Skyy Hadley is an extremely sought after manicurist, and the owner of the As “U” Wish Nail Spa in Hoboken, NJ.  Her skilled hands have serviced celebrities like Liv Tyler, Claire Danes, Uma Thurman… and even Puffy (Sean Combs).  Today, Skyy has these fabulous pedicure tips and tricks to share with Raging Rouge readers!

“For a truly perfect pedicure, you should go to a nail professional. However, when life gets crazy, you often have to take your feet into your own hands,” says Skyy. “When performing a pedicure at home is your only option, there are techniques to follow that will ensure your feet stay healthy and look beautiful.”
 
TIP ONE: Milk It
After removing nail polish and spraying feet with an antiseptic, soak feet in water and milk. Adding milk is a crucial step as water can strip skin of moisture and leave feet drier. Milk naturally exfoliates and nourishes the skin and it’s right in your refrigerator.

TIP TWO: Care for Cuticles with Caution
Lightly shape the toenails by cutting nails back slightly and massaging toes and feet with cream or oil. After feet have soaked for a few minutes, push back the cuticles – do NOT cut them. Cutting them creates more hangnails and can even lead to infection.
 
TIP THREE: Scrub Wisely
Lightly buff the nail plate while it is still moist with a cuticle cream or conditioner. Then buff the skin on your feet by applying a foot scrub and massaging the formula deep into the skin, concentrating on trouble spots. To really smooth things over, use a diamond file (avoid pumices as they trap bacteria) on particularly rough patches like the heel and ball of the foot. 
 
TIP FOUR: Stay Polished
To maintain and prolong color, use a primer on the nails first. This step actually dehydrates the nail by bringing the natural oils out, making color grip longer. After applying color, add a top coat. Three days later, apply a top coat again to prevent color from chipping.
 
TIP FIVE: Smooth Things Over
Keep heels from cracking by massaging shea butter, light oil and/or Vaseline at night. Then, put socks on so the skin can absorb the formula even deeper overnight.

As a child, one of my very favorite thing to do was color.  While creating for hours on end with my jumbo box of crayons, I would periodically attempt to determine once and for all–what color is most beautiful?  After careful and lengthy deliberation, I always narrowed down the pack to two shades:  blue-green and green-blue.  Ultimately, blue-gree, would always win the beauty contest by a nose.

So when I first set eyes on MAC Cosmetics Summer 2010 collaberation with Alice + Olivia, “Morning After” Nail Lacquer (the gorgeous turquoise shade pictured at center) was the very first product that caught my eye.  It is the exact shade of that perfect, most-beautiful blue-green shade I always admired as a child!

The Alice + Olivia makeup collection contains three different shades of long-wearing nail lacquer, each in a different finish.  As always, the MAC formula is free of DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde.  I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again… MAC Nail Lacquer wears so well!  I’ve had a pedicure last for a month, chip-free!

Swatch above:  Morning After, a blue-green shade with a cream finish.

Swatch above:  So Rich, So Pretty, a bright purple shade with a frost finish.

Swatch above:  Military, a gritty asphalt shade with a matte finish.

I suppose So Rich, So Pretty is the most appropriate shade selection for a 30-something Mom, but I love the whole collection–age appropriate or not!

Retail price is $12 per bottle.

Click HERE to shop at MAC online.

Click HERE to buy MAC at Nordstrom online.

Click HERE to shop MAC at Macy’s.

The author of the Raging Rouge Beauty Blog received press samples for purposes of this makeup review / product review. For more information on sample policies, please click HERE to read my full disclosure statement.

A collaboration with Stacey Bendet of alice + olivia fame, MAC’s latest limited-edition collection will hit counters on July 8th, and will be available until August of 2010. 

Filled with fun, vibrant colors with a city-girl edge, the collection features three new shades of Dazzleglass Creme, three pigments and three must-have nail lacquer shades.

DAZZLEGLASS CREME
Sparklicious: Creamy, softest pink with multidimensional pearl.
I.Want.Candy: Electric yellow with a sparkling edge.
If It’s Pink: Shimmering, hot to trot pink.
$18 U.S., $21.50 CDN

PIGMENT
If It Sparkles: Frosty white plus a touch of pink.
Partylicious: Groovy turquoise mixed with silver sparkle.
Later: Deepest black with a hint of purple pearl.
$19.50 U.S., $23.50 CDN

NAIL LACQUER
So Rich So Pretty: A party-ready purple with a hint of frost.
Morning.After: Creamy, get-noticed turquoise.
Military: Black matte with silver suede.
$12, U.S., $14.50 CDN

Click HERE to shop at MAC online.

Click HERE to buy MAC at Nordstrom online.

Click HERE to shop MAC at Macy’s.

If you’re in the market for a super-vibrant tulip shade of pink, be sure to grab a bottle of Rimmel London’s Posh Pink Nail Lacquer! 

At a mere $3.99 per bottle, Rimmel London Lasting Finish Pro Nail Enamel is actually enriched with micro-sized minerals to help fill in ridges on the nail surface.  An extra wide, flat brush makes application controlled and easy.

Rimmel London products can be found at most drugstores, and Target.

Did you know Rimmel London was founded in 1834???  Fairly new to us here in the USA (as of 2001) this brand is literally a part of history!

The author of the Raging Rouge Beauty Blog received press samples for purposes of this makeup review / product review. For more information on sample policies, please click HERE to read my full disclosure statement.

MAC In The Buff nail lacquer–one of two polish shades offered in the limited-edition “To The Beach” collection–forces me to think outside the box!

This opaque nude shade really stands out with golden green undertones.  So unusual!

As always, MAC nail lacquer is free of DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde.  The formula also has MAJOR staying power, so it’s a great choice for active women.

Retail price is $12 per bottle.

Click HERE to shop at MAC online.

Click HERE to buy MAC at Nordstrom online.

Click HERE to shop MAC at Macy’s.

The author of the Raging Rouge Beauty Blog received press samples for purposes of this makeup review / product review.  For more information on sample policies, please click HERE to read my full disclosure statement.

Based on this image of the Essie Summer 2010 Collection, I have some shopping to do!  The shade “pretty edgy” is definitely something I wouldn’t ordinarily wear… and yet it’s the shade I want most! 

Here’s what the founder–Essie Weingarten–has to say about the Summer 2010 color palette:

“This year’s runways reflected the ease of the season with youthful, upbeat clothing in feminine fabrics,” explains Essie Weingarten, President and Founder of Essie Cosmetics, Ltd. “I was inspired by the vivid pastels at Versace and the splashy florals at DKNY. I created this collection to reflect the youthful, fun-to-wear flirty frocks.”

The Essie Summer 2010 Collection of shades will be available in June 2010.  Retail price is $8 per bottle.

All Essie nail polish is 3-free (no DBP, Toluene or Formaldehyde!)

Click HERE to visit Essie.com

My approach to eliminating callous before the summer season is akin to a medieval prisoner attempting to dig out of a prison with only a spoon.  After each warm bath or shower, I use this foot file for as long as possible, then add some fun moisturizer for extra pampering.

I’ve been so pleased with this Large Acrylic Foot File by True Blue Spa.  It’a amazingly sturdy–the handle doesn’t bend AT ALL during use, so you can really get some muscle in there for effective callous reduction!

The crystal blue shade and icy granules make it even look attractive!

Click here to shop for this at Bath & Body Works! $3 Shipping w/ a $50 Purchase! Use Promo Code: SHIP3

OPI Nail Lacquer is long-lasting, available in a rainbow of shades, and free of DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde.  At a retail price of roughly $8 per bottle, it’s already fairly affordable.

Bud did you know about OPI Minis?  OPI pulls together adorable petite versions of their on-trend shades into these mini collections.  Each nail lacquer set contains smaller sized bottles of the trendiest shades by OPI.  Lets face it, when was the last time you really finished a full-sized bottle of nail enamel, anyway? 

At only $8, you can snag this Alice In Wonderland value set of mini nail lacquers from OPI, so you can score the color and quality you love, without spending too much!  Other mini OPI sets available include the latest and greatest Hong Kong collection for Spring/Summer 2010.

Want to know where to get mini OPI nail polish?  Look no further than Amazon.com!  Retail price is $8 at Amazon.com for the Alice In Wonderland set featured in this post. 

Be sure to check out all of the OPI Mini sets available at Amazon!  You may find colors you prefer!

Blue India Nail Lacquer is an example of what royal blue looks like when it’s all grown-up.  Described by MAC as a dark green-blue with pearl, I would personally describe Blue India nail lacquer as a cool combination of cornflower blue, sea green and pale grey.  It’s so sophisticated, and definitely pedicure-worthy for Spring 2010! 

MAC Nail Lacquer is free of DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde.  It’s also tough as nails!

Retail price is $12 per bottle.

Blue India Nail Lacquer swatch is below. 

Don’t judge my messy cuticles!

Click HERE to shop at MAC online.

Click HERE to buy MAC at Nordstrom online.

Click HERE to shop MAC at Macy’s.

The author of the Raging Rouge Beauty Blog received press samples for purposes of this makeup review / product review.  For more information on sample policies, please click HERE to read my full disclosure statement.

For Spring 2010, shu uemura has launched this limited-edition color collection:  egerie (modern icon).  Included in the collection are three shades of eye shimmer duo, wild rocker-chic false eyelashes, Satin Radiant Stick, Rouge Unlimited lipstick and two shades of Nail Enamel!

Nail Enamel PA010 is an intense black shade with silvery sparkles.  Nail Enamel P935 is a highly pearly pink, perfect for the “less rebellious” among we of Egerie ilk.

Swatches below:  PA010 (left) and P935 (right).

Retail price is $18 per bottle.

Click HERE to visit shuuemurausa.com, for more information or to buy this nail enamel!

The author of the Raging Rouge Beauty Blog received press samples for purposes of this makeup review / product review.  For more information on sample policies, please click HERE to read my full disclosure statement.