Planes and hotels wreak havoc on your nails! It's only been a few days since my pre-vacation mani and they already look terrible. Of course, I packed a Formula X CLIX! nail polish set. I've posted about these mini nail polish kits many times and have only great things to say. These little sets of polish, serums and oils are perfect for travel, small in size and meet all of your on-the-go mani needs. 

I've tried three different CLIX! quads in the past and decided to pack the Hydrating Prescription for my international trip. The Hydrating Prescription CLIX! quad contains a Prime Condition base coat, Sheer Strength nail color in Wondrous, Condition Plus top coat and Quench cuticle oil. The color polish is the same as all the other kits; a sheer pink (neutral and pretty). The top coat is like any other top coat and the cuticle oil (essential when traveling) is my favorite in this set. I didn't really like the base coat - it went on heavy and because I applied the next step too soon, the base coat dragged across my nails like wet glue and made a hot mess. I tried to carry on, but after a few attempts to cover the damage decided to start again.. I get super frustrated if I have to take the polish off and re-do, so I just scraped the first step and applied the color, top coat and oil. Unfortunately, its the base coat that gives your nails extra nourishment, so I didn't get the 'hydrating' experience. The end result; nice color and an 'ok' on-the-go mani.

I'm a 'nipper' and my own worse enemy when it comes to healthy cuticles. I do my own manicures and sometimes cause more damage than good. I do a much better job painting my nails than any manicurist, but if I'm having a bad day and feeling stressed, I tend to over pick and nip at my cuticles. The cold, dry winter weather doesn't help either and until a few weeks ago, my cuticles were a hot mess. Cuticle Lab to the rescue..

After using the Cuticle Lab by Deborah Lippmann, I recommend everyone put down the sharp tools and avoid nipping altogether. This four-step process has given me great results in just four applications. My cuticles appear nourished and the damage I've created over time is quickly diminishing. 

Step one - apply the Cuticle Remover Exfoliating Cuticle Treatment. It says there is no need to soak hands in water, but I don't like the idea of leaving the solution and cuticle residue on my fingers, so I rinse it off. 

Step two - Use the dual-ended cuticle pusher to gently push back cuticles and remove cuticle build-up. This is not a complaint, but rather a suggestion - the sharp'ish', squared end of the tool is fantastic for removing build-up, but I'm right handed and due to the angle it is hard to manage it with my left hand. A tool with this end on both sides, but opposite directions, would be even better. Of course, then there would need to be an additional tool with an arched end for pushing the cuticles back. 

Step three - apply cuticle oil. This hydrating oil has a lovely coconut scent, softens your cuticles and absorbs quickly. 

Step four - gently massage The Cure Nourishing Cuticle Repair Cream onto your cuticles. I love this cream. It has a subtle scent and leaves your cuticles feeling soft and nourished. I use this cream three times a day and my cuticles look great. Another suggestion - I will go through this jar of cream much faster than the bottles of cuticle remover and cuticle oil, so a bigger jar would be much better in this Cuticle Lab kit. 

This cuticle treatment therapy takes about five minutes and leaves lasting results. I'm a fan and will definitely repurchase the products in this kit.

Formula X CLIX! are quads that hold four mini nail polish, serums or cuticle oil (depending on the prescription). Each prescription restores your nails of common nail issues. 

The Strengthening Prescription includes a Prime Strength base coat, Sheer Strength nail color in 'Wondrous' (sheer pink porcelain), Shine Strength top coat, and Quench cuticle oil. The base coat is a sheer white shade infused with ceramic, which strengthens your nails and creates a clean base for your color. The sheer pink color of the nail polish (step two), is very subtle and atop the pearl color, gives you a pearly-pink shade. The gel-like top coat is quite thick, but goes on easy and creates a shield against external damaging and staining. Pale pink shades are my favourite, but when I wash my hair the black die turns my nails a smokey, pinkish/gray. I'm impressed with this top coat and its ability shield from the dye. I'll go through this mini bottle of top coat quickly!

Allow each of the three coats to dry completely, before applying the next. Once your nails are completely dry, apply the cuticle oil with the mini doe foot applicator. I'm a big fan cuticle oil - it's an instant manicure when you don't have time to get your cuticles treated. This oil is incredibly thin, compared to others I've used, and absorbs quickly. Downside - the 'nail polish' scent is not great for daily use (as recommended). 

It's been three days since I applied The Strengthening Prescription and my nails still look fairly good. Aside from minor chipping, the color remains and my nails feel a little harder than usual. This nail treatment process was fairly quick and easy. Cause the CLIX! quad is so small, this is a great on-the-go treatment when travelling.

I absolutely love Incoco nail polish appliqués. There are currently 140 nail design appliqués, 108 colors, 7 french manicure shades, and 33 french manicure designs and colors to choose from. There are also 13 design and solid color appliqués for your toes.  Incoco introduces new colors and designs often; including holiday themed designs. Incoco nail polish appliqués give you a perfectly polished manicure and pedicure.

The nail polish appliqués are easy to apply. Just peel off the back and front covers, place the sticker on your nail and fold over the top of your nail gently until the appliqué rips, allowing you to remove the excess sticker. Each pack of stickers comes with sixteen nail polish appliqués, in 8 different sizes. Before peeling off the covers, place the stickers against your nails to determine which size best fits.

There is no drying time! More importantly, you can place the appliqués close to your cuticle (unlike polish) and create a perfect polished look. No mess!

I do find with continuous application of the stickers that my nails get dry, so I recommend taking a break and using a polish, or a nail hardener every third manicure or pedicure.

Incoco nail polish appliqués range from $7.99 to $9.99 at www.incoco.com. 

The KOH Natural, Glossy Nail Buffer Set includes great buffers for natural looking nails. There are three buffers; Equalize, Clean and Beautify. Use the buffers in order from one to three. Be gentle, because you are removing the surface of your nails and you don't want to damage them. I prefer the KOH Natural, Glossy Nail Buffer Set, because the files are soft and less abrasive than most buffers. I also use the equalize buffer to file my nails. It is gentle and allows you to shape your nails slowly.

After I have buffed my nails and removed my cuticles I use the KOH Gentle Cuticle Stick. The slanted rubber tip is soft and allows you to gently push your cuticles back without damaging them.&nbsp

KOH nail products are designed with gentle nail care in mind. For those of you who do your own manicures and pedicures, I highly recommend checking out this product line. Visit www.kohcosmetics.com/nl/. You will find nail products you didn't know existed!

I love the KOH Purifying Nail Bath tablets. Drop one into your manicure or pedicure bowl and enjoy the subtle scent of lemon. The nail bath tablets soften your cuticles and leave your nails looking fresh. The tablets contain lemon oil that removes stains and rejuvenates your nails. For those of you that wear dark nail polish, which often leaves yellow stains after removal, this is a product you will appreciate.

The Purifying Nail Bath tablets come in a stylish jar that retails for €25,86. It's expensive, but the jar of tablets will last you months of weekly manicures. If you're like me and do your own manicures and pedicures the price is worth it and you will see a significant difference in the appearance of your nails.

If you are ever in Amsterdam and in need of a quick mani or just wanna pick up some great nail products, visit KOH Cosmetics at the Bijenkorf, Located in the Dam Square. You can also purchase KOH nail products at www.kohcosmetics.com/nl.

The KOH Anti-Aging Base Coat is basically a primer for your nails. Your nails become stained after applying dark (especially red) nail polish - this base coat will create a blank palette on your nails, so your polish will appear even and true to color.

Although this is a base coat polish, I use it as a color polish. Four coats will give you a subtle pink color that is clean and natural. After wearing dark polish on my toes for many years, I had deep yellow stains on my nails and was desperate to get them back to their natural color. I used the KOH Natural, Glossy Nail Buffer Set each time I did a manicure to gently remove the top layer of stained nail and applied the KOH Anti-Aging Base Coat. The KOH Anti-Aging Base Coat masked the yellow stains and my toes looked great. Even though my nails are back to their natural color, I still wear the KOH Anti-Aging Base Coat. I love the light pink color and natural nail polish goes with anything.

One of my favorite stores to visit in Amsterdam (The Netherlands) is KOH Cosmetics. One thing we are missing in America is a great nail product store like KOH. 

KOH carries every nail product imaginable. Nail polishes in over 100 colors, anti-ageing nail products, hand creams and scrubs, nail nursing products, mani/pedi tools and even products for your guy.

Two of my favorite (must have) products form KOH are the Nourishing Cuticle Brush and Essential Hand Nourisher. The cuticle brush contains Jojoba, tea tree oil, sesame oil, shea butter, vitamin E and aloe vera. It leaves your cuticles soft and clean. If it's been too long since you've had a manicure and your cuticles are dry, apply this nourishing cuticle oil and you would never know that you desperately need a mani. The nourishing hand cream smells pretty, is light and non-greasy. I use it many times a day (people often ask to use my hand cream). These two products together leave my hands soft and rejuvenated.

Each product comes in its own KOH case with a snap closure; great for travel. The Nourishing Cuticle Brush sells for €20,30 and the Essential Hand Nourisher for €19,85. If you are ever in Amsterdam and in need of a quick mani or just wanna pick up some great nail products, visit KOH Cosmetics at the Bijenkorf, Located in the Dam Square.