How to Do Manicure and Pedicure

Summer’s just around the corner and that means open-toe sandals—and the need for perfectly polished nails.

Here are tips for flawless nails:
Clean up: Remove any nail polish and clip and file nails.
Soak: In a large bowl or bathtub, put Epsom salts, milk or essential oils (not all together) into warm water to create a luxurious, at-home spa experience. Put olive oil, baby oil or any oil you have at home onto your cuticles while you’re soaking.
Next: Push back cuticles with a cuticle stick after soaking, but don’t cut cuticles at home. “I recommend only trimming hangnails or ragged cuticles on the side,” she advises. The reason? If you trim your cuticles the wrong way, it can actually cause damage and peeling. Not pretty.
Exfoliate: If you don’t have an exfoliation scrub, make one with sugar or salt and olive oil. You can also add lemon or lime for extra kick. The texture from sugar and salt will scrub your dead skin off. After exfoliating, scrub your calluses on your feet with a pumice stone. Rinse well.
Ahh, relax: Place a moist towel warmed in the microwave just like they do at the nail salon on your hands and feet. Jin says it revs up circulation and, aside from that, it feels really good.
Moisturize and prep: Use a non-greasy lotion to moisturize your hands and feet. Next, remove any oil and lotion residue on your nails with a non-acetone nail polish remover or alcohol. This is an important step: your nail polish will not last if there’s any greasiness on your nails.
Base coat: If you have weak nails, use a nail strengthener in place of a base coat. Otherwise, apply one coat of base coat.
Paint: Carefully apply two layers of nail color and make sure the polish dries in between coats. Top coat: Then, one coat of top coat will seal your nails—preferably a quick dry top coat.
Nail salon trick: Touch up the edge of your nails with color and top coat because color comes off there first. Plus, it will look finished and professional—like you got them done at a salon.
Lastly: To ensure your nail products retain freshness, “Store top coats, base coats and nail color in the refrigerator.” Even so, their shelf life? About two years, she says.
Tell me, are you ready to try a manicure and pedicure at home?

Beauty Tips That Work

You've been told this line before: "Okay, I know it's weird, but...." What follows is a surprising piece of advice — about anything from clearing up a zit to taming a flyaway — that totally does the trick. Call it word-of-mouth beauty. Sure, these tips might sound strange at first ("You put diaper cream where?!"), but there's a logic to them. We rounded up tons of such pointers (from pros as well as real girls) and tested them at Cosmo. Though a few clunkers had to be kicked to the curb, all the rest, presented here, are real gems.


1) Powder Your Roots

If your hairline starts to look greasy, dig up a big, fluffy makeup brush, and dip it into a pot of loose powder. Tap it once on the back of your hand to remove the excess, then dust it over your roots. It mops up oil and blends into your strands, so no one will know you didn't shower.

2) Scent Strands with Perfume

Spray a light shot of fragrance into your brush's bristles. Run it through strands from roots to ends and your hair will smell amazing throughout the day.

3) Cure Calluses with Vaseline

Slather on the petroleum jelly, and put on socks before bed to dissolve tough calluses overnight.

4) Spot-Treat Smudges

Dip a cotton swab in eye-makeup remover, and trace it along your lids to erase any slipups or goofs when there's no time to redo your whole look.

5) Fix a Flushed Face

If you turn red and stay that way after exercising (like seriously red for hours, even though you're healthy and hydrated), take an antihistamine like Benadryl when you leave the gym to reduce redness.

6) Soften Your Bod with Avocado

Take a ripe avocado, remove the pit and skin, and mash it up in a bowl. Slather it all over your body, let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse off. Your skin will be sooo soft — avocado is a natural moisturizer.

7) Super-Glue a Nail

Instead of tearing off your nail when it breaks, put a tiny dab of Super Glue over the split, and paint a generous layer of your favorite nail polish shade over it. Go for an opaque option (like red, purple, or coral) to camouflage and seal the crack.

8) Use Makeup Remover on Stubborn Lipstick

Don't try to rub off red lipstick (which makes it smear across your mouth — not so sexy). Instead, take a cotton ball or tissue, dip it in makeup remover, and just dab to erase the dark stain fast.

9) Tame Brows with Eye Cream

Pat any kind of rich eye cream over brows to help keep them hydrated and banish those icky white specks that look like dandruff.

10) Buff with Baking Soda

If you find yourself streaking (not glowing) after applying self-tanner, put some baking soda on a loofah, and scrub away the stripes.

11) Brush on Hair Spray

For the final step of your blow-dry, spray hair spray onto your brush, and run it through strands from roots to tips. This way, your 'do isn't plastered and stiff but still holds volume and shine.

12) Boost Body Lotion with Baby Oil

If you're craving shiny legs that aren't greasy, blend a drop of baby oil into your normal body lotion for extra luster.

13) Dab Essential Oil on a Hangnail

Put on apricot oil, the kind found in health-food stores, to protect cuticles from turning rough and raggedy.

14) Quell a Cold Sore with Cream

When a cold sore is coming on, dab a bit of thick moisturizer, like Aquaphor, over it to prevent it from getting worse.

15) Freeze Your Eyeliner

If the tip of your eyeliner pencil crumbles and smears on your lids, store the liner in the freezer for 15 minutes before use so the tip is firm and goes across your skin smoothly.

16) Use Toothpaste on a Zit

Use just a pea-size amount. Let sit for 15 minutes to absorb the oil so the pimple won't get more clogged, then wash off.

17) Heat Up Your Curler

If you have stick-straight lashes, try blasting your metal eyelash curler with a hair dryer for a couple of seconds to heat it up so your lashes bend more easily. And use a waterproof mascara. The formula dries faster than other mascaras, so it sets the curl more effectively.

Beauty Tips That Work 2

18) Use Soap Without Water


You know those fancy bars that are actually too pretty to use? Toss them in your underwear or tee-shirt drawers to make your skin smell delicious.

19) Groom Brows with a Toothbrush

Mist an (unused!) toothbrush or eyebrow comb with hair spray to help flatten and tame unruly brows.

20) Put Diaper-Rash Cream on Dry Spots

Slather on a thick layer of diaper-rash cream to heal cracked elbows and feet.

21) Lubricate Your Lashes

An easy way to draw attention to your eyes without putting on a pile of makeup is to comb petroleum jelly lightly through the tips of eyelashes to get a sexy, subtle sparkle.

22) Steamroll Flyaways

Spray on hair spray, then roll the can over your strands. The round bottle fits the curved shape of your head, locks in the spray, and flattens out frizz.

23) Spike Lotion with Bronzer

If you don't have time to book a self-tanning session, mix a few pumps of body bronzer with regular hand lotion and pat it on your legs for a gradual dose of sexy, beachy color.

24) Air-Dry Your Curls

Let your hair dry indoors before going out in the cold. The curls will be really bouncy and piecey-perfect.

25) Press a Tea Bag on Splotches

If your skin is sensitive or just looking irritated and puffy for some reason, steep a bag of green tea for a minute or two, let it cool down, and dab it over your face. The antioxidants in the tea take down inflammation.

26) Shave with Conditioner

Ran out of shaving cream? Do double duty by coating your stems with a thick hair conditioner. It softens the hair so it's easier to shave off and makes legs feel amazingly silky.

27) Amp Shine with Vinegar

Mix one part vinegar with four parts carbonated water, and soak dry hair. Leave on for 15 minutes before you shampoo to lock in shine and combat dullness.

28) Exfoliate Your Pits

If your underarms start to look dry and flaky, an easy trick is to exfoliate them with a gentle face scrub to keep that skin pretty when going sleeveless.

29) Customize Your Body Lotion

Instead of shelling out for an expensive perfumed body product, you can make your own by pouring a few drops of fragrance into any scent-free lotion. Rub it on — the scent will last for hours.

30) "Brush" with Mouthwash

If you're too wiped out after a late night of partying to clean your teeth, rinse with water and mouthwash, then use a dry toothbrush on the area where your teeth hit your gums.

31) Make an Egg-White Mask

To revive tired, dull skin without hitting the spa table, try this: Crack open an egg in a bowl, separate the yolk, and use the egg whites to make a face mask. The proteins help to heal and restore skin's moisture. Leave it on for five minutes, then rinse off.
32) Dry Sensitive Skin with T.P.

Instead of drying your face with a scratchy towel, pat with toilet paper — it's ultrasoft on delicate skin (and bums!).

Seven Bedtime Habits That Are Ruining Your Sleep

If you’re having trouble falling asleep, you’re in good company. An estimated 65% of Americans said they encounter sleep problems a few nights each week, according to a recent study by the National Sleep Foundation. Sleeping too little is linked with an increased risk for obesity and depression. But before you reach for a sleep aid from the nearest pharmacy, it’s worth reexamining your nighttime routine. Some of your favorite evening rituals could be responsible for that tossing and turning.

1. Going from Night Owl to Early Bird

Who says bedtime is just for kids? Take extra care to maintain your sleep schedule, especially on the weekends. The body responds to routine. If your bedtime is sporadic—11 pm some nights, 1 a.m. others—your mind won’t be properly prepared to snooze on the weekdays.

2. Going from Night Owl to Early Bird

Who says bedtime is just for kids? Take extra care to maintain your sleep schedule, especially on the weekends. The body responds to routine. If your bedtime is sporadic—11 pm some nights, 1 a.m. others—your mind won’t be properly prepared to snooze on the weekdays.

3. Facebooking into the Wee Hours

The brightness of your computer screen stimulates the brain. Plus, it’s difficult for your mind to stop fretting about your digital to-do list, even once youÂ’ve logged off. Avoid late-night surfing and shut down your computer. Give yourself time to wind down without any electronics.

4. Skimping on a Good Bed

A good mattress will cost you anywhere from $500 to over $3,000. Consider it money well spent. A decent mattress—do your homework!—will give you a more restful sleep. The same is true for quality bedding and pillows. Opt for a soft pillow if you’re a back or stomach sleeper. Buy a firmer pillow if you sleep on your side

5. Setting a Bright Alarm Clock

The looming glare of your alarm clock can be distracting when trying to sleep. The goal is to have as dark a room as possible. Block the bright numbers with a book or consider buying a small travel clock. Your cell phone alarm may also do the trick.

6. Counting Sheep

When you just can’t fall asleep, it’s useless to stay in bed. If you’ve been trying to fall asleep for more than 30 minutes, the National Sleep Foundation suggests doing something mundane, like balancing a checkbook, reading or watching TV. An activity that demands marginal brainpower will lull your mind. Before you know it, you’ll be crawling back into bed genuinely tired.

7. Exercising Late at Night

Daytime workouts will keep you invigorated for hours. ThatÂ’s why you donÂ’t want to exercise within three hours of hitting the sack. Intense physical activity raises your body temperature and pumps your energy level—both interrupt a calm transition into sleep.

Sleeping Beauties

Make the most of your beauty sleep with these practical picks for p.m. pampering.
1. TOOTH FAIRY: Thwart morning breath the night before with Crest Pro-Health Night oral rinse.
2. SLEEP EASY: Don't let dry, itchy skin keep you up. Aveeno Overnight Itch Relief Cream.
3. DREAMGIRLS: Ease into sleep with this chamomile and lavender soak. Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Sleep Collection Dream Bath.
4. NIGHT LIGHT: Inspire slumber with a soft tuberose scent. P.S.: Blow it out before drifting off. Tocca Rodolfo candle.
5. MOISTUR-EYES: Ninety percent of adults suffer from dark circles and puffiness. Here's your advantage: Clinique All About Eyes Rich.
6. MOONLIGHT MIRACLE: Since your skin absorbs moisture and nutrients best at night, that's when to load up on vitamins and antioxidants. Chanel Beaute; Initiale Energizing Multi-Protection Concentrate.
7. WAITING TO INHALE: Spray the sleep-inducing lavender, bergamot, and ylang-ylang on your pillow to ensure some z's. Molton Brown Relaxing Yuan Zhi Sleep Mist.
8. HANDY MASK: Give dry nails and cuticle beds a rich overnight moisture mask. Sally Hansen Nail Quencher Cuticle Crème.
9. BED HEAD: Nourish dry, winter-parched hair with the botanical oils and fatty acids found in Phytodensium Anti-Aging Serum.
10. SHUT-EYE: Say nighty-night to the day's mascara, liner, and shadows with Neutrogena Ultra-Soft Eye Makeup Remover Pads.

Nightmare Hair Scenarios and How to Fix Them

Disentangle Your Hair from a Round Brush

Resist the urge to grab the nearest steak knife and slice off that entire section of strands. The better approach:

Don't panic and tug. "That will only make the knots tighter," says Guy Romeo, a stylist at the Privé salon in Los Angeles.
Pin up loose strands. Gently remove as much hair as you can with your fingers, and clip up the freed strands as you go.
Pick the locks. Take a rattail comb, knitting needle, or similar skinny stick and use the pointed tip to dislodge the remaining hair bit by bit from the bristles.

How to avoid barrel-brush entanglements:
Never work with a section of hair that's wider than the brush you're using.
Lift each section up and away from your head before you start rolling the brush underneath it. (Tangles often occur when you inadvertently involve hair that's below the section you're working on.)

Fix a Dud Dye JobWhile nobody's saying that orange roots couldn't have a big fashion moment, now's not it. So in the meantime:

Go to a pro. See a colorist as soon as possible. If you try to fix the problem on your own, you'll just make it worse. This process is typically more complicated than a straight coloring job, so be prepared to pay more.
Style curls into your coif. Until your appointment, wear your hair curly. "Curls help the botched color blend in and be less noticeable," explains Rodney Cutler, owner of NYC's Cutler Salon.

How to Prevent Home Hair-Color Mishaps:Watch the clock. Leaving color on for too long can be a disaster, says Cutler. You might wind up with tangerine tresses.

Disguise a Botched at-Home Bang Trim

You thought you were so savvy trimming your own fringe — until you lopped off an inch where a centimeter would've sufficed. Some possible remedies:

Go for a side sweep. Part your hair on the side where your bangs are the longest, then sweep them across your forehead so they fall over the too-short bits.
Create piece-y texture. The more intentionally piece-y your do looks, the more effectively your bad bang job will be camouflaged. Work a dab of pomade between your palms and fingertips, then twirl little sections of hair from roots to ends.
Tie on a hip head-scarf. If your bangs are too short but not crooked, Romeo offers this approach: Brush them against your forehead and place a scarf or headband at your hairline to nudge them down to a normal-looking length.

How to Avoid Bad Bang Cuts:
Rather than cut your own bangs, finagle a free fringe trim at the hands of a pro. "Many salons offer complimentary bang trims to regular clients," says Cutler.
If you're set on doing it yourself, don't make the all-too-common mistakes of wetting your bangs and taping or holding them down (either way, they'll seem longer than they really are and you're likely to overcompensate by cutting too much off). Instead, start with dry bangs and let them hang naturally to get the most accurate sense of their length. Then use sharp, fine-tipped scissors and a slow, steady hand to do the deed.

Deal with Last-Minute Product Overload

If you overestimated the amount of styling goo to use and now your strands look more oil-slicked than glamorously styled, take these measures:

Remove excess product. Wrap your head in a dry towel, then scrunch with your hands to absorb whatever you can.
Powder your roots. To absorb the rest, use cornstarch, talcum powder, or a dry shampoo. Create a part two inches above one ear and sprinkle powder into the roots. Use your fingertips to rub it in. Repeat every two inches until you get to the other ear.
Tousle your tresses. Flip your head upside down, and with your dryer blowing on cool, run your fingers through your hair.


How to Prevent Product Overload:
Start with less product than you think you'll need — you can always add more.
Begin your product application at the nape of the neck. "When you work from the undersections of your hair, you'll deposit the bulk of the product in the least noticeable places," explains Cutler.

Treat a Curling-Iron Burn on Your Face
"Burn, baby, burn" has a nice ring to it on the dance floor — but if this is what happens when wielding a curling iron, here's first aid for your beauty flub:

Prevent inflammation. Apply ice (wrapped in a washcloth or plastic bag) to the burn immediately for 10 to 15 minutes, says New York City dermatologist Arielle Kauvar. Take a break for a few minutes, then repeat for up to an hour or as long as you can.
Assess the damage. Determine if the burn is first degree (redness but no blistering) or second degree (inflammation and mild blistering). Note: The chance of getting a curling iron-inflicted second-degree burn is pretty slim.
Treat the skin. If it looks like a first-degree burn, apply an OTC antibiotic ointment (such as Bacitracin or Polysporin) twice a day to guard against infection, and stay out of the sun to prevent discoloration. If you've managed to get a second-degree burn, see a physician for a prescription topical antibiotic.
Disguise damage. Don't use makeup on the burn, but obscure it by leaving your locks loose and tousling them forward.

How to Avoid Curling-Iron Burns:
When rolling the curling iron against your head, stick a thin plastic comb between your scalp and the iron, suggests Cutler. A basic black comb that's about an eighth of an inch thick fits the bill — it's enough to block the heat but not so thick that it will block access to your roots. "I use this trick at shoots, because if you burn a model's face, she hates you for life," says Cutler.

Revive Limp Locks
If your do has drooped, you don't have to spend the day with strands that are as flat as a pancake. To make your flapjack style look more full:

Shake dry any damp spots. If you were stuck in bad weather or in a sweaty situation (hmmm...), use a towel (or tissue if that's all you have) to get your tresses as dry as possible.
Tease your roots. Pull out a comb, hold a two-inch section of hair straight up, then briskly move the comb up and down the backside over the roots only (from your scalp to two inches away). Make sure to do the back of your head as well.
Pull it back . When all else fails, try a sleek ponytail.

How to Prevent Limp Locks:
Don't overload on product. If you expect wet weather, use a humidity-proof styler.
Use a root-boosting volumizer when styling.
While blow-drying, lift your roots up and point the nozzle up into them to lock in lift.

Get Rid of Dark Under-Eye Circles

You already know that lack of sleep can result in rings under your eyes, but what you might not be aware of is that dark circles can also come from drinking too much caffeine or alcohol, excess pigmentation in your skin (which is genetic), and allergies. Here, expert tips for erasing them:

Put a Potato to Work

Fade your rings temporarily by cutting a potato (which has a skin-lightening enzyme called catecholase) into two thin slices, says makeup pro Shalini Vadhera. Leave them on your eyes for 10 minutes, allowing the juice to seep into your skin. Do this twice a week.

Take an Antihistamine

If your circles appear during allergy season, consult your doc, says Dr. Robert Mirsky, an ophthalmologist in New Jersey. “Airborne allergens cause blood to pool in the vessels under your skin. Plus, rubbing your eyes can bruise those same vessels, causing a dark appearance under the eyes.” Your doctor may want you to try an antihistamine or allergy-relief eyedrops.

Double Up on Eye Cream

Vitamin K has long been the gold standard for lightening the color of the under-eye area. A recent study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology showed that it’s even more effective when combined with a topical vitamin A derivative (such as retinol). But since retinol is always used solo, you’ll need two creams, says Dr. Audrey Kunin. She recommends MD Formulations Vit-A-Plus Anti-Aging Eye Complex every other night and MD Skincare Lift & Lighten for the other nights.

Protect Your Peepers

Cumulative sun damage can cause darkening under your eyes. You can prevent this with a broad-spectrum SPF that won’t sting when you wear it around your eyes. Try Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock Lotion.