Nails by Thi Phan

Colors used: Natasha & Taylor

(Purple picks: Yin Yang tank, Ettika purple silk peace necklace, light purple Converse, Ettika purple wrap bracelet, Top Shop purple denim shorts, Aspinal of London heart shaped coin purse, Steve Madden purple suede wedges, Julep Anne & Charlotte polishes)

I am sure you are wondering, as was I, why May 16th was the decided day to promote peace? I did some research about this day and how it came about, and let me tell you, I was a bit surprised on what I found. This holiday was actually created to show the aliens it was okay to make contact with our planet. Crazy, right? I am actually quite keen on the idea of communicating with the extra terrestrial through fashion, and the fact that purple was the chosen color is a plus because purple really does look good on everyone.

Whether you want to participate by painting your nails with Anne or Charlotte, wearing a fun pair of purple shoes, a sweet lilac day dress, or lavender accessories is up to you. Just be sure to do it fashionably, we don’t want the beings of outer space thinking we don’t know how to dress.

Spring 2012 runways were covered in accordion pleats, and the fun flirty trend quickly made it’s way to the streets, being worn by some of our most favored celebs. Whether you style is glamorous, boho chic, or girly girl- this look works well for everyone. Here are three fun ways to rock the accordion pleat this coming spring/summer.

Which look best fits your style personality?

When is comes to pleats on the runway, Michael Kors really stole the show. To get this fabulous runway look pair a green pleated maxi skirt with a pair of fun leather sandals, a matching belt, and a plain white tee.

America’s sweetheart, Taylor Swift, sure knows how to color block with precision. To get this adorable look pair a yellow pleated skirt with a navy tank (a sweater may be a bit warm for summer), some classic red ballet flats, and a bright blue purse.

Channel your inner Carrie and rock this adorable blue accordion pleated dress with a fun pair of t-strap heels and a striking red handbag. Your outfit will be sure to turn heads wherever you go.

 Colors used: Zoe & Amy

2. Daily Glow Nail App ($1.99): If you are the indecisive type, than this is the app for you! Virtually “try on” different colors of polish, until you can decide which one matches your skin tone, outfit, and style the best!

3. iNails ($0.99): My favorite of all the nail apps is most definitely iNails! With this app you can search through the largest nail polish database to find out which polish best matches your new pumps, what different shades of green a certain brand carries, how a color look after it’s dry, etc.

4. Nail Art DIY App ($1.99): Similar to the Cute nails app seen above, this one is also a database of nail design tutorials. This may be a pricier app than you are used to, but totally worth it, especially if you are into nail art! Quality step-by-step image guides make doing nail art easy & fun.

Sunscreen is the most effective skin-care product to prevent ageing and increase overall skin health. Although it’s easily forgotten about, your skin will thank you in the long run for nourishing and protecting it from overexposure to the sun when you apply sun protection.

Everyone deserves healthy beautiful sunburn-free skin, and we are SO excited to give you a sneak peek at our newest beloved skin-care product: our brand new Julep Daylight Defense SPF 30 for your hands & face!

Julep’s SPF 30 is an effective sun protection product that is paraben free and gentle enough to use on both your hands AND face. Best of all, it’s non-whitening formula won’t leave any streaks on your skin when you apply it.

Go ahead and treat yourself to extraordinary smooth and healthy skin, remember to embrace the benefits of sunscreen and wear it often and religiously. Do you want to get first dibs on this product? Daylight Defense will be featured in our June Maven box, sign up by May 18th to get this product in your 1st monthly box. Not a Maven yet? Take our style quiz here.

Healthy nails are something that most all women strive for, myself included. I have had issues in the past with being able to grow out my nails, pesky cuticles, and thin/brittle nails. All the things I was doing to get the nails I dreamed of (such as the ones seen above), were just not working & I was frustrated. People would tell me things such as don’t paint your nails dark, clip your cuticles weekly, take biotin, etc. etc. Yet I was not seeing any changes. I decided to do a little research and see which myths were true, and which were not. Once I got the truth about healthy nails, I quickly saw some fabulous changes. Not saying I turned into a hand model over night, but there has been some definite improvement!

Here are some nail myths, debunked!

Myth: You should regularly snip your cuticles.
Truth: Your cuticles are basically scar tissue, so your cuticles are the barriers between germs entering your nail beds. Each time you clip your cuticles, not only does it expose your nail beds, but they will also grow back thicker. Instead of clipping or pushing back your cuticle, opt for some quality cuticle oil instead.

Myth: Dark nail polish discolors your nails.
Truth: This is TRUE; always wearing dark nail polish can most definitely discolor your nails to an icky shade of yellow. Not only are your nails porous, but also dark polish has more pigments than light polish and these pigments will absorb into your nails. In turn your nails will actually become permanently discolored. This will only go away once they grow out. To avoid this, always use a base coat as a barrier!

Myth: Gelatin makes your nails grow strong & healthy.
Truth: This is false! Your nails are composed of keratin, not gelatin; therefore this will not have any effect on the health of your nails.

Myth: Bite your nails long enough and they won’t go back.
True: This sounds like something your mom told you when you were a kid to scare you out of nail biting & it is not true! Your nail grows from the bottom, so even though biting your nails damages them, it doesn’t stunt it’s growth. Regardless, nail biting is a bad habit that you should probably work on ASAP.

Myth: White spots on your nails means you need to consume more calcium.
Truth: This is most certainly false! White spots show that you recently had an injury to your nail (i.e. slamming a door on your finger- OUCH)! There are only slight traces of calcium in your nail, so you will not be able to tell if you have a calcium deficiency through your nails. In the same regard, consuming more calcium will not make your nails stronger.

Myth: Lastly, My favorite nail myth of all! Pre-natal vitamins make your nails grow!
Truth: If you have ever had a pregnant friend, you probably noticed they had long nails, thick and healthy hair, and glowing skin. You ask them “what’s the deal”? My guess is they will probably proceed to swear by their pre-natal vitamins. Even though they probably contributed to that for your expecting friend, it does not mean it will work for you. These vitamins contain MUCH higher amounts of regular vitamins, and should not be taken unless recommended by a doctor. If you are not pregnant and take pre-natal’s you may develop cystic acne, or become sick from too much iron.

Do you have any nail myths you want debunked? Let me know and I will get to the bottom of it for you.