Beauty Blog

Things we loved this week: Rituals cuticle repair pens

December 2nd, 2010
Regular readers of the L’Onglex blog will know doubt be aware that some time last week we ran a recipe for a home made cuticle repair remedy.
Now, as good ( and cheap ) as said remedy worked we have been on the lookout for more convenient alternatives than what is essentially a bowl of lemon and curdled milk.
It’s not that we happen to be squeemish or any such nonsense but to be fair there are only so many places one can take a bowl of curdled milk and not be stared at by the general public.
Now, as good as the homemade solution was we figured it was time to test something a little less eccentric and a touch more convenient. So, please stand up and take a congratulatory L’Onglex Blog bow if you just happen to be reading this and you just happen to be in any way connected to Rituals.
Paced with vitamins A, E and jojoba oil the Rituals Cuticle Pen formula has been working a treat at keeping our cuticles smooth, soft and in tip-top condition and whilst you wouldn’t exactly wear the stuff as perfume it does smell far better than lemon and milk.
As this  the pen applicator means we can top up when ever we need to ( which at the moment is often ) we’re delighted with our find.

rituals

Regular readers of the L’Onglex blog will know doubt be aware that some time last week we ran a recipe for a home made cuticle repair remedy.

Now, as good ( and cheap ) as said remedy worked we have been on the lookout for more convenient alternatives than what is essentially a bowl of lemon and curdled milk.

It’s not that we happen to be squeemish or any such nonsense but to be fair there are only so many places one can take a bowl of curdled milk and not be stared at by the general public.

Now, as good as the homemade solution was we figured it was time to test something a little less eccentric and a touch more convenient. So, please stand up and take a congratulatory L’Onglex Blog bow if you just happen to be reading this and you just happen to be in any way connected to Rituals.

Packed with vitamins A, E and jojoba oil the Rituals Cuticle Pen formula has been working a treat at keeping our cuticles smooth, soft and in tip-top condition and whilst you wouldn’t exactly wear the stuff as perfume it does smell far better than lemon and milk.

As the pen applicator means we can top up whenever we need to ( which at the moment is often ) we’re delighted with our find.

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Posted in L'Onglex loves, Love your nails, Nail Health, Nail tips |

Mary Make and Do – The lemon and milk cuticle rinse

November 24th, 2010
Mary Make and Do – The lemon and milk cuticle rinse
With the winter weather set to send thermometers dropping this week we at L’Onglex HQ have been on the hunt for something that might give a pick-me up to our by now fragile hands.
Being as were currently keeping our greedy peepers off the piggy bank because of the whole Christmas thing we’ve been on the lookout for something we could make ourselves that doesn’t cost much. As with all these things you never really get what you look for and finding a homemade hand cream for winter is proving difficult.
What we did find during the course of our trawl through the weird beauty world that is the web is a rather nice rinse for dry and inflamed cuticles which uses only milk and lemon juice.
Now, when we first looked at this the thought of rubbing leon juice around our sensitive nails didn’t really appeal but once we’d worked out that the milk will neutralise the lemon and the remedy doesn’t sting we thought it might be worth a go – so here’s how it’s done …
Add 5 tablespoons of milk to 5 tablespoons of lemon juice, mix well and allow to curdle. Once the mix has curdled apply the mixture to your cuticles and leave for 15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with warm water.
Cheap, cheerful, natural and effective  …. whoever said being tight wasn’t fun. More Mary Make and Do’s coming soon !

lemon_cow

With the winter weather set to send thermometers dropping this week we at L’Onglex HQ have been on the hunt for something that might give a pick-me up to our by now fragile hands.

Being as were currently keeping our greedy peepers off the piggy bank because of the whole Christmas thing we’ve been on the lookout for something we could make ourselves that doesn’t cost much. As with all these things you never really get what you look for and finding a homemade hand cream for winter is proving difficult.

What we did find during the course of our trawl through the weird beauty world that is the web is a rather nice rinse for dry and inflamed cuticles which uses only milk and lemon juice.

Now, when we first looked at this the thought of rubbing lemon juice around our sensitive nails didn’t really appeal but once we’d worked out that the milk will neutralise the lemon and the remedy doesn’t sting we thought it might be worth a go – so here’s how it’s done …

Add 5 tablespoons of milk to 5 tablespoons of lemon juice, mix well and allow to curdle. Once the mix has curdled apply the mixture to your cuticles and leave for 15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with warm water.

Cheap, cheerful, natural and effective  …. whoever said being tight wasn’t fun. More Mary Make and Do’s coming soon !

1 Comment »

Posted in Beauty treatments, DIY beauty, Love your nails, Mary make and do, Nail Health, Organic beauty |

We broke a nail!

August 19th, 2010
Without wishing to sound too terribly girly about the whole thing we at L’Onglex are currently trying to grow our nails. As nothing really bothers us more than a ping to the pinkies you might think we would be more careful. Alas no. L’Onglex’s nails are in a terrible state.
Obviously the miniature of our nail related dilemmas probably isn’t of interest to you the reader but after another breakage only yesterday this now gives us only three nails to work with and nothing to be done.
There was a moral to this story but frankly we forgot it and we just think that had we bothered a bit more with the Sally Hanson Diamond Strength nail formula with it’s active ingredients of titanium and micro diamonds we would by now be busy posting our paws in peculiar shades and saying how terribly well we look – L’Onglex is sad.

sally_hanson_nail_strengthener

Without wishing to sound too terribly girly about the whole thing we at L’Onglex are currently trying to grow our nails. As nothing really bothers us more than a ping to the pinkies you might think we would be more careful. Alas no because L’Onglex’s nails are in a terrible state.

Obviously the miniature of our nail related dilemmas probably isn’t of interest to you the reader but after another breakage only yesterday this now gives us only three nails to work with and nothing to be done.

I know this is a bit sketchy and there was a moral to this story but frankly we forgot it and so all that is left to do is mention that had we bothered a bit more with the Sally Hanson Diamond Strength nail formula and it’s active ingredients of titanium and micro diamonds we would by now be busy posting our paws in peculiar shades and saying how terribly well we look – L’Onglex is sad.

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Posted in Beauty dilemmas, Beauty heroes, Love your nails, Manicures, Nail Health, Sally Hansen |

shiny shiny shiny nails

July 27th, 2010
When it comes to topping up our manicure we’re quite a lazy bunch so anything that might be able to keep it looking shiny, new and picture perfect for longer than usual is pretty much guaranteed to be elevated to ‘cult-status-must-have’ quicker than we can say ‘file and paint’.
The above product is Sally Hansen Nail Shine Miracle and when we read the claims that nails shine for up to ten days by virtue of an exclusive marine complex formula which continually releases shine boosters we were a bit sceptical. However, as L’Onglex is now on day nine and the application is still looking good we think we’ll forget our misgivings and focus on the fact it does what it says it will do – we tip our hats to the folks at Sally H.
We are tipping our hats to the folks at Sally H.

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When it comes to topping up our manicure we’re quite a lazy bunch so anything that might be able to keep it looking shiny, new and picture perfect for longer than usual is pretty much guaranteed to be elevated to ‘cult-status-must-have’ quicker than we can say ‘file and paint’.

The above product is Sally Hansen Nail Shine Miracle and when we read the claims that nails shine for up to ten days by virtue of an exclusive marine complex formula which continually releases shine boosters we were a bit sceptical – but that was then !

Since L’Onglex is now on day nine and the application is still looking good we think we’ll forget our misgivings and focus on the fact it does what it says it will do – we tip our hats to the folks at Sally H.

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Posted in Beauty reviews, Love your nails, Manicures, Nail Health, Nail tips, Sally Hansen |

How seriously do you take your nails?

July 20th, 2010

Picture 2

It goes without saying that we at L’Onglex are a bit fanatical when it comes to our paws – basecoats, topcoats, homemade manicures and by our reckoning we think we’ve tried nearly everything possible.
However, one product we hadn’t even heard of before is sunscreen for nails which we came across recently. As I didn’t even know your nails even needed protecting from UV rays this came as quite a shock but that’s not all, as there is also a vanity aspect as well. Simply, at this time of year the sun can also do damage to your colour and if you spend your precious cents and invest your precious time in your nails then a timely topcoat once you’ve finished your file and paint will have the colour protected from fading and flaking.
If you feel like getting hold of some we suggest you try Orly’s Sunscreen for Nails which is available from cupidandgrace.com and is priced at £9.25 a bottle !

It goes without saying that we at L’Onglex are a bit fanatical when it comes to our paws – basecoats, topcoats, homemade manicures and by our reckoning we think we’ve tried nearly everything possible.

However, one product we hadn’t even heard of before is sunscreen for nails which we came across recently. As I didn’t even know your nails even needed protecting from UV rays this came as quite a shock but that’s not all, as there is also a vanity aspect as well. Simply, at this time of year the sun can also do damage to your colour and if you spend your precious cents and invest your precious time in your nails then a timely topcoat once you’ve finished your file and paint will have the colour protected from fading and flaking.

If you feel like getting hold of some we suggest you try Orly’s Sunscreen for Nails which is available from cupidandgrace.com and is priced at £9.25 a bottle !

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Posted in Beauty gadgets, Beauty reviews, Beauty treatments, Love your nails, Manicures, Nail Health, Nail tips |

Stronger thicker nails for a stronger thicker you!

July 17th, 2010
Being that nails and nail news are quite high on the list of things that we at L’Onglex find quite exciting we have been wondering lately whether our single minded devotion to all things nail related is indeed good for our health. I mean, just how dedicated does one have to be to write a blog principally involving nails and interspersed with idle chit chat and the general adoration of other pretty things ?
It was just as we were having this moment of dubious self realisation that we received a small package from the folks at Sally Hansen containing none other than Miracle Nail Thickener ! As we in these parts hadn’t seen this before we did of course forget our navel gazing in an instant and released a chorus of ahhhs, oooohhhs, general appreciations and promises that we would take it home and try it.
So, with it’s daily applications and general nail strengthening properties not only is this proving to be something of a cure for the cracking and splitting of soft nails but it also turns out that it’s a very good distraction for the symptoms of thinking too much. Now our nails are thicker and so are we which is of course exactly how we like it …. Sally Hansen, we thank you !

Picture 3

Being that nails and nail news are quite high on the list of things that we at L’Onglex find quite exciting we have been wondering lately whether our single minded devotion to all things nail related is indeed good for our health. I mean, just how dedicated does one have to be to write a blog principally involving nails and interspersed with idle chit chat and the general adoration of other pretty things ?

It was just as we were having this moment of dubious self realisation that we received a small package from the folks at Sally Hansen containing none other than Miracle Nail Thickener ! As we in these parts hadn’t seen this before we did of course forget our navel gazing in an instant and released a chorus of ahhhs, oooohhhs, general appreciations and promises that we would take it home and try it.

So, with it’s daily applications and general nail strengthening properties not only is this proving to be something of a cure for the cracking and splitting of soft nails but it also turns out that it’s a very good distraction for the symptoms of thinking too much. Now our nails are thicker and so are we. This is of course exactly how we like it.

Sally Hansen, we thank you !

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Posted in Beauty news, Beauty reviews, Beauty treatments, Love your nails, Nail Health, Nail tips, Sally Hansen |

Ask L’Onglex:Three week manicures?

June 30th, 2010
As you have no doubt guessed by now when it comes to nails we in these parts are nothing less than fanatical so when a L’Onglex reader recently asked for a run down on the three week manicure we we’re happy to oblige with a post on the subject.
I you haven’t seen them already the basic treatment involves nails being filed and buffed and then coated with layers of a gel formula which are hardened using a heat-light. As there are four coats involved ( a base, two colour and a top-coat ) the nails are layered and lengthened in a way similar to your usual gel nails but without the tips.
Naturally, for a treatment called the three week manicure you have probably more or less guessed by now that the treatment lasts for about three weeks before the nails need to be re-done. At about €60 for the manicure, getting and keeping up with the costs of the manicure isn’t exactly cheap and if you add it all up the cost of the manicures over a year is somewhere approaching a grand.
On the other hand, it is quite a quick treatment and there are a few things we really like about it. Aside from the bonus of not worrying about your paws between manicures there’s also the fact that for the most part the treatment makes nails look natural. Even though the treatment is technically a gel the end result is a smoother, more natural looking contour which doesn’t give the game away unless you look quite closely.
On the downside, three weeks isn’t really that far to go between applications and as your nails grow out the contour does change. Like all manicures the filing and buffing that takes place can leave nails feeling thin and sore and although the consensus seems to be that the nails are great, some folks have reported that nails are left in pretty poor condition once you decide you no longer want the manicures and that growing the treatment out is a nightmare.
If you’ve had them done we’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject ?

MPP0065259

As you have no doubt guessed by now when it comes to nails we in these parts are nothing less than fanatical so when a L’Onglex reader recently asked for a run down on the three week manicure we we’re happy to oblige with a post on the subject.

If you haven’t seen them already the basic treatment involves nails being filed and buffed and then coated with layers of a gel formula which are hardened under a heat-light. As there are four coats involved ( a base, two colour and a top-coat ) the nails are layered and lengthened in a way similar to your usual gel nails but without the tips.

Naturally, for a treatment called the three week manicure you have probably more or less guessed by now that the treatment lasts for about three weeks before the nails need to be re-done. At about €60 for the manicure, getting and keeping up with the costs of the manicure isn’t exactly cheap and if you add it all up the cost of the manicures over a year is somewhere approaching a grand.

On the other hand, it is quite a quick treatment and there are a few things we really like about it. Aside from the bonus of not worrying about your paws between manicures there’s also the fact that for the most part the treatment makes nails look natural. Even though the treatment is technically a gel the end result is a smoother, more natural looking contour which doesn’t give the game away unless you look quite closely.

On the downside, three weeks isn’t really that far to go between applications and as your nails grow out the contour does change. Like all manicures the filing and buffing that takes place can leave nails feeling thin and sore and although the consensus seems to be that the nails are great, some folks have reported that nails are left in pretty poor condition once you decide you no longer want the manicures and that growing the treatment out is a nightmare.

If you’ve had them done we’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject  so do share in the comments!

2 Comments »

Posted in Ask L'Onglex, Beauty dilemmas, Beauty news, Beauty treatments, Beauty trends, Love your nails, Manicures, Nail Health, Nail tips |

Monday mornings …

June 28th, 2010

lemon_oil

Morning peeps ….

We in these parts are fully agreed that Monday mornings are serious business. It’s about setting the tone for the week and starting with a bang, implementing the framework for all those important jobs that allow us to achieve the goals that will surely follow.

Bright, bushy tailed and refreshed, we at L’Onglex can think of nothing more urgent than a healthy dose of nail repair and as such the recipe below is this weeks Mary Make and Do – dead quick, dead easy and perfect as a treatment for sore cuticles and a strengthener to give nails a healthy shine.

Here’s what you need …

3 Teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 Teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Egg yolk
1 Drop Essential Oil – Lemon is best.

Here’s how it’s done …

Put contents in a bowl. Whisk well until the mix has blended. Apply to the nails immediately and work the mixture into the cuticles gently to prevent further damage. Keep applying the mix until nails have a healthy sheen.

There you have it. Natural nailcare tips and what to do on a Monday morning sorted !

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Posted in DIY beauty, Love your nails, Mary make and do, Nail Health, Nail tips, Natural Beauty |

No salon? No problem!

June 24th, 2010

1L5R_311x311

As previously mentioned on these hallowed pages we’ve had to cut out trips to the salon in favour of looking awful but not being in debt.

Whilst in the days of yore that were the Celtic Tiger we would have happily splurged all we didn’t actually own but could stick on plastic on life’s simple pleasures like manis and pedis and champagne and designer shoes but now it seems that kind of fun recklessness is a bit off message.

For some strange reason banks these days actually have the cheek to ask us back for what we borrowed instead of simply offering us more debt and as such things are a bit more cautious on the salon front than they once were.

Despite a select few around these parts who have decided to keep their head firmly in the sand and continue spending all their monies on the good things in life like Blahniks and gel nails some of us have decided to bite the bullet and trade the salon stool for our own bathroom when it comes to pampering. Yup, out comes the foot spa, some old editions of Cosmo and our ever growing nail polish collection because these days we prefer DIY instead of IOU’s !

Helping us along on the spiritual journey that is self pamperment and financial fulfilment we recently came across Estee Lauder body performance Mani Pedi treatment. Rich in paraffin and those ’sciency’ ingredients that we don’t really understand this tube of wonder makes it possible to enjoy the benefits of a dip spa treatment from the ‘not as posh as the salon but still quite comfy’ living room …. genius!

Perfect for hands and feet a quick dip with the rich cream leaves skin feeling super soft, smelling delicious and after a quick soak is pretty much guaranteed to give you those salon fresh feet and hands which are the base of any good treatment.

The only real problem we can see with this is that as we have to do it ourselves we can’t say our paintwork is anywhere near as good as the professionals. On the other hand ( or foot ) 200ml is a decent sized tub to play around with so we figure we might be able to get some practice in !

You can pick up a 200ml bottle for £17.50 from esteelauder.co.uk.

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Posted in Beauty news, Beauty reviews, Beauty treatments, Estee Lauder, Love your nails, Nail Health, Nail tips |

Top toe tips for summer

May 20th, 2010
Top toe tips for summer !
If the weather reports are to believed there’s a heat wave just around the corner but if you’re getting ready to bare that summer skin and pass up the winter footwear for some sexy summer slingbacks you’ll need a bit of prepping ready for summer.
Assuming the ash cloud hasn’t ruined your travel plans we at L’Onglex have put together a few pointers for the perfect summer manicure. Get ready to blitz those winter legs !
Soak
A quick foot soak will do wonders for your feet and help the skin soften after the cold winter months. If the whole noughties foot spa craze passed you by a bowl of warm water will do just nicely. A few drops of essential oil will perk up those feet and ten to fifteen minutes will be plenty. You don’t want your feet too soft !
Exfoliate
The thing about exfoliation is you don’t need to spend a bomb. A little olive oil mixed in with some sea salt make the perfect exfoliator. Make sure you pay particular attention to those heels and toes. Once your feet have been buffed to perfection rinse them with a little warm water and dry well with a fluffy towel.
Moisturise
With the money you saved on the exfoliation you can splash out a bit for moisturiser. Something soothing like The body Shops Mango Body butter is a real treat for feet and will leave those tootsies soft, supple and smelling good enough to eat!
Polish
No matter how express your pedi you can’t do without a few coats of polish. The real trick to getting this right is patience. Make sure your feet are completely dry and smear free as even little drops of moisturiser will spoil the polish and make it streaky. A quick rub with tissue paper will get rid of the residue. Add a base coat like Sally Hansen miracle cure and two coats of polish. Finish with a quick drying topcoat.
Protect
Once your tootsies have been pampered keep them soft and supple with a bit of food for the feet. Something nourishing like Waleda skin food is perfect for dry heels and hard skin and helps soften and protect. When your ready for your next pedi don’t forget the L’Onglex. It’s packed with Vitamin E to protect those nails and it’s special formula means were kinder to skin as well.
Enjoy the sunshine !

toe_tipsIf you’ve been listening to the radio lately you’ll have noticed two things

i) L’Onglex have sponsored the gossip girl show on Dublins 98fm

ii) The weather reports are looking promising !

If you missed this on the Gossip Girl Blog then below are a few pointers courtesy of us with a few tips for easy  summer pedicures.

Ash cloud be dammed …. the heatwave  awaits !

Soak

A quick foot soak will do wonders for your feet and help the skin soften after the cold winter months. If the whole noughties foot spa craze passed you by a bowl of warm water will do just nicely. A few drops of essential oil will perk up those feet and ten to fifteen minutes will be plenty. You don’t want your feet too soft !

Exfoliate

The thing about exfoliation is you don’t need to spend a bomb. A little olive oil mixed in with some sea salt make the perfect exfoliator. Make sure you pay particular attention to those heels and toes. Once your feet have been buffed to perfection rinse them with a little warm water and dry well with a fluffy towel.

Moisturise

With the money you saved on the exfoliation you can splash out a bit for moisturiser. Something soothing like The body Shops Mango Body butter is a real treat for feet and will leave those tootsies soft, supple and smelling good enough to eat!

Polish

No matter how express your pedi you can’t do without a few coats of polish. The real trick to getting this right is patience. Make sure your feet are completely dry and smear free as even little drops of moisturiser will spoil the polish and make it streaky. A quick rub with tissue paper will get rid of the residue. Add a base coat like Sally Hansen miracle cure and two coats of polish. Finish with a quick drying topcoat.

Protect

Once your tootsies have been pampered keep them soft and supple with a bit of food for the feet. Something nourishing like Waleda skin food is perfect for dry heels and hard skin and helps soften and protect. When your ready for your next pedi don’t forget the L’Onglex. It’s packed with Vitamin E to protect those nails and it’s special formula means were kinder to skin as well.

Enjoy the sunshine !

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Posted in Beauty treatments, Body creams, DIY beauty, Nail Health, Natural Beauty, Pedicures, Skincare |


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