Costometic

Give yourself a break with this easy at-home manicure. Sit back, relax and paint your worries away.

Shape

Remove any leftover polish. The Revlon Extra Gentle Nail Enamel Remover is acetone-free and great for frequently painted sensitive nails. Use a nail file from the outer corner of the nail towards the center in single strokes - don’t saw. Stick with an end-of-fingertip length for a smart look.

Soak

Fill a small bowl with warm, soapy water and a few drops of skin-softening essential oil. We like the mild Essence Aromathologia Lavender. Relax and soak hands for several minutes to soften them. Wipe with a soft towel.

Clean

Rub a cuticle softener into your nails, then push them back with an orange stick or a washcloth. The Bourjois Soin Cuticles Serum has a roller-ball applicator so the gel goes on just where it should, not all over your hands. Finish by cleaning beneath your fingernails; then trim the excess skin and hangnails with a pair of manicure scissors.

Scrub

Whip up a fresh scrub. Combine 1/3 cup raw sugar, several squirts of lime juice and 1 tsp to 1 tbsp olive oil in a bowl and mash with a spoon. Add more olive oil if the consistency is too grainy, more sugar if it is too watery. Massage into hands to remove dead skin. Wipe off with a warm, damp washcloth. Spa tip: Before you start your manicure, nuke a wet towel in the microwave, then place it in a plastic bag so it is ready after you have exfoliated with the scrub.

Massage

Slather hands with a luxe lotion. The Collagenese Intensive Hand and Nail Moisturizer from Boots tightens and hydrates the skin on your hands. We also like the Almond Oil Daily Hand and Nail Cream from the Body Shop which moisturizes for softness all day. Wipe the lotion from the nails with a dry cotton ball, otherwise the polish won’t stick well when you paint your nails.

Paint

Bright orange for the bold and baby rose for the beautiful are the hottest hues for the season, and we love ooh-la-la orange from Inglot and the pretty pink from YSL. After you have applied a clear base coat, brush on two thin layers of polish, letting each dry well. Finish with a clear topcoat. Use an ear bud to wipe smudges from cuticles.