Influenster Spice Vox Box Unboxing

I got another Influenster Vox Box! This time, they selected me for the Spice Vox Box.

If you don't know about Influenster, I'm pretty sure anyone can sign up and join. You then connect your social media accounts and answer some questions. Based on your interests, Influenster will select you to receive certain boxes and products and you are expected to test the products out and review them and share your thoughts on social media. Influenster will provide you with a variety of different options for how to share products on your social media. For example, if you get a hair product, or a makeup product, you may be asked to share a photo of you using the product on Instagram or tweet your favorite thing about that product, etc.

 If they think you'll be a good fit for an upcoming voxbox, they'll send you a survey. You'll answer the survey questions, and then they'll determine if you'll get the next box. If you are, they'll send it. You won't know what's in the box or what kind of products you're getting until the box arrives (so there's no way -- at least none that I know of -- to cheat the system and respond to survey questions in a way that would get you selected for a box).

OK, consider yourselves a little more informed. Now let's take a look at what I got in my recent Spice Vox Box.

Good Health Veggie Straws | SoapBox Coconut Shampoo  | SoapBox Coconut Conditioner |  Not Your Mother's Whip it Up Cream Styling Mousse | Sinful Colors Sinful Shine Nail Polish |  Foot Petals Give 'em the Boot shoe inserts | Boots Botanics Organic Hydrating Day Cream | Yogi Tea 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Additionally, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Manicure Monday: Sinful Colors Snow Me White

The first day of winter happened this weekend, allegedly. It was 84 degrees down here in Florida. Yes, that's gloating. Listen, we have a lot to be ashamed of down here, do you watch the news? Crazy crap is always going on in this state. But for the most part, we have enviable weather. Let me have that. 

Anyway, I've been wearing dark(ish) winter and fall colors a lot lately and I needed a change of pace. So, to commemorate the fact that winter is here, I opted for snowy white nails. Isn't it great how white polish works well in winter and summer? It pops against my (faux)tanned skin and then again when I'm wearing lots of darker clothes this time of year. 

If you want to wear this trend and do it on the cheap, check out Sinful Colors Snow Me White ($1.99 at Walgreens and Target). 

Sinful Colors Snow Me White (2 coats), Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat

Snow Me White is probably exactly what you'd expect from a white polish that's trying to mimic pure white snow. It's crisp, milky, and opaque. Because of that, the first coat might look a bit streaky. The second coat helped even things out. However, if you want to minimize streakiness the whole way through, I found using thicker coats worked best (just not too thick that will cause its own set of problems -- like a goopy mani that takes forever to dry).

While this might make it seem like a difficult color to work it, it's really not. It's pretty easy to get used to the consistency you need. After the first few nails, I'd figured it out.

I ended up with a pretty smooth looking manicure. But if you don't, just remember that a good, glossy top coat can help mask imperfections. No one will be the wiser.

Sinful Colors makes a great product at a bargain price. I suspect that Snow Me White is meant to be a close dupe for OPI's Alpine Snow -- although I don't have that polish, so I can't compare the two. Does anyone out there know? 

What do you think of using a winter white mani to bring some brightness into the season? What colors do you choose when you want a break from the moody fall and winter hues?

Drugstore Beauty Products I love vol.1

As a professed product junkie, you can imagine I've endured my fair share of trial and error with beauty products. Thank goodness for the internet and everyone giving their opinions because it's really helped me discover some gems, and even avoid some pitfalls. 

The way I see it, why not pay it forward? From time to time, I'll be sharing a post that will highlight some of my favorite drugstore beauty items. They'll range from makeup to nails to skin care and anything else under the beauty umbrella.

To kick this off, I'd like to share some affordable items that are usually on a pretty heavy rotation in my extensive arsenal. 

1. Yes to Grapefruit lip balm ($2.99) / 2. Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter - Peach Parfait ($6.50) / 3. Jordana Easyliner for Lips Retractable Pencil - Tawny ($1.99) / 4. L'Oreal Paris Infallible Eyeshadow - Iced Latte ($8.50) / 5. Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer ($6.50) / 6. L Oréal Paris Colour Riche lipstick - True Red ($5.99) /  7. Sinful Colors nail polish ($1.99)

Yes to... lip balms

I stumbled upon these recently at Target and I got one in every flavor. My favorites are the Yes to Grapefruit because I love the scent and Yes to Pomegranate because it has SPF (and smells good too). They also come in Yes to Blueberries. All three lip balms are buttery smooth and moisturizing and I love the new flattened packaging, as it fits comfortably in your pocket with minimal bulging (go ahead and laugh you dirty thinkers). Best of all, when I picked mine up they had a $2 off instant coupon attached so each one only cost me 99¢. 

Revlon Colorburst lip butter in Peach Parfait

Revlon's lip butters have enjoyed quite the rapid rise to cult status. Everyone who's tried them loves them. There's no shortage of YouTube gurus out there who've reviewed and raved about them when they first came out. I'll spare you the repetition. You can find these in a wide range of colors, depending on what inspires you. I'm here to tell you that Peach Parfait is the perfect every day color that will suit just about anyone. It's a pretty peach shimmer that deposits just the right amount of color. Swipe it on before work or school and keep it in your purse for reapplication later.

Jordana Easyliner retractable lip liners - Tawny

I have a hard time spending a lot of money on lip liners because I don't use them as often as I should. That's not to say I haven't splurged, it's just not as common. Jordana's retractable lip liners are awesome because they're creamy and soft (similar to a MAC retractable liner) and they're super cheap. They have a fair color selection that will work with most lip color shades. My favorite is Tawny. It's a great nude-pink that I use under just about anything. 

L'Oreal Infallible eyeshadow - Iced Latte

The entire line of these cream shadows is fantastic. They can be built up or worn sheer. I love Iced Latte as an everyday color. It's a shimmery champagne beige. You can wear it alone or over primer. Either way, you'll experience impressive lasting power. I reach for this color almost every time I do my makeup. 

Maybelline Dream Lumi Highlighting concealer

Anyone who asks me about my favorite drugstore concealer always get the same answer. I've gone through about four or five of these by now and I keep coming back for more. I love how this blends easily, comes in a good range of colors, is affordable, and conceals and brightens. It's not for concealing blemishes though. As the name implies, it will highlight them. I've heard people online compare this to the YSL Touche Eclat. I have not tried that concealer for myself because I like this Maybelline version so much, I haven't felt the need to be led astray.

L'Oreal Colour Riche lipstick - True Red

As a beauty blogger, I'm often asked about red lipstick. People are usually wary of this look and always want to test out a drugstore version before they invest. Getting the right color red can be tricky, especially when you're first starting. My suggestion, start with a neutral red (not too yellow, not too blue). It will be less likely to clash with your skin tone and you can practice until you get it right and get used to wearing a statement lip. My favorite is L'Oreal Colour Riche in True Red. It's got great color pay off, it's creamy, and it's affordable. 

Sinful Colors nail polishes

It's no secret I love these polishes. I've yet to buy one I don't like. I always get great color pay off and smooth application. And they have a pretty decent color selection. I love that they're less than $2 and often go on sale at Walgreens for 99¢. Great quality doesn't always have to cost an arm and a leg. 

What do you think of this first installment of my favorite drugstore beauty products? Are there any items you think should make the list? Do you want to keep seeing posts like this? 

Manicure Monday: Marshmallow & 24/7

Last week, I shared a little bit of nail art I experimented with and realized that I had never swatched some of the colors that I used in that design. Strange, considering I wear those colors all the time. How did they fall through the cracks?

Regardless, today I'm rectifying that terrible wrong and sharing swatches of two polishes I absolutely love: Essie's Marshmallow and Sinful Colors 24/7. Both colors are part of each brand's permanent collection, so if you like them, you can always get your hands on them.

Two coats of Essie Marshmallow and China Glaze Fast Forward top coat

I bought Essie Marshmallow to wear on my wedding day. I wanted something neutral, but I didn't want to go for the conventional light pink, nude, or french manicure. I also didn't want to wear something too expected, like blue (although I did wear baby blue on my toes). My wedding colors were black and white, and thinking that black nails might blend in too much with the black ribbon around my bouquet, I decided on a white manicure. That's when I started questioning what shade of white I wanted to use. I didn't want something too bright that resembled white out or freshly bleached socks. The hunt was on for a soft white. Something between conventional nude or the super trendy white manicure. That's when I found Marshmallow. I instantly loved it.

It's a little tricky to work with, but it's also versatile. You can wear it soft and gentle like I did for my wedding (pictured above) or you can layer it on and make it opaque (like I did here). Plus, it isn't boring and pretty much goes with anything. But, because it's a thin and milky polish, it can be streaky and you need to build coats to get it to be more opaque. Two coats can still look a little streaky, but a good shiny top coat will mask it. Three coats give you a completely opaque finish, but lessens its softness.

Two coats of Sinful Colors 24/7 with China Glaze Fast Forward top coat

On a completely opposite end of the spectrum from Marshmallow is Sinful Colors 24/7. It's an incredibly loud and in-your-face neon pink. It's so bright, it's practically highlighter pink. There's nothing neutral about this polish and it won't blend into a crowd. Like many neon colors, it can be a little streaky, but again, it's nothing a second coat and a glossy top coat can't even out.  I absolutely love this color and find myself turning to it a lot, especially during the summer. (P.S. Please forgive the stained fingers. I'd have a bit of a swatching fest, and the color before this one was green and left its mark behind)

So there you have them. Two of the polishes that inexplicably didn't make it into the Manicure Monday rotation until now. What do you think of these colors? Are either of them something you would wear?

Manicure Monday: Diagonal Stripes

Essie Marshmallow, Sinful Colors 24/7 & Ocean Side, Butter London Sprog, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip top coat

I've been trying to experiment with nail art more there days so that I can actually get more use out of my ridiculous assortment of nail polishes. Posting pictures of new colors every week means that a lot of time, I only get to use my polishes once or twice and don't get back around them because I'm busy swatching. Playing around with nail art gives me a chance to play around more with the options I already have. It's kind of like my version of fashion magazine articles that show 30 different ways to wear a handful of clothing articles so you can get the most out of the pieces in your closet.

Funnily enough, after putting this look together, I realized that I used two polishes that I've never swatched for you. So, I guess I'll be coming back to those and doing individual posts on them in the future. The best part is that both colors (Marshmallow and 24/7) are permanent colors, so you'll definitely be able to get your hands on them if you like them.

For this manicure I used a thin paint brush from the craft store that was super cheap, and swiped it diagonally across my nail once the base color was dry. This definitely takes practice! Shaky hands can make some wobbly lines. But the more you practice the better you get (you should've seen the first two attempts!).

Aside from needing to steady my hands a bit more (I'm not a surgeon for a reason), this design is relatively easy and you can easily customize it with different color combinations to keep it fresh.

What do you think of this look? Would you give it a try? What color combinations would you do?

Manicure Monday: Macbeth + Dupe Alert

During ULTA's 21 Days of Beauty event, I purchased my first Butter London nail polishes. Last week, I told you all about Sprog. This week, I'm showing you Macbeth, the other polish I bought from the brand for $9 (reg. $15). It's a gorgeous, bright orange-coral creme that's absolutely perfect for Spring (if you lean toward more brights than pastels) and Summer. I was immediately drawn to it.

Macbeth applies beautifully onto your nails. The formula is smooth and the finished polish is shiny and opaque. The first coat of polish is pigmented, but still mildly transparent but the second coat rounds everything out. I like it because the formula isn't too thick, like some lacquers can be, so it doesn't feel heavy on your nails but it still delivers great color pay off. The color you see in the bottle is what you get, if not perhaps just a smidgen more orange-red in the case of Macbeth but it still looks beautiful. 

Once I applied Macbeth, I noticed it really reminded me of another polish. In fact, it reminded me of one of my favorite polishes in my collection. Don't even ask me how I didn't notice this similarity in the store. Perhaps I was too excited about the great price to think clearly. Check it out:

So, if you just can't see yourself paying $15 for a nail polish, Sinful Colors Thimbleberry is a nearly indistinguishable dupe and it's only $1.99. And don't worry about quality. Sinful Colors makes a great product, on par with brands like China Glaze and Zoya.  As you can see from the pics, they are pretty much the same exact color. If you were to put a gun to my head and force me to find a way in which they were different, then I'd have to say Macbeth is just the slightest bit more orange-red. But I wore both polishes side by side, and I really had to try to make this distinction.

Do you like Butter London's Macbeth? Do you think you'd rock this hue more during the spring or summer? Would you spring the $15 or are you more likely to go to your local Walgreens to pick up Thimbleberry?

Manicure Monday: Subdued Polka Dot Mani

I'm still totally in love with my Essie Matte About You top coat and just love discovering all the fun stuff I can do with my nails by just using different finishes. Let's take nail art as an example. I think it looks really cute, but a lot of times, it's not exactly office friendly - at least if you, like many people out there, work in a conservative office culture. But using clear matte and glossy top coats to create nail art can give you the fun, funky edge you're looking for, while still being subdued enough for your serious nine-to-fiver. From far away, it will look like any other manicure. It's not until you get up close that you'll notice the fun and dimension it has. It's kind of the equivalent of wearing a really conservative outfit over some really fun and sultry lingerie. No one would ever guess you're wearing something a little racy underneath. Except, of course, a manicure is much more G-rated.

Today's manicure inspiration is once again Pinterest related. I saw this fun manicure and just had to try my hand at recreating it.

Photo credit

I love the matte and glossy black look of this mani, but I decided to try it. Instead of black, though, I opted for a deep charcoal grey. I wanted to keep the dark and fun feel of the manicure that inspired me, without copying it outright. To accomplish it, I used Sinful Colors Ardoise (check it out here in its normal creme glossy finish), topped with Essie Matte About You, and dotted with China Glaze Fast Forward top coat. 

Of course you can always make this bright and cheery as well by just switching up the colors. Here it is in purple, using Sinful Colors Amethyst.

P.S. - If you don't have a dotting tool, don't worry. I used this awesome tutorial from The Beauty Department to make my own dotting tool at home. Super easy and also a fantastic Pinterest find.

The Beauty Department

What do you think about creating nail art using different finishes rather than bold colors? Does it help make nail art more wearable for you? If you've been shy about nail art, would you consider wearing it now? What other matte-glossy designs would you consider trying? Do you have any favorites? Comment below and let me know!

Manicure Monday: Haute Rebel

There's a new Sinful Colors collection out on shelves these days: the Haute Rebel Collection. And it's all creme polishes (my favorite!). I happened to get four of the colors under the Christmas tree this year (thanks sis!) and thought I'd share them with you.

As always, I'm happy with the quality of Sinful Colors polish. The color pay off looks just like what you see in the bottle and often, if you get your application right, all you need is one coat. But I'm a two-coat girl so that's what you'll see posted here. Sometimes the lighter creamier colors can look a bit streaky on first coat but they even out after you get your second coat on. It will be like the streaks never happened.

The Haute Rebel Collection is a bit dark and well, rebellious. You won't find any pretty pretty pinks in this one ladies. But, don't worry, you'll still find some pretty rad shades.

Cool Gray reminds me a lot of Sally Hansen Wet Cement. It's a lovely cool heather gray. I love gray as an alternative to black nails. This particular shade is a bit light and not nearly as brooding as black but it's different and unexpected. 

Next up we have Mauve. But don't fret, this isn't your grandmother's murky dusty pink mauve. This is more of a cool lavender-gray shade. In my opinion, it's the furthers thing from safe, boring mauve. 

If you're looking to give your black polish a break, but want something that's still dark and edgy, give Ardoise a try. It's a gorgeous cool toned slate gray. Although it's quite obviously not black, it's still quite a bit rock n' roll. 

Just because this collection is a bit dark, it doesn't mean it's devoid of color. Mesmerize is a gorgeous grape purple with blue undertones. It's absolutely stunning without being overly girly and still remaining edgy and chic. I absolutely love this color.

Other colors in the collection include Rain Storm, which seems to be popping up in different collections as I picked it up when the back to school collections were out in the fall. You can check out the swatch here and here. It's a beautiful denim blue with a little grey in it, and in my opinion should become part of the permanent collection. I didn't pick it up again for obvious reasons. Haute Rebel also includes Inkwell (a beautiful deep purple that's so dark it looks black), which I can't find at any of the Walgreens by me, and Beau Khaki (if you get it, you're probably snickering), which interestingly enough is not khaki it's army green. I didn't pick up Beau Khaki because it just didn't attract my attention, but I'm still on the hunt for Inkwell. Maybe I'll get lucky.

What do you guys think of this collection? Which colors do you like the most?

Manicure Monday: Winterberry

There's a little chill in the air today in sunny Florida. It seems like hurricane Sandy blew the fall chill down our way. We usually don't experience this kind of chill until winter, skipping fall altogether. But, since it feels like a winter chill, I thought a winter polish would be appropriate.

Check out Winterberry by Sinful Colors. It's a pretty dusty/grey amethyst/purple polish with a silver shimmer finish. It's absolutely gorgeous. Winterberry was released with the Study in Style collection back in September, but I still see it, some Walgreens haven't sold out.

Two coats do the trick, and this time two coats are necessary. One coat can look a bit streaky, but once you apply the second coat it's perfection.

Winterberry reminds me of a Zoya Kelly and Sally Hansen's Grey Area - with a shimmer. In fact, it also reminds me a bit of Zoya Neeka, except Pinta's glittery shimmer is gold.

So, what do all these comparisons mean? Well, it's justification of course. Sure they look similar, but they're certainly not the same! And if you need more convincing, Sinful Colors polishes are only $1.99 so they are super affordable. The best part, they perform as well as the high end polishes that cost four times as much. If your Walgreens still has this color, I'd definitely pick it up.

What do you think? Do you like it? Do you agree with my comparisons?

Manicure Monday: Rain Storm

 

I'm on a bit of a blue polish kick. Last week it was Ocean Side, a pretty bright fall blue with a hint of dustiness to it that made it a great transition polish to come into fall. This week, as promised, I have a much darker and more fall-like color. Dare I say, I think it's dark enough that it could also work well in the winter, whenever you want to veer away from the black and greys an add a little color to your life. Rain Storm fits the bill and I just absolutely love this color. It's a beautiful steel blue. It has just enough of a grey tone that it lets the navy blue show through so it isn't confused with black. But it's still dark, so it's not screaming, "Look at me!" 

This polish is a grown up blue that can pull off a double-duty personality. It  would fit in nicely in a conservative office - giving you a little edge that still blends in well with you business attire. And it would look great on the weekend. No need to make a choice between an office mani and a weekend mani with this one. Rain Storm will take you from a Saturday night out with friends to Monday morning at the office without raising any eyebrows. 

It's funny, I just love my bright polishes when spring and summer roll around and have a momentary pang of sadness when I start to phase them out for fall and winter's darker hues. And then I realize that I'd just forgotten how much I love a sultry, edgy nail after so much fun gallivanting with the brights. But it's true. I love the mystery and edginess that a dark polish brings to any look. And since its fall, you know what that means for my polish... that's right, Zoya Kelly is coming back out to play.

And since I'm feeling a bit daring with my office-friendly rock n' roll blue polish, I'm going to go ahead and put this out there: I think Sinful Colors Rain Storm is the blue-based sister to Zoya Kelly. If you're a fan of Kelly's dusty grey purple, then you'll probably love Rain Storm as well. I have a feeling these two polishes will be competing for my attention. 

Incidentally, what is it with me and choosing to wear nail polish colors whose names so appropriately seem to go with things happening in life? I did my nails on Sunday, which started off and ended with some pretty fierce storms here in the bay area. Just a little something I've noticed.

Manicure Monday: Ocean Side

Happy Labor Day weekend everyone! Hoping everyone is enjoying a little time off and relaxing over the long weekend. Since this weekend usually marks the end of summer, I decided to sport a color that straddles the seasons. This pretty blue isn't as bright as it's spring and summer counterparts, it's got a tiny bit of a dusty quality (though not as dust-grey-blue as the color I have waiting in the wings for you next week). Plus, it's name, Ocean Side, is apropos for the weekend, seeing as that's where most people flock to down here in Florida for Labor Day weekend. I got quite a few compliments as I wore it this weekend too. This one's definitely a keeper. I'm pretty sure this one is also part of their permanent collection, so you won't have to worry about having a hard time finding it in stores.

As with most of my Sinful Colors polishes, this went on like a dream. It's opaque, pigmented, and doesn't streak. I'm wearing my typical two coats.

What do you think of this color? Is it dusty enough to still wear in the fall? It's a bit tricky to get into the fall spirit down here in the land of heat and humidity, since we really don't get much seasonal change. We tend to have to put a little twist into fall style to keep it bearable in 90 degree weather, which can make it a bit hard for me to let go of colorful polishes.

Manicure Monday: Amethyst

 

Here's a little change of pace for you: todays' Manicure Monday features Sinful Colors. Bet you thought Julep had taken over Manicure Mondays, huh? Well, not to worry. I like to venture from brand to brand. And, thanks to a Walgreens sale, I've got a few Sinful Colors polishes to share with you to break up the brand monotony. 

My Julep Maven box arrived last week, so those are coming too for your viewing pleasure. So essentially, my nail polish drawer is out of control. 

But let's talk about this gorgeous purple nail polish! I'm head over heels. You guys know I love a creme polish and I'd forgotten just how rich and gorgeous a deep purple could look. There was a time when all I ever bought was purple polish. In fact, I thought I had more purple colors because of this phase, But it turns out, I was seriously lacking in this department. I had to fix that and Amethyst did the trick. 

This polish is perfection ladies (and part of the permanent collection too). It goes on smoothly and evenly. One coat is all it takes to get the color saturation you see in the bottle.Yes, that's right, one coat. Of course, I still added a very thin second coat (because I'm a two-coat kind of gal), but I didn't need it. I love that Sinful Color's formula isn't super thin. It rivals pricier brands like OPI and China Glaze. 

It's a great transition color too. It's still bright and pretty for summer, but not so neon that you can easily wear it into the fall. I have a feeling this shade is going to get a lot of use. 

What's your favorite purple nail polish shade?

Manicure Monday: Easy Going

New week, new manicure. I just love the feeling of freshly done nails. Don't you?

This week I chose Sinful Colors Easy Going. It's one of my favorite nail polish colors. I'm loving white manis, as I mentioned when I was rocking Marshmallow. But Easy Going is white with a little twist, it's a creamy white with just the teeniest hint of pale baby pink. It's actually an incredible dupe for OPI Mod About You, which is quite a popular shade, as I understand. Just like Mod, this super creamy color is definitely a two coater. When you swipe on the first coat, it's super streaky. But don't let that scare you. The second coat evens it out and gives it a great finish. The difference? Easy Going will only set you back $1.99 at Walgreens. Now that's an easy going price indeed.


Plus, I think the name itself is a great way to start off the week. Perhaps I can make that my mantra, since I have a busy week ahead of me.

What do you think? Will you give this polish a shot if you are a Mod About You fan?

(Belated) Manicure Monday: Rise and Shine

Lately, I've been loving the gorgeous deep green hues I've been seeing on celebrities lately. Like the Revlon ad featuring Olivia Wilde sporting Posh on her nails. Such a gorgeous rich green, but not dark and fall-like. I was about to run out and buy a new polish when I found Sinful Colors Rise and Shine in my nail polish drawer. It's a fun spring green that is far from pastel. Its bright, rich, and fun. Not quite as emerald-like as Posh. Instead it's more of a shamrock green. A suitable alternative for the green trend.

Check it out here:

 

Nail Files: Spring and summer nail polish

For those of you who follow my blog regularly, you've likely noticed a sudden increase in nail polish- related posts. I've been on a nail polish kick lately. Spring is in the air, and now that open-toed shoes are back in regular rotation, the need for polished nails has suddenly doubled. Seeing as I change my nail polish regularly, a gal needs options. Plus, it seems that everywhere I turn there are fabulous bright colors out there for me to discover. I can't seem to help myself lately, especially since I'm finding so many great colors at reasonable prices. 

One color that's been grabbing at my attention for weeks, every time I enter a drugstore has been Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear in Mint Sorbet. I'd been resisting picking this one up because I kept thinking it might be too similar to China Glaze's For Audrey. But then I wore For Audrey and compared the two and realized it's not really the same at all. So I went for it. Mint Sorbet is a much lighter pale mint green. It kind of makes me think of mint chocolate chip ice cream, except if I indulge in this little treat it won't present itself on my hips. I love this color, though I think it looks better on my nails if they are shorter, and it may even be more of a toe nail polish for me than a finger nail polish. I think it will really pop against strappy sandals, espadrilles, and wedges in both dark and light colors. I'm a huge fan of the Xtreme Wear polish as you've likely gathered since I purchase colors from this line often. The pigmentation is great, the color applies smoothly, and the price is right. I pick these up at Target and Walmart for a mere $2.04, and have seen them at Walgreens for $2.99. Plus, I just clipped a coupon in last Sunday's paper for $0.50 off. 

Sally Hansen Mint Sorbet

Another fixation I seem to have lately is bright colors. I am certainly gravitating to colors that scream spring and summer, which is a huge departure from my normal affinity to dark, sultry colors. Specifically, I've been drawn to bright pinks, corals, and oranges. I haven't quite taken pictures of all my recent nail polish finds, but one of my favorites of late is Sinful Color's Thimbleberry. It's a gorgeous, bright coral-orange-pink-red (depending on the lighting you see it in). The photos I took don't do it justice, it's appearing redder than it really is on camera. It's a lot more of a bright orangey-red (leaning more to the orange side). When I go outside in the bright sun, it looks a lot less red and more like an orange-fushia. But when I took photos, even by the window, that didn't quite pick up. What I like so much about this color is how bright it is. It certainly does not go unnoticed, but it gets noticed because its so vibrant, not necessarily because it is obnoxiously loud. It's bright without being neon loud, and when I look at it I just automatically think of spending an afternoon poolside. It conjures up visions of beach balls, bright bikinis, beach towels, and summertime fun.  Perhaps best of all is that I've now discovered yet another brand of nail polish that I absolutely love. It is certainly not new to the market, but it recently dropped significantly in price. They used to sell Sinful Colors at the drugstore at a similar price point to China Glaze, OPI, and Essie, and now it retails for $1.99. The quality is fantastic; definitely professional grade. It has fabulous color pay off, the formula applies smoothly, isn't streaky, comes in an impressive array of colors, and boasts similar staying power to the brands with which it once shared a price point. I finally picked this brand up because I found a coupon for $1 off, which made it even more affordable. How great is that?

Sinful Colors Thimbleberry

Thimbleberry in sunlight

What nail polishes are you gravitating to this spring? Are you already stocking up on summer color too?