INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You can start out with 1 cup of exfoliant, or use 2 parts exfoliant to 1 part carrier oil. You can start out with to cup of carrier oil. The less oil you use, the more abrasive your scrub will be, and the more oil you use, the more moisturizing it will be. You can also use 1 part carrier oil to 2 parts exfoliant. Consider substituting your carrier oil with honey, milk, or yogurt. If your carrier oil is particularly thick, like coconut oil, you will need to melt it in a saucepan over a stove, or in a heat-resistant cup in the microwave. Use a large wooden spoon or a spatula to mix your ingredients together. The exfoliant will not completely dissolve, which is what you want. You will end up with a grainy texture. If you want your scrub to be more abrasive, then add more of your exfoliant. If you want your scrub to be smoother and gentler, then add more of your carrier oil. At this point, you can put your scrub into a jar, or you can continue adding other ingredients. If you choose to use essential oil in your scrub, you can add it now. Use anywhere between 5 to 10 drops. If you are using a small amount of exfoliant and carrier oil, then you may have to use less essential oil. If you are adding additional ingredients, such as honey, fruit juices, or colorants, do so now. For liquid dyes and food coloring, start with a few drops. Do not add too much, or else you risk coloring your skin. You want the color to the subtle and pale. For powder colorants and mica powders, start with a pinch or too. As with the liquid colorants, you do not want to add too much, or else you will risk staining your skin. For other ingredients, such as butters, herbal teas, honey, juices, and yogurt, start with 1 tablespoon, and continue adding more to your taste. If you are making a smaller batch, then start with a smaller amount, such as a teaspoon. If your scrub is starting to get too runny and lose its grainy texture, the exfoliant might just be settling. Give it a stir. If that does not help, you have added too many additives. Remedy this by adding in more of your exfoliant. Once you have finished adding your optional ingredients, such as essential oils, additives, and dyes, you will need to stir your scrub again to mix everything together. Once you have finished combining all of your ingredients, transfer your scrub into a container and store it in the refrigerator. You can use any container you want, as long as it has a lid. The best containers have a lid that either screws on, or closes with a latch.

SUMMARY: Put your chosen exfoliant into a bowl. Add your chosen carrier oil. Stir your ingredients together. Add the essential oil. Add everything else. Mix your scrub again. Put your scrub into a container.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Generally, to preheat your oven to 300F (148.9C), it should take about 15 minutes, though this time might vary depending on your oven. It's a good idea to start preheating first and foremost. This way you can prepare your squash seeds while the oven heats. Take a sharp knife and cut the squash so that you have access to the innards in the bulb of the gourd. The shape of your squash will dictate the best cut. In most cases, halving the gourd down or across the center will be sufficient. Then: Use a spoon or your hand to tear out the seeds of the squash. These will likely be slimy with gourd guts. Place the seeds in your colander. Once you have removed as many seeds from the squash as you desire, run cool water over the seeds in the colander to clean them. Use your fingers to remove any remaining gourd innards from the seeds. Then shake the colander firmly over a sink or drain to remove excess water. Many kinds of gourd seeds, including squash, cook faster on the inside of the seed than the outside. This can cause your seeds to blacken on the inside and negatively impact their flavor. Boiling will help your seeds cook evenly. After goo and pulp have been removed from your seeds, boil them in salted water for 10 minutes. While the seeds boil, clean your colander of any pulp or squash innards. When the seeds finish boiling, strain the water from the seeds with your cleaned colander. Lay out enough paper towel to accommodate your seeds on a flat, clean surface of your counter. Then, take your colander and carefully upend the seeds on the paper towel. After that: Take some more paper towel and pat the seeds dry. Some seeds may stick to the paper towel. Pick or knock these free with your fingers or a utensil. You can prevent seeds or seasoning from dirtying your baking sheet by lining the bottom of your baking pan with either aluminum foil or parchment paper. Once your seeds are dry, take a measuring cup and count how many of these are filled by your squash seeds. Remember this number, as you'll soon be using it to calculate the amount of oil you need.
Summary: Preheat the oven. Remove the seeds from your squash. Boil your seeds. Dry the seeds. Measure how many seeds you have.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Professional nail salons have the right equipment to give you a long lasting coat of polish. If you want a really long-lasting coat that doesn't chip, you can opt for a gel manicure, which uses a super hard setting type of nail polish that acts almost like acrylic nails. If you are very dedicated to having long nails, you can get acrylic nails, which are fake nails that are attached to your actual nails. These nails are very, very strong but they cost more than a regular manicure and are quite a commitment. Although there is a myth that you should soak your nails before a manicure, water on your nails will actually stop the polish from adhering correctly. This could cause your nail polish to chip off quickly. You also want to make sure there are no creams or lotions on on your nails right before painting them. This will also stop the polish from attaching correctly. More expensive nail polishes usually contain more pigment, fewer potentially toxic chemicals, and better brushes inside. That said, you don't need to spend $50 to get a quality bottle of nail polish. Balance your budget with your desire for a crisp and smooth manicure. Also avoid using quick-drying polish if you want to avoid chips. The formula of quick-drying polish, while containing the same ingredients as the regular, has different ratios of ingredients. This difference in ratio makes the polish more likely to chip. Don't use a 2-in-1 base and top coat. These will not work as well as a separate base and top coats that are each formulated specifically for their location on your nail. Letting each coat dry completely allows it to become hard and tough. Besides the possibility of messing up the previous coat, waiting for each coat to dry is an important, but frustrating, step in creating a lasting manicure. You will want to brush on at least 2-3 coats. Remember, you want to let each coat dry before adding on another. Begin your top coat by doing a small layer around the tip of the nail. Then, once that is dry, cover the whole nail in top coat. This will give the tip of your nails more strength over the life of your manicure. Apply a few layers of top coat if you have the time to do it. The top coat should leave a nice, smooth finish that will resist chips and snags.

SUMMARY:
Consider getting a professional manicure. Apply nail polish when your nails are dry. Use good quality nail polish. Use a base coat. Let the polish dry completely between coats. Apply several layers of polish. Apply a top coat.