Author: Lara
Polish Pickup August 2025 – Time Travel
Ohhhh…who doesn’t love a good Time Travel story?
August’s theme piqued my interest and I chose some beautiful polishes inspired by some of my favorite Time Travel stories…and one that was certainly NOT. Can you guess which one?
Cuticula “Back to the Fuchsia” ($14) is a magnetic polish inspired by…wait for it…Back to the Future! I’m also partial to fuchsia, so this one is a double win. I also grabbed Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Huckleberry” ($10).
Colores de Carol “Trapped in Time” ($13.75) is inspired by the mosquito trapped in amber in Jurassic Park. It’s also magnetic.
Sweet Heart Polish “TITSOAK Bella” ($13.50) isn’t inspired by Twilight itself, but by the maker’s desire to be able to go back in time and watch the series again for the first time. (TITSOAK is short for “This is the skin of a killer” – one of the more cringy quotes from the film.)
Pi Colors “Lost to Eternity.000” ($13) is inspired by the cover of a Star Trek novelization. I bet my husband read it as a teen.
Finally, BCB Lacquers “Oh Behave!” ($13.75) is inspired by the man, the myth, the legend – Austin Powers…specifically, the second film in the series: The Spy Who Shagged Me.
Looking forward to digging in!
Nothing to Hide
Do I have a new favorite polish? Maybe…
DRK Nails “Nothing to Hide” is from January’s “Masquerade” Mardi Gras themed Polish Pickup and it is SHIFTY AS FUCK. Duochrome, trichrome…is it a quadrachrome? Let’s just say multichrome. It hits nearly all of the colors of the rainbow. The violet and green are the strongest, but the gold and copper are in there, too. Definitely taking this one to my next pedicure appointment.
This is two coats of “Nothing to Hide” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
Orion
This is actually the SECOND time wearing Ahmya Cosmetics “Orion”. I wore it about a month ago on my marathon Dallas/Long Beach trip, but forgot to take picture before I left town…a polish so nice, I wore it twice.
The pictures still don’t do this polish justice – the way the light catches the shimmer, my nails seemed to be glowing like a Patronus. (And it goes without saying, fuck JKR.)
I got “Orion” in July’s REWIND, but it was originally from December 2022.
This is two coats of “Orion” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
August 2025 Ipsy Icon Box – Ash K. Holm
I was so disappointed that I did not get one of my product choices this month. I chose Dr. Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution Glow Face Mask with Hyaluronic Acid ($37), but they swapped it out with Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder ($43). Normally, I wouldn’t be pressed about receiving an equivalent value product, but I have SO MUCH of this setting powder. Ugh.
I really like the Fenty Beauty Slip Shine Sheer Shiny Lipstick in “Goji Gang” ($26) – it’s like Clinique Black Honey, but glossier and sexier. The jury is still out on Kopari Beauty Kaanapali Coast Hair & Body Mist ($29) – it is overwhelmingly coconutty. I’ll have to be careful with it.
Also in this month’s Icon Box: Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm ($40 – I don’t like cleansing balms, so I’ll be giving this away); Haus Beauty B Structural Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara in “Black Onyx” ($29 – I’ve used it once, it’s plain black mascara); Kulfi Beauty Underlined Kajal Eyeliner Duo ($40 – who is out here paying this much for two eyeliners?); ODACITÉ C-Glow Hydra-Firm Body Oil ($40 – puzzled by what to do with this); and Patrick Ta Major Dimension II Rose Eyeshadow Palette ($70). Honestly, I absolutely get why this eye shadow is $70 – it’s smooth, creamy and blendable – and it even comes with two cream bases to lock in your look. I haven’t been brave enough to try them…yet.
I had to google Ash K. Holm to find out that she is the Kardashians’ makeup artist. Alrighty then.
This month’s box comes in at $317 value…not bad, except for all the weird bummer products. Is it time to say goodbye to the Icon Box?
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.
Totem
Baroness X “Totem” is the final polish to try from June’s “Vacation Destinations” Polish Pickup. This gorgeous magnetic polish is inspired by the tiki statues in the South Pacific. It reminds me of my favorite mug to drink hot tea out of – a green tiki mug I picked up on a Royal Caribbean cruise earlier this year. (Yes, I realize that there are no tikis in the Caribbean – but there was a cool Tiki Bar on the boat.)
I was lazy this time – I just painted my nails with the tips laying over my husband’s rare earth magnet. It gave a cool “cat’s eye” effect. Maybe I should try the viral “fishing lure” nails trend with all these magnetic polishes?
This is two coats of “Totem” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
Wednesday Ulta Haul
I am a sucker for Vaults/PR Boxes and also a sucker for the Diamond Love List, which made my purchase of the NYX Limited Edition Wednesday Full Collection Vault Kit ($90) inevitable. I was skeptical at first – I was afraid I wouldn’t use most of the products (see Spongebob PR Box) – but it’s all wearable for me! The Vault included the Nevermore Academy Palette (so many earthy glitters!); three Wednesday Color-Adjusting Lip Oils – “Nightshade”, “Thorn Pricked” and “Moon Shifted” (I absolutely love these lip oils – they change color and act like a stain); Wednesday Cello Vivid Matte Purple Liquid Liner (this is the only product I haven’t tried yet – give me time); Wednesday Stained Glass Blush Palette (no purple? huh?); Wednesday Stained Glass Contour Palette (my favorite of the bunch – I’ve been using it as eye shadow); and a Wednesday Phone Umbrella (weird idea, but it matches my eggplant colored phone). I even got another freebie from NYX – free Summer Grippie Socks with $30 purchase. I won’t be wearing them until winter, but I appreciate them nonetheless. Let me reiterate, I LOVE this collection – it’s giving Kat Von D Beauty, but without all the anti-Semitism.
I added a few more goodies to my cart: Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 68 Hair & Body Perfume Mist ($26 – to go with all the Beija Flor samples I’ve been getting); Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner ($8.21 – 25% off); and a Wet Brush The Original Mini Detangler Hair Brush ($5.99 – for travel). No eyebrow pencils this time…
Not only did I get a sample of Nutrafol Hair Serum with my $50 purchase, I also got a free Diamond & Platinum Exclusive 11 Piece Gift with $80 purchase. The gift included Sol de Janeiro Beija Flor Elasti-Cream (SEEEEEE!); belif Aqua bomb eye gel; Dolce & Gabbana “Devotion”; Jean Paul Gaultier “Gaultier Divine”; Peter Thomas Roth Instant Firm No-Filter Primer; Uni 24-Hour Serum; tarte Lights, Camera, Action Platinum Mascara; Sunday Riley Good Genes; Kylie Jenner “Cosmic”; Azzaro “Forever Wanted”; and Briogeo Scalp Revival (I wonder if it will work on psoriasis?).
I had a $10 off code, so I used that on this order, as well as $17.50 in points. I am so close to Diamond in 2026 that I don’t mind saving a little money when I can. Just $59 to go!
Polaris
When traveling, I am always paranoid about my nails eventually looking like crap…because if the trip is longer than a weekend, at some point…my nails will look like crap. Luckily, Diana saved the day with Zoya “Polaris”!
I love rose gold nail polish, but I REALLY love rose gold nail polish with holographic glitter. There’s a slight texture to the polish, but nothing like their magical pixie dust!
This is two (messy) coats of “Polaris” over AND under Revlon MultiCare Base + Top Coat.
Polish Pickup July 2025 – Rewind
It’s July again…or at least it WAS July. July means REWIND in Polish Pickup Land, a time to snatch up any polishes you may have overlooked in previous months! It’s a small order this month, but I got some good ones…
DRK Nails “Happy 2025” ($13.50) is from December 2024’s Maker’s Choice, which I missed!
Ahmya Cosmetics “Orion” ($13.50) was originally part of November 2022’s “Tis the Season” – that was before I got so obsessed with PPU.
Emily de Molly “Haunted Vibes” ($13.50) is from September 2024’s “Vintage Halloween” and is a spooky magnetic polish.
Thanks to Orange Man’s tariff war, polish prices are going up and up and up. Even so, I would rather have 3 indie polishes than 4 OPI or 8 Sally Hansen…
Neon Lights
I know I say I hate yellow nail polish, but there is something about Cadillacquer “Neon Lights” that spoke to me…it’s from June’s “Vacation Destinations” Polish Pickup and is inspired by NYC’s Times Square. (I’ve only seen Times Square from the inside of a cab, while traveling across Manhattan and I felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people.)
I did feel like a straight up clown while wearing this polish…but I was a goddamn sexy Pink Lemonade clown.
This is two coats of “Neon Lights” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under a coat each of Glisten & Glow Glitter Grabber and Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
July 2025 Ipsy Bag – Hot Glow Summer
This month’s ipsy bag itself is very cute…but the contents are a bit of a dud.
The only product I’ve used so far is my product choice – TONYMOLY The Chok Chok Green Tea Foam Cleanser. It leaves my skin feeling almost squeaky clean and smells nice, too. But what is a Chok Chok???
The other items in this months bag are a bit weird: Toyfactory Niabrow Serum Brow Gel Mini (ugh, who uses all this brow gel?); Bisha Essential Lip Designer in “Beverly Hills” (grrrrrrr…); Avatara Juicy Lip Jelly in “Watermellow Clear” (maybe I can use with the lip liner?); and Morphe Mini Bake & Set Soft Focus Setting Powder in “Translucent” (are people still doing their makeup like this?). I feel like the products are for a face I don’t have…
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.