This season’s minimalist manicure is high-shine, low-maintenance and naturally sexy.
This season’s minimalist manicure is high-shine, low-maintenance and naturally sexy.
There’s something so refreshing and modern about the no-colour trend. Instead of shocking shades and elaborate art, this one is all about showing off the health of your nails – and the effect is super-easy to pull off. Innovative base coats and topcoats give you perfectly polished, low-maintenance nails in just a few swipes. Here’s how:
ACE YOUR BASE
The latest base coats do more than just prime your nails for polish. They’re laced with vitamins, peptides, proteins or botanicals to nourish and protect. Opi Gel Break Serum (US$10 or $14, http://www.ebay.com), developed as an antidote to the issues that crop up after improper gel polish removal (namely weakened nail beds that lead to peeling and increased brittleness), contains vitamins A, C and E, plus safflower oil, bamboo and cactus extracts.
Or try the keratin peptide-infused Dermelect Launchpad Nail Strengthener ($31.90, http://www.ozcosmetics.com.sg), which restores protein to the nails, making them stronger and more flexible.
NOW POLISH IT
If at this point your nails look great, then just go with a coat of clear. The wide, flat brush in Sally Hansen Color Therapy Top Coat (prices vary, http://www.qoo10.sg) makes application speedy, and the formula contains argan oil, acai and evening primrose oil to keep nails moisturised and glossy.
For more help, try one or two of these Zoya Naked Manicure Perfectors (prices vary, http://www.qoo10.sg). Like photo filters for your nails, the sheer topcoats blur imperfections, colour correct uneven tones or stains, boost your skin tone, and add subtle shine thanks to smoothing ingredients and reflective sheer hues.
To off set yellow-stained nails, start with the lavender. Then opt for the shade that best matches your nail bed – pink for warm skin, mauve for dark skin, and so forth – which is what will look most natural. If you want to brighten your tips, finish with a swipe of the sheer white across the free edge. Whatever you choose, the result is your nails, only better.
