Gelish

Gelish by Nail Harmony in Bella's Vampire

I work as a nail tech and hair stylist at Evolve Salon.  Our most popular service is the Gelish Manicure for up to 3 weeks of wear and stunning high gloss finish.  These are my own real nails, however I am frequently asked if they are fake!  I have changed the shape of my nails since these pictures were taken so it is a little strange to see them rather rectangular.  

Gelish is my new favorite product.  It allows me to use nail polish remover on clients and not lose my finish, and I can keep them longer and stronger for weeks with out the upkeep and commitment of damaging acrylics!  

*tsk *tsk  such a shame that I have 2 bins of OPI and Essie upstairs collecting dust...

In other news, I am contemplating getting my nose re-pierced.  I talked to someone who said if I keep sterling silver or gold jewelry in it that it should not reject the piercing this time round. I do miss it so much...  ^_^

Skull & Glossbones

I've been looking for a nail polish that will be the perfect shade of light grey for a while now.  Everything was either metallic, too sheer, or just plain too dark against my paler than pale skin.  FINALLY, I found the perfect one!  Pirates of the Caribbean licensed OPI to make a set for the premier in May.  I picked up Skull & Glossbones and its PERFECTION!  It lasts forever, and it's light enough that when I do get a small chip, it's not noticeable. 

Nails

If you know me, in person I am usually fiddling with either my nails, or my hair.  Part of it, is what is left of a nervous habit, and part is due to my Virgo Moon and that my Venus is in Cancer. 

^_^

I had a wicked nail biting habit when I was young, but after many years I have learned to leave it behind!  So now I work hard to keep them healthy and cuticle free, and if I can help it with a protective, often colorful shade of nail polish.  

I work with my hands a lot, so I do tend to change it up alot.  If it's not shampooing a client it's the endless dishes in my sink or the dry winter weather or the oils I am rubbing into my big baby belly ^_^  I just can't keep the polish on for more than a week!

This beautiful shade of grey is Moon Over Mumbai by OPI.  This set of images was from last June (2010) right before we found out we are having a Runa!  I love this color because it seems to make the nail beds look nice and long, and it has the slightest amount of shimmer to it.  I found that while it is a shade of gray, it makes nails look healthier than when they are plain. 

Usually I am much better at staying in the lines..ha ha. 

China Glaze: Recycle

I wanted to find a cool gray nail polish that still retained that muddy look. 

I found China Glaze Recycle.

I have used several muddy tones of polish, like Essie Chinchilly and OPI You Don't Know Jaque.  I found this shade of China Glaze to be basically the same as Chinchilly with the slightest difference being that Chinchilly is a bit more brown.  

Because of my pale complexion, I was hoping to find a little lighter of a gray, but so far...the search continues. 

like Picasso...in his Blue Period

OPI Shrek nail Polish in What's With the Cattitude? (sky blue)

Essie Nail Polish in Mesmerize (bright primary blue)

Smashbox Halo Foundation

Lorac Blush

Smashbox liner/lip color duo

Bare Minerals powder liner in T.L.C.

everything i love is teal

Essie: Mint Candy Apple

Samples of Hydroxitone for Sensitive skin, Mario Badescu Cellufirm drops

Orbit gum in Sweet Mint and Winter Mint

The Porefessional pore minimizing balm from Benefit

China Glaze: Aqua Baby

Essie: Mesmerize

mmm, and sush with my cute husband at our favorite place!! this is a the best jungle roll place IN ETERNITY.

Nail Color

Essie Tart Deco...seemed much more vibrant in person than what picked up on here...









I loved the melon tone in this color and people seemed drawn to it. I have seen oranges one more toes than fingers this season. I have been seeing more and more cool tones on the fingers, like blues and green (which I read somewhere green is the "new black"...?)

I have been aquiring a lot of melon/peach/orange toned items recently. A few of these include:


China Glaze: Peachy Keen (currently on my toes)

OPI: Dusk Over Cairo (purchased specifically for our trip in March ^_^) A dusty pinky peach with a nice pearl finish. Very similar to the sandy dusty air at dusk...beautiful and classic and girly.

Borghese: Tangelo Sherbet A sorbet shade of peachy mango with a tiny bit of pearl to the finish.

Lorac Baked Matte Satin Blush in Plush. This is a great alternative to bronzer for pale chicks. It is very orange to the eye but goes on peachy and warm...very natural, and very sun kissed.

Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss in Max... it smells to me like eating pancakes on the beach in Hawaii.

Peach is high on my colors list right now as are corals (Benefit Coralista, which is the next best thing to Nars Orgasm)

The next several high on my list are Magentas, Navy Blue, Teal, and also many muddy pastels. More reviews to come ^_^ stay tuned!

Just for Melissa at Urban Decay!!

SO, at the beginning of March my husband and I made a trip to Egypt to experience Cairo in all it's ancient glory. This was a make up look I tried for our second trip to the pyramids (on foot this time) and it was rather quick and easy.

this look ended up being very successful, as our trip landed us several photo ops with natives and little girls ^_^

Make Up:
Foundation: Peter Thomas Roth Unwrinkle Foundation in Light
Powder: Bare Minerals in Fair
Bronzer: Benefit One Hot Minute
Eye Shadows: Benefit Lust Dusters in Goldilocks and Punk Royalty
Manic Panic Pigment in Nefertiti
Cover Girl in Turquoise Tempest
Garden Botanika in Eggplant
EyeLiner: Smashbox Cream Liner in Caviar
URBAN DEAY HEAVY METAL glitter liner in BAKED
Mascara: Clinique High Impact Mascara Black

A fun easy product recap..

So I left my camera at work like a silly, so the quality of this is that of a cell phone. HOWEVER, I love this regimen for summer, it's natural and quick and gives you a nice healthy glow with out looking caked. It feels nice, like I have nothing on, and still can get a little sun should I be out for the day. Enjoy ^_^!

So, to Recap!

Smashbox Tinted Moisturizer in Fair
Smashbox Halo Powder in Fair
Benefit One Hot Minute Rose Gold Bronzer
Smashbox Hyper Lash
Mary Kay Eye Brow Pencil in Classic Blond
Pangea Organics Lip Care in Italian Red Mandarin w/ Rose

Today

10:45 a.m.

6:15 p.m.

Foundation/Setting Powder: Peter Thomas Roth Unwrinkle Foundation
Pur Minerals Mineral Make up
Bare Minerals
Concealer: Boing by Benefit
Oo La Lift! by Benefit
Eyes: Manic Panic Dry Pressed Pigments
Smashbox quad
Clinique mascara
Smashbox Cream Liner
Face: Mary Kay Bronzer
Lips: Smashbox liner/lipstick

Planning on trying out the new "primer/concealer/foundation" by Stila and Exuviance spf 15 foundation. I do love foundation samples.

Reef Botanicals

I found this company on Live Journal in a group dedicated to natural remedies and every day things called "apothecarium". I decided to try this shampoo soap they make, of which they are running a contest for the name!

Reef Botanicals

Natural Soap with name contest

I also ordered this lavender shave soap, and this Hair Dew shampoo soap. I am excited to try these as I am constantly in search of a good natural product to deal with my rather annoying dandruff issue. They have reasonable prices, much like those of Lush soap, and once I get them in the mail I will write up a full review for all of you to enjoy......all 1 of you. ha ha...*le sigh*

2 Product Reviews

Hello Lovelies ^_^

Today I am reviewing 2 beauty products for you.

C. Booth Volcanic Mud Mask

I love this mask! I can use it as a spot treatment, or all over my face for maximum benefits. Typically I use it on my T-Zone. This mask is really fantastic for shrinking pores. I am 25, and the older I get, I am noticing my pores around the creases of my nose are getting larger as well as producing more oil. This can lead to issues with make up application. The bigger they get the older they can make a person look and feel. Youthful skin at it's peak is almost devoid of pores all together.

The mask starts out dark grey, and as it dries turns light grey. The pores that require drying out will keep the mask dark grey in only those areas. This is good to show you where your problem areas are. The mask wipes away with luke warm water.

The second Product is Essie Nail Polish in Lilacism

This is a beautiful shade for spring, or to brighten up the winter blues. PA winter is unpleasant. I find it to be quite chilly and dry, and I am dying for the first bright green shoots of growth.

This color almost seems to glow for the first few days. The only complaint I have is that it takes about 5 layers to get real full coverage. The color is beautiful and I get compliments on it all day by many different ages of women. Lilac truly reminds me of my childhood...the color, the scent...I had a lilac bush in my back yard when I was a child. It's whimsical and magical. I am also loving Estee Lauder Pleasures because it has the most heavenly scent of lilacs.

This is me, before work, blogging you all the best in my experience.. ha ha! Totally clean faced...ack! No, my skin is not perfect... YES, I use some of the best make up on earth so stay tuned for more reviews so you can fake it too!

Not so Scent-ual

Ok, as i have noted before i work for a giant cosmetics retailer. So Fragrance is always available for testing.

Ed Hardy has become quite a popular, rather irritatingly expensive, label. So I decided to try their "Love and Luck" fragrance. At first it reminded me of Dolce & Gabbana, Light Blue. It's citrus smell is nice....but a las, Ed Hardy is a waste of any of your spending dollars. It really is all very trailor trash.

I have also tried the Hearts & Daggers which just came out. It reminds me of the smell of teenage girls in their cars smoking cigarettes....like the real cars street kids had with a hundred bottles and cans in the bottom. It was good fun, but i have felt the need to move on to more classy things.

The Ed Hardy just stank. It had too many things going on in it. I mean like literally one of everything that a lot of people think smell good. NOT to all be used in tandem.

Ed Hardy
1. bergamot
2. blood orange
3. black currant
4. pink pepper
5. nectarine
6. jasmine
7. plum
8. musk
9. cedar
10. sandalwood
11. patchouli

too many, patchouli just really went too effin far. c'mon.

Light Bleu ^_^

1. Sicilian citron
2. blue bell
3. granny smith apple
4. jasmine sambac
5. bamboo
6. white rose
7. cedarwood
8. amber
9. musk

actually, my words are inadequate...read this angel tougued review. really lovely, yes?

It's my favorite spring and summer fragrance.

New Year's Eve 2010

So my tent dress for New Years Eve was begging me for a matching smokey eye. I used Smashbox cream liner, Mary Kay mineral eye shadow, and Mary Kay Mascara.
For my face, in winter I always have an excruciating time with foundation. They do not make a shade called "living dead girl"....ah, but my savior...GOTH WHITE by Manic Panic. I use a fine coat of this under my Mary Kay Medium Coverage foundation in Ivory 100. The Goth White will clog your pores, so it's not to be slept in. The MK over top keeps it looking soft and air brushed. I finish with Smash Box Halo powder in Fair. For oil control in my T-Zone throughout the day I will also sometimes use Pur Minerals Porcelain Mineral Foundation. It matches my skin tone much better than Bare Minerals Fair.
I used Mary Kay lipstick in Shell on my lips to keep it semi nude with out loosing the shape of my mouth. I also used Mary Kay Mineral Cheek Color in Sparkling Cider.