My Cuticle Story

I have gorilla cuticles. At least, that's what a sassy manicurist told me one day as she cut them, a few years ago when I was getting a mani, before I had gotten into doing my nails myself. The rest of the manicure was less than relaxing. Needless to say, I have a bit of a complex about my cuticles as a result, even now. I have always had dryish skin around my nails and my cuticles grow like weeds. Apparently, more so than anyone that manicurist had ever seen.

When I really got into photographing and blogging about my nails, I was always searching and experimenting with new products to try and combat this problem. Ragged and cracked cuticles in up close and personal photos = no fun for anyone. It got to the point where I would cut my cuticles almost daily to keep them tamed. If you didn't know, cutting your cuticles is pretty much the worst thing I could do for my problem. It was a vicious cycle, I cut them so they would look better, they would grow back harder, uglier and more ragged, so I had to keep cutting them just to have them appear presentable. More than once I've sliced too deep and created a wound, ouch.

No amount of cuticle remover would work to totally eradicate them like cutting did. Oils, creams, and balms didn't help me. I have some OCD tendencies, and whenever I saw the slightest bit of extra cuticle or skin, I'd cut. I thought I would be doomed to be a slave to my nippers forever. Then about a month ago, I decided I was strong enough to quit my habit. Having normal, healthy cuticles was my right and I was going to have them dammit!

On the advice of some of my fellow bloggers and nailphiles, I quit cold turkey and started using a gentle cuticle remover about every other day, pushed them back often, and started using rich cuticle balm morning and night. I had just gotten a sample of Famous Names new Dadi'Oil, a cuticle oil with avocado, jojoba, vitamin E, and olive oil that is non-greasy and absorbs quickly. All the oils I'd tried in the past kept my hands yucky and greasy for hours and never came close to softening my skin. Dadi'Oil is truly a miracle worker for me and I believe is a big part of my success of not cutting for the past month. I applied it basically whenever I thought about my cuticles. Unfortunately, it is a pro-only product, so you need a license to be able to buy it. I used Blue Cross Cuticle Remover from Sally's, orangewood sticks from Walmart, Qtica cuticle balm from Qtica, and Dadi'Oil from Famous Names.

Press Sample

It has taken this long, about a month, for them to finally be in semi-fighting shape. The first week was brutal, but it got easier. Not that they are technically perfect or even close to, but they do look more natural and normal. And I no longer have such an intense urge to cut them, though I don't know if that will ever go away completely. I don't know if it's terribly apparent in my photos to you as a reader, but it was a huge sense of anxiety for me and now I am happier with them than I thought I could be. And it's only going to get better :D

Some of the products mentioned were provided for consideration.

Lumos Top and Bottom Coat Review

If you are anything like me, you are always in search of the best. Especially when it comes to nails and products to put on them. I am on a, seemingly endless, search for the perfect top and base coat. I recently read a review on my girl Charlotte's blog Lipglossiping about a new top coat called Lumos High Speed that she quoted as being "better than Seche Vite", so 'natch I had to check it out.

The company that makes the Lumos duo, High Speed Top Coat and Instant Impact Bottom Coat is called Famous Names LLC run by Jim and Linda Nordstrom formerly of Creative Nail Design. Linda is really amazing to speak with and they are both ridiculously knowledgeable in the field of nail care.

I have been using this top and base coat for more than a month and have some big likes and some interesting observations. The base coat is really fabulous. It is the best stain blocking base I've ever used. I have tried all the notorious polishes that always stain my nails and this baby prevented them every time. I'm sold on this. It's not really rubberized feeling, or anything but it dries like, instantly. It also helps my polish wear longer which is lovely as I've become a little lazy on occasion these days and have been sporting a mani for days longer than usual.

The top coat is hit or miss however. I have always felt that body chemistry has a lot to do with whether nail treatments mesh with someone or not so I'm not going to completely write this off. It's much better as a nail refresher, for my personal preference. It doesn't dry as fast on me as Seche or Poshe but it does work similarly. It's applied to wet polish, and it glides nicely without dragging. Best of all-it doesn't get thick in the bottle like they do. And it lasts and lasts and lasts. It looks like I haven't used any of it yet I've been dipping into it daily since I received it. It's hard to describe the problems I had with it really, sometimes it wouldn't dry all the way and I would get sheet marks or dents. Sometimes I could see the brush marks from the topcoat which was weird because you apply it generously like Seche, also it wouldn't be shiny, like it would dry satiny? Very interesting. But other times it would be just fine and dandy and shiny as a star. So...yeah like I said, hit or miss.

I love the brush type that the products have, it's the double brush style that feels so luxe. It may seem incidental but it really does matter. A good brush is important! I recently tried out a new brand of polish and every single one of their brushes were wonky and frayed. These were really lovely and dense but not too thick or firm. The bottle cap is that lovely matte satin type, ooh la la. Kinda like Cheeky Monkey if you've tried them. I appreciate those little details, you know they took their time designing their bottles.

The Famous Names website and their partner in the UK, Sweet Squared only sell to licensed professionals. If you would like to get these in your hot little hands and you don't happen to be a professional, please ask your nail techs to use them or if you have a friend that is a licensed tech, to purchase them for you. Psst...I've also seen a few sets on Ebay. Take care friends, hope you enjoy your Thursday!

Products provided for review.