Nail care: Oliva by ccs Eco Cuticle Oil, review

Today I'm showing something from the nail care section which is cuticle creams/oils. Endlessly painting and I guess foremost putting remover on the cuticles generally dries them out. I'm one of the lucky ones who despite almost daily dozes of 100% acetone still have quite good cuticles most of the time and I don't feel forced to always carry something moisturizing with me my all day. However, I've tried quite a few products and Oliva by ccs Eco Cuticle Oil has been a favorite before but sadly disappeared from the pharmacies during a couple of years here in Sweden. Now when it's back I'd like to talk about it. :)

First some general information. A really good thing with this product is that it contain 96 % ecologically certified ingredients. It contains organic olive oil and vitamins and the packages is 8 ML.

As you can see above it has a brush for applying the oil. The oil itself is whitish jelly like and has the perfect consistency, not too thin and not too thick. By squeezing the package a small amount of oil comes out and it's easy to apply by brushing and it feels like it's easy to get the oil everywhere like under the nails at the nail bed. (which I've heard should be good if you want long nails). After I've brushed on the oil I usually massage my cuticles just to spread the oil further. Another good thing about the cuticle oil (comparing to many others I've tried) is that the the surface isn't left oily at all! Instead it really feels like the oil is going into the skin leaving it moisturized. I also love the scent which is mild but still is there an hour later.

This is basically the best cuticle oil I've tried so far. I did try the hand creme in the same series but they where very different. The scent is different, and the surface feels some what oily with the hand creme so I'm skipping that one especially now when the cuticle oil is back!

Bought at Apoteket Hjärtat (a swedish pharmacy) for about 50SEK (~5 euros).

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New base polish to try - Seche Base

Got home a new perfume (a non spray one) today so I opened the cap to relive the scent and when I close the cap drips splashed right into my eye. 2 hours later it still feels weird in the eye, lol.

Today I'm just going to make a quick post about the base coat I'm using for the moment. Three bottles in a row I've used China Glaze - Super Strong Adhesion. And I think it has worked really fine, no chipping and not really any noticeable staining more than the usual which comes with nail polish use.

I'm really into large bottles (newer ending supplies) so I decided to try a new base coat. This time Seche Base - Ridge Filling Base Coat.

I don't really have a ridge problem at all, my nails are pretty smooth, but now during winter my nails have been brittle so I've been forced to "tea-bag" some minor damages and I figured that maybe this base coat could smooth the fixes up with less polish.

When I got the polish I realized that it was shimmery, which I didn't like but luckily it doesn't show so much on the nails, especially not at all with one coat. For fun I tried on two coats on the picture, to see how "white" it looks and it do look a bit white (even though the flash make it look whiter than it really is). So far I still like it, I think it will work great with french manicures (which was the reason why I was worried about the shimmer in it). Now I don't have ridges so I don't know if it work with that and I'm not sure it really helped covering the patches that much, maybe little? Other than that it seems very much the same as my previous base polish (like after a week's usage).

I guess I'll try the other Seche Base next time for reference. It's transparent and just a regular base polish. Some how I like the idea of the same brand behind both the base and top coat (since I love Seche Vite), like if there are more compatible. Not like if I've had any problems before though.

Bought it at Head2toebeauty for US$15.95 + shipping to sweden (4 oz + 0.5 oz = 115 ml + 15ml). In total it ended up with about $20 which makes a good price/ml in my opinion. :)


I'll update if I discovers anything new about this.

Have you tried this base coat? For me most base coats are just the same - just the price that differs, but is there any base coat that really sucks and that you really can't recommend?

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My Hand and Nail Care Routine

One of the things that I get asked most often is "What is your nail care routine?" I don't think I've ever done a post dedicated to the whole lineup of products that I use and how I use them, so I figured I would take the time to share now.

These are just the products I use to care for my nails, so I won't be talking about topcoats, base coats, etc here. Keep an eye out for that post in the future though!

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream
If I had to pick just one nail care item to use for the rest of my life, it would be mah Burt's. I've used a bunch of cuticle care products over the last two years but I always come back to this one, and I'll tell you why. First of all, it does a damn good job. It melts right in to my cuticles and keeps them hydrated nicely. While it may feel a little grainy coming out of the container, when I massage it into my nail area it's soft and smooth without being too greasy or slick (I'm looking at you, LUSH Lemony Flutter). Second, I love the purse-ready tin. Things have to be pretty robust to hold up in my purse and Burt's has proven tough. Third, one tin lasts for-ev-er. I apply it daily and I have no problem getting at least six months out of every tin. After you've let it soften your cuticles, you can also gently push them back for a neater appearance.

Duri Rejuvacote Nail Strengthener
Rejuvacote is like a miracle product. Similar to OPI Nail Envy, Rejuvacote is a product that you apply directly to the nail to improve strength and nail health. I like to wear a coat of it under every manicure. Some people wear it in place of base coat -- I choose to stack them together! Rejuvacote first and then my base coat of choice second. Since I've been using it, Rejuvacote has helped to almost completely eliminate nail breaks and sometimes I feel like it makes them grow faster, too! You can find it on Ninja Polish and Amazon.com. I also heard a rumor this was going to be stocked in Wal Mart but have yet to see it there.

Hand Lotion/Cream
I apply hand lotion/hand cream at least twice a day, and this is the one area of my routine where there's a lot of variation. I have so many hand moisturization products that I just leave them all over the place. That way, I always have one nearby! I usually use a thicker cream at night time and a more lightweight lotion during the day. I don't think the specific product matters so much here as long as your hands are getting the moisture. Favorites include: Fortune Cookie Soap's Whipped Cream Body Butter & OPI Avojuice.

CND SolarOil
I prefer cuticle cream to cuticle oil for everyday use, but when my nails need a little bit of extra pampering, I'll reach for my CND SolarOil. It seems to condition my cuticles really nicely and smells DELICIOUS (it's the sweet almond oil!). It also absorbs more quickly than the other oils that I've tried. Definitely a win!

Tropical Shine Nail Files
Now, I'm no file expert and I'm certainly not a trained manicurist, but I figured I'd include this anyway. My go-to file is a 220 grit Tropical Shine file that I purchased at Sally Beauty. However, the grit you need will be dependent on the condition and strength of your nails, so stop by Kayla's post about nail files for more information. Remember, never saw back and forth with your nail file. Only file in one direction.

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Tips and Tricks

Be consistent!
The more consistent you are with your hand care, the faster your hands and nails will improve. My nail care process is no big secret...it's all about consistency! Make it a habit. Here are some tips...

• Keep a container of cuticle cream by your computer monitor or on your bedside table
• Set a reminder alarm on your phone if needed
• Moisturize after you wash your hands, as hand soap and water can be very drying

Don't pick off your nail polish!
Just don't! I know it's tempting, but picking polish is really damaging to your nails and can cause them to grow out weaker. I'll admit that I get a little antsy sometimes and commit this greatest of sins too, but really try to make an effort to avoid it.

Find what works for you.
The products that work for me may not work as well for you! I have faith in these products and think that most people will find them effective, but if something doesn't seem to be working right, do some research on other alternatives. Makeupalley.com is a good resource for product reviews if you want to poke around before you buy.

Be patient.
A new cuticle care routine may take a little while to start showing results. Be patient and stick with it and you should see some changes! If you have ragged skin around your nail beds, try softening and conditioning the area with some cuticle cream or oil before you reach for the nippers. Cuticle nippers are easy to go overboard with, and for many people, they aren't even necessary.

Questions? Like I said, I'm not a licensed nail tech, but if you have questions about these products, please feel free to ask in the comments or email me. I'll do my best to answer them for you!

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