I'm not big on nail polish - although I love a french manicure. Usually Essi or OPI although I have mine done when I have a french manicure. I always have my toes polished.

There is a great product by OPI - I believe it's called "Bonded" and it's a base coat that will really, truly extend the life of your manicure.

Yes, wait between the different coats of polish.

tina

tina, are you referring to Orly Bonder, a rubberized basecoat?

Here is a link that might be useful: Orly Bonder

My DD is Ms. Beauty Products and she's got me converted to Chanel nail polish. I had a mani on Sunday, and I had the girl use DD's Chanel polish...not a single chip or even visible wear! It's sooo spendy, but if it lasts this long between coats, yowsa!

Also loving Belle d'Opium by Yves St. Laurant scent.

Yes Nigel - that is it! Sorry - I had the wrong brand. I use it on my toes and if I have a manicure done - I have them use it.

I'm not really a perfume gal, but I will say that I discovered Jo Malone's Fig & Cassis perfume and I love it! I also have Jo Malone Grapefruit perfume which I also love, but to me it's more summery while the F&C seems more like a cold weather fragrance, if that makes any sense.

I am a recent convert to manicures at the salon -- I go about every 2 weeks if I can. If I could remember the name of the OPI polish that's my favorite, I would, but I'm drawing a blank at the moment! A sheer pink I like is called Bubble Bath but there's another one... I'll have to get back to you...

Thanks, Tina. I haven't been doing my nails on a regular basis since my 30s. But when I saw the picture of the color I bought which was on short nails, wow! A whisper of pink.

Sue, do you get fake nails or use your own? I work so much around the house I know if I spent money on a good manicure it'd look awful in a couple of days. lol

I'm hooked on sparkly nails right now. I wore Sally Hansen's Gem Crush on New Year's Eve. It only lasts about a day before chipping though, but since it's sparkly the touch ups were easy.

Oh, and now y'all got me hooked on Pinterest. I can't get enough and seriously think I need an intervention.

I guess this qualifies as a beauty product. I use it, and I do feel prettier! DH bought me a PMD Personal Microdermabrasion kit for Christmas and I love it. I have used various things in the past to exfoliate with, but this baby gives me fresh, glowing skin like nothing I've used before. It comes with two different levels of exfoliating disks - one a bit more abrasive than the other, and so far I have only used the gentler one on my face. It makes my skin a little pink immediately after use, but the coloration doesn't last. I would imagine it might linger a bit longer if/when I switch to the more abrasive disk. I can see the dead top layer of skin being smoothed away as I use this thing. It's really cool.

Here is a link that might be useful: PMD

auntjen-- not that you have any, but how do you think it'd do with wrinkles?

I am no help w/nails or perfume!

Oh, you're sweet Anele - but I definitely do have them! I've not been using the PMD for a very long time, but so far I do see a smoother, more radiant complexion. I think it would help with the very fine lines - smoothing out the skin and making them a bit less noticeable. Unfortunately, that furrow between my brows is something I fear there's no hope for, short of injections.

Oakley, I have been blessed with good strong nails of my own! I keep them short, though. And almost always a lighter/neutral polish so any chips are less obvious. But even with typical housework, dishes, etc., I get a solid week out of a manicure. Also, sometimes I will apply an extra top coat a few days after the mani -- helps it last a little longer!

I just bought Chanel "Chance, au tendre". I've always been a Chanel girl, but this is my fave by far. Several people have commented on it and that has never happened before.

Anyone have experience with the sonic face brush (old brain has forgotten the name already)? I know others have mentioned there was a thread on it a while ago, but I can't seem to find it.

I have the gel put over my nails because by themselves, they'd never get even semi-long. I also always have a French manicure because I hate painting my nails, am not good at it, dislike seeing my nails chipped . . . and clear polish chips hardly show ;^D I even have French pedi's . . . when I get them which isn't often. But, my manicurist does tell me that OPI is the best of the "regular" brands.

As far as face lotions and creams go, I've been using Neutrogena (lotions and face sunscreen) for many years now and swear by it. My dentist just told me today that I have beautiful skin. That's probably because I always wear sunscreen, too, though (LOL!).

Perfumes? After working in healthcare for so many years where you never wear it at work, I still only wear mine (lightly) if it's a night out with DH or another special occasion. Then I wear Estee Lauder's "Tuscany Por Donna", my favorite and only for many years now. The rest of the time I smell like Dove soap or, in the Summer, Coppertone suncreen.
Lynn

Daisy, you are referring I think to the Mia. I use it and love it. We talked about this product just before Christmas. There is also the Clarisonic Opal that works on the wrinkles around the eye area. People who have it also say that it works on the wrinkles around the lip area.

GMA had a segment on the Clairsonic today. The test concluded that while it was better than a washcloth at cleaning the face, it didn't really do much for reducing the size of pores. From someone who owns one ... I'd have to agree.

Here is a link that might be useful: GMA Clairsonic

I love perfumes but seem to buy ones that I love but no one else ever notices. Now I know some of you say that's an excellent thing, but I want to walk by someone and have them say, Wow, you smell great! as opposed to, I didn't know you ever wore perfume.

In the last day, I have been near two people, in stores, who smelled like they seeped in a vat of perfume for a month. Yes, it smelled good as I walked by, but other than that, being in their presence for more than five seconds would have been nauseating.
I wish I could find a balance! I know this is a little ot but maybe someone has some ideas.
I am going to look up Jo Malone next time I head to Nordstroms.
Here's some fragrances I wear and adore: L'eau D'Issey eau de parfum, Daisy eau de parfum, Acqua di Gio edt, Diorissimo edt and on a lesser note, Romance edt.

I try new fragrances all the time but don't like most- Chanel #5, for instance I despise.

At the moment, I like Coach's Poppy, but it doesn't last either.

I have various Antonia's' Flowers on my to find and sample list and now, various Jo Malones. I won't buy anything by a celebrity either. Too many negative associations and I don't care how it smells. No J lo or Mariah on my vanity!

What base and top coats did you order? Base coats normally dry super fast. By the time I finish the 10th nail, I start the polish. Most fast dry top coats are also pretty good but any top coat can be applied right over the 2nd coat of polish as soon as you're done painting them. I use Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat and I can function pretty well in about 5 min. Now I wouldn't recommend pushing hard on your nail to see if it will dent, because it will since it's not completely cured through yet, but I normally will paint my nails and go right to bed. Smudging a nail is actually on my 'go right through me' pet peeve list. I can't imagine not using a fast drying top coat as it saves a lot of time, IMO. If you've never tried a fast dry one before, it could be your new friend! Years ago I also used OPI's RapiDry Spray. I liked that too.

I normally use OPI polish but I'd say I've tried most brands and have no problem using whatever someone throws at me. 95% of the time my hands only see a french manicure because I think it looks best on my hands, has a clean look, and matches everything. My piggers see the color - but only in the warmer months.

I've really stepped away from perfume actually. After reading stuff here about people with allergies and asthma, stuff I never though about because I don't have those things, I just haven't been wearing it. Honestly, there's not many perfumes I like the smell of and even if I do, I don't want to keep smelling it when I'm around that person.

Like detergent - years back I switched to Charlie's Soap and someone recently gave me some clothes (very nice and I'm not complaining!) but they were soooo perfumey until I washed them. So I guess smells somtimes do bother me (just not in the health related way) but because they're too strong or I don't care for the scent. This was before I was pregnant too.

I just came across a sample of an EDT that was in a bunch of goodies I received for Christmas. It's Zents Oolong and it is heavenly! It has a very clean smell - not at all perfumey, just very light with a sweet "I just took a lovely bath" kind of scent. I've now ordered some in their "Concreta" form - solid perfume. I hope I like it as much as I like the sample of EDT.

Here is a link that might be useful: Zents

auntjen, that sounds lovely indeed; I'm tempted to order the sampler kit to try all the scents, I like all the descriptions......

Bumble, I'm the same way. No one ever comments on my perfume but I only spray it on my chest and neck. It's mainly for when I stand close to someone.

Well, I have a new beauty problem. Woke up with a zit on the top of my upper lip! lol. It's a tender area to even mess with. Thank goodness I don't have to really go anywhere except to watch the grands today!