I’m a Pepper!
Don’t you want to be a Pepper, too?
Julep “Maryam” (from this month’s “Chrysalis Collection”) looks like a Dr. Pepper Can. Julep may say its dark merlot shimmer, but I don’t drink merlot. Actually, I don’t drink Dr. Pepper either – it’s too sickly sweet for me. I actually steer clear of any dark maroon liquids. Ever since that incident with the Grape Mad Dog 20/20 in High School…blech.
You’ll notice that my thumb and ring finger are more mauve – I used Julep “Tilda” Metamorphic Top Coat on those nails. The result was very subtle – just a little lighter and more purpley. I’m thinking it will look good over blues.
Someday, I’ll actually find a quick dry top coat that plays nice with Julep polishes. Orly Bonder works with no issues, but Sally Diamond Flash seems to create bubbles no matter what. Grrrr…
January Julep Maven Box – The Chrysalis Collection
If Julep hadn’t given us the option of customizing our boxes, I probably would have quit by now. This last month, they added even more options to the boxes – they offer items from previous months now!
January starts anew with “The Chrysalis Collection”. Julep Luxe Lip Treatment is new this month – it’s a sheer, cooling lip tint. I chose “Sheer Fig”. I also chose one of their new shades of Gel Eye Glider – “Olive”. I picked one polish – Classic with a Twist “Maryam” – dark merlot shimmer. As a bonus, I received “Tyra” Metamorphic Top Coat – every one got one of the their three new top coats…the others are “Tilda” and “Bjork”. There was also a little box of Junior Mints…I already ate them. My mom loved Junior Mints. I can’t eat them without thinking of how that’s what she would always buy when we went to the movies…
This is one of the best boxes so far!
Not a Julep Maven? CLICK HERE to join! Get a FREE Snow Day Welcome Box with code HIFRIEND!
Can’t…Stop…Looking
I can’t stop looking at this polish. It’s just so shiny.
I’m a few months late – this is Julep “Julie” – Pink Tourmaline for October. It’s named for Mary Poppins herself – Julie Andrews. It wasn’t the consistency I expected. It’s textured, but not the fine texture of Julep’s other microglitters. “Julie” has a thicker, metallic base. It also has huge pink shards and tiny holographic rainbow glitters. I can’t stop looking…
I used Orly Bonder for the base coat and no top coat – I wanted to feel the magic.
Damn Fine Coffee
Maybe not so much like a cup of damn fine coffee, but a pile of damn fine coffee grounds?
That’s because I used Zoya Matte Top Coat – it really brings out the gold flecks in “Damn Fine Coffee” from the Twin Peaks Collection by Hare Polish. I kind of wish that I had used Orly Bonder instead of Sinful Colors Base Coat. I got a chip within an hour of application….because my husband made me load the dishwasher. Just because he cleaned the kitchen, made dinner and baked me cookies. He’s so MEAN!
After Xmas Haul
You know what’s better than Xmas shopping? After Xmas shopping!
On Friday night, we hit Walmart, in search of 75% off beauty sets, as seen on Nouveau Cheap. Although I did spy a few sets from Flower, Hard Candy and e.l.f. – they were all atrocious eye shadow and I passed. I did, however, find a Scinti Countdown to Christmas Gift Set – it’s like a nail art advent calendar. I really just wanted the little mustache nail decals. It ended up being $3.72, so not bad, even if it is a brand I’ve never heard of.
On Saturday night, I talked my BFF into a trip to Walgreen’s, again in search of clearance Xmas. Along with a shit-ton of Gift Tags, I found a Conair Ultimate Style and Volume Gift set for $5. I really only bought it for the bun maker thingy. I also picked up a Red Velvet revo and the most awesome thing ever – a dancing Xmas Tree that sings “Feliz Navidad”!
I think I made my BFF sad when I carried that fucking tree down every aisle, making it serenade all of the other shoppers. Shenanigans!
Goodbye Crater Pores!
Whoever packed my box did a great job color-coordinating the tissue paper!
Birchbox has the best loyalty points system, hands down! I had $30 in points just a few months ago and here I am with $30 in points again!
After trying a sample of Benefit’s The POREfessional in Ulta’s Cyber Monday Bag, I had to have a full size. (This stuff is like the most magic nose spackle ever!) Also needed a back-up Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. With a 20% off code, $30 in points and free Ace shipping, I only paid $11.60.
The free samples were so-so this time: Harvey Prince “Imperial Gardenia” (which I received in my June Box) and evologie Stay Clear Cleanser. Hit me up if you like Gardenia and you can have the perfume…
Lael & The Zoya Color Lock System
Since I was off on New Year’s Day, I had time to relax and try out the full Zoya Color Lock System, which I received in Zoya’s Cyber Monday Mystery Bag.
I started with Zoya Anchor Base Coat. It quickly dries absolutely clear and smooth. I then tried out 2 coats of Zoya “Lael” – described by Zoya as a deep, saturated red-toned plum purple with a shiny creme finish. It’s not quite as dark as Julep “Padma” or “Logan”, but it’s pretty dark. It’s shiny on its own, but once I added a coat of Zoya Armor Top Coat, it was almost a mirror finish. I did NOT try the Zoya Fast Drops – even though Armor isn’t a fast dry, I felt like it dried really fast. After 30 minutes, I unloaded and loaded the dishwasher and scrubbed some dishes and they were still flawless. Unfortunately though, I managed to get some sheet impressions and slight dents in my nails while sleeping last night. *sigh*
I also did my toes. My toenails were getting so long that they were hurting my feet! I cut em back and painted away. My toes will be the real test of how well the Color Lock System holds up…
Last Shopping Trip of the Year
Having to work on New Year’s Eve is a total bummer…I drowned my sorrow in cheap bath products. I had already been to the Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale on Monday to buy some gifts and got to use a $10 off $40 coupon…but I forgot the $20 off $50 coupon – I had to go back, right?
Half the stuff is for my husband – shower gel (Twilight Woods and Dark Amber) and foam bath (Energy Aromatherapy). I bought a shit-ton of shower puffs – I just don’t like any other ones – Bath & Body Works are the absolute best. I picked up Pure Paradise Shower Gel (online only now!) and decided to try a new scent in shower gel and body lotion – Strawberry Sparkler (I used it today – it smells like strawberry syrup). I also bought some new travel sizes for my next trip – Pink Jasmine Kiss & Blackberry.
…and I didn’t even buy any hand soap! (Only because most of what they had out was that weird foamy shit – I don’t care for the foam.)
I was pretty proud that my receipt said I saved $92.75. Yeah, I know this shit is overpriced, but regardless – I got a lot of stuff for $39.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks
My son demanded that I do fireworks on my nails for New Year’s Eve. I couldn’t leave him disappointed.
After Sinful Colors Base Coat, I started with 2 coats of Sinful Colors “Starry Night” for the night sky. I made the fireworks with a few quick swipes with one of my dotting tools. I chose my shimmeriest shimmer polishes for the fireworks: Nicole by OPI “On A Gilt Trip” (this one has been seeing a lot of action lately), Zoya “Bobbi”, Julep “Dahlia”, Zoya “Cassedy” and Julep “Tin Man”. Sally Hansen Diamond Flash made my nails super shiny.
Logan was very proud of my nails and was sure to tell everyone last night that he was my inspiration. Love that kid!
She’s Dead – Wrapped in Plastic
Here it is – the first of the Twin Peaks polishes.
This is Hare Polish “Wrapped in Plastic”. The base is a translucent blue, the color of Laura Palmer’s skin. Inside the polish are white, aqua and iridescent gold glitter. The polish is a bit thick. I could have gone for a sheerer look and used one coat, but I had to go for two coats, so it got really thick around the edges. I got a few chips in less than 24 hours, but I was sloppy with the top coat, so it might not be the polish’s fault. I think it would also look fantastic with a matte top coat.
As usual, Orly Bonder on bottom and Sally Hansen Diamond Flash on top.
See the first collection HERE…and OMG, they just came out with a second Twin Peaks Collection HERE. I NEEEEED the Garmonbozia!