Focus on hands

My intention to write about hands has finally come to life. I want to share with you a few thoughts about hand treatments and embellishments (aka nail polishes and similar things). About a year ago I had the opportunity to work with a good manicurist on a photo shooting and because our artistic collaboration was great, she kindly invited me to her nail salon and as a thank you she proposed me to do gel nails. I know what gel nails are and I’ve never worn them, but since she was so kind, I said to myself to give a try to see how does it feel and to see the process from first hand… To make things short, I was shocked at the end  because – first: the UV lamp has totally dehydrated my skin although she has put me on a nourishing hand cream, second: I have felt a strange unpleasant feeling that my nails cannot “breath”- coated with all the “baked plastic” on top. And last: from an esthetic point of view I find gel nails so fake (and for me very ugly), especially because of all that layers on top of the nail. When I felt that my nails literally couldn’t breath, I realized how important they are! You know, nothing is given us by chance, everything has its function and meaning. It was interesting to try the process, how it works and looks like, but I’d never repeat this again.
When it comes to hand treatments I mainly look for nourishing hand creams with natural ingredients. Regarding embellishments as you could understand from the story above I don’t wear gel nails. I do wear nail polish from time to time, but I’m not a nail polish junk at all 🙂 I also know the fact that a natural nail polish does not exist. Also because of some synthetic colors that cannot be achieved from natural sources. And so I admit, I don’t focus so much on nail polish issue with ingredients because I know it does not exist a completely natural one. There are some water based versions on the market but sincerely I haven’t got the opportunity to try them yet. So, when I want to wear a lovely color of nail polish (in that rare moments) I look for a “greener” version. I used to wear Zoya, but now I have discovered another brand that I’ll present you below.

Beyond organic replenishing hand cream

I’ll start with the greenest version among hand treatment products. The hand cream I’m in love with this winter comes from Beyond, a UK based brand that I’ve already presented you in the past. Here is the link about them.
This cream comes in a 50ml glass jar and it looks almost like a butter. It has a thick consistency, thus very nourishing, but it absorbs quite well in the skin. Some of you might not like that is in a jar, because is not so handy to carry and use everywhere, but personally I find it great especially for evening treatments when you can overload the cream and leave it on your hands to really restore and nourish the skin. This hand cream smells fantastic, loaded with many natural ingredients like all Beyond organic products.

INCI: Rose Hydrolat (Rosa damascene)*, Gold of Pleasure oil (Camelina Sativa)* and Sunflower Oil (Helianthus Annuus)* infused with: Mallow (Althea officinalis)*, Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris)* and Comfrey (Symphytum spp)*. Shea Butter (Vitellaria Paradoxa)*, Sesame Oil (Sesamum Indicum)*, Macadamia Oil (Macadamia Integrifolia)*, Olive Leaf Emulsifier (Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate), Beeswax (Cera Alba)*, Sea Buckthorn Fruit and Seed Oils (Hippophae rhamnoides)*, Lecithin (Lyosolecithin)*, Corn (Propanediol), Grapefruit Seed Extract (Citrus paradisi)*, Rosemary Anti-oxidant (Rosemarinus Officinalis)*, Willow Bark Extract (Salix Alba), Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Essential Oils (containing Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Citronellol and Citral) *Organic Ingredients (94.6%)

A plethora of extra nourishing vegetable oils protects the skin and moisturizes it well. While 2 plant extracts give additional benefits.
Blue Mallow: Due to the astringent, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties of the plant it could be useful externally as an herbal treatment for wounds, boils, skin rashes, insect bites, pimples, eczema, acne and swellings.
Lady’s mantle: Among many other benefits for women problems, lady’s mantle has the ability to treat and repair skin disorders such as rashes, wounds, and cuts and even insect bites.

Green make-up tip  Massage a generous amount of cream into hands and around the nail cuticles and leave it on hands while relaxing. If you want additional nourishment, put on a pair of white cotton gloves and leave them on for a couple of hours or even during the night. Your hand’s skin will be super smooth, nourished and moisturized without being dry and cracked.

Kure bazaar nail polishes (Winter collection) review

I admit I should have written this post before, because these 2 lovely nail polishes are from this winter collection. But I’m going to wear them anyway even now (maybe not in summer when I start craving for brighter colors). First, I thought that I wouldn’t like those 2 colors, even though grey was everywhere this season. But somehow I felt in love with these 2 lacquered matte greys from the Winter limited edition collection. They are called Smokey(darker grey) and Cashmere(lighter grey shade). I have already mentioned Kure bazaar in one of my posts and I’m really glad that the industry has started to find new ways towards safer options. I love the fact that these polishes don’t smell so strong and that they have an incredible thick texture without being too dry! Even one coat, maximum 2 coats are already enough for a long lasting finish. And without the top coat over! What is really incredible is that the polish dries quick and that it doesn’t cheap so much. It also doesn’t leave that ugly streaks. This is why I decided to mention this brand. I remember that when I was using normal polishes, I was always angry, because or they haven’t dried quickly, or they have peeled off quickly. And so I used to have many polishes, without using them, cause I was impatient with them 🙂 Yes, nail polish is the beauty product that I like the less in general, although I find all those colors very attractive. Coming back to Kure bazaar, I like the fact that they have started to use natural derived ingredients. However, they are not among the greenest versions (like water based polishes) but they are definitely making steps in green world.

“Kure Bazaar‘s formula is up 85% of natural origin based on wood pulp, wheat, cotton, potatoes and corn. A new philosophy that preserves the vitality of nails respecting their natural cycle of regeneration.”

This is what they claim at Kure bazaar. They are also 4-free, which means that is free from 4 very toxic ingredients: without Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phthalate, Toluene and Formaldehyde Resin. I know it’s not the greenest choice to wear nail polishes and I rarely wear them but since I’m a color obsessed (this is why I’m a make-up artist 🙂 I cannot cut off the colors from my life. I know you’ll understand, thanks 🙂 But if I will try meanwhile any new nail polish that will be even better and greener, I will share for sure with you. Honestly, till now I wasn’t focused at all on polishes because as I said I don’t use to wear them so much.
Here I’ve also found a nice article where the main point about nail polishes and their ingredients is explained so well.

In the future I’ll do my best to keep you more informed even on green products for our lovely hands 🙂