Nailing Down Health And Beauty

'Real Simple' Tips From Kris Connell

(CBS)  With summer creeping up on us, we all want our nails to look as good as possible. Paying attention to your nails doesn't have to be hard or expensive, and it's worth the small effort. Not only do your nails say a lot about you, but they also say a lot about your overall health.

Real Simple magazine's Kris Connell visits The Early Show to offer tips to keep your nails in tip-top shape for both the short- and long-term.

Tools To Own
Having the right tools will help maintain healthy nails. The following aren't fancy and they aren't expensive:

1. Lippmann Collection Smooth Operator nail file ($11, www.beauty.com)
   
   A double-sided emery board is a great multitasker. This lightweight board has four different textures, so you can file, smooth down ridges, and push back cuticles and buff.
   
   
2. Creative Nail Design Solar Oil ($9, www.creativenaildesign.com)
   
   This nourishing oil prevents peeling and conditions cuticles. Packed with jajoba oil, sweet almond oil and vitamin E, it penetrates skin and nails easily, softening your cuticles and making your nails more flexible and strong. (More flexible nails will recover from trauma, rather than break.)
   
   
3. Firoze All Natural Conditioning Polish Remover ($18, www.firoze.com )
   
   This is a gentle, acetone-free enamel remover, so you can easily strip your nails of color whenever they start to chip, or you're ready for something new. It's made of only natural ingredients, like corn solvent, soy and chamomile, and it conditions nails while taking off polish.
   
   
4. Cutex Growth Nail Treatment ($6, at drugstores)
   
   This clear base coat reinforces nails by coating them with soy protein, filling in ridges along the nail bed, and strengthening them at the same time. It's not made with formaldehyde or toluene, which are harsh and can be irritating to the nails. And for pregnant women who are concerned about such harsh chemicals, this is a great one since it does not contain these common nail polish ingredients.
   
   
5. Also a favorite is Neutrogena's new Instant Nail Enhancer ($7, at drugstores)
   
   It's perfect for women on the run. We don't always have time for a salon manicure, so this product offers the quickest and easiest way to get your nails looking polished and well kept. The clear formula deposits a subtle shine and dries instantly. It also strengthens nails and prevents peeling and chipping. And best of all, it washes away after a few days, so you don't even have to use a polish remover.