Hand & Nail Care Products

Hand & Nail care products

One of my resolutions (for want of a better word) was to take more time to look after my hands & nails. I never forget to cleanse my face or look after my hair but my hands always got overlooked. As I approach my 40’s I don’t want my hands to be the thing that makes me look older than I am. So I thought I would share with you a few of the products I have been using to keep my hands & nails in a better condition.

I have a fair few products to help my very very dry cuticles, they always look so terrible that I have really been focused these past couple of months on keeping them hydrated and  pushed back. So the numerous products I have been using in no particular order are –

Nailtiques cuticle and skin gel which has a very lightweight formula that is quickly and easily absorbed into the skin to leave the area hydrated and smooth. Its a handy little pot to keep by your bedside & I try to use this every night.

I have two Essence cuticle pens the orange one is a Express Nail Oil Pen with vitamin A & E this has a brush nib which makes it easy & precise for applying the oil to the cuticles. After I have applied a generous amount of oil to each cuticle I like to massage the product in & I find this really helps hydrate and nourish the skin. This is a little more greasy so I do this when I have more time to spare. The yellow one is a Cuticle Softener and it also has vitamins A & E but it is also enriched with mango. This one has a sponge tip & that is quite handy at pushing back the cuticles too. I did find this dried out quite quickly but it was effective. The e.l.f Nourishing Cuticle Pen is very similar to the yellow Essence Cuticle Softener but it didn’t dry out as quickly. I find these cuticle pens so handy to travel with as they’re slim and are easy to use on the go.

A few hand and nail care products

I have two Cuticle Remover Gels one from Sally Hansen which I bought in TK Maxx, it is enriched with Jojoba and Kiwi Extracts & the Essence 2 in 1 Cuticle Remover Gel. These are both identical & do the same job. I put the gel on each cuticle leave it for 10 minutes then rinse it off with warm water & my cuticles are soft & easy to push back & trim back. These gels can be quite messy but they do a great job and I would recommend either of these.

Wilko Cuticle Sticks – not glamorous in the slightest but a necessary tool in the fight to keep my nails looking tip top. These are so cheap & cheerful but I use them each time I give myself a manicure & these wooden ones are fab.

Avon Cuticle Conditioner – This is on a similar vain to the cuticle pens I have. You just brush the product over your cuticles and massage it in to keep them hydrated and moisturised. I haven’t used this Avon one a whole lot but it seems to do a good job.

A few nail & hand care products

Avon Nail Experts 24k Gold Strength. I use this when I don’t want to wear a colour on my nails. It has a tiny flecks of gold shimmer in which looks pretty & subtle. It also helps strengthen your nails.

Essence Quick & Easy Sponge Nail Polish Remover – These are a god send for taking off nail polish, not really a product that helps my hands look better but I just love how easy these are to use. This Essence one is a bargain too.

I have to use a hand cream throughout the day as my hands are horrendously dry & this Merumaya Hydrate & Protect Hand Cream* has been in my handbag since I received in back in February. Its extremely lightweight and not at all greasy, once you massage it in the cream is totally absorbed. This hand cream has SPF15 to help protect from UVA & UVB rays. It also contains Hyluronic Acid to help lock in the moisture & keep hands looking and feeling smooth. So a handcream that is hydrating & helps look after your hands.

A girl can never have enough topcoats right!? That is why I currently have 3 on the go. I love them all & even use them as clear nail polish when I am being lazy and I’ve not painted my nails. The three I’m using currently are Essence Better Than Gel TopcoatOrly Glosser Topcoat* & Sally Hansen Super Shine they all make my nail polish look glossy & last longer.

The Body Shop Body Cocoa Butter Scrub – Someone on Twitter suggested that a good way of keeping hands looking healthy was to use a scrub on them every now & then. Well it has become a weekly part of my routine as I love how it removes the dead skin and keeps them smooth and looking so much better. Its a simple step but one I was completely missing out.

The Burt’s Bees Cuticle Butter & Hand Salve are two products that I’ve had for such a long time. I love the cuticle butter & the tin packaging make it perfect for taking on the go. The hand salve is less of a favourite. I am just trying to use it up (hate throwing things away).

Let me know what products you have been using to keep your hands is perfect condition.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

Delving In To My Sample Stash #3

Makeup Samples

ESPA ProSerum – I have been spending quite a few weeks in Scotland since Summer & I always like to have my favourite serum with me, this ESPA one ticks all the boxes. Its hydrating, calming and helps even skin tone. I love the scent too, it smells like a high end spa. This is ideal for this time of year when my skin gets dry & looks a little dull. Its a staple in my travel makeup bag.

Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream* This is a popular Asian skincare brand & I’ve read so many great reviews of this BB Cream. I’ve always wanted to try it. I’ve been using this over the past couple of weeks & really like it. I like my base to give a light coverage and provide a touch of colour so my complexion looks bright & even. This BB Cream gives me exactly that, its a lovely creamy consistency which I found very easy to blend, I did lightly powder it but I don’t think thats 100% necessary. This BB Cream covers all bases it provides a SPF30, protects against free radicals, conceals imperfections & contains hyluronic acid for all day hydration. So you’re getting a lovely BB Cream with the added skincare benefits which Asian brands are renowned for.

Benefit Stay Don’t Stray – This is a dual action eye primer so not only will it keep your eyeshadow in place but you can use it under the eye to keep your concealer put all day long and it works a treat! I love it that much I will be purchasing the full size & can’t believe I have never heard of this until now. It gives my eyelids an even colour & is the perfect base on which to apply eyeshadow. Its love.

Burt’s Bees Hand Salve – Not a massive fan of this I have to say, I did initially like it but the more I use it the less I like it & that pains me to write because Burt’s Bees is normally very reliable. I much prefer a hand cream & find the easier to use when I’m on the go. I will use it up & have been using it on my cuticles at night to stop them drying out in the cold weather. Let me know if you like this hand salve & how you make it work for you.

Makeup & Skincare Samples

Stay Flawless 15 Hour Primer – I’ve not used this an awful lot & struggle to find a primer which doesn’t make my skin greasy after a couple hours of use. I like the cute spotty packaging, I will use this a few more times & then let you know if it worked well for me. 15 hours is a bold claim & I doubt very much that my makeup would stay looking flawless for 15 hours. Have you tried this? let me know if your makeup looked fresh & flawless for 15 hours.

REN BB Cream – This featured in my last Sample Stash post, I’m still using it & loving it. It gives me a healthy dewy finish and it wears well without oxidising. Its not my favourite BB Cream but I do like the finish and although I wouldn’t purchase the full size I have enjoyed trying it out.

Origins Super Spot Remover – This isn’t a sample size but it fits so well on my dish & its so dinky. I really rate this as a spot treatment, it starts working right away. Its so quick and easy to apply to your blemishes. It’s instantly cooling, and can sting a little but that only lasts a few seconds, this is a targeted treatment so you only need to put it on the area where you feel a blemish coming or if you have a blemish thats already erupted. It stops blemishes from becoming too sore & angry and helps them clear up much faster too. Its a wonder gel in a tiny bottle. If you haven’t already you need to add this to your skincare arsenal.

Kiehl’s Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream – OMG this is the BB Cream of my dreams, It gives my skin an even coverage and It gives you Broad Spectrum SPF50 protection which makes me very happy. If you like a light to medium coverage that looks natural and radiant with excellent sun protection then you will love this BB Cream. Its simple but its all I need in a base and I am a massive fan.

Lancome Rouge In Love Lipstick – This is a gorgeous mini lipstick, I haven’t tried many Lancome products but this lipstick feels comfortable and hydrating on the lips & its the softest peachy pink. Not the most Autumnal colour but I have been enjoying wearing it.

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser – This is another product that was in a previous Sample Stash post, I’ve used it a couple of times & I’m not 100% in love, I’m not exactly sure what I don’t like about it. It might be that its quite thick compared to other tinted moisturisers & BB Creams. It looks really nice just after I apply it but I don’t think it wears well on my oily skin. I much prefer the Ginvera & the Kiehl’s BB Creams.

Sample Stash

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

Holland & Barrett Big Beauty Swap

A heads up to all my lovely readers, you have until June 11th to take part in Holland & Barrett’s Big Beauty Swap – they are encouraging everyone to bring their empty / half used products such as shampoo, shower gel and moisturiser to their local store and swap them for 25% discount off a huge selection of natural alternatives. So have a clear out & see what you can find.

Beauty Swap

Holland & Barrett are proud to only sell products that contain no nasties & this started 5 years ago when they banned toiletries containing chemical preservatives, such as parabens and sodium laurel sulphate (SLS), as part of their public commitment to natural beauty products.

So if you want to get involved in their Big Beauty Swap pop in to your local store armed with your empty products (which they will recycle). I’m a regular shopper in my local store and made the switch last year to use Natural Deodorant after having quite a severe allergic reaction to one that wasn’t natural so I can highly recommend the Dr Organic Organic Deodorant (my deodorant of choice).

There are so many of my favourite brands included in the sale such as Burt’s Bees, Dr Organic, Manuka Doctor, Dead Sea Spa & Montagne Face Masks.  If you’re unable to get in to your local store don’t worry, the 25% discount is also available on their website until June 11th.

Holland & Barrett

Let me know if you treat yourself to any of their natural beauty products, here is what I have my eye on.

Skincare

 

*Sponsored

Very.co.uk Secret Santa

As some of you know I am self employed and work from home so I don’t have work colleagues. When Very.co.uk asked if i’d like to take part in their Very Secret Santa this year I jumped at the chance. I thought it was a lovely way to get in to the festive spirit. I was matched up to the lovely Copper Garden and given a budget of £20. I knew from her blog that she was a candle fan and so with that in mind I picked out a lovely Cinnamon Yankee Candle which she has blogged about here. It smells so festive.

Very Secret Santa

The lovely Gerogina bought for me and card I received with my gift said she knew I was a skincare fan and she picked out the most adorable Burt’s Bees Radiance Healthy Glow Kit* and the Bourjois Nail Polish Remover*. So I was thrilled with my gift. It was perfect for me! I will enjoy using them. Burt’s Bees products are so nice and this gift set is full of products I have never tried which is unusual (as I have tried ALOT of products). I’m now very much in the Christmas Spirit and can’t wait to put my tree up.

Very Secret Santa

Secret Santa

Burt's Bees

If you have a few people that are hard to buy for and need a hand deciding, then Very.co.uk have their Gift Guru which may help you pick out a few options and narrow it down. They have a wide range of gifts in every price point and I was spoilt for choice when buying for my Secret Santa.

Thank you Very.co.uk for asking me to be part of this years Secret Santa, I enjoyed selecting my gift and love what I received too. I will be one radiant lady this Christmas x

If you want to see some of the other bloggers that took part in the Very Secret Santa then use the hashtag #verysecretsanta

*These products were sent to me as part of the very.co.uk secret santa