The Tea on the Manate
Two Jior Couture polishes in a row? How did that happen?
Jior Couture “The Tea on the Manatee” is from way back – I originally picked it up from the July 2024 REWIND Polish Pickup, but it originally was featured in October 2021’s Monsters & Mythical Creatures Polish Pickup.
The ACTUAL tea on the manatee is that sailors used to mistake manatees for hot ladies with fish bodies…you know – MERMAIDS. I definitely could be mistaken for a manatee at a distance, so it makes total sense. Also…did you know that sea monster sightings were actually whale penises? It’s true – look it up!
I had been getting bored with thermal nail polishes, but this one reminded me why they’re so fun! It has a strong thermal effect AND is filled with flakies. I’m pulling this one back out in wintertime.
This is two coats of “The Tea on the Manatee”, over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Froot Loops” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
March 2026 Ipsy Bag – Do Less Glow More
March’s bag was a bit MEH. The only item I am obsessed with is the Mudmasky French Kiss Lip Butter in “Limoncello & Orange” – it smells SO GOOD.
I take that back – I also have been using my product choice as a night cream – LANEIGE Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer. It smells like luxury and I wake up with smooth SMOOTH skin.
Also in this month’s meh bag: Manna Kadar Cosmetics Pink Mirage Eyeshadow Palette; Mi-el Skincare Strawberry Kiss Sugar Body Scrub; and a Pear Nova Lid Focus Brush.
I subscribe to the original ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and ipsy Ultimate (formerly Icon Box, and before that – 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.
Quirky Quokka
When threatened, the quokka will toss its own baby at a predator in order to make a quick getaway. And that my friends, is how the quokka fits into February’s “Cute but Deadly” theme.
Jior Couture “Quirky Quokka” is filled with multichrome and neon microglitter. It has a slight texture – I probably should have added Glitter Grabber, but I didn’t consider it at the time. The neon yellow microglitter kind of overpowers the rest of the shades, but I don’t hate it. I don’t love it, but I don’t hate it.
This is two coats of “Quirky Quokka”, over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Froot Loops” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
Lilac-Breasted Roller
Whatcha “Lilac-Breasted Roller” is from way back in May 2025, the “Tropical Forest” theme.
The slight lilac spark in this polish was impossible to photograph – I kept feeling like I almost got it, but it just did not make it into the shot. Another gorgeous magnetic polish, which is pretty much all that I’m buying these days. I will note that the magnetic particles in this polish do not want to stay put – I used the thin edge of my magnet and had a very thin line, but it spread as it dried. They still turned out to have nice contrast, so I’m not even mad.
This is two coats of “Lilac-Breasted Roller” , magnetized with a neodymium magnet, over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Froot Loops” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
Peachy Skin Ulta Haul
Lily needed more face wash and one day during Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty Event and her Peach Slices Snail Rescue Purifying Cleanser ($14.99) was BOGO 40% off, so I picked her up two. I kept the gift with purchase (a sample size Snail Rescue Purifying Cleanser) for myself. Kate Somerville EradiKate 3% Sulfur Daily Foaming Cleanser was half off ($23 instead of $46), so I got her one of those to try, too. She isn’t into makeup, but at least I can make sure she has good skincare.
My Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner in “Rose Petal” was also BOGO 40% off, so I picked up two for myself. I also added a Zoya Remove+ Nail Polish Remover ($12) for the hell of it…and to get another gift with purchase. I even got to use a $10 off coupon.
The free 5 piece mystery gift with my $65 purchase included Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo (giving to Lily as well); e.l.f. Cosmetics Smoky Kohl Eyeliner in “Rare Emerald” (might keep this one); Tula Skincare A+ Renewal Serum (keeping for me); NYX Epic Wear Eyeliner Stick in “Turquoise Storm” (cleaning out old eyeliner stock?); and rms Beauty Legendary Lip Oil (great for removing longwear liquid lipstick!).
$962 to Diamond in 2027.
Speak Out
I’ve never seen Erin Brockovich, but I think she wore a red sparkly bra? I guess that is how this polish is inspired by the film, Erin Brockovich?
DRK Nails “Speak Out”, from February’s “Cute but Deadly” PPU, might be my new favorite red sparkly nail polish. I even took it with me to my last pedicure!
This is two coats of “Speak Out”, over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Froot Loops” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
Polish Pickup February 2026 – Cute but Deadly
I managed to miss January’s Polish Pickup “Y2K Comeback”, so I felt compelled to make up for it in February…there were lots of cute (but deadly) polishes to choose from.
I only ordered six polishes, so I was surprised to find a 7th polish in my package. It was another bottle of Phoenix “Succulents”, labelled ‘Batch 2’. This bottle is suspiciously pinker, so I’m guessing the pink was missing from the first batch? Amazing customer service!
Envy Lacquer “Are they made with real Girl Scouts?” ($13) is inspired by the Wednesday Addams’ quote. How could I resist?
Glisten & Glow “Mischief, Mayhem & Soap” ($14) is a magnetic polish inspired by Brad Pitt in Fight Club.
DRK Nails “Speak Out” ($13.60) is inspired by Erin Brockovich. I’ve never seem it, but this is a sexy polish.
Baroness X “Leprechaun” ($13.50) is inspired by the cute AND deadly Leprechaun…they must not mean the one from the films, because he is not exactly cute.
Jior Couture “Quirky Quokka” ($15) is inspired by the quokka’s penchant for throwing their offspring at predators to make a quick escape.
BCB Lacquers “Set Your Heart Ablaze!” ($13.75) is a solar polish inspired by Mitsuri Kanroji from the show Demon Slayer – my niece dressed up as her for Halloween one year!
Lots of polishes to try…I need to get back to painting my nails twice A WEEK instead of once…
Succulents
I was taking my contacts out and I was SHOCKED to find that this polish is the exact same color as my eyes – greyish green. I remember fighting with my mom in high school when I was filling out my initial driver’s license application. She was adamant that my eyes were blue and I argued that they were green. As a child, my eyes WERE blue – but by the time I was 15, they had turned green. She “compromised” that my eyes are might be grey…but I put green on my application.
Anyway…this is Phoenix “Succulents” from last December’s Maker’s Choice. It’s a greyish green magnetic polish, with a hint of pink. I could have swore there was more pink to it, but it’s very faint. Regardless, it’s a gorgeous polish.
This is two coats of “Succulents” , magnetized with a neodymium magnet, over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Froot Loops” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
Kristjana
Look what I found! A 10 year old Julep polish that I haven’t tried yet!
Julep It Girl “Kristjana” is described as a sweet plum holographic and it’s still as good as the day it was bottled. It’s a bit sheer in one coat, but two coats was perfect. I’ll admit – the sheer formula didn’t hold up very well. I only wore it a few days before I had edge wear on every single finger.
This is two coats of “Kristjana” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Froot Loops” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.
Trapped in Time
Life…uh…finds a way.
Colores de Carol “Trapped in Time” is inspired by a mosquito trapped in amber – you know, from Jurassic Park. It’s my last pick from August’s “Time Travel” Polish Pickup and I should have tried it first – it’s so gorgeous and multi-dimensional. It’s a strong magnetic polish, which heightens the depth of the polish so that it looks like there just might be something stuck in it. I feel like I have ant nail stickers somewhere…wouldn’t that be hilarious? Or I guess I could just go outside and find a real mosquito…ew.
One caveat – this polish stained my nails something fierce. No sheer polishes for me any time soon.
This is two coats of “Trapped in Time” , magnetized with a neodymium magnet, over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Froot Loops” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry“.