The Perfect Nude for Every Skin Type

 

For years, there has been a debate on how to choose the right nude for your skin tone. Some say it’s going a shade darker or lighter than your skin, while others say it should mirror your fingertips.

While we don’t believe there are rules when it comes to wearing color, we do believe in helping you find your most flattering personal shade of nude. To help you, we created a guide with light, medium, and deeper skin tones in mind so you can find the best nude polish to compliment you all year round.

Before you begin, you’ll need to know if you have warm, cool, or neutral undertones.

To find out, take a look at your veins. If they’re green to olive, you have warm undertones, which often look best with gold accessories. If they’re blue-green, you are neutral which pairs well with rose gold, and if they air on the side of blue-purple, you’re cool, which looks great with silver. Read on to see our picks for your skin tone, as well as what types of accessories flatter you best.

Nude Nail Colors for Light Skin Tones

If you have light skin with blue or purple undertones, you’ll want to reach for soft pinks like Mod About You or Put it in Neutral. For blueish-greenish undertones, a peachy shade like Mimosas for Mr. & Mrs. or a warmer pink like You’ve Got That Glas-glow will stand out – pair these shades with rose gold accessories, a metal that’s always flattering for this undertone. Olive undertones can opt for warmer hues like Tiramisu for Two.

Nude Nail Colors for Light Medium Skin Tones

Medium-toned skin with cool undertones not only looks great in silver jewelry but shades like Taupe-less Beach, a soft gray with subtle hints of lavender. Blue-green undertones can go cool with Don’t Bossa Nova Me Around or warm with Somewhere over the Rainbow Mountains, while shades like Coconuts Over OPI will look flawless on olive-green undertones.

Nude Nail Colors for Medium Skin Tones

Put it in Neutral and Passion are favorites of ours for tan skin with cool undertones –pinky beiges will always flatter you. Blue-green undertones will look best with warm shades like Krona-logical Order and Somewhere over the Rainbow Mountains, while opaque creme polish like Be There In A Prosecco will perfectly flatter warmer-toned skin– this undertone and shade also looks great with gold accessories.

Nude Nail Colors for Medium Deep Skin Tones

Baby pink shades like It’s a Girl! or a gentle wash of buff like Coconuts Over OPI looks great on medium-deep tones with blue and purple undertones. Neutral undertones will look great with a dove beige color like Icelanded a Bottle of OPI and rose gold rings, while Samoan Sand is a stunning warm nude nail color for skin with olive-green undertones.

Nude Nail Colors for Deep Skin Tones

Deeper-toned skin with cool blue-purple undertones are always flattered by rich shades of rosy pink, like Tickle My Francey or Passion – complete the look with silver stacking rings or bracelets. If you have blue-green undertones, opt for bright, pinky nudes like Tagus in that Selfie, but if you’ve got olive undertones, rich chestnuts like My Italian is a Little Rusty is always a good look.

Book an appointment today for your perfectly matched nude nail look!

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Moms Self Care

 

"I don't need time at the spa... just alone time in my car."

We all deserve self care! Make it a priority! 

Book your appointment at Upkept today to get pampered! 

You deserve it.

How To Break The Nail Biting Habit?

 

Real talk, there is nothing cute about biting your nails. Not only is it unattractive, but it can be a huge burden on your nail health. Whether it's a nervous habit or something you've been doing all your life, there is no time like the present to stop biting your nails. 

Here are some of our tips on how to break your nail-biting habit:

If you bite your nails as a nervous habit, try replacing it with something else, like doodling or squeezing a stress ball. Anything that keeps your hands preoccupied and out of your mouth.

-Treat yourself to a manicure as often as possible. I know, this one might be hard on your wallet but having a gorgeous manicure is a great way to break your nail-biting habit. If you always have healthy and good-looking nails, you won't want to ruin them, especially if you paid good money for them.

- Keep them short. We've mentioned this when it comes to overall nail health, but it's especially important if you have a problem biting your nails. If you get used to filing or clipping your nails regularly, you won't have anything to bite!

- Try a nail-biting solution. Bitrex is a common chemical that is used to make things taste bad. Try applying a similar solution to your nails daily. As soon as you try to put a finger in your mouth, you'll want to spit it out immediately....and brush your teeth.

- If the problem persists, invest in some gloves that you can wear daily (this one might only be helpful in the winter). Wear them as often as you can and especially in circumstances where you are tempted to bite your nails.

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What Are the Benefits of Cuticle Oil?

 

Cuticle oil is a moisturizing product for your nails and cuticles. It’s most commonly made up of vegetable oils and sometimes contains vitamins and citric acid.

Cuticles that are exposed to excessive cold, sun, chlorine, or salty or soapy water can become chapped, cracked, and dry. In these cases of extreme dryness and damage, cuticle oil can help moisturize your cuticle and nail, restoring it to health.

Applying cuticle oil can increase the circulation around your nails, stimulating nail growth. It can also help to protect your nail and cuticle against trauma.

The oil can also help improve the health and appearance of your nail. If you paint your nails, cuticle oil can also protect your polish for a lasting shine.

How to use it

You’ll only need to use a few drops, because most oils work best in small amounts.

Depending on the product you’re using, you can either dab your cuticles with a cotton ball or brush the oil on. Apply a few drops to each cuticle and then massage in for a few minutes.

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Foot Care for Seniors: 10 Important Tips

 

Proper foot care is essential for older adults because it can help prevent injuries, falls and complications from chronic diseases like diabetes. Learn how to properly care for your feet so they can continue to take you wherever you need to go.

1.) Be good to your soles. As you age, the muscle tissue in your feet can thin and your nerves may not work effectively. This can lead to loss of feeling in your feet (neuropathy). Use a long-handled mirror – it will extend your reach several inches – to see what you may not feel. Examine the soles of your feet and in-between your toes every day for cuts, blisters, sores or any areas of skin breakdown from moisture. This is especially important if you have diabetes.

2.) Choose the right footwear. Wearing the right footwear can help you keep your balance, prevent falls and reduce the risk of blisters and other injuries. Never purchase shoes that rub or slide around on your heel as you walk – this is a common way to develop blisters that can become more serious sores. Also avoid shoes that are too tight, slick on the bottom, have high heels or pointy toes. If you have diabetes or neuropathy, talk with your doctor about prescription orthotics (supports or devices worn in your shoes). You may be eligible for custom orthotics partially covered by Medicare.

3.) Get the right fit. Here are a few suggestions:

• Prop up your feet on a stool or couch when sitting down
• Wiggle your toes when you sit for long periods of time
• Stretch daily
• Give yourself regular foot massages

4.) Barefoot isn’t better. When going outdoors, always wear shoes (preferably closed-toe shoes) to prevent cuts, scrapes and falls. It’s also best to wear shoes as much as possible while indoors to protect your feet.

5.) Keep your toenails in tip-top shape. Trimming your toenails correctly (straight across and no shorter than the tip of your toe) is key for preventing ingrown toenails. If you have diabetes or trouble reaching your feet, see a podiatrist (a physician who specializes in foot care), not a nail salon technician, for regular medical pedicures and nail trimming.

6.) Get the blood flowing. As you age, you may have decreased blood circulation to your feet. To promote healthy circulation:

• Prop up your feet on a stool or couch when sitting down
• Wiggle your toes when you sit for long periods of time
• Stretch daily
• Give yourself regular foot massages

And, if you smoke, now’s the time to quit. Smoking can affect good circulation in the body.

7.) Keep your feet dry … Change your socks regularly and make sure your feet aren’t damp from sweat or a shower before putting on your shoes.

8.) … But not too dry. Keep your feet moisturized to prevent cracking, itching and calluses. Stick with gentle soap and apply cream or lotion daily after your shower or bath.

9.) Fight fungal infections. Prevent athlete’s foot by wearing shoes that fit properly, changing your socks or stockings daily (or whenever they become damp) and applying foot powder each day. If you experience itching or burning, see your podiatrist for treatment.

10.) Visit your podiatrist regularly for foot checks. Your podiatrist can catch problems like bone spurs, hammertoe, neuromas, bunions, warts, ingrown toenails or wounds before they cause more serious problems.

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5 Reasons Why You Keep Getting Callus on Your Feet

Why do calluses happen, and what can we do to prevent it? Here are five reasons they can happen, along with foot care instructions on how to prevent calluses from forming in the first place.

1. Your Feet Are Too Dry, And They Need Moisture

Let’s start off by describing what a callus actually is in order to better understand how they form. 

Harvard Health states that “a callus is a yellowish, flat, hard layer of dead skin,” which can cause “pain, difficulty grasping an object,” or discomfort while walking.

Calluses form naturally from dead layers of skin that have been subjected to lots of friction or pressure. 

Under normal circumstances, outer layers of skin shed naturally. Our bodies shed between 0.03 grams and 0.09 grams of skin every hour, according to one study. 

With a callus, the body’s normal mechanisms for shedding skin are interfered with. This is because the cells formed under a callus adapt to friction and grow in a more compact formation. The small size and compactness of the cells make them tougher, to the point where normal friction and air exposure won’t rub them away. The resulting buildup of dead skin cells can feel hard, like dried leather or plastic. 

Providing feet with moisture — meaning lotion, oil, or some other type of water entrapped within a barrier lipid — allows your body to shed skin cells like normally. With extra moisture, the small skin cells within a callus loosen up. Then, the friction that helped build the callus can actually allow it to be gradually stripped away — but exfoliating and soaking definitely helps!

2. You Wear Sandals All the Time

When it comes to why calluses form, “the number one culprit is sandals,” writes Atlanta area provider Piedmont Healthcare. “Open-toed shoes and flip flops allow the feet to slide around, creating friction that leads to dead skin buildup.”

Another issue with sandals is that they expose your feet to the open air, which dries them out. While having sweaty feet can result in problems of its own, wearing shoes and socks can, in most circumstances, allow the body enough moisture to prevent calluses caused by normal walking. There are, of course, exceptions since shoes that move around too much or that constrict too much can also cause calluses.

While there’s nothing wrong with letting your feet get some sunshine in your favorite pair of sandals, remember to treat them kindly at the end of the day. Moisturize them, and give them a good scrubbing with a clean loofah, pumice stone, or another exfoliant. 

Also, give your feet a break from sandals occasionally and put them in a good pair of cotton socks, especially if you’re going to be walking or hiking a lot that day.

3. Your Shoes Don’t Fit Right

Tight shoes constrict your feet, causing pressure and friction that can lead them to develop calluses. Loose shoes can do the same thing, provided they move around enough to generate friction.

Make sure your shoes are sized correctly and take a break from heels if the pressure causes your toes to pinch. Have a pair of nice, comfortable, and supportive tennis shoes or ankled boots ready to give your feet the ample support they need to avoid developing skin conditions.

4. You Aren’t Regularly Exfoliating

Some skin needs a little help to shed naturally, especially in areas of our body like our feet that see lots of wear-and-tear. A simple way to help the body out is to have a gently abrasive scrubber, loofah, or stone available in the shower. However, lots of people have trouble keeping these things clean, so make sure to let yours dry out and to regularly sanitize them. You should also replace them every 1 – 2 months.

If you’ve got a serious case of calluses, a good soak may be in order. You can fill a basin with warm water mixed with Epsom salts, ¼ cup of vinegar, and a teaspoon of any hydrating oil of your choice, such as coconut or avocado oil. It also doesn’t hurt to add a few drops of essential oil!

5. You Have a Routine That’s Rough on Your Feet

There are lots of situations that can lead to calluses, from being forced to walk at your job too much to sitting too much in a way that puts pressure on your feet. Other people have to make repetitive foot motions, such as if you drive for miles on end every day.

If your regular routine seems destined to give your feet a layer of calluses, they may need special attention beyond the above care recommendations. Consult with a podiatrist to see if there’s special footwear, socks, inserts, or lotions for your unique situation. These can help you keep your feet hydrated while avoiding conditions that allow calluses to form. Article Source

UpKept can help assist you with your foot callus...

Book a pedicure with us today to try out our special callus solution add on

How to Whiten Yellow Nails

 

What’s the secret to getting clean white nails? Follow along for two ways to achieve a clean nail look!