Nail it! The Best Top and Base Coats

Unless you’ve coated your nails with acrylic or gel-based formulations, your manicure will eventually chip. But that doesn’t mean it should only last a day or two. With the right top and base coat, (and proper maintenance) your mani can still look good after a week!

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Many manicurist have proclaimed this to be the fastest-drying, longest-lasting product in their kit—and they’re not lying. With a staying power of five to seven days, the only way your polish is coming off is if you remove it yourself. The only downside? It smells a little like house paint.

Deborah Lippmann Ridge Filler Base Coat

Got ridges? Uneven Nails? Want your polish to stick? This beige-colored base coat fills in the ridges on your nail bed like spackle, so you have a smooth canvas to work with.

OPI ChipSkip

Ensure your polish doesn’t go anywhere with this unique product, which provides a sticky base for any lacquer to cling to. The clear formula may seem light as air, but when your color lasts a whole week without chipping, you’ll fall in love too!

Maintenance Tips:

1. Never EVER wash the dishes without gloves. Harsh detergents will chip and wreck your nails. Same goes for any household cleaning detergents.
2. Apply cuticle oil every day or evening. That’s right, on top of your polish! The oils will keep your tips hydrated and stop polishing from flaking off. Massage a drop or two into your cuticles and over your nail bed.
3. If—gasp—you do get a chip, simply paint over it with the same color polish. You’ll get a few extra days of wear without swapping in a brand new shade.

From Bronze to Burn: How to Deal With Sun-Damaged Skin

What happens if you do get a little too sun-kissed at the beach or pool? Luckily, there are just as many skin soothers available as sunscreens, and plenty of DIY tricks you can do at home to relieve some of the pain.
First things first: Moisturize and hydrate! You’ve literally baked your skin dry, and you need to replenish the moisture. We love Korres Yogurt Instant Soothing Gel, made from real edible yogurt, aloe vera, and willowherb and oat extracts—all of which help soothe skin immediately and remove most of the redness overnight. Another tip for salvaging tomato-red complexions? Break open a vitamin E capsule and smooth the oil all over your face before bedtime. You’ll wake up with new skin!
The next step? Relieve some of the ouch! Save for rubbing an ice cube over the affected areas, slather on Jason’s new Purifying Tea Tree First Aid Soothing Gel. Tea tree is combined with aloe vera and calendula (a known natural soother), providing long-lasting relief to tender skin.
And if you get burned on a coastal road trip? Pack some Atopalm’s Moisturizing Cleansing Wipes. These easy-to-tote wipes contain vitamin E and olive, grape, and jojoba oils for deep hydration and moisture.
Consider sunburn sorted!

Oily Skin Myths Solved!

There are many myths surrounding oily skin. Stop moisturizing, only use oil-free products, always use a toner, carry around blotting papers—the list goes on! And while most imagine that they have oily skin, quite often it’s not actually the case. The first question you should ask yourself: Do you really have oily skin, or just a little shine in the summer time? “You can label your skin ‘oily’ if it becomes an oil-slick within an hour of washing your face,” says Washington D.C.-based dermatologist Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D. “Otherwise, it’s more than likely you have combination skin.”

MYTH NO. 1: Don’t moisturize oily skin.

Many people with slightly oily skin think that they need to dry it out, and forego any extra moisture. This isn’t the case. By using a harsh cleanser and not applying moisturizer, your skin will start to produce more oil, perpetuating and even worsening the vicious cycle of sebum production. “Stay away from heavy moisturizers that contain shea butter and petrolatum,” says Dr. Tanzi. “They can cause excess sebum production on oily skin types.”

MYTH NO. 2: Only use oil-free products.

It is purely a myth that girls with oily skin should use oil-free products. Although they may say oil-free on the label, most of the ingredients will contain some sort of oil. “Look for shine control products to combat oil instead, such as blotting papers or skin primers,” explains Dr. Tanzi. “They don’t have to say oil-free specifically.”

MYTH NO. 3: You must use a toner or astringent to balance skin.

All skin types can follow their cleanser with a toner or astringent, but it’s not a must-do for oily complexions. If you enjoy the tightening benefits of a toner, “look for a formula that contains glycolic acid to cut through the grease—and only use it on your T-zone,” advises Dr. Tanzi.

Oily Skin Tips

• “If you truly have oily skin, use a cleanser that contains salicylic acid,” suggests Dr. Tanzi. It will help minimize excess oil production.
• Most combination skin experiences some shine, especially in the summertime! “Summer humidity triggers oil production like crazy,” exclaims Dr. Tanzi. Carry blotting papers to minimize shine throughout the day.
• Always, always, always moisturize! By moisturizing daily, you will regulate your oil production so it doesn’t overproduce sebum. Try different moisturizers to see which formula your skin prefers, but don’t skimp!

A Stroke Further: Shiseido Showcases Graphic History in Paris

What a weekend to jet-set to France. If the resort runways weren't enough to make you drool, how about an exhibit dedicated to vintage makeup ads?
Le Palais de Tokyo, the Parisian center for contemporary Japanese art, recently celebrated Shiseido's 140-year anniversary with a two-day pop-up show, displaying some of its finest advertisements. Entitled "Un Trait Plus Loin," the exhibition loosely translates to "a line or streak further," and presented the Japanese beauty brand’s century-and-a-half graphic design evolution.
Suspended from lanterns, the vast collection of prints gave viewers a glimpse into Shiseido’s visual history, pulling from over a century's-worth of graphic references. From sinuous, Aubrey Beardsley-esque strokes of Art Nouveau to classic Ginza florals, the Shiseido woman has always been modern, intercontinental, and feminine in print. And who could forget their signature crimson packaging? Serge Lutens' anniversary-edition bottle of Eudermine, the iconic softening lotion originally introduced in 1897, was also on display. Although it was fleeting, the exhibit provided fascinating artistic insights into a brand with an incredibly complex, prevailing history. Browse through some of the pieces below.

The Prettiest Pastels for Tanned Toes

While we still love a bright, tutti-frutti pedicure during summer, pastel polishes can actually make you look more tan! A vivid coral or neon pink will certainly make a statement, but a flamingo pink or baby blue creates the illusion of tanner skin on paler complexions. Same goes for your bikini. Opt for a lemon yellow rather than a chartreuse, and those limbs will look like they’ve spent a few summers in St. Tropez. Try out some of favorite summer pastels below for your next pedicure.

NARS Lacquer in Trouville

Quite possibly the prettiest pink we’ve applied in a long time, the opaque formula is a soft salmon hue, great for all complexions.

YSL La Lacque in Beige Leger

This beige/cement hybrid may seem boring in the bottle, but the neutral tone gives your skin a moment to shine. Plus, how can you resist that gorgeous packaging?

Essie Nail Polish in Bikini So Teeny

Mimic the sky with this baby blue shade! Blue and orange are color-wheel complements, so a blue hue amps up any tan/red tones in the skin. We imagine wearing it with caramel-colored sandals and a fuschia pink bikini!

RGB Nail Polish in Vellum

Imagine yourself in a field of buttercups. That’s how you’ll feel every time you look down at your tootsies with this hue. Formulated with a slight olive undertone, this muted varnish suits golden/olive skin tones best.

Scrub a Dub

Finding more pimples, blackheads, and skin perfections than usual? Sweat, pollution, and even days at the beach can wreck havoc on your skin, which means it’s time to exfoliation.

nails done

Love doing my nails.