Category: Nails
Festive Xmas Tree Nails
Instead of Xmas tree shapes, I decided to go with the extreme close-up version…
After Sinful Colors Base Coat, I painted two coats of Deborah Lippmann Wicked “One Short Day”. I used a dotting tool to make ornaments with Sinful Colors “Sugar Sugar” (yes, using this one again) and Ulta “Silver Bells”. I finished with a thick coat of “HK Girl”, but “One Short Day” is a bumpy glitter, so my nails still have some texture. I am annoyed that the polish is already starting to chip on my right hand. I’ve heard grumbling on the web about how bad Deborah Lippmann polish chips, but I didn’t want to believe it…
I thought I had talked Lily into letting me give us matching nails, but as usual, her stubbornness won. They are similar…but she demanded Julep “Priscilla” instead of “One Short Day”. (She had to look at EVERY green glitter that I own to decide.) She also demanded multicolored balls – pink, red, blue, silver and purple. I wish I wish I had been able to get a picture before the polish started peeling off. I honestly don’t know what she does to her nails, but they last 12 hours, tops.
Obligatory Snow Manicure
I can’t let the season pass without making my nails a winter wonderland!
I pulled out one of my oldest polishes for the base – Urban Decay “Strip”. I can’t remember exactly when I got this polish, but it was probably 12+ years ago. It still had the price tag on it – I bought it at Nordstrom for $9.50. Remember when Nordstrom was the only place you could buy Urban Decay? Anyway, it’s a beautiful icy silver foil. I needed just one coat over Orly Bonder for full coverage. No one makes polishes like this anymore! I then dipped and dabbed Funky Fingers “Elsa” to get the snow flakes. (I gave up by the time I got the middle finger on my right hand – ain’t nobody got time fo dat!) I finished with “HK Girl”, but I still have a few snowflake edges sticking up – they got all caught in my hair when I was washing it this morning. I was even able to find a glass ball to match my nails. There really isn’t a sophisticated way to hold a huge ball, is there?
So, yeah – I have decade old+ polishes – anyone else? Please share so I don’t feel quite so bad about my nail polish hoarding…
Allure Beauty Thrills – December 2015
Just like last year, the Allure Beauty Thrills Box went on sale during Thanksgiving vacation. Again, I set my alarm and ordered. The price went up again – $49.95 now, with $10 shipping. Even so, it is a hell of a deal.
There were a few repeats from previous boxes, but loads of new stuff: Algenist Power Advanced Wrinkle Fighter Serum (easily the most valuable item in the box – $105 on Sephora’s site); Aloxxi Volumizing Whip (eh, I am SO past the mousse phase); Caress Daily Silk Silkening Body Wash (this is THE BEST for shaving your legs in the shower); Clear Scalp & Hair Total Care Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner (going to my sister); Colgate Optic White Toothbrush + Built-In Whitening Pen (my third one); Colgate Optic White Express White Toothpaste; Dove Advanced Care Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant (still using the last one I got); Dove Deep Moisture Wash (another good one for leg shaving); e.l.f. Studio Lip Exfoliator (intrigued); e.l.f. Studio Moisturizing Lipstick in “Bordeaux Beauty”; HASK Monoi Coconut Nourishing Shine Oil (another repeat); Herbal Essences Naked Volume Shampoo (what the fuck am I supposed to do with shampoo and no conditioner?); Jessica Custom Nail Color in “Soak Up the Sun” (bright ass pink); Michael Todd Knu Anti-Aging Face Lift Serum ($58 on Ulta’s site); Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Unscented Refreshing Dry Shampoo (Ugh); One ‘N Only Island Essentials Awapuhi Intensive Treatment; Redken One United Multi-Benefit Treatment (I LOVE the Blonde Idol BB Spray from my first Allure box – looking forward to this one); Rusk Working Spray; Simple Skincare Micellular Make-Up Remover Wipes; Sonia Kashuk Tools Medium Eye Shadow Brush No. 28 (I needed another blending brush); Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion Styling Oil; Touch In Sol Feel Like Honey Moon Skin Base; and Yes to Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Cleanser (Tomatoes and charcoal sounds like something you’d use to get out skunk stink).
All these high end wrinkle products – my face is going to be a smooth as a baby’s behind!
Another Ugly Christmas Sweater
So basically, any polish combination with red and green, and/or glitter – looks like an ugly Christmas sweater to me.
This year’s ugly sweater combination is Sinful Colors “Cauldron Couture” over “Sugar Sugar”. (Technically, “Cauldron Couture” is a Halloween polish…but green and black glitter can also be Christmas-y?) On Sunday nights, I need something quick – Sinful Colors Base Coat, two coats of “Sugar Sugar”, one dabby coat of “Cauldron Couture”, a thick coat of “HK Girl” and bedtime.
“Sugar Sugar” is one of my favorite glittery reds. I didn’t remember, but I also used it for the base last year. DOH!
Lovecraft
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Kat Von D “Lovecraft”…or should I say that I couldn’t wait to get Kat Von D “Lovecraft” on my hands?
I wasn’t sure which base coat would work the best, so I threw the dice and picked Sinful Colors Base Coat – it was fine. The first coat was a bit patchy, but the second coat covered all of the bald spots and didn’t drag. “Lovecraft” is rather thick, but not goopy. The brush is so tiny, I had to use 2-3 brushfuls to cover each nail. I finished with “HK Girl” and did drag a tiny bald spot on the middle finger of my right hand. Curses!
I LOVE the way “Lovecraft” looks, but my husband said, “Meh.” What does he know about edgy neutrals, anyway? He also said that the lighting in the picture makes my mole look like a pimple. I wasn’t self-conscious about it until he said that. He is my biggest cheerleader.
I already had a mini of Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick “Lovecraft” from Sephora points, but it’s always good to have a backup.
“Lovecraft” is matte mauve pink nude – very matte. It’s not quite as drying as most of the matte lipsticks and lip creams I have tried. It has good staying power and a coat of clear balm late in the day revives the color. As you can see, the polish and lipstick match quite well.
VIB Xmas Gift
Oh Sephora…you really want me to get to Rouge by the end of the year, don’t you?
I got my $20 off $50 email, so I figured I would pick up some basics. I got another Anastasia Brow Wiz in “Soft Brown”, but they don’t carry Urban Decay Ultra HD Loose Powder online. DAMMIT. So I had no choice but to order the Kat Von D vs Formula X Studded X set (with mini lipsticks and matching polishes in “Lovecraft”, “Bauhaus” and “Homegirl”). I squealed when I opened it!
I also got the Cyber Weekend Mystery Bag with a Sephora Pearl Mask (now I have 2); Origins GinZing Eye Cream, Fresh Rose Mask; Sephora Colorful blush in “No5 Sweet on you” (now I have 2); Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil; Sephora The Mascara; Clinique Even Better spf 15 makeup; and Clean “Cashmere”.
For my other three free samples, I got Sephora Instant Moisturizer, Needles No More (Hmmmm…); and Clinique Moisture Surge Intense (I am using another sample of this right now – LOVE it). Just $81 until Rouge Status!
Jewel Orchid
Yesterday, I was feeling rather…purple…so I chose Sonia Kashuk “Jewel Orchid” for my nails and toes. It reminds me of my husband’s bathroom orchids – the vibrant centers of yellow and white orchids.
After Orly Bonder, I did two coats of “Jewel Orchid”. It was smooth formula, but I was shocked that it was a bit streaky after two coats, but nothing too noticeable. I was surprised to find a few bubbles, but “HK Girl” smoothed it out.
Pay no mind to my raggedy ass cuticles. Winter is rough on my skin, er…not that it is really winter here in Texas. I need to push back my cuticles, but I know they will bleed. Ugh.
Ulta Cyber Fundays
The weekend before Thanksgiving/Black Friday, Ulta ran a “Cyber Fundays” promotion with a bunch of stuff on sale, plus a gift with purchase sample bag on orders of $60+, plus $10 off. I decided to knock out some stocking stuffers, plus get a few things for myself. Imagine my surprise when Ulta decided to break my modest order into three different shipments.
The first box was rather piddly – just a travel size Joico K-PAK Deep-Penetrating Reconstructor (my BFF swears by K-PAKs, so I thought I’d give them a try while on sale) and a few stocking stuffers from the 5/$5 Promotion.
The second box was also small – a single lotion stocking stuffer, my variety sampler – Lumene Time Freeze Instant Lift Serum and Burt’s Bees Renewal Intensive Firming Serum – and my gift with purchase…Inside the Berry Glam Beauty Bag: Too Faced Born This Way Foundation with 3 different shades – “Vanilla”, “Light Beige” and “Sand”; Gucci “Bamboo” (not bad, smells like Crystals in Vegas); “Pink Sugar” (too hookery); Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo; Pureology Coulour Fanatic Instant Deep-Conditioning Mask; Benefit ThePOREfessional Pro Balm & License to Blot Set; Urban Decay Cosmetics Revolution Lipstick (Card with 4 sample colors); Giorgio Armani “Acqua Di Gio”; Whish Body Butter in “Winterberry” (the last one I got smelled like hot dog water, so I am scared to try this one); It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product (guaranteed in every Ulta sample bag); Ralph Lauren “Romance”; Philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Cleanser for Face and Eyes; Ulta Legendary Lengths Lengthening Mascara; Clarins Super Restorative Day; Alterna Haircare Caviar CC Cream (for hair); Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (I have SO much of this shit); Skyn Iceland Pure Cloud Cream; Nip+Fab Skin Dragon’s Blood Fix Plumping Serum (it couldn’t be worse than the snake venom that nut in Vegas smeared all over my face); and a BUNCH of Ulta coupons.
FINALLY…the third box had the REAL stuff I ordered: John Frieda Liquid Shine Shampoo and Conditioner ($3.74 each!); Joico K-PAK Shampoo (to go with the conditioner); Ulta Rose Gold Palette (been lusting after this FOREVER); Poo-Pourri “Merry Spritzmas” (for my son – at 10, he is starting to get manly shits); eos Holiday Set (also for him), some other stocking stuffers and some nail buffers for ME.
I monitored Ulta’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales and it looks like the Cyber Fundays sale was actually the better deal (for me, anyway). They’re still sending different sale emails every day, though…I may not be done ordering yet!
Windshield Frost
Even though it’s December, I haven’t seen any frost on my windshield. (Maybe because I live in Texas?) Although I hate scraping it on off, I love the patterns it makes. Julep “Elsa” looks exactly like those frosty patterns that make my mornings HELL.
“Elsa” – snowdrift iridescent stardust – is much thicker than Julep’s usual stardusts. It’s straight up SLUDGE. It was impossible to apply without entirely filling the edges of my nails – every crevice. I must have used a quarter of the bottle putting two coats on my nails (over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat). Luckily, it dried quickly and scraped off easily enough. “Elsa” would look magnificent in an ombre with Julep “Tracy”!
So…I just got a new phone – with a better camera – and I’m playing around with new picture locations and angles. It seems to take more natural looking pictures in my bathroom, which I’m liking. I haven’t taken the selfie test though…THAT’S the real test.
December Julep Maven Box – The All Night Long Collection
For the first time in several months, I had a hard, hard time picking out my December Julep Box – “The All Night Long Collection” is absolutely amazing.
Eventually, I settled on Julep Bombshell “Tish” – silver bell full-coverage microglitter – and Julep Classic with a Twist “Makenna” – gilded lilac glitter. I also used Jules to add Julep it Girl “Elsa” – snowdrift iridescent stardust. Glitter, glitter everywhere and not a drop to drink…wait, that’s not right?
For my beauty product, I decided to try out It’s Whipped Matte Lip Mousse in “Ooh La La” – sepia taupe. I have been nutso over matte lips and have buying every one I can get my hands on…in basically the same color. One of these days, I’ll do a master Lolita dupe post…
Not a Julep Maven? Leave a comment and I’ll send you a referral email good for a free welcome box!