Subscriptions are the future! For me, a stereotypical millennial, it all started with Netflix and now I’m at the point where my razor blades are delivered through my postbox on a regular basis.
I think subscription boxes are so popular thanks to their Treat Yo’ Self factor and the simple truth that everyone loves surprise mail! There are subscriptions for everything these days and one that might be too tasty for any nail addict to turn down is one to a monthly box of nail goodies.
While I’ve talked about Nail Care before on this blog, healthy nails are only one factor of pretty and presentable hands. Beyond my go-to nail and cuticle care products, there’s only one that I’ll use on my hands to keep them energised.
OPI Nail Envy Samoan Sand: 3 Coats with Top Coat
OPI have recently introduced 4 new additions to their popular Nail Envy Nail Strengthener range. Original Nail Envy is my holy grail base coat so, naturally, I got pretty excited about this!
It’s been a really long time since I wrote a full rundown of my nail care routine here. In the time since, I’ve really refined my routine and I’m at a point where I feel like I have the perfect selection of products and tools to get the job done well and with minimal effort. You’ll spot a few favourites that I’ve praised in the past alongside a few new additions to the team.
Shop UK: Boots / Amazon
Shop US: Ulta / Amazon
Nothing I can say about OPI Nail Envy will ever do this bottle of miracle juice real justice. I’ve never used another base coat because I’ve never had the need to stray.
My first bottle came my way in a giveaway package I was lucky enough to win back in 2010 and I was quickly hooked. Within 2 weeks, my soft, breakage-prone nails were noticeably stronger and growing at triple speed. Before this eye-opener, I had never understood the need to invest in a base coat – probably because all the cheaper versions I’d tried up to then had never improved the condition of my nails. Turns out that it is in fact a very sound investment and one I’ve made time and again since that fateful encounter all those years ago.
When it comes to cuticle care, there are only a few products that I use consistently and a butter is one of them. Well, actually it’s 3 of them! There are 3 cuticle butters which contribute to my cuticle care routine and each of them serves a slightly different purpose. I know it sounds slightly ludicrous to have three seemingly identical products all for different things, but with any beauty product you always find those little differences that only you notice. Whether it’s shampoo, foundation or top coat! The cuticle butters in the running are Burt’s Bees Cuticle Cream, Lush Lemony Flutter and Nail Butter.
15g RRP £5.99. Available from Boots, Feel Unique and more.
I use it: On-the-go
As you can see, my tin of Burt’s Bees is very well worn! I carry this around everywhere with me because it’s such a convenient size and the tin is super light-weight. It has a very strong lemony scent which I think is delicious and the consistency is fairly thick but still creamy. You can definitely feel the oil in this one. I’ve found that the surface can harden up over time, which makes it difficult to pick up any of the product, so I occasionally have to stick a q-tip in there and work the product to soften it up. It’s the perfect product if your cuticles need a pick me up during the day.
50g RRP £6.75. Available from Lush online and in-store.
I use it: Sparingly before taking nail pictures
I’ve reviewed Lemony Flutter in the past and my opinion still stands – I’m definitely a casual user. I like having it around but I don’t rely on it too heavily for my cuticle health. This one lives on my desk where I do all my swatching and photographing. When used sparingly, it doesn’t leave a shiny finish so I can get away with using it around my nails just before taking pictures so that my cuticles look trim and fresh!
The scent on this one is lemony but muted with just a hint of hospital floors. The consistency is less oily than the Burt’s Bees but still nice and creamy. Like with the Burt’s Bees, this one sometimes gets a hard layer on the top but a good mix will revive it.
28.35g/1oz RRP $24.00 (~£15.00). Available from Nail Butter.
I use it: In abundance just before bed
Nail Butter has had a complete makeover since I last spoke about it at the end of last year. There’s a new formula with new packaging but it’s better than ever and still the reigning champion of cuticle butters for me because it is just so moisturising.
I keep it next to my bed and use it every night before falling asleep. By that time, I’m normally too tired to spend 5 minutes massaging it in, so I just slather it on all over my nail beds and let it get to work overnight.
The new formula is absolutely incredible. It’s very silky and never gets that hard layer on the surface. It’s fairly greasy but absorbs quickly – although not as quickly as the other two. It doesn’t have the lemon scent either, the scent is almost impossible for me to describe because it’s not really like anything else. It’s not nice, not nasty, but just kinda funky! Although subtle enough that you aren’t going to smell it unless your hands are very close to your face.
Nail Butter used to come in a tin but the new packaging is a glass pot. While this is easier to keep clean and I appreciate the air-tight seal, it’s a bit too heavy to be carrying around in my bag – otherwise I would!
Nail Butter takes the title because it’s the one that has the most impact on the overall health of my nails and cuticles. If I could only use one cuticle butter for the rest of forever, it would be Nail Butter! While I could live without Lush Lemony Flutter, I think I’ll always keep the Burt’s Bees around because of the amazing smell and convenient size.
