Author: Lara
Happy 2025
Happy 2025? Oh, the irony…
I picked up DRK Nails “Happy 2025” from July’s Rewind Polish Pickup, but it was originally released in December 2024’s Maker’s Choice, which I missed. It’s a super shimmery magnetic polish with a dramatic blue base with a green magnetic shift. The magnetic shift was strong with this one – the magnet actually made bare spots on a few of my nails, but it wasn’t enough to ruin them. I’d like to try this one with a weaker magnet next time.
This is two coats of “Happy 2025”, magnetized with a neodymium magnet using DRK Nails Magic Effect,over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under DRK Nails Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
September 2025 Ipsy Bag – More is More
Another pink glam bag…perfect for storing Barbie clothes!
My product choice this month was Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial. It’s a botanical scented night cream and it is very hydrating. I’s like to say that it smells like…dragonfruit…but the description says banana fruit flower.
Also in this month’s bag: a FULL SIZE Eva NYC Stay Hydrated Leave-In Conditioner (no complaints here, I use Leave-In Conditioner to slick back my hair when I clip it up every day); Hey Honey Wrinkle Smoothing Multi Peptide Serum (great for WFH days); Pinklipps Cosmetics Everlasting Lip Liner in “Rose Brown” (I LOVE the sharpener in the cap – and it looks great with my skin tone); and SONÄGE SKINCARE Gommage Exfoliating Gel (this is the only piece I haven’t tried yet – soon I will).
This is a better bag than recent months – I’ve been needing new skincare!
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.
Oh Behave!
I know I have a pile of Polish Pickup polishes from previous months…but August’s polishes are SO good…
BCB Lacquers “Oh Behave!” is a vibrant fuchsia jelly with purple to blue shimmer. It’s inspired by Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and the shifting shimmer makes this polish look like his silly velvet suit.
This is two coats of “Oh Behave!” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
Back to the Fuchsia
I couldn’t wait – I had to try Cuticula “Back to the Fuchsia” immediately!
“Back to the Fuchsia” is from August’s “Time Travel” Polish Pickup, and is inspired by Back to the Future. Is there a more iconic Time Travel film? I don’t think so. It’s a vibrant fuchsia polish and it’s magnetic! I used a neodymium magnet diagonally across my nails and they turned out beautifully.
This is two coats of “Back to the Fuchsia”, magnetized with a neodymium magnet using DRK Nails Magic Effect,over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under DRK Nails Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
TITSOAK Bella
This is not a polish for soaking your tits, sorry. TITSOAK is the abbreviated version of “This is the skin of a killer.” You know – one of the cringiest lines from the Twilight movies.
Sweet Heart Polish “TITSOAK Bella” is from August’s Time Travel Polish Pickup and is inspired by the maker’s desire to travel back in time and watch the films for the first time again. Would she be envious of me, having never seen them?
I didn’t remember that this is a magnetic polish when I applied it – I guess I’ll have to wear it again.
This is two coats of “TITSOAK Bella” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
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“.