I'm trying the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Strips on Acrylic Nails

I love the lace nails from Tracy Reese during New York Fashion Weeks past, but couldn't get the look on my own. Now Sally Hansen provide an easy option with the strips. I've hoarded these for long enough. Now it's time for me to put them to use on my nails!

My materials

Starting application
Since my nails still have the old glitter acrylic without the gel, I figured now was a good time to try the strips.

Fully applied!
I'll give you guys an update soon on my experience with these.

Marble Mani Take 2!

Office lady Kris I started the Marble Mani revolution in our office. Today I'm sharing her marble mani from last week. Check it out!

Kris I. says: "I was going for a one-color shimmer splash…. Also, please excuse the unfinished rush job on my cuticles! Lol"

She used: OPI-Parlez Vous OPI (base)
Orly Galaxy Girl (marble color)-

"I could give you a rundown of what I do, but this girl does it THEEE BEST! And she is on youtube for the best tutorials! Mysimplelittlepleasures. Also at www.mysimplelittlepleasures.blogspot.com"

Here are a few tips from Kris I. on marbling:
1-Make sure to use room temp filtered water.
2-Tape around the nail (so you have less to clean up after marbling).
3-Drop polishes in water and use a toothpick (or something sharp) to make designs.
4-Position your nail where you want your design to be…and dunk!
5-While nail is still in water, use toothpick to clean excess polish from surface of water (so as not to mess up your design while pulling it out of the water).
6-BE PATIENT…as not all polishes work together!

Taadaaa!

Thanks so much Office Lady Kris!

Milani Baked Blushes

I had to search around for these, but finally spotted them at Walmart and Walgreens. Bellisimo Bronze was the hardest to find. I don't know why...

Clockwise from the top: Berry Amore, Luminoso, Corallina and Bellisimo Bronze

Swatches left to right: Berry Amore, Luminoso, Corallina and Bellisimo Bronze

Fingertip Swatches: Bellisimo Bronze, Corallina, Luminoso and Berry Amore

Swatches left to right: Bellisimo Bronze, Berry Amore, Corallina

I had to swatch these side by side because I was having trouble distinguishing Berry Amore and Corallina apart in the swatches even though they look worlds apart in the pans. Berry Amore looks like a muted peach, sometimes a bit pink. Corallina is definitely brighter, more pastel coral, orange and has tons of sparkles.

The others:
Bellisimo Bronze- orangey bronze
Luminoso- a light pale peach with sheen

These retail for about $7.99. In addition to finding them at Walmart and Walgreens, they are on CherryCulture.com but currently out of stock.

Do you have any of these? Which is your favorite? Berry Amore might be my fave out of my little bunch.

Welcome Spring with Crabtree & Evelyn

After a relaxing shower, I indulge my skin in Crabtree & Evelyn's Lily Body Cream ($33). The luxurious cream makes me think of wearing a long flower dress, a sun hat and prancing through an English garden to have a bit of tea and biscuits, sniffing a flower on the way... a girl can dream right? While I'm not in an English garden, I carry the scent and those thoughts with me daily from using the cream. It's the little things people, stay with me, lol.

Fall weather is my favorite and I've definitely gotten used to wearing my comfy winter boots, but this lotion has helped me to embrace Spring... sun, summer flowers and the outdoors. Funny how aromatherapy can do that right?

The scent smells very natural and not synthetic, nor cloying. The delightful fragrance is just the half. The cream is very moisturizing, never greasy or tacky. Just right!

Here's how Crabtree & Evelyn describes the cream:

"Pamper your skin with this exquisitely blended body cream infused with spirited Lily scent and formulated with moisturising shea butter along with rose hip and evening primrose oils, which are rich in essential fatty acids. Extracts of lily of the valley, peony, white magnolia, and elderflower help condition the skin.

• A blend of grapeseed, jojoba, and wheat germ oils moisturise the skin.
• Absorbs quickly and imparts a velvety feel to the skin.
• Free of parabens, phthaletes, propylene glycol, and mineral oil.

Fragrance: A heart of lily of the valley blended with dewy greens, woodland mosses, musk, and ylang ylang."

Find this cream. other bath and body products and home accessories in their new floral collection featuring scents of: Rosewater, Lavendar, Lily and Iris.

Shop now for 20% off everything on the site. Sale ends 3/28/2011. Free shipping on orders of $50 or more. Use code: ACTNOW at checkout, Crabtree & Evelyn

*Product provided for consideration for review.

Napoleon Perdis Pays Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor

This week we lost a legend, the beautiful Elizabeth Taylor. Napoleon Perdis pays tribute to her and her iconic beauty by offering a way to celebrate her glamorous looks through makeup.
Napoleon presents the Legendary Liz Taylor Look:

Red Lips

Devine Goddess Lipstick ($22) in Xenia

Napoleon’s Tip - Apply your lipstick and then use a pencil to line around the edges. The liner will glide on more smoothly, leaving a more natural outline but still preventing the lip color from bleeding

Violet Eyes

Color Disc in High Voltage Violet ($25)

Napoleon’s Tip - Before applying to lids, prep the base with a concealer to guarantee color longevity; always use an eye shadow brush to evenly distribute onto the eyes for minimal fallout

Black Eyeliner

Napoleon Perdis Neo Noir Eyeliner ($20)

Napoleon’s Tip - Use it to create an exaggerated cat eye, or make a subtler statement. The super soft applicator tip means mistake proof lining, while the intense black color is buildable for more drama at night

Find these products and more at Ulta Stores and NapoleonPerdis.com.

Which Beauty Product Ingredients Clog Pores?

Ingredients That Clog Pores

Find out which commonly used ingredients in beauty products actually cause comedones (AKA the dreaded blackheads)

This is a TotalBeauty.com skin care article We talked to celebrity makeup artist Terri Apanasewicz to find out which comedogenic ingredients you should watch out for when buying products. Here's what she had to say … See tips

Lipstick Quickie: Guess that lipstick???

Can you guess what lipstick I'm wearing?

*It's not an OCC Lip Tar



*It's not MAC



*It's from the drugstore



...it's CoverGirl Lip Perfectionist Lip Lipstick in Fairytale
In this pic it looks more watermelon pink, than corally-orange that it is IRL

Check out these links about Cover Girl's lipsticks:
Ebrushka's Makeup Bag
Destiny Godley -YouTube
Make Me Over's Review

Inspired by: Keri Hilson (AJ Crimson) FOTD

Keri Hilson has been a source of inspiration for me lately (makeup-wise). Her new album cover is hot, credit to Billy B. Then I saw this! Had to try it. Thanks to AJ Crimson who did this look and provided us with a how- to on his blog. The star of the show is MUFE Aquacream color in Gold (#11). I tried out the look for a party in February. WARNING: I don't look like Keri Hilson so my version won't look exactly like hers. This is an inspired by FOTD.


Sorry about Android pics, but it's the quickest cam before going out!
Yeh so, can't quite remember everything I used but I'll take a stab.

FACE: MAC Prolong wear foundation NC42 and touches of Too Chic Highlight powder on high points
EYES: MUFE Aquacream Gold #11, MAC's soft brown in crease, black liquid liner
CHEEKS: Black Radiance powder in Creamy Beige to contour, Physician's Formula bronzer beads (sun stones), MAC My Highland Honey blush
LIPS: NYX Orange liner, VG Gaga 2 lipstick and NYX Smokey Look Gloss (I switched out the lips for a peachier look, since I don't think Myth looks peachy at all..)

I really think Keri's blond hair set the look off (won't be dying my hair blond anytime soon!), but I can't wait to try this again... I'd deepen the liner, add the gold sparkle powder over the Aquacream and white liner on the waterline!

ALL MY PRETTY GIRLS ROCKS! WHERE YOU AT?

7 Tools You Need to Create Any Makeup Look

7 Tools You Need to Create Any Makeup Look

See which brushes pro makeup artists say are the only ones you actually need

This is a TotalBeauty.com makeup brushes article Investing in and using the right makeup brushes and tools will not only help give you a flawless makeup look, but you'll also save money in the long run. Find out which tools you need now. See brushes

Purple Water Marble Mani

A few ladies in my office are as polish crazed as I am... probably even more! Right now, the ladies are into marble manis. When Michelle of All Lacquered Up introduced me to it, I think she scared me off from even trying. Besides, it appeared to be a mess.

Well, the office ladies have been swirling up some pretty designs and making the whole process sound like a breeze. Here's an example of office lady T. H.'s marble design for her accent nail.

Pretty cool, huh?

Here's what she used:
OPI Lincoln Park at Midnight
OPI Funky Dunkey
Essie Lilacism.

Here's what she has to say about her experience with water marbling:
"The only thing that gives me a bit of a hard time with is the placement of my nail into the polish because I try to have as close to the same pattern on both hands as possible. But overall, I find it pretty easy to do and I love the results!"

Thanks office lady T. H.!

Have you tried water marbling? Is it as easy as it sounds?

Is that Viva Glam Gaga2?

Shortly after VG Gaga was released, the Teen sister was wearing a cool nude lip to dinner that looked like the new Gaga.  I had just gotten it myself!  

Nope, she was wearing the trusty and permanent Blankety.

Swatches l-r: VG Gaga2, Blankety

Sent from my HTC on the Now Network from Sprint!

Happy St. Patrick's Day feat. Maybelline's Green With Envy Eye Studio Eye Shadow Palette

Hey Kerris, I used my shadow palette!

Four complimentary shimmer colors in one palette....greens for the win!

I've been wanting to try this palette since I won it and some other Maybelline cosmetics in a Twitter contest. I figured today would be a great to try it out!

I wore this at work (color, but not shockingly vibrant) and these are end of the evening shots... sorry for the signs of allergies.

FACE
MAC ProLong Wear fdtn NC42
MAC Studio Careblend powder in medium dark
Black Radiance Pressed Powder in Cream Beige to contour

CHEEKS
MAC My Highland Honey(LE)

EYES
MAC Layin' Low paint pot (LE) to base
Green with Envy green on lid
Green with Envy dark olive in outer corner into crease
MAC Soft Brown in crease
Dior white/silver in inner corner
MAC Ivy fluidline (LE)
MAC Zoomlash mascara

LIPS
MAC Frankly Fresh lipglass (LE)

Well, no Irish pub for me, just some good ol' magically delicious Lucky Charms cereal!

Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day? What did you do? Have you ever tried the Maybelline Eye Studio palette.

Rihanna Covers Vogue April 2011

Rihanna and I have this love-dislike relationship, totally one sided. I saw this mag on the newsstand and it was breathtaking. I threw it in my cart. Not sure if I'm interested in the inside, I just LOVE the cover. Sorta reminds me of one of my favorite Beyonce covers.


What do you think of Rihanna's new cover?

10 Makeup Tricks to Make You Look Younger!

Makeup Tricks That Make You Look Younger

Makeup can be totally deceiving when used wisely -- see the tricks that will take 10 years off your face

This is a TotalBeauty.com makeup tips article A sweep of a brush and swipe of foundation can cover our flaws, accentuate our features and add a little whimsy. Best of all (especially when you're a certain age), strategically placed shades and products can give the illusion of youth. Yup, it's true. See tips

NARS Belle De Jour lipstick review, swatches and comparisons

When I visited New York and made a stop at the one and only NARS boutique (413 Bleeker), I picked up a small haul. In my small haul I chose Belle De Jour lipstick (sheer finish) because I'm mildly obsessed with creamy, light peachy lippies. Amongst the colors, this struck me as the light peach that I needed. It had some lustre to it, so it would be perfect for days I have on a full face of makeup or not!
I just learned that this was a highly sought after color a while back. Apparently, Kim K said this was one of her favorite lipsticks. I can see that. She favors a peachy nude in a lot of her smoky eye looks.

(Not so pretty after being used, ehh..)

(l-r MAC Peachstock, NARS Belle De Jour, MAC Shy Girl, Revlon Demure)

Out of these lipsticks, Belle De Jour has the least amount of peach and is the sheerest. Sheers are usually more glossy and has slip to them compared to other finishes. However, when you apply the lipstick, it has a semi satin finish. There's one issue with this lipstick that's kept me on the fence: it seemed to be very drying on me. I'm a bit dehydrated and probably soak up any moisture that my body comes in contact with, but seriously out of all my lip products this is the one I'm constantly breaking out salve and balm and reapplying the color. Maybe that's just me.

Here I am wearing NARS Belle De Jour lipstick with MAC's Creamola lip pencil.

Do you like Belle De Jour? What's your favorite NARS lipstick?

Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

Danielle87 this review is for you ;)

Stila says: "Skin instantly looks softer and younger with this handy multi-tasker. It delivers a hint of sheer coverage, subtle shimmer, SPF [20] and added moisture in one effortless application. Perfect for everyday use, the silky formula blends beautifully for a pretty, luminous look. "
Take a look! Stila offers two shades of this product and this is Shade 02. A drop of the product is on my hand and below it is the product blended out. Look a little closer, it's there! Stila is right... just barely a hint of sheer coverage with luminosity and moisture. The illuminating glow is from slight pinkish glimmer. Gorgeous under low lights (Sephora got me this way!), but barely noticeable in inside lights. Maybe out in the bright sun, I would see more glow, but usually I'm on the go and not really checking myself in mirrors. Besides, I have to cover this with something whether its blot powder or a setting powder (that's not too translucent) to keep shine at bay.

This definitely felt like a moisturizer and whatever tint existed pretty much disappeared. I would recommend this for people who don't wear makeup (more than gloss and mascara) and those that have dry skin type.

I wanted a one step all over glow system (reminiscent of MAC's discontinued hyperreal foundation), but the glow and light coverage that I was looking for isn't strong enough for my taste.
Because the tinted moisturizer felt like a moisturizer first, I used it in lieu of my regular moisturizer and under my foundation, MAC Prolong Wear especially since it can be drying (esp. during these drier months).

For a tinted moisturizer without the glow, Stila offers the Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer.
For skin tones darker than me wanting a sheer glow, Stila offers the Bronzing Tinted Moisturizer.
I actually had a hard time choosing between the illuminzing TM and the bronzing TM. I love a sheer bronzing product when I'm tanned.

Regular price for this is $30, but Stilacosmetics.com has it for $16 on sale.. *blink blink* Where's my receipt for Sephora??

Have you tried this? What's your favorite tinted moisturizer. Do you have a one step on the go face product? Share! I wanna know!

CoverGirl 40% off at RiteAid this week

... and BOGO (buy one, get one) half off at Walgreens! [SALE ENDS 3/12/2011]

Here's what I've scooped over the week: a few of the Natureluxe balm sticks, the liquild silk foundation and 2 of the new Lip Perfection lipsticks. I've heard so much about the Lip Perfection lipsticks, a good sale was all I needed to get the goods!

So far, so good! When I first got the items I did a quickie swatch -thru and instantly heard one of my favorite songs in my head- "I'm Still In Love With You" by Sean Paul and Sasha. Then I said in my #messymya voice, 'Baby, when I tell youuuuuu!' I'm completely excited and swooning over this stuff! The only drawback... it's hard to find a Rite Aid in my area with the Queen Collection. What's up with that? I want to see her collex of Lip Perfection lipsticks too!
"I'm still in love with youuu CoverGirl!"-- me wearing one of the 'luxe balm sticks.

I still have to play around with the lipsticks to be sure how I feel about them. Ahhh! Adding stuff to my review list....

Green glitter acrylic and Review

I wanted to give you guys a full review of the glitter acrylic experience, but alas it's harder to do with wet nails and the tech demanding your hands as she moves swiftly getting me out of her chair. Read on for more!

Step 1- Pick your color! I pick the glitter design look I want from a selection of boards (imagine.. decorated false nails glued to an emory board.. don't ask.. lol) All types of acrylic are available: solid colors, bar glitter, tiny small glitter, the shard glass glitter that I've had before, all colors.. quite the array. Once I've made my selection, the tech goes to her millions of jars of powder to get my requested one. This is what my glitter acrylic looks like in powder form. You can barely see the glitter, right?


Step 2- Get a 'fill'. To start, she removes the old acrylic with a drill. Lots of dust, wear a mask and don't wear black, lol! She lays the new wet acrylic down and covers my entire nail. Because of the glitter and color concentration, the acrylic nail set is pretty thick, but not in a ridiculous fashion. Here's the finished fill, filed and shaped. It's matte, a bit pasty and looks dry.

Step 3- Application of gel top coat. Then comes the magic gel top coat to give it brilliant and lasting shine! I couldn't get a pic of her applying the gel top coat and seeing the difference, but here are my nails once I got home.

The gel gives it a jelly look with nice shine. This set doesn't have the same glassy shine as other set I've had. The glitter in this set is mostly green but flashes a light blue and deep turquoise in different lights. Since the glitter is deep close to the nail and all the way thru the acrylic to the top, the glitter has great dimension. Sometimes from afar, the glitter looks like flakes of glitter because of the depth.

Step 4- Dry and you're done. The gel has to dry for about 10 minutes or less and then I'm free to go!

I don't know the brand they use-As you can see from the jar in the first picture, there is no label or branding so I have no idea what brand the powder is. I suspect it's Tammy Taylor, but I'm not sure. The gel they use is even out of a generic brown polish bottle.

I only have positive things to say about getting this type of manicure/acrylic fill. I haven't had a broken nail yet, the shiny top coat stays forever until your next refill, you can paint over the nails (though I haven't tried), no chipping, I spend less time in the shop because drying time is cut significantly. Women even pay $$$$$ getting this on their toes. I understand the appeal of the color with shine and no chipping, but I just can't do the acrylic on my feet and getting a fill for that!!

There are only 2 drawbacks I can think of:
1-the price. I've heard quotes from $25 to $50..never will I pay $50.. I have wayyy too many glitter polishes to go around!.. and
2- your tech. I really want my tech to be an artist and get creative with this great medium. I wanted red glitter with white moons or marble 2 colors on my nails. Ahhh, alas, she's not the one to take more time to be creative. The tech likes this because she can do it in about 30-40mins and be on to the next one.

Does that explain everything? Does it make sense? I hope it answers any questions! Let me know if you have more!

Celebrating my favorite Pisces with MAC's Toxic Tale lipstick!

You all know who my favorite Pisces are right? You don't remember? Check here! Jess did dinner on her bday, but we were out again for Antoinette's bday. After a few stops, we ended our night at Indulj on U Street. Check below for pics and my fotd!







This particular day I went to our little cousin's 4th bday party, then had to get home and switch up for Antoinette's bday outting. I had my face prepped before the kiddy party-- base done and a neutral look. Pro Long Wear foundation was giving me life, lasting all of that time and still looking great!! Got home added some carbon in the crease and Toxic Tale lipstick and the Physician's Formula bronzer for some tan- love drama! I didn't even add any more powder... maybe at the most some blot powder on my nose.

FACE
MAC Pro Long Wear foundation in NC42
Studiofinish concealer (under eyes and eyebrows, but on top of foundation) NW25
Bobbi Brown Pale Yellow loose powder to set the concealer
Too Chic beauty powder for highlight
Studio Care Blend powder in medium dark
Physician's Formula Glow Boosting bronzer beads
An orange-ish blush? Sorry, I can't remember

BROWS
Cork and Soft brown shadows
Lingering brow pencil

EYES
Mickey Contractor palette from MAC
Revlon liquid liner
Urban Decay duo brown/black liner
MAC Prep + Prime lash
MAC Zoom lash mascara and Maybelline Falsies mascara

LIPS
MAC Toxic Tale lipstick from Disney's Villanous Villains collection
NYX Burgundy lip liner