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Pedicures 101: Six Steps to Pretty Feet

feet2There are few beauty rituals I enjoy more than the pedicure. Going to a salon and having a professional pamper your feet is incredibly relaxing, and you leave with a frequently abused and overlooked part of your body feeling refreshed and healthy. Not to mention the fact that freshly-pedicured feet look lovely and well-groomed. It doesn’t matter how disheveled the rest of me is; when my heels are smooth and my toes are newly painted, I feel like I’ve got it together.

Unfortunately, I frequently do not have the time or money to spend on a salon pedicure. Plus, given how easy it is for me to reproduce a salon-quality pedicure at home, I have a hard time justifying the expense most of the time. The good news is, even when I do the job by myself I still feel amazing. So, just in time for sandal season, here’s your six-step guide to a perfect at-home pedicure. (Please note: this guide assumes that you’ve trimmed your nails and removed any old polish before starting.)

1. Soak your feet in warm water. I usually use water that’s quite hot. To me, it adds to the relaxing feel. If you have Epsom salts, scented oil or a nice foot soak, feel free to throw it in. If not, plain ol’ H2O will work. I generally soak for about five to ten minutes.

2. Scrub your feet all over with a specialized foot scrub. I’ve long been a fan of Freeman’s Bare Foot line, and their Creamy Pumice Foot Scrub in Peppermint and Plum works wonderfully. Rub it all over the bottoms and tops of your feet, paying special attention to your heels and anywhere else you may have rough spots.

3. Scrape away dead skin. Okay, this is the gross part but I promise it’s the most effective way to get rid of dragon feet. While your foot is still covered in foot scrub, use your fingernails to scrape dead skin off your foot, once again spending extra time on your heels and/or rough spots. When you’re done, rinse your feet (and hands!).

4. Slather a thick lotion or, better yet, specifically formulated foot cream all over feet, toes and ankles. I swear by Ahava foot creams. Let it soak in for at least five minutes.

5. Swipe nail polish remover over each toenail. Depending on the thickness of the lotion you used, you may want to do this twice. The goal is to remove all traces of product and oils so that your nail polish will glide on easily and stick to your nails.

6. Select a fun shade of polish and paint on a coat or two. Right now I’m loving hot pinks, like Ruby Wing Color Changing Nail Polish in Poppy (shown).

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Skincare Showdown: Battle of the Cult Classic Creams

creamsFor as long as I can remember, my mother has always known how to cure what ails me. Bad dreams were soon forgotten by climbing into bed beside her. A scraped knee healed quickly with Neosporin, Band-aids and a kiss to make it better. Upset stomachs called for ginger ale and popsicles. And myriad skin woes, from sunburns to painfully dry skin, were soothed with her secret weapon: Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream.

This cure-all cream has a cult-like following, amongst those who know of its existence. I’m shocked that it’s not mentioned more often in beauty magazines and by skin care gurus listing off their favorite products. Growing up I came to respect the bizarre, almost gelatinous pink “cream” as a gift from the heavens. The very worst sunburns of my life were nearly eradicated overnight thanks to a generous slathering of this heavily perfumed cream. And when I whimpered to my mother about my “dinosaur elbows,” which were so dry they turned an odd greenish color and looked semi-reptilian, she wisely suggested I smooth them with “the cream.” Worked like a charm. Oh, and you know those mid-winter days when it seems that the entire season’s worth of cold, wind and dehydration descend upon your poor fragile lips to the point where your entire face feels chapped? Nothing a little EENC can’t handle.

Yes, I’ve spent most of my life believing in the unparalleled power of Mary Kay’s night cream. Which is why I rolled my eyes whenever I saw that some socialite or beauty editor raved about the seemingly similar virtues of Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. If they only knew, I thought to myself. I was sure this one was all hype.

To give you a little background, legend has it that Eight Hour Cream got its name after a mom (much like mine) smoothed some of it onto the scraped knee of her child and found, eight hours later, that the knee was good as new. So when I spotted a tube of the stuff while perusing the clearance rack at my local TJ Maxx last week, I decided to give it a try. I figured, if nothing else, it would probably serve as a decent hand cream.

When I got it home and checked it out, I noticed that, like the Mary Kay cream, Eight Hour Cream is actually more of a gel. Where Mary Kay is pink and perfumed, Elizabeth Arden is yellowish and medicinal; it definitely didn’t win in the category of scent. It also isn’t quite as thick as the Extra Emollient Night Cream, having more of a slippery feel to it. While I was sure it would pale in comparison to my family favorite, I decided I wanted to give the new cream a fair shot, so I concocted a little experiment to test the effectiveness of the two creams against each other.

Spring may have finally arrived, but up until last week my end-of-winter cold was hanging on for dear life. Weeks of constant nose-blowing had left the skin around my nose red, raw and flaky. Not a good look. However, this gave me a perfect platform for testing the two classic creams. I smoothed one onto each nostril (and surrounding skin) and went to bed.

When I woke up I found that both sides were vastly improved, with one noticeably better than the other. In fact, that side was nearly 100 percent healed! Other than a little residual redness, it was completely back to normal: no raw, chapped, flaky skin in sight! The other side, while much better, still had a rough patch or two, and a little redness. There was a clear winner.

Can you guess which cream was which? As it turns out, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream truly did heal my skin within eight hours. I was shocked! I was certainly not expecting it to outperform my trusted Mary Kay night cream.

Eight Hour Cream may have won a place in my medicine cabinet, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to turn my back on the Extra Emollient Night Cream. After all, my mother has sworn by it for years, and it has served her very well. And I have no idea how Eight Hour Cream works on a sunburn; the battle of the cult classic creams just might see a round two come summertime.

What I do know is that someday in the not-too-distant future, should I have a daughter of my own, I’ll have just the thing to cure what ails her. It’s something I got from my mother.

(Happy Birthday Mom!)

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Spring Fling: Lip Color Love

Thank you to everyone who voted in the beauty experimentation poll. As it turns out, Love of Gloss readers like to play with their lips and eyes; lip color and mascara tied as the products you experiment with most often (eyeliner was not far behind). As promised, this week I’ve rounded up a collection of the best lip colors to play with this spring. (Note: there are no traditional lip glosses on this list. While I highly recommend each of the products listed below, die-hard gloss girls can find recommendations on the Glosses and Balms page!)

Enjoy!

Maybelline Color Whisper: This lightweight gel lip color glides on oh-so-smoothly and leaves a sheer wash of color. It feels divine, comes in a variety of shades, and even its brightest hues are ultra-wearable.

I'll be sporting Maybelline Color Whisper in Orange Attitude straight through summer.

I’ll be sporting Maybelline Color Whisper in Orange Attitude straight through summer.

It leaves lips soft and with a subtle shine. This is a great pick for girls who typically wear balms but may be looking to sample a pop of color this season. I asked Maybelline via Twitter which shades they’d recommend for spring, and they suggested Who Wore it Red-der and Orange Attitude. I have to second their vote for Orange Attitude. I can see myself sporting the incredibly flattering red-orange straight through summer.

Tarte LipSurgence: I’ve been a fan of these for a while. The crayon-shaped lip tint comes in so many colors and finishes, it’s impossible not to find one that works for you. While they may look like big fat lip pencils, the lip liner similarities end there;

Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tints in, from left to right, Elite, Exposed, Peaceful and Enchanted.

Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tints in, from left to right, Elite, Exposed, Peaceful and Enchanted.

LipSurgence adds tons of moisture, is easy to apply, and makes you look like you were born with a gorgeous mouth. Again, there’s a shade for everyone, but the color I’m rocking this season is Exposed. This matte nude is a little darker than the pale shades that are prevalent this time of year. For some reason, I feel like a ’90s Gwyneth Paltrow when I wear this color. As a lifelong GP fan, this is a remarkable feat.

MAKE Lipstick: I’ve never been much of a lipstick gal, but that may be about to change thanks to MAKE. Never mind the fact that one third of all of the company’s sales go to the We See Beauty Foundation, MAKE’s creamy lipsticks look and feel so fantastic and un-lipsticky that even the most staunch gloss wearers may be tempted to switch.

MAKE lipstick in Putty.

MAKE lipstick in Putty.

They feature a creamy, moisturizing texture that is long lasting and not the least bit drying. I’m obsessed with Putty, a peachy nude that is very ladylike and feels just right for spring.

Maybelline Baby Lips: I feel like a bit of a groupie when it comes to these tinted balms. I blog, tweet and gush about them all the time. The reason is simple: I really don’t think you can find another lip product that does so much for such a ridiculously reasonable price. For approximately the price of three packs of gum, you can pick up a tube in one of several fun shades that feels silky smooth, softens lips, eradicates fine lines, and generally plumps and perfects your pout.

Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me (top) and Pink Punch.

Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me (top) and Pink Punch.

I keep them everywhere – my purse, my makeup bag, my nightstand, my desk. Aside from the clear balm, which makes a great base under other glosses and tints, I keep coming back to Pink Punch, a youthful bright pink shade that I think is perfect year round.

Thanks again for voting in the latest Love of Gloss poll. Check back next week for a look at the best new mascaras!

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Beauty Quickie: Cool It

Who: Boscia
What: Super Cool De-Puffing Eye Balm
When: In the morning, at night, various other times throughout the day
Where: In my bed, bathroom, living room, car…
Why: This little cutie (it comes in an adorable little blue tube) has become my best friend and greatest beauty obsession; one day I threw an all-out tantrum and sent out a search party when I momentarily misplaced my little buddy. The name says it all: the smooth balm delivers an icy cool sensation as it glides around the eye area, almost instantly de-puffing while also brightening dark circles and invigorating your senses. With regular use it is making a noticeable difference in my dark circles, but I really love its fast-acting formula. You can see a dramatic decrease in puffiness and darkness almost immediately. And it feels so good – the refreshing cooling sensation is a little addictive. The best part? You can take it with you and smooth some on throughout the day whenever you feel you (or your eyes) need a pick-me-up; it won’t mess up your makeup and it’ll wake you up, all while brightening your eyes.

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Poll: Beauty Experimentation

As beauty fiends, we love to play with makeup. We are always searching for the hottest new product, the best version of our beauty weapon of choice. I want to help you find what you are looking for. With that in mind, I hope you’ll take a moment to answer this quick poll. Next week I’ll write about the winning category!

Thanks dolls!

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Pretty Polish March 2013

March is here, which means spring is on its way. With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the best polishes to help carry us through the last days of winter and welcome the new season in style!

Revlon Colorstay Longwear Nail Enamel in Passionate Pink: This cheerful medium pink goes on glossy and looks fantastic against fair skin.

The prettiest pink polish.

The prettiest pink polish.

I’ve turned to it time and time again to help ward of the winter blues, but it’s also a perfect shade for early spring; it reminds me of some of the first flowers to bloom in my tulip garden.

Nailtini Lacquer in Frappe: A sheer, subtle shade, this peachy nude looks fresh and is just right for a professional manicure. Might I suggest wearing it to a job interview?

This peachy nude polish is always a perfect professional choice.

This peachy nude polish is always a perfect professional choice.

I did, and I’m happy to report that I landed the job! This polish adds a warm, healthy shine to nails, leaving them looking clean and well-maintained. A five-star polish any time of year.

Color Club Professional Nail Lacquer in Wild Cactus and Put a Pin in it: I discovered these polishes thanks to Birchbox, and I love them both for this time of year. Wild Cactus is a highly pigmented emerald shade.

Better together: try your hand at some at-home nail art and create a fun, regal pedicure.

Better together: try your hand at some at-home nail art and create a fun, regal pedicure.

Put a Pin in it is a gorgeous shimmery gold. Both polishes have a very regal feel. I like both of them on my toes, and I really love the two shades together. Why not try your hand at some nail art? Green with a cluster of gold polka dots? Gold with a slim green stripe? Have fun with it! A word of advice: the dark green polish stains nails almost instantly. Definitely don’t skip the basecoat when using this one!

What colors are you sporting this season?

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Man-Handled

Winter. Whether you’re a snow-loving, outdoor sports-playing fan of the season or more of the I’d-rather-hibernate-until-spring type, we can all agree that this time of year comes with its own special set of beauty problems. Take, for example, your skin. The combination of icy outdoor temps and dry indoor heat can leave your skin parched, chapped, flaky and red. Your cuticles crack. Your face gets patchy and dry. Not only is the look less than desirable, it feels awful.

Now, most of ladies are well-versed in the seasonal skincare switch-up. We know that when the days get shorter, our night creams get thicker and the frequency with which we apply hand lotion is greatly increased. But the men in our lives are not always so eager to change up their routines, assuming they have one in the first place. Sadly, I know a lot of guys who think that anything more than a basic shave-shower-shampoo routine is unmanly. As a result, they suffer the winter months with dry, cracked, itchy hands and faces. It can’t feel good. But I have good news: there’s an easy solution.
lubriderm2
A couple months ago I picked up a bottle of Lubriderm Men’s 3-in-1 Lotion for my fiancé to try. I was intrigued by its claim to be suitable as a body, face and post-shave lotion, and encouraged him to give it a try. It sat on the bathroom counter for a while, but eventually he started using it. At first he smoothed some on after shaving. We both were surprised at how smooth his face felt, and for how long – a good 24 hours later his skin was still silky smooth. Then he started using it on his hands whenever they felt particularly dry. It absorbed quickly and instantly cured the dry skin. With regular use, the cracked cuticles and dried up hangnails disappeared. This lotion isn’t the least bit greasy, and it has a light, masculine fragrance that is unbelievably sexy. My man says it’s the best lotion he’s ever used.

So, to all the men who are reading this, please don’t be afraid to take care of your skin. More and more companies are creating products formulated especially for you, and this Lubriderm lotion is an excellent example. And ladies, if your man is sporting a flaky face and chapped hands this winter, buy him a bottle of this multi-tasking wonder. You’ll love how soft his skin feels – and how good he smells – I promise.