Starting Over: How to Reboot Your Nails for 2016

we’re about two month into 2016, so it’s safe to say, at this point, your New Year’s resolutions have been dumped and kicked to the curb. We get it and we’re right there with you. The thing is, resolutions should be realistic, otherwise you’re just setting yourself up for failure. So instead of pledging to stop drinking coffee or quitting sweets cold turkey, try something a little more doable and easy to implement. To help you, we’ve been rolling out a series of ways to reboot your beauty routine this year, covering makeup, hair and skin care. We’re rounding up this resolution-friendly initiative with another hot beauty topic: nails. Check out how to give your nails a much-needed refresh this year!

Go Matchy-Matchy With Your Nails & Lips

According to celebrity nail artist Kait Mosh lips and nails are this year’s hottest beauty couple. Twin it up by matching the two to a T. Rocking a classic red mani? Swipe on a classic red lip while you’re at it. If your nails are a subtle shade of nude, go for an equally neutral lip. Trust us, it’s a THING.

Try a Nail Strengthening Treatment as a Base Coat

Healthy, happy nails are always on trend, so Mosh suggests doing your part by making their well being a priority. Invest in a quality nail strengthening treatment (we love essie Millionails) and make it the first step in your regular manicure routine. You’ll reap the benefits as your nails get longer, stronger and prettier in no time!

Keep a Cuticle Moisturizer in Your Purse

Dry cuticles are the root of all nail evils. Seriously, this is not an exaggeration. Parched cuticles can make your hands look ragged, cracked and straight up not cute. Keep your mani pristine by keeping your cuticles in check with regular doses of moisture. Mosh suggests stashing a cuticle oil or salve in your purse so that you can apply it regularly. Only you can prevent dry cuticles!

Try a Negative-Space Mani

While we love a good floral or French mani, playing with different shapes and textures is our current nail obsession. Have a little fun with nail art by trying the negative space mani trend! 

Rock a Nail Color You’ve NEVER Tried Before

Ditch your signature shade for a bit and take a walk on the wild side. Pick up a color that you’ve normally avoided in the past and give it a whirl. Taking risks can be adventurous and exploring new nail avenues is ALWAYS a good thing. So drop that mauve nail polish and pick up something fresh and new

Everything You Need To Know About Eyebrow Threading

Call it the Cara Delevingne effect, but the quest for well-groomed brows has never been more in-demand. While properly groomed brows can frame your face and balance your features, maintaining their ideal shape doesn’t come easy, which is where finding the technique that will give you’re your best brows comes in.
Threading is an ancient Indian technique that removes unwanted hair by twisting a cotton thread. It’s quickly becoming a go-to method for brow grooming because it allows for a more controlled and precise removal of hair from the brow area than waxing. Another bonus? It also lasts longer because the hair is pulled from the root for a clean finish.
Ready to give threading a try? Here is what you need to know about eyebrow threading.

Visit The Right Salon
When you’re deciding where to get your first threading, Feroz suggests that the easiest way to pick a salon is to choose one that has been recommended to you, or with a majority of positive reviews because reputable salons have stringent training programs in place. She also stresses the importance of having a thorough consultation with the technician that will work on your brows to ensure you get your desired look.

Communicate With The Brow Artist
Neither you nor your technician can read minds, so discussing exactly how you want your brows to look is essential before the technician picks up the thread. “Therapists will sit you down for a thorough consultation in front of a mirror before every appointment. This gives you time to discuss shape, thickness and color in detail to ensure you get the look you want. Photos of your brow idols can sometimes help too, so don’t be afraid to bring those a long!

It’s A Gentle Way To Groom Brows
Threading is gentler than its waxing and tweezing counterparts. If you have sensitive skin, it may be the best method of keeping your brows in tip-top shape. “Threading is absolutely the best option for those with sensitive skin. Threading is the least invasive method of hair removal and unlike waxing, threading does not remove a layer of skin and doesn’t contain any chemicals like depilatory cream, leaving the skin clean and smooth.


Do Prepare To Feel Some Pain
While threading is a mild form of hair removal compared to other methods, you should still be prepared to feel some discomfort. “We all have different pain thresholds and skin sensitivity," Feroz says. "Some people find threading a bit uncomfortable but generally speaking it isn’t a painful experience. The clean, smooth finish is worth the mild discomfort!”

Exfoliate Pre-Appointment
To eliminate the chance of painful and unsightly ingrown hairs post-threading, Feroz suggests exfoliating your brow area before arriving to your appointment. “If you’re prone to in-growing hairs around the brow area, you should exfoliate the area beforehand to enable easy removal.

Avoid Covering Post-Appointment Redness With Makeup
Some redness around the brow area is inevitable following threading. As tempting as it may be to pull out the concealer and other makeup products, doing so may actually further irritate skin. "We would never advise covering with concealer or foundation, you should avoid applying make-up for a few hours afterwards, if possible. A bonus at Blink: the technicians finish with a choice of soothing gel—either rose water, aloe vera or tea tree—which you can also buy and take for home use.

Be Easy On The Tweezers Between Appointments
As your brow hairs start to grow back, it’s important to resist plucking them as it may ruin the shape your technician created for you. An easy way to avoid over-plucking between threading sessions is to know when your next appointment is actually happening. “We would recommend regular threading appointments every two to four weeks, depending on your personal rate of hair growth," Feroz says. "Try to avoid plucking in between your appointments as one over-plucking session could ruin the shape of your brows for months!"

Starting Over: How to Reboot Your Skin for 2016

We’re  through with the first month of 2016 … how’s your skin doing? As your skin care fairy godmother, my intention is to give you a jump-start on rethinking your skincare track for the year (if you haven’t started thinking about it already). Check out some easy tips and habits that will help deliver a brighter you this year!

Start Masking. NOW.

Using a mask once a week for 15 to 30 minutes is one of the key secrets to complexion success. Any esthetician will tell you this (including this esthetician). You water a garden to keep it looking lush and fabulous … the same principle should apply to your skin. Are you a busy girl? Apply a mask and allow it to absorb while you're getting other tasks accomplished around the house (i.e. answering emails, paying bills, doing your hair/nails, etc.). You can also go for a nighttime solution, like a sleeping mask. Not only is this the ultimate multitasker, but it also takes “beauty sleep" to new levels.

Get a New Pillowcase …

If wrinkles and fine lines seem to be gaining on you a bit, you need to add something new to your anti-aging arsenal. Switch out your old cotton pillowcase for one made of silk. Not only do silk pillowcases preserve your precious blowouts and keep your skin feeling ultra soft, but they also minimize puffiness and reduce redness (this is ideal for all you sensitive-skin types!). Look for a pillowcase that is 100 percent silk and features long-strand mulberry silk with a traditional charmeuse weave (I would write this down).

… & Cleanser While You’re At It

I like to think that skin and hair are quite similar in terms of upkeep. Just as you can be get product buildup on your tresses from using the same hair care over and over, the same can be true for our complexions and skincare products. So folks, switch it up and try a new cleanser. It doesn't mean you can't go back to you old trusty one. Just give it a three-month vacay and give some new formulas a whirl.

Throw a Serum Into the Mix

If your moisturizer seems to be at a standstill and is not delivering the hydrating, skin-saving results it once did, the easiest thing to do is add a face serum to your regimen! I understand it's one more step and one more investment to make, but the benefits of concentrated doses of skin-nourishing ingredients can be a game-changer! Trust me!

5 Ways Vitamin C Can Boost Your Beauty Routine

Growing up, your mother probably stressed the importance of taking daily vitamins. Whether or not you listened to her, she was on to something. It turns out Vitamin C is one super vitamin that can work wonders on everything from signs of anti-aging to nail growth.
Since Vitamin C is water-soluble, it’s important to get a daily dose of it by taking a supplement or eating food sources such as oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, and red and green peppers (that's in addition to topical treatments) to experience its benefits. Read on to discover all of the different ways Vitamin C can give your beauty routine a boost.

Stronger, Longer Nails
Weak nails that break easily and just won’t seem to grow? Try giving your diet a C boost. Vitamin C is an essential part in the body’s ability to produce collagen, a protein that helps support tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, and our skin together. To sum it up: Collagen production will strengthen your nails from the inside out.

Lengthen Your Locks
If you’ve been trying to grow out your hair, Vitamin C and how it affects collagen production plays an important part in stimulating hair follicles, which promotes growth. Enough of the super vitamin is also necessary for absorbing iron to keep hair strong and healthy, and eliminating pesky split-ends.
Heres an at-home mask that will give strands a healthy dose of the good stuff: use a handful of Vitamin C rich strawberries, and a tablespoon of honey and coconut oil, each. Leave on your hair for 15 minutes, rinse, and voila!

Fight Signs of Aging
Too much time in the sun can result in premature signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. Incorporating a Vitamin C packed product like moisturizer or serum into your skincare lineup can reverse the sun’s unwanted effects to your complexion. “Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant and slows the rate of free radical damage that cause damage to collagen and contribute to fine lines and wrinkles,

Lighten Up Dark Spots

Dark spots are caused by an increase in melanin that produces pigment in the skin and can be caused by hormones, the sun, or the result of inflammation such as acne or eczema. Topical Vitamin C is an effective way to treat hyperpigmentation and early signs of aging caused by overexposure to the sun.
Dr. Green recommends applying a serum like Vita-C Serum every morning and night after cleansing to improve tone, texture and skin’s radiance.

Look (And Feel) Energized
Still looking for a cure to looking and feeling like less of a zombie after a late night? The answer may be as simple as upping your intake of the vitamin. Lack of iron can lead to fatigue and weakness, since Vitamin C is linked to how our bodies absorb iron, getting enough of the nutrient will help improve your energy levels.

The Next Big Skincare Ingredient May Already Be In Your Kitchen

Baking soda isn’t just a kitchen cupboard staple that’s used for baking cookies and getting rid of lingering odors from the fridge, it’s also widely used by the beauty-obsessed who love a good DIY. There’s a plethora of ways this multitasking grocery product can be incorporated into your beauty routine, from mixing it with your favorite hair cleanser to an effective toothpaste that leaves your mouth fresh, like you’ve just left the dentist’s office.

On the skincare front, baking soda can aid in relieving common complexion woes. "It can be used for numerous purposes including as a mild exfoliant to help gently remove dead skin cells from the skin surface (or even to help remove remainders of spray tan), or as a topical acne treatment to calm a breakout with antibacterial properties,


Before you stash your current skincare product lineup in your bathroom drawers and run into the kitchen, Dr. Weiser warns that like overdoing any type of skincare treatment, excessive use of baking soda can lead to dryness or irritation, and if you have any skin conditions where there is significant dryness, irritation, or open wounds you should avoid using baking soda to treat your complexion.

But if you're not in the mood fro DIY, there are also a few products on store shelves that list the all-purpose powder as its active ingredient. Two to try now are: Bioré’s Baking Soda Cleansing Scrub, a powder formula that when applied to a wet face will activate the exfoliating scrub that deep-cleans pores and smooths skin, and Bioré’s Baking Soda Pore Cleanser a foaming cleanser that lifts and removes dirt and impurities while gently exfoliating skin for a squeaky-clean complexion.

When incorporating baking soda skincare products into your routine, start slowly. “Given the risk for dryness and sensitivity, start using baking soda products only once a week," Dr. Weiser says. "If treatments are well tolerated treatments can be increased to twice weekly.”
Intrigued? Consider reserving a space for the yellow-boxed wonder on your bathroom shelf in addition to its place in the kitchen. Better yet, it'll also keep odors—talk about a multi-tasker!