In the Box: September 2015 Julep Maven

This month, all Mavens received Julep (polish name) in their September Julep box (clicking will take you through my referral link).  I still went with my normal Modern Beauty, which got me Length Matters Mascara (which I already had - oops) and Light on Your Lips in Last Call (my choice).

Sandal Toes

Inspiration: August 2015 Rainbow Honey Mini Mystery Bag

Products: Rainbow Honey Jelly Red Sandals and Mr. Saturn

Thoughts: This red was just begging to be put on my toes.  I was not sure what to do with Mr. Saturn, so I decided to try it as the base for a french tip on my big toes.  What else came in my Mystery Bag? Fruit Juice Perfume Oil Rollerball, Bath Oil, and Bath Tea.

Verdigris

Inspiration: July 2015 Rainbow Honey Mini Mystery Bag

Products: Rainbow Honey Calama, Costa Dorada, and Summer Tan

Thoughts: I love the colors that were in the July Rainbow Honey Mini Mystery Bag, but it took me almost two months to actually wear them.  This green is amazing and looks great next to the more gold colors.  What else came in my Mystery Bag? Pomelo Body Splash, Sweet Mandarin Lip Scrub, and Shea Butter Skin Treatment.

In the Box: August 2015 Ipsy

It's only been a few months since I received nail polish in my Ipsy bag (clicking will take you through my referral link), so I was surprised to get some again. Trust Fund Beauty Elegantly Wasted is a fun lavender, came in a nice box, and was generously sized for not being full-sizes.

What other goodies did I get? Marc Anthony Nourishing Argon Oil of Morocco Treatment, Skone Cosmetics Luxe Doubler Eye/Lip Pencil in Wine, Marsk Pro Line Eye Shadow Brush, and noyah Natural Lipstick in Desert Rose.

Infinite Ombre

Inspiration: Color

Products:Formula X Infinite Ombre Kit

Thoughts: This kit is amazing!  I am still learning how to really use the polishes for more intricate designs, but a basic ombre is incredibly easy and fun, and I have received so many compliments on these nails.  The colors are gorgeous.

Sailing

Inspiration: Color

Products:Sinful Colors Sail La Vie, Color Club French Tip, NailThins Compass

Thoughts: Simple summer mani inspired by the open water.  Surprised at how nice the Sinful Colors was!

Pink Zebra

Inspiration: July 2015 Julep Maven Box (clicking will take you through my referral link)

Products:Julep Alexa and Brittany

Thoughts: My best attempt yet at stamping!  Brittany is not my favorite color, but it makes the perfect base to stamp the more purple-y Alexa.

Neon Toes

Inspiration: Color

Products: Color Club Not-So-Mellow Yellow, Foxy Mama, and Kapow!

Thoughts: Tried to do a water marble decal, but after an hour it still was not dry and got messed-up, so I just decided to do neon skittles for some summer toes.

In the Box: July 2015 Julep Maven

Normally I go for Modern Beauty for my Julep box here (clicking will take you through my referral link), but for July, it included the new shower oil, Rethink Your Shower, and a giant Konjac sponge, which did not interest me. I did want to try the shower oil, though, so I went with Classic with a Twist, which included Brittany and Alexa.

Summer's Spell

Inspiration: June 2015 Rainbow Honey Mini Mystery Bag and June 2015 FanMail

Products: Rainbow Honey Thallo Bot and Aqua Cristalina, BKM Vinyl Design Harry Potter Decals

Thoughts: These two colors from this month's Rainbow Honey were just begging to be layered.  I also decided to try the HP decals in the middle of the layers...and it worked!  What else came in my Rainbow Honey Mini Mystery Bag?  Cuprum Veritas (see toes below), Twisted Iced Tea Scent Top Coat, Islands in the Sky Perfume Mist and Clear Scented Soap.

In the Box: FanMail Legends & Lore

The newest sub box to hit the market is FanMail, a woman-oriented geek box.  The theme of their first box was Legends & Lore, and it totally delivered on that.  While it is not a beauty box, it did contain these awesome Harry Potter Vinyl Nail Decals from BKM Vinyl Design (a $6.00 value).

What other goodies did I get? Sorcerer's Stone Soap from Amethyst Soap (a $7.99 value), Once Upon a Time, The Hobbit, and Hogwarts Buttons, Legend of Zelda Necklace, How to Train Your Dragon T-Shirt, The Hobbit Thranduil Brooch, and Game of Thrones Purple Wedding Invitation.  The T-Shirt and Wedding Invitation were created by FanMail, so I could not find prices, and I believe the buttons may have been, too.  There are also many sellers of the Zelda Necklace and Thranduil Brooch, so I could not be sure which one they came from; however, the two items I could find prices on, came to $13.99, which is about half of what I paid plus shipping, so I believe this box was a great value.

Plumeria Trellis

Inspiration: Layered to Perfection on page 47 of the May/Junel 2015 issue of Nail It!

Products: Ruffian Lady of the Night, No More Tears, Love to Love

Thoughts: My middle layer went on nicely, but I really thought the pink flowers would pop more.  Still learning which polishes stamp well and which do not.

80s Pool Party

Inspiration:May 2015 Rainbow Honey Mini Mystery Bag and Birchbox LE Under the Sun Box

Products: ncLA Swim Club Bikinis & Martinis, Rainbow Honey Neon Yoshimi

Thoughts: Normally I try to use all my Rainbow Honey mystery bag polishes, together, but this month's just did not work together.  However, Neon Yoshimi was just begging to be layered on top of pink, so Bikinis & Martinis worked perfectly!

In the Box: Birchbox Limited Edition Under the Sun

I love when Birchbox (clicking will take you through my referral link) does LE boxes.  For summer, they just released their Under the Sun box, which contains great summer essentials.  The nail polish included was part of ncLA's Swim Club collection, Bikinis & Martinis.  It is a pink (and not the type of pink I like) that does offset a tan very well, but the formula is rather streaky, which is not something I would expect for a polisht that runs $16 a bottle.

What other goodies did I get?  Baggu Standard Baggu Tote Bag in stipes, Cynthia Rowley Beauty Beauty on the Go Multi Blush & Bronzer Duo in Pink and Bronze, Laura Mercier Baked Eye Colour in Cameo, Sugarpova Flirty Lips Like Sugar Gummy Candy, Chloe + Isabel Birchbox Exclusive Medina Convertible Pendant Necklace, Knockaround Premiums with case, and Supergoop! Skin Soothing Mineral Sunscreen with Olive Polyphenols SPF 40.

Mermaid Sea

Inspiration:Color  

Products: Cult Nails Intriguing, Deborah Lippmann Mermaid's Dream

Thoughts: Cornflower seems to be having a moment right now, and I love this semi holo version.  I think the mint glitter makes for a great compliment.

Fairy Garden

Inspiration: April 2015 Rainbow Honey Mini Mystery Bag  

Products: Rainbow Honey Delphine, Eidolon, and Thistle Tresses

Thoughts: These have to be my favorite three colors (as a set) from a Rainbow Honey Mystery Bag yet!  They just begged to be layered and look so awesome when I did!  I also got a lip balm and scrub in Melon Fizz and a cuticle oil in Pomelo.

Magical Butterfly Toes

Inspiration: Magical Butterfly on page 58 of the March/April 2015 issue of Nail It!

Products: Julie G Damsel, Art Club Nail Art Duo Black, Color Club Heirloom Pearls, Aquamarine Azulino, Breakfast At...

Thoughts: Totally cute butterfly, although the Aquamarine Azulino dominated the wings.  No way I could have painted this on my fingers, so since I did my toes, I used the brightest color for the other toes.

In the Box: April 2015 Ipsy

It feels like forever (OK, only a few months) since I received nail polish in my Ipsy bag (clicking will take you through my referral link), but this month I did.  Julie G Damsel is a great spring-to-summer pink creme - and I love it!

What other goodies did I get? Hikari Cosmetics Blush in Tango, theBalm Cosmetics NUDE Dude Eyeshadow Single in Flirty, Mica Beauty Eye Primer, and Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oak Milk.

Street Art Chic

Inspiration: Street Art Chic on page 71 of the March/April 2015 issue of Nail It!

Products: Julep Nicolette, Abbie, Harley, Annie, Leah, and Max

Thoughts: Absolutely love this look - and no special tools were needed at all.  It's hip, fun, and can work with any four colors.

Easter Egg

Inspiration: March 2015 Rainbow Honey Mini Mystery Bag  

Products: Rainbow Honey Crystal Sword, Lemon Honey, Kozmic Blue

Thoughts: When I saw the colors in the March Rainbow Honey Mystery Bag, I knew I had to save them until Easter.  Crystal Sword is the perfect spring shade with its pinkness and butterflies. The  March 15 Rainbow Honey mystery bag also included a perfume rollerball in Petit Four, solid perfume stick in Rose Macaron, and scented top coat in Tea Biscuit.

Soft Focus Toes

Inspiration: Desigual: Soft Focus on page 20 of the March/April 2015 issue of Nail It!

Products: Rainbow Honey 488nm, Rosey Bot, and Lemon Honey, Color Club Mod in Manhattan, Reign in Spain, Pardon My French, and London Calling

Thoughts: So many polishes; one simple look.  I actually love this, especially on my toes because from that distance, it definitely has the desired effect of the look.

Sweet Spots

Inspiration: Sweet Spots on page 74 of the March/April 2015 issue of Nail It!

Products: Sally Hanson Sugar Shimmer Cinny Sweet, Paintfab Auber-Genius, Art Club Nail Art Duo White

Thoughts: This was supposed to be done in spring colors, but I did this for my mom's birthday, so chose her favorite colors.  The tutorial had the contrasting corners not touching, but I messed up my left hand and had to go back and adjust my right.  

In the Box: 2015 Spring Beauty Trends Memebox

I recently discovered Memebox which sells curated boxes of Korean beauty products.  They recently moved to California, and their stuff ships fast - I received this box in less than a week from my order.  While I usually purchase their mystery boxes, I thought the 2015 Spring Beauty Trends box looked like a must-get, especially since it had nail polish.  Each box had one of five randomly selected colors from Clio, but oddly enough, the one I received Dewy Pink (S102) was not one of the possibilities listed.

What other goodies did I receive?  Peripera Love Fairy Tint Glow Stick in Ready for Kiss, Skinfood Pineapple Morning Peeling Gel, Skin79 Rose Waterful Mask, Lioele Lioele V-Line Waterdrop Sleeping Pack

Drenched in Deco

Inspiration: Drenched in Deco on page 71 of the March/April 2015 issue of Nail It!

Products: Ruffian Ruffian Cire Nior, Salon Perfect He's with Me, Sally Hanson Complete Salon Manicure Wedding Glitters

Thoughts: Another super easy and classy design!  Some of my dots did run together, but it still keeps the overall art deco look.  Definitely a great and easy look for a special night out.

All Wrapped Up

Inspiration: All Wrapped Up on page 75 of the March/April 2015 issue of Nail It!

Products: China Glaze Platinum Silver, Nabi New Emerald, Color Secrets Amelie

Thoughts: Love this look.  The tutorial had it in blue, but I went with green for St. Patrick's Day.  I also decided to do just an accent nail but do the nails on either side the color of the dot-stripe closest.

Something New

Inspiration: Something New on page 73 of the March/April 2015 issue of Nail It!

Products: Ruffian Sahara, Art Club Nail Art Duo Silver Glitter

Thoughts: This is an incredibly easy and classy nail design, especially if you use a striper polish such as an Art Club Nail Art Duo.  Unfortunately, my phone does not like certain shades of glitter, this being one, and refuses to photograph well.

Tortoiseshell Toes

Inspiration: Lily Allen's Tortoiseshell Tips on page 30 of the March/April 2015 issue of Nail It!

Products: Square Hue Ipanema, Lakur Pence by the Pound

Thoughts: I have never swirled colors onto my nail, so I thought I would try my toes first.  I am glad I did because this was an epic fail.

Strong Graphic Lines

Inspiration: Bibhu Mohapatra: Strong Graphic Lines on page 20 of the March/April 2015 issue of Nail It!

Products: Indie Polish Dolly Berlin, Art Club Nail Art Duo Black

Thoughts: So the tutorial had much stronger graphic lines than I managed, but I still like this.  Reminds me of some modern art.

Golden Chocolate

Inspiration: Color  

Products: Lakur Pence by the Pound, Orly Halo

Thoughts: I had a very glam event to go to last night, and amazingly enough, I did not have any nail polish to match my dress.  Using what I had, I did manage to create a very posh color, even if it did not match exactly.

Hearty Gras

Inspiration: February 2015 Rainbow Honey Mini Mystery Bag  

Products: Rainbow Honey Tsukimi, Crimson Nebula, and Cloud Glow

Thoughts: This year, Valentine's Day and Mardi Gras fell on the same day (or at least the celebrations did), so I thought this mani kinda a celebrated both - red for Valentine's and purple for Mardi Gras. The January 15 Rainbow Honey mystery bag also included a perfume rollerball, cuticle balm and a new (and awesome!) foot lotion, all in Carnival Candy, a Pink Sugar-type scent

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Hearts on My Toes

Inspiration: February 2015 Julep Maven Box (clicking will take you through my referral link)

Products: Julep Hartleigh

Thoughts: Sometimes, I just like to put three coats of glitter on my toes.  I find three coats is what works best for full glitter coverage, and it lasts longer on my toes than on my fingers.  These are my Valentine's Day toes.