Essence features four brave colors and some really great advice: To make a bright shade pop against your skin tone, apply one coat of white opaque polish first. Manicurist Myrdith Leon-McCormack also advises that the darker your skin tone, the bolder you can go with color.

Try Mac Alice + Olivia Nail Lacquer in So Rich So Pretty, Aldo Nail Lacquer in Daisy, OPI Nail Lacquer in Catch Me in Your Net, or Orly Nail Lacquer in Old School Orange.

 

Having trouble keeping your pedicure pristine? Essence offers some new treatments for keeping toes in tip-top condition for up to 14 days. OPI Axxium Soak-off Gel Lacquer Treatment is a three-step soaking system for natural nails. The gel-based technique comes in 34 shades and works in about 15 minutes. CND Shellac is a gel-nail polish hybrid that costs twice as much as a mani-pedi but comes off in 10 minutes. UV lamps seal the deal between coats and specially designed wraps make the removal process a cinch.

 

Essence magazine offers consumers five must-know tips toward a more flawless mani-pedi every time.

  1. Color should adhere to nails. Use an acetone-based remover to remove the natural oils from the nails.
  2. Base coats matter. Not only should base coats act like double-stick tape, but they should feel sticky to the touch after drying.
  3. Less is more. For the best overall result, remove most of the polish from the brush before applying two thin coats of polish to the nail.
  4. Nail color needs sun protection too. Applying a top coat with UV protectants will keep your polish from getting an unflattering yellow tint. Zoya’s Armor Top Coat is a tried-and-true fave.
  5. No more smudges. If you tend to smudge before you’re done, start by applying polish to your big toe (or thumb) first and work your way toward the smaller toes (or fingers) to give your nails enough drying time.

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