Softfooted

Are you ready for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend? I know I am. While I don't have any major travel plans, I am getting ready for summer which is right around the corner. That means making plans with friends, continuing to werk on my summer body, identifying warm weather wardrobe gaps, getting a base tan, you know the regular stuff... One thing that everyone who is not headed to a beach somewhere seems to be doing is hitting their local nail salon for a manicure and intense pedicure; you know, the one where you splurge for the callus remover and extra moisturizing treatment. After all, sandal season is upon us! I, on the other hand, have been doing my own mani/pedis (mostly) for quite some time and I would like to stick with it. The tricky part is getting that same intense level of foot care. Enter Korean foot peeling treatments! I am not one for the latest beauty trends but, all of the Korean beauty products that I have come across seem great. With my feet needing some extra love after a long winter this seemed like a great idea.

I came across Baby Foot Deep Exfoliation For Feet through some quick internet research. At the time, I was still working in midtown so, I headed over to K-Town to check things out in person. While I wasn't sure exactly where I should be headed I ended up at The Mask Bar and had some aggressive knowledgeable young ladies help me find Baby Silky Foot One Shot Peeling as well as some other "necessities". The foot mask sat with my other mani/pedi stuff for quite a while but, as summer is upon us I thought last weekend would be a good time to give it a try. Here's what I learned:

• One important thing to know right off the bat is that this treatment is basically a chemical peel for your feet just in case you have sensitivities to that kind of thing. 
• It is important to set aside a good amount of time for the treatment (90 minutes minimum). Read a book, knit, watch a movie, play some video games... whatever floats your boat while you sit around wearing liquid filled booties 
• From what I could gather from the Korean/bad English instructions you need to start with clean feet which I did. What I gathered from further internet research is that you should soak your feet for at least fifteen minutes prior which I did not. O well, next time... 

• Follow the instructions and put the booties on your feet, then pour the liquid in, sit back and relax. I would say leave them on for the full 90 minutes if not a little longer. Since I was hanging out with friends having a good old(ish) Mario Kart brawl on Wii U (hence the "ish") they definitely stayed on for an extra 20 minutes at least.

• When you are done with the treatment, wash and dry your feet. PSA: your feet will look the same although they might feel a little smoother. Further internet research had informed me that I should have been soaking my feet daily afterwards to encourage the peeling which I did not. I did, however, take showers and noticed that my feet were peeling in a totally gross/satisfying way. 
• While the instructions say not to pick at your feet it's kind of hard not to once they start peeling. It isn't going to hurt so go for it. You can also rub you hands on your feet or rub your feet together to encourage the skin to fall off.
• Do this now! Meaning, while you are still wearing shoes on the regular to hide your gross/amazing peeling feet. It's embarrassing to be hanging out with family, friends, co-workers, the mailman, while large flakes of skin are separating from your feet and peeling off. 

Overall, I am satisfied with the results form my first foray into a Korean foot mask but, I think next time it will be even better/grosser because I now have a few pro tips (soak, and soak more) in my repertoire to try. Based on recommendations once a month seems to be the agreed upon frequency of use so, I've got some time before I try again. If you want to try this is the mask that I got and used with good results:

[Holika Holika] Baby Silky Foot One Shot Peeling

Here are some other options if you are interested in trying something different. If you do, let me know how they work:

TONY MOLY Shiny Foot Peeling Liquid Mask

[The Face Shop] Smile Foot Mask 18ml

Soft Touch Premium Foot Peel Foot Mask (2 Pairs per box)

Vidi Foot Mask, Foot Peel Exfoliant (2 pair pack)

The Original - Baby Foot Deep Exfoliation For Feet Peel

I was NOT compensated for this post the opinions are all my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Reminder: Nailipop Giveaway

Don't forget to enter the giveaway which will be until June 14, 2015 and is open to ALL readers in USA! Head to the original post and check out the widget to enter and keep your fingers crossed!

Giveaway: Nailipop Manicure Strips

Moment of honesty, I went tried to go to a local nail salon yesterday and get my nails did. Instead there was a mini tornado that kept me from leaving the house. While, sometimes you have to know when to call in the professionals and this was could have been one of those moments, it wasn't... downed trees and disabled cars prevented me from being able to get anywhere even though the weather calmed down. Since I hadn't been keeping up with my own manicures my nails and cuticles were in rough shape. Thanks to some expert pampering (by me) everything is back to normal so next week I can get back into "do it yourself" mode maybe try again.

Now for the reason your all really here, the giveaway. I can't think of a better giveaway for #manimonday than these Nailipop manicure strips. As I've mentioned before they are an excellent option is you are looking for an inexpensive, quick, and easy manicure with one of the most eclectic selections of patterns. Thankfully Nailipop threw in some extra sets with my last order (aren't they the best) and I am want to share those with you so you can try them out and flex your do it yourself manicure muscles.

This giveaway will be until June 14, 2015 and is open to ALL readers in USA. Enter via the widget below and best of luck to everyone!

Entry-Form

Nail Files: Expressionist

As you might have seen there was a flurry of articles this week regarding health concerns and abhorrent conditions for nail salon workers in New York City and surrounding areas. You didn't see them? Well, if you were following me on Twitter you would have. The articles definitely made me think about this industry that I have been partaking in (however irregularly) since high school in a different light and right as the pedicure season is upon us... But, do I really want to support an industry that does not properly compensate their hard workers? How about one that puts them at risk for major health problems? Not, really. How about you?

This weekend I gave myself a mani/pedi. It wasn't as intricate as last week but, thanks to Nailipop manicure strips it didn't have to be to look that way. I love all the colors in this design and putting them on was a piece of cake. Here are some things that I know to be true about putting on manicure strips:

1. Make sure your nails are super clean before you start.
2. Make sure that you hold the nail strip to your nail for at least 30 seconds so that it adheres effectively. The stickiness of the strip and the heat from your hand should help create a strong bond.
3. File the manicure strip in a DOWNWARD motion it’ll help keep the end of the strip from lifting with a small grit file to create and even/clean edge.

These tips works with every type of nail strip I have tried so far. Do you use nail strips or do you stick with polish? If so, what types of polish strips do you prefer. 

Weekly Manicure: Dashing Diva

I would like to share a great manicure experience that I had during my mini Thanksgiving stay-cation (Yes, this has been in the works for a while.) Have you guys ever been to Dashing Diva? Dashing Diva is a fantastic nail salon committed to “re-inventing the nail salon experience,” that has locations all over the New York City and the world. I went to the one on the Upper West Side for a mani/pedi and some rest and relaxation. I didn't make an appointment prior to going (silly me) so, I was a little worried that everyone else had the same idea and I would be waiting a while. Thankfully  that was not the case and they seated me right after I picked a color from their selection of OPI and Essie colors. I appreciated that because normally they only have Dashing Diva polishes but, I like the idea of being able to head to a beauty store and pick up a bottle of the color I choose for future use.

Image courtesy of www.shensaddiction.com

The lady who did my nails communicated very well AKA spoke English clearly and wasn't super pushy. This might seem like a strange comment but, if you're from New York City you know what I'm talking about. It often seems like workers at nail salons are more interested in getting you in and out as fast as possible but, not before trying to sell you a 10 minute back or foot massage in addition to whatever else you're getting done in awkward broken English... While I don't mind that type of environment for a quick mani/pedi it's not something that I consider extremely relaxing so, Dashing Diva was a welcomed change for my vacation manicure. 

Because it was right before Thanksgiving I looked for a color that would work with potential undecided holiday ensembles. After staring at a (literal) wall of polish colors I settled on Essie Hot Coco from the Winter 2010 collection. It was ironic to me that it had never popped out at me before. I really like the way the manicure came out and it worked perfectly with the outfit I picked for Thanksgiving and other subsequent outfits because of the neutral tone. Have you given yourself or gotten any fun manicures lately?

Weekly Manicure: Interview Appropriate Polish

As you (might) know I am an HR professional. Today I will be coordinating another entry level career day, wish me luck... One of the things that I stress to the attendees is that they should come dressed in professional attire. Naturally they all show up in their best suits (or the closest thing) but, there is more to your personal appearances than the clothing you wear. Men need to comb their hair and shave, ladies should do the same equivalent. You want to be the most polished you that you can be especially because a shrewd HR professional will make their first impression based on all those things; Don't forget the little stuff!

One of the most forgotten things for some ladies is giving yourself a neutral manicure or any manicure at all. Personally I am always aware of the fact that I might have to shake hands with more than one interviewer so, why not put a pretty polished one forward? Today I am leading by example with a simple and subtle manicure. Enter Sally Hansen Salon Effects in Tutu Much! While this isn't the most fun manicure strip I could pick it is perfect for making a professional impression. What kind of manicure would you give yourself if you had an interview on the horizon?

Don't forget to enter to win a $100 gift certificate from Shopbop! 

Weekly Manicure: Oxblood

I have had every intention of doing something spectacular with my nails for my manicure this week but, I have been busy sick and entirely unmotivated. I was long overdue for a manicure but, instead of busting out the makeup sponges, loofahs, or old maps I went in the completely opposite direction and grabbed some manicure strips. Do you think that falls in the category of ultimate laziness or savvy convenience? For my sake let's just say it's the latter...

I went with a shade of maroon called Red Velvet from Incoco but, doesn't it remind you of the quintessential Fall 2012 color? Yup, this shade is SO oxblood! For better of worse I'm not going to look at maroon, burgundy, wine, claret, rosewood, or carmine the same way. Regardless, they are prefect for fall and I am in love with the color, perhaps I am being brainwashed. Have you fallen for oxblood yet?

Normally, I have an extremely positive experience with Incoco manicure strips but, this time they were chipping after the third day. I wonder if it's because I have had this set of manicure strips for a while (think Christmas gift). Have you ever used an older batch of Incoco manicure strips and had a similar experience or did I do something wrong?

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a New York Fashion Week Swag Bundle!

Weekly Manicure: A Classic Combo - Neutral Nail, Bold Toe

When I think of a versatile and neutral manicure nothing comes to mind faster than a classic French manicure. When I want thinking ahead to all the activities and events I have going on because of Fashion Week and life in general I wanted my manicure to last and be appropriate through it all; Enter Incoco French manicure nail strips! I've tried them before and know that they are fantastic so it was really a no brainer to go that route again. I did them last week and they are still perfectly presentable in all situations despite the everyday wear and tear of my life.

While I love the French manicure there was still the question of what to do in terms of my pedicure. I don't know about you but, I think French pedicures look weird; Kind of like the toe nails are too long or the person is trying to highlight their natural toe which doesn't work for me since I'm not a huge fan of feet in general... I could come up with a bunch of reasons but, in the end, I just don't like them and wouldn't elect to  paint my tootsies that way. O good, I'm not the only one! Instead I went for a dark purple color which screams fall to me. I sense a manicure in that polish's future sometime soon but, not too soon... summer isn't  over yet! What color did you paint your nails this week?

Weekly Manicure: Buttercup Baby

Do you remember how I said that I saw the perfect yellow polish last week but, left it behind so I could pick from the vast selection at the nail salon? No? Well, you should keep up... Anyway, I couldn't resist and headed back to the Duane Reade near my office to pick it up for this week's manicure; It was meant to be. I knew Buttercup was a Limited Edition color because of it's placement in the store on a shelf with other special makeup displays but, I didn't realize that it was a special edition Tracy Reese color (big difference.) I could have sworn those launched back in April or May. I may have to go back and check to see if the other colors that I was lusting over (Honey Whip, The Sky's The Limit, Temptation) are there for subsequent manicures but, I digress... The color is a little translucent; I'm ok with that. It's a far cry from the extremely saturated gold color that made up my manicure a few weeks ago. Which do you prefer? What color are your nails this week?

Weekly Manicure: Leave It To The Professionals

Last Friday I did something that I haven't done in months, I went to get a manicure and pedicure at a salon! It's not that I don't enjoy a professional manicure, it's just an unnecessary expense that I can't afford on the regular and isn't always worth it. Thankfully my gift card hoarding tendencies are strong and I've been holding on to one from Christmas for a mani/pedi at one of my fav salons, it's about time I used it! Also, I was also meeting some friends there and they wanted to get manicures and pedicures; It's nice to be able to hang out with friends without peer pressure spending but, I digress...

One of my biggest struggles when heading to the nail salon for a manicure is picking a color. No matter how much of a selection I think I have at home, they always blow me away with the plethora of choices from Essie and OPI. When I was getting manicures on the regular I had my seasonal standards but, now I tend to gravitate towards things I can't imitate at home which (even accounting for personal preferences) leaves me with a normally startling amount of choices.

Earlier I spotted a gorgeous pale yellow polish while running a quick errand at work. It was an instant connection and I knew that is what I wanted for this week's manicure and pedicure. Unfortunately when I got to my salon they didn't have anything of the sort... go figure. I ended up going with Essie Miss Fancy Pants from their Fall 2012 line because something neutral was the only thing I could commit to with Sally Hansen Buttercup on my mind. I may or may not have headed back to the store to retrieve it. What do you think? Do you go to the salon for manicures and pedicures? If so, do you have a standard set of colors you gravitate towards?

Weekly Manicure: Lilac Polish, Silver Accent Nail

Guys, I have to be super honest. I am in LOVE with my manicure this week; Every time I move my hand it catches my eye. Lilac is one my favorite warm weather manicure colors and this particular shade (Revlon Colorstay Provence) is absolutely perfect. While it would have been ok to rock the pseudo neutral lilac manicure I thought it best to spice it up with an accent nail, that really pulled the whole thing together. Although, I think next week I am going to skip the polish and try nail strips again... decisions, decisions. Which one do you prefer for your own manicures?

Weekly Manicure: Barielle Lemondrops

A few weeks ago I won a blog giveaway from my friend The Beauty Gnome for a set of Barielle nail polish. I had actually never heard of that brand before but, was excited to expand my polish repertoire! Besides, if it's for free it's for me...

Barielle has actually been around for over 30 years and was one of the first companies to make nail polish without Formaldehyde, Toluene or Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) AKA chemicals that are suspected to be harmful. Instead they use effective and natural alternatives such as Keratin, Proteins, Vitamins, and Oil and Plant Extracts. Learning all these great things about this nail polish made me even more excited to try it out. 

The set of polishes that I won came with some greens, sparkles, and a fab coral shade but, I couldn't resist the vibrant, fun yellow for this week's mani/pedi. Maybe I'm lamenting the seemingly rapid close of summer and this color almost makes me feel like it's just getting started all over again! Next time I might use it as an accent color, there are so many manicure possibilities. How would you wear this nail polish? 

Weekly Manicure: Zoya Summer 2012 - Arizona

This past Friday I stopped to pick up some flowers at a local bodega for my boss' birthday (I'm nice like that) and I saw the most beautiful peach roses. I have had peach on the brain and after seeing the lovely flowers that was the polish color I was craving for this week's manicure!

I ended up skipping the store and searching through the loads of polish I already have to find something in the same color family... No, a bright orange manicure is not the same as a peach one but, it was enough to fill that craving for now! I thought about mixing Zoya's Arizona with a white polish to create the desired shade I had in mind but, that last time I did that my nails weren't drying. I guess you can mix colors but, only if the polishes are similar formulas... What color are you rocking for your manicure this week?

FBFF: Manicures, and Pedicures, and Nails... Oh My!

I'm sure you've noticed that I have really gotten into doing my own nails. After looking at some amazing nail  blogs I thought, "Everyone has to start somewhere" or "Practice makes perfect" or some combination of those things. That feeling combined with my new(ish) found inability to spend money has been an inspiration and motivated me to lacquer it up.

While simply painting my nails is great practice I have also been trying to mix it up: making my own colors, trying out different types of polishes, using different patterned nail strips. I know it's nothing crazy but, everyone DOES have to start somewhere!  

Weekly Manicure: Accent Nail

This week's manicure was really all about complementing the ensemble that I wore to my cousin's wedding on Saturday. Sure, I could have gone with a classic french manicure but, I wanted my mani/pedi to be a little more interesting. Of all the fun manicures that I have tried I haven't done the whole trendy one accent nail thing and that seemed like a good option. I wanted to use baby blue and silver nail polish so it complimented my labrodorite jewelry as opposed to purple or pink which would have been beyond matchy matchy. I think the manicure came out great and it went perfectly with my dress. What do you think?

Weekly Manicure: Incoco Champagne French Manicure

This Last week I needed a polish change. With so many choices in my nail polish arsenal I wasn’t really sure how to proceed so I decided to keep it simple. You guessed it, a french manicure. Thankfully, I had some Incoco french manicure strips to make the process easy and frustration free. How do you think the french manicure came out? Really, I think it’s fab too! I also came to an unexpected realization about how long my own natural nails have gotten.

 

I have a confession. When I was younger I used to bite my nails and it was bad! I’m not quite sure why I felt the need to gnaw on my fingers or why it continued as long (into college) as it did but, it did. There were stretches of time where I wasn’t compelled bite my nails (I was getting regular manicures or I had acrylic tips/wraps) but, the minute consistent stress or boredom crept up on me I found myself right back where I started.

Fast forward to now… I don’t really have problem anymore. I’m not quite sure how I kicked it. Maybe there is always something for me to do (thanks phone) or I’ve learned to cope with my stress differently; Your guess is as good as mine. But, when I went shopping with my mom this past weekend I (proudly) showed her my nails and we both marveled over the fact that I used to pay to have manicurists put acrylic on my nail to make them just as long as they are naturally. How times have changed! Did you ever have a problem with nail biting? How did you move past it?

 

Weekly Manicure: Half Moon Cheetah

Last week I found my manicure in pretty good shape at the end of the week, despite the warnings from the Incoco kiosk person. The only major issue was the fact that my nails had grown a bit (as they tend to do) so, I decided to try something new instead of giving myself a whole new manicure. 

Enter, Half Moon Cheetah! Most half moon manicure tutorials tell you to start with a single color and then use some sort of round stickers to mark the half moon part while painting a second color on the upper part of your nail over the base color. Since I already had the color I wanted on the upper part of my nail I needed to try something a little different to get the desired effect. Using "old-fashioned" hole protector stickers I laid out a half moon shape at the bottom of each of my nails. It was a little tricky on the bigger nails (ex: my thumbs) but, I by cutting them in half a bit off center I managed to finagle them into a shape that worked.

They were was perfect for the task at hand and I painted a few coats of Sally Hansen's Nailgrowth Miracle in Wholesome Earth  in the half moon shape at the bottom of my nail and violá an easy, do-it-yourself half moon manicure!

One of the things that I would be cautious about is making sure that the area you paint is very dry before you remove the stickers or you might mess up the edges. You could seal it with a top coat if you want but, I didn't and it was fine. This is an excellent way to spice up your existing manicure and make those nail strips last one week longer if they are holding up to your daily wear and tear!

How do you think it came out?

Weekly Manicure: Rawr

While I enjoy the options and creative possibilities that nail polish allows I have not yet perfected the manicure process to the point where I can avoid chipping. I think I am in line with what most would consider “best practice” but, still see my manicure falling to pieces (literally) after two or three days. What advice would you have to create or maintain a long lasting manicure? I’d be happy to put this into practice next week when I sit down and do my nails.

Based on this seemingly inevitable manicure disappointment over the past two weeks I have decided to go with Sally Hansen Manicure Strips this week to avoid (almost) immediate chipping. I picked this specific pattern up on complete impulse when I saw it at CVS. I just can’t ignore that lipstick nail polish effect especially when it’s something new and exciting. There have a bunch of fun colors/patterns in this Rock of Ages collection but, Rock N' Roar was the only one calling to me as I glanced over my options. Who can resist a good animal print? That’s right, nobody…

Ironically Sally Hansen Manicure Strips would be against the “advice” of a mall kiosk person I met last weekend. Let me set the scene: I was shopping with my cousin and giving consultative wardrobe advice. As we were crawling the malls near her I spotted a kiosk that sold Incoco strips and Konad plates. I was super excited because I haven’t had the option to buy either in person yet. When I walked over to browse I was immediately assaulted greeted and the salesperson asked if I wanted to try a sample. I said yes (to a Konad design) but, she assumed that I meant the Incoco strips and proceeded to try to remove the polish (gasp) I had on my nail.

The crisis was averted and she stamped my nail, it came out really well. I suggested that my cousin try the strips because of their convenience and ease of use. While I tried to tell my cous about my personal experience with Incoco the conversation was peppered with comments from the sales person. While I said they were similar to Sally Hansen she insisted they were nothing alike and that Incoco is superior. When I said they were both nail polish strips she said Sally Hansen was plastic and Incoco was seven layers of polish. When I said that they lasted for at least a week she insisted that it was more like 14 days. The only thing that she didn’t contradict me on was when I said that there were a lot of great patterns on the website. It was a very awkward experience especially since I am familiar with/an advocate of Incoco nail strips.

While I went Sally Hansen this time around I think my nails came out pretty well, don’t you?

Do you utilize manicure strips or do you think they are just a passing trend? If you do are you a Sally Hansen or Incoco person or do you use some cool new thing that I’ve never heard about?

Weekly Manicure: Mint Sorbet

While I don’t own any mint colored clothing it is one of the Spring 2012 trends that is calling out to me. I was trying to think of a (cost-free/low-cost) way to bring more mint into my life when I remembered Essie Mint Candy Apple polish. That would be the perfect way to incorporate the mint trend everyday next week without breaking the bank or buying any new clothes. With no time to order, I decided to stop by my local CVS and see what I could find in their beauty department.

As expected I came across a few similar shades of mint green from Revlon and Sally Hansen. While I was excited that my plan was coming to fruition I was also overwhelmed with all the choices; Did I want Revlon Minted? How about Sally Hansen Nail Growth Gentle Blossom? Perhaps Sally Hansen Smooth & Perfect Color + Care in Sea? So many choices! I’m glad I stopped with those two brands. I ended up picking Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Mint Sorbet. Why, you might wonder? Because, it was the cheapest one they had by a (considerable) margin; It was only $3.59, about half the price compared to other iterations of mint and most decent quality nail polish in general! I found it in a commonly overlooked place, at the bottom of the shelf. Don’t let stores trick you into buying the first thing you see! Take time and look high and low (literally) the best deals are normally in places that you wouldn’t check at all!

What spring trends (nail polish or otherwise) are you most excited for? 

Wicked Alternative

I don't know if it is the same all over the country/world but, in NYC when the weather starts to cool down and all the stylin' ladies are heading to the salon for their weekly mani/pedi they turn to the quitessential Essie shade Wicked. At this juncture of extreme budget-ness, I can't really afford to be one of those people and I'm ok with that. But, I still really love that look and have found while trying to do my own nails that Essie isn't really the greatest polish; blasphemous maybe but, still true. And so began my search for an alternative product...

I really like Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure but, they just don't have the right color. You know; a maroon that is almost bordering on black in certain lighting situations but, is definitely still maroon. I have tried a few different things and have finally found a good quality product that is the perfect color. I wanted to share it with all of you just in case you have been on the hunt like me, you're search is over!

Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Plus polish in Wholesome Earth is the closest thing that I have found to Wicked so far and I am loving the color. The polish is good quality, no serious chipping (impressive since I have a very keyboard keavy job) or streaking. The only thing that took some getting used to was the brush. I prefer something thicker but, once you get the hang of it that's not an issue at all. Unfortunatley while looking for a place to buy it online I learned that it has been discontinued! Bummer, I am fighting the urge to head back to Target and buy every bottle... I guess my search isn't really over.

Lots of bloggers have great advice for easy do-it-yourself manicures. My biggest piece of advice on that front is, practice makes perfect! Also, use good products. I'm not saying you have to go out there and buy extremely expensive things, just stuff that does a good job. I am loving Sally Hansen Complete Care 4-in-1; it is my basecoat, my topcoat, or just a clear polish on my in between days. I am on my second bottle guys, no joke, it's good stuff! Another thing that you can find at salons in the city is super quick dry drops because not all of them are set up with dryers. This is another product I recommend if you're like me and have the patience of a two year old. I have been searching for a good one for at least a year and was lucky enough to find some at the local drugstore, Revlon Liquid Quick Dry will save me from many future smudges! It's not instantaneous drying but, within five minutes or so things can be back to normal.

Because blogging can be a business, I would just like to finish this post by saying that I did not recieve any compensation for anything I said about these products. I purchased everything on my own and am just sharing my humble opinion.