:
Sit and wait for X amount of minutes. Most soak off's, including CND Shellac, come off in 5 min, but can be as high as 10 min.
If for example you were very impatient and took your finger out early it may look like this. You can see some of the gel has clearly dissolved, while most of it is still there.
Do NOT pick it off! Just re-foil this baby. Shellac leaves absolutely no damage, unless you decide to pry things off which is a bad idea with any enhancement.
Step 4:
It should look like this. All of the gel will lift off or flake off. You should be able to take a second acetone soaked pad and wipe off the flakes. CND says you can take a orange stick and get rid of the flakes as well, but you shouldn't have to buff or pry anything off.
If you missed the other parts of the Nail Fix Series, here they are:
Part I - Nail Fix
Part II - Nail Fix - Shellac Nail Prep and Application
Part IV - Shellac problems and questions
Video: My face talking to your face. :D
This is Part III of the Shellac Nail fix series. Links for the other parts are at the bottom of the post.
Would you like to see a video of this process?! Click here.
Step1:
Get a cotton pad (or cotton ball or felt) only as big as your nail. This will decrease your exposure to acetone. Soak the pad really well with acetone. Place the pad on top of your nail, making sure it covers the entire nail bed. Place a piece of foil on top of that. It should look like the sandwich pictured to the left.
Step 2:
Start folding the foil around the acetone laced cotton pad that is on top of your finger nail.
Not sure all these pictures are necessary, but what eve's.
Squeeze the foil at the base of the finger to prevent leakage or evaporation of the acetone. Make sure the pad is held taut on the nail.
Step 3:
Sit and wait for X amount of minutes. Most soak off's, including CND Shellac, come off in 5 min, but can be as high as 10 min.
If for example you were very impatient and took your finger out early it may look like this. You can see some of the gel has clearly dissolved, while most of it is still there.
Do NOT pick it off! Just re-foil this baby. Shellac leaves absolutely no damage, unless you decide to pry things off which is a bad idea with any enhancement.
Step 4:
It should look like this. All of the gel will lift off or flake off. You should be able to take a second acetone soaked pad and wipe off the flakes. CND says you can take a orange stick and get rid of the flakes as well, but you shouldn't have to buff or pry anything off.
If you missed the other parts of the Nail Fix Series, here they are:
Part I - Nail Fix
Part II - Nail Fix - Shellac Nail Prep and Application
Part IV - Shellac problems and questions
Video: My face talking to your face. :D
Sunday, January 30, 2011
OPI Bubble Bath
I'm going to take a one post break from the nail fix series to show OPI's Bubble Bath.
I put on a base coat thinking I might want to do a proper "wear test", but we'll see if my attention span doesn't get the best of me.
Base coat: CND Toughen Up
Other hand:
Can you guess which nail has a Shellac fix??
OPI Bubble Bath:
OPI Bubble Bath
2 coats in natural light. This color evens out the nail bed, but basically looks like nothing.
Application was great. It wasn't streaky at all. The polish levels really well as it dries.
2 coats vs. 3 coats
Flash
2 coats
Flash
3 coats
With flash you can start to see the milkyness, but in reality it's still a sheer light pink.
Final Mani:
Base: CND Toughen UP
Color: 3 coats Bubble Bath
Top: Seche Vite
Flash: It's almost reminiscent of a sheer white when flash is involved, but in real light it is not. See next picture for a dose of reality.
Fluorescent light:
This is much closer to reality. Sheer pink with only hints of milkyness. This polish color is like a veil for natural nails. It blurs things and makes it look flawless.
Since I get absolutely NO light in my apartment this is as good as it gets.
* runs to takes Vit. D supplement.
Base coat: CND Toughen Up
Can you guess which nail has a Shellac fix??
OPI Bubble Bath:
2 coats in natural light. This color evens out the nail bed, but basically looks like nothing.
Application was great. It wasn't streaky at all. The polish levels really well as it dries.
2 coats vs. 3 coats
2 coats
3 coats
With flash you can start to see the milkyness, but in reality it's still a sheer light pink.
Final Mani:
Color: 3 coats Bubble Bath
Top: Seche Vite
Flash: It's almost reminiscent of a sheer white when flash is involved, but in real light it is not. See next picture for a dose of reality.
This is much closer to reality. Sheer pink with only hints of milkyness. This polish color is like a veil for natural nails. It blurs things and makes it look flawless.
* runs to takes Vit. D supplement.
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