Category: Nails
The Disappointment is Real
One last round of online shopping before I go back to work this week – I’ve been out of the office over ten weeks! I haven’t had that long off work ever, not even after my kids. I wonder if I will remember how to do my “real” job?
I’m not going to worry about that right now…instead, I am going to focus on my intense disappointment over Winky Lux Flower Balm ($14). I was prepared for my lips to turn any color in a range of red to pink to purple, but I wasn’t expecting what I ended up with – which was absolutely nothing. I couldn’t perceive any noticeable change in the color of my lips at all. I just paid $14 for Chapstick.
I filled my baskets with basics (that I actually needed) just to justify that damn lip balm. 2 bottles of Zoya Remove+ Nail Polish Remover ($10) – the best polish remover in the whole world, right Beth? I also noticed that SheaMoisture was Buy One, Get One Half Off, so I ordered back-ups of SheaMoisture Peace Rose Oil Shampoo and Conditioner (normally $11.49).
Oh, I was also able to take advantage of last week’s bareMinerals Beauty Break. I was able to pick my shade of BarePro Foundation. I took a shot in the dark and chose “Cashmere 06”. Also included: bareMinerals Skinsorials Skin Longevity Vital Power Infusion (huh?); Gen Nude Patent Lip Lacquer (color isn’t noted on the vial, but I think it may be “dahling”); Prime Time Original Foundation Primer; and Original Mineral Veil. I tried out bareMineral original foundation when it first launched – ~13 years ago? It somehow made me look older than I was, but now I’m that age, so maybe I should try it again? I’m looking forward to trying these old and new products.
For my samples, I got OGX Orchid Oil Shampoo & Conditioner and St. Moritz Professional Wash Off Tan (nope, nope, nope).
I also decided to bop in to Ulta for a haircut yesterday. I am completely incapable of walking out of Ulta empty-handed.
NYX has really found their niche in liquid lipsticks – they have over a dozen different lines, each of which has a distinctly different formula and feel. Right now, my favorite line is definitely the Metallic version of the Soft Matte Lip Creams. I had to pick up two more, since NYX Cosmetics are Buy One, Get One Half Off. I chose “Monte Carlo” (a pink leaning red) and “Rome” (rosy mauve?). Normally $6.99, the sale made them $5.24 each.
I wish I had figured out about using the Ulta Salon sooner – only $197.67 to Ulta Platinum. I also have $67.50 in Ulta points – I see a splurge in my future…
Betcha I’m a Unicorn
Usually, I’m not impressed by milky nail polishes – ESPECIALLY milky glitters – see China Glaze “It’s a Trap-eze”. But it turns out that I really like Funky Fingers “Betcha I’m a Unicorn”.
“Betcha I’m a Unicorn” has a pinkish white milky base – it’s almost iridescent. The glitters are varied – white dots, holographic squares and dots, light blue bars and holographic/white shards. AND the polish is loaded with glitter – no fishing.
This is two coats over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. The best part about this kind of light polish – I swear, I could’ve worn it for a month because it camouflages chips and edge wear so well.
I am in love with these Funky Fingers polishes from Five Below. I wish they’d hurry up and release some new ones!
Blue Steel
I call this look…Blue Steel.
Julep “Ida” is described as blue heron matte shimmer, but to me, it’s Blue Steel. This is quite a unique polish. I have load of steel, gunmetal, stone – all sorts of metallic gray polishes – but nothing like this blue/gray metallic polish.
Matte polishes can be pretty hit or miss and Matte Metallic polishes are difficult to work with, but “Ida” was a breeze to apply. This is just two coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat.
I feel like I need to find Magnum and Le Tigre polishes, too.
Space Glam
Oooh…Space Glam!
Essence Cosmetics “Space Glam” is a complex nail polish. The gold shimmer hits you first, but the base is a duochrome, color-shifting wine to mauve to lavender.
This is two coats of “Space Glam” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
Come to think of it, this polish seems really familiar. I wracked my brain and figured it out – it’s very, very similar to Zoya “Faye”. “Faye” is a tiny bit less gold and more mauve, but they’re very similar.
Sally Hansen 3D Design
When it comes to nail decals – or anything that is supposed to stick to the nail, like nail wraps or even nail stamping – I am deeply skeptical. In trained hands, sure…but most are hard to get the hang of using. I was pleasantly surprised by Sally Hansen 3D Design Appliques. I picked the Floral design, but they also come in Geometric and Knit Sweater patterns. They were an absolute snap to use.
I started with Sally Hansen Double Duty Base & Top Coat and then a single coat of Sally Hansen “Hot Magenta”. (This bottle of “Hot Magenta” is one of my older polishes – the date on the bottle is 2008.) I then carefully peeled off the decals and placed them on my nails. I went in with another coat of “Hot Magenta”, topping with Glisten & Glow Top Coat. The results were amazing – the clear decals took the polish like a champ. They are mostly idiot proof, although I did manage to tear one of the decals. I was able to place the two pieces back together on my nail, so it wasn’t noticeable at all.
Each package comes with 16 decals for $7.99. (Why not 20, so I can get two full sets?) $7.99 is a bit pricey for one and a half manicures worth of decals, but it’s about the same as Jamberry wraps, which go for $15 each and provide 2-3 applications. I might get more of these if I can find them on sale somewhere…
They’re After Me Lucky Charms!
I couldn’t let St. Paddy’s Day pass without a pretty green mani…
I pulled out an oldie, but goody – Julep “Tatum”, neon chartreuse chrome. This is two coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat.
I had intended to use the gold clover decals in this month’s Julep box, but I couldn’t figure out how that was supposed to work. The label said ‘nail decals’, but they were on a white card like skin decals…and the instructions said to apply to clean, dry skin. Go home, Julep – you’re drunk!
Instead of the gold clovers, I decided to try out Julep “Desiree”, a high-gloss holographic top coat. I only used it on my ring finger, but you can’t even tell – the chrome effect is too reflective. I need to try it again on a creme polish. I topped with Glisten & Glow Top Coat, but the bottle is getting too old – it is getting to thick to cover smoothly and I got SO many weird bubbles. Good thing I have a fresh bottles stashed…
Supernova
I am absolutely shocked at how Funky Fingers “Supernova” turned out.
“Supernova” has tiny gold glitter, with larger baby pink glitter, in a clear base. I was expecting sheer coverage, but it provides nearly full coverage in just two coats! You cannot see any green staining on my nails AT ALL.
This is two coats of “Supernova” over Glisten & Glow Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
I wanna listen to Liz Phair now…that used to be my jam…
SAT Shopping
What do you do, when you’re stuck waiting for you kid to take the SAT? If it had been close to the house, I would have gone home and taken a nap, but of course, none of the schools were less than thirty minutes away. Time for a little SAT Shopping…
I managed to kill over two full hours at Target, but didn’t come home with anything cool – just boring stuff like garbage bags and birthday cards and office supplies. I even tried on a few swimsuits, which wasn’t quite as horrifying as I expected, although it definitely wasn’t fun.
I also swung by Bath & Body Works, but not to buy. One of the new summer fragrances was Sea Salt Mango and I was dying to know how salt smells. I can’t say that smelling it answered my question – it smelled beachy, maybe a bit spicy? I also smelled Rose Quartz, which is a smoky rose + patchouli that I might have to add to my collection soon.
My real kryptonite was Five Below. I was all excited about the little skull rose garden I found, neglecting to notice that I had grabbed one with no seeds in it. (I went and bought another one yesterday to get some seeds – $3.) I have never been able to get anything to grow from these Buzzy sets, but maybe this is the one that will grow? I also couldn’t resist three new glittery polishes: Funky Fingers “Betcha I’m a Unicorn“, “Unicorn Dust”, and “Supernova”.
…and just a few steps away from Five Below is Ulta. I spent at least another hour roaming the aisles at Ulta.
I immediately grabbed essence cosmetics “space glam” ($2.99) – I liked “outta space is the place” so much, that I wanted to try more from the collection.
While browsing clearance stuff, I found Pacifica Cocoa Rush Anti-Fatigue Mask for 75% off – just $3.75. It’s like rubbing chocolate pudding all over your face. It’s a hydrating mask – it doesn’t dry and pull out the pores like I prefer, but it made my skin very, very soft.
I took advantage of BOGO 40% off on NYX lippies. I picked NYX Soft Matte Metallic Lip Cream in “Cannes” immediately. I already have the regular Soft Matte in Cannes and want to compare the two. I wore it yesterday and it is so comfortable to wear. It has a soft, whipped consistency like the Julep it’s whipped, but is long lasting. I need ALL of them. I also tried Unicorn Blood Lip Gloss in “Black Hole” – I wasn’t sure how it would turn out – it’s blue glitter. I do NOT need all of them.
I was able to use a $5 off $10 coupon from my email – score! Only $309.39 to Platinum.
Rise & Shine
I couldn’t stand it any more! Last Thursday, I spent nearly an hour and a half (or about three episodes of Drunk History) cutting my toenails and fingernails. The multivitamins my surgeon prescribed (Multigen) are fucking amazing – I’ve never gotten nails this long without breaking – and I’ve been taking biotin for YEARS. I’d continue to take them if they weren’t over $30/month. I decided to ensure that they continued to grow strong by trimming them all to match. And even though I had gone for a pedicure on my birthday last month, they guy didn’t cut my toenails at all – I hate it when they just leave them long! But I’ve healed well and can finally bend to reach my feet. Hallelujah!
I wanted more color in my life, so I decided to try Sinful Colors “Rise & Shine” on my fingers and toes. This is two coats over Sinful Colors Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. I had a heckuva time trying to photograph this polish. All winter, I’d been taking nail pics in my kitchen, under neutral LED lighting. I’ve been getting realistic color…until “Rise & Shine”. I feel like it’s got more green in it that pictures were showing, like a true teal. I waited a day and went outside and took pictures all over my back porch. I got the truest color against the bricks, but it still looks too blue. Pretty, but too blue.
WARNING! Like all dark green and blue polishes, this one STAINS, so get ready for green cuticles after using this polish.
March 2018 Julep Maven Box – Press Forward
I’ve held back on writing about this box for several days, as I wanted to test out the products for a few days.
March’s “Press Forward” box features a totally new type of product – Pressed Serums. For my box, I chose both the morning serum – you got this Pressed Serum Daily Moisturizer – and the nightly product – dream big Nightly Renewal Pressed Serum with BHA. (In a genius bit of product design, the identical tube tops are marked with a sun and a moon to tell you when to use them.) I’ve been using both serums, in addition to washing my face with love your bare face Detoxifying Cleansing Stick. I have noticed a difference in my skin – softer and smoother after just a few days. I’m having a hard time getting used to applying the products, which is not unlike covering one’s face with a Lady Speedstick.
I couldn’t go polish-less, so I used Jules for one of this month’s polishes – Boho Glam “Ida”, blue heron matte shimmer. I also got a special treat – gold four-leaf clover decals for St. Paddy’s Day. I hope they fare better than the roses!
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!