How Often Should You Clip Your Nails?

How often should you clip your fingernails? According to the Canadian Dermatology Association, fingernails grow about 2.5 millimeters each month. If you injure your fingernail and it falls off, it takes about 6 months to grow back. If you want to keep your nails a certain length, trim them once every week or two.

Here are some tips for trimming your nails:

• Soften your nails by taking a bath or shower, or soaking them in lukewarm water.
• Use a nail clipper or nail scissors for your fingernails, and a toenail clipper for your toenails.
• Disinfect your tools monthly.
• Cut almost straight across the nail. 

If you don't trim your nails, dirt and germs can get under them, causing infections. Long nails can also break more easily, and can lead to hangnails, tears, or fungal infections. Source

The Health Benefits of Cocoa Butter

“Cocoa butter” sounds luscious, doesn’t it? And it actually is quite a treat — for both your taste buds and your skin. “You can find cocoa butter in many skin products, and it gives chocolate its decadent creaminess,” says dermatologist Alok Vij, MD. “You can also buy pure cocoa butter on its own.”

But what exactly is this magical-sounding substance, and what makes it so good for your skin? Dr. Vij discusses what cocoa butter is, how to use it and the risks and benefits involved.

What is cocoa butter?

Cocoa butter comes from the beans of the cacao plant, which grows in hot, tropical areas. Processed cacao beans produce a fatty substance. After further heat treatment, it becomes cocoa butter. The rest of the bean becomes cocoa powder. Pure cocoa butter is solid at room temperature and smells mildly of chocolate.

What is the difference between cocoa butter and cacao butter?

Product manufacturers often use “cocoa butter” and “cacao butter” interchangeably, but some people argue they’re not quite the same. They claim that cacao butter is the true raw form of the butter while cocoa butter is a refined version.

Cacao gets processed at a low temperature, which is why some people consider it “unrefined.” But cocoa butter gets refined at a high temperature. While some people see them as distinct from each other, you can use them in the same ways, and they offer similar benefits.

Cocoa butter benefits for skin

Cocoa butter provides some excellent skin care benefits. According to Dr. Vij, cocoa butter may:

• Moisturize skin and lips. “Cocoa butter is excellent for dry skin and chapped lips,” says Dr. Vij. “It’s high in several different fatty acids, which help hold in water to keep your skin from drying out.”
• Protect against premature skin aging. Cocoa butter contains vitamin E. This antioxidant may help protect skin cells from damage that leads to signs of aging.
• Relieve eczema and itchy psoriasis plaques. “There’s not much research supporting using cocoa butter for itchy skin conditions such as eczema,” notes Dr. Vij. “But many cocoa butter products are specifically formulated for rashes and psoriasis, and you may find them helpful.”

So now, you might be wondering, is cocoa butter a miracle cure for scars or stretch marks? Not quite.

“There’s no solid evidence that cocoa butter vanishes pregnancy stretch marks or reduces scars, unfortunately,” cautions Dr. Vij. If you’re looking for stretch mark treatment that’s more likely to work, skip the cocoa butter and talk to a dermatologist instead.

What are the risks of cocoa butter?

Dr. Vij notes that there are a couple of potential risks that come with using cocoa butter on your skin:

• Acne. Cocoa butter can cause acne to flare up, especially if you’re prone to breakouts.
• Hormonal effects. A study using human breast cancer cells suggests that cocoa butter may have an anti-estrogenic effect. This means cocoa butter could potentially lower estrogen levels. If you’re concerned about products affecting your hormones, you may want to avoid cocoa butter.

Those risks aside, cocoa butter is generally safe, both to eat and use on your skin. If you’re eating it, just be sure to buy cocoa butter that’s labeled safe for consumption. If you’re using it on your skin, Dr. Vij encourages you to do a spot test first, just to make sure you don’t have an allergic reaction.

If you don’t like the smell or feel of cocoa butter on your skin but want natural skin care, try African black soap or shea butter instead. Like cocoa butter, shea butter is in many skin care products. The two butters have similar moisturizing properties, but shea butter is odorless and softer at room temperature. Source

Your Nails Help Diagnose Nutrient Deficiencies

 

Find out what your nails can tell you about your health. In this video Dr. Eric Berg DC tells us what to look for on our nails for clues of different nutritional deficiencies. The outside of the body gives you a lot of clues as to what’s going on inside. 

 

Do You Really Need a Nail Hardener?

What Is Nail Hardener?

Not to be confused with nail softeners or nail strengtheners (more on those below), “nail hardeners are short-term treatments that work to harden your nail plate — the visible part of the nail — to prevent them from splitting and breaking,” says Queenie Nguyen. Queenie Nguyen is a nail expert. Yashi Shrestha is a cosmetic chemist and the director of science and research at Novi Connect. 

How Do Nail Hardeners Work?

Keratin is a type of protein that is found in everything from your nails to your hair to your skin. “Nail hardeners work by binding the keratin protein in your nails more tightly and hardening your nail plates, making them less flexible,” says Nguyen.

Keep in mind that they're rarely considered clean. “They typically contain ingredients such as formaldehyde, toluene, calcium, and various proteins, which work to reinforce and fortify the nail bed,” says Yashi Shrestha. Ethyl acetate and methylene glycol are other bonding agents commonly found in nail hardeners. 

Who Should Be Using a Nail Hardener?

Nail hardeners are designed for those who need a quick fix to strengthen their soft, bendy nails. “Hardeners are for those who are having extreme difficulty growing out their nails, and the nail breakages are causing pain,” says Nguyen. On the other hand, nail softeners (or conditioners) are for those lacking nail moisture.

Nail strengtheners, meanwhile, are “great for someone who already has nails that are in good shape and wants to prevent brittle or unhealthy nails," she says. "Strengtheners contain ingredients like keratin, which penetrates between the nail layers to help strengthen the nail plate over a period of time."

How to Use a Nail Hardener

Using a nail hardener is pretty straightforward — they’re usually transparent or translucent and are applied just like any nail polish. “Start with clean nails, then use a nail hardener as a base coat underneath your nail polish, or it can be used alone," says Shrestha. "You can also use them with other nourishing nail care products, such as cuticle oil and moisturizer."

While you're repairing your nails, you might want to skip the polish. “Typically, you apply nail hardener once a week to encourage healthy nail growth,” adds Nguyen. 

How Long Does It Take to Work?

Consistency is key, but you don’t want to remain dependent on nail hardeners forever. “The time it takes to see the benefits of a nail hardener can vary depending on the individual and the product being used," Shrestha says. "In general, you may start to see some improvement in the strength and resilience of your nails within a few weeks of using a nail hardener regularly."

However, for long-term results, it pays to be consistent. Also, take time to scope out your nails between manicures. “I suggest looking at your nails closely to feel the difference in nail strength before slowing down the usage of the nail hardener," Nguyen says. "Use nail hardener as a short-term treatment to grow out your nails. Once they grow out, switch over to a nail strengthener to maintain and protect your nails over a longer period of time." Source

The Perfect Fall Nail Polishes For Every Skin Tone- O.P.I

Fall is calling and we’ve got every shade you need to nail sweater weather. Fall in loveeee with the top trending shades of the szn—from bold and transitional to sweet and spicy. We’re talkin’ ripe berry hues, pumpkin spice everything, and super shiny shades that give the summer sun a run for its money. 

When it comes to expressing yourself through color, there are no rules! We believe nail care is for every BODY, but if you’re looking for tips to enhance your natural skin tone, look no further. Whether you have warm, cool, or neutral undertones, this guide will help you find the perfect fall colors for every shade of hue.

Warm Skin Tones

-Intentions are Rose Gold: An iridescent pale pink that shiiiiines with positive vibes. Natural origin. Vegan ingredients. Up to 7 days of wear. -My Italian is a Little Rusty: Rust, but make it fashion! A rich earthy chestnut in our original nail polish formula. -2000 Karats: Your golden ticket to long-lasting nail polish. This metallic gold Infinite Shine hue is totally amped up. Shiniest shiiine ever. Gel-like formula. Up to 11 days of wear.

Cool Skin Tones

-Got the Blues for Red: You’ll never have the blues in this classic blue-based deep red in our best-selling Nail Lacquer formula. -Lincoln Park After Dark: xPRESS your dark side in these enchanting midnight purple pressies. A year-round best-seller you can wear again and again and again. Short, classic length. Up to 14 days of wear. -Less is Norse: A deeeep n’ sultry sea blue in our long-lasting Infinite Shine formula. It’s a true norse of nature. Shiniest shiiine ever. Gel-like formula. Up to 11 days of wear.

Neutral Skin Tones

-Tickle My France-y: Naughty-ish, but always nice. Make a mauve they’ll never forget in these iconic mauve pressies from OPI On Point. Chic squoval shape. Reusable. Up to 14 days of wear. -Leaf by Example: All goes according to plant thanks to this earthy evergreen crème. Natural origin. Vegan ingredients. Up to 7 days of wear. -MillenniYUM: Infinite Shiiiiiiine like the millennium in this turquoise metallic hue that’s soOo 2000s. Shiniest shiiine ever. Gel-like formula. Up to 11 days of wear. Source