Unboxing: Ipsy Glam Bag July

Hello everyone! I've been lazy about posting lately. Consistency seems to be my Achilles heel. I vow to do better, but then I just go back to my evil ways. I'm working on this.

But, I'm back again. So let's not dwell on the past and enjoy the right now. Let's dive in to see what I got in my July Ipsy Glam Bag -- because getting a beauty surprise in the mail for $10/month is fun. You know you love it.

Oh, let's get little disclaimers out of the way too:

• I pay for my Ipsy subscription out of pocket. That means this video is not sponsored and the items received were not press samples. 
• You too can join Ipsy and get your own little monthly beauty surprise. For $10 (+ tax)/month you get five (5) personalized beauty samples. They typically include at least one full-size product and the samples received are deluxe size (typically travel size actually). What does that mean? You get more than $10 worth of product and the samples are big enough to get several uses out of each product (so you know whether or not it works for you). 

Alright, now we can carry on with the fun stuff. Enjoy!

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “referral links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a referral reward (e.g., earn points that can be applied for discounts or add ons to future purchases). 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: Pure Ice It's Complicated

Press Samples

Happy Monday! My birthday is this week, which means this weeks' mani has to be a little festive. Since I received a fun glitter polish in my recent Influenster Viva Voxbox, it all worked out perfectly.

I layered Pure Ice's It's Complicated over Zoya's Jacqueine so the glitter would look like fun confetti over frosting. I don't know, that's just what it makes me think of.

Seche Clear base coat, Pure Ice It's Complicated (1 coat), Zoya Jacqueline (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Pure Ice polishes are available at Walmart and retail for $1.69. It's Complicated is a multi-color glitter polish with chunky octagonal glitters and smaller micro-glitter. Like many glitter polishes, it can be tricky to work with to get full coverage. However, layered over another color, you can get decent glitter pay off if you follow this chunky glitter application method that I learned from Cristina over at Let Them Have Polish. If you just try to swipe it on like you would regular polish, then the glitter pay off is pretty sparse. 

If you love all things glitter, perhaps give this one a go. I wasn't personally blown away, but I'm also not super crazy about glitter polish. I really have to be in the mood for it -- and even then, sometimes my enthusiasm wanes after a few hours.

I was much more impressed by the creme polish (After Hours) I received in my Influenster Voxbox along with this one. Creme finish polishes are my jam.

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. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for 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: Pure Ice After Hours

Press Samples

As you may remember, I got a couple of nail polishes in my Influenster Viva Voxbox recently. They were from the brand Pure Ice, which is actually new to me. I don't have any of their polishes in my collection. But a quick web search, let me know that this brand has more than 100 colors to choose from! They're available at Walmart and retail for $1.69 (this explains why I haven't come across them before, as I'm a bit of a Target snob). 

I was immediately drawn to the shade After Hours. The color reminds me of one of my favorite summer polishes: Sinful Colors Thimbleberry (and Butter London's Macbeth if you want to shell out more money). It's not exactly the same, but it's very close. After Hours is just a touch more red. 

Seche Clear base coat, Pure Ice After Hours (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Formula wise, I was pretty impressed. I wasn't sure what to expect from the brand, since I'd never tried it. It was thin and easy to apply over my nails without being overly watery or streaking. It also had nice pigmentation. I could've stopped at one coat if the formula was a bit thicker. But since it's on the watery side, I added the second coat to make my manicure more chip resistant. Plus, adding that extra coat made it a little more vibrant. 

I also got pretty average wear from it. It lasted four days before any large chipping. Before that, there was only a little tip wear. Keep in mind, those were four days of being gentle on my hands -- less typing, dish washing, etc. I always get a day or so more wear on my polish on gentle-hand days.

All in all, this seems like a nice brand. And at the price point, I may just need to brave a Walmart to grab a few more colors.

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. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for 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: Wet n' Wild On a Trip

I've been particularly drawn to all things orchid/radiant orchid lately and I find that I'm mostly taking the trend to my nails.  There are just so many options out there and I feel the need to share as many of them as I can (or can keep going out to purchase) with you.

Today's manicure brings you a super affordable drugstore option from Wet n' Wild called On a Trip. This shade isn't exactly a true radiant orchid hue, since that's much more fuchsia. But it definitely falls in the orchid shade family along the violet/lilac (haha! All shades named after flowers) side of the spectrum.

Bloggers have been going on and on about Wet n' Wild polishes and I just hadn't gotten around to purchasing one. I'm a little late to the party, but I can see what all the fuss is about now.

I'm rather fond of this polish and have been wearing pretty regularly since I purchased it. Look at how pretty it is. (Pardon the bubbles on my index fingers, I think I applied too thick of a top coat.)

Seche Clear base coat, On a Trip (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

The formula for On a Trip is quite nice. Thin but not sheer and easy to work with -- no streaking at all. You get a nice opaque color with the first coat, but it looks like only once coat, so you'll definitely need to layer on the second coat so it doesn't look so thin. Not a problem for me since I'm a bit of a neurotic two-coat type of gal. I get a lot of compliments when I wear this color and people are usually pretty surprised to find out it's a drugstore cheapie (only $1.99, but I paid 99¢ during a sale). I can't say why anyone is so surprised by good quality polish at the drugstore anymore since there are so many great options. Nonetheless, it still happens. 

I get pretty decent wear out of it too. I can go four to five days sans chips on days when I'm gentle on my nails. But on regular weeks, when I'm not so gentle (read: dishes, prying open makeup packaging, heavy typing, workouts, etc), I get pretty average wear - usually about three days. 

The only thing I don't like is the wide brush, which I decided to overlook in favor of the gorgeous color. I know a lot of you out there love those wide brushes, but I'm not a fan. I find I need to do more clean up and have less control over color placement. I just prefer a thinner brush. But clearly, a wide brush isn't a total deal breaker for me, as long as the color and polish formula are good. 

Are you a Wet n' Wild nail polish fan? What do you think of On a Trip? Any other colors you like from this line? 

Autism Awareness with Sally Hansen Pacific Blue

Since April is Autism Awareness Month, my fellow Central Florida Beauty Bloggers have decided to dedicate this month's beauty link up to something blue (hmmm, could be a great theme if we ever do a wedding beauty link up, no?)

I've defaulted to nails again because, I've got a lot of blue nail polish and not a lot of blue makeup. It was a toss up, my go-to blue eyeliner bit or some fun polish. I thought this design was a bit more fun.

To show some support for autism awareness, I chose one of my favorite drugstore blue hues: Sally Hansen Pacific Blue. Just look at it, does it need much justification? I love a pretty cobalt blue. I've actually read somewhere that cobalt blue actually helps lift your mood. I don't know if it's true. I mean, I probably read it on the Internet somewhere. And who knows if it was scientific or how reliable the source was? But I liked it. So I'm repeating it (try not to come after me with pitchforks for that one). Plus, cobalt blue makes me happy, so there's that.

Seche Clear base coat, Sally Hansen Pacific Blue (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Aside from it's questionable ability to enhance your mood (OK, now it sounds like a drug -- do not ingest your nail polish, please), this polish is absolutely fantastic. First of all, it's less than $3. In fact, I'm pretty sure I paid less than $3 with tax included back in the day when I got it (about 3 years ago). 

Second, the formula is amazing. Completely opaque after one coat. Not too watery or too thick (Goldilocks' favorite porridge). And super easy to work with. No streaks. No globs or goop (and this is a 3 year old bottle might I remind you). If you didn't know it was a drugstore cheapie, you'd never guess it on your own. 

Accent nail: Zoya Blu (base color), Sally Hansen Pacific Blue + OPI Don't Know Beets Me as the marble colors

If you'd like to learn how to recreate your own marble nail art, check out this video from Young, Wild & Polished. It's the one I used to create this look.

An InLinkz Link-up

Manicure Monday: Revlon Plum Seduction

Starting off the week with another manicure. Since radiant orchid is the it color this year, I've been finding quite a few different options out there to fulfill the trend. Today, I'm happy to share a drugstore option for you in Revlon's Plum Seduction nail enamel ($6.99 each). 

Seche Clear base coat, Revlon Plum Seduction (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

This gorgeous polish is a pretty and tastefully bright shade of fuchsia-magenta. I say fuchsia-magenta because in person it has just the slightest bit more purple than a typical fuchsia. It actually reminds me a bit of Zoya Charisma, except this doesn't dry down to a matte finish (it looks similar if you put a shiny top coat on Charisma). 

Given my love for bright pink (and fuchsia) manicures (and lips), it's no surprise I'd be drawn to this shade. But what I'm totally psyched over is the fantastic formula. Revlon's Plum Seduction offers a thin, water-like, consistency with fantastic color pay off. Even though the formula is thin, one coat was totally opaque. I added the second coat because I always do, but also because even though one coat was opaque, it felt very thin, which made me think it would chip easier on its own. I experienced zero streaking and the polish spread easily over my nails. It's pretty much incredibly easy to work with. 

This is my second Revlon nail enamel and both experiences I've had with this brand have been very good, which demonstrates you can get quality and stay on trend without breaking the bank. 

What are some of your favorite radiant orchid nail polish shades from the drugstore? 

*This item was purchased with a gift card provided by company representatives. All opinions are strictly my own. 

Manicure Monday: Mani Favorite OPI Mod About You

When you're constantly testing out new nail polish colors, you end up neglecting some of your tried and true favorites. Sometimes I talk about how some colors look like the shades I turn to most often, but funnily enough, I haven't actually shared some of those polishes with you. Too busy swatching all the new colors I get my hands on.

So, I'm starting a new Mani Monday type post. It'll be the same as any other manicure sharing post, except, we're going to call it the Mani Favorites. In these posts, I'll share some of my favorite nail polishes -- even if they're not the newest, freshest, just-released colors.

I've done that from time to time already. But from now on, I'll go ahead and label them as such, if only to give them the bit of extra praise I think they deserve.

One of my main faves is OPI's Mod About You. It's just one of those fun pinks I can't get enough of. I mean, just look at it's super pale, creamy goodness.

OPI Nail Envy base coat, OPI Mod About You (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

This is one of those colors I reach for again and again. I love the shade, which I think is aptly named. I could totally see this shade as a lipstick on a mod-inspired shoot. The formula isn't the most awesome on Earth, but only because these milky, creamy, light shades have a tendency to streak a bit. But don't fret, that second coat evens it all out and you end up with a pretty awesome manicure afterwards. 

You'll find this shade most often on my toes, since I'm constantly swatching new colors on my tips. But whenever I get that feeling, it goes right on my fingers so everyone can see it. There's always a bottle of Mod About You on the polish rack at the ready for me. Definitely one of my favorite baby pinks. What are some of yours? 

Manicure Monday: L'Oreal Gold Dust Collection Sexy in Sequins on Target Clearance

Hey there! Welcome back from the weekend. I'm excited to share a little news with you. I was perusing around Target last night and stumbled on a fun clearance find: all of the Gold Dust Collection is marked down. That's right. Do that little dance you do in your head when you find a bargain.

I'd been toying with whether I should buy any of those for a while, and kept looking longingly at Sexy in Sequins, but I hadn't pulled the metaphorical trigger. I'd heard Nicole over at Young Wild and Polished rave about it a lot. I don't know why I kept hesitating. That clearance sale was a little nudge from above, "It's OK, get another nail polish. You know you want it."

I did. And I'm glad I succumbed.

This textured polish is sparkly and pretty.  Just look.

OPI Nail Envy base coat, L'Oreal Sexy in Sequins (2 coats)

As you can see Sexy in Sequins is a textured polish. If you're not into this trend, move it along. Nothing to see here. If you still haven't jumped on the bandwagon but you're curious, run thy behind to Target and get this before it's gone. I think you'll like this one. 

So here's the skinny. Sexy in Seqins is a deep Amethyst purple polish with with purple and gold glitter. It dries down to what I like to call a fashionable gum drop -- if a gumdrop were to dress up for a night out on the town.

If you're not used to textured polish, it feels a bit different going on. There's definitely some grit (to be expected). But L'Oreal did well with its formula because it applies easily. You'll need to use thicker coats so you don't end up with "bald" patches, but that's essentially the case for this type of finish.

The only negative thing I have to say is that it feels like it takes forever to dry. That's less of a ding against the polish and more of an eye opener for how co-dependent I am with my fast-drying top coats.

Well, there you have it folks, a non-green themed manicure post for you on St. Patrick's day.

Are there any Gold Dust Collection polishes you still want to get your hands on that you'll be visiting Target's clearance section for?

St. Patrick's Day Retro Nail Art

Fellow Florida beauty blogger Eugenia (of Geniabeme.com) challenged some of us beauty bloggers to come up with a St. Patrick's Day themed post for her link up. We could blog about anything green. And since I've been toying around with nail art lately, I decided, why not create another green manicure to show you?

I was staring at my collection and really wanted to do something with chartreuse. Combining different shades of green I ended up with this look, which has a bit of a retro theme to me. The color combination looks like something from the wardrobe department on That 70's Show, doesn't it?

All you need are three shades of any color, tape, and a little patience. I applied two coats of a chartreuse nail polish (it was a travel bottle and the brand name has rubbed off by now), waited 20 minutes for it to dry. Then I took tape, cut a slight curve along the edge. Placed it on my nail, and painted the next color onto my nail -- removing the tape immediately while the polish is still wet for cleaner edges. Wait another 15 minutes for polish to dry. Repeat with next shade of green. Repeat on all nail (or just do an accent) and finish off with glossy top coat.

For this manicure I used Revlon Posh (middle shade of green) and Zoya Shawn (dark forest green). There's no way anyone can pinch you come Monday if you're wearing this on your nails!

My nail art still needs more practice, but I'm having fun attempting it. What kind of fun green manicure will you be wearing to celebrate on Monday?

An InLinkz Link-up

Manicure Monday: Cult Nails Morning Glory

It's official. I've caught the spring bug. I've somehow convinced myself that if I wear warm weather manicures, spring will get here sooner. Don't ask how I assume this will happen. But it seems to be working down here in Florida. We had a lovely weekend. It must be my nails. Don't try and tell me otherwise.

I've enlisted the help of my Cult Nails polish in Morning Glory to keep the speed train to spring going full steam ahead. Because, let's face it, it wouldn't be right if I didn't start obsessing over pink nail polish again. I mean, c'mon, we know I can't resist a good pink (in all of its various forms and shades).

OPI Nail Envy base coat, Cult Nails Morning Glory (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Alright, so here's the deal. You're gonna be mad at me. But I got this polish ages ago (way back in September at The Makeup Show Orlando) and then got all busy swatching fall and winter colors that I neglected to swatch this gorgeous polish while it was still available. Shame on me. I know. 

As you might've guessed, Morning Glory was a limited edition shade. And from the looks of it, they're all gone. But I need to share it's gorgeousness with you anyway. It's too pretty not to talk about  -- at least for a day. Indulge me why don't 'cha. 

If you haven't tried Cult Nails polishes, you're seriously missing out. This indie brand has some fantastic colors and the polish quality is quite nice. Plus, Maria, the owner, is super sweet. So, bonus points there.

Morning Glory is a gorgeous fuchsia polish (we should know by now fuchsia makes me weak in the knees) with some serious color pay off. It's quite possible this most opaque fuchsia I've ever handled. One coat delivers all the color you need. But, since I'm greedy and a creature of habit, I still did two coats. Because if one is good, two is better, right? Yes. Yes it is.

It was also pretty easy to handle. No streaks. No goopy tar-like feel. No struggle. It applied and spread very easily. One thing to note: mine dried down to a matte finish (similar to Zoya's Charisma -- but a deeper fuschia). When it comes to fuchsia polish, I like a glossy finish. A matte fuchsia looks a little flat and not as vibrant to me. I prefer a glossy candy coating.  Once I applied Seche Vite top coat, all was right in the world again.

I've gotta admit, I keep glancing down and admiring my nails as I type this post (and as I was working today too). This is one of those colors that vibrant and fun, but still office friendly (for those of you in conservative day jobs).

Do you have any favorite fuchsia polishes? Anything that looks similar to Morning Glory?

Manicure Monday: Green Ombre Nails

It's March! That means spring is almost here! And, since we're in Florida, it's pretty much here already. Thank goodness because I was ready to put a little spring on my tips.

To celebrate the impending arrival of warm weather and open-toe shoes, I decided on a green themed manicure. After all, it's appropriate for the season. But I couldn't just pick one green polish. Nope, I had to try my hand at an ombre manicure.

OPI Nail Envy base coat, China Glaze Re-fresh-mint, Julep Daphne & Revlon Posh nail polish, Seche Vite top coat

I used the the makeup sponge method to achieve an ombre look. Here's a photo tutorial on the makeup sponge method so you can try it out for yourself.  

First, I laid down my base color, which was China Glaze Re-fresh-mint. Then, I applied Julep Daphne and Revlon Posh to a makeup sponge and stippled them on my nails. I definitely still need to practice to perfect the application. But it's definitely an easy way to try out this trend. 

A word to the wise, you'll be doing a lot of clean up with this method (you'll get nail polish on your fingers with the sponge). So learn from my mistake and place tape around the perimeter of your nail to help catch some of the polish. You'll still need to do some clean up, but the tape will reduce it by a lot. 

What kind of beauty trends are you introducing back into your routine to welcome (or maybe even speed along) spring's impending arrival? 

Manicure Monday: Milani Power Periwinkle

You guys. Spring is almost here! I'm so excited. Mostly because it means the return of colorful polish. You guys know I have a weakness for fun colors. Fall and winter brought us some beautiful deep hues. But I'm a spring and summer polish girl through and through (the wall of polish doesn't lie folks). Maybe it's because down here in Florida it's hard to get into the fall and winter spirit. The weather doesn't really set the tone.

As sultry as my dark polishes are, I'm ready for pastels and brights.

Since I've been craving color and hearing good things about the Milani polish line, I decided to snag Power Periwinkle from the collection because, I love Periwinkle blue. How can you not? It's like a nice mix of bright and pastel all rolled into one.

OPI Nail Envy base coat, Milan Nail Laquer Power Periwinkle (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Believe the hype out there, friends. This drugstore polish is quite the unsung hero. First of all, can we just take a moment and admire the color? Isn't it pretty? It's OK if you swoon. I'm totally smitten with it and can't wait to do a few fun nail designs with it too. It's such a fun color, I think it will lend itself well to a little nail art. Now that we've established how awesome this color is, let me drop a little knowledge bomb on you: They have a whole array of other hues that are just as exciting. Is your heart racing yet? I know. Eep!

Best of all, they're easy to access and priced fairly. I picked mine up at CVS for $5.49. Also, they've got a nice color selection that includes some trendy hues. 

The formula is particularly nice. I experienced phenomenal color pay off. Two coats look perfect. But, if you're so inclined, you could get away with just one. It was just the slightest (almost not even worth mentioning) bit thick, but it was not gooey or difficult to spread. 

I'd also like to take a moment and thank the nail polish gods, because the brush isn't huge. I absolutely loathe the fat brush craze. I really really do. It's so much harder to control application when you're dealing with a big thick brush. I know some people love them, I'm just not a part of that circle. I get a cleaner mani with a normal-sized brush. I just end up making a mess with the thick brushes. It's just my preference folks. 

I'm really happy with this polish and already itching to go back to CVS to pick up a few more colors. 

Have you tried Milani polishes yet? How do you feel about Power Periwinkle? What colors would you pair it with? I'm thinking a little coral, pink and white might make a fun combination. 

Manicure Monday: Zoya Does Radiant Orchid

Just last month, Zoya held an awesome offer. They basically had an offer code that got you three free nail polishes. All you had to do was pay for shipping.  I was almost going to pass up this offer -- trying to be all rational because my wall-o-polish is getting a bit full (some might even say out of hand, but no one is listening to them). And then Zoya posted a photo of three polishes I couldn't resist. Those slick little fairies. They got me.

Oh who am I kidding? I was looking for a reason to give in to the offer. The fairies obliged.

So, what the heck did they post that sent me into a purchasing tail spin? Suggested polishes for the pantone color of the year: radiant orchid.

I couldn't resist.

The three colors they suggested were Perrie, Dannii, and Blyss. Let's take a look.

OPI Nail Envy base coat, Zoya Perrie (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Let's start out with Perrie. We all know I have special place in my heart for a creme polish. Perrie had my heart fluttering the second I applied it. It's such a pretty shade -- a soft, glossy lavender hue with just the slightest hints of pink that resembles the lighter shades you'll see in a violet orchid. 

The polish has a nice formula: opaque in one coat, smooth application, and a glossy finish. It's pretty easy to work with. Overall this shade is pretty and girly and will look nice practically everywhere you wear it without being boring. I caught myself admiring it more often that I care to admit. 

OPI Nail Envy base coat, Zoya Dannii (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

If metallic polishes are more up your alley, Zoya Dannii could satisfy your radiant orchid needs. It's a beautiful medium lavender-purple with loads of pink and champagne shimmer that give it a rosiness in certain light. It's absolutely fantastic. The super glittery, shimmery effect makes this a fun weekend polish in my book. It's not exactly buttoned up and conservative. 

The formula is also rather nice. It's super opaque with one coat. We all know I always apply two, but if you're so inclined, you can skip it. It also goes on streak free and doesn't feel goopy. I was also happy to find it's easy to remove. Sometimes when polishes have a lot of shimmer, it can be a bit more trouble to get them off, but that wasn't the case with Dannii. 

OPI Nail Envy base coat, Zoya Blyss (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

If you prefer the pink version of radiant orchid, then don't fret. Zoya Blyss is on deck to satisfy you. This stunning magenta pink polish is bright and cheerful. It has a beautiful shimmer finish that lends it the slightest bit of a blue-purple hue in a certain light. You'll get mostly pink and bold from the polish, that little bit of blue-based sparkle isn't overpowering. While the shade is bold, the color choice isn't too wild. So you'll get a nice splash of office-friendly color that could easily translate into fun and exciting for the weekend. 

The formula is really easy to work with, but it more sheer than the previous two. You'll definitely need two coats. Other than that, it glides on smoothly and dries down to a shimmery glossy finish. 

Are you into radiant orchid as the color of the year? What polish shades have been helping you satisfy this color trend? Help me discover more colors, tell me about your favorites. 

Drugstore Beauty | It List vol. 3

We're well into February now and it seems to me it's high time for a new edition of the Drugstore Beauty It List. If you're new to this series, I basically choose six drugstore beauty items that I've been loving and tell you about the. I try to post a new It List every month.

I try out a lot of new items all the time, and I don't always have time to review all of them. The It List is a great way for me to share some of my favorites with you, while giving you an abbreviated review. Whenever a full review is available for a product listed, I'll link to it.

Now let's take a gander at this month's favorites.

1. Garnier Clean+ Purifying Foam Cleanser ($5.99) / 2. Sally Hansen Nail Treatment Instant Cuticle Remover ($.499) / 3. Nivea Lip Care A Kiss of Care Color  ($4.99) / 4. L'Oreal Paris Elnett Extra Strong Hold Hairspray ($12.99) / 5. NYX Wonder Pencil ($4.50) / 6. Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder ($7.99)

Garnier Clean+ Purifying Foam Cleanser

If you have combination skin, it's time to rejoice. Garnier released a new line of skin cleansers and two of them are geared specifically for those of us with combination skin. The Purifying Foam Cleanser is meant to strike the delicate balance between deep cleaning oil annihilation and gentle moisturizing cleansing. Finally, we can have it all. Oil control without dehydrating your non-oily areas. I immediately noticed that my skin felt more balanced and produced less oil throughout the day. After a week, my skin was also noticeably softer. Read my full review for more details.  

Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover

This product is a god send. I think everyone needs a bottle of this in their home. Not only does it help you treat stubborn cuticles and improve your manicure game, it also helps dissolve stubborn calluses too. This little $5 bottle also lasts a long time. I've been using it for several years now, and I think I've only on my fourth bottle. I use it at least once a week too. So here's the deal, you apply the serum/gel along your cuticle. Wait about 30 seconds. Then push your cuticles back. The product dissolves the cuticle, which means a lot less trimming (I still go in and trim here and there, but it's quite minimal. And yes, I know, you're not supposed to. But I do). Read my review here. 

Nivea A Kiss of Care and Color (new item)

I'm a big fan of Nivea lip balms. They're always so buttery smooth and superbly moisturizing. They recently released a new line called A Kiss of Care and Color and it's been popular. I went to three stores before I got my hands on these. The were sold out everywhere. I purchased two of the four available and I love it. They give you the moisture you're used to from Nivea with a pretty sheer hint of color. The color is just enough to be noticeable and you can build it up (though it'll still be sheer).

Even better: The shade Sheer Berry is practically an exact color dupe for Clinique's Black Honey (which has a huge cult following). If I had to find a difference, Nivea's is just the slightest bit more red. But wearing them side by side, the difference is imperceptible. So go ahead and save about $10 and pat yourself on the back. 

L'Oreal Elnett Hairspray

This has been the only hairspray I've purchased since discovering it about 4 years ago (maybe longer?). I'm not a huge fan of crunchy, stiff hairspray hold and this was the first hairspray I came across that gave me hold while still being flexible. Best of all, it brushes right out, which is absolutely perfect for me since I don't like to wash my hair every day. I know some people don't like the strong perfume-like fragrance on this one. Fear not, they make an unscented version too.

NYX Wonder Pencil

This aptly-named little gem is a versatile little miracle. You can use it for so many different things. You can spot conceal (note: these run light so if you plan to conceal a blemish, try a shade darker than what you use, otherwise you'll highlight it), use it to highlight under your brow, inner corner, and even hide fine lines. Give your eyes a little lift. Line your lower water line when you didn't get enough sleep. You'll pay less than $4.50 and find yourself reaching for this little pencil more often than you'd expect. Check out my full review and video demonstration for how I like to use it.

Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder

This new powder contains 60% less talc, which means you can apply it over your makeup without over mattifying your skin. It feels light and silky smooth without the telltale chalky effect that tends to cling to imperfections. Available in 16 shades, you're likely to find one that works for you. A word to the wise: These run a little dark and they do deposit color. Choose one shade lighter than the color you normally get.

There you have it. Did any of your favorite products make it to the It List this month? Any favorites you'd recommend I check out? You might just see it mentioned in future postings. Comment below, let's discuss. 

Manicure Monday: Valentine's Day Mani ft. Milani Sugar Burst

Love is in the air, my pets. And why not express it a bit on our tips? 

I decided to skip the heart themed nails this year in favor of some polka dot fun, and a little cupcake-inspired sparkle. Because, aren't cupcakes a bit perfect for Valentine's Day? Sweet, delectable, cute, and celebratory that's what I was going for. 

I decided it would be a perfect time to use my new Milani nail lacquer in Sugar Burst. It's a glitter polish that screams cupcakes and confections to me (and clearly it did to the people at Milani, given the name. Sugar Burst is a pastel pink confetti glitter bomb. It has round and bar pastel pink glitter sprinkled with irridescent micro-glitter. It makes a super fun topper to your favorite polishes.  

You can purchase Milani polishes at CVS. Mine retailed for $5.49 for 0.45 fl. oz. You can probably also find them at other retailers, but CVS is the spot for them in my area. My area Walgreens only carries some Milani products and the nail polishes aren't one of them, and there aren't any Rite Aids around here. 

On it's own, Sugar Burst, offer fabulous glitter pay off. To get full coverage, you'll need about three to four coats of polish. But if you're layering it over another color polish, you'll only need one coat. In the photo above, my ring finger has three coast of Sugar Burst, and my thumb has one coat over a pastel pink nail polish. 

To tone down the confetti covered cupcake theme, I paired  Sugar Burst with black and white nails, but then added to the cutesy fun with a few polka dots. The black polish I used is Tarred by Obessive Compulsive Cosmetics, and the white is Snow Me White by Sinful Colors.

My husband and I keep it light and casual on Valentine's Day, so this fun manicure works out well for our low key plans. If you're skipping the romance this year, consider rocking a similar look for a fun girls night. How about a sleep over that involves wine, manicures, baking (and eating said goods), and funny movies? I have some fun girls-night themed Valentine's Day memories.

What will you wear on your nails this year?

Manicure Monday: Gwen Stefani for OPI

A few weeks ago, I shared an ULTA haul where I told you I purchased the new Gwen Stefani for OPI nail polish collection. As a big No Doubt and Gwen Stefani fan, I was stoked to finally get my hands on it. I purchased every polish in the collection, save for the signature polish Over and Over A Gwen.

When I first saw the colors in the collection, I was a bit surprised. I thought we might get a bit more bold color from a Gwen collection.  I knew we'd have a red and a pink from her, and black and gold weren't much of a surprise. But for some reason I was thinking we'd get at least another bright color. Maybe a chartreuse. Instead, it seems that the fun and edgy factor came in the form of nail art and polish finish.

Of the seven polishes two are satin finish, one glitter, one chrome, and three creme. Over and Over A Gwen, the collection's signature shade, was sold in a kit that included studs and crystals for nail art.

For the most part, I liked the collection. The various finishes were a nice change, since these were my first set of satin polishes. In my opinion the satin polishes were the stars here, lending a cool look to two otherwise rather common colors. The creme colors were pretty but not necessarily unique, and the glitter was absolutely fabulous -- super sparkly. All in all, I'd say the polish selection rings pretty true to Gwen. They're all colors and styles I could see her wearing. You know, because in my imagination, we're friends.

OPI Nail Envy base coat, OPI 4 In The Morning (2 coats) - satin finish (no top coat)

Since I'd never had a satin polish, I decided to try those out first. When I first saw 4 In the Morning in the bottle, I wasn't all that excited. I thought it might just be another darkcharcoal grey polish until I noticed it was a satin finish. I was curious to see how it would turn out. I totally loved it. It reminds me of the Mercedes S500 I saw on the showroom floor that was painted in the same finish. I may not be able to afford that car, but I can admire the finish on my tips. I mean, there are worse things my nails can remind me of with this polish on, right? 

4 In the Morning is a blackened charcoal grey with a subtle silver shimmer. It's a bit sheer on first coat, but goes totally opaque after the second. It goes on smoothly and looks like a combination of a metallic polish with a matte finish. It has an in-between quality to it -- not quite matte, but not totally glossy. It's a semi-matte, so to speak. It has just enough sheen to make you look, while keeping that I'm-cool-without-trying edge.  It's one of my favorite polishes in the collection. 

OPI Nail Envy base coat, OPI Love Angel Music Baby (2 coats) - satin finish (no top coat)

Up next, we have Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (LAMB) a shimmery gold polish that might be better suited for a holiday collection if it weren't for the satin finish. That finish gives this particular color the look of a glittery textured polish without the grit. It has a nice smooth surface and is quite pretty to look at. I couldn't decide which I liked better LAMB or 4 In the Morning.

LAMB also goes on really smoothly, no streaks, no pulling. It's opaque on first coat, but the second coat imparts the extra shimmer that will catch your eye. When you first apply it, it looks really glossy, but then it dries down and looks totally different -- in a good way.  It still sparkles, but now it's more like gold dust. It glistens. You'll catch yourself admiring it.

The only bad part about these two polishes is that without a top coat, they'll show wear a little quicker. I liked these two colors enough that I wasn't fazed by it.

 OPI Nail Envy base coat, OPI Hey Baby (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Alright, we already know I have an insatiable obsession with pink (especially bright pink) nail polish. So, you just know I was excited about Hey Baby. As you can see from the photo, it's a bright pink creme and it's absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, it looks a lot like some of the pinks already in my collection.That being said, I'd still get it (clearly), given my penchant for bright pink polish. Even if you have something just like it, chances are you'll like the polish too.

This one was easy to apply for me. It had a nice consistency and the polish went on smoothly. It has the pretty candy finish that draws me to bright pink polish. One coat was relatively opaque, but two coats sealed the deal.

OPI Nail Envy base coat, OPI I Sing in Color (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat 

I was a little less excited over I Sing in Color. It's not that this color isn't pretty. It's just that it feels like any other vampy dark burgundy out there. It could have used a little Gwen pizzazz. Just a little something to help it stand out all on its own. If it hadn't come already included in the set, I may not have purchased it on its own. Not because it's not  pretty, but because I'm sure I have enough of this shade already.

When I swatched it, I was a bit dissapointed. It's pretty sheer on first coat and it streaked a lot. Thankfully, the second coat evened everything out. It has a nice glossy finish, which we all know by now -- I love. When indoors, this color can tend to look black, except for the red that peeks through around the edges and gives it away as burgundy.

 OPI Lay Down the Base base coat, OPI Push and Shove (2 coats), no top coat

Once I got to Push and Shove, I started feeling some type of way. Irritated, angry, and let down would all be adequate descriptors. This polish was a masterful fail. It's the most unflattering and unforgiving polish I've ever worked with. It shows every single flaw on your nail. It may work wonders for you, if you have completely smooth and perfect nails. My nails are currently in acrylic transition. I've buffed down the acrylic on my nail so that it's a very thin overlay as I grow it out. As you can see above, Push and Shove shows every single buff mark on my nail. It highlights every single imperfection. And there seemed to be no way around it. The photo above is the best of three attempts to remove and reapply this color. 

Push and Shove comes with a special base coat (Lay Down the Base) that helps impart the chrome finish. It's meant to have a mirror like look, but the imperfections on my nail made it look more like a brushed metal finish (not in a good way either). I've read from others that using a ridge filling base coat doesn't help either. 

To make matters worse, this polish is only supposed to last one day. So after all the hard work of trying to get it to apply perfectly (if you can), it'll basically chip/ruin/self destruct/turn into a pumpkin after 24 hours. Maybe less, the packaging explicitly says it's "intended for One Night Only wear."

Listen, I know I change my polish frequently. Heck, it's why I don't like gel manicures. I can't wear the same polish for 2 weeks, it drives  me batty. But even I think one day wear polish is a bit much. For $9 per bottle, I expect some longevity. Otherwise, I may as well just go spend $1 on one of those fast-chipping polishes we've all been known to toss. 

Thankfully, In True Stefani Fashion helped came to turn things around. I'm totally diggin' this glitter explosion top coat. As you can see below, this polish is like a party in a bottle. It's a fun mix of silver micro-glitter, holographic medium round glitter, and chunky holographic squares. It's like someone trapped a disco ball in there. 

 OPI In True Stefani Fashion macro

If you're a regular here, you know I've not been a huge glitter polish fanatic. I may be coming around. I still feel strongly that I'm too damn old to rock a full glitter mani on the regs. But I'm more more open to playing around with a glitter finish than I have been in the past. Lately, I find myself admiring the sparkle. 

OPI In True Stefani Fashio (2 coats)

In True Stefani Fashion can be worn on its own. I think three coats would bring it to full coverage. You get generous glitter pay off with one coat. And as you can see in the photos, two coats adds quite a bit of flair. 

I was pretty surprised that I didn't have to struggle much with removal either. But before you get too excited, it's still glitter, so you'll have to work harder than you would removing a creme. 

I really like the square glitter added into the mix too. When these catch the light, they really twinkle. 

Well there you have it. The anxiously anticipated Gwen Stefani collection. Overall I like it. I'm totally smitten with the satin polishes and love the girly glitzy flair of the glitter. While the cremes weren't necessarily stand out colors, they were still pretty and color's I'd wear. If we take Push and Shove out of the equation, I think OPI and Gwen did well.

What about you? What are your thoughts on this release? Comment below, let's chat!

Manicure Monday: Zoya Pasha + Preppy Color Combo ft. Zoya Natty

For the longest time, my two favorite taupe-nude nail polishes have been OPI You Don't Know Jacques and Orly's Prince Charming. Both are amazing in their own right. But my friend Rebecca may have just help me discover a new love in Zoya's Pasha when she gifted it to me over the holidays (Good friends enable polish obsessions).

I've been eyeing Pasha for a while now. She's been in and out of my cart more times than I care to admit. But I'd never purchased her because I (mistakenly) thought she'd be a bit too similar to some of the nudes I already had. I was so excited to finally add her to my collection.

Check out this pretty every day color below:

OPI Nail Envy base coat, Zoya Pasha (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Pasha is a pretty taupe-nude shade with subtle silver micro glitter. The subtle sheen the micro glitter imparts is what helps differentiate it from the rest of my taupe polishes, which are all creme finish. It's completely opaque on the first coat, but, as usual, I went for two for that extra polish. It dries down with a pretty glossy finish. I didn't experience any streaking and the polish was smooth and easy to apply, no overly goopy polish here.

I'm absolutely in love with this color. It's versatile and easy to wear. You can wear it alone for an office-friendly or more serious look. It also plays well with nearly every color, if you want to amp it up.

I did a preppy color combo recently by pairing it with Zoya Natty, a creme denim blue.

Do you love taupe polish as much as I do? How would you wear Pasha? Comment below, let's chat about it. 

Manicure Monday: Dark Gunmetal Polish - Essie Over the Edge + China Glaze Black Diamond

It's a double manicure treat today for you. If you're on the look out for a deep gunmetal silver polish that's bordering metallic black, I've got two options for you: Essie Over the Edge and China Glaze Black Diamond.

A dark metallic gunmetal polish isn't necessarily a unique color (you can find this hue in nearly every brand), but it's neutral status makes this hue a collection staple. It's a nice way to soften a go-to black polish or make gunmetal a bit edgier.

Black Diamond and Over the Edge seem to be interchangeable. Both go on sheer on first coat and completely opaque with a second coat. And they're both easy to work with: no streaking or thickness and the application is pretty smooth. Once dry, they end up looking like a blackish shimmer finish (not metallic).

It's going to boil down to brand preference here. Check out the swatches below. What do you think? Can you tell the difference?

Essie Over the Edge (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

China Glaze Black Diamond (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Do you already have this color in your collection? If you do, is it either of these or a totally different brand? If you don't, do you have a brand preference? Comment below, let's chat.

Manicure Monday: L'Oreal Collection Privee Nudes Liya & Doutzen

Hellooooo! I'm back and we're exploring some new nude polishes. I was at the drugstore recently and picked up two of the L'Oreal Colour Riche Collection Privee nail polish collection ($6.99 each). The collection includes six colors, named after some leading Hollywood ladies, and all are some variation of neutral goodness. It took all my strength not to buy them all. But I resisted because, you might remember, I just got the Zoya Naturel collection and I need to exert some level of self control.

Anyway, I purchased Doutzen Nude (#600) and Liya's Nude (#630) for a very specific reason: research. They looked really similar to Zoya Rue and Normani from that Naturel collection I just mentioned. I figured I needed to bring them home and swatch them to verify whether they were dupes.  How exciting if I could share some dupe news with you (even if the dupes are part of a limited edition collection).

Sadly, they weren't exact matches. They're more like siblings than identical twins. Same color, just a shade or two off. I didn't bother posting side-by-side shots just to show you they are different. If you'd like to see for yourself, check out my Zoya Naturel Collection post.

But, just because they weren't an exact match it doesn't mean these colors aren't pretty and worth sharing.  And I'd already swatched them and taken photos, so why not go ahead and share my efforts?

This was my first time using L'Oreal nail polishes and I'm rather pleased with the results. They offered nice color pay off, giving me a completely opaque color after two coats (the first coat was only just shy of being totally opaque), applied smoothly, and dried down to a glossy creme finish.

L'Oreal Doutzen Nude (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Doutzen Nude is a pretty blush nude that's slightly pinker (and maybe a shade darker)  than Zoya Rue. It's a cute and preppy dusty nude that will pair well with absolutely everything. From office to weekend this color can be both laid back and classy. 

L'Oreal Liya's Nude (2 coats),  Seche Vite top coat

Liya's Nude is a moody neutral taupe-mauve-purple that's a shade darker than Normani and a little more on the purple side. Another easy to wear color that's neutral but not boring. It's safe while still having a hint of edge because it's not the same ol' neutral everyone wears.

Have you spotted the Collection Privee polishes at your drugstore? Do you have any favorites? I have to say, I'm really kicking myself for not grabbing J-Lo's shade. Few ladies rock the neutrals like she does. And frankly, her shade of taupe grey was quite marvelous. I might just need to go back and get it. So much for that self control.

Manicure Monday: Bobbing for Baubles

Hello everyone! I hope you had a relaxing weekend. We had a cold front tease on Friday, only to be back in our Florida garb by Saturday. I swear, winter here is so indecisive. Case in point, it's Florida cold again today. Hot, cold, hot, cold. It's so confusing.

Oh well. World's smallest violin. I get it.

I got my nails done this weekend and decided I needed a pretty dark polish that was both cool and could be a little serious. To achieve that, I chose Essie's Bobbing for Baubles. How amazingly beautiful is this sapphire cream? It's not even my polish, I borrowed it from my sister. I think I need to get it for myself. Immediately.

I've been admiring this polish for a long time, but this is the first time I've actually worn it and I can't believe I hadn't taken the plunge. It's stunning.

Essie Bobbing for Baubles (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Nails by Miss Natalia's Beauty

Essie describes this polish as a deep sapphire cream. From my point of view, it looks more like a deep  navy cream with just the slightest hint of grey.

This polish was quite easy to apply, no streaking, super smooth, fantastic pigmentation. I used two coats because that's what I always use, but one coat gave the same color pay off you see in the bottle. 

I also love the cream finish. Most of my navy polishes have a bit of shimmer to them and I thought this was a great change of pace. In fact, I'd be willing to bet this shade would look amazing in a matte finish. I may just need to try that out. 

Are you a fan of Bobbing for Baubles? I can't believe I'm so late to this party.