On a stop-in to Saks looking for Santa Maria Novella’s new Incense fragrance, I ran into the Hermès beauty counter. That was the first surprise. After passing on all the nothing news and nothing works, Olga reveals the just-released Spring nail polishes. I gasped as she pulled out one sprightly color after another. It felt like Easter forever. Baby blue, egg violet and that lite butter yellow had me at hello.

After mulling it over for a bit, even calling into The Magazine’s color expert, I passed. Sorry Olga, I have enough at this time and adding another nail color, no matter how gasp-worthy, is just not happiness this season.

If you are like me, then your vanity is covered with vernis that want some love. In this year’s ‘Spring-Summer Nails’, I use nail polishes from my collection that are going strong. These color combinations are sexy, cute and beautiful.

Paired with hand marma points, this ritual boosts the transformative effects of a mani-pedi.

The Editor’s nail polish collection includes a range of colors from purples to reds and metallics. (Image: AKJAM Publishing)

THE SCIENCE

Attention to Ayurvedic marma or TCM pressure points pre-manicure transforms inner beauty with a light touch. This talon exhibit is part of MoMA’s Pirhouette. “Money Manicure” was originally designed by Bernadette Thompson in the ‘90s for Lil’ Kim. (Image: Taken by AKJAM Publishing at the MoMA)

From February through April, I am into bare healthy nails to complement my Spring reset. The ones that get that natural shine. Quite opposite of the dried-out tips that scream of the nonstop coating habit. Ms. May come June wants doshic-loving color to match biding adieu to reset and bonjour to Summer. Most duos are tridoshic worn swirled, dipped or mono y mono for mani-pedi standouts.

Start the painting session by showing some love to oft-neglected nail marmani. Ayurveda designates the fingers as points for dosha-defining elements. From fire to space and earth, points on our digits connect to the inner beauty superhighway. Healing points on the pinky, index and thumb calm seasonal agitations like congestion and sinus headaches. Research at AKScientist found that index and middle nail disruptions coincide with definitive Pitta and Vata inflammatory conditions. Some TCM pressure points overlap or are adjacent to these marma points with comparable classifications. Attention to these areas with a nail-nourishing oil massage rounds out every manicure.

Pinky Swear on kanīshthika for cooling waters. (Film: “Opposite Sex”)

The pinky finger does more than test the waters. It regulates the water element within us! The arch at the nail root, where you find the cuticle and lunula, is known as kanīshthika. Ayurveda found that pressing lightly on kanīshthika benefits the heart in relation to Vata anxiety. Slightly to the left is the adjacent TCM point shaochong (HT-9) known for releasing heat, making the pinky marmani handy for Pitta, too.

Don’t point your Tarjani at me. Unless you want to be gone with the Vata wind. (Film: “Opposite Sex”)

Wave your finger in the air like you just don’t care. Tarjani and the TCM indication shangyang (LI-1) sit on the left arch of the index nail, where Vata’s air element (vāyus) resides. For GI tract issues or dry cough, attending to tarjani balances upward and downward vāyus.

A thumbs up to hasta kshipra for taking care of the fire. (Film: “The Women”)

Hasta luego to congestion with a thumb ride. Hasta kshipra holds energy for fire and relieves Kapha annoyances like sinus headaches. Sitting at the midpoint of the cuticle, it allows flow of prāna to the lungs and brain. Shaoshang (LU-11) is positioned one point left of hasta kshipra and treats Pitta heat.

Lunar White X Mercury Grey

Jin Soon’s Akoya and Mica from their Pearl and Tibi Collections, respectively.

Like a lunar eclipse, this sattvic-tamasic duo promises a not-too-proper seasons of sparkling glee. See how it looks with a glass of rosé- non-alcoholic or the real deal.

Ten Over Ten’s Barbie Collection Rodeo and Dior’s Metal Montaigne from the Editor’s vanity. (Image: AKJAM Publishing)

Orangey Red + A Particular Beige

Crush and Milieu from Jin Soon are described as “balsam flower petals” and “New Age nude”.

A pop and a bon mot. Poppy red adds orange to regular red that can go tip to toe with Park Avenue’s tulips. An irregular beige like Chanel’s Particulière instills earthiness of clay. This is a beautiful rajasic-tamasic pair.

Chanel’s Incendiaire and Particulière from the Editor’s collection. (Image: AKJAM Publishing)

The Blood of an Ox + Butter… Yellow

Georgette by Jin Soon and Rouge Noir by Chanel.

The ox blood from Fall/Winter is too good to let go and looks stunning in the sun. Paired with a beige butter yellow, it is perfect for garden parties and people watching on Lafayette St. Hold your drink with this one.

Chanel’s Rouge Noir photographs like that one character in A Simple Favor. This Gucci Cecilia Ivory is more a beige than butter yellow, but we are not buying another vernis. Close enough. (Image: AKJAM Publishing)

Sunshine Yellow x Real Orange

Tweety and Hope by Jin Soon from their Mamagami and Graffiti Art collections are described as “forsythia flowers” and “creamsicle orange”, respectively.

Talk about popping off! Let’s dedicate this one to Kapha. This rajasic duo makes the saddest hearts jump out of bed at the godly hour. It matches sunrise to sunset.

An old Chanel Giallo Napoli and rotating Hermès Orange Boîte from the Editor’s vanity. (Image: AKJAM Publishing)

Lilly Lilac = Metallic Rose

Jin Soon’s Birdie and Chanel’s Phénomène.

A little 5th grade with a mix of high school. When pastels get too boring for racy Pitta, she keeps her edge with this pairing.

Chanel’s Rose Fusion’s loveliness also does not photograph properly. They replaced this Purple Ray with Lilac. (Image: AKJAM Publishing)

Rich Green-ish x white Grey

Taking inspiration from Luis Barragan’s stones, Jin Soon and Suzie Kondi collaborated to create Piedra. The metallic green from the Editor’s collection is difficult to match, but Jin Soon’s “rich turquoise blue” Heirloom (bottom) and OPI’s “rich green metallic” Cos-Mo Money come close.

Manifest your way to the bank. This is reminding you to save money and use your existing stock of nail colors. The lightest grey makes this look like real money.

Chanel’s Frenzy and Alchimie from the Editor’s collection. (Image: AKJAM Publishing)

BOTTOM LINE

As much as a flash of polish reshapes one’s mood, enjoying what one has transforms daily outlooks. Unless you are a nail tech, constantly buying new nail polishes is pointless. Just because they made it, does not mean we need it. This carries more weight during times of global economic uncertainty, but should be considered during economic booms to maintain sustainability efforts. Happy money-saving dosha-loving nail-polishing!

Saks’ SMN stall did not have their Incense fragrance. This was not a surprise.