A Funny Thing Happened at the Eye Doctor

I went to the eye doctor today and noticed something. The doctor and three technicians all had beautiful fingernails. Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have paid any attention. Today, I looked down at my own fingernails and smiled.

Ever since I can remember, my nails peeled, split, and broke if I looked at them wrong. Somewhere along the way, I started paying more attention to taking care of myself—sleep, nutrition, weight loss, and yes, even my fingernails.

I Was Never a Girlie Girl

I was a teenager before I realized that I was not a girlie girl. Know what I mean? I didn’t spend hours in front of the mirror trying out makeup, nor did I have an extensive wardrobe to parade around in. For one thing, we simply didn’t have the money for such indulgences. For another, I didn’t have a female influencer in my life. My mom worked all the time, and my sister was much older and out of the house before I became interested in being a girlie girl.

When I took that leap into young adulthood, I started experimenting with ways to make myself more appealing to the opposite sex. My biggest problem then—and still today—is my skin.

Living with Sensitive Skin

I have extremely dry skin and an allergy to fragrance. I was limited to unscented products, and let me tell you, there weren’t many unscented products available back then.

I can remember lying on my bed with my arms stretched over my head because of a reaction to store-bought deodorant, trying to relieve the burning and itching. Cornstarch was my grandmother’s remedy, and that’s exactly what I used.

I love perfume. Chanel No. 5 was my favorite. Naturally, I couldn’t wear it because I would break out in blisters. I even tried putting it on my clothes instead of my skin. That didn’t work either.

Do you remember when department stores had women standing at the entrance trying to entice you to visit the fragrance counter? When I saw them, I’d cross my index fingers and jokingly shout, “Allergy! Allergy!” as I hurried past.

The Battle of the Fingernails

The only time I’ve ever had naturally pretty nails was when I was pregnant and taking prenatal vitamins. Otherwise, they split, broke, and were generally unhealthy and unattractive.

I tried the nail hardeners. Didn’t work.

I tried strengthening nail polish. Didn’t work.

Regular polish only highlighted how unhealthy my nails looked once it began chipping.

By that time, artificial nails were becoming popular, so I decided to give them a try. They looked wonderful, and I faithfully had them filled for a couple of years. Eventually, however, it became too much of a hassle to schedule appointments every few weeks.

When I finally let them grow out and peeled them off, I was shocked at the condition of my nail beds. One nail was so ridged that I couldn’t smooth it with a file. I thought they looked bad before artificial nails, but afterward, they looked even worse.

That was about six years ago.

An Unexpected Surprise

Today, my nails are lovely.

I give credit for my healthier-looking nails to a cream I’ve been using. I discovered a line of products that work through the skin rather than the digestive system. One of them is Nutra Relief Magnesium Citrate Cream.

Ironically, I wasn’t using it for my fingernails at all. I began using it for an entirely different purpose and discovered an unexpected benefit—stronger, healthier nails.

And here’s the best part for me—it’s fragrance-free.

The cream didn’t cause an allergic reaction, it helped with the reason I started using it in the first place, and over time, it improved the appearance of my nails. The ones you see in the photo are my own. Not artificial. No polish. Just healthier nails than I’ve ever had before.

Even my dry cuticles are healthier.

It’s Never Too Late

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that the only person I have to impress is me.

I no longer worry about keeping up with fashion trends or having perfect nails worthy of a magazine cover. I simply enjoy celebrating the little victories that come with taking better care of myself.

Who knew healthy fingernails would excite me?

If you’ve struggled with dry skin, brittle nails, or finding products that don’t irritate sensitive skin, don’t give up. Sometimes the things that make the biggest difference are the things we discover by accident.

And sometimes, living the good life is as simple as smiling at your own fingernails while sitting in an eye doctor’s waiting room.

Little Things Matter

Living the good life isn’t always about big changes. Sometimes it’s sleeping better, having fewer aches and pains, or simply smiling when you look at your fingernails.

Nutra Relief has become one of those little things that has made a difference in my life. If you’d like to learn more about the Nutra Relief product line and see whether it might help you, click below.