Category: Nails
Alice Through the Looking Glass
Look…I could give a shit about Alice Through the Looking Glass movie coming out…but the new Urban Decay Alice Through the Looking Glass palette ($60) – that’s a big fucking deal!
I was expecting it to become available on May 1st, but I was surprised to see it show up on the Ulta site on April 28th. I was at Ulta on April 29th, a quick pit stop on my way to Texas Frightmare Weekend. I stopped in The Woodlands, knowing that if it was out of stock, I could also stop in Conroe.
It was so pretty, I had to open it in the car. The packaging is very elaborate – the top opens up and a butterfly pops up. I’d heard that it is supposed to play a tune, but I haven’t figured out how to make it play. The shadows slide out of a drawer on the bottom. 20 new shadows, 4 for each character – Alice, Mad Hatter, Mirana, Iracebeth and Time.
I also had to swatch all of the Urban Decay Alice Lipsticks ($18): (L-R) “Time”, “Mirana”, “Mad Hatter”, “Iracebeth” and “Alice”. At first, I thought I would get the blue one – “Time”, but where would I wear blue lipstick? Work?
I played it safe and picked “Mirana”.
The best part? The palette was FREE and the lipstick was almost FREE, because I’d been hoarding my Ulta points for the last 10 months and had $72 of points built up. Go ME!
Oh yeah, I also grabbed a clearance OPI polish – “My Gecko Does Tricks” ($4.99), a green that I’d been coveting for a while.
Graffiti Bridge
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Now THIS one turned out sooooo much better.
I killed two birds with one stone – Prince + using a new polish. I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and then two coats of Sinful Colors “Stone Cold” for the bridge. For the graffiti, I used Funky Fingers “As If”. Once again, I had no problem getting stars out of the bottle. I got a few for each nail without even trying. Finished with “HK Girl”.
Shhh…don’t tell anyone, but I’ve never seen Graffiti Bridge. Surely, I’m not the only one…
Raspberry Beret
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Raspberry Beret turned out kind of weird. I was going for a velvet-y look, which it kind of does? Note to self: Don’t use a matte top coat with a jelly polish.
I started with Zoya Anchor and then two coats of Zoya “Paloma”. I then topped with Zoya Matte Velvet Top Coat and that’s when things got weird. It looked fine at first, but it started to shrink around the edges. I actually got long furrows in my thumb nail – almost like a crackle polish. I also got a weird white residue on my thumb. Does matte top coat go bad?
Yeah, I took this off the very next day.
Getting Funky
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I absolutely cannot walk into Five Below without walking out with at least 3 fingernail polishes – it just does not happen. All I was looking for was a bag of poop…
I brought home Funky Fingers “Son of a Nutcracker” – white, pink and green glitter from last year’s Elf Collection (I love pink and green together, Xmas or not); “As If” – black, pink and purple glitter with stars; and “Bottle Rockets” – red, white and blue glitter, perfect for the 4th of July.
They didn’t seem to have any new collections since the last time I was there a few months ago. They better get on the ball or I won’t have anything to buy!
Purple Rain
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How could I not honor His Royal Purple Sexiness? Who is gonna make music to fuck to now?
After starting with Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat, I painted 2 coats of Julep “Aubrey”, Rosewood Shimmer AKA browny purple. I used Julep “Geo” as an accent on my thumb and ring finger for the rain. Top coat is “HK Girl”.
Thinking about a whole series of Prince tributes…Little Red Corvette, Raspberry Beret, Diamonds and Pearls…
Company Blue
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Another 97 cent polish…this one is essie “Strut Your Stuff” – a bright turquoise blue creme.
I decided to mix it up and start with Orly Bonder. The first coat had a few streaks, but two coats were perfect. I’m getting better with cremes – as long as I keep it from pooling around the edges, I’ve been able to avoid the crusties. I topped with “HK Girl”, which dragged a few bald spots. Luckily, they were all on my right hand.
I’d like to see this color with a silver glitter gradient – that would be luxurious.
This blue is the same exact blue as my employer’s logo. I bet I could stick my fingers in a Pantone machine and get a trademark warning…
Long Kiss
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Miss me? Been a bit busy, as all of Southeast Texas is now beachfront property. We’re all safe and dry (now) and I can get back my nails.
China Glaze “Long Kiss” is a luscious, shimmery wine. Not bad for 97 cents! I probably have a dozen or so maroon/wine/blood polishes, but I forget them all when I see a new one. I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and then two clean coats of “Long Kiss”. I could’ve gone with one…but I never go with just one. The consistency is perfect – smooth and even. I got a few bubbles, but they disappeared under “HK Girl”.
I did these Saturday night and they lasted well up until today, with just a few chips on my right thumb. I did my toes, too and they’re still going strong.
Ulta…Note?
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Ulta gives out unique coupon codes for their spring 20% off, so I didn’t have a cute name for this post…Instead of one or two big things, I bought a lot of little stuff. I also bought some gifts for another upcoming birthday, so those items are not shown, of course.
I can’t pass up 97 cent polishes, so the first thing I added to my cart were essie “Strut Your Stuff” and China Glaze “Long Kiss”. I then added two Freeman Beauty Masks – “Sweet Tea & Lemon Peel-Away Clay Mask” and “Apple Cider Vinegar 4-in-1 Foaming Clay”. I wanted to try another shade of Makeup Revolution Lip Euphoria, so I got “Aura”. I added another Zoya Remove+ for shits and giggles.
There were so many gifts with purchase last week! I got free Redken pack with Beach Envy Volume Texturizing Shampoo & Conditioner, Beach Envy Wave Aid and 25 Benefits One United Multi-Benefit Treatment (I have a full size of this that I use all the time). I also got a free Ahava pack with Dead Sea Crystal Osmoter Facial Serum (the fuck?), Time to Clear Purifying Mud Mask, Time to Hydrate Essential Day Moisturizer, Dead Sea Water Mineral Body Lotion, and a free tote bag. By far, the best samples were in the free Smashbox bag, which came with all this: Ahava Beauty Before Age Uplift Day and Uplift Night Cream, Parissa Brow Shaper Mini Wax Strips (I don’t have eyebrows, but I have a mustache – wonder if it will work?), pür Correcting Primer, Hampton Sun Sunless Tanning Gel (NO), Estee Lauder Modern Muse Le Rouge (me likey), Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue (me no likey), MyChelle Dermaceuticals Refining Sugar Cleanser, Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (for real), StriVectin Advanced Retinol Intensive Night Moisturizer, It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product, LORAC POREfection Mattifying Face Primer and Benefit Benetint.
Oh ya, also samples of Benefit Dew the Hoola Bronzer and Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation.
Phew…my fingers are TIRED.
Plastic Flamingos
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I’ve found a flamingo pink even flamingo-ier than the original, Julep “Vicki”. This is Jessica “Soak up the Sun”, from my last Allure Beauty Thrills Box.
I’m not familiar with this brand, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat. The first coat was VERY streaky. The second coat wasn’t as streaky, but it went on VERY thickly. It reminded me of a gel polish, so I had to be very careful around the edges. There were still a few streaks, but I didn’t dare do a third coat. Instead, I just finished with “HK Girl”.
My nails look like plastic press on nails. It’s kinda cool, but kinda weird.
Like a Virgin
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Like a virgin…touched for the very first time.
My nails. I am talking about my nails.
Painting my nails every 2-3 days for the last few years has left them as yellow as banana pudding. The staining is visible through any clearish polish and I thought bare nails would be out of the question forever…or at least until I stopped painting and let them grow out. Not so…I discovered Perfect Formula Pink Gel Coat. I used points on a Sephora order a few months ago to add a sample on a whim. I’m just now trying it and THIS SHIT IS AMAZING. Through the magic of an optical brightener, my nail beds are pink again and the tips look whiter. It’s like I just had a french manicure. This is just two coats – no case or top coat needed…AND it dries within a minute or so.
…but there’s also some bad news. This shit costs $30 at Sephora. Keep an eye out for sample versions…