Nichibotsu 2: Electric Boogaloo
Now that I’ve bought a few different nail magnets, I’m working on improving my results with magnetic polishes.
I referred to a reddit tutorial this time, which suggested I start with a black base coat, then a thick coat of the magnetic polish, magnetize, then magnetize AGAIN, immediately after the top coat. Sounds simple enough, right?
My dumb ass always thinks I know better. I chose a magnetic polish I had used recently – Phoenix “Nichibotsu”, so I could compare results. I figured I would be fine without the black base coat and just used a regular milky clear base coat. Magnetizing the polish twice worked TOO WELL. The polish magnetized so well on a few nails, that it made bald spots in the polish (see the end of my left thumb). It also didn’t help that I didn’t let the thick coat dry enough and it moves around when I applied the top coat. Although my results are remarkable better the second time around, I don’t think I held the magnets on long enough either time. There’s nowhere to go but up!
This is one thick coat of “Nichibotsu” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Sawyer
Not bad for an 11 year old polish! It was a bit on the thick side, but it went on like a champ.
Although I originally got it in a Mystery Box in 2016, Julep Boho Glam “Sawyer” was originally launched in the November 2014 Friendsgiving Collection. Julep described it as copper patina molten. I don’t even know what that means, but it’s a chocolate brown polish with a serious gold shimmer that leans a bit…green?
This is two coats of “Sawyer” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Aesops Fables
Blanca LIED…green nails didn’t help me win SHIT in Atlantic City. Well, except for that $100 on the Crazy Rich Asians machine that I eventually lost again…still.
BCB Lacquers “Aesops Fables” is from February’s Fables & Folklore Polish Pickup. It is a minty shimmer that shifts from pink to gold. It is STUNNING in real life and has incredible wear time. I washed my hands HOURLY in Atlantic City and this polish went the distance. My only complaint? I am really missing the apostrophe in the polish name – I cannot handle plurals where a possessive should be. It makes my butthole itch.
This is two coats of “Aesops Fables” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Schneewittchen
Schneewittchen…now that’s a mouthful. Translation – “Snow White” in German.
Yes ma’am, I stacked two Snow White-themed polishes from February’s Polish Pickup back to back. This one is inspired by the Brothers Grimm version of the fairytale…it’s so bloody and so, so German.
Lurid Lacquer “Schneewittchen” is my first Lurid Lacquer. Quality is very good and I was impressed with the shimmer.
This is two coats of “Schneewittchen” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
March 2025 Ipsy Bag – Main Character Energy
Do I give off Main Character Energy?
I’m sure we all think we do, regardless of how uninteresting we may be. I admit, I’ve occasionally felt like the Main Character before…but really, I feel like I give off NPC energy. Like, the kind of NPC you come to for a very difficult quest, or to get the local village gossip. I am Bella Goth, seducing Bob Newbie. Or maybe Princess Peach…
This month’s bag is a weird mix of products. My product choice was Mudmasky Melting Mud Cleansing Mask, since I’ve gotten several different Mudmasky masks is previous ipsy AND Allure Beauty Boxes. Hoping to get to try it out this weekend. The rest of the items were really…odd. I got Balance Me BHA Exfoliating Concentrate; Beauty Vaulte Beaming Lip Liner Duo (do non-Kardashians even use lip liner?); e.l.f. Cosmetics Brow Laminating Gel (I would eyebrows in order to laminate them – I’ll hand this one over to one of the kids); and Gloss Moderne Luxury Eye Elixir. I don’t know if I’ll use ANY of these!
The bag, on the other hand, is super cut and has a strawberry zipper pull. Why am I sucker for zipper pulls?
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.
Fairest of Them All
Mirror Mirror, on the wall…who is the fairest of them all?
The answer, of course, is Cuticula “Fairest of Them All” from February’s “Fables & Fairytales” Polish Pickup. I am pretty sure that this was the first one I added to my cart. I had no idea that it was the magic mirror – when I saw it, I thought of a piece of green marble streaked with gold (I saw it at Floor & Decor and I want it for my bathroom.)
And yes, this is two Cuticulas in a row!
This is two coats of “Fairest of Them All” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Polish Pickup February 2025 – Fables & Folklore
February’s theme was “Fables & Folklores” and I am so proud of myself! Not for shopping conservatively – I did not pick any of the several Taylor Swift themed polishes…at least I don’t think I did?
As much as I love Zoya Remove+, I also love making cheap, shitty nail polish remover into the good shit…I’ve passed by the last few scents, but Baroness X Acetone Antidote “Lemon Shortbread Cookies” ($8.50) sounded too good to pass up.
Cuticula “Fairest of Them All” ($13) is inspired by Snow White.
Indie by Patty Lopes “Renaissance” ($13.50) is inspired by the Phoenix. It’s magnetic, too.
Lurid Lacquer “Schneewittchen” ($14.50) is inspired by the Brothers Grimm version of Snow White, the badass bitch version of Snow White.
Zombie Claw “Persephone” ($13.50) is inspired by Persephone and eating pomegranate seeds.
BCB Lacquers “Aesops Fables” ($13.50) is inspired by…wait for it…Aesop’s Fables.
I cannot wait to dig in!
Dance With Me
Mardi Gras was last week and I chose Cuticula “Dance With Me” for my Fat Tuesday nails. It’s from January’s Masquerade Polish Pickup and is inspired by…a Masquerade.
“Dance With Me” covers all the bases for traditional Mardi Gras colors – the base is a wine jelly and it is filled with flakies that color shift from green to gold.
This is two coats of “Dance With Me” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Red Licorice
I think I’ve got a new favorite red nail polish. If you haven’t been paying attention – SHERRY – my original favorite was Zoya “Sooki”…but more recently, I’d say it was Atomic Polish “Redrum”…until now, that is.
Meet Holo Taco “Red Licorice”. It’s a strawberry red linear holographic polish…and I cannot get enough. (I had to google the different between linear and scattered holographic nail polishes. Basically, the linear holographic make a rainbow in a line and the scattered is an all over rainbow effect? Help!)
This is two coats of “Red Licorice” over Holo Taco Pink Smoothing Base Coat and under Holo Taco Glossy Taco Top Coat.
An Itty Bitty Birthday Haul
I couldn’t bear to let my $10 off Birthday coupon expire at Ulta, so I filled my cart with random items…
I’ve been wanting to try the megababe Blade Bar ($8) and I tried it out over the weekend. It’s basically a bar of soap that you can use to shave your legs…I’ve done it before with regular soap (when I was poor and/or desperate), but this bar is so much better…it’s mainly shea butter and it made my legs feel super moisturized. I didn’t knick myself either – win win.
Of course, I snagged a back-up Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($11), but I also came across a NEW brow product…Ulta Longwear Brow Stain in “Dark Brown” ($11). All I have to say about this product is WOW. It is LIFE CHANGING. It takes a lot of confidence to use, but once I figured it out – this stuff stays on and does NOT come off unless you scrub it off…and it looks like natural eyebrows! Remember when I got the eyebrow stamping kit? That one was a miss for me, but this little baby is my new holy grail….
What else did I pick up…hmmm…a replacement Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water with Rose Water ($11.99)…Holo Taco “Red Licorice” ($14)…and another lip stain marker – Ulta Magic Marker Lip Stain in “Raspberry Kiss” ($10 – the perfect color for me).
Oh, and did I mention 6 piece Makeup Gift with my $60 purchase? It included a Real Techniques Makeupsaver Sponge (ooooh….absorbs 90% less makeup); stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner; Lancome Idole Lash Mascara; Benefit The POREfessional; Estee Lauder Double Wear Smooth & Blur Primer; and another NYX Duck Plump “Clearly Spicy”.
Just $910 to Diamond in 2026…