Manicure: the basics
Treat your hands and feet to this beauty regime once a week for optimum softness and shine. Time commitment: 30 minutes.
Remove old polish. Let a semi-soaked cotton ball sit on the nail a second to loosen polish. Don't wiggle! Wipe in clean strokes to keep polish out of cuticles.
File nails. Clip if you need to. Use emery board to file from the edge to the center, then, from the other edge back to center. Don't saw!
Soak hands and feet. Use warm water with soap, lemon juice or olive oil. This loosens dirt and softens cuticles. Dry. Then clean with brush.
Push back cuticles. Use an orange stick tip wrapped in cotton. Never cut cuticles—it invites infection. Clip hangnails with a small clipper.
Moisturize. Lather on your cream and rub in for a relaxing five minutes. Pat dry with a damp, warm towel. Repeat step one to rid nails of oils.
Polish. Apply one stroke of polish at the middle, then one sweep down each side.
Wait. Polish hardens in about 90 seconds but remains sensitive to dents and scratches for a full 15 minutes. For a super-quick dry, plunge nails into a sink of ice cold water after one and half minutes.

Pick your finish Creme: Color-rich formulas that give you access to the most saturated hues. Frost: Formulas with an iridescent edge that reflect the light, glitter and sparkle

Polish Pluses
A coat of clear polish every other day will extend the life of your manicure or pedicure.
Storing polish in a warm place may change its consistency. Keep nail shades in the refrigerator or a bathroom cabinet.
Create a lighter side of bold: add drops of a dark, rich creme to a bottle of clear polish and shake.

What nails when? Interviews: Keep nails clean, simple and short. Use neutral shades like Peek-a-Boo Pink, or Bronze Ice. Night on the Town: Arrive dark and dramatic: Plum Fairy, Midnight Metal Cabernet, or Classic Red. Naturally Casual: Pink Snow, Clear Ice, and In The Buff go anywhere, anytime.