Downtown Delights.
One of my favourite autumnal treats is to store my bubbly and bright or pretty and pastel nail polishes, much adored during the warmer months, and ready my digits for the deliciously dark and daringly delightful polish colours much coveted and ever-so-couture when worn in the colder months. Again, this autumn and winter fashion season sees the ravishing return of gloriously urbane nails in deeper, super pigmented, and trend-setting hues. Beauty Marked! has kicked off the season with the Limited Edition Downtown Collection from Zoya. Do be sure to check out these edgy beauties on your travels as you continue on your journey to great style.
The LE Downtown Collection:
- Freja gunmetal grey metallic (pictured)
- Indigo deep indigo with starry metallic flecks (pictured)
- Kotori glittering aqua-metallic
- Suvi deep green metallic
- Rea amethyst metallic (pictured)
- Lael eggplant purple cream
Zoya’s trendy Downtown Collection is available in fine salons and spas nationally. Telephone 1300 855 644 for stockist details. Too hip!
Some Fabulously Fun Facts About Our Nails!
Did you know?…
- Men’s nails grow faster than women’s and tend to be stronger.
- Toe nails grow slower than finger nails.
- The younger you are, the faster your nails grow.
- Your overall health is reflected in your nails.
- The middle finger (aka Tall Man) has the fastest growing nail on your hands.
- Nails are made of keratin, just like hair.
- It’s a myth that nails actually keep growing for some days after death. This is just an illusion caused by the skin tissue shrinking away from around the nails exposing more of the actual nail.
- The more dehydrated you get…your nails will too, which is one of the causes for brittle, lackluster nails.
- Too much moisture will make your nails soft and they are best protected by keeping them dried and moisturized with a quality hand and nail cream.
Too cool!
Beauty Mail!
Dear Beauty Marked!
Thanks for all the time and expert work you put into this blog. I am continually amazed with how each and every day you manage to post something so cool and very inspirational. I love it!
I wanted to know what you thought of acrylic nails and whether or not they are a bit old fashioned. I particularly like the french acrylics.
You are very welcome Gorgeous One, as it’s my complete pleasure!
You know, I must say, I don’t half mind acrylic nails to be honest. Mid length to just longer than short and naturally squared in shape look adorable, especially when they are immaculately maintained. In fact, when they are sculpted in the way just mentioned, acrylics can look very natural and their faux status is darn near imperceptible. I don’t think the longer more talon like acrylics are particularly on trend, but if that’s what makes one feel beautiful then Go For It! I say. As for a good ole french manicure, well, who can pass up this bit of classic loveliness, now really? Shortish and natural would be the operative words when it comes to acrylics. Do though be sure that you are going to a nail salon that is not only reputable, but observes the imperative and highly stringent hygiene regulations if you do decide to go the faux.
Again, it’s always a pleasure to receive and answer cherished reader emails, so please feel free to keep them coming.
-BM! xx
Now I Have A Few Questions For You…
- What makes you feel most beautiful?
- If you could have three beautiFULL wishes fulfilled, what would they be?
- What moves and inspires you?
I’ve always wanted to know this about you…so I’d just thought I’d ask. Please email me your answers or post them as comments below. I am, so very much, looking forward to reading all about them. *happy dance*
-BM! xx
Look At This Little Cutie.
Oh my goodness! How darling is this baby nail clipper? This little “cutie pie” is courtesy of Tweezerman and not only does it look adorable, but it works a treat! Tweezerman’s large handled, ergonomic Baby Nail Clipper is a fantastic beauty tool for keeping the Wee One a picture of their gorgeously groomed, perfected selves. Don’t be fooled by this clipper’s jejune appearance as it is well and truly in the big leagues when it comes to performance. This baby nail clipper is a chip off the old block. It does Tweezerman proud, maintains the family standards and established reputation. *whispers* The Tweezerman Nail Clipper even works well on “big people’s” fingers too should you be unable to resist the temptation to use this “cute as a button” clipper. Who could blame you? Love ‘em!
Visit Dateline Imports for Tweezerman Baby Nail Clippers and so much more.
The Progressive Pedicure.
The other day a new client of mine said to me that she dreads the strappy summer sandal season because she never has time for a pedicure and is always embarrassed about the state of her feet. Just for a moment, a rather surreal moment, after hearing this, I had a very dark and chilling thought about life without the possibility of pedicure, I shivered for a second and then popped back to the magic of present moment of all things mani and pedicured. Needless to say, I felt for her. No time for a pedicure? No time to feel fabulous and confident in gorgeous summer shoes? *shivers again and races back to my happy place*
Then I asked this lovely lass if she’d ever thought of a progressive pedicure? A progressive pedi might indeed be the salvation for her sole. *idea* All you need to do for a progressive pedi is to scrub your feet, especially the heels and balls of your feet and around the skin along the sides and bottom of your big toes with a pumice stone when showering daily, which takes like…a minute. Then when your drying your feet, make sure to firmly rub to dry all over your feet as this does wonders to further slough off dead skin. Then moisturize your feet, as post showering is ideal. At some stage, take the opportunity to clip your toe nails and file them short and squarish. That can be all that’s done at this time.
On the next opportunity you have a hot minute post your daily pumice, firm dry, and moisturizing session, push your cuticles back carefully and paint your toes with a base coat. If you prefer toes sans polish, just gently push your cuticles back, buff your clean, clipped, and square-filled nails and leave it at that. If you do decide to polish your nails, just do a coat at a time. You can do a lightening-fast coat a day or a coat between chores etc.. It’s lucky for us, that toe nails that are cut short and squared will actually hold a neater polish longer. When you have finally managed to polish your toes completely and follow up with a top coat, they will stay looking dazzling for sometime. Especially, if we continue to moisturize after showering. You can also do a quick slick of top coat every few days to ensure that your nail polish remain in good nick. So there you have it. Great looking feet that are in fantastic form before you know it! Do enjoy!
A Handy Number From Ms. Necessity…Literally!
Since we wouldn’t dream of dashing out with dingy digits if we can help it, what’s a quick little number to dry those nails in a hurry? Well, thanks yet again, to the mother of invention…Ms. Necessity’s got you covered. To dry nail polish quickly, try popping your nails into very cold water, but only after you have waited a minimum of about 5-7 minutes of natural drying time. Alternately, you can hold your fingers in the freezer for several minutes or longer if you can Brrrrrrrr…I mean bear it! *boom tish* That aught to give your polish the brisk hurry up, for sure.
Just awesome! Thanks, Ms. Necessity! xx
