Nail care tips and tricks

Everything you want to know about proper nail care. ...Here are very useful tips for hand and nails

Health can be determined by your nail color. To keep your nails healthy and beautiful you have to take proper care of your nails and hands as well. Also a manicure and pedicure on a monthly basis will be beneficial for you and for these treatments. Removal of all nail varnish every week and allowing nails for breathing are important. The use of a good nail strengthening cream as well as good quality nail products such as nail polish and nail polish remover is advisable for healthy nail growth. Good nail growth tips also include opting for a healthy diet. A low protein diet is believed to be one of the causes of slow nail growth. Foods rich in group B vitamins for nail growth are recommended.

There are a number of home remedies for nail growth. The best and simplest method to promote nail growth without any hassles is through a regular hand and foot massage, concentrating on the nail beds. After a bath, gently massage your fingers and toes with cream paying special attention to the tips.

• File your nails using a gentle stroke. Avoid corners of your nails.

• Always use a mild soap for washing your hands and finger nails.

• Shape your nails. The most popular shape to use is oval, but choose one that suites to your hand and finger shape.

• A proper cleansing is essential to keep the nails healthy and problem free. After coming from outside, wash your hands and feet properly with a mild body wash and then apply a moisturizing lotion.

• To harden soft nails, soak in warm olive oil for about 20 minutes on alternate days.

• Try to eat sulfur enriched vegetables like cauliflowers and cabbages. Drink lots of fruit juices and water.

• To clean stains from your nails, mix one tablespoon of lemon juice in a cup of water and soak your nails in this liquid for a few minutes. Then, wash off with warm water and apply a hand moisturizer.

• In case you wear nail polish, make sure to give your nails a break from time to time.

• Coconut Oil & Castor Oil Nails can be made to shine by massaging coconut oil or warm castor oil on them.

• One of the most important parts of nail care is taking care of cuticles. A proper care of your cuticles help you avoid many nail related diseases.

• Drink fresh carrot juice daily, this is high in calcium and phosphorus and is excellent for strengthening nail.

• Dipping your nails in a mixture of cup of water with one tablespoon of lemon juice is wanted before a nail manicure.

Publications: Febstore

Nail care tips

Just like a flashy necklace or the right pair of earrings, if your nails look great, they can complement almost any look. But unsightly nails, on the other hand, can send the wrong impression. An error in shaping can cause your nails to chip, giving them a less than stellar appearance. Regardless of the color, an inexpert paint job can leave your nails looking like the face of the moon.

To help you get the look you want, no matter your fashion tastes, there are some tips that can help you pull off perfectly polished nails. We'll start by looking at the nail beneath the polish and then move into techniques that can help your nails look like you've just been to the spa -- even though you've done them on your own. Finally, we'll give you an integral tip that can make or break your nail masterpiece.

Let's start with keeping your nails healthy.

1: Don't Rush It

Putting the necessary time into your polishing project can mean better results. While you may not want to wait to add several coats of polish, taking it easy for a bit longer while your nails dry can provide a cleaner look. "Always apply a base coat for adhesion and to prevent staining of the color onto the nail," says Morgan.

Adding a top coat can take more time as well, but its benefits include locking in your polish color and helping to prevent chipping. There are even top coats that come with UV protection to reduce fading or discoloration of the polish.

Above all, don't rush the drying time. All your hard work could be spoiled by starting to use your hands too early, causing you to chip or smudge your polish.

2: Choose the Correct Coloring

From a pale pink to black, trends in nail polish color change almost seasonally, but tips for applying your color can be helpful regardless of the shade. First, be sure to adequately roll your nail polish bottle, (remembering to tighten the cap, of course). This will serve to adequately distribute the color. To avoid picking up globs of nail polish on your brush, scrape the brush along the inside of the bottle to remove the excess color.

When you're ready to apply the color, try to use three gliding strokes to fill in the entire nail.

"Apply three strokes [and] start in the middle, slightly applying pressure to the brush for even distribution," says Morgan.

3: Shape Accurately

For a beautiful nail canvas, you need to correctly shape your nails by cutting and filing before applying color. One of the most flattering shapes is a squared-off oval, or squoval.

When shaping your nails, start by clipping straight across to a manageable length of about 0.3 centimeters to 0.6 centimeters past the tip of your finger. To achieve the desired shape, file down the nails. Make sure that you file in one direction -- the direction the nails grow -- to prevent splitting.

Don't overdo it, though. "The less filing, the better," says Morgan.

4: Moisturize

While moisturizing is more of a preventive measure against dried out fingers and nails, it's an integral step to perfectly polished nails. "Cracked nails or nails that easily break could be due to dryness," says Larsen. "Moisturizing your nails could prevent cracking or breaking."

A good practice to keep your hands and fingers moisturized is to lotion after each time your hands come in contact with water, whether you're cleaning dishes, jumping in the shower or just washing your hands. At home, an occasional massage with an intensive hand moisturizer and an overnight respite in a pair of cotton gloves can hydrate your hands .

At the spa, you might want to try a hand microdermabrasion. This service can help to exfoliate your hands, allowing the moisturizers to penetrate more deeply into the surface .

Cuticles can be especially prone to dryness, so it's important to keep them moisturized. "Cuticle oil prevents hangnails," says Gina Morgan, senior nail instructor at the International School of Skin and Nail Care.

5: Practice Good Nutrition

Similar to building a house, creating beautiful nail art starts with a good foundation. "Like all parts of the body, healthy and beautiful nails are the result of good nutrition," says Marisa Moore, registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "Following a balanced diet with a variety of fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean protein, healthy fats and low-fat dairy is the best way to ensure nail growth and health."

While overall good nutrition contributes to health, there are some key areas of your diet to watch carefully when looking to promote healthy nails. "Protein and iron, a mineral, are important to nail health," says Joanne Larsen, registered and licensed dietitian and founder of Ask the Dietitian.

For protein sources, you can eat meat, poultry, fish and other sources such as soy, while iron can be found in oysters, lentils and iron-fortified cereals.

Along with protein and iron, think about biotin. "Biotin, a water soluble B vitamin, may help strengthen nails," says Moore. Biotin can be found in foods such as eggs, broccoli and fish.

Publications: Febstore

Makeup and Hair Tips

By following simple makeup and hair styling tips you can recreate this Academy Award nominee’s winning look.

Actress Salma Hayek has come a long way from the small town of Coatszacoalcos, located in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Born on Sept. 2, 1966, she is part Spanish and part Lebanese—a pedigree that undeniably accounts for her exotic beauty.

Salma launched her acting career in her early 20s, appearing in a number of Mexican tele-novelas (soap operas). She first found an international audience when she landed a small part in Mi Vida Loca (“My Crazy Life”), a 1993 film about Latina girls growing up in a poor Los Angeles neighborhood. She eventually garnered supporting roles in Desperado, Road Racers, Four Rooms and Fair Game, before achieving superstardom with When Fools Rush In, Traffic, Once Upon a Time in Mexico and her Oscar-nominated tour de force, Frida.

The length of Salma’s hair allows her great versatility: long (either sleekly straight, curled, or adorned with accent braids); shoulder length, with sexy flipped ends, embellished with hair jewelry or the occasional flower; pulled back into a graceful topknot or chignon, defined by a center part or slicked back to accentuate the symmetry of her refined bone structure. Salma’s hair is one of the most luxurious shades of brown. Colorist Jaime Abraham of Looks Salon in Naperville, Illinois, believes such deep, natural tones are one of the hottest trends this year. “I don't know if you've seen Salma Hayek’s hair recently but a lot of the stars have really rich, dark hair,” she told The Chicago Tribune in July, noting that stars like Salma tend to set the stage for the rest of us.

Perhaps Salma is the best judge of her own style, which may account for her fascination with the iconoclastic Frida Kahlo. The 1920s were sexy “because they were a time of experimentation and self-expression,” she told In Style magazine in September 2003. “All of a sudden, women were independent and speaking up. They were flying airplanes, directing and painting. The ’20s were also a time of sexual freedom; even the makeup and hairstyles had romance and glamour. Clothing was chic and makeup highlighted the eyes which are the windows to your soul."

Many beauty experts have dissected Salma’s look in their upscale books. In Latina Beauty, Belén Aranda-Alvarado, a former beauty editor for Latina magazine, describes Salma’s makeup as a palette of shimmery neutrals:

• For the face, begin with foundation and concealer to even skin tones and cover any blemishes. Avoid using powder (unless your skin is oily). Mix dark contour powder with blush, and apply to cheeks.

• Eyeshadow should be a neutral pink or pearl, with a slight frost, applied from the eyelid to the top of the brow bone. Blend in a touch of silver shadow for contour as well as a shimmery white shadow on the outer two-thirds of the brow bone to play up the eyes.

• Curl lashes and apply mascara.

• Brows should be tamed but retain their thick, natural arch.

• Lips are also neutral—a brownish-pink, without the severe penciled-in outline to which so many women seem addicted. Add a clear gloss for shine.

In The Mane Thing, celebrity hairstylist Kevin Mancuso teaches readers how Salma’s thick and curly hair can be sensually straightened. The cut is one length, with layers around the face. After shampooing, conditioning and towel-drying hair, you’ll find that the process couldn’t be easier:

• Apply straightening gel to damp hair, and comb it through. Detangle as necessary.

• Section the hair and pin it atop the head. Blow dry from the bottom layers inward gently pulling on each section with your brush to straighten it.

• Repeat for all sections of hair, saving the top for last.

• After hair is dry apply a small amount of silicone and brush hair to enhance shine.

• Use a flat iron for finishing.

With the Frida prosthetic unibrow long gone, Salma is now the face of Avon, appearing in the global beauty company’s new My Lip Miracle television commercial. She will be featured in numerous print and TV ads for cosmetics and fragrances, also partnering with the nonprofit Avon Foundation to publicize its domestic violence initiative.

“Salma's personal story and values are a perfect fit for us and we have a shared commitment to the empowerment and well-being of women,” says Avon Chair and CEO Andrea Jung.

“I’m very optimistic that in joining forces with Avon, we can truly make a difference to the important cause of domestic violence and bring hope and empowerment to women around the world,” Salma adds.

Look for Salma in Paint, Robert Altman’s comedy-thriller that skewers the backstabbing New York art gallery scene, to be released next year.

Publications: Febstore

Biosilk Silk Therapy Treatment, for the Best in Flat Iron Heat Protection and Styling

If you use CHI Flat irons, or any other type of hair straightener, you should use a heat protection product, and there is nothing better than Biosilk Silk therapy Treatment. Biosilk by Farouk is not only a heat protection treatment, but a great styling product too.

Biosilk silk therapy 12 is a 'leave-in' treatment, which replenishes and reconstructs, while strengthening the hair inside as well as out.

It is very easy to use! Biosilk can be applied after shampooing while hair is still wet or onto dry hair at styling time. Just a small amount of Biosilk 12 oz on the hands applied to the hair from roots to tips will give your hair wonderful benefits. It will repair split ends, protect from heat, pollution and ultra violet rays.

This incredible treatment is perfect for hair of all types, leaving it glossy, shiny and since it’s lightweight it leaves no build-up.

It is also a great product for the body leaving skin soft and smooth.

Biosilk 12 oz has herbs and other extracts to soften the hair and vitamin B to add moisture and hydration while eliminating frizz.

Biosilk Silk Therapy 12 has been named “Best De-Frizzing Product” winning the Readers' Choice Award of Allure Magazine for three consecutive years and is popular among celebrity stylists and the Stars themselves.

The secret of this amazing hair care product is the silk itself which contains 17 out of 19 amino acids found in hair making it the ideal substance to fortify damaged hair.

Silk gives the hair more elasticity which prevents breaking and repairs the damaged cuticle of the hair; it fills and closes breaks and voids leaving hair stronger. Silk is actually as strong as steel!

An added bonus for color treated hair is the silk molecules as they help to lock the color in making it much longer lasting.

You will be impressed with this product as it leaves hair smooth, silky, shiny, and frizz-free. All Biosilk products are silk based which gives all the benefits of pure silk and shine!

If you use Biosilk Silk Therapy Treatment when using CHI flat irons or curling irons it will protect your hair from the heat while styling and adding body and volume.

Even color treated hair can be styled with irons without fear when using this exceptional product.

Wondering where to buy Biosilk? If your local salon does not have it and you don't know where to buy Biosilk try febstore, an online distributor at: febstore They have a wide range of hair beauty aids at very low prices.

You should take care of your hair and what better way than giving it the pampering it deserves with Biosilk Silk Therapy 12 from Farouk. Outstanding!

Publications: Febstore

Kate Winslet’s reveals her most intimate beauty secrets!

What are the secrets of this gorgeous natural beauty? Oscar Winner, Kate Winslet, always looks stunning wherever she goes. We have seen her in many events, promoting her films and attending many red carpet events –where she won best actress for her roles in “The Reader” and “Revolutionary Road”. But, what does she do to keep herself beautiful and radiant? She’s not the common beauty we see in Hollywood, we don’t hear about her last Botox treatment or plastic surgery. What everybody loves about Kate Winslet is her natural and classic beauty. She claims to be like every woman, she isn´t obsessed about being skinny.

Let’s check out her tips.

First, she says that she can’t allow herself the same routines as when she was in her twenties. Now she’s a 36 year old mom and has no time for herself. For some moms, time doesn’t allow them more than 5 minutes to put on make-up. At home Kate prefers to do her own make-up by using the right products like mascara, a bit of concealer and lip balm. Should they be expensive? Well, they don’t! She prefers to use those products she knows work properly for her face, and they don’t have to be pricey products.

Another advice she can give us is not to wear so much make-up so you don’t look caked by the end of a long day. A common advice among all the stars is: it doesn’t matter how tired, exhausted, or burned out you are, you must always take your make-up off because when you’re sleeping your skin is working hard to renew its cells.

She also talks about her exercise routine. It’s well known that she practices Pilates to be in shape, but this is not a matter of obsession for her. She’s one of the actresses who claim that women should be happy by accepting themselves as they are. Restrictions about food can be a nightmare for any woman; she prefers to have a relaxed and calm life in order to take care of herself. Does she eat chocolate? Sure, but not too much. That’s a rule! Does she drink sodas? Of course, not often, but when she does, she drinks a fat Coke, what she calls “the real stuff”.

So, something we can learn from Kate’s experience is to enjoy everything we like, but we have to remember a key word: moderation. A little bit of everything will help us to keep in shape and beautiful… but above all, happy!

Be patient!.. febstore will reveal more amazing celebrity beauty secrets in our next article…

And you know we won’t hide any secrets from you… We´ll tell you EVERYTHING!

Publications: Febstore