Author: Lara
Shape-shifting in the Moor
Here’s to assuming that Psyche Minerals is referring to shape-shifting in a bog and NOT shape-shifting inside of a Andalusian Muslim. (Am I logophile? Or a Witzelsucht…I’ll let you google and decide.)
Psyche Minerals “Shape-shifting in the Moor” is from November’s Polish Pickup. I was so excited to try “Redrum” that I had to circle back to finish up November. Oops.
“Shapeshifting in the Moor” is inspired by the púca, a shape-shifting troublemaker from Irish folklore. The most famous representation is Puck in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream.
This is two coats of “Shape-shifting in the Moor” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Raspberry Pop”. I was surprised to find a bit of texture in the shifting polish – I guess that’s the silver glitter? Next time I might add some Glitter Grabber.
Atomic Redrum
I’m baaaaaack…did you miss me?
I was in Arlington last week for a work thingie and then a Girly Getaway in Waco this weekend…and BAM – today hit me like a ton of bricks. Back into the office today, cold as fuck…and then Grad School started again. Thank FUCK this is my last semester. But you’re not here to read about my foul mood or all the bad decisions I’ve made that led me to this point…you just want to hear about the REDDEST and MOST BADDASS red nail polish I’ve ever seen.
That MOST BADASS red nail polish is Atomic Polish “Redrum”. I have so many red nail polishes that it’s gonna take a lot to make me purchase another one. “Redrum” has a lot of…whatever it is that makes me want to buy nail polish. On paper, it sounds boring…a red shimmer polish, that shifts to orange in the light. It’s just so intense!
This is two coats of “Redrum” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Raspberry Pop”. Oh, and it’s inspired by that creepy little kid in The Shining.
Oh, and it matches LaLa’s SUV – it’s the EXACT color…I wish I had remembered to take a picture when I was there.
Semi-Annual What WHAT!
Oh, my favorite sale of the year – Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale. Even though there is sale over the summer, the after Xmas sale is FAR superior…because that’s when the Halloween stuff comes out!
My first trip was a quick stop on my traditional ‘day after Xmas looking for cheap candy’ shopping trip. We ended up at the store near my office, which usually has a decent selection. Except for the “Sunshine Mimosa” Wallflower Refill, everything I got was 75% Halloween. I had been eyeing this goth candleholder for months and was thrilled to lay my hands on it for 75% off. I also grabbed some hand soaps and a bewitching “Everlasting Magic” Body Cream. I spent $28.61, and saved $73.17.
A few days later, Lily & I were shopping in Tyler with our LaLa and we stopped in again. I came across a csent called “Satin Slippers” and became OBSESSED. It’s white rose forward, which is a rare find. Plus, it was in the $4.95 bucket – super cheap! But alas, they only had Body Spray and Body Cream – no Shower Gel! I was able to find some more Wallflower, some Body Cream for Lily, and some “Vampire Blood” Hand Cream for my purse (nothing screams WEIRDO like pulling “Vampire Blood” lotion out of your purse in public). I spent $46.35 this time, but saved $83.58.
I wanted that “Satin Slippers” Shower Gel, so on the way home from Nac, I made up a plan to stop at a few locations to look. We stopped in Spring, but they didn’t have it either. Right before we hit home, we stopped at the location closest to home and…MOTHERLODE! Not only did I find my “Satin Slippers” Shower Gel, they also had “Everlasting Magic” – I bought two of each. I also bought another Halloween Candleholder, a Halloween Wallflower Plug shaped like a coffin, and MORE candles. I spent $82.24, but saved $144.37!
In total, I spent $157.20 and “saved” $301.02. Obviously, Bath & Body Works is ridiculously overpriced, but I love it anyway.
As we near the 10th anniversary of Beauty Hoard, it crosses my mind that people MAY not be interested in reading about every product I buy…but then it also crosses my mind that I don’t do this for other people, I do it for myself, to create accountability in my shopping addiction and my overwhelming need for beauty rituals.
Here’s to another decade of soap hoarding!
Polish Pickup December 2023 – Maker’s Choice
Ooohhhh…December is Maker’s Choice, which means that instead of a theme all of the maker’s are asked to follow, they are allowed to offer whatever they want!
I went a little crazy again…here are my choices for December…
I wanted a Cuticula Base Coat to go with the Top Coat I got in October, so I grabbed Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” ($10), which is a wintery peppermint and vanilla cream scented base coat. It’s got more to it than that, but I really couldn’t place it.
I cannot WAIT to try Paradox Polish “We’re All Born Naked, The Rest is Drag” ($13), inspired of course, by RuPaul. It’s a thermal polish!
Beaux Reves Lacquer “No Ordinary Rose” ($12) is a shimmer inspired by The Little Prince. That book sure does come up in pop culture a lot these days, doesn’t it?
Lumen Lacquer “Glass Jellyfish” ($13) is a sister polish to “Glass Frog”. I had passed on “Glass Frog”, so I’m glad I had a chance to grab this one.
Finally, Atomic Polish “Redrum” ($13) was the FIRST polish I added to my basket. Not only because it was near the front alphabetically, but because it is an OUSTANDING orangey red.
I’ve already started using these polishes – I cannot wait to share!
Pink Nutcracker
I’ve already done a few Xmas manicures…but each year, the OFFICIAL Xmas manicure if the one I wear on Xmas day…this one is the OFFICIAL.
I was so entranced by December’s ipsy bag, that I decided to do a matchy matchy manicure. I was afraid my nails would be stained by “Net Worth How Much”, but I was pleasantly surprised that my nails weren’t yellow when I removed it. I started with Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat, followed by two coats of Sinful Colors “Petals in Pink”, a sheer pink matte polish (will I ever get through all these polishes?). I followed with Funky Fingers “Son of a Nutcracker” on the tips, followed by Glisten & Glow Glitter Grabber and Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
“Son of a Nutcracker” is my FAVORITE Xmas-y glitter!
Net Worth How Much
Get ready for A LOT of catch-up posts this week…I took a mini hiatus from Xmas to New Year’s and now it’s time to catch up!
Dark forest green is Xmas-y, eh? I almost added red glitter, but I decided I like this green as it is.
This is two coats of LAW Beauty Essentials “Net Worth How Much” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. “Net Worth How Much” is from an ipsy bag last summer. The polish had been languishing in a cabinet, I had forgotten all about it!
Raisin Flakes
Ugh, did you know that nail decals can go bad? The first set of Julep Snowflake Decals that I got back in 2017 totally shredded when I tried to peel them off the backing. No problem, I’ll just position them on the edge of my nails, like I meant to do that. Luckily, the second set is fine…
I started with Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and two coats of Sinful Colors “Raisin the Roof”. (I’ve had this polish since 2019 – why haven’t I tried it before?) I tried to carefully place the Snowflake Decals – I’ll admit it, most of the shredded and torn ones ended up on my right hand. I attempted to tame the edges with Glisten & Glow Glitter Grabber, but my biggest mistake was going matte with Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat. Either two coats was two much or the Glitter Grabber, I’m not sure. There was too much product on my nails and it got a kind of Play-Doh consistency and made weird puffy lumps on my nails. I tried, okay?
…and I thought I was being creative, choosing a dark wine polish to go with snowflakes, but it turns out I did something similar back in 2018. Oops…
Baba Yaga
Oof, I didn’t realize the pic I took was so blurry…Imma need to start wearing my bifocals, eh? I own a pair, but they give me a headache…
Adored Colors “Baba Yaga” is pretty self explanatory – it’s inspired by Baba Yaga, that baby-eating witch that lives in a house on chicken legs. This was one of my selections from November’s Polish Pickup – Fairytales & Folklore.
This is two coats of “Baba Yaga” over Vibrant Scents Double Bond Base Coat in “Island Petals” and under Vibrant Scents Top Coat in “Island Petals”.
December 2023 Ipsy Bag – The Glammest Show on Earth
Is “glammest” even a word?
Doesn’t matter, this bag IS the glammest…and check out the zipper pull! I love a big heavy ball, don’t you?
My product choice this month was Veriphy Skincare Self Absorbed Moisturizer. I’ve been using it as a daily moisturizer and it’s the perfect weight. My skin feels well moisturized and it isn’t too heavy.
Also in this month’s glammest bag: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in “Medium Brown” (I’m usually a “Dark Brown” girl, but I’ll still use it for “no-makeup” makeup days); Dr. Brandt Skincare Microdermabrasion Age Defying Exfoliator (slightly peppermint scented, seems very similar to his POREdermabrasion product); SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica First Ampoule (the texture is very serum-like); and Tresluce Beauty Ilusión Volumizing & Lengthening Mini Mascara in “Jet Black”.
A pretty good bag – I’ll use 4/5 products.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Light the Night
Color Street “Light the Night” Nail Strips were the perfect quick solution for Xmas Party Nails! These are from last year…I think I got them for a Stranger Things idea I had and then later forgot…
I think this might be the best Color Street application that I’ve had so far. Remember – practice makes perfect!