Sally Hansen Complete Care 7-in-1 Nail Treatment

This is the lazy home manicurist's best friend. And it means there's simply no excuse for rubbish nails, any longer.

Jo keeps a little bottle of Sally Hansen Complete Care 7-in-1 Nail Treatment on her bedside – and it's become her go-to, when she (increasingly) does her nails at home.

Seven actions? You bet: base coat, top coat, growth enhancer, strengthener, ridge-filler, brightener and ultra-moisturiser.

Too many salon manicures were really drying out Jo's nails, so she's initiated an oil treatment programme whereby whenever she does her nails, she removes polish last thing at night, then lavishes them with oil. (Pretty much any oil, actually.) Then next morning, when that's sunk in, a coat of this leaves nails shiny and protected. That night, she'll do a full-on manicure, using this as the first and last step – and is really seeing a difference from this regime with flaking.

It's enriched with avocado oil, sea salt, calcium and pomegranate extract, and really does fill ridges to create a smooth 'canvas' for polish. As a top coat, meanwhile, it offers excellent protection – and the shine really lasts.

We can think of at least seven good reasons why you need a pot of this.

Eight, if you count its reasonable price.

Sally Hansen Complete Care 7-in-1 Nail Treatment/£10.95 at boots.com