@misscandiceb
If you follow us on IG, you know we go crazy over an artful nail moment. However, we will be the first to admit that our nail game has been lacking as of late. While hand-washing and sanitizing is saving lives, they’ve deteriorated the health of our hands. Increased exposure to hot water can be the enemy of hydrated skin, and the powerful germ-killing ingredients in sanitizers can diminish the healthy ecosystem of your skin’s moisture barrier. It may not be the right time for a salon mani-pedi, but we did have to get a professional on the line ASAP to help us up our at home hand and nail care game. Brittney Boyce, nail artist to the stars and founder of NAILSOFLA shares how we can be keeping our top ten, 10/10.
Stick To A Routine
In order to replenish moisture to your mitts, you must care for your hands the way you would any other part of your skin. That means a routine is in order. Boyce suggests we start with the basics: exfoliate and moisturize. She recommends using “an oil-based sugar scrub along with deeply moisturizing hand cream.” The scrub will softly slough away dead skin while the cream reloads hydration and seals it in for longer-lasting protection. Her go-to products? SPARITUAL’s Body Polish and Hand Salve.
Protect Your Skin
The skin on our hands is extremely thin and delicate, so applying an SPF on the backs of your hands is a great weapon against sun exposure or premature aging. Boyce recommends daily application of SPF as well as cuticle oil to ensure your nail beds continue to thrive despite dry winter weather, and frequent sanitizing. Her words of wisdom: “In between manicures lightly buff your nail beds directly after applying cuticle oil on the entire nail. This will help smooth your nails and skin around your nail while leaving an oil barrier as a protectant.” Boyce’s fave is ORLY Cuticle Therapy Creme.
Try An At-Home Style
For those of us who miss the self-expression of our manicures, look no further. In a pure act of genius, Boyce saves us from the embarrassment of unrefined nails (not all of us have the steady hands for nail art like she does), with the launch of her NAILSOFLA Press-On Extensions. Without leaving the comfort of your home, you can experience the masterful artworks of her nail art creations. Before applying press-on nails or using regular polish, Boyce urges us to always prep the nail for a longer lasting look. “Buff the natural nail and cleanse with alcohol to ensure that nail beds are clean & oil free,” she says. And voila — clean, cared for nails.
