Tag Archives: nail care

Mother & Daughter Spa Day at Nova Nails!

Last week, my sister spent an afternoon at Nova Nails, located at Rancho Carmel Plaza. Since I couldn’t make it up there due to my busy schedule, Rholnna thought it would be great to take her daghter, Mei-Lin, for some after-school pampering!

Mei-Lin mentioned how wonderful it smelled as they entered, like a fruity-citrus scent. They both loved the color selection and how attentive the staff was to their every mani-pedi need! If you are a regular reader of my blog, Rancho Carmel Plaza is just a hop, skip and a jump away from where my sister lives, so they’re both happy to know that Nova Nails is near-by and affordable: both of their manicures and spa pedicures were $72. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon!

Nova Nails is located at 10175 Rancho Carmel Drive, San Diego, CA 92128 and they can be reached at (858) 487-2467. They are open seven days a week and walk-ins are welcome, so please visit Nova Nails for a family-friendly nail spa treatment!

Cheers!

Mom & daughter selfie!

(All photos by Rholnna and Mei-Lin Jiao)

FTC Disclosure: I received compensation to patronize a business at Rancho Carmel Plaza. Although I did receive compensation, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

Nail Art: Stamp Collecting

I made my first attempt at serious nail stamping. I’ve actually acquired several nail stamping discs over the last couple of years, played with the discs a bit, but that was the extent of it. Recently, I received some really cute nail stamping discs from Born Pretty with British and French travel themes, so I wanted to try them out.

I really just jumped right in without thinking about placement, or knowing any kind of technique, which is why they look like a bad photocopy! Since my first attempt was not what I had hoped, I went on You Tube and found several tutorials and new techniques to try out, which actually made the stamp art look like nail wraps. I guess this means I’ll need better stampers to make this work. I’ll definitely post pictures of my new and improved nail stamping art!

Also, I tried another fantastic product from Kiss, which I got for a steal at CVS with a coupon. I really like the Kiss 100 Tips Curve Overlap nail tips because they are easy to cut & file to the size and shape that I want. The glue provided is very strong, and I’m currently using the Real Life Brush On nail kit by Broadway nails to smooth out the nail tip. But soon, I’ll move to Kiss’ acrylic fill kit for a more even surface (all the products I mentioned are available at BeJour.com).

Just a reminder: if you like the Born Pretty nail stamps you see here, or if you are going to make a purchase from their site, Born Pretty has given Any Second Now readers a 10% discount by using CGG10 at check out. Cheers!

FTC Disclosure: I received product and was asked to review the product in return. Although I did receive product, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

(Kiss 100 Tips Curve Overlap picture courtesy of BeJour)

Nail Art: “Real Life” Sparkle

I tried something different than my normal nail care routine for artificial nails: I did it at home! I have these great nail wraps and stamp plates from Born Pretty that I would love to try without having to wait until my nails are the right length, or until I go into a salon just to get the acrylics. So I tried the Real Life Brush-On Gel Nail Kit by Broadway Nails, which I recently purchased from Target. They are very easy to use, but remember to re-apply the gel and activator once you file the nail seam to smooth out the nail tip. This will help strengthen your nails for whatever polish or wrap you want to apply.

The result? I think the pictures speak for themselves! In fact, it worked out so well that I purchased two more kits. So for the price of one salon visit, I get four complete nail changes. But really, how absolutely pretty are these nail wraps from Born Pretty (available here)? The pictures don’t nearly do these lovely wraps justice, and now I want to try all of the colors!

And remember, if you like the nail wraps you see here, or if you are going to make a purchase from their site, Born Pretty has given Any Second Now readers a 10% discount by using CGG10 at check out. Cheers!

FTC Disclosure: I received product and was asked to review the product in return. Although I did receive product, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

(Rings from the WendyB Collection by Wendy Brandes)

New Wave Nail Art

Last week was nail week on the blog, and it is spilling into this week with a review of a couple of items I received from Born Pretty. The first product I tried were awesome nail stickers in a simple black and white pattern (found here). The second item was something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time: nail decoration, which I found in a wheel of multiple acrylic black shapes (here).

First, I applied the nail stickers according to the instructions, which was really easy and took me about 30 minutes to apply. Then I added a top coat for longer wear. Because my nails are short, I added the acrylic shapes onto the areas of the nail where there was more white space. The result is something completely “New Wave” looking, straight out of the 80’s. I’m sure I had a shirt in a similar pattern at some point in my teen years!

My niece, Mei-Lin, joined in on the fun by creating a cute little “Hello Kitty” looking character on each thumb, to which I added a bow and eyes and she added the little smile. She then wanted a heart shape on one of the nails on each hand. Simple yet adorable, no?

Total cost for my nails: $6.18! Additionally, the acrylic nail decoration comes with 12 different shapes and about 25 (or more) pieces per shape, which will allow me to keep creating new and fun nail designs. For the price and value, I’ll definitely be going back to Born Pretty for my nail decorating needs!

For Any Second Now readers who want to try out these products and many others, you can get a 10% discount off of your purchase at Born Pretty with the code CGG10 at check out!

FTC Disclosure: I received product and was asked to review the product in return. Although I did receive product, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

Nail Art Galore at Born Pretty

I’m ending this week of nails with an awesome new site I was recently introduced to called Born Pretty. Anything you can think of related to nail art, polish, tools and care can be found on this site. The folks at Born Pretty asked me to choose three products to review (pictured below), and I’m very excited to try them out. Stay tuned next week as I really get creative with some awesome nail art, and have a wonderful weekend!

FTC Disclosure: I received product and was asked to review the product in return. Although I did receive product, the opinions in this post are strictly my own

Nail Week: Tips for a Longer-Lasting Mani & Pedi From Bellus Academy

This is week is “Nail Week” on Any Second Now where I’ll be reviewing a few new nail products and colors (all pictured above). To kick it off, here are some great tips for longer-lasting care for your nails from Bellus Academy’s Director of Spa Nails, Trudy Reynolds. I’ve definitely used a few of these tips myself, including using oil on my nails and cuticles and wearing gloves when washing dishes!

Hello Chip Free Nail Polish: Tips for a Longer-Lasting Mani and Pedi

Women have all been there. They get a mani and pedi and the next week it has somehow chipped! That means back to the nail salon to have nails redone. Bellus Academy Director of Spa Nails, Trudy Reynolds, is here to help. She gives her at-home daily care tips to help preserve your next mani and pedi. Hello chip free nail polish!

For a longer lasting manicure and pedicure Trudy recommends:

·         Apply SolarOil with Cuticle Away. This product is applied to fingers; follow up with a good moisturizer for the rest of the hands and arms. The SolarOil acts like a shampoo and conditioner for nails and should be used daily, especially before bed.

·         Wear gloves to wash dishes! Washing dishes can take a toll on a manicure. Be sure to wear rubber gloves to protect polish the next time you do the dishes.

·         Reapply Top Coat. Reapplying a top coat after the manicure helps preserve the polish life. If wearing CND Vinylux polish, we recommend the purchase of a CND Vinylux Top Coat.

·         Use FootLogix Products for Pedicure. Consult your nail technician for the appropriate product that is specific to your needs. Follow the manufacturer’s directions and use daily for a longer lasting pedicure.

Bellus Academy has three campuses located in San Diego County alongwith a fourthin Manhattan, Kansas. They continue to elevate the beauty and spa industry through breakthrough education in Cosmetology, Esthetics, Make-up Artistry, Spa Nail Technician and Massage Therapy and innovative business practices. To learn more about Bellus Academy, please visit www.bellusacademy.edu.

(FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.)

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