Archive for September 2011

L.A. Girl Rock Star Addict

Friday, September 30, 2011

Hello readers

Another late night polish post today. One polish that is really gorgeous but I seldom wear it long enough to appreciate its beauty. L.A. Girl 'Addict' from the Rock Star collection. A beautiful rich jelly with golden flakes. Hah! I bet you thought you saw red flakes, didn't you? Just like NYX Jungle that I showed you yesterday, (here) it's a trick. Just gold flakes hiding behind red jelly.

It reminds me fall/winter. And the holiday season. Of cinnamon and apple cider. And of red wrapping paper and gold tinsel.

A picture taken in the shade. You can really see the flakes in this shot.

Ah, autumn. How I love you. Though I usually don't indulge in the whole seasonal nail polish thing, this polish did feel appropriate.

Have a great weekend!

Products featured were purchased by me for my own use. For additional information please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

NYX Jungle + Essie Mesmerize

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Howdy!

I finally got around to taking pictures of one of my favorite in-the-bottle colors, NYX Jungle. Is Axl Rose crooning in your head right now? Because Welcome to the Jungle is certainly playing in my brain.

Back to the fabulous nail polish.

Jungle is a bright translucent blue jam packed with gold shimmer. At first, there looks like there is flashing duochrome teal or green but if you look closer, it's just this polish playing tricks on you! The teal or green flash is from how deep the gold shimmer is suspended inside the polish. It's a marvelous effect. It was quite sheer on the nail, with three full coats I could still see my smile line and I didn't think a fourth would really help so I decided to put on underwear. Of the blue variety.

Here's two coats of Essie Mesmerize underneath NYX Jungle:

Something about this combination just makes the color pop cobalt blue.

And here's a picture in the shade so that you can see how the shimmer gets that green cast.

Absolutely gorgeous. I wish I could get my nails to look exactly how it looks in the bottle, it has so much depth, so much color.

You should get this. You need this in your life. I'm doing you a favor by telling you how awesome it is, honest.

What's your favorite NYX polish?

Love, Mimi

Products featured in this post were purchased by me for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

FOTD: Copper Brown Look

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Good evening!
I hope you all are having a great week thus far.
Most regrettably, I haven't used my Sleek iDivine Storm palette as much as I've wanted since I've acquired it so today I pulled it out.
I used the second and third light shades in the first row, and the dark copper-brown in the second as well as the sooty matte black in the second row.

Brows: NARS Bali
Eyes: UDPP, MAC Chromagraphic Pencil, Sleek iDivine Storm palette, Milani Liquif'Eye Black liner, false lashes (purchased in bulk from Ebay, no real brand)
Face: Graftobian Hi-Def Glamour Creme Foundation, Rock & Republic Pressed Powder, Rock & Republic Spank blush, MUFE Full Cover Concealer
Lips: Rimmel Fairy Airy lipstick

I've been on a no-makeup buy for the last few months. Somewhat unintentional, but funds are needed elsewhere! However, I have bought a couple of polishes (that Revlon Facets of Fuchsia that I posted about here). It feels pretty good actually, though I long for new NARS collections, it brings me a sense of satisfaction to use makeup I haven't touched for a while.

Hopefully I can stay strong. We'll see.

Have a great night!

Products mentioned were purchased by me, for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my disclosure policy.

Wet'n'Wild Fantasy Makers Creepy Pumpkin

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Finally, a somewhat sunny day! I've been waiting all week for a chance to take some good nail polish pics. Last Wednesday while I was out browsing Halloween costumes with a friend, we happened to stop by at Walgreens so that she could pick up a bottle of glow in the dark nail polish while I picked up a bottle of Creepy Pumpkin.

I don't really own many orange polishes (approximately four bottles total, one of which is a creme and the others are shimmers) but I really liked the looks of this one, orange jelly base with orange shimmer and flecks.

It's very thin, shown here with four very heavy coats.
Wet'n'Wild also has another orange shimmer in the FastDry line called 9.0.2.1.Orange. The two are close in hue, but 9.0.2.1.Orange has gold flecks and shimmer.
I love how much warmth this polish has. Super glowy. Oh, and super smelly too.

Did you buy any polishes from the Fantasy Makers line this year? I love my Black Magic version from last year, it's one of my favorites with the hairy rainbow glitter.

Products featured were purchased by me for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

An Attempt At Dry Water Marbling

Friday, September 23, 2011

Today I found a post about dry marbling over at Enamel Girl, and decided to give it a try. I wasn't super happy with the results, I guess I didn't really like my choice of colors or how messy clean up turned out to be. It took me... much, much longer than I expected.

I think I need to work on perfecting my technique! A little advice: if you try this technique out, DON'T USE BLACK (or similarly super dark colors!), it makes clean up super hard when you try to use a brush to get a nice clean cuticle edge.

Yuck, hopefully tomorrow I'll have something nicer to show you guys. I used Ulta Deck The Halls, OPI Glitazerland and Wet'n'Wild Ebony Hates Chris.

Products mentioned were purchased by me for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my disclosure policy.

FOTD With Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Coral

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Howdy!

Today I decided to glamour up my t-shirt and ponytail look with poppy red lipstick. I love Revlon Colorburst Lipsticks and even though the color is called 'Coral' it is more red-orange than most corals (which tend to have a bit of pink).

I opted to contour a bit instead of using blush, and went for a sculpted, dimensional nude eye.

Side note:

My camera kinda makes my face look rather oily even when it's really actually matte and accentuates my pores. Maybe it's just the odd flash. At least, I think it's my camera- I'm nearly 90% sure it isn't my foundation. I need to test this out.

Face: Graftobian HD Foundation, Rock & Republic Contrived Pressed Powder, NYX Taupe Blush

Brows: NARS Bali Eyeshadow

Eyes: UDPP, MAC Copperplate shadow, Jane Rockstar shadow, LORAC Beige shadow, Wet'n'Wild Creme Eyeliner

Lips: Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Coral

Side-side note: I haven't found the elusive Wet'n'Wild On The Prowl Collection ANYWHERE, has anyone seen any of the polishes in person yet? I want that black hex glitter rather badly!

Products featured were purchased by me, for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

FOTD: The Lurker Below

Monday, September 19, 2011

Hello!
It's been a super busy week for me with exams, so I haven't posted much. However, I did get a chance to snap a few photos of today's FOTD, in the orange glow of the setting sun. Today's makeup wasn't super fancy or bright, mostly I wanted to hide the gigantic zit on my chin which I have nicknamed "The Lurker Below" (yes, it's a World of Warcraft reference. Ahh, Serpentshrine Cavern... I miss Burning Crusade raids). It's one of those super painful cysts and since I can't really see it in the photos, I must have done a half decent job hiding it.

Funny tidbit, my mom is ultra-conservative with makeup. Even on others. So today, when I have possibly the most neutral, non-attention drawing eyeshadow ever on- she goes "Mimi, you look nice. But I really think it'd look even better... if it were lighter." Gah.
Face: MUFE Full Cover Concealer, Graftobian HD Foundation, NYX Taupe Blush, BECCA Fine Loose Finishing Powder
Brows: NARS Bali Eyeshadow
Eyes: UDPP, MAC Devil May Dare Palette, MAC Chromagraphic Pencil, Opera Volume Control Mascara, Wet'n'Wild Creme Eyeliner
Lips: BECCA Beach Tint in Watermelon, Bobbi Brown Crystal Lip Gloss

Hopefully I have more time to post soon!

Love,

Products mentioned were purchased by me for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Revlon Facets of Fuchsia

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Hullo Readers!
Today, thus far has been fantastic. It's Customer Appreciation Day at Jimmy John's, so I very happily stopped by during lunch time for my $1 B.L.T. While munching on my bacon laden sub, I decided to take pictures of my newly acquired Revlon Facets of Fuchsia. It's the first polish I've purchased in a LONG long time, since roughly the end of May.
Ah, Facets of Fuchsia (by the way, I can't spell 'fuchsia' correctly to save my life), I NEEDED you. You're the poor man's Deborah Lippmann Bad Romance. When I first saw Bad Romance last year, I decided that it was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen, but I couldn't live with the price tag of a DL polish. Now that this drugstore imitation has come along, I can finally have this gorgeous combination of black jelly and magenta hex and small square glitter.
Behold! Three coats of Facets of Fuchsia:

You can still see through the smoky black jelly base. Ok, what if you're not into that? No problem. Solution: one coat of black polish underneath one coat of Facets of Fuchsia.

1x Wet'n'Wild Ebony Hates Chris, 1x Revlon Facets of Fuchsia

I like it this way too, it amps up the contrast between the two colors. I also tried it over a shimmery purple (didn't get a photo) and absolutely loved how it looked- glowy from within.

I hope you manage to find this collection from Revlon called Expressionalists in a store near you, I would definitely recommend picking this shade up!

Products featured were purchased by me, for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Essence Underwater

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Hello!

Today I have a little bottle of Essence Underwater to show you. I love, love Essence Colour & Go polishes- $.99 a bottle, lots of bright colors in the line, what's not to like?

Underwater is a denim creme with micro-glitter that flashes from blue to purple in the sunlight, but is otherwise rather hard to see. I had a hard time trying to figure out if it was glass fleck or micro-glitter, something that is rather difficult for me to discern!

You can kinda see the sparkle better in this one.

Pictured here is three coats, nice formula-no troubles. I think that the next time you go to Ulta, this little fellow would like to go home with you.

Own Underwater? Or how about any of the other Essence polishes?

Product featured was purchased by me for my own use.

Blue Cross Cuticle Remover Review

Monday, September 12, 2011

Good evening, readers!

About two months ago, I managed to lose my beloved bottle of Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover. Ah, it was a terrible time, my cuticles looked wretched and so I wandered into CosmoProf looking for a replacement (this is the part where I kick myself for not sticking to things I love, it doesn't always work out for me!). I picked up a bottle (huge, huge 32 oz bottle) for about $7.
I knew that it was a favorite cuticle remover among many nail enthusiasts and used widely by nail techs at salons all across the U.S.
It definitely works... but with a caveat.

The formula is very thin, the color and consistency of milk. It's annoying to manipulate since I've been used to the gel type of remover. I ended up pouring a little into a sauce dish (my mother was not pleased with me stealing one of her dishes and re-appropriating for manicure use, let me tell you) and used a q-tip to saturate my cuticles (after I had removed my polish, shaped my nails and most importantly given my hands a good soak. The soaking is vital!). It dried quite quickly so I kept having to reapply as I went along with an orangewood stick and pushed my cuticles back. Afterwards I washed my hands well to make sure that I had removed all traces of the remover.

I was quite pleased with how softened my dead skin was, and how Blue Cross allowed me to work the cuticles to satisfactory condition, but at the same time it wasn't better than my Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover. I just prefer gel removers- easier for me to use, no hassle of having a little dish or q-tips.
It's a great value, this bottle will definitely last me months, if not years. /sigh. I'm not sure that's a good thing, I want to go back to Sally!

Have you used Blue Cross before? Or do you prefer another cuticle remover?

Products featured were purchased by me, for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

L.A. Colors Nuclear Energy

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Hello!
Super late night post tonight. I took pictures of this polish a few days ago but didn't get a chance to edit it until now.
This is L.A. Colors Nuclear Energy, purchased from the Dollar Store about seven months ago. I had lost the packaging that it came in, so I had to Google a bit to figured out what shade I had.

What a beauty! It's a very, very thin cream. So thin that in my pictures, it's a four coater. 4! It still almost looks somewhat streaky and see through in certain areas in my photos, but let me assure you that this is not the case, to the naked eye it looks solid. A stunning true purple that I couldn't get enough of.

Oh wait, did I make it even better? Yes, I did! I added CND Effects in Scarlet Shimmer on top.

Click to enlarge. You won't regret it, I promise.

Have a fabulous Friday, everyone!

Love,
-Mimi

Products mentioned in the post were purchased by me, for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

EOTD: Wet'n'Wild I Got Good Jeans Trio

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Good evening!
This is my first EOTD that I actually photographed in quite a while, about 6 months. My photographing skills (or, lack thereof) have gotten kinda rusty.
However, I did actually really like this look. Blue eyeshadow scares the crap out of me, especially when it's frosty. As it turns out, coupled with a steely grey-blue and placed next to a contrasting gold makes it.... copasetic.

I used:
Brows: NARS Bali Eyeshadow, NYX Eyebrow Shaper
Eyes: L'oreal HiP Cream Shadow Paint in Secretive, Wet'n'Wild 'I Got Good Jeans' Trio, L'oreal Lineur Intense Liquid Eyeliner, L'oreal Lash out Mascara in Brown.

Wow, did I use enough L'oreal products today or what?

Remind me to do reviews about Lineur Intense and the Lash Out Mascara, I definitely have strong feelings about the latter.

Products mentioned were purchased by me, for my own use. Please refer to my Disclosure Policy for full details.

Golden Rose Holographic Color #114

Saturday, September 3, 2011

1x Nail Tek Foundation II, 3x Golden Rose #114

Good evening, everyone!
Today I wanted to show you a polish that I've had for quite a while, but hadn't gotten good pictures of until now. Golden Rose is a brand that I stumbled upon accidentally in my relentless search for new flakies and holos.
#114 is supposed to be 'Burgundy' and I suppose it is, but rather dusty looking.
The Holographic Colors are 6ml for $2.59 (and free shipping after $25). That's very tiny, but they have quite a few colors of holos I've never seen elsewhere.
The formula of this holo line (Golden Rose actually has not one but TWO lines of holos, bonkers) is very glassy in finish, small particle sized and scattered. It's pretty easily applied and benefited from all three coats.

I actually didn't use a top coat in these pics, and I probably should have. I figured that it might be one of those holos where the brilliant rainbow effect is actually subdued by a clear top coat, but it's not actually the case. It looks amazing shiny.

Have a great weekend!

Product was purchased by myself, for my own use. Please read my Disclosure Policy for full details.

Sunken Emeralds

Thursday, September 1, 2011

1x Nail Tek Foundation II, 2x Savvy Garland, 1x NYX Purple Ave, 1x Barielle No Chip Speed Dry

Hullo all!
A few weeks ago, I discovered the most incredible combination of nail polish. Green flakies on a dark shimmering green base, it was truly dazzling. While I had this combination on, I really could not help staring at it, especially under the sun.
The green flakie is NYX Purple Ave, which is in a really translucent purple base (all it does is darken any base color you might have on, you really can't see it) and the base color is Savvy Garland, a glowing green shimmer in a blackened base.
Together, they look like emerald chips shining in the dark.

Unfortunately these pictures where taken inside, but they still turned out half decent. I strongly recommend clicking on them to enlarge them so that you get blasted in the face with the total beauty of it.

Have you discovered any awesome combos with polish lately?

Products featured where purchased by me, for my own use. Please refer to my disclosure policy for full details.