Category: Nails
A Unicorn in Lederhosen
I ended up with this fantastic “Unicorn in Lederhosen” ornament at Chinese Christmas last year…AKA White Elephant for everyone else. (It’s not racist since we ARE Chinese?) Anyway, my cousin Kate knew I would absolutely steal this from anyone who picked it, but I got lucky and picked it first.
This is a glitter gradient with Funky Fingers “Triple Dog Dare Ya” over Nanacoco “Illusionist”. “Illusionist” was a bit thin, so I used two coats. I am in lust with the fuchsia and blue glitters in “Triple Dog Dare Ya”. I need to make it a permanent part of my glitter rotation.
For some odd reason, the tips started chipping immediately – even with the Sinful Colors Base Coat and Sally Hansen Diamond Flash. Next time, I’ll use Orly Bonder with the Nanacoco.
December Beauty Box 5 – Merry & Bright
I got my Beauty Box 5 and Ipsy bag on Saturday, but as you can tell, I’m getting a little backed up in hoard…
This month’s theme is “Merry & Bright”. This is a very odd box. Inside: Jaqua “Pink Champagne” Hand Creme with Meadowfoam Seed Oil (What the fuck is meadowfoam? It kind of smells like diaper ointment…); Absolute! New York Nail Polish Remover Pads in “Lavender” (I tried it last night and after some furious rubbing, I got all the polish and glitter off one nail. There is NO WAY one pad will work on all 10 nails. It’s non-acetone and smells like freshly poured asphalt, NOT lavender); Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Mostiurizer (I’ve heard good things about Juice Beauty – excited); Nanacoco Nail Polish in “Emerald” (So pretty); and Lucky Brand “Lucky Number 6” (a spicy, oriental scent that reminds me of B&BW “Japanese Cherry Blossom”).
No makeup. What????
Barbie Bride
Forget the Ugly Christmas Sweater – now I feel like a beautiful Barbie Bride!
Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure “Sweet Talker” is a pale, pale pink.(I got it in my Allure Beauty Box a few days ago!) It’s a thin, milky polish and was still streaky after the second coat. I might have been able to get a smooth finish after three coats, but since I knew I was gonna put Julep “Chatoya” over it, I didn’t bother. (It will be relegated to the “undercoat only” pile.) Julep’s site describes “Chatoya” as a bright platinum glitter top coat, but upon close inspection, it’s a mix of silver and rose gold glitter – and absolutely stunning. Again, I used the Sinful Colors Base Coat and Sally Hansen Diamond Flash, which is quickly becoming my go-to combination.
Although I didn’t have it in mind when I picked this nail polish combination, it perfectly matches my vintage Barbie Bride ornament, which also adorned my wedding cake oh-so-long-ago. (Poor Ken is hidden behind my hand.) I can’t wait to show off more of my Xmas ornaments…
Ugly Christmas Sweater
Behold…the nail polish version of the Ugly Christmas Sweater.
My husband does NOT like this at AT ALL. All he would say is that it’s “not pretty” – which is just him being nice. It’s beautifully hideous if you ask me…
After Sinful Colors Base Coat, I used just a single coat of Sinful Colors “Sugar Sugar” and a thick, goopy coat of Funky Fingers “Fra-Gee-Lay”. Sally Hansen Diamond Flash smoothed down the goopy, stacked glitter. My husband said it felt like modeling clay after it dried – smooth, but rippled.
Isn’t that cupcake ornament cute? My mother-in-law gave it to me a few years ago. I just wanna lick it!
Allure Beauty Box – December 2014
Because I knew this season’s Allure Beauty Box would go on sale during my Thanksgiving vacation, I set an alarm on my phone to remind me to jump on the computer and purchase it…again, I was able to get this value-packed box of goodies – over $250 of stuff for $44.95 + $10 shipping.
Is it possible that this box is even better than the last one? Inside: Aloxxi Conditioning Detangler (Lily might be getting this); Bioré Self heating One Minute Mask (I would have tried this out tonight if it wasn’t for a freak mustache wax accident this morning – don’t ask); Burt’s Bees Cucumber & Sage Facial Cleansing Towelettes (I totally used up the e.l.f. ones I got last time, so I know I’ll use these); Cetaphil Intensive Moisturizing Cream; Clean & Clear Morning Burst Hydrating Gel Moisturizer; Colgate Optic White Toothbrush + Built-In Whitening Pen (weird); Colgate Optic White Platinum Whiten & Protect Toothpaste (cool); Curel Skincare Rough Skin Rescue (the only duplicate from the last box – my husband already called dibs on this bottle to take to work); Dove White Beauty Bar (I didn’t know people still used bar soap?); Jergens Natural Glow 3 Days To Glow Moisturizer (I don’t need to be browner, so this will be gifted); John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Colour Protecting Moisturising Conditioner (this shit is my JAM); John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss for Cool Brunettes; John Frieda Frizz Ease Nourishing Oil Elixir; Neutrogena Boost Water Gel; Not Your Mother’s Whip It Up Cream Styling Mousse (do people still use mousse?); Organic Doctor Organic Manuka Honey Hand & Nail Cream; Organic Doctor Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Hydrating Radiance Elixir; Physicians Formula Nude Wear Glowing Nude Blush in “Rose” (YES, YES, YES); Rusk Texture Dry Finishing Spray; Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in “Sweet Talker”; scünci Hair Emergency Kit (my purse needs this); Shea Moisture Superfruit Complex Body Lotion; Splat hair Chalk in “Dusty Rose” (why not?); and Style Sexy Hair Dry Shampoo (yes, more dry shampoo).
My only disappointment was that there was no face wash! Now I have to go buy some fucking face wash!
My Sharna
This is Julep “Sharna” from this month’s Maven box. I absolutely adore the fine, sharp texture of Julep’s microglitters. I’ll never add a top coat because I love the sandpapery feel of the glitter. I used Orly Bonder for the base coat – it does a great job of keeping the tips from chipping.
I’ve never heard of anyone named “Sharna” – but then I googled it and saw that it’s the name of one of the dancers on Dancing with the Stars. Hmmm…what an odd name.
It’s a Major Award!
Like I said…I can’t go shopping without getting something for myself. Yesterday, I took Lily to Five Below to pick out Christmas presents for her brother and I couldn’t resist the A Christmas Story themed polishes from Funky Fingers.
The three polishes are “Red Ryder” – I need another red glitter like I need…I ALWAYS need more red glitter; “Double Dog Dare Ya” – blue and fuchsia glitter; and “Fra-Gee-Lay” – white, red and green glitter.
I really wanted some of the other movie themed polishes that they had – they have one called “Jawbreaker“ – but I decided to hold off until my next trip…
December Julep Maven Box – The Countdown Collection
Once again, I got my Julep Box on the 5th – they’re really getting really good at their shipping times. My Julep Box was buried among 8 packages yesterday – a Harry & David box from my boss (pears from Oregon – yum), my Shutterfly Calendars and the rest from Amazon! I only have a few more gifts to buy left…
“The Countdown Collection” stars Orbital Eye Shadow, a shimmery shadow that can be worn dry OR wet. I picked “airglow” – champagne with rose gold pearlescence. I love baked wet/dry shadows, so I hope it’s similar! I also customized the shadows in my box: It Girl “Sharna” – bronze-dipped full-coverage microglitter – and Boho Glam “Chatoya” – bright platinum glitter top coat. For a treat, there were 2 Red Bird Southern Refresh-mints.
Since I switched to the customizable box, I can no longer use my Jules to pay for boxes. I was sad, until I realized that I had so many Jules that I could use them on other stuff – like their new holiday line. I picked SWEEP – The Photogenic Palette. It a palette of 11 neutral shades – matte and shimmer. 11 is such an odd number, but whatever. Even though there’s a sea of naked/nude palettes on the market, I feel like I gotta get em all!
Not a Julep Maven? CLICK HERE to join! Get a FREE Jingle Bells Welcome Box with code TREAT!
Marsala
So Pantone announced their 2015 “Color of the Year” – Marsala, described by Pantone as ‘a naturally robust and earthy wine red‘. Well, aren’t you so fancy, Marsala? Personally, I think it’s just an excuse for Sephora to sell makeup…but what do I know? I’ll go ahead and play along, I’m throwing my Marsala into the ring…
This is Sinful Colors “Hot Chili”. It’s definitely an ‘earthy wine red’, but also has holographic gold glitter. It’s not a smooth polish and really needs a good top coat – I used Sally Hansen Diamond Flash. For some reason, my thumb really started to bubble underneath the top coat and remained rough, but the rest of my fingernails are as smooth as glass. I wasn’t all that good at chemistry, so I have no godly clue why. Oh yeah, Sinful Colors Base Coat first.
I admit, I might be tempted if Sephora comes out with a Marsala set like the one that came out last year for Radiant Orchid. It doesn’t take me very much to be tempted by makeup – does Sephora take direct deposit?
Diamond Steel
I am fighting a migraine. If I am very, very still – the pounding almost subsides.
Sinful Colors Base Coat.
One coat of a nameless steely My Beauty Spot.
One coat of Sinful Colors “Queen of Beauty”.
One coat of NYC “Grand Central Station”.
Diamond Steel.