This Is What Celeb Makeup Artists Use to Clean Their Brushes

Whether you just replaced your entire collection or have an arsenal of tried-and-true makeup brushes, the unfortunate reality is that beauty tools need to be cleaned on the reg. And the more brushes you have, the more tedious it becomes (particularly those caked-on foundation wands — ugh!). To find out the best (and easiest) ways to clean your tools, we tapped five professional makeup artists to share their go-to products.

1. Clinique Face Soap ($15): It’s easy to forget a classic amid all the hot brands dropping new products every other week. But makeup artist Wayne Goss swears by Clinique’s trusted facial bar. “My brushes are natural hair, so using alcohol isn’t great,” he explains. “But a nice soap works well and doesn’t damage the hair.”

2. beautyblender blendercleanser solid ($16). Makeup artist Lottie, who has worked with Drew Barrymore, Solange, and Halsey, reaches for the beautyblender cleanser to do the trick on her brushes and sponges. For stubborn stains in her beautyblenders, she soaks them in the liquid cleanser. “I rinse all and leave to dry on a dish drying rack,” she says.

3. MAC Brush Cleanser ($16): It’s a no-brainer that MAC Director of Makeup Artistry Romero Jennings sticks to none other than the brand’s brush cleanser. “I usually pre-wipe brushes on a textured white paper towel with the cleaner, then rinse with super-hot water,” he explains. 4. Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver ($12): Celeb makeup artist Noel Nichols goes old-school when it comes to removing makeup form his tools. “This solid brush cleaner works amazingly! It was originally made for washing paint brushes. I found it randomly in an art store and have been using it for years,” Nicols says. “It gets into all the nooks and crannies, and washes the oil based products away in a snap. Just get your brush wet, rub it into the solid cake, then swirl in your palm to get all the makeup off.”

5. NARS Cosmetics Gentle Cream Cleanser ($29) and Swirl and Sparkle ($19): Jake Broullard, lead makeup artist for NARS Cosmetics, has two go-to products for those tough-to-clean jobs. “NARS Gentle Cream Cleanser breaks down all the makeup and doesn’t leave a greasy feel to the brush,” he explains. For sponges and beautyblenders, he uses Swirl and Sparkle, a natural, solid cleanser.

Related: The Best Contour Palettes and Sticks, According to Makeup Artists 

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With sun damage being the number one cause of aging skin (yikes!), it’s majorly important to make sure you’re shielded on the daily during spring break. Aside from limiting your time in the sunshine, hydrating moisturizers with SPF are a super helpful way to preserve that youthful glow without adding another step to your skincare routine. Scoop up one of these eight sun-protecting combos, then enjoy the warm weather in all its glory (while reapplying often).

Fenty Beauty Hydra Vizor Refillable Invisible Face Moisturizer SPF 30 with Niacinamide

Since branching out into skincare, Fenty Beauty has kept its foot on our necks! This invisible face moisturizer not only works to provide the ultimate hydration, but it also targets dark spots! That's good news for the girlies who deal with stubborn hyperpigmentation.

Origins Age-Defense Moisturizer with White Tea Broad Spectrum SPF 40

Great for any skin type, this Origins SPF hydrator is oil-free and antioxidant-rich, making it a fab buy in your anti-aging arsenal. Plus, it helps safeguard against environmental aggressors, like infrared rays and pollution!

Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer SPF 30

Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer

For the oily-skinned gal, this choice will check all your boxes. Created with aloe vera to soothe and hydrate, St. John’s Wort to repair skin, and green tea for antioxidant infusion, it’s the total package.

Supergoop! Triple Prep Weightless Multitasking Moisturizer SPF 40

We couldn't leave vegan-friendly moisturizers with SPF off our list! This weightless version by Supergoop! protects your skin's moisture barrier and works well for normal to combination skin thanks to a combination of hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and red algae.

Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 Sunscreen

Did you know tinted moisturizers with SPF exist? Well, now you do! Made to help bring a healthy glow to your skin, this moisturizer is meant to give you a 'no makeup' look. Also, it's free of parabens so your skin won't feel bogged down by icky ingredients!

Find more of our beauty finds on Amazon!

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George and Amal Clooney are one of the celebrity couples I’d personally be upset over if they ever break up. Like...my heart just wouldn’t be able to handle it because their love story is one for the books — not to mention all the power couple fashion moments we'd miss out on!

I was introduced to George Clooney’s work via Quentin Tarantino’s movieFrom Dusk ‘Til Dawn (thanks, dad) and have always found him to be a force of nature, but I didn’t take him for the ‘settling down’ type. Imagine my surprise when the man who once claimed he’d never get married eventually found himself smitten with Amal Alamuddin, an intelligent Human Rights Lawyer.

Since their fateful first meeting at George’s home years ago, the two have gone on to get married, have children, and even established the Clooney Foundation for Justice together. If you can’t get enough of their relationship either, here’s a full timeline of their love story!

George and Amal Clooney's Full Relationship Timeline

Image via Andrew Goodman/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night

July 2013: George And Amal Clooney’s First Introduction

In 2018, George sat down with David Letterman on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction to recount various moments from his life, including when he first met Amal. He remembers being at home at Lake Como when one of his friends asked if they could bring a plus one with them.

To make things even wilder, his own agent let him know his bachelor days would soon be over. “I got a call from my agent who called and said, ‘I met this woman who’s coming to your house who you’re gonna marry,’” he said.

Once he met Amal and began talking to her, it was apparent they had chemistry that resulted in them exchanging emails. George told The Hollywood Reporter, “I thought she was beautiful, and I thought she was funny and obviously smart…Then she sent some pictures from when she was here, and we were writing each other, emailing, talking, mostly about what was going on in each other’s lives, and over a period of time it became clear we were more than just friends.”

I’m being dramatic, but I think this dispels the idea that it’s impossible to find love if you don’t leave home.

Image via Cindy Ord/Getty Images

October 2013: George and Amal Have Their First Date

George also told The Hollywood Reporter about how their first official date came to be. He was in London overseeing the music for Monuments Men and decided to invite Amal for a visit. “Then we went for dinner…and when we came out, there were 50 paparazzi there. But she handled it like a champ. And pretty quickly, things escalated once I was in London,” he said

While they dated and got to know each other, they told CBS that they wrote each other letters. While they described that courtship, Amal added that some of the letters George wrote to her came from...his dog? Talk about bringing someone into your inner world! TBH, I'm more than here for it — let your sweet, goofy flag fly, George!

Image via Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Turner

April 2014: George and Amal Get Engaged

I always say there’s no denying when you’ve fallen in love with someone, and that couldn’t be more true for George and Amal Clooney who got engaged after six months of dating. Seriously, the way George proposed is something out of a romantic fairytale because he planned it. Not only that, but he cooked for her and sent her on a short scavenger hunt — except she didn’t know she was supposed to be looking for a ring.

He revealed even more details about the moment during his interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I did all the stuff, got down on my knee and did all the things you’re supposed to do. I had a playlist with my Rosemary [Clooney] songs on it, and I was waiting for this song, ‘Why Shouldn’t I,’” he said.

Needless to say, Amal happily accepted his proposal! Ironically,I’m starting to realize there’s not always a set timeline for people to get engaged or married after dating. Some people only date for a few months while others date for years before deciding to get married. It’s all very personal.

Image via Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for BFI

September 2014: George And Amal Clooney Get Married

It wouldn’t be right if the couple didn’t get married in Italy, the country where they first met. Of course they were free to get married wherever they wanted, but leave it to the Clooneys to keep the romance going.

People reported the lovely couple wed at the Aman Canal Grande resort and guests like Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and John Krasinski were in attendance.

Image via Jason Merritt/Getty Images

January 2015: George and Amal Grace the Red Carpet Together

For the first time ever, George and Amal Clooney made an appearance on the red carpet at the beginning of 2015. They attended the Golden Globes together where George received the famed lifetime achievement award.

Towards the end of his speech, George praised Amal in only a way that a man truly in love with his wife could. He said, "You make every single day — every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday — feel as special as tonight..."

Image via Duncan McGlynn/Getty Images

Late 2016: George and Amal Found the Clooney Foundation for Justice

By 2016, George and Amal Clooney decided to found the Clooney Foundation for Justice — an organization that aims to shed light around social injustices found across the globe. They've prioritized spending their own money to help those in need without a second thought and have even donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Image via Clemens Bilan/Getty Images

February 2017: PEOPLE confirms George and Amal are expecting twins

Almost three years after getting married, a source close to George and Amal Clooney revealed the two were expecting a baby together. They told People, "They’re all very happy," referring to the couple's family.

George later revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that he was shocked when he discovered the couple would actually become parents to twins. He recalled their experience in the ultrasound room. "He goes, 'Well, there's one.' And I said, 'Great.' And then he goes, 'And there's the second one.' And I was like, 'What?' We just sat there, staring at that piece of paper they give you, and I kept thinking there was a mistake," he said of the exchange between the doctor and the couple.

Image via Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

June 2017: George and Amal Clooney Welcome Their Twins

People also reported the birth of George and Amal Clooney's twins — Alexander and Ella — during the summer of 2017. "This morning Amal and George welcomed Ella and Alexander Clooney into their lives. Ella, Alexander and Amal are all healthy, happy and doing fine. George is sedated and should recover in a few days," they revealed in lighthearted joint statement.

September 2017: George and Amal Clooney Make Their First Appearance After Becoming Parents

Later that year, George and Amal Clooney graced the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival in support of George's film Suburbicon. George — an ever dapper gentleman — wore a classic black tuxedo while Amal wore a lilac Versace gown.

Image via Gareth Fuller - WPA Pool/Getty Images

May 2018: George and Amal attend Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding

Things were quiet for the couple until the spring of 2018. They attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's highly publicized wedding. They were just a few of the celebrities that were seen in the crowd.

Image via Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

February 2022: George and Amal accept the Catalyst Award together

A couple of years later, George and Amal Clooney were the proud recipients of the joint Catalyst Award from the Elevate Prize Foundation. The amazing work they'd been doing in connection with the Clooney Foundation for Justice hadn't gone unnoticed and they were praised for their amazing philanthropic work.

While accepting the award, George gave a moving speech about their foundation's purpose. "One of the Elevate Prize Foundation's core values is human safety and freedom...Our goal at the foundation is to free the innocent and punish the guilty. I think we're both inspired by the young people out there challenging injustice in their communities, a new generation that won't accept the status quo," he said.

Image via Joe Maher/Getty Images

September 2022: George and Amal attend London premiere of Ticket to Paradise

The couple then attended the London premiere of Ticket to Paradise where they looked refreshed and glowy. This is my attempt to be appropriate, but they truly looked smoking h-o-t!This time George wore a three-piece suit while Amal stunned in beautiful slip dress.

Image via Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images

October 17, 2022: George and Amal attend Ticket to Paradise Los Angeles premiere

They then attended the L.A. premiere of Ticket to Paradise where George looked debonair in a grey suit. Amal wore a gorgeous Alexander McQueen number that was an appropriate nod to the film's paradise theme.

Image via Mike Coppola/Getty Images

December 3, 2022: George and Amal Attend The Kennedy Center Honors

George and Amal Clooney attended the Kennedy Center Honors where he, along with honorees, received a nod for lifetime achievements. They were a picture of perfection on the red carpet, especially Amal. She dazzled in a lovely Valentino gown that looked amazing on her frame.

Image via Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images


August 31, 2023: The Couple Attend The DVF Awards in Venice

While attending the DVF Awards in Venice, Amal received the DVF Leadership Award. During her acceptance speech, Amal thanked George for being by her side. People reports she said, "Venice is the place where almost nine years ago we were married. I just wanted to say, you, my love, like this city, take my breath away, and you make our lives magical. It is sometimes hard to believe you exist, so thank you for being the brightest light in my life.”

September 28, 2023: George and Amal host The Albies

Before the end of 2023, People reported George and Amal Clooney hosted their foundation's second annual Albies at the New York Public Library to continue highlighting the importance of securing human rights for all.

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Header image via Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Compared to the bright and warm colors you paint on your summer nails, winter nails can sometimes feel a little... uninspired. But this season, we're all about changing up our beauty routines to find something unique, unexpected, and festive. You don't have to be a professional manicurist to get beautiful tips at home, and these ideas for winter nails prove it.

Break out your top coat bottles, because once you see these moody blue hues, seasonal shimmers, and classic Christmas color nail art (not to mention some eye-catching yet easy designs to inspire you) you won't be able to get enough.

Colors For Winter Nails

Sally Hansen Traveling Light

This unique purple pick only takes a few seconds to dry, which makes it a great option when you need a concise mani, but don't have a ton of time.

sundays L.05

The mix between purple and gray in this hue delivers an understated edge that's to die for.

Nails.INC Baker Street

We love that cobalt blue is *just* the right amount of bold and eye-catching.

ella+mila Unwrap Me

Reds are definitely expected for any winter nails. This flirty shade glides on with absolute perfection!

PrettyDiva Silver Chrome Nail Powder

Silver nails are sophisticated and festive, but aren't exclusive to the holiday season the way that a red and green combo are. Plus, dip powder is a simple and easy way to get a salon-quality manicure at home.

essie Sens-O-Real

We all remember the heyday of mint green, so bring this serene shade back for your next winter nails lineup!

sundays No.30

For anyone who likes color but doesn't want to overdo it, this muted sage green is a great pick. It's sophisticated, understated, and adds just the right amount of chill for colder days.

OPI It's A Boy! Nail Lacquer

Baby blue has been hot all year long. If you want in on the trend, try adding this pale color to your nails instead.

ORLY Crawford's Wine

Is there anything classier than red nails? They're a little bit vintage, a little bit sexy, and very eye-catching. Match them to a red lip for New Year's celebrationsfor the cutest match.

Beetles Aquarius Polish Kit

From navy to icy blue, these gel polishes will let you have all the winter nails you could ever dream of. The best part is that with proper application, they can last up to three weeks!

Essie Ballet Slippers

Ballet pink is a great neutral because it's elevated and professional, but it's more fun than beige. Pair this pink with ballerina nails, and feel totally girly!

No. 70 Shimmery Ocean Green

Even though deep green is in the holiday color palette, this peaceful shade can definitely last into the New Year. This polish is chip-resistant and healthy for your nails.

essie A Stroke of Brilliance

For some added shimmer and glow, pop this bad boy on your nails – atop a darker color or by itself!

OPI O Suzi Mio

We love how romantic and powerful this deep purple is. And if there's anything that should make you feel that way, it's your beauty routine.

Dashing Diva Hanukkah Magic

Dark blue and white are a color combo that you can never go wrong with for winter nails. You can wear these tips to your Hanukkah celebrations, but they will also look good any day of the week.

Olive & June Lilac Shimmer

Feminine and flirty, this salon-quality polish is a great way to add some pink Christmas glam to your winter nails if you're not feeling the blues, neons, or reds.

786 Cosmetics Istanbul

This polish is inspired by the shades of the Turkish city it's named after. Not only is it deep and warm, but it also gives you full coverage with a single swipe.

OPI Angels Flight to Starry Nights

This shade simultaneously reminds us of the sea, the sky, and all those icy Y2K beauty looks. It looks iconic in every season, so you can wear it all year long.

Pleasing Syrupberry

Add some sweetness to your holiday season with this fruity nail polish color. Pair it with other punchy colors or wear it on its own. Either way, you'll turn heads.

OPI Linger Over Coffee

Chocolate brown might be a 2023 hair trend, but you can definitely add it into your manicure, too. The best part is that it'll match your coffee *and* your hot chocolate.

Modelones Going Nude

Wear the shade that matches your skin tone, or mix and match them all for a multi-toned nude look.

OPI It’s a Piazza Cake

This terracotta color will infuse some warmth into your day-to-day as you count down to the New Year.

essie Carols and Caviar

This winter nails color describes exactly what we want out of the season. It's the most luscious blue that you could ever coat your nails with.

Winter Nails Inspo

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Saving Face

Turn your mani into an art gallery with an abstract design that'll make you feel like Picasso. Stick to classic colors like brown and black, or go with seasonal shades.

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A Little Bit French

We'll never get enough of the French manicure. But instead of white tips, spice it up with different colors and overlapping stripes.

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A Jolly, Happy Soul

This frosty little friend is one of the cutest things we've ever seen on a thumb nail. Don't forget the carrot nose!

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Jolly Old Soul

Swap your regular mani for a cherry red nail polish that features a Santa hat. It's cute and classy all in one!

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Living On The Edge

Create a manicure that feels unexpected yet classic by adding dots around the edge of your nail in red, green, and gold. The empty space is totally eye-catching while the color trio is nostalgic.

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Pastels³

Pick three colors that go well together and layer them for multi-dimensional nails. You can change them up based on the season, or stick with different shades of your favorite color.

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I Like You A Latte

Use different shades of brown for a mani that'll get you in the mood for a mocha. The 70s inspired waves are just the foam on top.

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All-Out Color

Mix wintery details like gold glitter with neons and warm shades usually found in summer for a winter nails match made in heaven. Love!

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Stripes On Stripes

In lieu of an all-white mani, go for one that incorporates stripes or blank space that'll let other colors (or your natural nail) peek through.

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Groovy Baby

Pick shapes and shades that remind you of your favorite decade. Bonus points if it matches your outfit!

Image via Bellacures

Flurries

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas, bring some snowy magic to your mani with white polish and a toothpick.

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Star Light, Star Bright

Bring some nature to your look with a galaxy-inspired mani, a delicate snowflake, or try your hand at painting a tree. The world is your oyster!

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𝐍𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒 𝐁𝐘 𝐆 ☁️ on Instagram: "🐻🤎🦔🪵🪹🧉🍩🍪 @glossifyofficial oud, gold digger, ebony & glass yellow @lucypastorellitools_ prep @monicavinader rings. Use MVINSIDER20-0618 for 20% off #MVFall #MonicaVinader #mvinsiders"

Tortoise

A mix of brown, gold, and tan will never go out of style. We're obsessed with the glittery detail and the use of negative space!

Ice Queen

This dreamy blue mani provides such a great balance between color and negative space. The icy sparkles are reminiscent of winter snows!

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❤ Hang Nguyen ❤ on Instagram: "The time has come ✨ #HappyDecember #Christmas I’ll also be doing a “24 Day Painting Challenge”, counting down the days until Christmas. Here’s me painting a candle on the first day 🕯️. I’m learning to paint with gouache and wanted to get familiar with the medium quickly so thought this would be a fun challenge to celebrate the kick off until Christmas. Never down anything like this before so hope I can keep up. It’ll be posted on my YouTube so if you want to follow along and keep me accountable, link is in my bio 🙂✨"

I Can Still Make The Whole Place Shimmer

These glittery nails are perfect for both Christmas and New Year's, which means you don't have to redo your mani before December 31st.

Image via Bellacures

Holly Berries

These red berries are instantly recognizable and very festive. Pick any of your fingers to add these details to, or add a design to each nail.

Hi, Barbie!

Become winter Barbie when you adorn your nails in the cutest baby pink polishes out there. A lil' shimmer never hurt anyone, either.

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𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐦𝐲 on Instagram: "𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐋 ✨🌙☁️⚡️ @the_gelbottle_inc Biab 019 Bling Prepped with @officialnavyprofessional ________________ #hampshirenails #petersfieldnails #naturalnails #biabnails #starnails #celestialnails #thegelbottle #nailitdaily #nailpro #nailsoftheday #nailsofinstagram"

Celestial Nails

Deep gold or chrome is the perfect polish to take a simple starry mani to the next level. The key to painting clean stars is using an ultra tiny nail brush.

Emerald City

Deeper greens were made for winter nails. We love this divided design that also makes a play on French tips.

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Tip Off

A little goes a long way with these chrome nails. They have the classy feeling of a French manicure with the glam look of silver polish.

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Jewels And Gems

Faux gems and nail glue come together to add a 3-dimensional element to any manicure. We're obsessed.

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Diiamond Beauty I Micaela Santos on Instagram: "💗Pop Art Nails💗 . . #nails #nailart #nailsinspiration #nail #nailstyle #naildesign #nailsonfleek #popart #popartnails #newnails #instanails #graubünden #schweiz #stgallen #liechtenstein"

Pop Art Nails

If you want another element to your pop art nails, add a shape to one of your fingers — we love the detail on this heart.

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Candy Cane Lane

We'll literally always say yes to some cherry red nails, especially when there are candy canes involved.

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Taste The Rainbow

Who said Skittles nails were reserved for summer? If you're in desperate need of more color this winter, this mani is the way to go.

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Feeling Romantic

These chocolate brown nails are already looking towards Valentine's Day. Keep the base of your accent nail simple or go crazy with an unexpected neon.

Holly Jolly

If you just can't resist the Christmas holiday, opt for winter nails like these that channel ornaments and decor.

Classically Embellished

These elevated and decorated winter nails are giving everything they need to give for a classy NYE party.

Tag us in pics of your winter nails on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter for more inspo! And be sure to check out our podcast episode with Olive & June founder Sarah Gibson Tuttle for tips on DIY-ing your own manis and pedis.

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This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.

Nails breaking constantly? Wishing you didn't have to rely on tips at the salon? Desperate for that long nail look? You’re not alone. Despite it being used as an annoying and vapid phrase women would say in TV shows, breaking a nail is very painful and can ruin a (usually expensive) manicure. But don’t fret — we’ve rounded up five simple ways to get your nails to grow longer and stronger.

What causes weak fingernails?

Photo by cottonbro studio/PEXELS

But first, what causes unhealthy, brittle, breakable nails? A lot of factors that may not instantly come to mind. According to WebMD, these factors can contribute to weak nails:

  • Aging: As we get older, our nails get thinner and can crack or peel.
  • Harsh nail products: Both nail polish and nail polish remover can have strong chemicals that can damage and dry out your nails, leading them to break.
  • Wet nails: Consistently have your hands in water, maybe doing the dishes or bathtime for the kids? This could be drying out your nails.
  • Underlying health issues: Vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, and many other health issues could be the cause of nails breaking.

How can I strengthen my nails?

Photo by Karolina Grabowska/PEXELS

Dealing with some of these factors? While we can’t help you with the underlying health issues (please see a doctor if you think you may be dealing with something!), there are many easy things you can do to improve your nails and encourage growth.

  • Cuticle oil
  • Biotin
  • Diet
  • Nail protection
  • Avoid picking and peeling
Here's why each factor is important, plus how you can go about successfully achieving them.

Find a Cuticle Oil

You may only use cuticle oil when your manicurist applies it, but that doesn't have to be the case. Cuticle oils are an inexpensive and easy way to promote nail health and growth by keeping your nails hydrated. Cosmetically, cuticle oils encourage longer-lasting manis and leave your nails looking shiny and polished. But they do much more below the surface: cuticle oils create a healthier environment that allows strong growth for your nails.

Interested in adding cuticle oil to your beauty routine? Check our a few of my faves:

Photo via Cora Pursley/Dupe

Explore Biotin

Biotin is an important type of B vitamin that helps our bodies turn food into energy. It’s also one of the top recommended supplements for hair and nail growth, and for good reason. Many scientists say a daily biotin supplement can improve nail strength in as little as a few weeks.

“Since it is water soluble, biotin (or vitamin B7) can’t be stored in the body and must be acquired from diet or through supplementation,” shared Rachel Kilroy, Director of Product Innovation at Solaray, the original pioneers in supplement health and wellness. Solaray has developed a new supplement that provides biotin in a unique way.

Solaray’s Timed Release Biotin strategically supports nail health with a powerful 5,000 mcg of this important nutrient, delivering half of the biotin rapidly and the other half gradually over a period of up to 8 hours for sustained support,” Kilroy continued. “With consistent use, this vegan formula—lab verified for purity and potency—can provide comprehensive support for longer, stronger nails.”

Supplements not your thing? Biotin can be found naturally in many foods, like cooked eggs, whole grains, soy and other beans, nuts and nut butters, salmon, mushrooms, and cauliflower.

Photo via Daniella Cappellari/Dupe

Eat A Nail Friendly Diet

Nails require a balanced, healthy diet for proper growth and strength. According to Medical News Today, making small tweaks to your diet can make a big impact on your nails. Adding in nutrients like more iron or calcium in your diet will have your nails growing long and strong.

Dieticians recommend a colorful diet for nail growth consisting of colorful fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds, eggs, lean meat, avocado, sweet potato, and whole grains.

Photo via Sash Gabriel/Dupe

Protect Your Nails While Wet

Constantly doing dishes, managing bath time, gardening, or swimming? The water may be the cause of your breakage.

Your nails are like sponges, constantly expanding and contracting when water goes in or out of the nail cells. This can strain your nails, causing them to weaken, peel, and then break.

When possible, grab a pair of rubber gloves to wear while cleaning to protect your nails from the water and make sure to fully dry your nails after they’re in water. Hand creams are also a win for your nails after water exposure.

Avoid Picking, Peeling or Biting

Bad habits that are addicting. While peeling off your gel manicure can be so satisfying, it’s one of the worst things you can do for your nails. Same with constantly picking or biting your nails. As someone who used to constantly bite her nails down, I can assure you my nails are much healthier and stronger after kicking that habit.

Want to quit that habit? Try a nail bite deterrent, like this one from ella+mia or this one from LONDONTOWN and watch your nails grow before your eyes.

Looking for more beauty tips and inspo? Be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter for more!

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Header image via Laura Walt/Dupe

I've got a thing for Reese Witherspoon's book club which is why I couldn't wait to get my hands on Yulin Kuang's debut novel How to End a Love Story. Chosen as Reese's Book Club's May Pick, it features a romance that almost shouldn't make sense. I mean, when's the last time you realized you trauma bonded with someone? Except Helen Zhang and Grant Shepard's character arcs as well as the entire plot of How to End a Love Story doesn't even feel like that.

Instead, Yulin uncannily peels back the layers of what it means to be a layered human being who happens to be carrying trauma, talent, success, imposter syndrome, and burning desire in their hearts. Even that doesn't scratch the surface of who Helen and Grant are. Trying to capture their essence feels like I'm stumbling over my words which points to how great this novel is and that means Yulin's goal has been accomplished.

Though she loves perfectly executed rom-coms and is fortunate to be working on them in the filmmaking space, she doesn't consider How to End a Love Story as one. "...I was searching for something more aligned with the Brontë sensibility of romance in the writing of this book. Less warmth and charm, more id-level storytelling and unchecked carnal desire," she explains.

Yulin Kuang's Journey To "How To End A Love Story"

Image via Zach Wallnau

Some people seem to be born knowing they're destined to right, but some of us stumble into it and realize, "Hey, I'm pretty good at this." For Yulin, her journey to her debut novel How to End a Love Story takes the latter route. Her first dream, you make ask? To be an Olympic figure skater.

"...that didn't pan out so I turned to storytelling," Yulin admits. That pivot led her to set her sights on becoming an author as she began honing her creative writing skills via your classic marble composition notebooks. If you're still wondering if she kept some of them, the answer is yes!

The screenwriter and author then found herself drawn to other aspects of writing and film. She says, "I eventually fell in love with screenwriting and directing while in undergrad at Carnegie Mellon, and I spent my first decade post-grad concentrating on my filmmaking career."

Yulin Kuang's Approach To Filmmaking

It's a reason why her hard work and the stars aligned for her to adapt Emily Henry's Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation.

When I ask what helps her approach the book-to-film trajectory, she credits writing fan fiction. This feels similar to Christina Lauren's own experience, further proving that fan fiction deserves the utmost praise for helping some of the best literary and film minds who ultimately birth what I could only describe as masterpieces.

Yulin says, "Fan fiction is where I first learned you could play with characters originated by someone else to discover what you’d make them do in your own version." Although it would be easy for anyone to snap their fingers and have their first pitches accepted by everyone, she learned to lean on what writing fan fiction taught her.

"Early in my career, I would pitch on book-to-film adaptations and I’d be like, 'Change nothing, just shoot the book!' And I wouldn’t get those jobs, because I didn’t have a clear “take” and because you can’t actually just shoot a book – adaptation is an art form unto itself. So onceI started approaching adaptation with more of a fan fiction mindset – 'What is my take on these characters and this world?' – that helped me approach the book-to-screen trajectory more successfully," she proudly says.

However, this doesn't mean she never questioned if she could still find ways to create new ideas. "...in 2021, at a time when everything else I was working on was an adaptation, I found myself wondering if I had anything original left within me," she remembers.

It's natural for creatives to experience moments of doubt, but Yulin has been able to turn the tide and discover untapped ideas in her mind. Just don't expect her to set her own expectations about any adaptations she's working on.

She says, "Know that I am an avid reader of romance and a frequent consumer of this genre across mediums, and I will be bringing everything I know going into these adaptations. But more specifically to Beach Read, which I have more creative ownership over as the writer/director."

How Yulin Kuang Relates To Her Main Characters In "How To End A Love Story"

And since How to End a Love Story is truly Yulin's own creative body of work, it makes sense that main characters Helen and Grant have pieces of her personality as well as her characteristics.

"I gave Helen all my hopes and insecurities from high school and gave her the alternate universe path where I had pursued publishing instead of Hollywood. I examined what might have happened if I’d grown into certain qualities I’ve actively tried to grow away from," she says of Helen Zhang.

Right away, readers get the sense that Helen is a whip-smart and hardworking, but her penchant for being cautious about her success also peeks through. Though she's written highly successful YA (read: young adult) novels, Helen waits with bated breath for the moment people will call her bluff. She's relatable because many of us wonder if we're simply cosplaying as versions of ourselves who've reached any level of success.

On the other hand, there's Grant Shepard. He's seemingly this cool, calm, and collected screenwriter who has a complicated past with Helen. Yulin says, "I gave Grant a lot of the qualities I’m proud of and/or have coveted as a working screenwriter, and I certainly relate to many of his thoughts on screenwriting and the current state of our industry."

The more the reader learns about Helen and Grant, the more it becomes obvious that there's more to them than meets the eye. Sure, they are complicated...but who isn't?

"At their core, Helen and Grant are just two kids from Jersey trying to make it in Hollywood, and of course I relate deeply to that," she says.

Yulin Kuang's View Of Rom-Coms

Based on Yulin's genuine interest in romance novels and the fact she's well-versed in adapting them, she knows what it takes to make rom-coms flourish. Her first take? "Romantic tension is key to any romance – I always need to know why our couple can’t be together now. The second that tension is gone, so is audience interest," she points out.

This explains why we can't get enough of reading books about it, listening to albums dedicated to it, or watching films that depict all levels of romance. Still, there are some people who approach the genre with a side eye.

"There seems to be a natural human suspicion of things that make us feel too good – like, 'That can’t possibly be good for us, that’s just candy!' I wonder if it’s something evolutionary at work," she says before doubling down. "You can’t argue with the fact that people absolutely fucking love rom-coms, and I will die on the hill that a well-earned happily ever after is both harder to achieve and more narratively satisfying when it’s pulled off successfully."

She's the type of writer who really appreciates a big kiss that's handled correctly onscreen, but she's also not afraid to "groan every time it's fumbled." But, she knows everyone still won't see romance the way she and so many others view it, but she doesn't really care.

"Ultimately, I don’t concern myself too much with changing minds that don’t want to be changed.There are enough smart people who recognize the power and value of rom-coms, and I’d rather spend my precious time creating art to surprise and delight the people with good taste."

Need I say that this is yet another reason why How to End a Love Story works so well?

How Yulin Kuang Wishes The World Would Celebrate AAPI Month

As much as she's vocal about screenwriting and rom-coms, Yulin also has thoughts about the way society-at-large talks about BIPOC creative artists. "There’s a real, 'This is important, eat your vegetables,' vibe to things. And while that might be true, it’s not the most appealing way to market or discover art," she says.

She admits this could be due to how many diversity-in-film panels she's attended. As a Black woman, the conversations I see every year during Black History Month seem to have a certain "Let's check this box so everyone can be happy" vibe, so I can imagine attending panels about diversity and inclusion can start to sound repetitive after awhile.

Yulin doesn't hold back when she says, "I’m a little jaded when people ask me diversity questions at this point. I don’t want to attract the kind of readers who are only showing up to be supportive of my Asian-ness. It’s a bit like showing up to a date where someone says, 'I’m so excited that you’re Asian!!!'" This is an analogy I can so get behind because it makes a lot of sense!

It's one thing to have representation, but I like to think it's always obvious when people are approaching the conversation in a way that 'others' BIPOC people. We're literally not asking for a trophy, but more so an acknowledgement that we shouldn't be excluded from conversations, spaces, and careers or treated differently.

This sentiment is shared by Yulin who says, "That’s the thing about me that I didn’t do on purpose, and while I’m glad you’re excited, I hope there are things that I did do on purpose that you find exciting, too" and feels there is a way to be a genuine ally.

"...support AAPI creatives by all means, and perhaps begin by celebrating us as individual artists even after the designated month ends. And where applicable, talk about our work like it’s candy, not vegetables. I’d rather be irresistible than important," she states.

Take a page from Yulin Kuang's book and pick up a copy of How to End a Love Story today! You won't regret it!

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