Beauty Confession: This Is How I Save Serious Money at the Nail Salon

Glamnetic Press-On Nails

Party dresses aren't the only thing that'll be sparkling this winter. Add a quick shimmer to your nails with these cute press-ons!

Sally Hansen Traveling Light

This unique purple pick only takes a few seconds to dry, which makes it a great option when you need a concise mani, but don't have a ton of time.

sundays L.05

The mix between purple and gray in this hue delivers an understated edge that's to die for.

Nails.INC Baker Street

We love that cobalt blue is *just* the right amount of bold and eye-catching.

ella+mila Unwrap Me

Reds are definitely expected for any winter nails. This flirty shade glides on with absolute perfection!

PrettyDiva Silver Chrome Nail Powder

Silver nails are sophisticated and festive, but aren't exclusive to the holiday season the way that a red and green combo are. Plus, dip powder is a simple and easy way to get a salon-quality manicure at home.

OPI Nail Lacquer

Paint your nails this gorgeous dark blue shade that has sparkles in it!

sundays No.30

For anyone who likes color but doesn't want to overdo it, this muted sage green is a great pick. It's sophisticated, understated, and adds just the right amount of chill for colder days.

OPI It's A Boy! Nail Lacquer

Baby blue has been hot all year long. If you want in on the trend, try adding this pale color to your nails instead.

ORLY Crawford's Wine

Is there anything classier than red nails? They're a little bit vintage, a little bit sexy, and very eye-catching. Match them to a red lip for New Year's celebrationsfor the cutest match.

Beetles Aquarius Polish Kit

From navy to icy blue, these gel polishes will let you have all the winter nails you could ever dream of. The best part is that with proper application, they can last up to three weeks!

Essie Ballet Slippers

Ballet pink is a great neutral because it's elevated and professional, but it's more fun than beige. Pair this pink with ballerina nails, and feel totally girly!

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish

Even though deep green is in the holiday color palette, this peaceful shade can definitely last into the New Year. This polish is chip-resistant and healthy for your nails.

essie A Stroke of Brilliance

For some added shimmer and glow, pop this bad boy on your nails – atop a darker color or by itself!

OPI O Suzi Mio

We love how romantic and powerful this deep purple is. And if there's anything that should make you feel that way, it's your beauty routine.

Dashing Diva Hanukkah Magic

Dark blue and white are a color combo that you can never go wrong with for winter nails. You can wear these tips to your Hanukkah celebrations, but they will also look good any day of the week.

Olive & June Lilac Shimmer

Feminine and flirty, this salon-quality polish is a great way to add some pink Christmas glam to your winter nails if you're not feeling the blues, neons, or reds.

786 Cosmetics Istanbul

This polish is inspired by the shades of the Turkish city it's named after. Not only is it deep and warm, but it also gives you full coverage with a single swipe.

OPI Angels Flight to Starry Nights

This shade simultaneously reminds us of the sea, the sky, and all those icy Y2K beauty looks. It looks iconic in every season, so you can wear it all year long.

Pleasing Syrupberry

OPI Linger Over Coffee

Chocolate brown might be a 2023 hair trend, but you can definitely add it into your manicure, too. The best part is that it'll match your coffee *and* your hot chocolate.

Modelones Going Nude

Wear the shade that matches your skin tone, or mix and match them all for a multi-toned nude look.

OPI Como se Llama

This deep wine color will infuse some warmth into your day-to-day as you count down to the New Year.

essie Carols and Caviar

This winter nails color describes exactly what we want out of the season. It's the most luscious blue that you could ever coat your nails with.

Winter Nails Inspo

Saving Face

Turn your mani into an art gallery with an abstract design that'll make you feel like Picasso. Stick to classic colors like brown and black, or go with seasonal shades.

A Little Bit French

We'll never get enough of the French manicure. But instead of white tips, spice it up with different colors and overlapping stripes.

A Jolly, Happy Soul

This frosty little friend is one of the cutest things we've ever seen on a thumb nail. Don't forget the carrot nose!

Jolly Old Soul

Swap your regular mani for a cherry red nail polish that features a Santa hat. It's cute and classy all in one!

Living On The Edge

Create a manicure that feels unexpected yet classic by adding dots around the edge of your nail in red, green, and gold. The empty space is totally eye-catching while the color trio is nostalgic.

Pastels³

Pick three colors that go well together and layer them for multi-dimensional nails. You can change them up based on the season, or stick with different shades of your favorite color.

I Like You A Latte

Use different shades of brown for a mani that'll get you in the mood for a mocha. The 70s inspired waves are just the foam on top.

All-Out Color

Mix wintery details like gold glitter with neons and warm shades usually found in summer for a winter nails match made in heaven. Love!

Stripes On Stripes

In lieu of an all-white mani, go for one that incorporates stripes or blank space that'll let other colors (or your natural nail) peek through.

Groovy Baby

Pick shapes and shades that remind you of your favorite decade. Bonus points if it matches your outfit!

Flurries

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas, bring some snowy magic to your mani with white polish and a toothpick.

Star Light, Star Bright

Bring some nature to your look with a galaxy-inspired mani, a delicate snowflake, or try your hand at painting a tree. The world is your oyster!

Tortoise

A mix of brown, gold, and tan will never go out of style. We're obsessed with the glittery detail and the use of negative space!

I Can Still Make The Whole Place Shimmer

These glittery nails are perfect for both Christmas and New Year's, which means you don't have to redo your mani before December 31st.

Holly Berries

These red berries are instantly recognizable and very festive. Pick any of your fingers to add these details to, or add a design to each nail.

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Hi, Barbie!

Become winter Barbie when you adorn your nails in the cutest baby pink polishes out there. A lil' shimmer never hurt anyone, either.

Celestial Nails

Deep gold or chrome is the perfect polish to take a simple starry mani to the next level. The key to painting clean stars is using an ultra tiny nail brush.

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Emerald City

Deeper greens were made for winter nails. We love this divided design that also makes a play on French tips.

Tip Off

A little goes a long way with these chrome nails. They have the classy feeling of a French manicure with the glam look of silver polish.

Jewels And Gems

Faux gems and nail glue come together to add a 3-dimensional element to any manicure. We're obsessed.

Pop Art Nails

If you want another element to your pop art nails, add a shape to one of your fingers — we love the detail on this heart.

Candy Cane Lane

We'll literally always say yes to some cherry red nails, especially when there are candy canes involved.

Taste The Rainbow

Who said Skittles nails were reserved for summer? If you're in desperate need of more color this winter, this mani is the way to go.

Feeling Romantic

These chocolate brown nails are already looking towards Valentine's Day. Keep the base of your accent nail simple or go crazy with an unexpected neon.

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Holly Jolly

If you just can't resist the Christmas holiday, opt for winter nails like these that channel ornaments and decor.

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Classically Embellished

These elevated and decorated winter nails are giving everything they need to give for a classy NYE party.

Understanding Oil Cleansers

With acne prone skin, you want to start off your routine with an oil cleanser. This will help to completely remove the makeup from your skin, as well as get rid of any dirt.

Rachel Lozina, New York State Licensed Master Esthetician, let me know that these oil cleansers restore the skin barrier. Most people that have skin conditions like acne often use specific cleansers that alter their skin's pH, or leave it incredibly dry and dehydrated. With oil cleansers, you can actually balance that delicate pH instead, leaving your skin heathy, moisturized, and glowing. Lozina puts it like this: "When we oil cleanse, we are restoring the hydro lipid barrier (I say it’s like your ozone layer) and after it’s restored, your skin can start functioning healthy again!"

Try using these for a week and see how they change your skin!

What About Facial Oils?

When I realized that most of my acne was incredibly inflamed from the harsh chemicals I was putting on it, a doctor recommend rosehip oil to me. This completely changed the game for my skin. Not only did it help heal my acne scarring, but it lessened my existing breakouts in a major way. Lozina recommends jojoba, rosehip, argan, hemp seed and squalene oils for acne prone skin. She also says that less is more, so if you have sensitive skin, make sure to not over-do it!

Dermatologist Helen M. Torok, MD, and cofounder of Balanced Skin, told us to make sure to avoid coconut oil because it can seriously clog the pores and cause follicular occlusion in acne prone patients. She also let us know that we shouldn't be afraid of oil even if we have oily skin! She explained that jojoba oil will actually balance your natural oil so you're not overproducing it. All you have to do is apply a light layer in the morning and at night.

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Josie Maran Cleansing Oil

I have this cleansing oil and use it quite often. It gives an extremely deep cleanse without irritating the skin or leaving it too dry. It also makes my skin (and my breakouts) feel calm and moisturized, which is ideal for healing blemishes and treating past scars. It features argan oil which is one of my favorite oils for soothing the skin, too!

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

Another deep cleansing oil that is highly-rated and an Amazon best-seller! The DHC Deep Cleansing Oil offers a cleanse that will keep your skin feeling refreshed and soothed after use. This super popular oil has over 22,000 reviews and a 4.6 star rating, so it's clear that this cleanser really works well for other folks, too. I also like this one because it's fragrance and cruelty-free!

ANUA Pore Control

This pore-controlling cleansing oil will help you with any irritating black heads or sizable pores you may be struggling with. It's intended to really work its way into your pores to help prevent any blackheads or future breakouts. It's a lighter cleanse, so if you want to stay away from the harsher, deeper cleanses then this one is for you!

Bioderma Cleansing Oil

I love a good French beauty product! This cleansing oil is one that I'm always restocking when I'm in France, and lucky for you: It's on Amazon! It's a French beauty staple that I would highly recommend for anyone that wants a makeup remover + cleanser in one!

Youth to the People Serum

I am seriously obsessed with this oil, and although it's quite expensive, it really does work like magic! It heals my breakouts, moisturizes my skin, and heals any scarring I have from previous acne. It has super hydrating magui + acai which will brighten up your skin to give it a natural glow.

Cliganic Rosehip Oil

Rosehip oil first introduced me to oils in my skincare routine. It cleared up my breakouts so quickly, and made my skin look really healthy. I notice a significant difference when I stop using this in my routine. Try it for a week and I promise, you'll see a difference!

Vitamin E Oil

Vitamin E oil is a great way to treat your acne, because it helps give you that youthful and dewy glow. It's a fantastic product for acne, but also for people with hyperpigmentation issues. It will help to balance out your skin, and protect your skin barrier from further damage or discoloration.

Timeless Skin Squalane Oil

Squalane! This oil is fantastic for healing and inflammatory properties. This means that it treats those pesky breakouts by hydrating the skin barrier and making it less irritated. I happen to love it for my hair as well!

Balanced Skin Jojoba Oil

Jojoba is good for helping to balance out your oil production levels which will minimize breakouts and clogged pores. I use this product because it brings back elasticity to my face after the harsh products I use to treat acne, which gives me a more natural glow.

Good Molecules Squalane Oil

Another amazing squalene product! I had to add this one, because I love the Good Molecules brand. I've used a ton of their products, and they have the most simple ingredient lists with lightweight, natural oils and no harsh chemicals or added perfumes. This brand is a necessity for those with sensitive skin!

1. Actually Use Your Planner In 2025

We're not buying pretty planners just so they can collect dust on our desks or coffee tables anymore. Corry Frazier and Melissa Pepin want you to get serious because they feel "it starts with planning." They don't mean the kind you eventually flake on either.

"Effective planning is key to maintaining balance and reducing burnout. Whether you're mapping out tasks, meetings, or events, dedicated time for preparation ensures focus and reduces stress," they say. In other words, "the more intentional you are in planning, the more productive you'll be," according to them.

Ever since I've been blocking out my tasks by hour in planner, I've been able to get more done without feeling overwhelmed by splitting my time between writing and being in mommy mode. Frazier and Pepin suggest that you "set weekly planning sessions" that consist of "30-60 minutes each weekend to map out your upcoming week."

This eventually "reduces decision fatigue, fosters a sense of control, and helps you start Monday with clarity and purpose," they add. Yes, this is a sign that you'll be breaking up with the dreaded 'Sunday scaries' if you follow their advice. "You'll feel proactive and grounded rather than reacting to the week as it unfolds," they agree.

2. Embrace A "Fake Commute" When Working From Home

One of Kayla Baum's tips is to switch up your routine if you're a remote worker. Rolling out of the bed at the last minute before logging on for work sounds appealing until you realize you're uninspired by your days. But, what is a "fake commute?"

"It mimics the structure of a traditional commute to establish a boundary between work and personal life. This could mean taking a walk around the block, doing a 10-minute guided meditation, or even just changing clothes at the end of the day," Baum mentions.

Based on her experience, she's found that "it works because it provides a psychological buffer, helping to separate work and home life." She feels it's "crucial for positive mental health and boosting productivity at work (and at home)."

You can also create a separate work space that's not in your bedroom to get work done! That's helped me tremendously so I'm not sleeping and working in the same area.

3. Focus On High-Impact Tasks

Similar to planning your work days as best as you can, Frazier and Pepin want you to "prioritize the tasks that align with your goals." To minimize distractions, they want you to ask yourself:

• What is the most effective use of my time right now?

4. Stop Making Daily Decisions Hard

Tasks like your morning routine or figuring out what you'll eat don't have to take up a chunk of your time anymore. "Use productivity hacks, such as pre-planning meals or laying out weekly outfits," suggest Frazier and Pepin. They feel that "small routines like this eliminate unnecessary choices" to "make mornings smoother."

According to them, it's "especially helpful for families juggling multiple schedules." I couldn't agree more because I've spent so many frazzled mornings trying to make decisions about what myself and my toddler would wear or eat instead of planning them. With the help of my fiancé, we've cut so much time in half by being prepared ahead of time instead of 'winging it' before work.

5. Understand What Your Boundaries Are And Set Them

Worried that you'll be considered 'mean' if you tell your manager or coworkers what your boundaries are at work? Depending on your environment, it's 100% understandable. However, you're human and there's no reason you should be over-performing to your detriment. Frazier and Pepin say, "Set boundaries and communicate clearly. Adopt Brené Brown's mantra: 'To be clear is to be kind.'"

They encourage you to not only "be upfront about your schedule to manage others' expectations," but it's also so you can "avoid over-commitment." Say it with me: I will not make false promises just to appease others. Why?

Frazier and Pepin say, "Don't be afraid to say no to side projects or anything that doesn't align with your goals."

6. Ignore Emails Sent After Your Work Hours

I've been guilty of sending an email after work to acknowledge that I saw something, but I never expect other people to feel obligated to respond until the next business day. On the flip side, I've felt pressured to answer something that feels timely and I've gone to sleep thinking about the sender's potential follow-up email.

"Just because a coworker chooses to work late at night doesn't mean you must answer. One helpful trick is to include your working days and hours in your signature, explaining that responses may be delayed outside of those times," Frazier and Pepin say. They even have a prompt you can use if you're not sure what to type:

• "My working hours are [Your Working Hours, e.g., 9 AM - 4 PM ET]. Please note that these may differ from your local time zone. I appreciate your understanding and will respond to emails during my working hours."

I can't wait to start utilizing this...for research purposes only 👀.

7. Please, log off from work when it's time.

Unless you're scheduled to work late, take the time to log off from work and not think about it until the next day. Baum says, "Commit to fully logging off once the workday ends—no 'quick email replies' or sneaking in work over the weekend." I'm eyeing you Ms. "I just need to send a quick email" while you're on vacation or spending time with your significant other.

Baum says creating this separation works because "fully disconnecting allows your mind to reset and recharge" which ends up "making you more efficient, creative, and focused during actual work hours." According to her, you'll eventually "improve personal well-being" and "enhance long-term work performance."

As soon as my work day is over, I make a beeline for the shower so I can decompress. After that, I take my time with my skincare routine and keep my phone out of reach so I'm not tempted to look at anything work-related. I'm not always successful, but I've noticed a difference in my mood since making this shift.

8. Speak Up When You're Feeling Overwhelmed

And if you're 100% drained because you've been trying to tackle work tasks during and after hours, Frazier and Pepin want you to speak up. "If you're feeling overwhelmed with your workload, approach your manager with honesty and a focus on solutions," they suggest. Here's another prompt of theirs you can use:

• "I've been noticing that my workload has extended beyond regular hours, and maintaining balance is becoming challenging. Could we discuss prioritizing tasks or adjusting expectations to ensure I can deliver quality work without compromising my well-being?"