Tough As Nails lacquer review

Today I have a quick review of Tough As Nails lacquer in the shade It's All Over Now.

I bought this nail polish on Etsy after admiring it for several weeks. It reminds me of Lynnderella's Gotta Love Brains but I think I like the glitters used in this one a little bit better.

This is a sheer gray containing purple, lavender, blue, iridescent and white glitters in varying sizes.

I prefer wearing just two coats of it if I'm not using any underwear. I love seeing a hint of the natural nail showing through and think it gives it an ethereal, otherworldly effect when worn alone. The closet Fae goth in me, I guess.

I also like wearing it over a gray cream, like China Glaze Recycle as well as over mint, teal and sky blue creams as well.

It's All Over Now

The color is gorgeous and the formula is top-notch. It has a nice squishy-jelly finish with two coats and is opaque in three, giving it a nice layered effect.

I'm really digging this polish and am so glad I finally purchased it! I definitely have more on my wishlist. Rebellious Bridesmaid, to name names.

Until next time,
xoxo
Mrs. J

Some more Sally Hansen!

I swear, I buy a new nail polish every time I go to either the drugstore or Target. I just picked up some new Sally Hansen's and I have to say that for a lower-end brand, they have some of the best colors in the game. Sally just don't quit!

Ok, so I just Googled "Is Sally Hansen a real person?" - apparently, I'm not the first to wonder about this! Oddly, there's no definite answer. Yet another unsolved beauty mystery. At least I can feel secure in knowing Mary Kay was REAL.

Anyway, moving on to the first color. This beautiful grass green with a hint of yellow from the Insta-Dri collection is called Just in Lime! - why the exclamation point, I'm not certain.

Just in Lime!

This color is really rich and I could have probably gotten away with one coat but that just feels weird to me. Like the feeling I get when I think about leaving the house without wearing underwear or something...

The formula on this is fabulous; it dries quickly but I still use a fast-dry topcoat, just for the extra shine. It lasted at least 5 days before any chipping started. Do yourself a favor and wear a base coat because this one stains like cray, as greens often do.

The only thing I don't like is the packaging. The stem the brush bristles are attached to is a friggin' nightmare. I nearly always get too much color on it and then need to scraaaaaape it against the bottle opening to get off the excess. Then, I carefully dip the brushtip back into the bottle to get color on it; otherwise it floods my cuticles like a mug.

See Violet Voltage after the cut!

L'Oreal Colour Caresse by Colour Riche

Today I have a review for you of a product I spied at the drugstore recently, L'Oreal Colour Caresse by Colour Riche lip balms.

These are similar to Revlon Lip Butters in that they have a balm-like consistency. I actually thought these were lipsticks and was super-excited over the bright colors, buying them right away without doing any research on them. An impulse buy, as I am often wont to do. Though I was slightly disappointed that these weren't the opaque hot pink and orange lipsticks I was expecting, it's totally my fault for just grabbing them up and buying them without looking at the display.

On the plus side, they are sealed very well so good going there, L'Oreal. 'Preciate'cha ensuring that these are protected from the hands of the uncouth masses, thus preventing me from purchasing a contaminated product!

These have a very creamy, moisturizing consistency and the color payoff is better than I expected after I realized they were balms. They last 2-3 hours as long as you don't disturb them. They seem to be slightly less glossy than Lip Butters, IMO. I actually prefer that. I feel like they last a little bit longer as a result but not by much since they ARE still a gloss.

Blushing Sequin is a sheer, rosy pink with a hint of pinky-purple shimmer.

Blushing Sequin

See Fiery Veil after the cut!

Lush Lacquer Party Hearty review

Hi there! Today, I have a review of another indie polish, this time from Lush Lacquer.

My indie obsession seems to be unending - there are just so many unique colors out there and I'm the kind of person who finds great joy in staring at her fingernails for hours on end. Not such a good thing when you're driving, so I try to keep my adoration limited to stoplights whenever I'm in my car.

The ladies from Lush Lacquer have a fantastic eye for glitter combos and their formula is spot-on. I own several Lushies and Party Hearty is swiftly becoming one of my faves!

Party Hearty has a coral/pink/salmon-colored base with a stunning iridescent gold shimmer. It contains small coral glitter, medium purple, blue and teal square glitter, large purple square glitter and best of all, matte blue hearts. I adore the glitters combined with the base color - the contrast of warm and cool tones balance each other out beautifully.

Party Hearty

It covers opaque in two coats and like most glitter polishes, it's slightly gritty feeling to the touch once dried - nothing a few swipes of top-coat won't fix. The hearts, being larger than the other glitters, will tend to settle a bit but this is to be expected of just about any glitter polish. I was able to get the ones you see in this photo on to my nails with little to no fishing. If you want them on every nail, you might need to dip the brush a few times. Personally, I think the variation of having them on some nails and not others just adds to the uniqueness of this color.

I'm generally able to get a good 3-5 days of wear before any chipping occurs. I've noticed that glitters tend to chip more on me than creams no matter what brand of top coat I use. I think it's because I use my nails for all kinds of things you probably shouldn't (opening soda cans, peeling off price tags), never mind the fact that I use a keyboard at work all day, then add household chores on TOP of all that.

Lush Lacquer is definitely one of my favorite indie polish brands. Karin and Lexi are sweet, super-creative and sincerely value their customers. Give their shop a visit and treat yo self. You know you deserve it, gurrrrr!

Until next time,
xoxo
Mrs. J

NYX Matte lipstick review

Hello, lovelies! I recently bought three of NYX's matte lipsticks and will be sharing those with you today.

I already own one of these, Pure Red, which I bought online. Since I love both blue and orange-based reds, I wasn't afraid of getting something I wouldn't like by buying it sight unseen. I was interested in getting other colors and had done tons of online research, keeping a mental shopping list of colors that interested me. I held off on purchasing them online because I kept hearing that Ulta would be getting them in-store.

One night after going out to eat, I nicely asked (read: demanded) that my hubby take me to an Ulta that I knew had recently opened across the street. Lo and behold, they had them in stock! I was beside myself with joy and quickly snatched up the three I wanted most - Summer Breeze, Indie Flick and Shocking Pink.

When I got home to look at them though, I saw that some careless shopper had already swatched ALL of them. I was irked beyond belief. Damn you for not putting a safety seal on these lipsticks, NYX! I know, I know - I should have checked first. I was just so stoked to have finally found them in person, I didn't even think to look at them. Yet, I'll practically inspect a tube of Cover Girl Lip Perfection with a luminol kit before purchasing it.

After going to another Ulta that following Saturday, I was lucky enough to be able to exchange them for the same colors. Only after checking to make sure they hadn't been opened, of course. I couldn't wait to get them home and start swatching!

You can probably tell by the pictures that these aren't 100% matte. They have a bit of moisture to them, making them slightly creamy but still long lasting. I don't have a problem with them drying out my lips, personally.

They definitely last longer than a moisturizing lipstick; I'm able to easily get 4 hours of wear out of these as long as I don't disturb the color by eating or drinking. They're densely pigmented and I was able to obtain full opacity after 2 or 3 swipes o' the 'stick.

Now on to the colors! Up first is Summer Breeze, a medium-toned blue-based pink.

Summer Breeze

I love this color. Heart it. It's a perfect shade for when you want to wear some color but don't want anything bright or dramatic, or if you just want something casual. I have those moments occasionally.

I like to pair this with a brownish-nude-pink blush, like M.A.C Prism or Blushbaby. If I'm doing a brightly colored eye (I usually wear neutrals), I'll often reach for a nude or a cool pink shade like this for my lips.

See Indie Flick and Shocking Pink after the cut!

L'Oreal Colour Riche Nail Polish in Boozy Brunch

A month or two ago, I purchased L'Oreal Colour Riche Nail Polish in Boozy Brunch, a medium-toned opaque orange cream. You may have already noticed that there's a manufacturer's typo on the label. Unless, of course, L'Oreal is making some sort of a claim as to the drinking habits of a certain German composer who lived from 1838-1920, that is.

I first became interested in this color after seeing a review of it by Bethany Cosentino (of Best Coast fame) in one of the fashion magazines I purchase regularly. Please don't ask which one, because I just spent 30 minutes sitting on my bathroom floor flipping through all of them trying to find it with no luck. Based on the library stock, I know it was in either Marie Claire, Glamour or Allure.

Anyhoo, I majorly dig Bethany and was more than eager to check out this color. I have similar shades in my collection, yeah, but most are either brighter or deeper than this particular shade, so I didn't feel like I was adding a dupe to my collection in purchasing it. My husband might tell you otherwise.

Boozy Brunch

The Colour Riche formula is amazing. It flows across the nail like buttah and is so highly pigmented, it covers completely opaque in two coats. With Seche Vite, I'm able to get a full 3 days before any tip wear occurs, which is impressive for a drugstore brand. Especially when you're clacking away on a keyboard all day and then have to go home and wash the dinner dishes. L'Oreal claims a 10-day wear time when using their base and top coats, but since I don't own either, I can't attest to that fact.

I DO know that you can't beat the price - only $5.99(MSRP) a bottle! There are a ton of fun and trendy colors to try, too. The new and improved formula is great for the price and availability.

I'm pretty impressed with the entire Colour Riche line and will definitely purchase them in the future!

Lime Crime lipstick in Centrifuchsia

Today I have a review of Lime Crime cosmetics lipstick in Centrifuchsia. Lime Crime is a cruelty-free brand that offers unique shades for eyes, lips and most recently, nails. I've had this lipstick for over a year now; I bought it at IMATS LA 2011 from the Lime Crime booth. I think I was scared to use it because the packaging is just so goddamn cute.

Centrifuchsia is one of their somewhat tamer offerings but it's definitely not short on color. This opaque magenta cream applies smoothly and is densely pigmented. I love to pair this with pink blush, neutral eye shadow and simple black winged liner.

Centrifuchsia

The wear time is an average 3-4 hours (w/o eating or drinking from a glass) which is better than I'd expected, just based on the creamy nature of the formula. It also leaves a bit of a stain behind after wearing away, which is a wonderful bonus if you're on the go all day.

Despite the controversy surrounding the brand, I've been happy with the items I've purchased from the line. The color palette is out of this world. And again, look at that packaging! Look! If you don't like it, there's something wrong with you. It's a sparkly, holographic unicorn, for cryin' out loud.

If you've never had any experience with the brand, g'head and pick something up from them - you won't be disappointed!

Until next time,
xoxo
Mrs. J

Bodyography Electric Lip Slides

Today I have the last of my Bodyography Electric Lip Slides to share! These are the other two colors I'd ordered from Folica.

I love the texture and consistency of these glosses. They're moisturizing, long-lasting and have great color payoff. They leave a bit of a stain on the lips after wearing away, which is nice if you're a busy bee like me during the week. I love products that are able to multitask as well as I am, LOL.

Pulp Friction is an intense reddish-orange shade that will look great on a multitude of skin tones.

Pulp Friction

It appears slightly muted in the tube, but you can see by the swatch that it's a little more intense once applied. This is a versatile color and I think pretty much anyone can pull it off. It would look gorgeous on fair-skinned girls with light eyes as well as girls with deeper skin tones and dark eyes, popping against caramel and mocha skin tones in an incredibly flattering way.

See Cheeky Baby after the cut!

Pretty & Polished

Today I have some more indie polish to show you! I made my second purchase from Pretty & Polished a month or so ago and was finally able to swatch them recently.

First up is Hello Dolly. This color has matte white glitter, pink and light purple hex glitter and pink prism micro glitter in a clear base.

I'm wearing two coats in this photo and had no issues with getting the glitters out of the bottle. I love the mix of white, pink and purple glitters - so ULTRA girly! I'm excited to try this over a pale pink, mint green or black or layered between something sheer for a jelly sandwich effect.

Gem 'n I is a shimmery yellow with orange, aqua, and light blue glitters. This color is a part of the Horoscope collection.

I'm not typically a fan of yellow but this color just drew me in. It's making me re-think my whole stance on the issue! I don't know if it's the way the cool blue glitters pop against the warm base but whatever it is, I'm in love. I'm wearing two coats in these pics and you can see just the slightest hint of VNL in the swatch photo. I think I might try layering it with Sally Hansen's Yellow Kitty to give it a little more depth.

These mini-size bottles retail for $4.75 and contain 7 ML of polish. Her Etsy shop is empty right now, but she was recently picked up by Llarowe so if you've got a hankering, I would recommend checking there, too.

Until next time,
xoxo
Mrs. J

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Pacific Blue

I've been on a nail polish binge lately - there are so many amazing colors out there right now and I've been pitifully futile in my attempts at resistance.

Today, I have a review of one of my latest buys, Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Pacific Blue.This isn't a new color and I honestly don't know why I'd never noticed it before - it's stunning!

The bright, radiant blue shade practically jumped out at me from the Rite Aid shelf and I just knew I had to buy it. When I made this swatch, I hadn't yet done a full mani using this color but finally got around to it this past weekend.

Pacific Blue
I think it leans more towards Royal blue than Cobalt. It's very vivid and almost bordering on neon in certain lighting. It's definitely an attention-grabber - I received no less than three compliments on my nails the first time I wore it out.

The formula is near-perfect; I was able to obtain full coverage in two coats and my mani lasted about three days (with mah yooj topcoat, Seche Vite) before I noticed any tip wear. Even then, the wear I noticed was very slight - like, the teensiest, tiniest chip ever and only on one nail. For real.

This is an awesome color for summer with an unbeatable formula and at less than five bucks, you can't beat the price! I'm so glad I picked this one up!

Until next time,
xoxo
J

Icing glitter polish haul

Yesterday, I was at my local mall and decided to pop into Icing to see if they had any nail polish that caught my eye. I don't stop by here or Claire's too often but have purchased polish there in the past. Since I hadn't checked there in months, I wanted to see if they had anything interesting and I didn't leave empty-handed!

There were some new neon colors for Summer which looked promising but I was on a mission for glitter and my efforts did not go unrewarded! I was able to score 6 new bottles of polish for less than $22.00 - they were having one of their usual BOGO 50% off sales.

I think I'll go back and check out the neon colors soon - there are some glitters in that collection that look promising.

On to the haul! First thing's first -- group pose!!!

L - R: Pop A Bottle, Lemme See Your Peacock, Teal Me I'm Awesome, Glitterati, All Night Long, After Party

Pop A Bottle is a dense champagne gold, aqua and magenta micro-glitter in a clear base. This is a really pretty color and I was able to get full coverage in two coats. I think this would look great with a bright bold lipstick for summer! I can totally see this with M.A.C's Girl About Town - HOT.

Pop A Bottle
Lemme See Your Peacock is jam-packed with emerald green micro and hex glitter, shot through with magenta and aqua hexes in a clear base. Despite the larger glitter, it doesn't cover completely with two coats. I don't mind though, as I think this would look poppin' with an opaque emerald or hunter green shimmer as a base. Shimmery teal would look nice, too. And it's a proven fact that if I so much as even look at this color *BOOM* - Katy Perry is stuck in my head without fail!

Lemme See Your Peacock

See the rest of the colors after the cut!

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains - Pt. 2

Today I'll be reviewing the last of my Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains. I purchased Rendezvous and Charm a month or so ago during a 40% off sale at Rite Aid.

I honestly cant get enough of these things. They're just so quick and easy - just a few swipes and I'm set with color and shine for hours, then a stain is left behind until I get a chance to touch up.

Rendezvous is a sheer orange with gold micro-shimmer, giving it depth and warmth, which I like.

Rendezvous
I like to pair this with a bronze-y gold eye, using UD's Half-Baked or Smog. Add some bronzer and you've got a golden goddess look that will put all them basic broads to shame this summer!

See Charm after the cut!

Pretty and Polished

I have been getting more and more into handmade/indie nail polish as of late and today, I'll be reviewing the colors from my first indie polish purchase. I bought these from Chelsea of Pretty and Polished fame back in February.

When using Seche Vite (my usual topcoat), I get an average of 3-4 days of wear before any chipping will occur. I pound a keyboard all day at work, then add to that wear and tear from household chores like washing dishes - having a mani last a few days with no chipping is a pretty good run as far as I'm concerned!

I love all of the colors on their own but since some are sheer, I also like to play around by coupling them with underwear, usually an opaque pastel shade. It really brings out the layers of glitter and gives a more dimensional effect.

Now, on to the colors!

Candy Coated is a sheer baby pink with a mix of pink and purple prismatic hexies, purple glitter and prismatic purple micro glitter.

Candy Coated
I looooooooove this color. LOVE. IT. It applies like a dream and is absolutely beautiful. It reminds me of cupcake sprinkles, it's such a pretty color. In this photo I'm wearing two candy coats.

Elvis' Pink Cadillac is a sheer, muted pink cream with black micro glitter and large black hexagonal glitter. This is a great color and I love the name - I feel like I should be at a malt shop or sock hop when I wear this! In this photo I have on two coats.

Elvis' Pink Cadillac
The larger glitter pieces do tend to migrate to the bottom of the bottle but can be incorporated more evenly by turning the bottle upside down for 30 minutes prior to use, and then rolling between your palms for a few minutes before applying.

I *did* read that this color was recently reformulated with new glitter and is more of a bright pink jelly shade as opposed to a pale pink cream. I haven't purchased the new formula yet but will post a review if and when I do. I'm not sure if I can justify purchasing two slightly different versions of the same color but being that one is new and improved, it shouldn't be too hard to convince myself. Trust me, I know me.

See Tart and Chelsea Chelsea Bling Bling after the cut!

Bodyography Electric Lip Slides

I recently discovered Bodyography's Electric Lip Slides. They retail for $19.00 and are described as "A one of a kind product, fusing together all the benefits of lipstick, lip stain and a lip-gloss."

To be honest, I was REALLY hoping these would be just like my beloved OCC Lip Tars. Since they seem to be based on a similar concept, I went in trying these with that expectation. After using these, I do feel they are different but I was pleasantly surprised with them.

First off, the color payoff is wonderful, just as good as a lipstick but with the comforting feeling of a moisturizing gloss. These contain Shea, Cocoa and Mango butter, as well as Vitamin E. They are creamy in texture and remain moist and supple throughout wear, leaving a stain behind after it's worn off. A more intense stain can be achieved by applying and then blotting the excess gloss away with a tissue.

Without eating or drinking, I get a solid 4-6 hours of wear out of these. They last pretty well after drinking with a straw but since these are fairly creamy, you'll need to touch up after eating. Like Lip Tars, only a small amount of product is needed when filling in the lips. These are not as liquid-y as Lip Tars, however. The formula is wonderful. I've worn it without lip liner and didn't experience any feathering.

They have a doe foot applicator which allows the product to glide across the lips with ease and makes for a nice, crisp line. I like the packaging quite a bit and don't own anything else like it. It's like a wand disguised inside what looks like a squeeze tube. There's no noticeable flavor but they have a tropical scent, something that smells like mango or guava. You get .5 ounces for $19, compared to $14 for .27 ounces of Lip Tar.

The colors I purchased are Caught In the Act, a magenta cream, and Tickled Pink, a bright peachy-pink cream.

Caught In the Act is gorgeous! I love intense shades and this is no exception. The deep magenta color is not for the faint of heart - this one is a show stopper! I adore it. It's flattering with my NC15 complexion but would flatter darker skin tones as well. Fair skinned blondes, y'all might want to proceed with caution.

Caught In the Act
Tickled Pink is a fun color. It seems like more of a peachy-pink than a pink, as it's got some warm undertones. It's really pretty but unfortunately for me kinda hard to work with on my pale, olive-toned skin. I have somewhat pigmented lips and they show right through this stuff when I swipe it on. I can make it work by layering it. Since I love the formula so much, it's worth the extra effort on my part.

Tickled Pink
At the store, it immediately struck me how much Tickled Pink looks like OCC's Divine - this actually led me to purchase these in the first place. I don't own any Lip Tars that look like Caught In the Act, but I do have a comparison of Divine and Tickled Pink for you.

See Tickled Pink compared to Divine after the cut!

Beth Ditto for M.A.C Prolongwear Lipcreme

Hi there!

Today I'll be reviewing two of the Pro Longwear Lipcremes from the Beth Ditto for M.A.C. collection.

I adore Beth and have been a fan of hers for years. Needless to say, I had very high expectations for this collection. Beth is so brash and bold, I was expecting this collaboration to be an explosion of color, but the whole thing just seemed so haphazard. Dark, bright, pale - it's like there was no clear color story or direction.

I had initially been excited to purchase Powder to the People but after reading several less than favorable reviews and seeing the swatches, I decided to pass. I actually liked the nail colors that came out in the collection but didn't wind up buying any because I already have similar shades in my collection. In the end, I only wound up buying these two lipsticks.

The Pro Longwear formula is one of my favorites from M.A.C. It's super creamy yet clings to your lips like nobody's business. It lasts 4-6 hours on me, without eating or drinking. I find it's better to apply the lipstick to clean lips using a thin application. It's so creamy, you'll want to pile it on, but doing so will cause the color to migrate to the corners of your mouth and get yucky. The lipsticks have the standard M.A.C. vanilla scent.

I have a gripe with this lipstick - the shape is very clumsy and awkward, like a jumbo crayon with a blunt tip. It makes it hard to get a precise application directly from the tube. I apply all my lipstick that way and I feel confident doing so, but it takes extra concentration when I use these, which I don't like.

Dear Diary is a blue-based hot pink. It falls a little short of the neon M.A.C is describing it as. It's definitely pink and it's certainly bright, but not neon. It is a lovely color. It's intense but flattering - a great color for summer!

Dear Diary
It's similar to Candy Yum Yum but is not a dupe, in my opinion.

CYY on the left, Dear Diary on the right
CYY is brighter and more matte. Swatched, they're nearly identical but in person, CYY has a chalky quality to it. It always looks very dry on my lips and not in a pretty, matte-ified way. I never wear it as a result and these swatches are only the second or third time it's been swiped.

See Booyah!!! after the cut!

Julie G. nail color

Here I am, back with my second post!

Today I'll be reviewing two colors from Julie G's collection with Jessie's Girl cosmetics.

I've bought a number of colors from this collection and have decided to start my review with two colors that will be sure to catch some attention while you're sitting poolside this summer season - Julie's Fave and Dance In the Dark.

Julie's Fave is a warm, opaque coral tinged with a whisper of pink. The formula is nice - not too thick, not too thin. I was able to achieve full coverage in two coats. I love this color and even though it's slightly warm, this coral shade seems to be one that would flatter a variety of skin tones. It's bright, but has got an almost neutral quality to it in that it's so universally flattering. I can see why Julie's dubbed it her Fave; it's just so happy!

When I first got it home and started playing with it, it dawned on me that it resembled Essie's Cute as a Button...

See a comparison swatch and Dance in the Darkafter the cut!

First post!

Welcome to my blog!

A little background info, shall we?  I'm an NC15/C2 with brown eyes and black & blonde hair - just regular working gal with a passion for all things make-up, from drugstore to high-end.

Between us, I've toyed with the idea of creating a beauty blog for years but just never got around to it. I've had a Blogger account since 2007. Lazy would be putting it nicely.

Make-up is my favorite pastime of mine (not to mention a downright necessity) and I figured it'd be fun to begin to document my purchases and thoughts on them.

I've been a serious cosmetics consumer for many years. My first high-end purchase was Nars' Fire Down Below lipstick from Saks Fifth Ave in 199--***cough***!!! 

Ahem...ah, I remember it like it was yesterday, not even caring to ask the cost and slapping down my debit card. I bought that lipstick along with the famed Tocca Touch body oil and it was from there that my cosmetics courtship began.

Anyhow, let me hop on out of the way-back machine and get started on my first review!

Remaining true to form, I figured where better to start than with a post honoring my blog namesake. Therefore, I present you with my thoughts on the best lip product to hit stores this spring, Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable balm stain.

I purchased these myself, during a 40% off sale Rite Aid had at the end of May.

Up first is my favorite shade, Sweetheart. This is a bright hot pink with slight shimmer. On me, it looks more warm. On someone with less pigmented lips, I imagine a truer hot pink color would result. I love the stain this leaves behind, even with only a few hours of wear.

See Cherish, Lovesick, and Romantic after the cut!