Short and clean: Why the new soap manicure is trending
For two years, I was a devotee of “builder in a bottle” (BIAB) products, a kind of long-term nail polish. But after an allergic reaction, possibly brought on by a chemical within BIAB known to sometimes cause redness and nail damage, I had to stop. Enter the “soap” manicure.
Lean into the “quiet luxury” trend by embracing nails in milky whites, soft pinks and nude tones.Credit: Getty Images
Why the name? Basically, this pristine mani mimics the appearance of soapy water, with nails that look fresh and clean. The vibe leans into the “quiet luxury” trend, so rather than a bold pop of colour, nails are all about milky whites, soft pinks and nude tones so effortlessly polished and well-manicured they look like they’ve just come out of a bubble bath. But importantly, it’s not so much about the nail colour as the manicure itself.
For inspiration, take the advice of nail guru Harriet Westmoreland. “Strengthen your nails with the prettiest nail strengthener around: O.P.I Nail Envy in Pink to Envy ($37),” she says. “Apply two thin layers on the first day, and then one daily for the next six days. After a week, natural nails are strong and healthy, with a pink lip-gloss finish. Remove with an acetone-free nail polish remover and reapply if needed, or use as a base for your colour application.”
To get the best out of soap nails, prep is paramount. Your manicurist – I saw Hazel at The Parlour Room in Sydney’s Clovelly – will need to thoroughly remove any previous polish, buff your nails until they shine, neatly attend to any rough cuticle edges, and file the tips in a short, soft, square shape so they’re perfectly symmetrical. Part of the soap manicure’s appeal is that this milky-soft squoval finish looks good on everyone.
To do it yourself at home, keep hands exfoliated – we love Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash ($53). Drench cuticles with an oil like Dr Hauschka Neem Nail & Cuticle Oil ($42), and apply an SPF 50+ sunscreen such as Ultra Violette Extreme Screen Hand & Body Skinscreen SPF50+ ($15)
daily to simultaneously moisturise and shield from UV damage.
Once nails look immaculate, it’s all about a glossy polish in light pink or milky white and a topcoat, thereafter applied every second day to make this manicure last. Our picks for this look are Essie Nail Polish in Ballet Slippers ($16), O.P.I Nail Lacquer in Put It In Neutral ($22), O.P.I Infinite Shine Base Coat ($21), and Barry M Plumpy Top Coat ($10), a super-glossy finish you can wear over polish or on its own.
This sleek look also works well with a French manicure. And if you feel like wearing an opaque polish, my pick is Dazzle Dry Nail Polish in Boss ($47), a beautiful taupe-pink that will last a good two weeks.
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What is the best way to apply eye cream?
Because the skin around the eye is delicate, use your ring finger to gently tap the cream under your eyes. This will also help with lymphatic drainage and help to keep puffiness at bay.
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