Category: Nails
Teal Toes
In preparation for going to Schlitterbahn on Friday, I searched through all my polish to find the perfect teal to match my new swimsuit. I found it in Julep “Marion”.
I was so excited when I painted my toes last night – it was going to look great with my pin-up style swimsuit…until reality hit when I was at Target today. Wearing a one-piece to the neighborhood pool is fine, but a colossal pain in the ass when you’re in your suit all day at a water park. So I bought a new bottom (black) and two tops (both leopard print). I’m sure my teal toes will look just fine with leopard print.
Apparently, “teal toes” is a thing. It’s intended to raise awareness of ovarian cancer. Hmmm. Well, I can get behind anything that’s not that awful Komen pink.
Damn You, Five Below
I don’t wake up in the morning and decide to buy a shitload of nail polish. Sometimes, it just happens.
The whole family ended up at Five Below and I didn’t even try to avoid the Funky Fingers nail polish bins. Nothing was catching my eye until I came across a few new opalescent glitter toppers – “Scattered Sea Shells” and “Broken Sea Glass”. I had to find one more to get 3/$5, so I let Lily pick one. She chose “Varsity Blue” – white, black and blue dots.
And then I got caught up in the moment and chose two solar polishes – “Space Cadet” and “Hang Ten, Brah” (hilarious name). I wouldn’t even wear these colors normally – but I bought them anyway. Because of course I did.
Rose Jelly
I had to try a Julep Jelly!
This is two coats of Julep “Tiffany” sandwiched between Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat and Dream Polish Gem Glam Top Coat. I was expecting it to be sheerer, but it was thicker than I expected. It reminds me of melted candle wax. But it’s still a jelly, because I can see my nail line. Julep’s website describes it as Pink radish jelly – I guess radish is pretty accurate.
“Tiffany” is sooooo much like Jenna Hip “Rose Tart” – both match my Knockout Roses, although “Tiffany” is just a smidge darker.
June Julep Maven Box – The Deep End Collection
In addition to my Delushies, I also received my June Maven Box yesterday. When I told my husband, “I got 5 new polishes today!” – I got a “Really?” AND a shaking of the head with a side order of rolling eyes.
I had to go to Julep’s site to recall what this month’s collection is called – it doesn’t say it ANYWHERE on the insert card that came in my box. In case you were wondering – it’s “The Deep End Collection.” It’s full of bright summery colors and a new formula for Luxe Up Your Lips – less sheer and more coverage! I picked the darkest – “Sangria”. For polishes, I picked Classic with a Twist “Jacqueline” (reminds me of my buddy Jah-quell-in) and Bombshell “Tiffany” . I added on Classic with a Twist “Fireworks” – who couldn’t use more red, white and blue glitter for the 4th?
There were also 2 Chupa Chups – the absolute best suckers ever made! I am definitely NOT sharing these…
Not a Julep Maven? CLICK HERE to join! Get a FREE Spring Welcome Box with code SPRING!
Xmas in June
I received the last package from my online shopping binge yesterday – my Delushies!
I couldn’t pass up the chance to get my hands on a few soon-to-be discontinued shades – “Forever Young” ($3.00) – a beautiful creamy white base with iridescent shimmer and floating red hearts, and “Sugar Plum Surprise” ($2.50) – plum jelly filled with an array of holographic navy, pink, green glitters accented by gold dots.
I also took this opportunity to get a Crystal Glass Nail File – they are supposed to be the absolute BEST. For the first time ever, I am actually looking forward to cutting my nails!
I couldn’t wait – I had to try “Sugar Plum Surprise” immediately.
This is two coats on top of Orly Bonder. There was plenty of glitter – I didn’t have to work to get it out of the bottle. For the top coat, I used Dream Polish Gem Glam. I prefer a thicker top coat over glitter or maybe I should have done 2 coats?
Addiction Perfection
I have a pile of a couple dozen polishes that I haven’t tried yet, so I grabbed Urban Decay “Addiction”. It reminds me of the dark green ink on a new dollar bill.
After Orly Bonder, I did two quick coats of “Addiction”. I was super excited to try Dream Polish Gem Glam Top Coat. It’s quite different than “HK Girl”. It’s thinner and doesn’t smell like epoxy. I actually ordered a scented variety – “Lily Flower”. The scent was almost overpowering last night, but it’s very faint today. It dries a tad slower, but it’s still quick drying. It’s not as smooth as glass and a tad less shiny, but it photographs beautifully. Being slightly less shiny is better, since it lets the polish’s beauty speak for itself. I want to try it over a few different polishes before I declare it the perfect top coat, but I’m really excited that it’s “5 free” – I don’t want to get finger cancer!
Online Shopping Binge
I kind went nuts last week with the online shopping – between Thursday night and Saturday morning , I placed no less than 6 online orders…so many sales and coupons in my inbox…I couldn’t resist.
With the long holiday weekend and biblical flooding, almost all of the packages hit at once yesterday. Instead of half a dozen different posts, I figured I’d stuff most of them into one…
I am fairly shameless, so I’m not going to show the pile of underwear from Victoria’s Secret. Yup, I hoard panties, too.
I had been eyeing the Sephora Sun Safety Kit – I need to protect my easily scorched skin. Inside the kit are 16 different sun protection products in a cute travel bag: – AmorePacific Natural Protector SPF 30, Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Broad Spectrum SPF 50, Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 in Light Medium, Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen, Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45, Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15, Josie Maran Cosmetics Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47, Korres Yoghurt Nourishing Fluid Veil Broad Spectrum SPF 30, Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30, Ole Henriksen total truth eye crème SPF 15, Origins VitaZing Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Energy-Boosting Moisturizer with Mangosteen, Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense Lotion SPF 30, Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 50+ WetForce Broad Spectrum Water Resistant (80 Minutes), St. Tropez One Night Only in Light-Medium, Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum SPF 30, and Vita Liberata Passion Flower & Argan Dry Oil Broad Spectrum SPF 50. PHEW – that’s a lot of sunscreen!
For my 3 samples, I chose Viktor & Rolf “Flowerbomb” (spicy and flowery, reminds me of a Victoria’s Secret scent), Maison Martin Margiela REPLICA “Beach Walk” (this doesn’t smell like a perfume – it smells like a thing – LOVE), and dr. brandt Do Not Age. Sephora was also running a Jetsetter deal – pick 3 extra samples – so I got Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream, and boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel. My face is gonna be SMOOTH.
I can’t say no to Birchbox’s Limited Edition Boxes. As soon as I got the email got the “Under the Sun” ($55) box, I knew I would eventually order it…but not until I got that 25% coupon. 25% off and $10 in Birchbox points and ADD TO CART. Inside the box: Baggu Tote Bag (I had my fingers crossed for this elephant print!), Cynthia Rowley Beauty Beauty on the Go Multi Blush & Bronzer Duo (meh), Laura Mercier Bakes Eye Color in “Cameo” (yasss), Sugarpova Flirty Candy (why does Maria Sharapova sell candy?), Chloe + Isabel Birchbox Exclusive Medina Convertible Pendant Necklace (my favorite part of the box!), Knockaround Premium Sunglasses (silver!), ncLA Nail Lacquer in “Bikinis & Martinis” (it’s the color of bubble gum you’d find stuck under a picnic table), and Supergoop! Skin Soothing Mineral Suncreen with Olive Polythenols SPF 40.
For samples, I got Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator and Sumita Jumon Contrast Eye Pencil. I also finally got my Birchbox Anniversary Keyring (not pictured).
…and today, I got a big box of Deep Cleansing Hand Soap from Bath & Body Works. You know that I start to get the shakes if I have less than 30 bottles under the sink. They were all between $2.75 & $3.25, plus 20% off and free shipping. I threw in a handful of Scentportables for my car for good measure.
I also received my Dream Polish Gem Glam Topcoat in “Lily Flower” – yes, it’s scented! This another popular one on Instagram and it’s 5 free – I can’t wait to try it out.
I am still waiting on my sale order from Delush Polish – that’s the only one that hasn’t arrived. I think I have enough stuff to keep me busy…until next week when all my subscription boxes start rolling in!
Reflecting Skin
It’s glittery, but not. It’s…breathtaking, like skin that reflects pure light.
I decided to do a new version of my old naked rhinestone suit manicure. After Orly Bonder, I used RUFFIAN “Sahara” as my skintone – just one coat. A thick coat of essie Luxeffects “Set in Stones” and then finished off with Zoya Matte Velvet Topcoat. Just four quick coats and dry within minutes. The perfect “before bedtime” manicure!
Salmon Clamdiggers
So Old Navy was having a ridiculous Memorial Day sale – the whole store was on sale and I ended up going twice, knocking out a little of next year’s School Shopping…although mostly shopping for myself. I’d been coveting The Pixie Ankle Pants for while, although on my 6’1 frame, they’re more like what my mother would have called “Clamdiggers” on me.
I’d tried them on several times, but never saw the right color and fit…until now. I came across a pair with a salmon pattern and fell in love. I don’t know why – I’ve never particularly cared for the color, but they were just so…funky. I tried them on and they were like magic pants. I grabbed a salmon colored cardigan (grandma sweater) and white tank top to match…and I saw a Real Housewife staring back at me. I finally have something to wear while skipping out of PTA meetings to go smoke behind the elementary school! Wouldn’t you know, my husband said they’re HIDEOUS.
Of course, I had the perfect polishes to match – Julep “Nan” for my toes and Jenna Hipp “Crème de Cantaloupe”.
I went back to Orly Bonder for the base coat. “Crème the Cantaloupe” was streaky as hell on the first coat and started to worry, but the second coat smoothed out perfectly. My “HK Girl” is getting low and hard to get out of the bottle, but I got it on there – only a few uses left.
That color though…it is NOT for my skin tone. It’s like an electric cantaloupe!
Pink or Purple?
This polish has me all verklempt – is it pink or purple?
At first, I was convinced it was light purple, but when I showed my husband – he said it was very pink. I argued that it was purple, but my daughter agreed – definitely pink. Well shit.
In any case, Jenna Hipp “Très Parfait” was just as awesome as “Rose Tart” – super smooth in two coats. I used Sinful Colors Base Coat this time, but stuck with “HK Girl” – I love that shit, even if it smells like super glue.