Sunday, May 22, 2011

Pretty in Pink for Spring and Summertime

My favorite nail polish color in spring/summertime is a pale, bright, clean pink. I just think its classic and beautiful. Here are a hand full of my favorite pink nail colors. 

Sephora by OPI is a very sheer, milky pink. Great for a clean classic manicure.

Essie Fiji is a creamy baby pink, perfect for nails and toes. 

OPI I'm OK, You're Bouquet is a mid-tone pink that's little darker than Essie Fiji and more red toned as well.

OPI Mod About You is a bright and clean blue-toned pink with hints of lavender in it. Gorgeous on the toes too.

MAC Love & Friendship is the darkest of the bunch, it leans more on the side of lavender.


Pictured left to right: Sephora by OPI A True Romantic, Essie Fiji, OPI I'm OK, You're Bouquet, OPI Mod About You, and MAC Love & Friendship.



Three coats each and Seche Vite as a topcoat
Thumbnail: MAC Love & Friendship
Pointer: OPI Mod About You
Middle: OPI I'm OK, You're Bouquet
Ring: Essie Fiji
Pinky: Sephora by OPI A True Romantic


Essie's Fiji


On a recent trip to the nail salon, I chose OPI's Mod About You as my pedicure color. I loved how light and bright it was. The color was perfect for Spring and made my toes look clean and crisp. When I got home I immediately Googled the nail polish and realized it was probably going to be really hard to find. Next, thing I searched for was a dupe. The one that kept popping up was Essie's Fiji. I read about how horrible the application was and about how it was a pinkier version but I picked it up at Longs (CVS) anyway. All the reviews were absolutely right, it was a tricky little sucker to apply but after being extra careful and slapping on about four coats I came out with this (picture above). I topped it off with my fave Seche Vite Fast Dry Topcoat, it smoothed everything out and it was gorgeous. To my surprise it did not shrink due to the topcoat (others usually do on me), and it did not chip for at least four days (I usually change my nail color every two days). All in all, I'm happy that I picked it up, it's become one of my new faves and if  you have a steady hands and some patience I would recommend Essie's Fiji to you.

*Side note: Of course with me being just a little bit crazy, I still searched high and low for OPI's Mod About You and I found the last two bottles at my local Trade Secret. I'm not sure if it's discontinued but if you can get your hands on a bottle I'd highly recommend it.  

Saturday, May 21, 2011

True Religion Hippie Chic

Wanting to get out of the house last week, I decided to go "window" shopping, with "window" being the operative word, I headed out to my local Macys. I always, always, always parooz the cosmetics/fragrance section which I conveniently park near. Walking through the fragrance section the salesperson stopped me and asked if I'd ever smelled the new fragrance from True Religion called Hippie Chic. Intrigued I let her spray a card and hand it to me. I didn't know why, but I needed to have it. It smelled fresh, clean, and fruity which I love. I gave her my usual window shopping line, "Thanks, I'll think about it." After all, I didn't want to be a sucker. ;) I continued smelling different perfumes, Ireally liked everything I smelled, but I was hooked on Hippie Chic. I made my way back to the little True Religion set up and with the salesperson on my tail I turned and said "Yes, I will take this please." I was a happy camper and walked away from my window shopping experience totally satisfied and smelling like a "you-know-what."


True Religion Hippie Chic Specs:

*Eau de Parfum
*Launched this year '11
*Available in 50 ml and 100 ml (I have the 100 ml)
*Available at truereligionbrandjeans.com and anywhere fragrances are sold

Notes:
Top: Raspberry, Pomegranate, Fuji Apple
Heart: Hibiscus, Jasmine, Lily of the Valley
Base: Woody notes and Musk



Monday, May 2, 2011

April Favorites


Shampoo: Head & Shoulders
Conditioner: Dove Daily Conditioner
Styling Products: Tresemé Heat Tamer Spray and TiGi Rockaholic Flexible Hairspray
Shower Gel: Dove Softening
Body Moisturizer : Lollia Cabbage Rose & Citrus
Deodorant: Secret
Face Wash: Cetaphil (Target brand) and Aveeno Clear Complexion Cleansing Pads
Exfoliator: Clarisonic
Primer: None
Foundation Brush: MAC 182 Kabuki brush
Foundation: MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Medium Dark
Concealer: MAC Studio Finish
Powder: none
Blusher: NARS Multiple in Orgasm and NARS Luster over top
Bronzer: NARS Casino
Highlighter: Dior Amber Diamond
Eyeshadow Base: Two Faced Shadow Insurance
Eyeshadows: MAC Softbrown and MAC pigment in Naked
Eyeliner: MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
Mascara: Benefit Bad Gal
Lipstick: MAC High Tea
Lipgloss: MAC Moonstone Lip Gelée
Nail Colour: Essie Fiji and OPI Mod About You
Perfume/Scent: Marc Jacobs Daisy and Miss Dior Cherie




Saturday, March 19, 2011

Purple Mermaid Manicure

I really don't like having bare nails. And since I have so many nail polishes, that I'll never use in this lifetime, I decided to paint my nails yet again this morning. 

Sephora by OPI has to be one of my favorite brands of nail polish but at $9 a bottle I don't have many. I do however pick up the gift sets because they are a bargain. While shopping for the infamous Metro Chic awhile back I stumbled upon a gift set with Metro Chic, Domestic Goddess, and A True Romantic. I snatched it right up and fell in love with all the colors. 

In this photo, I layered two coats of Sephora by OPI Domestic Goddess with one coat of Sinful Colors Let Me Go. The result is a lovely medium purple iridescent with green-y teal-y duochrome. It is very difficult photograph well but I captured some of its beauty on my thumb nail. It reminds me of mermaids and it's gorgeous!


Sunday, March 6, 2011

Happy Birthday!!!

We had a little BBQ for my husband's birthday last night and I just wanted to share a picture of my hubby lighting his candles. I love him so much. I'll keep the mushy-ness to a minimum and leave it at that.


Look at how bright his cake is! By the way, I decorated it myself with blue gel. Pastry chef in the making? ^___^

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Products I've used in February

Shampoo: Head and Shoulders
Conditioner: Aussie 3 Min Miracle and Pantene Pro-V
Styling Products: Aquage Beyond Shine 
Shower Gel: Lush Kiehls Coriander and Dove 
Body Moisturizer : Lollia Cabbage Rose & Citrus

Deodorant: Secret
Face Wash: Cetaphil (Target brand) and Aveeno Clear Complexion Cleansing Pads
Exfoliator: Clarisonic
Primer: None
Foundation Brush: MAC 182 Kabuki brush
Foundation: MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Medium Dark
Concealer: MAC Studio Finish
Powder: none
Blusher: NARS Luster, Madly, Taj Mahal and Benefit Coralista
Bronzer: NARS Casino
Highlighter: Dior Amber Diamond
Eyeshadow Base: Urban Decay Primer Potion
Eyeshadows: MAC Satin Taupe & MAC Embark
Eyeliner: MAC Smolder and Stila Smudgeproof in Stingray
Mascara: Prestige My Biggest Lashes
Lipstick: MAC High Tea
Lipgloss: Revlon Colorburst in Peony
Nail Colour: Zoya Robyn, Jolene, & Dana and OPI Teenage Dream
ATM 3/3 MAC Formidable from Venomous Villains (changes every two days)
Perfume/Scent: Marc Jacobs Daisy


*Post your Feburary products too! I'd love to see what you've been using.


*Got the layout and idea from my friend Chrissy. Check out her blog, she's FABULOUS!!! ChrissyDee1011