Category: ‘Nail Care’

My boss says that manicures are a weekly necessity. For me, they’re more of a bi-monthly luxury. And that means in between pampering times, I’m my own manicurist. My secret is Essie’s Mademoiselle #384 ($6.95), a sheer pink polish that is chip resistant and always goes with everything. It makes your nails look clean without being prissy, and the hint of pink is just a little better than clear polish. Even better is that when it does chip, the color is so sheer that no one but you will even notice.

Who doesn’t love one-of-a-kind items? I certainly do—and I’m willing to bet all of you fickle beauty people do, too. Recently, I discovered that CND manicurist Angelina Wingle (CND custom mixes colors for designers' runway shows) has set up a website, GoIndulge.com, to provide us with the custom polishes created for the some of the Fall 2009 shows.

The site allows you to choose which designer nail creation you want; then it asks if you’d like to be your own “mixologist” or if you’d like the polish pre-mixed for you. I say be your own mix-master: Wingle provides you with an empty polish bottle, plus the lacquers and “recipe” you’ll need to mix your new signature shade.

Personally, I fell in love with the cool muted gray from the Matthew Williamson runway (recipe: 2 parts Cream Puff to 1 part Voodoo), but there are other shades, like the gunmetal gray from Yigal Azrouel or the wine-burgundy from DKNY, to sate your nail tastes.

Here at SheFinds.com, we’re hearing from all of you who are feeling the recessionary pinch. So we’ve scouted our local drug stores and tested products to make sure you can look your best without going broke. We’ll post a drug store beauty bargain each week, so stay tuned!

What: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails, $2.99

Why: It used to be that as soon as winter hit, my nails would begin to split and crack, making it impossible to get a decent manicure. But since my manicurist recommended this nail strengthening wonder potion, my nails are healthier than ever! It brushes on clear and dries in a hard, smooth, chip-resistant surface that supports your nails and protects the edges. Now my nails look like I’ve just had a manicure all the time!

I’m a complicated girl when it comes to choosing the color polish I want on my nails. And in general, I sport two colors: one on my fingers and another on my toes. The way I see it, I get to enjoy all the season’s color trends (except maybe this one!).

Right now, I’m pairing nude fingernails with eye-poppin’ pink toes. Here are my two current faves:

On my fingers: PeaceKeeper’s Cause-Metics Paint Me Tender, $10.20

This cool nude neutral goes on streak-free with the second coat, but doesn’t become totally opaque thanks to an understated shimmer. Another feel good fact: All after-tax profits are donated to women’s health-advocacy and human rights issues. It's also vegan.

On my toes: Creative Nail Designs’ Scorch #425, $2.99

A shiny, shimmery hot pink, this color truly does scorch— in a good, summer pedi kinda way. In fact, it’s already been stolen by my roommate whose “claims” she accidentally lost it. I think she’s keeping it.