According to Foreman, not all nail files are created equally. "I prefer a glass nail file, since they are gentle on the nails, easy to clean, and will last a lifetime if cared for properly," she explains. How exactly should you file your nails? "Use one side to gently buff out ridges and the other to create a healthy shine."
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Heel lotion
Even if you've created pretty toes, cracked heels can ruin all of your pedicure efforts. Avoid this by using a moisturizing heel lotion. Foreman uses CND Cucumber Heel Therapy, $15. "It's light and absorbs into skin immediately," she explains. "You can put shoes on within minutes without the slip factor that happens with heavier creams."
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Vibrant nail polish colors
For Foreman, the brighter the polish, the better. Which is why her current go-to shades are Thakoon for NARS Nail Polish Collection, $18 each. "They're playful and modern," she says. "Plus, nails are the perfect place to experiment with trendy, seasonal colors."
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The best base coat
The key to creating a perfect manicure is a good primer. While no two fingertips are the same, Foreman swears Butter London's Nail Foundation Flawless Base Coat, $18, can fix any bumps, odd tints, or flakes. Even if you don't take care of your nails, or if your diet is off so that your nails have spots or are peeling, this product makes them look even and primes them perfectly for polish. "This base coat fills in the ridges and lightly camouflages imperfections, creating the perfect foundation for a flawless manicure," she says. Unlike clear primers, this base coat has a light nude hue, which allows sheer shades to stand out better when layered on top.
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The best top coat
The last step in every manicure is layering on lots of shine. Foreman has been relying on the cult classic Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, $4, for years. "It dries super fast and is the glossiest of all top coats," she says. "I won't use anything else on an editorial shoot."
Red Carpet looks are inspiring, but what really stirs up discussions in the Total Beauty office are the often-overlooked celebrity manicures.
Every morning we play beauty detective, zooming in on event photos, trying to figure out the exact lacquer shades and how to do the nail art trends A-listers are wearing. After all, while it may take a not-so-small miracle for us to look like Charlize Theron or Jennifer Lopez, we can try to imitate their nails and actually make some progress.
But here's some insider info: It takes more than knowing what nail polish colors to use to get a manicure that looks trendy and flawless. Celebrity manicurist and pedicurist April Foreman says the real secret is making sure these nail essentials are in your medicine cabinet. "The right tools will keep your skin soft and make your manicure last longer than it otherwise would," she says.
Foreman is no stranger to the Hollywood spotlight; she's been buffing and polishing the fingertips and toes of clients such as Natalie Portman and Christina Ricci for years. So when we had the chance to take a peek inside her mani/pedi toolkit, we couldn't wait to see her favorite nail essentials. Here are the must-haves Foreman says every woman should own.
