Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Stellar Cameo

Inspiration:  April 2014 Rainbow Honey Mini Mystery Box

Products: Rainbow Honey Cameo 18, Stellar Treat, and All Your Bases

Thoughts: Even though I didn't get the Rainbow Honey sample in this month's Ipsy, I really wanted to try it so I decided to take advantage of the 25% Ipsy coupon and ordered the April Mini Mystery Box - which was so awesome that I ended up subscribing.  I am almost out of my current base coat, so I decided to just go ahead and use the base I received, All Your Bases, and it is really nice.  It took longer to dry than my current one, but that is no biggie.  The formula on Cameo 18 was a little drier than I expected but Stellar Treat was thick which made it super easy to spread the glitter around.  This Mystery Box was so awesome (I also received a Rose Nectar Rollerball, Sparkling Agave Pigment, Rose Nectar Lip Balm (my favorite item!), and some nail art studs) that I decided to subscribe.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

In the Box: Birchbox Limited Edition In Full Bloom

I love when Birchbox (clicking will take you through my referral link) does LE boxes.  The In Full Bloom box was their release for Mother's Day, but this is great for anyone who loves florals.  It is a tad more expensive than some of the other LE boxes they have had lately, but these are some amazing brands, such as this mini bottle of tenoverten nail polish in Spring.
What other goodies did I get?  The Soap and Paper Factory Shea Butter Hand Cream in Jasmine, Tocca Fragrance Rollerball in Giulietta, Tokyomilk Bon Bon Lip Balm in Rose Water, Cecilia Wong Skincare Anti-Aging Rose Serum Spray, Votivo Aromatic Travel Tin in Rush of Rose, Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser Starter Set, Juara Tiare Jasmine Tea Bath & Shower Gel, and Make Satin Finish Powder Blush in Geisha.

Gaga for Flowers

Inspiration:  April 2014 INN Box

Products: Essie Style Hunter and Hide n Go Chic, China Glaze Gaga for Green

Thoughts: I always do the Surprise Me option for the INN Box (Inzuri Nail Nation), and this month I got the Petal Power set. (I also got some Burt's Bees cleansing creams and a set of the Revlon Marchessa nail wraps!)  Even though I had some problems receiving my March box (should be on its way finally!), I highly suggest you check it out as this is my favorite nail subscription box as the curated sets of different brands always work so well together. I've been wanting to try flowers with my dotting tool, so that is what I did with this month's Essie colors.  The China Glaze ended up being my favorite as I love the bright pop of this spring green.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Like a Rock

Inspiration: Color

Products: Julep Monaco, Essie Lots of Lux, foil in White Marble

Thoughts: This amazing blue is based on one of Pantone's top colors for Spring 2014 - Dazzling Blue.  Since April is Autism Awareness month and blue is color for it, I decided to use Monaco to make a mani to show my support for those out there who are "like a rock" to those on the autism spectrum.  My foil did not go on as nicely as when I just do splotches, but I think the spirit of this mani still shines forth.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Sweet 16

Inspiration:  Bella's Sweet 16 Mani on page 52 of the March/April 2014 issue of Nail It!

Products:  Color Club Pardon My French and Aquamarine Azulino, Nubar Kristal, gold dots

Thoughts: I saw this mani and immediately thought of an Easter egg, so I decided to do it for this weekend. As you can see, I did opposite colors on each hand.  Instead of hologram accents, I decided to go with Kristal for ease - the gold dots were hard enough to place correctly!

Monday, April 14, 2014

Unknown Toes

Inspiration:  Color

Products:  Indie Polish in two unknown colors

Thoughts: Indie Polish has a deal in their Etsy store for a mystery pack of four minis.  I love mystery packs, so of course I had to get one.  The minis I got did not have color names on them, but I think the green might be Yoshi.  I cannot find anything like the matte glitter coat, so I am guessing it is either out of stock or was a color they were testing.  It is really cool, though, but you do have to keep shaking the bottle to mix the glitter with the matte base.

Friday, April 11, 2014

So Clutch

Inspiration:  Gold Rush - So Clutch on page 104 of the March/April 2014 issue of Nail It!

Products:  Ruffian Ruffian Naked, Orly Halo, Art Club Nail Art Duo Black, China Glaze What a Pansy

Thoughts: Still not the best with a striping brush, but other than that, this was a pretty easy mani.  I absolutely love What a Pansy even if the pics make it look a little darker (the top pic is closer to the true color than the bottom).

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Tricky Matte

Inspiration:  Color

Products: Serum No. 5 Pink Lantern and Lei Down the Law

Thoughts: Both of these color glow in the dark, but my phone couldn't take a picture.  Really cool, though, because Pink Lantern glows totally, but only some of the bits in Lei Down the Law glow, so it get a cool speckled look.  Pink Lantern did go on a little thick and streaky, and took longer to dry, but I think that is because of the glow in the dark formula.  Didn't have similar trouble with Lei Down the Law, but it is closer to a glitter coat.