"When everything shut down in March and it became clear that I wouldn't be getting a mani anytime soon, I was faced with the challenge of dealing with my nails sans gel polish for the first time in a long time. I decided to spend some time giving my hands and nails the TLC they desperately needed. Strangely enough, garlic extract can help strengthen your nails so they grow faster. The Côte Growth with Garlic Base Coat ($21) uses an odourless garlic extract that won't give your nails that weird yellow undertone that many growth polishes leave behind. I redid my mani once a week and used this as a base coat, and after a few weeks my nails definitely felt more fortified and less brittle." — Aviel Kanter, associate director, branded content