Pampering yourself at home Head & Shoulders

This post is sponsored by Head & Shoulders; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Pampering yourself at home has never been easier thanks to Head & Shoulders’ new Supreme collection of shampoos, conditioners and scalp treatments! They will help turn your beauty routine into a Supreme Sanctuary experience. My hair was in dire need of some TLC so I decided to spoil myself with the new collection! They have products for every type of hair so you’re sure to find one that’s perfect for you.

Each product was more of a surprise than the next. My impression of Head & Shoulders definitely changed after discovering this new collection. I had the impression that Head & Shoulders was only a product line for dandruff, but I discovered that they in fact have products that leave my scalp and hair feeling renewed, confident and revitalized! Their new collection includes 3 pre-wash products, 4 shampoo and conditioner collections, one conditioning mask and 2 leave on treatments.

The Supreme Color Protect with Argan Oil and Manuka Honey is the perfect shampoo and conditioner duo for color and chemically treated hair. Free from phosphates, parabens, phthalates and dyes, it will keep your color looking its best while making your hair feel like you just left the salon! The scent is light, fresh and will leave you counting down the seconds until it’s time to wash it again! You can find this collection online at Target.

The Head & Shoulders Supreme Detox & Hydrate shampoo and conditioner are made with Argan Oil and Coconut water. This scalp renewing formula has the most lovely scent and it’s safe for color and chemically-treated hair!

The Nourish & Smooth shampoo and conditioner is one of my favorites. It’s made with Argan Oil and Jojoba Oil and helps to nourish your scalp and smooth away frizz. It’s perfect for this warm spring weather.

The Supreme Soothe & Strengthen shampoo and conditioner is a scalp calming and hydrating formula that’s made with Argan Oil and Rose Essence. The scent is heavenly and leaves my hair and scalp feeling healthier and more hydrated.

Their new Supreme Line also has a few treatments that can be added to your routine as well! I love pampering myself once the kids are asleep and I have some alone-time! The Supreme Exfoliating Scalp Scrub is an amazing addition to your shower routine. You simply massage it before shampooing and it will remove build up and renew the skin’s surface! The Supreme Soothing Leave on Scalp Cream is another winner for me. You can easily apply it and it doesn’t leave a residue. Finally, the Supreme Hydrating Scalp Serum is perfect to use between washes and helps to keep your scalp hydrated and irritation free. It’s made with Vitamin E and Argan Oil and I can’t even begin to explain how good it smells as well!

It’s not a surprise that the Head & Shoulders new Supreme Collection is endorsed by the Skin Health Alliance and it will definitely help you elevate your regular beauty routine! It’s time to elevate your hair washing experience with Head & Shoulders new Supreme Collection! You can find the Supreme Collection online at Target.com. Click here to learn more!

Shellac Nails At Home!

With social-distancing and even lockdowns in full effect all over the world, it will be nearly impossible for the foreseeable future to get that manicure that we all so desperately are missing! I used to do my own shellac nails at home so it looks like I’ll be dusting off my machine and I thought I would share what you need to do it too! I’ll let you know what’s a need and what’s a nice to have. I condensed the list at the bottom with a quick tutorial on doing your nails!

UV/LED Gel Curing Lamp

Click here for one that I found on Amazon.

I don’t think you need the most expensive brand (the professional ones are close to $300). I bought mine for around $60 and have had it for over 6 years. Like anything on Amazon, read the reviews. I wouldn’t buy one that is $20, but I saw a few good models in the $40-$60 range. Click here for one that ships prime.

The Polish

Click here for No Wipe Top Coat + Base Combo

Top Coat + Base Coat + Color Coat: The base coat will prepare your nails for the color coat and make the polish last longer. It’s a non-negotiable (I’ve tried before without the base coat and your nails wont last longer than a day). The top coat is crucial to sealing in the color and giving you that shine! If you’ve had shellac done, then likely you know that once you’ve finished getting your nails done, they usually wipe them down with 99% isopropyl alcohol. This is to remove the sticky film that’s left over by the clear top coat after it’s cured.

Given what’s happening in the world right now, it’s really hard to find99% isopropyl-alcohol in stock, so I recommend this brand: CLICK HERE, which is a top coat that does not require any wiping down afterwards and it comes with the base coat as well! 99% of the brands I’ve come across require the alcohol wipe down, so definitely stick to this brand. Make sure it says on the bottle: “No Clean Topcoat” (all the bottles look so similar). I’ve had this brand used on me a few times in nail salons and love the color selection too. I definitely recommend them!

Color coat: Now’s the fun part! Colors! Make sure when you’re shopping, you read the descriptions because not all colors apply the same. Some are translucent, so no matter how many coats you apply, they’ll still be see-through! Others are opaque and there are even matte finishes. Click here to see colors that I love. Read the reviews - not all brands are the same. I’ve used the brand that I’ve linked and love it. I’ve stuck to Amazon links because it ships quickly, but if you wanted the professional grade colors, you can shop OPI and CND as well (I prefer OPI).
I LOVE this color set from the same brand as the top and base coat. CLICK HERE to shop

If you choose a top coat that is not a “no wipe”, then you absolutely need isopropyl alcohol!

100% Acetone + Cuticle Pusher

Click here to shop Acetone

Click here to shop Cuticle Pusher

This is used to removed the shellac when it’s time to redo your nails. It’s SUPER important that it’s 100% acetone. Nail polish remover is not strong enough to remove the shellac and you’ll be sitting for hours waiting for it to work. CND is more pricey of a brand (they’re usually sold only to professionals) but it’s worth it. Their products are such good quality. Click here to shop.

When it comes time to remove the shellac polish, you can simply dip half of a cotton ball in the acetone solution, apply the cotton ball on the top of your nail and wrap with aluminium foil and wait 5-10 minutes! When you remove the foil, you’ll see the polish peeling off and you can then scrape it off with a cuticle pusher. Alternatively, you can buy these reusable plastic finger clips to hold the cotton ball in place, click to shop, but they are nice to haves - not necessary.

Cuticle Remover

Click here to shop

For a more professional look after your manicure, I recommend the CND Cuticle remover solution. You put on your cuticles, wait a few seconds and it makes all the difference when trying to push back or trim your cuticles! Click here to shop.

To Sum It Up

UV Machine
No Wipe Top Coat + Base Coat
Color Coat
100% Acetone or Gel Remover Solution (NOT nail polish remover)
Cotton Balls
Cuticle Pusher (to scrape off polish when removing after it has soaked in acetone)
Plastic Finger Clips (nice to have, not necessary)
Cuticle Remover Solution (nice to have, not necessary)
Nail file, nail clippers etc. to cut and shape your nails

Doing Your Own Nails

1. Start with clean nails. Wash your hands without soap. Do all the filing, shaping, cuticle cutting etc first.

2. Apply a thin layer of the base coat to nails, turn on machine by pressing button on top and put in machine for 10 seconds. I start and finish one hand before moving on to the next so that I don’t make any mistakes and so that if I get some on my skin, I can wipe it off without ruining my nails. If you mess up a nail by hitting it somewhere, you’ll likely have a to start again from step 1 (which is so annoying).

3. Apply color coat on top of base coat and put in machine for 60 seconds. Don’t put too thick of a coat or the color will bubble. It’s better to do multiple coats to get the coverage you want than to do 1 super thick one.

4. Apply additional coats (if necessary) and after each coat, put hand in machine for 60 seconds. I generally do 3 coats if it’s a light color, like a white, and 2 coats if it’s a darker color.

5. Apply a thin layer of the clear top coat (don’t forget the edges of your nails) and put in machine for 1 minute! If you chose a top coat that is not a non-wipe, this is where you will use your 99% isopropyl alcohol and wipe down each nail to remove the sticky film. If you used the one I recommended, then you’re done! Time to do the next hand :)

My Tips for Getting to Sleep!

These past couple weeks have thrown us all for a loop and getting the rest and sleep we need can be hard! Getting enough sleep is so important for not only our mental health, but also our immune system, so I’m sharing a few must have products for getting that beauty sleep we all so desperately need!

RELAXING SELF CARE 

Take 30 mins to unwind before bed by taking a relaxing Pure Epsom Salt Bath. Dr. Teal’s Soothe & Sleep with Lavender is a mix of Epson Salt to sooth your muscles and Lavender Essential Oils that helps to calm you down and help with relaxation. The lavender scent will help you completely unwind and destress… putting you in the perfect state to fall asleep (and stay asleep)! CLICK HERE TO SHOP

HOMEOPATHIC SLEEP AID

Hyland’s Calms Forté has been such a good sleep aid for me! It relieves symptoms of stress to help you sleep and is homeopathic. All I do is take 2 tablets an hour before bed and it completely helps clear my mind! The best part is that you wake up feeling refreshed without any drowsiness that some other sleep aids cause. For daily nervousness, you can also take it 3 times a day! CLICK HERE TO SHOP

SONOREST SLEEP TONES

This is basically a white noise machine for adults! It was created for Tinnitus Sufferers and its super helpful in silencing that constant ringing in your ears. It has 3 distinct sound spectrums: white, pink and brown, specifically designed to help you find the tone that is the most soothing and relaxing for you. You can plug it in or use batteries so it’s perfect for travelling as well. CLICK HERE TO SHOP

FIND A GOOD EYE MASK

Amazon has great eye masks that ship prime that completely shut out light. Especially with the summer approaching, it can be tough to fall asleep and stay asleep while it’s still light out! So if you don’t have black out blinds, these are an amazing solution! CLICK HERE TO SHOP