This week I'm obsessed with... Quo by Orly Tough Cookie Strengthener!

It's been a long, cold winter and everything including my nails need some extra love so I've been treating them with:

Quo by Orly Tough Cookie Strengthener - $12 - contains African okoume extract which helps strengthen dry, brittle nails, helping them grow stronger and prevent snapping and breaking.

Part of the new Quo by Orly Treatment line which also includes Glosser - a topcoat for super-slick shine, Bonder - a basecoat for longer lasting manicures and pedicures, CC Creme - a brightening treatment for nails and Nail Defense - a strengthener for splitting and peeling nails.

Available now exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Essie Treat Love & Color shade extension - with swatches!

Essie has expanded their Treat Love & Color line including sheers, shimmers and creams for even more advanced 1-step care and colour options while  treating dry, brittle nails - strengthening in just one week! You will experience 60% less  peeling and 35% less breakage and show off nails that look instantly perfected with brightening  pigments, strengthened by a breathable care formula infused with collagen and camellia extract.

The 18 shades now available:

Sheers:
Gloss Fit - ultra-glossy clear
Treat Me Bright - powder white with blue iridescence
Laved-dearly - lavender with orchid iridescence
Sheers To You - pink blush with amethyst iridescence
Minimally Modest - gentle powdery pink

Shimmers:

Loving Hue - rose quartz with nude luster

Tonal Taupe - beige taupe with hints of golden highlights

Creams:
Power Punch Pink - bright carnation pink

Daytime Dreamer - lilac blossom

Glowing Strong - fresh apricot coral

Tone It Up - enigmatic plum taupe

Indi-go For It! - steely gray blue
A-Game - deep concrete rose

In A Blush - gentle floral white

Pinked To Perfection - blossoming light pink

Good Lighting - porcelain true beige

On The Mauve - warm mauve

Mauve-tivation - pale orchid mauve

Just remember - in order to allow the nail loving formula to penetrate, don't use a base coat!

Available now at beauty destinations across Canada for $11.99 each.

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... CND Rescue Kit!

'Tis the season of manicures and pedicures and nothing looks better with a pair of strappy sandals then a pop of colour on your toes - of course nothing looks worse then a pop of colour on raggedy, un-cared for toes - so save yourself that horrible fate with 3 products from CND that will rescue your nails and lead to perfectly prepped fingers and toes!

CND RescueRXx Daily Keratin Treatment - 15ml - $19.95 - strengthens nails while restoring moisture to dramatically reduce peeling and white spots - with keratin protein - which bonds to natural nail to help strengthen the nail plate; jojoba oil - conditions and moisturizes the nail plate and surrounding skin; and sweet almond oil - moisturizes and softens the skin - for healthier, more beautiful nails in just 4 weeks.

CND Cuticle Eraser -  15ml - $14 - with a rich blend of alpha-hydroxy acids to micro-exfoliate cuticles and  condition the nail plate surrounding the skin and a powerful moisturizer to effectively restore dry, rough skin back to a soft and healthy state as well as prevent hangnails.

CND SolarOil Nail & Cuticle Conditioner - 15ml - $14 - contains sweet almond, jojoba seed and rice bran oils as well as vitamin E to deeply penetrate and protect nails and cuticle area. If you don't normally like oils because you find they don't soak in and end up getting everything you touch all oily, this is the one for you - the oil is super light and absorbs almost immediately - better yet, the sweet almond oil in it makes it smell amazing!

Now that your nails look amazing, it's time for some colour and I particularly love Honey Darlin' from the CND Vinylux Weekly Polish Flirtation Collection - the perfect sunny yellow summer shade that when used with the topcoat, just stays and stays!

Available at salons across Canada - check out www.cnd.com to find one near you.

- Lisamarie -

Formula X The Prescription - hydrating, strengthening and brightening sets with four easy steps!

Formula X introduces The Prescription - $23 - 4 x 3ml - with three, four-piece, intensive nail treatment collections that are designed to help strengthen, brighten, and hyrate nails in four simple steps - locked together in a revolutionary and convenient CLIX! quad.

With 3 sets available to recover, restore, and recharge nails from the most common nail problems in four steps:

Target and treat dry or peeling nails with The Hydrating Prescription - designed to help promote moisture, combat breaking and peeling, and renew damaged cuticles while instantly beautifying your mani with a sheer wash of high-shine color. Hydrate nails with Prime Condition - a conditioning base coat infused with aloe vera, cactus, cucumber, and bamboo to promote moisture; nourish and protect with Sheer Strength Nail Color in Wondrous - a sheer, pink porcelain nutrient-rich lacquer that instantly enhances nails; top off your mani with Condition Plus - a conditioning top coat that contains pentavitin and keratin to help seal in nail health; then, after nails have dried completely, apply Quench - a nourishing blend of oils enriched with vitamin E to help heal dry, damaged cuticles.

Revive dull or discolored nails with The Brightening Prescription - made to eliminate stains, neutralize discoloration, and fight yellowing while instantly brightening nails with a sheer wash of high-shine color. Start over with Brightening Treatment - a stain-removing serum infused with AHA, kiwi, lemon, licorice, and cucumber; eliminate discoloration with Color Corrector - a milky purple base coat formulated with optic brighteners to instantly beautify nails and fight yellowing; achieve extra nail durability with Sheer Strength Nail Color in Wondrous - a sheer, pink porcelain shade; and then lock in vibrancy and gel-like shine with Color Plus - a color-protecting top coat that extends your mani for over a week.

Rejuvenate nails with The Strengthening Prescription - a set that restores weak or gel-damaged nails. Reinforce nails with Prime Strength - a strengthening base coat infused with ceramic, pentavitin, cactus, and bamboo to promote nail durability; nourish and beautify with Sheer Strength Nail Color in Wondrous - a sheer, pink porcelain shade; finish off your mani with Shine Strength - a strengthening top coat that contains acrylic and keratin to help shield nails with a glossy, gel-like finish; once nails have dried completely, nourish and revitalize cuticles with Cuticle Conditioner - a keratin cuticle serum.

Available now at Sephora and sephora.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Manicure must-haves from essie, Guerlain and CND!

essie Gel Setter Top Coat - $11.99 - an unstoppable top coat that offers the rock hard shine of a gel that you can apply at home. With a formula featuring acrylates copolymer - a new technology that provides a thick, plush coating with intense shine and anti-chip properties that can be brushed over any colour polish with all the glass-like quality of a gel with no LED or UVB light required - so it's also easy to remove.

Available now at drugstores and other beauty destinations across Canada.

Guerlain Nailift La Base - $29 - a protecting and perfecting base coat that penetrates the top layers of the nail to help fortify and strengthen nails. It nourishes and protects with essential fatty acids rich argan oil and hydrating vitamin E to regenerate and fortify brittle nails; DMU acts on the keratin of the nail and makes it stronger; and DSB, a derivative or organic sillica - to hydrate and help regenerate tissues.

Available now at Guerlain counters across Canada.

CND RescueRXx Daily Keratin Treatment - $29.99 - strengthens nails while restoring moisture to dramatically reduce peeling and white spots - with keratin protein - bonds to natural nail to help strengthen the nail plate; jojoba oil - conditions and moisturizes the nail plate and surrounding skin; and sweet almond oil - moisturizes and softens the skin - for healthier, more beautiful nails in just 4 weeks.

Available at salons across Canada - check out www.cnd.com to find one near you.

- Lisamarie -

Add some muscle to your manicure with OPI Nail Envy Strength + Color - with swatches!

OPI Nail Envy Strength + Color - $22.50 - combines the fortifying power of OPI’s Original Nail Envy Nail Strengthener with softly tinted colour and infused with hydrolyzed wheat protein and calcium which delivers maximum strength to transform weak, brittle, damaged nails into stronger, longer, harder nails shining with bold, true-to-bottle colour.

Hawaiian Orchid - tropical pink with hints of light purple

Samoan Sand - warm beige-pink

Bubble Bath - sweet candy pink

Pink to Envy - sheer light pink

 

Available now at salons across Canada.

 

- Lisamarie -

Trind Caring Color Nail Lacquer Summer Shades - with swatches and a special discount offer!

Trind Caring Color Nail Lacquer Summer Shades - $13 - offers fashionable shades for fabulous summer nails with colours that have specially been developed to maintain the health and vitality of nails.

The Trind Caring Color Line works even better when used with Trind's treatment products - I particularly love the Trind Keratin Nail Restorer - $22.50 -  a nail strengthening product for weakened or damaged nails that you use for four to six weeks to get nails back to good health - :the combination has an incredible effect on the nails. The high-tech innovative formulation in Caring Colors contains active ingredients that strengthen and improve the overall condition of the nail, optimize adhesion of polish to prolong the life of your manicure, and creates a beautiful sheen. The line includes a base coat and top coat with the active ingredients to maintain and sustain the health and appearance of beautifully polished nails!

Luscious Lavender

Icing On The Cake

Mighty Macaron

And right now is the perfect opportunity to try Trind Caring Colours for the first time or stock up your already extensive lacquer wardrobe with their 2 for 1 deal - buy any Trind Caring Color and receive the second one free.

Use the code - CARING2FOR1 online at www.trind.ca and you can find more info on the line along with pretty pictures at https://www.facebook.com/trindca.

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Masque Bar by Look Beauty Nail Treat Mani Fingernail Mask!

I already loved Masque Bar for all their great facial mask options and now there's even more to love with their new options for hands and feet:

Masque Bar by Look Beauty Nail Treat Mani Fingernail Mask - 4 sets of 10 finger masks - $9.99 - gently exfoliate rough skin around nails and help repair damage caused by manicure products. Rough hands and brittle nails are softened and moisturized with parrafin wax, milk protein extract, coconut extract and argania extract.

The masks are meant to be worn for 30-60 minutes which unless you are very good at sitting still can become a problem. I have small fingers and the fingernail masks tended to slip around a lot on me so I solved the problem by wearing cotton gloves over them to keep them in place - this also offered the added benefit of adding heat which helped the serum penetrate more leaving me with the softest, smoothest fingers ever!

When you need help for the whole hand there is also a Moisture & Nourish Hand Mask - designed to restore suppleness to dry, rough, overworked hands with peach extract, shea butter and witch hazel or pamper winter-dry feet with Intensive Moisturizing Foot Mask - with shea butter, apple extract and peppermint to soften and repair cracked and calloused feet and heels from the first application.

Available now exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

The perfect manicure starts with a treatment from Nicole by OPI, Trind and Avon!

Nicole by OPI 3-in-1 - $10.99 - everything you need for the perfect manicure: base, top coat and strengthener - in one convenient bottle.

Available at select Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Jean Coutu, Loblaws and London Drug stores across Canada.

Trind Natural Nail Care Keratin Treatment for Nails - $45.95 -  contains a treatment duo consisting of Trind Nail Restorer and Trind Nail Protector which provide strength and moisturizing effects for the nails with a mild, chemical free solution necessary for thin, brittle and chipped nails, even the most sensitive that have been damaged by wearing artificial nails or from the use of medicines or other environmental influences. In about 4 weeks, it will repair your damaged, brittle and thin nails perfectly, and is especially great if you are sensitive to traditional nail strengtheners and fortifiers

Available online at NailPolishCanada.com, SpaBoutique.ca, SkinStore.com and SkinDirect.com.

Avon Nail Experts Ridge Filling Base Coat - $6.99 - smooths out bumps, ridges and helps disguise imperfections to create an ultra-smooth surface that provides the perfect canvas for your polish.

Available from your Avon rep - 1-800-265-AVON or online at www.avon.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Strengthen your nails with Nail Tek, Sally Hansen, Avon and Witchcraft!

Nail Tek Strong & Healthy Nails - $37 - Available in 4 formulations for every type of nail to help strengthen, protect and reinforce your nails with their uniquely combined formulations of protein conditioners - each kit contains: Foundation Ridge Filling Base Coat -15ml, Strengthener - 15ml (specific to the nail type) and a Swarovski Crystal Nail File

Strong & Healthy Kit: This kit is designed for natural nails that are in excellent condition, and only require maintenance to keep them strong and healthy looking.

Soft & Peeling Kit: This kit is designed to treat weak, thin, soft or peeling nails. This unique protein formulation seals the layers of the nail together, to reinforce and thicken the nails while promoting strength and flexibility.

Dry & Brittle Kit: This kit is designed for nails that are hand, dry and brittle which require extra conditioning. This formulation replenishes the natural moisture content of the nail to regain the healthy balance necessary to resist stress and prevent breaking.

Difficult Kit: This kit is a highly effective treatment designed for nails resistant to conventional strengtheners. This concentrated formulation provides the extra strength necessary to correct severe nail weakness.

Available from The Shopping Channel - www.theshoppingchannel.com

 Sally Hansen Nail Nutrition Green Tea + Banboo Nail Strengthener - 13.3ml - $10.99 - bonds and seals weak nail layers to resist breaking.

Avon Nail Experts Mineral Fix - 12ml - $6.99 - micro-particle, mineral-enriched formula fills in tiny cracks in reinforce and revive damaged nails to help them feel stronger, more durable and look rejuvenated.

Available from your Avon rep - 1-800-265-AVON or online at www.avon.ca

Witchcraft Nail Hardener - 10ml - $10.49 - enhances nail growth while protecting and sealing the nail surface to prevent chipping, cracking, splitting and peeling.

- Lisamarie -

Trind Natural Nail Care wants you to have perfect looking nails for the holiday! Contest!

Trind Natural Nail Care Holiday Perfect System Kit Gift Set - $70 - included in the kit are: Extra Mild Cuticle Remover - 9ml - a gentle and effective formula that works to soften your cuticles, perfectly priming them for easy removal with the provided manicure sticks; Cuticle Repair Balsam - 9ml - a uniquely formulated treatment that uses natural moisturizers such as d-panthenol, allantoin, hyaluron-acid and phytantroil, to prevent dry cuticles and hangnails; Hand Repair - 25ml - a rich, moisturizing hand cream that works to revitalize the feel and appearance of your hands without ever leaving them greasy; Moisturizing Nail Balsam - 9ml - a hydrating formula that contains natural moisturizers that provide continuous care for dehydrated nails and dry cuticles. Oil-free and fast absorbing; Natural Nail Repair - 9ml - a unique and effective nail strengthener that reinforces the connection between the protein molecules in your nails, keeping them strong and flexible without ever turning them yellow or dry. Natural colour; Nail-Magic  - 9ml - a specially designed nail buffer that helps to activate the production of natural moisturizers in the nails, which are essential for healthy growth; Manicure Sticks - a set of hand-sanded manicure sticks that work to lift and remove overgrown cuticles; and Trind Perfect System Brochure.



Whether you are looking to perfect your own nails for holiday manicures or looking for the perfect gift for the nail enthusiast on your list, you will love this set! In my opinion, nothing sets off the beautiful reds and golds of the season then healthy looking cuticles and nails! You can pick up the kit at eBeauty.ca and receive free shipping or better yet, enter to win it!


This contest is open to all our Canadian followers and it's very easy to enter, just leave a comment letting us know that you follow (if you aren't a follower you can sign up through Google or Facebook - signups are in the right sidebar)

1 entry for following and answering the question - What is your favourite holiday manicure colour? Please also leave your e-mail so we can find you if you win!

And for extra entries:

Visit the A Facebook page and "like" them - www.facebook.com/eBeauty.ca
Follow @BeautyCrazedCan on Twitter and tweet the contest.
Follow @shopebeauty on Twitter and tweet the contest.
 

If you prefer not to leave your info on a public post, please leave a post saying you want to enter and then e-mail your info to info@beautycrazed.ca, please put "Trind Contest" in the subject line.  Remember to leave the post or you name won't actually end up in the draw! Winner to be decided by random drawing and you have until December 12th to enter. Good Luck!

- Lisamarie -

Beautify your cuticles with GoNails, Ecrinal, Sally Hansen and Witchcraft!

With this cold weather, everything on me is drying out but for some reason my cuticles seem to be getting the worst of it!  Here are some cuticle treatments I have been trying lately:

GoNails Natural Nail Growth Treatment - .5 fl oz - $24.99 + S&H - it's the first dermatologist backed, clinically researched nail and cuticle treatment cream. It works to strengthen and grow nails as well as heal cuticles. I have been using it for about 3 weeks and it does a nice job of moisturizing my cuticles and keeping them from getting ragged.  My only complaint would be the pump container, there is no way of doing half a pump, and a full pump is way more then I need so I end up using the rest as hand cream and I think this stuff is way to expensive to be using it as that! I can't speak to the nail growth aspect of it as I keep my nails short but they have some pretty impressive before and after pictures that you can find here.  There is a 30 day money back guarantee so I guess you really can't go wrong.  You can go to their website for more info or to purchase at http://www.mygobeauty.com/index.php 

Ecrinal Cuticle Softening Gel - 10ml - $13.49 - contains glycerin and AHA and comes with an orange stick - I like that it has the AHA, I find when I use this one I end up cutting my cuticles less (I know I'm not supposed to cut them but I find it strangely satisfying!)

Sally Hansen Problem Cuticle Remover - 28g - $8.99 - contains aloe vera and comes with 2 orange sticks - this one is super thick so does an amazing moisturizing job - I find it works best when I let it sit for about 5 minutes - it lets all the moisture soak in and my cuticles are so soft by then they push in really easily!

Witchcraft Almond Oil - 10ml - $6.99 - if I'm going right to bed and won't be touching anything then this is a good one as I find it leaves an oily residue if I touch anything - well it's oil so that makes sense!

Do you have a favourite cuticle treatment that you think I need to try?

- Lisamarie -

New and Notable from Shoppers Drug Mart - Marcelle, Sally Hansen, DKNY and the Optimum Program turns 10 - which means presents for you!

 Marcelle has some new launches including 2 new Wet & Dry Eye Shadow Quads:  Royalty - pink/rose/plum/purple and Teal Chic - champagne/teal/green/grey - $14.25

 

 Lux Diamond Liquid Eyeliner - $11.95 - silver or pure gold sparkle

Lux Metallique Liquid Eyeliner - $11.95 - ultraviolet, aqua, cobalt blue or jade.

Power Volume Mascara - $11.95 - black, brown and navy - extreme volume for a dramatic effect.

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Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen - $7.95 - in 8 colours:  white, black, light pink, hot pink, blue, red, silver and gold.  They have a precision tip so are perfect for something as simple as a french manicure or as creative as a fancy design!  The formula is water-based so will wipe off instantly if you goof!

Sally Hansen Nail Nutrition Green Tea + Olive Growth Treatment - $8.99 - instantly protects for longer, stronger nails in 7 days.  Instantly protects and reinforces problem nails for healthy growth as well as conditions and adds flexibility to short, brittle nails resulting in longer, stronger nails.

Sally Hansen Nail Nutrition Green Tea + Soy Cuticle Oil - $7.99 - instantly softens, smoothes and nourishes dry cuticles.  Nourish rough, ragged cuticles and helps soothe and soften hangnails.  Helps prevent future cuticle damage and adds flexibility to nails.

Pure DKNY - 50ml - $75, 100ml - $98 - contains notes of vanilla, dew-drop, lotus, rose, transparent jasmine, freesia, orchid, white amber and sandalwood - and a minimalist looking bottle.

In honour of Optimum's tenth birthday, they are giving away 10 million optimum points - to enter, play the Optimum Personality Game - www.optimumpersonality.ca (I'm a hoarder) And the next time you are in store and spending $10 or more pick up your card for an instant chance to win one of 10 Ford Fiestas!

- Lisamarie -

You Nailed It! Orly, Avon and Sally Hansen

Warm weather activities can take a toll on nails!  Sun, chlorinated pools and gardening can leave your nails weak and looking crappy.

Orly Sunscreen For Nails UV Protection Topcoat - 18ml - $18 - creates a barrier between your nails and the sunlight. The protector provides protection for every colour under the sun; the advanced U.V. absorbent, high-shine topcoat and bond, protects polish from damaging rays which are responsible for undoing all your hard work - even with how obsessed I am with sunscreen, I never even thought about what it was doing to my nails - great idea!  Orly is available at Sally's, www.cupidandgrace.com and numerous other places!

Avon Nail Experts Mineral Strength - 12ml - $6.99 - formulated with the protection power of oyster shells and Dead Sea salts.  Helps nails appear smoother, healthier and moisturized.  It can be used alone or as a base coat.  Available from your Avon rep 1-800-265-AVON or online at www.avon.ca

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shield - $10.99 - pre-treated, sheer colour strips instantly bond to nails for maximum protection and strength, with a hint of colour for an instant manicure.  Up to 14 days of wear with no chipping and they come in 3 subtle colours.  Contain a pearl protein and natural botanical formula that nourishes nails for up to 14 days.

- Lisamarie -