Customising your beauty routine is not a new idea. We have been doing it with our foundation by mixing in luminisers to add warmth or glow, or blending two favourites together to create a unique foundation base.
Lip colour blending is also a favourite beauty pastime. Start with a great base lip pencil like M.A.C Whirl and then layer up your favourite nudes. (My must-have mixture at the moment includes Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Enchanting followed by Bobbi Brown in Tawny Pink for a matte finish and then a slick of Victoria Beckham lip gloss.)
![Chanel’s perfectly blended Blanc White at the last Autumn/Winter 2017 shows.](/web/20170411033900im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/f/m/0/i/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gvfkzl.png/1491547050271.jpg)
But did you know you can experiment by layering nail polish too? We talked to nail supremo Jocelyn Petroni about her tips for this nail trend.
1. The latest nail trend is layering, where two separate polishes are layered one on top of the other onto the nail plate, to create your own personalised colour. The first layer of polish should be pigment rich and the second slightly translucent so the colour underneath comes through the second layer. Make sure each coat is dry before applying the next. I love layering nudes to create the perfect shade for individual skin tones.
2. I love Chanel's new Blanc White, worn for their Fall/ Winter 17/18 Ready-to-Wear. This white compliments all skin tones and its soft shimmer reflects light and gives the nails are natural glow. This is the perfect shade to layer over a pale matte pink polish or a donkey grey.
3. With any new trend short neat nails work best. A soft square shape is very current but be careful not to cut the corners of the nail's free edge when softening this square shape. Slightly soften the square shape of your nail by curving the free edge, but keep the corners neat and fairly sharp.
4. For toes, try one coat of an intense pitch black topped with a rich red.
5. The key to salon-perfect nails at home is a perfect polish application. Practice makes perfect, the more you paint your own nails the sooner you will master the art. You need to prep nails before painting. It is essential to remove excess oil from the nail plate as it prevents the polish from adhering to the plate properly, which results in chipped polish. Wipe the nail plate with polish remover before painting or at least wash your hands to wash away excess oils. This way polish can anchor to the nail plate and you'll have longer lasting results.
6. To get your manicure to last, always cap the free edge of your nails when painting and reapply top coat every day after they're painted. The topcoat acts as a protective shield and will wear down before the polish does, so the colour lasts longer.
7. Once you've had a salon manicure, keep cuticles neat by pushing them back in the shower. When you're soapy and wet your cuticles are soft and will push back with ease. Just use your thumbnail and gently push them back.