Now let’s be honest, manicures can be pretty expensive, and with Christmas presents to buy, ain’t nobody got time for that. So, if you’re after salon-worthy nails at a not so salon price, I’ve got it covered. Julep have an enormous range of nail polishes so there’s something for everyone, and what’s even better is that you can get 15% off using your UNiDAYS® college discount. I have put together a step-by-step guide of how to get the ultimate winter mani. Here we go:

The Base Coat

I know everyone says it, but a base coat is so important. Why you say? Well for starters it protects, strengthens, prevents staining, helps to achieve true color, prevents chipping - need I go on? I love the sound of this Oxygen Smoothing Base Coat. In a nutshell, it allows oxygen to penetrate the nail bed and helps to mask ridges and imperfections. This will make the actual applying of the color a breeze, so I think it’s 100% worth it.

The Color

When it comes to nail polishes in the wintertime, anything that’s vampy has my name all over it. I fell head over heels at this Beverly Bombshell nail polish. Oh my word. How dreamy is that color? It’s got that vampy edge which I love but it’s still really feminine and pretty. This little pot of goodness could be yours for just $11.90 - what an absolute steal!

The Glitter

If we’re gonna do this we’re gonna go all out. Who ever said no to a bit of glitter? It is the holidays afterall. This beaut Bianca Bombshell glitter polish is perfect for jazzing up your mani.  Personally, I like to have a ‘feature finger’ (fancy, I know) and usually I add glitter to my ring finger, but if you’re feeling extra festive you could glitz up all your nails!

The Topcoat

As with the base coat, a top coat is essential if you wanna make the most of your mani. I could bore you with all the pros of wearing a top coat, but I think you’ve already got the idea. To keep with the whole oxygen theme, I decided to opt for this Oxygen Performance Top Coat - it does exactly the same as the base coat however it also gives your nails a glossy protective finish. I told you this was going to be salon-worthy.

The Cuticle Crème

The ultimate winter manicure wouldn’t be complete without a little bit of TLC for your cuticle would it now?  It’s so important to care for your cuticles because they can become dry and damaged just through day-to-day life, so injecting a little bit of moisture into them will make a massive difference to the condition of your nails in general. This ‘Your Cuticles Look Thirsty’ Crème not only caught my eye because of the (awesome) name, but also because it’s packed full of honey and shea butter. Can I have an extra large tub please?