My Current Obsession - Doctor D. Schwab Controlling Cream

 I previously struggled with bad acne, scars and much more! My skin just wouldn't stop breaking out for the past two years and thankfully, returning to New York has helped with that. In addition to having a great dermatologist who provided immediate treatment, she suggested Doctor D. Schwab's Controlling Cream which really helps me in terms of breakouts. In the beginning, I would use it everyday to control the skin, which reduced to once every two days and now I don't even need to use it. The best part is I still have remaining cream which helps with my wallet! With application, there is a bit of a cooling sensation so be gentle with the eye area.

For anyone who is struggling with oily skin and breakouts, this is one thing that will help to control those blemishes! It's very light on the skin which is great for anyone who is like me, struggling with extremely sensitive skin and even psoriasis! The cream is enriched with vitamins, botanical ingredients and has oil-control which helps to clear the blemishes without clogging your pores. This is one product product I recommend and will purchase again, if needed.

My Current Obession - It's Skin Mangowhite Peeling Gel

One of the best sellers at It's Skin, a popular beauty brand in Korea is the Mangowhite Peeling Gel. The product is recommended for all skin types that helps to remove dead skin by simply massaging the Mangowhite Peeling Gel into the skin for a minute or two. With immediate results and a great scent, it is recommended for anyone with sensitive skin and or problematic skin like myself. 

On clean skin, take a quarter size of the product and massage it into your skin in circular motion. You'll notice white clumps of dead skin that will form which is a bit disturbing the first time around, but you'll get used to it! Use the product one to two times a week to prevent oily skin. For an extremely cheap product priced at $7, it is a definite recommendation for all. I use this product once a week in addition to my Clarasonic Plus machine daily!


The smell of the product is amazing and it works extremely well, pulling off all of the dead skin. THe only problem is that the product may be a little too strong for those with oily and sensitive skin. It does make your skin a lot more oily which can be problematic for those with acne problems. Nonetheless, it is a product that I would buy again because it can be used on other parts of the body to remove dead skin.

My Current Obsession - New Pumice Ultimate Spa

New Pumice Fission Technology is a new discovery I made from my local nail salon that helps to remove the layer of dry skin from the hands and feet. In addition to this, it helps to stimulate and revitalize the skin. It definitely didn't look or seem possible at first but by shaking the bottle and spraying for a hand and foot massage, the layer of skin will be gently removed. You will notice a dead layer of skin that is gently scrubbed away with use. 

My Current Obsession - Innisfree Camellia Shine Hair Essence

Anyone who knows me knows that I still have very long, virgin hair. The reason for that is because I am looking to donate my hair, but I am so obsessed with taking care of my hair that I did a mini blog on Hair 101 and how to prevent split ends when I first started the blog. For the most part, I really care for my hair and have minimal heat damage as well as minimal combing. 

I recently found a product that I have been obsessed with because it promotes healthy hair. The Innisfree Camellia Shine Hair Essence is one of the best sellers in Korea for hair care. It is enriched with camellia oil from Jeju island. It's for all hair types and promotes a healthy shine which can be used daily. Simple run the product through your hair (I suggest running it through your ends only if you are on a budget). After doing so, you can simply pair with your regular products. Because I do not use any, I just use this as a nutrient to keep my hair healthy.

Like many other products that claim to help keep the hair healthy, the Innisfree Camellia Shine Hair Essence is one product that actually works. It keeps my hair healthy and reduces the number of split ends. Although it claims to provide the hair with some kind of shine, there isn't great shine behind the product, but it works in maintaining. For those who do not have the time to care for your hair by conditioning and using olive oil to soak the hair, this would be a great product thats quick and easy to use. 

Food Goods - Strawberry

Recently, I've hopped on Beach Body Insanity and started a new diet which includes a great amount of strawberry. Being in Korea, strawberries are extremely fresh and a lot sweeter than those in America. Although it is a lot more expensive than those back in America, the taste definitely overrides the price. In addition to the great test, the variety of beauty uses for strawberries support why strawberries are my favorite fruit!

For starters, strawberries have an extremely high concentration of Vitamin C which helps to also act as a carbohydrate, protein and even fat. With just one cup of strawberries, you are receiving a great amount of vitamins, water, and even your daily fiber. In regards to skin, strawberries are a great anti oxidant which helps to clean your body from waste. It also helps to boost the immune system and help your skin glow. Therefore, it should be incorporated in your daily diet, even with these few simple ways to help your skin.

• Smooth skin in just a few minutes! There are two ways to do this, one is to cut a strawberry in half and rub it all over your face, just the same as you would with a kiwi. Another is to mash it up and scrub in circular motions all over your face and let it sit for a few minutes. This quick strawberry scrub will leave your  glowing after rubbing off those dead skin cells. 
• Acne remedy with 1/2 of sliced strawberries and 1 tablespoon of sour cream. Mash, combine and apply on the face for 10 minutes. Rinse and repeat every few days. 
• Reduce puffy eyes by placing a few slices of strawberry under your eyes for 10 minutes and relax in bed, just that easy. Remember to moisturize after!
• Pedicure scrub with just a handful of strawberries, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt to give that scrub texture. Simply mix all the ingredients in a bowl, massage into the feet and rinse. 
• Hair shine can be achieved with just a handful of strawberries and a tablespoon of mayonnaise. Sounds disgusting almost to put mayonnaise in your hair, but it acts as a hydrating oil just like extra virgin olive oil. Mash to combine, apply into damp hair so that it glides easily, cover with a shower cap and warm towel. Rinse after a minimum of ten minutes and you will see a healthy head of shine. Remember to wash your hair as your normally would!
• Tooth whitener like the lemon, but all you have to do is mash up some strawberry and brush away. Your new toothpaste will even taste delicious! 

Prevent Wrinkles

We are all at that stage where aging is a problem. We were all naive at one point when our parents told us certain things to pay attention to because it will affect us in the future. Did we listen? No, of course not. What we now know is that we regret and we are spending tons of money on beauty products in order to maintain our beauty. A few ways to naturally and gradually decrease the appearance of wrinkles:

• Swap coffee for hot chocolate. There may be a higher intake on calories, but coffee makes you all jittery inside which does not help your system when it comes to wrinkles. 
• Sleep on your back. Sleeping on your back will have your face directly forward which reduces the stress and wrinkles that grow over time because you are putting against your face with the pressure of the pillow. Because you are sleeping, you are not aware of the pullings that you are making on your skin. 
• Avoid squinting. This is the one tip that we received from our parents the very first day we watched TV. Those who are 40 and above have a harder time with reading and therefore squinting is a common practice. If needed, as unclassy and not cute as glasses look, please do yourself a favor and get a pair. You can even skip the glasses and go for contacts, but yes reduce the squinting to help protect your eyes.
• Eat more fish and soy. Omega 3 fatty acids found in cold water fish such as salmon and tuna help to keep your skin young. It also helps to prevent other hear diseases and is absolutely great for women. Start early and eat healthy, you'll thank yourself later.
• Wear sunscreen at all times. I stress the fact that you should wear sunscreen at all times because the sun is damaging. It can even penetrate through your glass windows and have an effect on your skin. It is important that the minute you go outside, you put on sunscreen. It is easier to protect than to reduce the size of a wrinkle so do yourself a little favor that can take less than a minute.

Stay young, stay beautiful. 

Food Goods - Lemon

We all know lemon is great for beauty fanatics. It not only helps to slim down weight, but it also helps to promote a healthy body. There are many things that you can do with the handy lemon which calls for you to stock up in your fridge. Lemon is great for Vitamin C intake so if you're low on oranges, swap it for a lemon.

• Daily early morning drink. Mix cold water, honey, and lemon cleanse the body when you wake up. Be sure to drink this on an empty stomach. You can use warm water if you want, but it is not recommended because the heat kills many benefits of lemon and honey. For those who can endure water and lemon directly, it will help you to efficiently detox and lose weight. A whole lemon mixed with a  cup of water is suggested for those who are over 150 pounds and unhealthy, half of a lemon for those who are 150 pounds and healthy. 
• Teeth Whitening. This is by far my favorite and most recommended for both men and women. Simply squeeze the fresh juice from half of a lemon, rub with table salt and baking soda along the teeth. Baking soda is known to help whiten teeth, but lemon gives it that extra boost.
• Smooth skin. For a simple mask, mash an over-ripe banana with fresh lemon juice and apply to the face and hands for clear and smooth skin. There is also the less messy alternative of a teaspoon of honey, a teaspoon of olive oil, and quarter teaspoon of lemon juice for the hands, elbows, heels and drier areas. I suggest covering up the area for ten minutes with a plastic bag or old pieces of clothing and wash away to reveal beatified skin. 
• Dark spots. There are many areas that women are insecure with when it comes to the body which include underarms, elbows, and dark spots on the face. Simply rub fresh lemon juice on the area for ten minutes and wash away. Over time, the color will gradually lighten. 
• Dandruff treatment. Mix a few tablespoons of fresh lemon with olive oil and rub it into the scalp. I suggest using a shower cap to soak in the treatment for 15 minutes and follow the regular shampoo and conditioner. 
• Itchy scalp. Mix an egg white and lemon juice, massage into the scalp of your head and soak in the treatment with a shower cap for an hour. Follow with your regular hair wash routine. I suggest to practice this twice a week for a month.
• For those with psoriasis, lemon juice also helps to strengthen the liver enzymes because the liver can make more enzymes from fresh lemon juice than any other food element. Therefore, having half a lemon to a whole lemon a day (depending on your health) will help to clear up your psoriasis. 
• Yellow nails. If you're like me and use nail polish just about daily, the winter colors are probably not so healthy for your nails. Dark colors may turn your nails yellow. Simply brush your nails with lemon juice and baking soda. This will help to lighten the color, not fully revive your natural born color.

Its amazing how the many foods found around the house can help in daily grooming and beauty care. The best thing is the DIY items save a ton of money which adds up when it comes to beauty products. Good luck!

Food Goods - Tea

Here’s another banger with tea goods. I figure after my absence this weekend and the importance of tea for a night out for all the birthday boys and girls, I should share the other great deeds tea has as well. There are different types of teas that have different benefits, but here are the few:

• Great cleaning tool around the house – Brewed tea can help to clean and shine wood furniture. Put in a spray bottle and it will help clean fingerprints from glass which can be used on mirrors and windows. Leave tea soaked in the toilet seat for a few hours and brush the stains away. To clean carpets, sprinkle dry used green tea leaves and leave for 10 minutes and vacuum.
• Improve skin – Simply wash your face with calendula flower tea rather than benzoyl peroxide to soothe acne. Green tea will work just as well, but be sure to use the best natural and organic leaves possible.  
• Condition dry hair –After a regular hair wash, skip the conditioner and rinse your hair with unsweetened tea and leave it in for ten to fifteen minutes. Rinse again with water and enjoy.
• Soothe a sunburn – Simply pat skin with cooled chamomile tea for the anti-inflammatory effect. Dry and broken skin may be irritated by this, so be careful.
• Soothe tired eyes – Warm, wet tea  bags are shown t soothe pain around the eyes and reduce puffiness.
• Lose weight – Drink tea after every meal to help lose a few pounds without having to sacrifice what you want to eat n the regular. It also helps to break down all the oily foods that you consume which is great in reducing any illnesses. 

So next time you're out in a restaurant, order a cup of tea before splurging on coffee. It will not only help you stay awake, but it has many great uses as well. 

The Things We Take For Granted - Sleep

So it wasn’t until yesterday when I was catching up with a group of good friends that I realized the importance of something most of us don’t get enough of. My friends who are practically insomniacs (both guys and girls) were the ones who had dark circles. I was trying to figure out why I was the only one who did not have such dark circles since I’m older than most of them and my life is pretty darn stressful as well. The answer: sleep.

For those of you who have psoriasis, do you ever feel like you’re extra itchy after a sleepless night? When I’m low on sleep, I feel like a cranky monster which makes me enflamed and extra itchy. Doctors have told you countless numbers of time, you need your rest and trust me on this—they are right.

We all laugh when people say “I need my beauty sleep,” well sleep does maintain beauty. The reason why I have less, almost no dark circles is because I force myself to sleep a full eight hours a day. Yup, I’m known as the party pooper who heads in early while every stays out and chit chat, just to get my beauty sleep. How does it feel? Definitely worth it now that I’m aging!

Aside from dark circles, beauty sleep helps to clear up acne and retain moisture in your face. When you are sleeping, your skin cells are working to heal, as well as the rest of your body, therefore it is important to get a full night of rest. Just make sure you don’t oversleep because you’ll get headaches like I’ve done before. Don’t sleep all day either because it’ll only make your body more tired than you really are!

Please, this blog is not only for women. There have been so many guys that just fall short of looking good because of dark circles. It's not a good look, so men, watch your sleep as well. When we say we want the ideal man, we women mean it-we want the ideal man. Mister Perfect.

Double Eyelids Without Surgery

I know a lot of girls with the monolids, especially Asians. Although I fall under that category, I’m grateful that I don’t have that problem. I know there's a lot of women out there who are willing to undergo surgery just to get that fold, but is it really worth it when you can do it the natural way? It may take some time and patience, but I think it is much better than having something you cannot correct without undergoing the knife again. I have a few suggestions for you that are extremely cheap :D

This Japanese eyelid clip is known to help those with monolids, including men. Although they look painful, they really are not. I admit I was afraid to use it at first, but there’s a rubber cushion that prevents the pain of clipping your lids, that and these eyelid clippers are not do not expand wide enough to clip a lot of your meat. I suggest using these every night before sleeping, just hold the clip open and push with the skin of your eyelid as far back as possible and release. Because the elasticity in your eyes are so flexible, by keeping this up, your lids will keep its shape. You are going to look like a fool walking around the house in them and it will block part of your vision, so be careful!

Another option is eyelid glue. Simply brush the glue along the line of your crease and give it some time to dry like you would with eyelash glue. When the glue starts to dry and get sticky, use the stick with two ends shaped like a V to push back your eyelid. Feel free to load up as many layers as you want to create a more dramatic fold.

The last thing which I don’t recommend going out in, is eyelid tape. Eyelid tape will help the fold of your eyes immediately without all the trouble of glue and sleeping with a clip, but is it extremely visible even with eye shadow. This is suitable for pictures and going out at night where there is minimal lighting. You can align a set of tapes to increase the dramatic fold of your eye lids. If you’re willing to sleep with this tape on every night, your eyelids will gradually get accustomed it. 

If you have uneven eyelids like I do, use the eyelid glue or tape to correct one eye and even out your face. It's best if you sleep with it, being that your room is not too hot that the glue will melt. 

Beauty Tips - Spoon

A spoon can do what?

It’s pretty obvious I like to eat with my spoon! I love getting big scoops of food and just munching it down, saves time having to poke and stab haha! Aside from eating—what I love to do, a cold spoon can help reduce the swelling and dark circles around the eyes (like I did in my previous blog).

The spoon is also a popular method to get rid of hickeys. Admit it, we all went through that stage in high school and it’s embarrassing. If you’re currently in high school, don’t allow anyone to give you a hickey, it’s pretty disgusting and not pretty at all. I regret ever having one :[ Moving along, like the hickey treatment, a spoon can be used to reduce swelling and darkness of a bruise. Hickeys are bruises: they are basically clotting of the blood in the neck and therefore the same technique can be used elsewhere. It may be painful to use a spoon and “push” out the blood, but it will help the bruise heal quicker. Be sure to push from the center of the bruise out towards the less bruised areas. You can also use cold raw meat or sliced raw onions, just be sure to not put raw onions over a cut. Raw onions are not meant for people with psoriasis because we always have open cuts.

In regards to beauty, spoons come in handy when you can’t find your eyelash curler. I admit, it looks funny when you curl your lashes with a spoon, but I know people who refuse to go out without their eyelashes curled. I’m one of those girls that use an eyelash curler on a special night, but it’s great to have a backup plan!

If you’re using a spoon to curl your lashes, you should also use the spoon to prevent mascara from getting onto your face. I’ve got mascara on my face countless numbers of times in the past after I finished up with my eyeliner and eye shadow. It is annoying to have to remove part of your eye makeup because a touch of mascara. It’s also difficult to coat your bottom lashes without getting a dab or two on the cheek so to save time, protect your skin with a spoon and coat away!

Hygiene 101

Health and Hygiene tips

I usually try and keep my blogs as short as possible, but I cannot stress how important health and hygiene is. There are so many things in this world that we should do, but we don’t do. Why? We say because we are human, there is only so much we can do and so we tend to forget to do things or take the easy way out on things because we simply don’t have enough time. However, it is crucial that we remember certain hygiene and little tips to make our future healthier.

• Wash your face daily. It is suggested that we wash our face twice a day, in the morning when we wake up and before we sleep (or when we get in from outdoors). When washing your face in the morning, it not only wakes you up in the morning but starts you off with a clean fresh face for the day. It is extremely important to wash your face with a cleanser because it will clean off dirt and oil better; if you have a washcloth or face sponge I definitely suggest using that to remove even more dirt from the face. If you’re feeling lazy and want to wash your face once a day, wash it when coming home before you sleep. It is the most important and best time to wash your face because as you sleep, your face is absorbing all the dirt on your face so you do not want it to absorb all the germs and pollution from outdoors.
• Use the sun to kill germs. If you have the space, the sun is the best and the most green way to dry your clothes. Aside from drying your clothes, the sun can kill a number of germs so the next time you decide to wash a pair of shoes, leave it in the sun to kill the rest of the germs while simultaneously drying. My ultimate favorite is using the sun to kill the germs on my down feathered comforters after a winter of sleeping in them, yes germs add up!
• Remember to wear a sunscreen with at least a 15 spf when leaving the house. It is important to protect your skin against damaging rays that the sun gives off. No one wants skin cancer and it can happen at the most random times without you knowing. Remember to put a sun protector on your neck and décolleté area because you do not want to have uneven sun damage as you age.
• Drink water. Water is not only good for your skin, but it is good for your body. You should definitely stay hydrated so the sun does not absorb all you energy. For a lot of Vietnamese people, we consider water a medication. Water flushes out the germs in your body and therefore, the more water you drink, the less toxic your body is. Of course, try not to mix it with drinking soda as well because one can of soda takes almost thirty cups of water to flush out all the toxic.
• Wash your hands frequently. There are a number of germs surrounding us daily and the last thing we want is to get sick. We have to stay active and energized to tackle many jobs throughout the day so it is extremely important to wash your hands with soap. Yes, you must use soap—running your hands through water does nothing.
• Have hand sanitizer handy. Guys, it is not always a girl’s job to have sanitizer. If you live in the New York City area, you are encountering millions of germs everyday when taking public transportation and just going out. You don’t necessarily have to carry hand sanitizer with you, but keep it on your desk and use it to limit the amount of germs you encounter. Always remember to sanitize before you eat!
• Replace your toothbrush every three to six months. If you use a regular toothbrush, depending on how hard or soft you brush your teeth, you should change your toothbrush when the bristles start to wear off. There are many toothbrushes that have a faded color change to alert you as to when you should change your toothbrush. If it does not, use your best knowledge and remember to change your toothbrush. After a while, your bristles are so worn out, it is less effective when brushing your teeth and therefore, it will not remove plaque and dirt that’s deep down within. For most people who keep it in a bucket or don’t have a toothbrush holder that covers the head of the toothbrush, you are only collecting more dirt in your toothbrush by having it out in the open.
• Alternate the type of toothpaste you use after finishing a tube. Many people like me, have a tendency to stick to one kind of toothpaste that we absolutely love. This is not good for the teeth. After a certain amount of time, your teeth grow immune to the toothpaste you use and therefore, it will not be as effective on your teeth and you may complain about not seeing any changes. Try to rotate at least between two toothpastes at the minimum and find another that you absolutely love!
• Rub your toothpaste all over your teeth before brushing. If you’re like me, you probably are uneven with your toothpaste. I usually start at the left side of my mouth and work my way over which means the right side of my mouth probably isn’t as strong and clean as my left side. A trick in the old book is using your finger or toothbrush to lather toothpaste all over your teeth before brushing.
• Remember to floss after brushing. If you think brushing is enough, it definitely isn’t. There are so much leftover foods that you “save for later” and stay stuck in your gums when you do not floss it out. To be honest, flossing is nearly not enough for your teeth. If you have a water flossing machine, that’ll help dig out more than you can imagine!
• Switch over to a new shampoo and conditioner after finishing each bottle. Unless you are using a Costco size or value size shampoo and conditioner, change it after finishing a bottle. Like the efficiency of toothpaste, shampoo and conditioners work the same way. It would be best if you alternate between two shampoos and conditioners and decide which is better for your hair on the day that you are washing.
• Remember to cover your toilet bowl before flushing. Toilets are not the cleanest thing in the world, I am pretty sure I do not have to go into detail as to why. This is why it is important to cover your toilet before flushing because as you flush, germs rise up in the air, grabbing onto whatever is around (especially your toothbrush). Therefore, it is extremely important to cover before flushing, especially if you’re going number two.
• Change your contact solution daily. This is pretty much a no brainer, but you have no idea how many people I know who does not do this (mostly guys, sorry it’s the truth). It is important to wash your contact lenses daily before placing them in your contact case, so how important do you think changing your contact solution is? It’s pretty important. When washing and changing your contact solution, you are limiting the dirt and infections you can get. More importantly, you can wear your contact lenses longer and save yourself money in the end.
• Change your set of undies every 6 months. Let’s admit it ladies, most of us (including myself) do not change our underwear draw every six months. Yes, you should take everything in that drawer and throw it out every six months and replace with a new set. We are facing periods, nasty weather, and many other disgusting things everyday and these germs only build up as time goes back. I know most of you ladies have a heck of a lot of undies, but it just makes it easier to have enough for a week or two (depending on when you do laundry) and rotate for the six months until it is time for a new set, especially if you are a thong gal. 

Beauty 101

Beauty Tips

Beauty is not easy. There are so many things we have to pay particular attention to. I cannot stress the importance of the followings listing enough for you to follow them, but I can write them out and hope that you will stay alert now.

•      Wash your face in an upwards circular motion. Guys and girls this is particularly important no matter where you wash your face because we have a tendency to remove face wash by wiping our face down. After a continuous pattern of pulling your face in one direction, your face will droop towards that direction. Therefore, it is important to wash your face moving your hands in an upward motion. The circular pattern is optional to you, but of course this is better because it not only allows your skin to absorb the nutrition and vitamins in your face wash, but it is a massage for your face. This decreases the chances of wrinkles and provides you with more youthful skin.
•          Remove your makeup before heading to bed. Yes, after a night of clubbing, the first thing you want to do is face plant on your bed and the last thing—taking time out of your sleep to remove your makeup. As I stated before, as you sleep, your skin is resting and rejuvenating which calls for a clean skin. Having toxic makeup on your face is not the best thing prior to your sleep because it will only eat into your skin more. This is extremely bad when you are using makeup that is not healthy for the skin which can damage your skin even more. If you are a daily makeup user, it is important to let your face breathe and get oxygen through the pores to prevent breakouts and holes in your face due to makeup.
•         Do not forget the neck area. It is important to pay particular attention to your neck area because it is common to forget the importance of the neck. As you age, your age will reflect in your neck area as it starts to fold so you should treat it as you do the rest of your face. If you are doing a weekly mask, after your fifteen-twenty minutes are up, take the mask and leave it hanging around the neck so your neck can absorb some of those goodies. Masks are not cheap so use it to its max!
•          Change your mascara every 3 months. This is extremely difficult. I know many of you grow attached to your mascara, just like me, or have so much that it is not worth it to throw out every 3 months. If you are using your mascara daily, it will start to dry out and get lumpy which is no good for your lashes because it won’t work as well as a new one so try to change that mascara. Another problem which you should be aware of is the dirt that can build up with in your mascara which leads us to…
•          Wipe your mascara after every use. Dirt builds up on your lashes as your eyes flushes out dirt and particles with tears. When putting mascara on your eyes, you are attracting some of the dirt and contaminating your brush. Therefore, it is extremely important to wipe your mascara clean before placing it back into the tube so you can decrease the changes of contamination and a bad eye infection.
•          Use a Q-tip around your eyes. You may think that your ring fingers are acceptable to use around the eye area, being that it is the finger using the least strength. Although the ring finger has a softer touch on your skin, it is much preferred to use a Q-tip, especially when putting on eye liner. This reduces the amount of pulling that you are putting on your eyes which decreases the amount of wrinkles.
•          Do not pop your pimples. You may think that popping your pimples and black heads will speed up the process of your face healing but this is not true. If you pop your pimples, you are only increasing the chances of holes developing on your face as you age. Popping pimples is not only bad for your skin in later years, but you can also cause an infection. This will not only delay the process of your skin healing, but increase the amount of dirt build up in your skin.
•        Change your nail polish weekly. For princesses like me who love to have color on the nails practically every day, it is extremely important to change your nail polish weekly. Nail polish eats into the skin and the longer you have it on, the worse it gets for your nails, especially if it is a dark color like black which uses harmful chemicals to make. The longer you have nail polish on without removing, the more damaging it will become for your nails as well has turning your natural nail color to be an icky yellow.
•          Let your nails breathe at least one day a week. Prior to changing your nail color, it is best if you allow your nails to ‘breathe’ a little. Like your face, nail polish will only eat into your nails and therefore, it is important to give your nail a one day breather to prevent your nails from getting worse. I suggest doing this on the weekend if you are working 5 days a week. You can even take off your nail polish on a Saturday night after partying and getting a new coat on the Sunday before work. Of course, the longer you let your nails breathe, the better it will be for you.
•         Remember to put on a base coat. In addition to changing your nail polish weekly and giving your nails a breather, it is important to have a base coat. This base coat is a protective layer which limits the time your nail polish will eat into your nails and turn them yellow. This is always a big plus, especially since there are a lot of drugstore brands that have nail hardeners and vitamins for your nails as a base coat.
•          Clean your brushes. Your makeup brushes go through a lot, just like you. If you do not clean off the makeup that lingers on it, it’ll only make the hairs worse and that is not what you want. You should take clean your brushes after each use (if you have the time) and shampoo once a week. This will keep your brushes lasting longer and hold up better when it comes to use.

I will follow with a general hygiene blog soon :D