Herbals Teas for Detoxifying

Dandelion, Licorice & Ginger Tea

This tea can help after a night of binge drinking. The bitter dandelion root will rejuvenate the liver while the sweet-tasting licorice acts as an adaptogen for the adrenals, cleansing & nourishing the system. Ginger will help to unsettle that feeling in the stomach.

• 1 teaspoon dried dandelion root
• 1/2 teaspoon ground licorice root
• 1/2 teaspoon peeled & grated fresh ginger
• 2 cups (500ml) boiling water

Combine the dandelion, licorice & ginger together in a warmed ceramic/glass teapot.
Add the boiling water, cover & let it steep for 10 mins.
Pour through a strainer into a warmed cup & drink.
Drink 1-2 cups a day for a week to help the body regain strength.


Nettle & Clivers Tea

This tea is nourishing & cleansing for the lymphatic system.

• 2-3 tablespoons dried nettle herb
• 2-3 tablespoons dried clivers
• 2 cups (500ml) boiling water

Combine the nettle & clivers together in a warmed ceramic/glass teapot. Add the boiling water, cover & let it steep for 10-15 mins.
Pour through a strainer into a warmed cup & drink.
Drink up to 3 cups of this tea each day.

Footbath (Mint Footbath)

Mint Footbath

After a long day on your feet (especially after shopping), try soaking them in this soothing footbath. The methods for preparing it is relatively simple.

• 12 large sprigs mint
• 120 ml cup cold water
• 2.4 litres of boiling water

Place the mint in a food processor & add the cold water. Process it until it becomes a green paste. Pour this into a large bowl & add the boiling water. Once the temperature has cooled to a bearable temperature, soak both feet at once until the water is too cool to be comforting.
Massage your feet with an cooling gel after this.

Simple ways to detox your body

Detoxifying is about improving the digestive system (liver, kidneys & bowels) to provide an overall feeling of well-being. Years of dietary & lifestyle neglect can lead to a sluggish system. This can cause skin outbreaks, headaches, fatigue etc.....

A glass of warm water first thing in the morning after you wake up gives the kidneys a thorough flush. It is a simple & gentle way of cleansing your kidneys. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime for an extra flavour if you want.

To help digestion, mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into a glass of warm water & drink this before each meal.

Oh Shit! My polish CHIPPED.....again.....I just had them done.....!

Well, I heard that quite often..... & I am always explaining the "whys....." to them. So today I will list the reasons down beginning with the most common culprit of them all.

• improper prep work
• polish was force-dried
• flaky nail plate
• no base coat or an unsuitable one was used
• polish was applied too thinly
• polish was thinned down too much

**Personally, I find that most of the time it is improper prep work that cause all these chippings. I am sorry to say but nowadays manicurists are produced in droves but where is the quality? Where is their knowledge? They are trained to do nails but are they trained to understand nails?

Why do we use Base Coat & Top Coat?

Base Coat

• improves adhesion
• protective barrier to prevent staining of the nail plate

Base coat is available in plain or ridge-filler formulas. Ridge-filler base coat is usually milky with a matt finish.

Base coat must be thoroughly dry before applying polish or peeling/bubbling may occur & the manicure/pedicure will not last as long as it should.

**I prefer the ridge fillers as they even out the nail plate thus making the following polish application looks more even but they will take a longer time to dry compare to a plain formula.

Top Coat

• gives a protective shield while increasing gloss/shine

Featured Nail Design

One of my featured nail designs. It's a step by step tutorial that I did for Beauty Cosmedica. This tutorial is available at www.freewebs.com/michelleyip.

Lint Free Cotton

This is one of the few brands of lint free cotton that I had used that is really lint free & also still reasonably priced. I just brought a new box for S$3.57 at NTUC.
Years ago, it was only available at a particular shopping centre in Orchard. Now, I am able to get it near my place. Lucky me!
A box can last me about a year depending on usage. I used it on my nails & face but I used it more for nails. I got a particular brand of cotton balls that I loved to use for face but sadly it is no longer available in Singapore. I was told by the salegirl that people found it expensive. Obviously, they have no idea what is quality!

Pros- no fibre will be left on nails when you used it to remove polish, cheap.
Cons- not absorbent enough, have to cut into small pieces.

I had some that are of better quality than this brand but those are in the high-end range.

Etsy Treasury

I am so happy. This set of Designed Nail Tips, Flowers (NNP2D11) is being featured on an Etsy Treasury.
Treasury- http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=56934
Item- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23078704

My Nails

I did this set of acrylic nails on myself more than a month ago. I actually wanted to do 3D flowers on them also but I just don't have the time. I still have them on but they had been shorten. I'm going to remove them tomorrow & hopefully I'll have time to do a new set.
But first, I am doing to do a new set of gel for my toenails. I've removed my last set of gel(shown below) a few days ago. I didn't do a new set cause I've no idea what color to use...! I'm spolit for choice! haha... I got a few comments on flick for these 2 designs. Check them out!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nailzimage/3455211748/in/set-72157617030617016/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nailzimage/3455212272/in/set-72157617030617016/

Acrylic/Gel Nails

Fancy acrylic nails that I did before. I actually did this design for a good friend of mine for her wedding. She is also a trained nail technician but she has lost touch. She was so fed up with the nails that she did herself for her photoshoot that she decided not to do her wedding nails herself. She actually brought her kit to me so that I can use her products instead of mine. She has no idea what to do with them. Just the other day, she was asking me if there is anyone that I know who is willing to buy them from her. Haha... I remembered her saying "They are all white elephants now."