Hello lovelies, 

It has been quite a while since I shared with you the products I use to keep my nails in shape and healthy so here's a new update with some new products you might not have seen before. 

I take my nail care very seriously because it has proven it has a real impact on my nails. When I stop caring for my nails, don't apply nail oil several times a day and don't use hand creams, my nails feel dry, brittle and they break easily. It really pays off for me to spend few minutes a day caring for my nails - what about you?

Let's have a look at the products that I currently use on regular basis:

1. Yardley London English Freesia Hand Cream* - This is the hand cream I currently use most of the time and it's part of the new Yardley Spring release. It has a fresh freesia flower scent with hints of citrus. It soaks into the skin fast which I really appreciate. I don't like to use greasy or sticky hand creams during the day and that's why I love this hand cream. It leaves my hands lovely smooth and nourished. It contains "freesia extract combined with shea butter, peach kernel oil, antioxidant vitamin E and chia seed oil" - all that and 100ml of cream for under £4.50.  Also, it's a British brand so let's support British businesses, right?

2. All That Jazz Cuticle Oil - I've been using various All That Jazz manicure range products for the past years and I've always been very happy with all of them. They are marketed for both consumers and salon professionals which tells me that if they are good enough for professional use, then they're definitely good enough for regular consumers at home. Their cuticle oil in the Captivate scent (musk and coconut oil blend) is one of their products I use the most. I still have the original vintage-style packaging. They've recently changed into more modern black packaging just so you know. Just a bit of the oil goes a long way and it leaves my nails nourished and flexible again. It contains "fractionate coconut oil, vitamins A, C and D and carotenoids".

3. Mont Bleu Crystal Nail File - These Czech crystal files have been my staple for years and I'm not giving them up anytime soon! If you're still using cheap disposable nail files/emery boards, STOP! Stop and try a good quality crystal nail file and you'll see the difference. My natural nails love crystal nail files! It keeps the edge smooth and sealed and it helps in preventing splitting and breaking. 

4. SpaRitual Cuti-Clean Cuticle Remover - I keep coming back to SpaRitual Cuti-Clean as my favourite cuticle remover because it just works so well and fast! It has a little glass dropper that helps with putting the product exactly where I need it. As soon as I finish putting it on my last nail, I can start working on the first one. It makes the cuticle removing process very fast and easy. Sometimes my nails start to get a yellow staining after painting my nails with dark colours so I really appreciate the stain removing properties. What's your favourite cuticle remover?

5. Sally Hansen Moisture Rehab* - This is a surprise product because I never thought I would like it as I'm a big fan of nail oils. Moisture Rehab is and overnight serum but truth to be told, I use it at any time of the day. It has gel-like consistency that soaks into skin and nails fast when massaged in. For especially effective overnight treatment I massage the Moisture Rehab into my nails and then apply cuticle oil over it. My nails and cuticles are in top form in the morning! It contains a "blend of natural actives including black orchid, acai and algae to deliver deep moisture and nutrient rich actives". Sounds good to me!

6. The Little Book of Nail Art by So Nailicious* - This little book is not a nail or hand care product as you've probably guessed but it is my go-to product for sketching and planning nail designs. This pink design has template for round nails but almond and square nail templates are also available. I often get nail art ideas just before I fall asleep so I keep one of these on my night stand. We all know that those ideas are gone and forgotten in the morning unless we write them down! And lastly, this book is an idea and product from a fellow blogger Maria aka So Nailicious so even if you don't plan on buying yourself this Little Book of Nail Art, at least check out Maria's blog, she's an amazing nail artist!

I hope I gave you little insight into my favourites and also inspired you to try something new. What are your current fave products?

Have a lovely day! Lucie x

*Post contains products previously sent for consideration, my honest opinion was given regardless. 

Hello lovelies,

I've received a surprise package from Sally Hansen with a Fashionista Box*. It contained a selection of Madeline Poole's essential Sally Hansen products for Fashion Week shows and I really liked the idea of 'insider tips' that I want to share it with you. It was very exciting to discover what are 'the hero products' of such a great manicurist and a Sally Hansen Global Ambassador.

I've only tried one of the products before so I had to try the others first before writing this review. Let's have a look at the (stylish) box and the products...

The box itself was packed in another outer box and in an orange sleeve with Sally Hansen logo on it. There are five full-sized products in this selection box: Two cuticle care and three nail polish products. All of them fit snuggly into cut-out cardboard inside of this cool bright orange box. I mean - how well-thought is this packaging? I'll be definitely re-using this box after removing the inside :)

The first product I'll be looking at is the Sally Hansen Nail Rehab strengthener:

The Nail Rehab strengthener has a light peachy colour and it's quite translucent but the opacity can be built up. As you can see above, it is almost invisible in one coat and I found it was nicely colour-correcting int he first coat. If you have short nails, want naturally-looking nails without applying regular polish, you can apply two coats and it will look very nice. But please be careful when using any nail strenghteners - use them if your nails are oily and paper thin and need hardening. On the other hand if your nails are dry, brittle and splitting, use nail/cuticle oil with jojoba oil several time a day.

The bottle comes with a silver mirror-effect cap with small and short nail brush. The brush allowed for an easy and precise application. Base coat shouldn't be applied thickly so you only need a little bit of product, no need for huge brushes anyway.

Next product is Insta-Dry Top Coat. I've noriced that many ladies in various Facebook groups recommend this as a great topcoat and I must say I was very pleasantly surprised. It's formula is on the thinner side and brush is quite thin as well but it applied easily and dried fast and glossy. I'll be definitely using up this bottle, it's a great top coat!

"A quick-dry, chip-resistant top coat. Exclusive acrylic polymer formula hardens and dries any nail color to the touch in just seconds. Double UV filter formula helps protect nail color."

There were two top coats in this set, each very different. The second top coat is Gel Shine 3D Top Coat. It has thicker gel-like consistency and the brush is flat and with rounded bristles. I found the bristled to be ttoo firm so that it wasn't bending enough when I was topcoat nail art and it smudged it. I also didn't like the formula that much. I had to apply quite thick coats otherwise there was a bit of patching and dragging. It's also took a while for it to dry enough and for the first time in years I ended up with ruined nails with different imprints from my clothes etc. It's a shame but this top coat just didn't work for me. Interestingly, the Miracle Gel Top Coat is really good.

Let's move on to the cuticle care products. Cuticle Rehab is a cuticle oil treatment that comes in a 8.8ml squeeze out tube and it has thick gel consistency. It can be easily applied with the built-in brush which is nice and soft. It smels kind of fruity, like a yellow melon. I haven't been using it that long but it seems nourishing to the skin and cuticles so I'll keep using it.

"Helps reduce nail breakage. An intense, brush-on cuticle oil that instantly smoothes, softens & helps restore moisture to cuticles. Formulated with Jasmine & Rose extracts and Vitamin E, which are known to calm and soothe."

Last product I want to share with you is the Instant Cuticle Remover. I've tried this remover before and I still use it on occasion. It comes in a bottle with a squeeze out tip and it has a gel consistency. It works very fast and effective and it is a good cuticle remover. The reason i don't use it all the time is that it shouldn't be left on the nails for more than a minute which tells me it must be some pretty strong stuff. I like to take my time with cuticles so I prefer slower-working products.

"Maximum strength formula leaves cuticles smooth & soft. Great for calluses too! Formulated with Chamomile and Aloe, known to help calm & soothe."

How to use: Squeeze a thin strip around cuticles and under nail tips. After 15 seconds gently push back cuticles with a cuticle pusher or manicure stick. Wash away excess immediately and thoroughly with warm soapy water. To remove calluses, apply to callus for 1 minute. Wash away excess immediately and thoroughly with warm soapy water. Do not leave on longer than 1 minute.

So that was five Sally Hansen picks from the fabulous Madeleine Poole. My favourite must be the Insta-Dry Top Coat, it's a really good one.

I don't think the Fashionista Box as a whole is available for sale (I couldn't find it) but you can buy all the products it contains. It might even be better for most because you can decide which products you'd like to try. All of the Sally Hansen products are available at the UK website and at the US website and all the other international outlets that sell Sally Hansen.

Hope you've enjoyed today's review and have a lovely day! Lucie x

*Products sent for review