Author: Lara
La Paz-itively Hot
Although I LOVE wearing the fancy Indie polishes from Polish Pickup, sometimes a plain, corporate nail polish hits the spot. At least my base and top coats are still Indie…
I found OPI “La Paz-itively Hot” In the back of a cabinet – I think Miss Lisa gave it to me when she was purging her collection? It’s from the Fall 2009 Matte Collection, but it worked just fine. It is a hot pink matte with a hint of shimmer. I wasn’t feeling matte vibes, so I made it shiny.
Funny story. I have beef with La Paz – my ex indulged in hookers and blow on a business trip to La Paz. Then he came back and told all my friends that I must have cheated on him when I ended up with an infection. Too bad his co-worker had loose lips. Good times.
This is two coats of “La Paz-itively Hot” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loops“.
Easter Egg
I must have taken a dozen different shots trying to capture every facet of By Vanessa Molina “Easter Egg” – every angle is a different look! Those shifty magnetic polishes…
“Easter Egg” is the last polish I needed to sample from April’s “Celebrate!” Polish Pickup. It’s – of course – inspired by Easter. It’s a magnetic polish containing green/magenta/copper/purple variations, with Aurora Pigment and glitter Galaxy. It’s like the northern lights, the milky way and a zombie rising from the dead, all wrapped into one.
I used the neodymium magnet on these again, but instead of just resting my finger on the flat side of the magnet, I held the narrow edge catty-corner over each nail and got a really nice stripy lightning effect.
This is two coats of “Easter Egg” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Another Wet Ulta Haul
Can you believe a hairbrush lasted less than 3 years? Lily must brush her hair VIOLENTLY, because the brush I bought her less than 3 years ago broke in half…and she wanted the exact same one again. Only now, the Wet Brush Pro Flex Dry is $19.99 instead of $15.99 – 25% inflation in just three years! Sigh…at least I had a 20% off coupon to use on this order.
I was down to NO eye brow pencil back-up, so I got another Ulta Beauty Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($11). I saw a new lippie stain I wanted to try, so I got a ColourPop HydraPop Glossy Lip Stain in “Baby Fox” ($9) – I like this formula so much better than the old Glossy Lip Stain, which are on clearance for $4.50…and I thought, why not and picked up a ColourPop Glossy Lip Stain in “Ice Pop” – oops, I already have this shade. And I hate it – it looks orangeish on me. Fuck.
Since Lily likes dry shampoo, I got her another can of MONDAY Haircare BRUNETTE Dry Shampoo with Keratin ($7.99).
$403 to go to reach Diamond in 2026.
Synchronous
I don’t know how I managed to skip over Envy Lacquer “Synchronous” – it’s been patiently waiting for me since last October’s “Natural Phenomenon” Polish Pickup!
“Synchronous” is inspired by the synchronous firefly display in the Appalachian mountains. I’ve never seen it, but I imagine it’s a sight to behold. We just get regular loner fireflies here in Texas – but we call them lightning bugs. (Ask me about Louie the Lightning Bug and maybe I’ll sing his song for you.)
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a neon shimmer like this. It’s sheer, but opaque? How even?
This is two coats of “Synchronous” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Empty Orchestra
I snagged Baroness X “Empty Orchestra” during April’s Polish Pickup. Did you know that ‘karaoke’ literally means ’empty orchestra’ in Japanese? You’re welcome.
This is another beautiful magnetic polish and I think I am finally figuring them out! I used my brand new neodymium magnet as I used my husband’s magnet – I just painted my nails while resting them on the magnet and got the ombre french manicure look. I LOVE this polish so much…How long until I can try it again?
This is two coats of “Empty Orchestra” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
June 2025 Ipsy Bag – Make Bold Moves
I love the pattern on this month’s ipsy bag, but the flimsy material is disappointing. I love a mod motif moment, but a stiffer material would have made it bound for my purse…but alas, it’s not tough enough.
I haven’t used my product choice this month – INH Hair Mini Quick Slick Flyaway Hair Finishing Stick. It’s a good idea and I can see throwing it in my purse if I’m going out…wait, when do I ever “go out”?
Also in this month’s bag: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Body Lotion (this stuff is great – going in my travel bag); Goldfaden MD Radiance Whip Brightening Treatment Mask (I used this last week – it felt nice, but I couldn’t tell if I was brighter); Luna Magic Always Demure Concealer Brush (will never use this); and YC Collection Oh, My Eyebrows! in “Medium Brown” (this one is really good – I like the texture, although it did crumble a bit while using it).
A decent bag this month!
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.
Stinking Corpse
Cupcake Polish “Stinking Corpse” is another polish from May’s “Tropical Forest” Polish Pickup. It’s inspired by the world’s smelliest flower – the Stinking Corpse Lily. Even though Houston has its own corpse lily, I wasn’t able to make it to the Houston Museum of Natural Science when she bloomed in 2023. Here’s to hoping I get to smell her when she blooms again in 3 to 10 years.
“Stinking Corpse” is a beautiful combination of deep wine red shimmer nail polish with scattered holographic micro flakies – I love a shimmer, but adding the holographic flakies makes it really out of this world.
This is two coats of “Stinking Corpse” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Electric Jaguar
Lumen Lacquer “Electric Jaguar” is giving GOTH LISA FRANK.
“Electric Jaguar” was one of my first picks when I was picking out polishes from May’s “Tropical Forest” Polish Pickup. It’s NOT magnetic – it’s a dramatic multichrome that shift from red to green to gold to amber. The main shades are red and green, but somehow it’s not giving Xmas. It’s completely wearable.
This is two coats of “Electric Jaguar” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
SpongeBob Ulta Haul
I know it’s dumb…but I am a SUCKER for collections in PR Boxes. Half the time, I don’t even use half of the items in the collection, except for an initial swatch. I expect that to be true of the Wet n Wild SpongeBob Squarepants PR Box ($75). I was a bit disappointed in the outside box itself – I was expecting sturdier carboard – so it will probably end up in the bin. Inside the PR Box: Underwater Wonder Liquid Blush in “Rock Star” (it’s VERY pink, but flattering on me); Double The F.U.N. 2-in-1 Liquid Eyeliner & Stamp (OMG, the stamp is in the shape of the background flowers in the cartoon – like a rickie tickie stickie – and coincidentally the same shape and size as the tattoo I gave myself in high school that I lost in my reconstructive surgery…BREATHE); Splash On Waterproof Mascara in “Deep Dive” (I won’t be using this – will probably end up with Caty); Bikini Bottom Cooling Lip Oil in “Thar She Blows”; Bikini Bottom Cooling Lip Oil in “I’m Ready”; Bikini Bottom Cooling Lip Oil in “I Wumbo, You Wumbo”; F.U.N. Eye & Face Palette (I’ve used this and I admit – blue eyeshadow is not my friend); Always Looking Up Mirror & Keychain Set; Squidward Makeup Sponge (Besides the eye stamper, this is the other thing I wanted most); Serving Up Smiles Eyelash Curler – SpongeBob; Kelp Shake Dual Phase Dewy Setting Mist (another giveaway); and SpongeBob SquarePants Face & Body Gems (I threatened my daughter to wear these to the Stray Kids concert – I did NOT call her bluff). I am NOT disappointed with my purchase.
I was looking for Tree Hut “Tangerine” Body Spray to match my Tangerine mood, but they don’t make it. I had to settle for Tree Hut Serum-Infused Hand Wash in “Tangerine” ($6.99). It’s a bit pricy, but I find solace in the fact that this bottle is 11oz versus Bath & Body Works 8.75oz bottles.
Since Lily actually needed the serum and not the moisturizer I got last time, I got her Peach Slices Snail Rescue Intensive Serum ($17.99) and Peach Slices Snail Rescue Blemish Busting Toner ($13.99). Since she isn’t interested in makeup, the least I can do is provide her with decent skincare. Oh, and I also switched her over to the shaving oil I like. I let her try mine and she liked it, so I got her Tree Hut Moisturizing Shave Oil in “Electric Beach” ($10.99).
There was also a birthday gift in this order (not pictured, of course), which pushed me over the threshold for THREE gifts with purchase. The free gift with $75 purchase was not that impressive. It included Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 60 (I take it back – I needed this badly); NOYZ “Detour”; Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizer (this stuff is still around?); NYX Duck Plump in “Clearly Spicy” (my third sample); and Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Sculpt Mascara.
The Platinum & Diamond Exclusive Step Up 14 Piece Gift with $90 purchase was more impressive: megababe Blade Bar (YES, another one!); Tiffany & Co. “Tiffany & Love for Him” (this smells good enough that I passed it over to my husband to try out); Yves Saint Laurent “Black Opium”; Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray; Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme; Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50; TheraBreath Deep Clean Oral Rinse; Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser; COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser; Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel (for the girl child); smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer+; Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner; Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser; and Natasha Denona Golden Palette Eyeshadow in “Oro” (it’s a bit crushed, so I am scared to open it).
I managed to fill my cart to just over $185 to get the Diamond Exclusive 36 piece beauty bag. I usually don’t luck into these, but I was getting a pedicure and was feeling bougie. In addition to the clear orange makeup bag, it included Jean Paul Gaultier “Le Male Elixir Absolu” (not bad, but since my FiL wears Le Male…I’ll pass); Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream; Kylie Cosmetics Matte Liquid Lisptick Card Sample in “Koko K”; Prada “Paradoxe”; COSRX Master Patch Intensive (an 18 pack – that’s $5 worth); Boots No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Serum; Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Gel Tint Sample Card; bareMinerals BarePro 24HR Wear Skin Perfecting Matte Liquid Foundation Sample Card; tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer Sample Card; Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation Sample Card; Drunk Elephant C-Luma Hydrabright Serum; Camille Rose Moroccan Pear Conditioning Custard; Lancome UV Expert Supra Screen Invisible Sunscreen Serum; Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia Bright Cream (just a packet instead of a pot, but I’ll use it); Ralph Lauren “Polo”; Valentino “Uomo Born in Roma”; Valentino “Donna Born in Roma Extradose”; Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb; Burberry “Goddess”; Kate Somerville ExfoliKate; Clinique Moisture Surge Body Hydrator; Paco Rabanne “Invictus Victory Elixir”; Givenchy “Irresistible”; belif The True Cream – Aqua Bomb; Method Island Mist Body Wash; COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum; e.l.f. Thirst Burst Drops; Dior “Miss Dior”; Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil; Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing UVlock SPF 45; Dolce & Gabbana “Light Blue”; Starface Hydro-Star Patches; Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser; Lanolips 101 Ointment; Earth Harbor Naturals Siren Silk Multi-Tasking Hydration Cream; Drunk Elephant Mello Marula Cream Cleanser; Marc Jacobs “Perfect”; NYX Blur Screen 30 Primer; Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum; CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion; Carolina Herrera “Good Girl” (I think this is the stripper perfume); NYX The Face Glue Gripping Primer; Mugler “Alien” (Nooooooo); Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream; NYX Face Freezie Cooling Primer; DHC Super Collagen Cream; and DIME Luminosity Eye Serum. Phew, my fingers and eyes are tired!
I used a $20 off coupon and $17.50 in Ulta points on this order. I wish my coupon had been 20% off instead of $20 off $100…but I DO have an actual 20% coupon that is valid for the next 10 days…what should I fill my cart with?
Ohhhhhhh, we’re (almost) halfway there….$445 to Diamond in 2026, living on a prayer…
Polish Pickup May 2025 – Tropical Forest
So, we’re calling four new polishes a “light” month now, yes?
May’s theme was “Tropical Forest” and brought some of the most stunning polishes I’ve ever seen. It was hard to decide, but I’m excited to try all of them.
Lumen Lacquer “Electric Jaguar” ($13) is inspired by a jaguar moving through the forest.
Hit the Bottle Polishes “A Realm of Kingfishers” ($13.50) is inspired by sacred kingfishers that the creator’s garden yearly. It’s magnetic!
Cupcake Polish “Stinking Corpse” ($13.50) is inspired by the stinking corpse lily (someday, I’ll get to smell one in person).
Whatcha “Lilac-Breasted Roller” ($13.50) is another magnetic polish inspired by the…checks notes…lilac-breasted roller. If you have not seen this gorgeous African bird, I suggest you Google it NOW.
A nice bunch of polishes…how do I choose?