Category: Nails

 
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MURICA!

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It looks like I got into a fist fight with Uncle Sam and ripped off his testicles with my bare hands!

After Sinful Colors Base Coat, I started with 2 coats of Sinful Colors “Tokyo Pearl”. “Tokyo Pearl” is a tricky polish – It goes on smooth, but because of the pearly finish – it shows every brush stroke. I applied a thin layer of Sinful Colors “Queen of Beauty” to the tips for extra silver glitter, then streaked on Julep “America”. I was going for a stripey gradient with “America”, but I don’t think I had any other choice. This is one of my oldest Julep polishes, so there’s only about a third of a bottle left and it is starting to get dry. (Time to buy some nail polish thinner and see how that goes.) I did manage to get a few star glitters, but I wasn’t particularly fishing for them.

I finished with “HK Girl”. “America is such a sharp glitter, that I can still feel the edges in a few places – all the better to scratch with.

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Baby, You’re A Firework

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Yeah, I referenced a Katy Perry song. Go ahead and make fun…bitch, my nails are fabulous.

The patriotism continues with Julep “Fireworks” – a red, white, and blue multidimensional glitter top coat. I used Sinful Colors “Keira Blu” (like Keira Knightley?) – a sheer, shimmery blue. I was able to get full coverage with 2 coats – I love getting full coverage out of sheer polish – it adds so much more dimension to the color.

I used Sinful Colors Base Coat (it’s almost empty!) and “HK Girl” over the glitter. I also did plain “Keira Blu” on my toenails – I’ve got another trip to Schlitterbahn coming!

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Patriotic Jelly Sandwich

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Once a year, it’s totally expected to wear red, white and blue fingernail polish – the week leading up to Independence Day.

This is my first successful “jelly sandwich”. I used Sinful Colors “Prized Plume” (blue) and Julep “Tiffany” (red) for the jellies. I used Sinful Colors “Star Blast Off” for the glitter, sandwiched between layers of jelly polish. This is a glitter/jelly/glitter/jelly sandwich – 4 layers…or 6 if you count the Sinful Colors Base Coat and “HK Girl”.

“Star Blast Off” gave me LOTS of stars. I was very pleased that I only had to go fishing for stars a few times.

Jesus take the wheel when I actually have to get all this glitter off my nails. I am not looking forward to that…

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Sparkling Water

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How unexpected – I thought that Sally Hansen Triple Shine “Sparkling Water” was a microglitter, but it’s a shimmer – sparkling turquoise water with a violet shimmer. It might even be sheer enough for jelly experiments. “Sparkling Water” would also go well with “Mermaid’s Tale” – Sally really does do turquoise the best!

This is two coats of “Sparkling Water” with Orly Bonder and “HK Girl”. It’s a good, smooth polish, even though I suspect the bottle is rather old, since it was on clearance at Walgreen’s. I don’t own many Triple Shines, but I might start grabbing more on clearance – even though they’re one of Sally’s cheapest polishes, they do well.

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Jelly Experiment

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My Sinful Binge included several jelly polishes – so now it’s time to experiment.

Sinful Colors “Go Go Girl” is a luscious red jelly and “Mamasita” Pinata Blast is Blue, Pink, Red and White Matte Confetti Glitter. I wanted to do a “jelly sandwich” with the two. On each finger, I tried different combinations of layers of the two. “Go Go Girl” is more opaque than I expected, so it was really hard to see “Mamasita” underneath (see my ring finger). I definitely need to find a sheerer red polish for my jelly experiemnts, but I absolutely love it by itself (my pinky).

I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and ended with “HK Girl”. This combination of polishes lasted the whole weekend with minimal edge wear – I LOVE Sinful Colors!

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Ulta Adventure

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Oh the disappointment when one opens up an online order and one of the items is damaged! I ordered 2 NYX AVANT POP palettes (BOGO50%off) – and the “Art Throb” palette was shattered. Luckily, the “Surreal My Heart Palette” was in fine shape. I also ordered a clearance Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in “Woodstock” (hot pink!) for $10 and 2 Palladio lip stains“rose” and “mocha”.

Because my order was over $40, I got the NYX Beauty Break Set, with Love in Paris Palette in “Merci Beaucoup”, Doll Eye Mascara in “Extreme Jet Black”, Butter Gloss in “Maple Blondie” and Slide On, Glide On, Stay On & Definitely a Turn On Waterproof Extreme Shine Eye Liner. (I like this set better than what I actually paid for.) For samples, I chose skincare and got CoTZ Face Sunscreen and Garnier Nourishing Cleansing Oil.

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This morning, I went on an adventure to replace the shattered palette and use my $10 off ANYTHING coupon to get another Urban Decay Naked Skin BB Cream. The Copperwood Ulta didn’t have the paletter OR the BB Cream. I did pick up another Zoya Remove+.

The Willowbrook Ulta did have the NYX palette – phew.

Lily also begged for Sally Hansen “Sweet Nectar”. It was 79 cents on the clearance aisle, so why not. It’s sickeningly orange, but you never know when it will come in handy.

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It’s not Saturday without a quick trip to Bath & Body Works. I’d been jonesing to experience the Semi Annual Sale in person, since I’ve been ordering online.

It was a fairly conservative trip – 2 50% off 3-wick candles, plus a metal candle holder. Just 5 50% off Hand Soaps – I just needed enough to use my $10 off $40 coupon.

I need a nap – I am plumb tuckered out.

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Sinful Binge

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Father, it’s been 5 weeks since my last Sinful Colors 99 cent sale purchase.

I didn’t even know there was a sale this week, until I caught a whiff of it on Instagram. I binged and made trips to 2 different Walgreen’s to fulfill my urges. On my lunch trip, I got Sinful Colors “Baila Baila”, “Copper Pot”, “Keira Blu”, “Otaku Anime”, “Fierce Fiesta”, “Endless Blue”, and “Mamasita”. I also got Sally Hansen Triple Shine in “Sparkling Water” for $1.29. I even had $1 in Balance Rewards.

I made a second stop to look for some red jellies that I looked up online – I got “Go Go Girl” and “Ruby Glisten” – because I totally need more red polish.

I can stop any time. Really.

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Forever Young

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Someday, I’ll learn how to use white polish without getting crusty edges around my cuticles…someday.

This here, is Delush Polish “Forever Young”, from their Downton Abbey themed Collection – “Downton A-List”. I’ve never seen a second of the show, but when I caught this mini on sale, I thought it was ridiculously cute. It’s a white base with opalescent and mint glitter, with a generous helping of red hearts. There are so many hearts that I would get 1-2 on each brushful – so nice.

I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and topped with “HK Girl”. Next time, I’ll try not to slop it all over my cuticles.

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Beauty Box 5 – Bon Voyage

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Oh Beauty Box 5, I was considering canceling you, but you’ve won me over this month and received a stay of execution with this month’s box, themed “Bon Voyage”.

In my “Bon Voyage” box: Urban Decay Perversion Mascara (FINALLY, a prestige product – I wasn’t wowed by this mascara when I first got it, but I find myself reaching for it when I’m going out on the town); Herbal Essences Body Wash in “Honey Smell Good” (and it does); LOL Rotational Eye Shadow in “Splash That Cash” (it should be called “Irritable Bowel Syndrome”, because I’ve seen these exact shades of brown and green in the toilet this past week); Nails Inc. Nail Polish in “Bruton Street” (another fancy brand – $9.50 at Ulta or Sephora); and Simple Skincare Micellular Cleansing Water (a skimpy sample – just a moistened pad – but not a dealbreaker). There was also a $20 off $49.95 coupon for GorgeHair.com, but no way I’m spending that much money on a brand I’ve never heard of.

Keep the good boxes coming, Beauty Box 5!

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Basic Bitch Pink

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I am far too old to be concerned about being a “basic bitch” – but come on ya’ll – this is “basic bitch” pink. No glitter, no shimmer – just your basic plain pink.

One time, at Pier One, I made the comment that Pier One used to have cool stuff back when I was in High School, but now it’s stuff for Basic Bitches who want to look like they’ve traveled the world. He gave me the WORST stink eye, probably because we were in the middle of Pier One when I said it.

This is Sinful Colors “Boom Boom” from my Target Beauty Box. Good formula, good coverage – exactly what I’ve come to expect from Sinful Colors. I used the Sinful Colors Base Coat and excitedly opened one of my new “HK Girl” bottles – I LOVE that top coat!

I don’t mind being a little basic, once in awhile.