What I think of: Tip Top Nail Care Products (and WIN)

There is so much I can say about Tip Top products in general but here I am just focusing on their Nail Care products.  Their polish is absolutely awesome as well but that will be another post.  The lovely Joan from Tip Top sent me a few items that I am mentioning here BUT I have been using the same items for about 2 months already.  You will want to read to the end of this post for a little surprise from Joan and Tip Top 😉

This is the ‘part 2’ post.  If you haven’t read ‘part 1’ yet then what are you still doing here?  Go and read it now!  I’ll wait….

Ok good, you’re back.  I am going to start with cuticle care.  As I mentioned in ‘part 1’, the most important thing to remember is that the matrix is where the magic happens. The nail matrix is the “mother of the nail” and lies directly below the eponychium(cuticle) stretching to the first joint.Therefore, to have healthy, strong nails you need to take care of your matrix.  There, healthy and strong nails will grow.

For almost a month I was using a different (popular) brand of cuticle cream.  (I won’t mention the brand but if you want to know get in touch and I will tell you.) After not seeing much difference in my nails I started reading up and getting more information.  I mentioned before how the Tip Top Nails Facebook page turned into my biggest resource.  I decided to go out and get the Tip Top Cuticle treatment.

 

Within the first three days I noticed a considerable difference.  My nails were looking healthier and my cuticles were soft and supple.  In those first three days my nails soaked up the cuticle oil in seconds.  Since, it takes a little longer for the oil to be soaked up and I take that as a very good sign.  I can’t believe how this cuticle treatment has change the condition of my nails. I use this at least once a day.  Perfect use would be twice a day but some days I forget either the morning or night one.  I then also (gently) push back my cuticles while I have the oil on. I never cut my cuticles.

Even though I am now taking care of my nails and the matrix and I can feel the good, healthy nails growing in, the tips of my nails are still weaker and sometimes even flaking.  Much less than before but it happens.

I now use only Miraculous Results as a base coat.  This truly miraculous ‘potion’ strengthens the actual nail (while the healthy nail is growing in) and I guess the easiest way to describe it is that it is almost like fibers that grabs all your nail layers together and binds them.  I use this as a base coat under any nail polish. It dries to a very sheer colour but after 2 or 3 coats it dries to quite a beautiful light colour so you can wear it as a base coat under any colour or on its own.  This stuff is amazing!

 

I also keep my nails filed in a shape that suits the natural shape of my nails.  I mentioned before that I have a little obsession with hand lotion.  I use them all the time.  Every time I wash my hands I use lotion and also numerous times in between.  I also use a nailbrush and body scrub every night to scrub my nails. This encourages blood circulation and stimulates nail growth.  Another great tip found on the Tip Top Facebook Page. 

I also have Nail Bitters.  I haven’t used it because I am not a nail biter but if you bite your nails or even have your nails in your mouth often then this is a must for you.  I have seen how effective this product is especially if used in combination with the other products mentioned above.

 

I am so in love with my Tip Top nail care products.  It has made such a difference for me.  Since I have become more aware of the condition of my nails I have realised how important it is.  Tip Top makes it easy with great products that give great results.

To top it off, I also recently started using their Nail polish remover.  We all know that no remover is exactly good for us and after using the standard removers my nails and fingers were always left dry.  After using Tip Top Nail Enamel Eraser I was pleasantly surprised to find no dryness.  I am sure this is due to the olive oil that is in it.  The polish also came off super easy even with heavily pigmented polish. Of course it is important to wash your hands thoroughly after using ANY polish remover.

So that is what I have been using and doing with great results.  I can highly recommend these products. Just to give you a bit more information here is a bit more about the company as found on their website:

Tip Top is a proudly South African nail enamel brand. After decades of success in the professional market, Tip Top products are now available to the consumer. Tip Top is now available through Clicks stores countrywide. The company has just recently launched a new and exciting range called Nail Addict by Tip Top into selected Foschini stores countrywide.

Founded in 1981, Tip Top was widely regarded as a pioneer within the professional beauty industry, having earned a reputation for creating innovative, trendsetting products and treatments upon which the consumer could rely for excellent results.

Tip Top was one of the first companies, in South Africa to recognize and address the needs of the professional nail salon, a new phenomenon at the time. Aspiring to fill a void within the cosmetic marketplace, the company moved into the retail sector and began producing high-quality trendy nail enamels and treatments at affordable retail prices. These products were originally all formulated exclusively for professional nail technicians and now are readily available to every consumer. Rather quickly, the Tip Top name became synonymous with excellent, performance-proven products available in a diverse range of eye-catching shades.

Tip Top is renowned for its exceptionally safe products – all nail enamels are vegan, Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP (Dibuthyl Phthalate) and Camphor FREE – and made in South Africa with the best raw materials. Naturally, our made in South Africa products are not tested on animals.

 

Now for the fun part!  Because Tip Top is so amazing and the lovely Joan is such a sweetheart she has got a Tip Top hamper for one of you guys!  All you have to do is go and “Like” the Tip Top Nails South Africa Facebook page, Write “HoneyB.co.za sent me” on their wall and leave a comment here telling me that you have done so.  Easy right?  You have until Friday, 25 January 2013, 3pm to do this.  Also, this is open internationally.  Yes, anyone can enter.

Do you have any questions or comments?  Get in touch and let me know.  I am always on the look out for absolutely amazing hand lotions.  Do you have any you can recommend?