Beauty Fix | Repairing a Nail Tear

It may sound a little dramatic, however a broken nail can be a bit of a nightmare - especially if you have a big event approaching. Luckily there is a quick fix that not only repairs your nail, but can make it look as though it was never broken in the first place....magic, right?!

Review: OPI Tokyo Collection

I'm a nail polish addict - my current collection stands at just under 200 bottles and continues to grow. So I'm always excited to see a new nail polish collection drop. However I do have one small issue with most collections - they are either made up of very similar shades or contain a few wild card shades that I could never wear (unless I'm going to a costume party or experiencing a quarter-life crisis). However OPI recently launched its SS19 collection and every single shade is gorgeous.

Review: OPI Iceland AW17/18

To know me is to know my obsession with OPI nail lacquer. I have been brand-loyal for the last 10 years and recommend most products to most people. I recently got the chance to review the new OPI Iceland collection and I'm happy to confirm it's the perfect nail palette for AW17/18.

Get Handsy | Best Hand & Nail Products

If there is one thing I love to do, it's get handsy. Whether I'm shaking someone's hand or sticking two fingers up to some asshole (who deserves it, obvs), my hands and nails need to be on point. These are the products I use to make that happen...

Behind The Brand: OPI

OPI was originally named Odontorium Products Inc and started off as a small dental supply company. The company was purchased by George Schaeffer in 1981, with Suzi Weiss-Fischmann joining as Executive Vice President and Artistic Director shortly after.

The Tuesday Tip: Frosty Fingernails

Reaching for your favourite nail lacquer, only to find it's turned thick, gloopy and unusable, is annoying AF. Luckily there is a quick trick that will help you avoid this nightmare....

I'm Dreaming Of A Cult Christmas

"What beauty products do you think are the best?" is one of the most common questions I get asked and it usually comes from beauty-virgins or beauty-beginners looking for guidance. But this question recently got me thinking...what do you gift girls who are new to the beauty scene? Well only one thing came to mind...cult classics. The world is blessed with some amazing beauty products and if I could carry these cult beauty classics around with me 24/7, on the off chance I get washed up on a desert island, I would! So if you are considering gifting a girl who doesn't know her AHAs from her illuminators, I would recommend the below...

The Tuesday Tip: Fix Dried Or Gloopy Nail Polish

If your nail polish has dried up or turned gloopy, do not fear! Bringing it back to life couldn't be easier. Simply add a couple of drops of nail polish remover to the bottle, tighten the lid and shake! In only a few short seconds your polish will be back to life and ready to use.

Be warned, although this trick revives a lifeless lacquer, it doesn't do it without compromise. Adding nail polish remover to a polish does weaken its quality and pigmentation. However once it turns gloopy it is unusable anyway, so what the hell...

Now, there is a second way to combat the god awful gloop....using the Mavala Nail Polish Thinner 10ml (£7.60 feelunique.com). This amazing product does exactly what is says and deserves a spot in every nail kit! Your final option is to invest in quality polishes from great nail brands; some of my favourites include Treat, OPI, Caption and Nails Inc.

Faithful Four: Nail Lacquers

OPI Nail Lacquer

Promise: “OPI nail polish provides a comprehensive palette of gorgeous colours to suit your every mood, outfit and season. With fun, descriptive names and a chip-resistant formula”

Price: £11.50/$9.00 15ml

Purchase: John Lewis, drugstore.com

When it comes to nail lacquers, OPI reigns supreme. I have never known an OPI polish to chip or flake and the colour remains vibrant from application to removal. OPI brushes make application very easy, they are quite wide which enables you to apply the colour in one complete stroke, two at the most! The colour is also so pigmented that you can get away with just one coat of lacquer. What makes OPI an amazing brand, aside from its unbeatable formula, is the sheer number of shades it offers. OPI has over 200 shades, not including the seasonal and limited edition collections that launch every year!

China Glaze Nail Lacquer

Promise: “Our unique lacquers contain China Clay as a nail hardener, the same material that gives porcelain its shiny finish. These glossy lacquers work in perfect cohesion with our professional nail treatments for lasting strength, durability and overall gorgeous nails”

Price: £6.95/$7.50 14ml

Purchase: beautybay.com, ULTA

China Glaze is the best budget nail polish brand around. The lacquer has unbelievable staying power, it rarely chips and it strengthens the nails with every application. The lacquer itself lasts a very long time and doesn't go gloopy after a couple of months. China Glaze brushes are narrow and the consistency of the lacquer is thin, making application incredibly easy. China Glaze polishes are highly pigmented and they are available in a huge variety of shades. Similar to OPI, China Glaze launches seasonal and limited edition collections all year round. The brand is also innovative in its development of textured nail polishes.

Seche Nail Lacquer

Promise: “The brand philosophy is to provide the finest and most innovative nail care products to those who appreciate quality and innovation at a reasonable cost”

Price: £9.99/$7.50 14ml

Purchase: beautybay.com, ULTA

Seche is the brand behind the cult top coat, Seche Vite. After years of demand, the brand finally launched a colour collection last year and it was well worth the wait. Seche lacquers are highly pigmented and, like Seche Vite, are incredibly well formulated. All of the colours have such depth that only one coat is needed. The brushes are narrow, making application easy and precise and the lacquer itself is chip-proof and long-lasting. What makes a Seche Nail Lacquergreat is its beautifully shiny finish that lasts for weeks.

Revlon Nail Enamel

Promise: “Revlon® Nail Enamel delivers gorgeously smooth, chip-resistant colour that stays true with ShadeLock Technology™”

Price: £6.49 / $4.99 14ml

Purchase: Boots ,drugstore.com

Revlon is one of the best budget beauty brands around. The brand's affordable cosmetics are flawless and the same goes for its nail lacquer. Nail colours are highly pigmented with a beautiful glossy finish and they all have real staying power. Some colours can chip a little from time to time, however this is avoided when the lacquer is finished with a great top coat. Application is very easy - the brush is quite small and narrow, which is perfect if you like to experiment with nail art. Although there is not a huge range of classic shades, Revlon are continuously bringing out new shades and limited edition colours. When it comes to budget nail lacquer brands, Revlon really is one of the best around.

Ask TBI: Save My Stained Nails!

Question: I paint my toenails all of the time. In fact, you will never see naked toenails on my feet! However I think my constant coating is staining my nails. How can I stop the staining? - Robyn, Bristol.

Answer: Some nail polishes contain certain coloured pigments that can leave a nasty yellow stain on toenails and fingernails. Darker toned polishes are usually the main culprits!

To remove the yellow stain, soak a cotton pad with lemon juice and rub it onto the nails. This will not only help to remove the stain, it will also brighten the nails.

The best way to prevent nail staining in the future is to use a base coat before applying nail polish. By doing this the base coat will act as a protective barrier between the nail and the polish. My top three base costs are Essie's First Base 15ml (£8.51 beautybay.com / $8.00 ULTA), OPI's Natural Base 15ml (£11.50, lookfantastic.com / $8.00 drugstore.com) and Revlon's Colorstay Nail Enamel Base Coat 11ml (£7.99 Boots / $7.99 ULTA).