From snowman to Santa, shades of red and reindeers, silver and gold, pretty plaids, festive French tips, and lots of glitter in between, we’ve got tons of ideas to satisfy all manicure tastes. So give yourself the gift of a cute Christmas manicure this holiday season!

Looking for more nail design ideas? Check out:

• Get The Perfect Manicure at Home
• Nail Design Ideas (125+ ideas!)
• 30+ Chrome Nail Designs
• 100+ Summer Nail Designs
• 50+ Spring Nail Designs
• 45+ Easter Nail Ideas
• 45+ Halloween Nails
• Easy Galaxy Nails Tutorial (with Video!)

At home Christmas nails vs. salon nails:

While you can do so many manicure looks at home now with gel manicure kits, it can be a little intimidating to some who are not as steady with their hands or just generally prefer the pampered experience at their local nail salon.

While gel manicures will generally last longer than traditional polish (usually 2-3 weeks for a gel manicure), there are traditional polish brands that boast several weeks of wear from their products and you don’t have the longer gel removal process at home if you choose to take off your own polish.

Some of the trickier techniques like chrome or magnetic polish also might be a little easier in the hands of a professional, but if you have a gel nail kit at home, they are looks that are fun to try and master. You can also stamp your nails so you can get delicate items like snowflakes perfect every time!

Of course, doing a press-on nail is the easiest way to get your perfect spring style at home by yourself, so there’s no shame in finding your favorite look and grabbing your nail glue.

Evergreen Accents

This deep forest green manicure has all the classic looks of French tip nails with a festive twist in a bow accent nail.

Try a French tip stamper to make your manicure easier to do at home!

Candy Cane Lane

This festive design features all over candy canes to keep your nails looking sweet this Christmas. This is also a cute design for short nails!

Just take a dotting tool and alternate dots of red and white in a “J” shape to create the design.

Oh Christmas Tree

These abstract Christmas trees are a fun way to add some holiday cheer to your manicure.

Peppermint Patty

These peppermint red and white nails are Instagram ready and just right to be the star of any holiday party.

Mistletoe Lane

Wear this sweet mistletoe manicure design and you just might get your crush to kiss you this holiday season!

Dab some glitter polish on the end of each nail with a makeup sponge and use a dotting tool for the berries and small brush for the leaves.

Gingerbread Man

How about a set of Christmas nails featuring a gingerbread man that looks good enough to eat?

You can ask your nail artist to paint your cute cookie or use a nail sticker to easily create your own look.

Golden Touch

We love when Christmas nail art ideas bring in some sparkle, so this golden look will help you shine.

Christmas Wreath

These green pearl nails feature a festive Christmas wreath that would make any front door proud.

Pearlized Cranberry

Pearl nails are super trendy and you can mix and match French tips and full color nails in a deep red shade.

You can create your own pearlized look at home by adding a coat of pearl polish, and before setting, dotting the nail with drops of more polish before swirling the dots together with a dotting tool.

Christmas Checkers

This trendy manicure brings in all the fun of the checkered print in a classic festive green shade.

Santa Haute

This adorable Santa hat idea is one of our favorites and looks really pretty with an almond shaped nail.

Snowy Day

These pearlized white nails look like ice crystals on a snowy morning.

You can create your own pearlized look at home by adding a coat of pearl polish, and before setting, dotting the nail with drops of more polish before swirling the dots together with a dotting tool.

Winter Pearls

These half moon pearl accent nails remind us of snowballs and would look pretty with just about any outfit.

Just create a half moon shape with white over a nude shade and then glue nail pearls across the line with rhinestone glue.

Glitter Lined

For a holiday twist on the standard French tip mani, try this doubled lined glitter option to add a little ooh la la.

Candy Cane Lane

These nails are holiday perfection with red French tips and candy cane accent nails.

Classic Christmas Plaid

What’s more classic than a red and green plaid manicure for the holiday season? You can also do just a few accent nails with this look for a toned down version.

You can also DIY this look with plaid nail foils and nail foil glue to get the perfect plaid without having to paint each line individually.

Peppermint Tips

For a twist on a French manicure, this merry manicure adds a peppermint swirl design to your nails’ tips.

Reindeer Love

This sweet little reindeer is ready to join Santa’s sleigh! Try just one as an accent nail or add to every nail for a whole team.

You can also add a reindeer nail sticker to the perfect at-home manicure for a festive DIY look.

Green Waves

This wavy green pattern is modern but keeps you in the Christmas color palette.

Santa Baby

This sweet Santa face will add some jolly to your December days.

Holiday Bows

Add some girly flair with festive vibes to your classic French manicure with this red polish bow design.

To create bows at home easily, try a bow sticker or charm to get the same look.

Golden Tips

Go high style with this wavy gold tip design that are press-ons, so it makes DIY-ing your own nails a snap.

Mad For Plaid

This red and cranberry plaid is what holiday dreams are made of! Add a few snowflake accents and your look is holiday party ready.

You can also DIY this look with plaid nail foils and nail foil glue to get the perfect plaid without having to paint each line individually.

All That Glitters

These glitter ombre nails will bring just the right amount of sparkle to your winter season.

Dab some holographic glitter polish on the end of each nail with a makeup sponge and fade it out 1/3 from the top of the nail.

Here Comes Santa Claus

Find yourself saying yes to Santa this holiday season with these adorable Santa nails!

Ornament Nails

How cute are these tiny 3D ornaments that accent this design?

You can take this idea to your nail tech, or try your hand at mini tree painting with a dome of clear nail art glue for the 3D effect, OR, just use a Christmas ornament nail sticker for an easy DIY dupe.

Wine and Dine

Usher in the festive season with this wine-colored cat eye, which is perfect to add a bit of drama to your Christmas manicure.

Snow Place Like Home

These large snowflakes make a statement on each nail, and on a nude background they are subtle yet sweet.

If snowflakes are too tricky for you to freehand paint yourself, try using a snowflake stamp or snowflake nail stickers for a similar look.

Ho Ho Ho

Feel merry and bright with this Pinterest-pleasing Santa and candy cane design that will match your favorite pair of Christmas pjs.

Beary Christmas

This cutie Christmas bear manicure is ready for winter with just a few sweet nail stickers.

Half Moon Merlot

This half moon design done in a deep merlot color is the perfect red to carry you through the winter season.

Snow Drifts

These white abstract lines remind us of curving snow drifts in winter (and they would be really pretty in white glitter too!).

Frosty Accents

This winter scene is downright storybook on a snowy, starry night and cute through Christmas and beyond.

Lace and Pearls

Add the look of lace and pearls to your winter manicure for a fun yet sophisticated look.

Fir Forest

Add a snowy Christmas wonderland to your nails with this winter design.

For an at-home version, you can paint your nails a neutral color with a perfect at-home manicure, add some snow banks at the base of each nail, and then use snowy tree nail stickers to complete the look.

Snow Way

You don’t have to give up pink nails in winter! Keep your favorite shade and add pretty snowflake designs over the top.

If snowflakes are too tricky for you to freehand paint yourself, try using a snowflake stamp or snowflake nail stickers for a similar look.

Oh Christmas Tree

Bring the holiday spirit to your nails with this pretty Christmas tree and sweater nail accent.

White Christmas

These shimmering white cat eye nails are perfect for the snowy winter season.

Snowy Sweater

These half sweater nails are a great way to add in a sweater pattern as an accent to a nude nail.

Chrome Snowflakes

This chrome periwinkle blue looks so pretty under some delicate white snowflakes.

If snowflakes are too tricky for you to freehand paint yourself, try using a snowflake stamp or snowflake nail stickers for a similar look.

Gold Reverse

Add some gold chrome to a reverse French tip design for a touch of shine.

Greensleeves

These forest green nails with greenery decorations are delicate and festive without being too busy.

Silver Tips

Add some silver chrome to your French tip nails with this shiny manicure.

Hot Cocoa Vibes

As if you need an excuse to get hot chocolate, give these hot cocoa nails a try!

Pink and Red Tips

These fun tips with the gold stars and gems add color and pattern to your holiday mani.

Try a French tip stamper to make your manicure easier to do at home and add some gold star nail stickers to complete.

Rose Gold Shimmer

This design with double outlined glitter French tips is perfect for Christmas into New Year’s Eve.

Forest Green French

Pick your favorite shade of green and do a French tip for a colorful take on a classic.

Try a French tip stamper to make this festive manicure easier to do at home.

Cranberry Punch

For a monochromatic Christmas look, a classic red manicure with a glossy top coat is a classic for a reason.

Silver Bells

These silver glitter French tip outlines are just the right touch of sparkle and will match any holiday outfit.

Green Velvet

This minty green cat eye mani gives the look of soft velvet and it’s so pretty!

Burgundy-Kissed Tips

For a pop of holiday color, these berry tipped nails are perfect to keep things classy but festive.

Try a French tip stamper to make this crimson manicure easier to do at home!

Icy White

These hologram nails remind us of pretty icicles and will still look on trend for New Year’s Eve.

Candy Cane Stripes

Glitter outlined candy cane stripes is the ultimate look for the Christmas nail maximalist.

For a DIY look with no striping brush involved, try a nail polish strip to easily get a similar look.

All That Glitters

These soft golden glitter tips are all you want for Christmas if Santa and candy cane nails aren’t your thing.

Hologram Holidays

Since the holidays are officially sponsored by all things glittery, these icy hologram nails will look great by the fire as well as by the disco ball for New Year’s Eve.

Holiday Classic

While it may not be sparkly or colorful, the classic French tip design is always a good choice if you want to do something elegant for the season.

Try a French tip stamper to make this classic manicure easier to do at home!

Looking for more nail ideas? Check out:

• Easy Galaxy Nails Tutorial (with Video!)
• Easy Gold Stripe Nail Tutorial
• 10 Easy Nail Art Tutorials (Step-by-Step)
• Emoji Nail Decal DIY

I also had gone years with extensions and it can be a good idea to take off eyelash extensions for a while to give your natural eyelashes a break and allow for regrowth without extensions. This is also a great time to utilize an eyelash growth serum if you want. We’ll talk more about that later in this post.

Related: I got a lash lift and tint and here’s what happened. What happened when I tried Grande Lash MD. What happened when I tried Lashify Lashes.

Supplies

• Lash shampoo
• Glue remover – this brand also has a version for sensitive skin
• Spoolies – also called eyelash brushes or mascara wands
• Micro applicator brushes – or Q-tips can also work well

You will also need water and clean washcloths. Personally, I love using black washcloths like these for anything makeup related because all our other towels and hand towels are white (which I like, because you can bleach them). But makeup can really stain, so black washcloths for washing your face are great.

How to Remove Lash Extensions

Start by washing your eyelids well. You want to be gentle, don’t scrub at your lashes. But when you want to keep your lash extensions the goal is normally to wash your eyelids and around your eye area very carefully so the extensions don’t get wet. This is the opposite—you want to wash your eyelids and eye area well so that the lashes will begin to shed just from the water and lash shampoo.

Once you have washed well, use a spoolie to gently run any remaining water through the lash extensions, aiming to get the base wet. You will likely notice a good amount of eyelash shedding during this process. There is NO need to tug or pull at your lashes. Just comb them out with the spoolie. And pat your face dry if it’s still wet.

Next, use the applicator brushes (or a Q-tip) to apply the glue remover to the base of the extensions. Then use a spoolie to comb through them. Repeat this process as many times as needed to remove all the extensions.

If you feel any of the glue remover getting in your eyes, wash again with the lash shampoo.

What NOT to do

• Do not pull lash extensions off. This will likely pull out your natural lashes too. This is very tempting at the end when you only have a few stubborn extensions left but resist!
• Do not tug at your lashes. Only use the spoolie to remove extensions. They should basically comb off like hair sometimes does when you brush your hair.
• Do not scrub or rub hard at your lashes, even with a washcloth. Gentle is the key word here!
• Do not use eye irritating soaps or other products. The glue remover can be a little irritating, so try not to get it in your eyes and if you accidentally do, rinse it out. It’s not dangerous, it will just hurt.

Caring for your Natural Lashes

• If you have had eyelash extensions for a long time, give your natural lashes some time to breathe and grow without other products like heavy mascaras. It’s hard when you’re used to the look of extensions, but just like giving your nails a break from acrylics, this can be very healthy for them.
• While you have natural lashes, this can be great time to use a growth serum. You can make your own natural rosemary hair growth spray and use a spoolie to apply it to lashes in the evening after you wash your face. Another option is commercial lash serums such as Grande Lash-MD, The Ordinary, Latisse, Babe Lash or RevitaLash.

While I love my lash extensions and plan to get them again, it’s great to know how to take off eyelash extensions at home for when you need to or want to take a break. Thanks for letting me share! If you’ve had success with removing extensions and have more tips you want to share, please leave us a comment below.

Whether you like a more natural nail look with a classic design or you want something organic and abstract or flashy with chrome, gold foil, or glitter accents, we’ve got tons of ideas to keep your natural nail or acrylic mani feeling fresh (Barbie core pink mani anyone??).

Looking for more nail ideas? Check out:

• Get The Perfect Manicure at Home
• 65+ Fall Nail Designs
• 100+ Summer Nail Designs
• 30+ Chrome Nail Designs
• 50+ Spring Nail Designs
• 45+ Easter Nail Ideas
• 45+ Halloween Nails
• 55+ Christmas Nail Designs
• Easy Galaxy Nails Tutorial (with Video!)

At home nails vs. salon nails:

While you can do so many manicure looks at home now with gel manicure kits, it can be a little intimidating to some who are not as steady with their hands or just generally prefer the pampered experience at their local nail salon.

While gel manicures will generally last longer than traditional polish (usually 2-3 weeks for a gel manicure), there are traditional polish brands that boast several weeks of wear from their products and you don’t have the longer gel removal process at home if you choose to take off your own polish.

Some of the trickier techniques like chrome or magnetic polish also might be a little easier in the hands of a professional, but if you have a gel nail kit at home, they are looks that are fun to try and master.

Of course, doing a press-on nail is the easiest way to get your perfect style at home by yourself (or you can find so many nail wraps to use on your natural nails), so there’s no shame in finding your favorite look and grabbing your nail glue.

Bubblegum Donut Glaze

These sweet pink chrome nails are a pink-lovers dream!

Touch of Leopard

If you want a little bit of animal print without overdoing it, these French tip leopard nails are perfect year round.

Pool Blue

These pool nails look refreshing enough to jump into on a hot summer day. Just add a translucent white over a blue shade and dot some clear topcoat dots overtop with a dotting tool to create this look.

Pumpkin Glow

These pumpkin chrome nails are the perfect amount of trendy color.

Chrome Blood

For some Halloween fun, add some blood drips to your nails (extra points for chrome red blood).

Peek A Boo

These nude and black polish accent nails with a heart cut out are cute for Halloween or any time of the year.

Preppy Pink

Get on the pink and green train with accent nails of checkered, French tip, and heart and flower designs.

Strawberry Sundae

Add some ice cream drips with sprinkles to your mani to keep you cool during hot summer days.

Warm Tips

These gradient French tips are a colorful classic look perfect for summer into fall.

Overlapping Hearts

Whether you want this as a Valentine’s Day look or just feel pretty in pink, these overlapping hearts are just too cute.

Santa Accent

These holiday nails are so fun and we love the 3D nose on the Santa.

Summer Smiles

These checkered and smiley face nails are a fun maximalist look for spring and summer.

Starry Night

These star nails are perfect for the 4th of July or any summer starry night and are cute in long or short versions (you could also just do the stars on top of natural nails).

Hot Pink Crackle

These hot pink nails have a crackle look that’s part snakeskin and part tie-dye—perfect for spring and summer.

Green Gal

This green on green look is fun with the floral pattern and accent nails.

Bubblegum Velvet

These cat eye velvet nails are a favorite way to wear a trendy pink mani and are perfect for any time of year.

Checkered Craze

Bring on the checkered pattern with these red and pink nails, perfect for Valentine’s Day and beyond.

Chocolate Tips

These glitter chocolate brown French tips are perfect for the fall season.

Lavender Chrome

This short iridescent chrome look is pretty for any season.

Hey Boo

Add these friendly ghosts to your mani with a brush and dotting tool for some cute Halloween fun.

Purple Haze

Whether you just love purple or want that glam witchy look for Halloween, these glitter nails are just right.

Iridescent Barbie

These hot pink iridescent nails are a Barbie lovers dream.

Watermelon Sugar

Show off these fruity tips at your next summer picnic or BBQ.

No Bones About It

Add a spooky vibe to your manicure with some skeleton and spider web details.

Mirror Ball

These short silver chrome nails are the ultimate in trendy nails.

Summer Waves

This pink mani with orange accents are just the right amount of pattern to add a pop to your summer.

Checkered Pastel Chrome

Get in on the checkered and chrome trend with these pastel checkerboard nails.

Black Night

This combo of matte and glossy black polish nails are perfectly chic for Halloween.

Lavender Swirl

Add some pastel pink and purple abstract swirls to your mani for spring and summer.

Sunny Side

Add some sun to your spring days with this cheerful yellow design.

French Barbie

Go for Barbie with a chrome French tip for the ultimate pink mani look.

Rainbow Outline

These short rainbow French outline nails enter spring with a subtle pop of color over natural nails.

Snakeskin Accent

Perfect for fall, this brown and snakeskin accent mani hits in all the right places.

Santa Haute

This adorable Santa hat idea is one of our favorites and looks really pretty with an almond shaped nail.

Sky Blue Daisies

This sky blue mani features friendly daisies and chrome accents nails (you can also use a toothpick to make the flowers).

Hint of Black

Add a bit of drama to your nails with these sleek nails that have just the bottom side dipped in black polish.

Pumpkin Patch

These nails are the perfect pumpkin patch accessories for your fall outings.

Coral Cat Eye

This coral cat eye effect is so glittery and pretty with a double French tip.

CANDY CANE LANE

An all over candy cane nail wrap is sure to keep your nails looking sweet this holiday.

EVERGREEN FRENCH TIPS

Pick your favorite shade of green and do a French tip for a colorful take on a classic design.

Halloween Town

Get into the spooky season with these taupe and black polish accent nails full of ghosts and spider webs for Halloween manicure fun (this would be fun on a coffin nail shape as well).

Where My Peeps At?

Rainbow colored pastel tips and little peeps are the perfect Easter egg hunt mani (or just use the peep stickers over natural nails with a clear coat topper).

Pretty in Pink

These pink swirl nails will put a spring in your step!

Pastel Chrome

These pastel chrome nails bring just the right amount of pastel power to your spring manicure.

Pink and Red Tips

These fun tips with the gold stars and gems add color and pattern to your holiday mani.

’70s Floral

Break out some updated Flower Child vibes with a glitter outlined ’70s floral look for spring or summer.

All Smiles

How cute are these short smiley face nails for spring or summer?

Lavender Love

These purple French tips with daisy details are the perfect welcome to spring weather.

Slytherin Style

Show off your Slytherin allegiance with these velvet green nails with a silver snake accent.

Pastel Rainbow Tie Dye

This pastel rainbow dream manicure is a colorful choice for the spring season and beyond.

Chocolate Chrome

Bring on the mirrorball look with these chocolate chrome nails.

Minty Waves

These mint colored waves overtop a natural nail color will match all the new bud springing up in your yard.

Golden Tips

Go high style with this wavy gold tip design.

Frosty the Snowman

Make your nails a winter wonderland with a cute snowman and snow covered trees.

Rose Gold Shimmer

This design with double outlined glitter French tips is a classic design made sparkly perfect for Christmas into New Year’s Eve.

Blue Skies

These short velvet cat eye nails in a baby blue are a soft and pretty start to spring.

Lovely Leopard

Add some fun animal print to your wardrobe with this leopard design.

24 Carrot Bunny

Bunny faces and carrot details make a fun Easter manicure.

Barbie Waves

These neon pink and red gradient waves bring a pop of color to any Valentine’s Day or spring and summer look.

Nude Velvet

The velvet cat eye effect of these nude nails is stunning and matches any outfit all year long.

Greensleeves

These forest green nails with greenery decorations are delicate and festive without being too busy.

Wavy Checkerboard

Get into the checkered trend with this wavy design.

Lace and Pearls

Add the look of lace and pearls to your manicure for a fun yet sophisticated look.

Pastel Confetti

Celebrate spring with pastel confetti chunky glitter over the top of your favorite spring pastel hue.

Pink Color Blocked Tips

Color block your French tip nails with pink neon and glitter liner for a fresh look.

Pastel Rainbow Flowers

Add color with a mint green base and some rainbow pastel petals!

Daisy Dukes

These 3D flowers added to a pink ombre base are exactly what you need to leave your winter blues behind.

Snow Place Like Home

These large snowflakes make a statement on each nail and on a nude background they are subtle yet sweet.

Harry Potter

Show your HP fandom off with these short Harry Potter nails fit for any witch or wizard.

Sunshine Bows

Add a little sunshine to your Easter with these yellow glitter tipped nails with tiny bows.

Whopper Waves

Copy your favorite Easter candy in a more abstract way with these speckled egg nails in pastel polishes.

Pink Marble

Add some gold foil marble details to your pink mani for a sweet spring look.

Blue Butterflies

Make your spring mani a breeze with butterfly decals.

Spring Has Sprung

Have fun with accent nails with this mint greenery design.

Bunny in the Grass

This adorable little bunny in a field is sure to make you smile on Easter morning.

Spring Barbie

Try the hot trend of a reverse optical illusion French manicure in the perfect pink and purple pastel for spring.

Walking on Sunshine

These neon yellow French tips are a sunny way to welcome in warmer weather.

Color Block Sunset

These golden tone color blocked nails will make waves at the beach this summer.

Icy White

These short hologram nails remind us of pretty icicles and will still look on trend for New Year’s Eve.

Bee Yourself

Bee excited for spring with these pretty pollinators (try adding the flowers and dots with a toothpick if you don’t have brushes and a dotting tool).

Glitter Lined

For a holiday twist on the classic French manicure design, try this doubled lined glitter option to add a little ooh la la.

Floral Color Block

Add a flower outline to the color blocked look for a spring twist.

Bunny Tails

Hop into spring with these cute pearl bunny tail nails!

Sherbet Tie-Dye

Remind yourself of a spring sunrise with this pastel tie-dye color combo.

Strawberry Patch

Wear these to the strawberry patch and the berries won’t be the only thing looking fresh.

Silver Bells

These silver glitter French tip outlines are just the right touch of sparkle and can be done on long or short nails.

Egg Hunt

Add some Easter nail art with a brush and a dotting tool to make waves and dots for this pastel painted egg design!

Daisy Fields

Daisies all over for a sweet floral design? Yes, please!

Gold Swirls

Modern but keeping in the holiday metallic theme are these fun gold foil swirl nails.

Pastel Yin Yang

This purple and pink yin yang design with gold glitter liner is fun for spring and well into summer.

Rainbow Waves

Spring rain brings rainbows so let your nails get in on the color too with this rainbow nail design.

Sherbert Waves

These gold and sherbet colored glitter waves bring just the right amount of color and pattern to your manicure.

Color Blocked Tips

Color block your French tip nails with your favorite spring mint and green hues and a dotting tool or a toothpick for a fresh look.

Pool Blue

Lounge poolside with these fun blue accent nails!

The Classic

While it may not be sparkly or colorful, the classic design of a French tip manicure is always a good choice if you want to do something elegant for any season.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

Hop right down the bunny trail by adding a sweet bunny face as an accent to these pastel-hued pink glitter nails.

Happy Nails

These nails have such a happy vibe when you make every nail an accent nail!

Color Block

These forest green and nude color block nails are a statement in a sleek modern way.

CANDY CANE WAVES

If literally candy canes are too cutesy for you, try this modern take with candy cane colored waves!

Purple Haze

These purple tipped nails are a cute way to bring some pastel hues to your manicure.

Pastel Confetti

Celebrate spring and Easter with these easy pastel confetti dot nails—just use a small dotting tool or a toothpick with different pastel shades!

Easter Blossoms

These textured flowers look like spring perfection over a pink jelly hue.

You’re A Star

Add some stars and glitter French tips to your natural nails for a fun yet simple look.

Hologram Holidays

Since the holidays are officially sponsored by all things glittery, these icy hologram coffin nails will look great by the fire as well as by the disco ball for New Year’s Eve.

Pink Pearls

This pearl look manicure is a nail trend we love and can be done in your favorite spring shade and we love the small pearl accents for a possible Easter look (or you can use a dotting tool and white polish for a less 3D look).

Spooky Symbols

Add some Halloween bat and moon decals to a French manicure and you have a simple yet cute Halloween vibe over a classic look.

Grape Gemstones

These pastel purple jelly nails look so cute with a rhinestone accent.

Bubblegum Butterfly

This bubblegum hue is just right for a spring pink mani with some 3D gold butterflies added for a little extra fun.

Candy Cane Striper

Glitter outlined candy cane stripes is the ultimate look for the Christmas nail maximalist.

Green Grass Cat Eye

Welcome all the growing grass with this green cat eye effect.

Sweet Swirl

Try a nude translucent shade with a simple abstract line swirl for an understated pattern.

Sunny Daze

These happy yellow-tipped glitter nails will bring in the sunshine.

Daisy Fields

These mint green glitter nails with daisy accents are perfect for spring and summer.

Pink Jelly Sparkle

These petal pink jelly nails have just the right amount of sparkle to be fun but not too over the top.

Mad For Plaid

Nothing says holiday spirit like a red and green plaid—so fun!

Easter Bouquet

These pretty floral nails will match just about any Easter outfit.

Floral Bunny

Spring flowers and a sweet bunny will put a hop in your step.

Mint and Gold

Try a mint green base with a gold glitter and sage green side accent.

Purple Half Moons

These contrasting shades of purple make the half moon look into a pastel dream.

Pink Hologram

Take advantage of the spring sunshine and show off your hologram glitter pink mani in a bubblegum shade.

Pastel French Tips

To add a little color without going crazy, try rainbow-colored pastel French tips!

Baby Blues

These baby blue accent nails will match the return of spring blue skies.

Glazed French Tips

A twist on a classic, the glazed French tip look is fresh and light for spring.

Lavender Love

Simple flower outlines on a pastel purple background are just the right look for spring.

Donut Glazed

Add a slight iridescent shine to your nails for a look that will match any spring outfit.

Botanical Babe

Add some flowers and greenery with nail art or these nail stickers for an at home mani.

Walking on Sunshine

These neon yellow French tips are a sunny way to welcome in warmer weather.

Clearly Floral

Try adding flower nail wraps to nude nails for a clearly cute manicure.

Petal Power Chrome

Join the chrome trend in your favorite pink hue.

Sweet and Subtle

Light pink flowers on a shimmery white background is light and pretty for spring.

Baby Chick

How cute is this baby chick in an egg design?

Field of Tulips

Add a sweet touch of spring to your manicure with this tulip and buffalo check design.

Mint Marble

A soft mint nail color with a gold marble accent nail looks fresh and light.

Star Kissed

Try these ombre blush centers accented with gold foil stars.

Flower Power

For a more bold look, try these bright flower power nails.

Green Waves

This wavy green pattern is modern but keeps you in the Christmas color palette.

Pink Petals

Add a petal design into your favorite spring hue.

Wrapped With A Bow

These bow nails are cute and festive without being too busy or overboard.

Velvety Green

Go for a green velvet look to match the new leaves that are popping up outside.

Looking for more nail ideas? Check out:

• 50+ Spring Nail Designs
• 45+ Easter Nail Ideas
• 40+ Festive Christmas Nail Designs

These are items I use daily and religiously. I am dividing them up by morning and night routine. The night routine is, of course, much more important! I hope you enjoy a peek into my medicine cabinet.

Related: Emma’s Skincare Routine

When recently asked to describe my skin type, my reply was “old.” Haha. I was joking, of course! I know that I’m still young(ISH). But being 40 years old means taking great care of my skin morning, noon, and night.

If you’re reading this and you’re 22, trust me when I say—the earlier you start, the better. Just simply removing ALL your makeup every night and keeping your skin toned and hydrated can make a huge difference.

And you don’t need a bunch of expensive products. Toner and coconut oil could get you pretty far if you’re on a small budget and don’t know where to begin.

In my opinion, the most important element of a skincare routine is consistency.

Morning Routine:

Toner

Each morning I wake up, splash some water on my face (and towel dry), brush my teeth, and then immediately reach for my Thayer’s Toner. It’s one item in my routine that I never leave without. I prefer the unscented version.

You can swipe toner on your face using a cotton pad or your hands to press it into your face. During the winter, I tend to have more dry skin—I use toner often to keep my dry skin at bay.

Face Mist

Next, I spritz my face with a mist. I am currently using and loving the Sea Vitamin Boost by Osea. Mists make my skin feel fresh and it’s a part of my morning routine that actually helps me wake up. I wake up very early currently with two kids, so it’s not always pretty.

Moisturizer

When I’m not wearing makeup, I will put on some Summer Fridays Cloud Dew. It’s a great texture and a nice, natural scent. When I’m not wearing makeup (which is often), I still try to keep my skin highly moisturized.

Love a good toner? Check out 3 Easy Hydrating Toners You Can Make At Home!

Night Routine:

Cleanser

I use Leahlani Bless Balm as my oil cleanser pretty often. Oil cleansing is my favorite. All you have to do is rub the product into your skin (you can use pretty much any kind of face oil for this).

Then, run hot water onto a fresh washcloth and press it into your skin for 5-10 seconds. Repeat this a few times if you’re wearing a lot of makeup. It melts right off.

When I’m not oil cleansing, I use Honest Gentle Gel Cleanser. It’s great for all skin types.

Exfoliant

I am LOVING Moon Juice Acid Potion as my exfoliant. A few months back, I was experiencing a lot of breakouts around my mouth area. It was getting worse and worse.

After not having any facials or skin treatments for a year, my skin was generally just not at its best. I read a review for Acid Potion on another blog and ordered it right away. It has done wonders for me.

At first, I used it every day. Then when my skin cleared up, I started using it every other night or a few times a week. I will definitely keep it in my routine as it’s one of the first times a product has created an immediate result for my skin.

Night Cream

I absolutely love Osea’s Atmosphere Protection Cream. I was looking for a night cream with great ingredients, and this one smells and feels amazing.

I’m also obsessed with their Vagus Nerve Pillow Mist. It has so many incredible five-star reviews. I have found that sticking to a night routine has greatly improved my sleep quality!

One last thing that I forgot to include in a photo (but use every single night) is a lip sleeping mask. It’s super thick and the ultimate remedy for dry lips, which I often have. I love it and use it every single night right as I hop into bed.

Links: Thayer’s Toner / Sea Vitamin Boost / Acid Potion / Bless Balm / Cloud Dew / Atmosphere Protection Cream / Vagus Nerve Pillow Mist / Lip Sleeping Mask / Honest Gel Cleanser

I’d love to hear if there are any skincare products that you use and love, especially in the clean skincare category! xx- Elsie

With this update, I finally am using both a clean foundation and concealer (which in the past was an area I had trouble making clean swaps).

I also found some really amazing brow products recently that have made a big difference!

I am a true fan of using clean beauty whenever possible, and I think this is the cleanest my routine has been so far!

OK, ready to jump in? I tried to minimize this as much as possible, so what I am showing here is my favorite (or most used) product from every category. I could definitely do it twice as big, but these are my absolute favorites!!!

I am going to note the exact colors I use in case you are curious or you happen to be in the market for something similar.

Primer: I am loving Vapour Essential Daily Primer. I can tell a big difference when I use it (and when I don’t) for how smooth my makeup goes on, so I never skip it anymore.

Foundation: This past year I tried SO many foundations. I became obsessed. I really wanted one that makes my skin feel glowy and had SPF built in, since I tend to be lazy on SPF.

I used to say I wore sunscreen, but after having two children with albinism I now realize I BARELY wore sunscreen. It’s like when you say you drink green juice, but really you have one glass a month.

Anyway, Super Serum Skin Tint by ILIA has nice coverage and blends so well with my skin. I use shade ST5.

Concealer: Kosas Revealer Concealer. I have under eye circles, and this does the trick without being too heavy or fake looking.

Over time, I have been embracing the less is more makeup mentality. I am leaning more on products that create a more natural effect. I use shade 03.

Side note: Kosas has my other favorite foundation, as well. It’s very oily so I usually mix it with another brand. But I like the moisture.

Concealer brushes: I wanted to try these oval makeup brushes for a long time and I LOVE THEM. To me, they are even better than beauty blenders. I feel like my makeup is the most blended it’s ever been!

Here’s a swatch so you can see the texture of the three products. I use these every day.

Vapour Essential Daily Primer / ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint / Kosas Revealer Concealer

Brows: For my brows, I am loving KUSH Fiber Brow. I use it to create a bit more volume. My brows are pretty small, so the products that add fake little brow hairs (like this teeny little wand does) are great for me! It looks real. I use the color Herb.

Next, I use Anastasia Brow Wiz to fill in my brows “bald spots” and darken them overall.

I have been using the method of adding lots of little lines and it does create a more realistic effect, especially since my brows need to be lengthened on the ends. I use the color Auburn.

Mascara: I haven’t had eyelash extensions since last March. However, I have had time to try out every single clean mascara, and I have to say—ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara is IT for me. You can see the wand in the photo above.

For whatever reason, this helps my lashes not get clumpy like the fuller wands can. I do a LOT of layers of mascara (3-4, drying between each layer) to get my lashes as dark and full as I can.

Eyeshadow: I don’t use eyeshadow every day, but when I do I prefer warm colors and a light shimmery color, and ILIA’s Necessary Eyeshadow Palette does the job for me! I use the Warm Nude palette.

Eyeliner: For the first time in my ENTIRE adult life, I am not wearing much eyeliner. And when I do wear eyeliner, I have not been doing gigantic cat eyes (which used to be my thing).

I’m sure I will go back to that look eventually, but for now I’m enjoying a natural look. Anyway, Clean Line Gel Liner from ILIA is really nice for a natural look! I use the color Twilight.

Bronzer: This is just a good, classic bronzer for doing a teeny bit of contouring or trying to get your neck to match your face. I don’t use bronzer every day—just on a need-to basis. I use the color Golden Hour.

Liquid Blush: I am obsessed with liquid blush—it’s definitely my go-to. I love how it blends. If I had to cut it down to only blush, I would keep Cloud Paint from Glossier. I really like the shade Dusk, as it works well for my skin tone.

Peachy Blush: This blush by Beautycounter makes me feel like I look “more awake,” so I use a ton of it, especially when I’m sleep deprived. With certain outfits, I think it’s really pretty. I use the color Nectar.

Lip Crayon: I use Bite’s Creamy Matte Lip Crayon to line my lips. Sometimes I put on lipstick after, or I just gloss. It make my lips look more defined and bigger. I don’t do heavy or dark lipstick, so this is the darkest color I wear. I use the color Hard Cider.

Lipstick: Color Block Lipstick by ILIA is my favorite—I wear it often. It’s really pretty and natural. I use the color Amberlight.

Lip Gloss: I love Bite Plumping Lip Gloss. It’s a bit shimmery, but doesn’t look like full ’90s glitter (don’t be scared). It says it’s plumping, but I don’t notice anything in that department.

The color is really nice and it looks pretty as it wears off. I use the color Cider Donut.

ILIA Color Block Lipstick / Bite Creamy Matte Lip Crayon / Bite Plumping Lip Gloss

Vapour Essential Daily Primer / ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint / Kosas Revealer Concealer / Anastasia Brow Wiz / KUSH Fiber Brow / ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara / ILIA Necessary Eyeshadow Palette / ILIA Clean Line Gel Liner / LAWLESS Velvet Matte Bronzer / Glossier Cloud Paint / ILIA Color Block Lipstick

OK … I know that probably felt like a lotttt of products, but I tried my best to minimize it. If you have any questions, I will answer them in the comments! And be sure to check out my clean skincare routine, too! xo Elsie

P.S. If you’re unsure about when to get rid of makeup, check out our tips to know when to know it’s time to throw it out!

I’ve been a big fan of false lashes since my early 20s (which was like five years ago, right?!? How kind of you …).

I’ve done lots of variations to get a good lash look from simple false lashes, to lash extensions, to using Lashify lashes, to lash serums.

While I like the look of false lashes (especially for special occasions or photos), it’s not something I always felt like messing with every day. So doing a lash serum seemed like a good way to go to get “all the time” lashes.

I’ll show you what happened when I tried GrandeLASH-MD Serum and how well I thought it worked!

Related: What Happened When I Tried Lashify Lashes

Granted, I am wearing mascara in the “after” photo above (check out the photo below for a comparison without mascara), but you can see that my lashes are quite more noticeable than they are in the “before” and I am thrilled with the results!!

Even though it’s been about six months of use, I still am shocked at times how amazing they appear when I look in the mirror!

Here’s a photo without mascara on as well … I feel like mine tend to get a lot longer rather than also being a ton thicker (which I will take!), but a lot of people report much thicker lashes in general, too.

How Often Do I Have to Apply GrandeLASH-MD?

• You use the serum once a day. Just one dip does both eyes and you apply it like you would liquid eyeliner at the base of your lashes.
• You’ll want to apply it on the skin next to your lashes rather than on the lashes themselves. Give it two minutes or so to dry though before applying makeup or laying down.

How Long Does it Take to Work?

• It takes about four-to-six weeks to notice a difference, so if you’ve tried serums before but didn’t stick with it long, you may have quit before it started working.
• It takes about three months before you really see a full transformation, but it’s worth the wait!

How Do You Get the Most out of your “New” Lashes?

• To really make your longer lashes stand out, take advantage of an eyelash curler (especially for stick straight lashes like mine) to really show off your new length!

Is There a Mascara That’s Best to Use with GrandeLASH?

• GrandeLASH-MD does sell their own mascara with peptides, panthenols, and natural waxes to condition your lashes, but you can use whatever mascara you like!

• This mascara is our team favorite here at A Beautiful Mess. It’s a clean, non-toxic mascara and we all love it!!

Can I Use GrandeLASH if I Wear Contacts or Have Lash Extensions?

• Yes, you can! I do the serum in place of lash extensions, but if you are wanting a better set of lashes to start your extension on or are just doing them for a bit and don’t want to regress your lash serum progress, you can do both.

What Happens if I Stop Using it?

• Well, your lashes will just go back to the way they were before you started!

Can I Use GrandeLASH on my Eyebrows for Thicker Brows?

Most lash serums say they can also be used on brows as well, but GrandeLASH-MD doesn’t say that, and they also have a brow serum specifically for brows.

Like any product (especially products around the eyes), don’t use this if you have an allergic reaction, and discontinue if you experience a negative reaction.

In all honesty, I did have occasional itching at the baseline of my lids when I first started, but it wasn’t causing puffiness or redness so I just waited a bit to see if it went away and it did.

I don’t have crazy sensitive eyes, but I would say they are more on the sensitive side.

Overall, I’m thrilled with the results of using the lash serum and since I’ve grown them in I haven’t reached for the false lashes even once. So if you’re looking for longer, thicker lashes all the time, maybe give it a try and see if you love it too! xo. Laura

Want Even More Luscious Lash Drama? Give These Posts a Try!

• Let’s Talk About False Lashes
• I Got a Lash Lift and Tint and Here’s What Happened
• How to Apply False Lashes

I mentioned this on Instagram, but I got a few broken blood vessels on my face and neck while I was pregnant. A couple of them were basically smack in the middle of my forehead.

While I am so, so grateful I was able to get pregnant, these new little spots were not my favorite side effect that stuck with me even after my son was born. So, I decided to do some research and see what, if anything, I could do about them.

Here is a before and after photo from my experience. See the little red dots on my forehead, between my eyebrows? Those were the spots that annoyed me the most. I also had a few around the bridge of my nose and near my collarbone. These broken blood vessels showed up sometime around the end of my first trimester.

As I was researching solutions, I found that a vascular laser treatment was something I could try. For me, this was available through a dermatologist’s office, and a registered nurse was able to administer the treatment. It does not require any numbing agents and only takes a few minutes.

I won’t lie, it does hurt. It feels like a needle going into your skin (it’s not, it’s a laser). But it’s super quick and way less painful than any of my tattoos.

Vascular laser treatments can also work for cherry angiomas (cherry moles). I have a lot of those, and so at the same appointment I had a few of the most prominent ones removed as well.

Here’s another before photo where you can see the largest cherry mole I had treated (on the side of my face between my eyebrow and hairline).

This is probably obvious, but except for the first photo in this post, all these photos are unedited and I have no makeup on. You can see I also have melasma, which had gotten darker during my pregnancy.

Here is what my skin looked like immediately after the laser treatment. All the red splotchy spots are areas where I had a broken blood vessel or cherry moles treated.

And here is what it looked like the next day. The areas that were treated turn darker at first, and the cherry moles turn almost black and then fall off within a week or two.

I wear sunscreen everyday already (I’m very fair skinned and burn easily), but I was cautioned by the nurse to be extra careful for the following few weeks after the treatment to always wear sunscreen and hats because the sensitive skin could scar/discolor more easily from the sun while it was healing.

And here is what my skin looked like two weeks after the treatment. As you can see, the large cherry mole on the side of my face is still somewhat visible. After my first treatment, they already had scheduled a follow up for four weeks later to see if any of the spots would need a second treatment, and it looks like this is one spot that probably will. But pretty much everything else was good after just one treatment—especially the middle-of-my-forehead broken vessels.

I went to Ozarks Dematology Specialists (in Springfield, Missouri) for this vascular laser treatment. It only took about 15 minutes and cost $150. The price will vary based on how many spots/how much time you need.

And it would likely vary based on where you live. But I just wanted to share what it was for me, for reference. This was not something my insurance would cover, as it was cosmetic in nature rather than going to the dermatologist to be checked for skin cancer (which is also a very important thing to do).

Thanks for letting me share this very random experience with you all. I love skin care stuff. I am constantly trying new moisturizers, masks, facials, and other things. I also love trying new makeup. I view it all as super fun and for me, self care. xo. Emma

Big sun hats, rash guards, etc., are my best friends. BUT, I miss the glow and even skin tone that a tan could give.

I remember getting my first spray tan in maybe 2002? Wow, things have come a long way since then. The orange-tinted nightmare has now become, in some cases, a very convincing substitute for the real deal! So grateful for that.

My favorite kind of tan is an airbrush tan where someone has the spray machine and they do it manually.

Related: Check out our skincare archive for more!

It’s usually not cheap, but proper preparation can have a major effect on how long your spray tan investment lasts. Here is the timeline I follow that’s given the best results:

Five days to 8 hours before your spray tan:

I like to start my exfoliating/hydrating routine about 3-5 days before my spray tan and carry it through until the night before—this way your skin is really optimally exfoliated and moisturized instead of a “last-ditch effort” the night before.

I absolutely love this scrub from First Aid Beauty. I have keratosis pilaris and this really helps with that as well as being a great physical exfoliant.

My favorite “scrubbing” tip is to actually exfoliate in gentle circles—this works just as well as a firm touch. Scrubbing hard is only going to inflame your skin, so be sweet to it.

My custom lotion from Function Of Beauty (use that link for 20% off your first order) is my favorite for quick and easy hydration.

I’ve recently started incorporating dry brushing into my routine again after years of not doing it, and I feel like dry brushing before your shower really helps to exfoliate even further.

Twenty-four to 12 hours before your appointment:

If you wax, wax at least 24 hours before your appointment. I shave, so I normally do that the night before my spray tan—at least 12 hours before.

Day of spray tan:

Take a shower so your skin is clean (remember, do not shave or wax!), and do not put any oil or lotion on your skin afterward. Anything on your skin could lead to the tan not developing correctly or getting streaky/blotchy.

If you’re worried about certain areas being too dry and taking on too much of the tanning solution, your salon should have a special oil-free lotion that you can apply to places like your nail beds and knuckles.

Be sure to wear loose clothing! Anything that rubs against your skin right after your spray tan will disrupt the tan’s development—I even go so far as to not wear a bra because I know that will leave marks.

Avoid sweating after your appointment. I usually wait until I wash off the tan for the first time to exercise or do anything I know will make me really sweaty.

Be sure to wait the appropriate amount of time before showering. Depending on what type of spray tan you get, there will be a period of time you’ll need to wait while the tan fully develops. Your esthetician/tech will tell you this info!

After your spray tan:

Hydrating is going to be key to prolonging the life of your tan—the dryer your skin, the more it’s going to flake off and disrupt your tan. This gradual tanning lotion from Vita Liberata made a spray tan I had last for 12 days—it was incredible and I swear by it!

Obviously, you have to shower, but the more you shower or are in the pool, you are shortening the life of your tan. I find that using a gradual tan lotion like the one above helps so much if you’re on a beach vacation or something where you’re in the water a lot.

I hope this was helpful, and if you have any favorite spray tan prep/maintenance tips, please share them below! xo Keely

Since we’re in a new season, our skincare and makeup routines have changed, and today, we’re sharing our favorite clean products that we swear by this time of year. If you’re looking for an everyday sunscreen to use (so important, especially now!), we love this one. It’s lightweight, invisible on your skin, and acts as a primer for your makeup. If your hair is feeling extra dry or frizzy, this prickly pear hair oil is a cure-all—and Elsie’s favorite.

If you don’t want to skip foundation because of the heat, this tinted serum is packed with antioxidants and ingredients that will make your skin happy (it also has SPF 40). It’s a favorite among our team! And, we also love this budget-friendly eyeshadow palette—it doesn’t crease and it’s long-wearing despite warmer temperatures. You can shop all of our favorites below!

You can check out this post for more of our fave summer clean beauty or our Five Clean Bath and Body Product Swaps From Target and if you have any go-to summer products, we would love to hear about them in the comments! xo, The ABM Team

P.S. If you like to make your own clean beauty products, check out Our Best Clean Beauty DIYs (and Tips!)

Fix what’s broken! We’ve all been there … a perfectly good foundation gets damaged. Maybe your powder compact shattered when you dropped it or maybe something scratched (or dug into) the makeup. Don’t throw it away just yet! There IS a way to fix it, and the secret weapon is isopropyl alcohol. I tried this method out so you can see how it worked out for me and what I might do differently next time.

Simply grab your alcohol bottle and very carefully pour some in your compact. You’ll know right away when you have enough as your makeup will start “healing” before your very eyes.

I used a bobby pin to spread and smooth things out, but I would recommend a small blunt knife or the back of a spoon to smooth it out a little better. However, THIS WORKED!!! I left the lid open for the foundation to dry out and I was so impressed with how it made something broken usable again. If you have a liquid foundation that broke, maybe the bottle shattered, the top broke off, or the pump is broken, try something like this! You can siphon what’s left of the foundation into a new bottle so your precious product isn’t going to waste.

Be sure you aren’t leaving product behind. Every time I get a new foundation it takes me a few applications to figure out just how much I need. Sometimes, we are letting product go to waste by simply using too much of it and it gets washed away from our brushes and sponges. Maybe you need a half pump instead of a full pump, a pea-sized amount instead of a skittle—and this goes for just about any liquid/cream product.

Get everything out of your tube foundation! Are you at the end of a tube of foundation (or any other beauty product!)? Here’s one of my favorite tips: cut it off in the middle and check out how much product is still left in the bottom! You can scoop the product out into a really small container, and if you don’t have one of those, just pop the tube in a small tupperware container in the meantime. You can see above I probably have 5-10 more applications left in this tube that I couldn’t possibly squeeze anything else out of.

Make a tinted moisturizer. Have a liquid product that you need to stretch for a few more days until you can get a new bottle? Squeeze in some sunscreen or your favorite moisturizer to add some more volume to the product. This will dilute the pigment, of course, but it’s better than nothing! Here’s a great sunscreen option.

Here’s to getting every last drop out of that bottle or tube! xo, Keely

What is “Baking” Your Makeup, and When Should You Do It? Check out Keely’s post for more details!

Credits // Author and Photography: Keely Rust. Photos edited with A Color Story Desktop.