Red Carpet looks are inspiring, but what really stirs up discussions in the Total Beauty office are the often-overlooked celebrity manicures.

Every morning we play beauty detective, zooming in on event photos, trying to figure out the exact lacquer shades and how to do the nail art trends A-listers are wearing. After all, while it may take a not-so-small miracle for us to look like Charlize Theron or Jennifer Lopez, we can try to imitate their nails and actually make some progress.

Skip ahead to get the 7 nail essentials to get a celebrity-worthy manicure.

But here's some insider info: It takes more than knowing what nail polish colors to use to get a manicure that looks trendy and flawless. Celebrity manicurist and pedicurist April Foreman says the real secret is making sure these nail essentials are in your medicine cabinet. "The right tools will keep your skin soft and make your manicure last longer than it otherwise would," she says.

Foreman is no stranger to the Hollywood spotlight; she's been buffing and polishing the fingertips and toes of clients such as Natalie Portman and Christina Ricci for years. So when we had the chance to take a peek inside her mani/pedi toolkit, we couldn't wait to see her favorite nail essentials. Here are the must-haves Foreman says every woman should own.

Foreman says Dr. Haushka Neem Nail Oil, $39.95, is the MVP in her kit. "It nourishes and heals hands and nails like nothing else," she says. "If you had only two items in your manicure kit, it should be a cuticle oil and a glass nail file."

According to Foreman, not all nail files are created equally. "I prefer a glass nail file, since they are gentle on the nails, easy to clean, and will last a lifetime if cared for properly," she explains. How exactly should you file your nails? "Use one side to gently buff out ridges and the other to create a healthy shine."

Even if you've created pretty toes, cracked heels can ruin all of your pedicure efforts. Avoid this by using a moisturizing heel lotion. Foreman uses CND Cucumber Heel Therapy, $15. "It's light and absorbs into skin immediately," she explains. "You can put shoes on within minutes without the slip factor that happens with heavier creams."

For Foreman, the brighter the polish, the better. Which is why her current go-to shades are Thakoon for NARS Nail Polish Collection, $18 each. "They're playful and modern," she says. "Plus, nails are the perfect place to experiment with trendy, seasonal colors."