It seemed like a random pairing: Avocados from Mexico and Tips Nail Bar. I wasn’t sure what was going on but l immediately replied to RSVP. Who doesn’t love a manicure from my friends at Tips.

What is this Avocados from Mexico organization? Well, the APEAM (Avocado Producers and Exporting Packers Association of Mexico) is a non-profit organization that represents the Mexican Hass avocado industry. Avocados from Mexico is the group’s media arm that spreads awareness about the benefits of Avocados.

Before the polish application we were treated to an avocado hand treatment. This was the first time I’ve ever used avocado topically. l typically eat avocado (Love Guacamole!) instead of spreading it on my skin. The hand treatment contained avocados provided by Avocados from Mexico, egg white, rolled oats and lemon juice. The mixture was spread all over my hands and it soaked for 20 minutes. l liked the hand treatment. My hands were quite dry before the treatment and the avocado really helped in adding moisture again. I’ll have to try this again the next time I make guacamole at home.

Janine Falcon of Beauty Geeks talked to us about other avocado beauty treatments like the classic avocado mask and new things like an avocado oil and brown sugar scrub. You can find some more beauty treatments on missavacado.ca.

I was so very excited to get my nails shaped. The timing of the event was perfect as my nails were long. Luckily, my girl Melissa was my manicurist. Another bonus was the CND Vinylux polish.

“VINYLUXâ„¢ is a breakthrough polish system that endures a week of fashion perfection…without a base coat! Exposure to natural light secures the patent-pending Pro-Light technology, creating an enduring, long-lasting polish. While ordinary polishes become brittle and deteriorate over time, VINYLUX dries naturally to a flawless finish and strengthens its resistance to chips over time.”

Melissa used a dark grey colour from Vinylux called Asphalt as the base and paired that with wisps of Chanel Azure to create a dragonfly wing effect. It’s a beautiful design that is quick and easy for the amateur nail artist to master. It doesn’t really show up in photos that well, but it’s a really cool effect. I can’t wait to see how CND Vinylux stands up to the wear and tear of the week. The topcoat looks and feels gel-like. It’s quick drying too. The finish is shiny but it still doesn’t come close to Marc Jacobs shine.

Avocados you can purchase everywhere but so far I’ve only seen CND Vinylux for sale at Tips Nail Bar or online at Nail Polish Canada.