Hello, everyone!  I'm really glad to be getting this post done because of the increasing "how do you get your nails that long?" and "what do you use?" questions.  So, I'm sharing my nail care routine.  I've broken it down into what I do every morning, every manicure, every night, and every time I possibly can.  Well, almost every time, anyway.

Every Morning:

   I pop pills!  I started taking these GNC supplements in either late 2011 or early 2012, I don't exactly remember.  I was actually never a daily-vitamin girl before finding these.  (In fact, I had tried 1-a-day multivitamins and I can't stomach them!)  Even now if I forget a day I just skip it.  There are 120 pills in each bottle, and while the dosage for the Hair, Skin, & Nails formula is 2 caplets, I only take 1.  This way I buy both bottles together and they run out together in 4 months.  I buy them from Drugstore.com and stock up during sales.

   I estimate this ends up costing about $8.75 per month.  If you're considering taking supplements to boost your nail health and growth keep in mind that it takes 6 months to see results, and everyone handles vitamins differently.  Personally: these work for me!

Every Manicure:

   This is my favorite base coat!  Qtica Natural Nail Growth Stimulator.  I don't actually use it for every manicure (sometimes a girl needs her peel-off basecoat), but even if I have no color on my nails they will be protected by this.  While I haven't seen phenomenal growth using this I also don't use it as often as instructed.  I have seen stronger nails, no longer splitting and peeling like they were two summers ago.  And it works with all my other polishes, which is important.

   This is on the pricey side of what I indulge my nails in, but I also believe in time being money saved.  Once again it takes weeks to see results, and I wouldn't want to switch to using something else for 3 months just to find out that I have 3 months worth of so-so nail growth.  So I stick with Qtica!

Every Night:

   I moisturize my cuticles and around my nails!  This has been a huge help.  Healthy cuticles and nail beds are so vital to growing your nails long and strong.  The most effective way to do it is overnight, and I even have soft gloves to wear while I sleep.  I started off using Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme, which smells yummy and moisturizes without being greasy.  I feel that Burt's Bees Hand Salve deserves a shout-out, too.  While not specifically for nails it is great to wear overnight, as well.  I especially notice it heals cuts!

   I'm a Burt's Bees product junkie, and must admit that I haven't had to buy full-sizes of these yet because I'm constantly picking up travel sample packs or earning them for free...  I would gladly buy full-size if it weren't for all the minis I accumulate!

   Last month I treated myself to Dior's Crème Abricot, which I bought from Sephora.  The reviews were way too good to not try it, and I knew it would be easy to return if it wasn't my thing.  Well, it is so my thing!  It deserves it's own separate review on my blog...  All I'm going to say here is that I only use a little bit and it goes a long way.  I've only been using it for about a month and have already noticed faster nail growth, and it keeps my cuticles in perfect condition.

•  Dior Crème Abricot

   I thought the price was a little steep but realistically this is going to last me ages.  If I manage to use it all in a year it will only cost $2 per month.  Awesome!

Every Possible Opportunity:

 

   No picture for this one, but...  Moisturize!  I could barely stand lotion until I got used to actually using it.  I'm still picky about my hands being greasy but now I can't stand to let myself "go dry".   I keep lotion at work where I especially need it, and pay attention to moisturize around my nails.  It definitely helps.  And not to be forgotten - I drink water!  And tea.  Staying hydrated helps a lot more than just nail health.  In fact, I need to go get more water right now!

   I hope you found my post helpful, any questions?  Just ask!  And let me know what you use or your tricks in the comments below, thanks!

   I have had no energy for the last two days.  My cold came back with a vengeance.  A horrible, wrathful vengeance.  I even left work early yesterday, which I do pretty much never.  =(

   Anyway, I'm way too gross for make-up, and couldn't see trying to do my nails while I'm constantly reaching for tissues, so lets just enjoy my Drugstore&Beauty.com orders, shall we?  They had great sales recently, so I couldn't pass them up:

   The Drugstore and Beauty sites have such a huge array of products!  I bought the GNC supplements to see if there would be any improvements in my nails from taking them.  Ever since late this winter I can't get my nails to grow long like I used to.  I don't know if it's from the harsh chemicals and cleansers at work, from lack of moisture, or just some major shift in my chemistry, but it's annoying!  The nailene glue is also for trying to hold my poor nails together, and I figure I'll use it for nail art rhinestone later on.

   My favorite mascara has turned out to be Bare Escentuals Flawless Definition.  Not the volumizing version.  I still use and try other new mascaras, but this is the one for me.  And lately I've had a hankering for a good old brown mascara.  Black is awesome and it has it's place, but I've been wishing for a dark brown again.  It's a nostalgic feeling, since I started wearing brown mascara before getting hooked on black.  Every new mascara that comes out is...black!  So finally I got smart and just went for my favorite in Espresso.  Thank you Beauty.com for having this harder-to-find color. ♥

   I love Too Faced Glamour Gloss.  (It's true - see here!)  It's a major addiction and a good thing that they aren't available in more colors or I would be a less wealthy girl.  I was planning to wait to buy the rest of the colors on my wishlist from Too Faced's site, but... I think I got impatient.  I now have all the colors my heart desires!  But I have to wait until I'm less germ-infested before I will try these pretties, because I don't like contaminating my make-up.

   I have not tried Lavanila before, but I love natural products, and these are about as natural as perfumes get!  I will have to get my sense of smell back before I try to see what I think of these.  Hopefully I'll be better soon!

  Earlier this summer I earned a deluxe sample of the super-pricey Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For Night Time Eyelash Conditioning Treatment.  What a mouthful that is!  Other products in the line include a mascara and an eyeliner.  Once I began using the Night Time Eyelash Conditioning Treatment I let my applications continue for approximately 40 days since I would occasionally forget a night's use.  I figure giving this stuff over a month should show results if there are any to be had.

   The instructions are to apply nightly, just along the upper lash line.  Also, it says to use sparingly because you don't need much.  Of course the benefits are longer, fuller, stronger, thicker, softer, healthier lashes.  A full sized tube of the product I'm reviewing retails around $75-$125 currently.  (Prices are dropping all over the web because it is being replaced by the "Platinum" version.)  Before and after pictures & my thoughts after the jump!