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beauty
MIDLIFE MANICURE
MASTERY
Ch-Ch-
CHANGES!
PROBLEM
Nails that are brittle, bumpy and quick to split
In short (because they sure won’t grow long anymore), your nails
stop behaving after 40. But these simple strategies will whip them
into shape—fast. Now if you could just do that with your teen . . .
EASY HOW-TO
GET YOUNGER-LOOKING HANDS AND NAILS IN
10 MINUTES
Before
Step
1
File tips into a “squoval” (square with
rounded corners), the most youthful shape,
says Lisa Logan, a celebrity manicurist.
Because nails tear easily after 40, wet a
glass file (the least abrasive filing option)
and use it to shape your nails. We like Swissco
Emery Glass ($7; sallybeauty.com). For
unruly cuticles, soak your tips in water for
a minute, then gently scrape any dead
skin off the nail bed with a tool like Apt 5
Cuticle Pusher ($5; drugstores).
After
No. 1
No . 2
Step
2
“Ridges are nails’ version
of wrinkles—and yes,
you get more of them
as you age,” says
Richard Scher, MD, a
dermatologist who
has special expertise
in nails. To smooth out
ridges, lightly sand the
nail surface with a buffer. (Do this only once a
week; excessive buffing will eventually thin
and weaken the nails.)
Try CND Glossing
Buffer Block ($7; go
indulge.com).
No. 3
No. 4
Step
3
After applying a base
coat, brush on a pale
polish in soft pink, cream
or sheer white: The
light color cancels out
the yellow tones in
your nails and brightens
the look of your hands.
“Darker colors are fine
too. Just steer clear of
anything with too much
yellow or orange; it
can make aging skin
look sallow,” Logan
says. Finish with a clear
topcoat. Shown: Chanel
Nail Colour in Allegoria
($23; saks.com).
Step
4
Apply hand cream with SPF 15 or
higher to plump skin and block UV rays,
the primary cause of age spots. We
used a sheer, slightly tinted face primer,
Smashbox Photo Finish SPF 15 ($42;
smashbox.com), which also helped even
out skin tone (see “After” photo, far
left). Note: The primer is water-resistant
and virtually clear, so it won’t stain
your shirt cuffs.
