NOTD: China Glaze Skate Night

This NOTD is over a week old, but it's too pretty not to post! China Glaze Skate Night is a deep vampy red.  One of my faves from the Retro Diva collection. I purchased this from head2toebeauty.com about a year ago and it still catches my eye when I'm looking for a red polish.

So I've been lacking on the posts, but fear not...I'll be back at it soon.  Life is crazy right now! I haven't even had polish on my nails for like a week *gasp*! I also had a nail catastrophe when I broke my middle finger nail and chopped them all off! Now they're nothin but nubs.  When life calms down a bit and my nubs grow a little I'll be back to posting NOTDs.  I do have a LOTD to post, so stay tuned for that! :)

Thanks!

47 followers?! Wow thank you guys so much!!! I really mean it!!  I still can't believe anyone, let alone 47 of you, would be interested in my little blog. And yet here we are! I really do appreciate it! So much so that I'm considering a little giveaway...hmm...

 In other news, I'll be kinda slackin on the posting and commenting this week...I take my state board exam for manicuring on Friday!! I'm kinda nervous, but so excited to have this journey be over with! I can finally move on with my job and get a new career! This is huge for me.  So with that being said, I'll have a NOTD to post (maybe tomorrow) and then I'll be back next week!

Stay beautiful!
Jen

NOTD: China Glaze Something Sweet

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Something Sweet is tricky.  You can see the difference in the pictures with and without the flash.  WITH the flash it's definitely more accurate.  Bright baby pink. Cotton Candy pink. They nailed it with the name.

The formula is...meh.  Its very watery and it took 3-4 coats to get it opaque.  Worth it though right? How sweet, girlie and innocent looking :)

LOTD: Using Coastal Scents Metal Mania Palette

Below: the colors I used are indicated by the little hearts:

 

Bonus pics!

Click any picture to enlarge it!

So by now y'all have heard of Coastal Scents right? Awesome palettes with amazing colors all for around $25 bucks? Yup, they're pretty amazing. If not; go to their website and order yourself somethin pretty :)

I'm wearing:

Face:

Formula 10.0.6 Seriously Shine Free Moisturizer

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Light

Ardell Brow Defining Powder in Dark Brown

Bare Escentuals in Medium Beige

Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil

Ulta Blush (no name)

Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights in Dusk
Eyes:

Benefit - Stay Don't Stray eyeshadow primer

Coastal Scents palette (see above for colors used)

Physicians Formula gel eye liner in black

Lorac eye pencil in 02 black

NYX EL 120 false eyelashes

Lips: 

Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush lip gloss in Passion Fruit Pop

NOTD: Millennium and Movin Out

I have on China Glaze Millennium and OPI Movin Out on my accent finger.

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So have you ever seen something you thought was so beautiful you got lightheaded? 

That happened to me as I was catching up on my blogs.  I literally had to remind myself to breathe when I saw alizaine claws' post about OPI's Movin Out.  I think I drooled a little bit when I looked at her pictures.  The first thing I did was come to the realization that I NEEDED this polish and second; log onto eBay to see if they have one listed. Guess what I got....

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CLEARLY worth the $11.24 I paid for it.  Hands down one of my top 5 favorite polishes of all time.  It's flipping gorgeous!! A purpley pink that flashes green, blue, purple and gold with hot orange glitter!! I tried to take a bunch of pictures to capture it's true beauty, but it is so much prettier in person! It's very sheer and I put it over Millennium, so on its own it would look completely different.  Check out alizarine claws' blog to see her pictures! To me this is a layering polish. I can't wait to layer it over different colors to see how it changes!

And just FYI it's from the 2003 Holiday on Broadway Collection.  Yup ANOTHER OPI polish from 2003.  OPI you better step up your game! MORE POLISHES LIKE THIS IN 2010!!!

And not to completely dismiss the other color! China Glaze Millennium....wow! I can't move my hands with out it catching my eyes.  My fingers look like mirrors! Super smooth application, opaque in 2 coats.  I did notice that it works better without a base coat.  With a base the first coat gets streaky, but add a second coat and it smooths out. 

I do believe this is the most I've ever paid for a single polish.  What's the most you've ever paid for a polish?

NOTD: China Glaze Bare If You Dare

 
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First swatch from the haul.  Bare if you dare from China Glaze.  I wasn't too sure about this at first since I never wear oranges, but it's growing on me.  It's light and shimmery. It makes me feel girly and dainty.   It's a peachy orange with gold shimmer. Very pretty.

Head2toebeauty.com haulage!!! Pic heavy!

So last weekend while organizing and taking pictures of my stash I realized I lost one of my prized polishes...Agent Lavender! I took it to school on my last day and must have left it there! Super bummed, I decided to jump on head2toebeauty.com to see if they had it in stock...well lucky me! They did, so I put it in my shopping cart and the next thing I know this happened...

I ordered me a bunch! LOL

(With flash) L to R: Worth the Risque, Millennium, Bare if you Dare, Orange Marmalade, Happy Go Lucky, Metallic Muse, Watermelon Rind, Agent Lavender, Spontaneous, Fashion Addict, Something Sweet, Light as Air.

Without flash.

Millennium and Metallic Muse from the Khrome collection.

Bare if you Dare from the Fiji Fling collection.

Worth the Risque and Fashion Addict from the Femme Fetale and the Catwalk Queen collection respectively.

 The picture on the right was taken with the flash so you can see the HALO GLITTER! (I may or may not be obsessed with halo polishes right now).

Watermelon Rind (how did I not own this before now??) and Orange Marmalade. Both from the Summer Days collection.  Just this past week I swatched Strawberry Fields from the same collection...which is what made me get these two.  I love the sparkly, smooth glitter!

 

My reordered Agent Lavender! Not sure why I took these in the same picture since they're not from the same collection, but whatever! Agent Lavender is from the Operation Colour collection and Spontaneous (polish on the right) is from the Flirt Two 2 Tango collection...which is by far the dumbest name for a collection ever.  Sorry China Glaze, but really?

 

Something Sweet, Light as Air and Happy Go Lucky. All 3 from the Up and Away collection.  One of my favorite collections!

  And the last 2 items, a crystal glass nail file and Seche Restore.  As a manicurist I've heard 100x the benefits glass files have over regular sandpaper style files.  They're gentle, hygienic,easy to clean, virtually indestructible, and will last you a lifetime.  It never gets dull!   Buy one of these babies and you'll never have to buy another file again! Unless you're like me and misplace your things :P
Seche Restore is a must have if you have the Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat. If you don't own this top coat, stop what you're doing, drive to your local Sally's and purchase a bottle.  IT. IS. AMAZING. If you do, you're aware that after a while the consistency gets thick and goopy.  Seche Restore is the only thing that will restore it back to it's original state. It can also be added to polishes that have become old and yucky.

So that's it.  If you've never ordered from head2toe I HIGHLY recommend it.  They have super quick shipping and awesome customer service.  I emailed them after I sent my order and asked if they could send me a turquoise glass file and...well you can see the picture above :) I ordered all this on Monday and I got it this morning(Thursday)! SUPER quick...although I should mention they're based in Illinois and I live in Ohio sooo it didn't have to go very far.  They're shipping is based on what UPS Ground says, and I believe I paid $7 for shipping, but to me it's worth it.  I also saved $2 (5%) using a coupon code aug05. Hey 2 bucks is 2 bucks!

So which polish should I swatch first?!

Design Challenge

 

This is my entry for PHD's design challenge: "Just Tips".  I used Master of Disguise from Color Club and then the famous Hidden Treasure over the black.  And then just Seche FDTP over that.  Turned out ok considering I have pretty short nails.  What do you guys think?

New nail polish storage!

Got this 3 drawer organizer at Target for $6!

Top drawer: base, top coats and misc polishes, konad kit and other accessories.

Middle drawer: Blues, greens, purples and blacks.

Bottom drawer: reds and pinks.

I have a bit more organizing to do. I'm thinking of getting those tray organizer thingies so when I pull the drawer open the polishes don't go flying all over the place.  Any recommendations? 

NOTD: OPI Blue Moon Lagoon

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Very rare Blue Moon Lagoon came out with the 2003 Summer for Shore collection. Yup, this is 7 years old! I had to buy this sucker off eBay and I'm so glad I did.  Enlarge the collage to take in it's true beauty...HALO GLITTER!! Good Lord OPI make more halo polishes! And while you're at it bring back the old brush!

NOTD: China Glaze Strawberry Fields

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Strawberry Fields came out with the Summer Days collection from last year.  While organizing my stash I found this little beauty and decided to swatch it for you guys! It may be a year old, but it's still pretty! It's hot pink with gold flecks. Goes on super smooth...this is 2 coats with base and top. So girly! Strawberry Fields is available at head2toebeauty.com for $2.99

LOTD: Using the Urban Decay Naked Palette! Look #2!

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Look #2! I used Virgin on the brow bone and inner corner, Sin on the lid and Creep in the crease. I also used Zero (the black pencil) on the top and lower lash line.  Super smooth!! LOVING this palette!

On my lips I have Milani 3D Glitzy lip gloss in Starshine. 

Everything else is the same from my last LOTD.

Do you have this palette? Who looks are you coming up with?

And one last silly one...LOVE for my followers!

NOTD: OPI What's with the Cattitude?

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What's with the Cattitude? Part of the Shrek Forever After collection released at the beginning of the summer. Most of the colors seem dupable so wasn't planning on getting any of them, but then I saw this one in person and I had to...it's blue and I love me some blue polish :) In some lights it looks slightly turquoise and in others it looks sky blue.  It's pretty, but really really messy.  I'm not sure if I just got a bad one or what, but it was streaky and hard to apply.  I kid you not, I had to redo my ring finger 6 times! 6 TIMES! I was getting so irritated.  It was either too thick or too thin and of course I bumped it once and then there was something on my top coat brush.  Ridiculous. That and I HATE OPIs wider brush.  I'm sure other people with small nail beds, like myself, all agree that it makes for a sloppy application and a hell of a clean up process.  Is that how all OPI brushes are now? If they are...I might cry :(

LOTD: Using the Urban Decay Naked Palette!

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My first look using the Naked palette! I already love it!!

I'm wearing:

Face

Fornula10.0.6 Seriously Shine Free Moisturizer

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light

Bare Escentuals in Medium Beige

Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil

Ardell Brow Powder in Dark Brown

Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights in Dusk on cheeks

Eyes

Benefit Stay Don't Stray eyeshadow primer

Toasted on the lid

Hustle in the crease and under the lower lashes

Virgin in the inner corners and brow highlight

Physician's Formula black gel liner on top and bottom lash line

Rimmel MAX Volume Flash mascara

Hope you like it!

NOTD: OPI Play 'Til Midnight

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Play 'Til Midnight was part of the OPI Holiday in Toyland Christmas '08 collection.  I purchased this from TransDesign. The description says it's a midnight blue base with purple and pink shimmer.  To me it's looks purple with blue and pink shimmer...but whatever! It's gorgeous either way! Not very summery, but my eyes needed a break form all the super bright colors I've been wearing.  Plus I had an interview and this, in my opinion, looked more professional than bright lavender! Plus it matched my outfit lol.

Goodies from Ulta!

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So I ordered some goodies from Ulta.com as a gift for myself for graduating from school! I'm so excited to try out this stuff!!

I'm sure you've seen the Naked palette from Urban Decay 100 times, so of course I had to get it to see what all the hype is about. I seriously can't wait to play with these colors!

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light. The travel size. I love the feel of their regular foundation primer, but I got it in light because it claims to keep your foundation looking matte.

Seriously Shine Free Moisturizer from Formula 10.0.6. Never heard of this company before but their prices are low and this moisturizer won an award from Self Magazine. I'm anxious to see if this works!

Keep Me Clean face wipes from Formula 10.0.6. Excited about these! I've always wanted to try face wipes for taking my makeup off before going to bed instead of washing my face with a cleanser. I really hate trying to wash my face in the sink. I make such a mess lol!

And then the two pencil type products are a concealer stick in Light/Medium and a Contour Lip Pencil in Rose. Both Ulta brand.

I plan on doing a full review of the Naked palette as well as the two products from Formula 10.0.6.  I checked out the website and it's a Bonnie Bell company.  So I'm wondering if they're going to start selling these products in drug stores.  If so have you seen them? Does anyone have anything or know anything more about this company?

NOTD: China Glaze Agent Lavender

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I love this polish! Such a pretty, girly color :) Looks good on toes too! Next time I wear this one I think I'll konad it! I haven't used the konad in a while and this polish is begging to have a black design over it! From what I see this is a pretty popular polish.  Do you have it? Do you love it?

LOTD and a Product Review: Physician's Formula Gel Liners for Green Eyes (purple)

More eyeballs!!!

So I finally got my hands on the Physician's Formula Gel Liners! I decided to go with the liners for green eyes...and yes, I'm aware my eyes are brown, but I liked the purple and green :) After trying all 3 colors in the set all I can say is WOW! They're amazing! So creamy and smooth and they last all day! I've had no fading or creasing. Way to go Physician's Formula! I'm definitely going to pick up the other sets! See picture below:

One thing I don't like is the fact that they all come with a black liner. So if you get all 4 sets you'll have 4 jars of black liner. Ugh.  I mean I guess I could give them away since they are detachable from the stack, but it's kind of a waste.  Also the brush that comes with each set? It's....not great.  Maybe if you want to apply the gel on your lower lash line, but it's almost too thick and rounded to apply it to your top lash line.  I use a small, stiff, angled liner brush which works perfectly.  But for $8.99(check your local Target) I'm really REALLY happy I found them! If you have these...are you in love with them or what?