Teal & Purple Leopard

Today's manicure is a mix of colorful gradients and leopard stamping. To begin, I applied one coat of Zoya Purity, a nice white polish. I like to begin colorful gradients with a white base, this gives the gradient polish something to *grab* on to, and makes the colors more vibrant. Taking a small piece of cosmetic wedge sponge, I then dabbed China Glaze Too Yacht To Handle diagonally across the nail, and Chine Glaze That's Shore Bright on either side, repeating this process until I reached the desired gradient effect. I then added a coat of Seche Vite top coat to seal the gradient. Adding top coat to a gradient also smooths and helps blend out the faded color effect.

To that, I used Bundle Monster stamping plate BM-221 and Konad special white stamping polish to create the leopard spots. I sealed the stamps with another later of Seche Vite.

Products Used:

One coat Beauty Secrets Moisturizing Base Coat

One coat Zoya Purity

Diagonal Gradient of China Glaze Too Yacht To Handle & China Glaze That's Shore Bright

One coat Seche Vite Top Coat

Bundle Monster Stamping plate BM-221

Konad White Special Stamping Polish

One coat Seche Vite Top Coat

Tumble Weeds

Today I am wearing a polish I received in one of my June Birchboxes, Color Club London Calling.

I began with a base coat, added two coats of London calling, and then a layer of top coat. I then used Bundle Monster stamping plate BM-312 and Konad black stamping polish to create the grass-like design.

After giving the stamps a few minutes to dry, I finished with another layer of top coat to seal the design and protect the stamp.

Products Used:

One coat Beauty Secrets Moisturizing Base Coat

Two coats Color Club London Calling

One coat Seche Vite Top Coat

Bundle Monster Stamping Plate BM-312

Konad Black Special Stamping Polish

One coat Seche Vite Top Coat

The Jungle Stand Tasting BAR - June 2013

It's time for another Jungle Stand Tasting BAR! (Please see my original Jungle Stand post for all the subscription details.)

This month's theme is "Taste of Taiwan"

Front of the card: Welcome to the Jungle Stand. Shake the dust off your passport & pack your bags adventurous tasters....we're gonna go taste the WORLD! First stop...TAIWAN! This island country is located in the southeast of Asia. It's a culture blended from Chinese to Japanese to increasingly Western influences. "Huan Ying!"

Back of the card: Before you are 6 popular delectables from Taiwan. Their flavors are heavily influenced by China and Japan. As you'll discover, saltiness & sweetness are a wonderful combination (especially w/ seafood). With an open mind, and an adventurous spirit, we invite you to taste TAIWAN. Will any of these tastes change your life?

The tastes:

Green - Sachima: A caramel treat resembling uncooked instant thick noodles. A light fare, this is a common Chinese pastry found in many Chinese-speaking regions, including Taiwan. It consists mainly of flour, butter & sugar. A fun taste because the  texture is crunchy then chewy.

Yellow - Rice Cracker: This taste is influenced by the Japanese. The rice cracker is a dry wafer made of rice. Taiwan's interpretation dusts sugar all around, adding a sweetness.

Pink - Sesame Pastry: This sesame-flavored pastry also has a crunchy & chewy texture. When you bite into it, you'll think the middle is hollow. Although this delicacy looks quite ordinary, the process of giving it the dual texture is quite complicated.

Red - Squid: This is a dry, shredded squid. It's like beef jerky, minue the beef, add the squid. Extremely popular in Taiwan and throughout Asia. (Tasting tip: once in your mouth, try sucking on the squid to taste a bit of sweetness.)

Blue - Pumpkin Cake: Made from Chinese pumpkins, which is a bit different from its American counterpart. If you're unfamiliar with the Chinese version, smell the cake. This delectable is topped with seaweed which will be the first flavor to hit you. Very nice balance of saltiness & sweetness. (BEST taste in the BAR.)

Orange - Peanut Brittle: There are many subtle variations & names for this peanut confection. But no matter the variety, they're always bite-sized and hard. Made from a mixture of peanuts & sugar which is then heated to a thick state & cut into small pieces after cooling.

This subscription is $9.92 per month, charges at the beginning of the month, and ships your BAR via Priority USPS in the middle of the month.

Click here to subscribe! (not a referral link)

Señor Flippy Flop

Today's manicure began with two coats of Reign In Spain, from my June Birchbox and a layer of Seche Vite top coat.

 To that I added two different flip flop stamps. There is an all-over flip flop stamp on the ring finger and thumb, and a pair of flip flops on every other nail. 

The stamps are from Bundle Monster stamping plate BM-309, and stamped with Konad special black stamping polish.

After waiting a bit for the stamps to dry, I finished the manicure with a final coat of Seche Vite top coat.

Bonus points if you know which TV show is being referenced with the name of this manicure :)

Products Used:

One coat Beauty Secrets Moisturizing Base Coat

Two coats Color Club Reign In Spain

One coat Seche Vite Top Coat

Bundle Monster Stamping Plate BM-309

Konad Black Special Stamping Polish

One coat Seche Vite Top Coat

June 2013 Target Beauty Box

This June beauty box is the first installment of Target's new monthly beauty box subscription. The boxes will cost $5.00 for 5 assorted beauty samples.

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips in Queen Cobra - These strips will allow you to easily add pizazz to your manicure with multiple print and pattern options. Full Size Value: $8.00

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo - While previously only available through a dermatologist, La Roche-Posay is now available at Target. Effaclar Duo is a breakthrough in acne treatment clinically tested to bring high efficacy with high tolerance. Sample Value: $4.66

L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier B.B. Cream - Meet the Magic all-in-one skin B.B. Cream. It hydrates, primes, perfects and corrects for a look and feel fit for the runway. Sample Value: $0.20

Gillette Venus and Olay Razor Pack - Help lock-in moisture and keep legs smooth with Venus & Olay's new Sugarberry razor. Full Size Value: $8.99

Fekkai Glossing Cream - Add a dazzling touch to your hair with Fekkai Glossing Cream that adds brilliant shine and helps eliminate frizz. Sample Value: $10.49

Coupon for $3 off a $15 beauty purchase @ Target

Box Cost: $5.00

Box Value: $32.34 ($35.34 with coupon)

June 2013 Birchbox & Ipsy

June 2013 Birchbox (1 of 2)

Davines Love Smoothing Shampoo - A Gentle Shampoo packed with moisturizing Indian fig extract and olive oil. Sample Value: $7.50

Birchbox + Color Club Wanderlust Collection in London Calling - Exclusive neon pastel shades inspired by four of our favorite cities. Sample Value: $4.00

LAQA & Co. Lil' Lip Duo (color not listed, bright pink shade) - A Birchbox exclusive, these pencils have a creamy texture, satiny finish, and a minty kick. Sample Value: $8.00

Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser - Two-in-one cleanser and exfoliator that magically lathers and smells deliciously lemony. Sample Value: $2.06

'Beauty Extra' Davines Love Smoothing Conditioner - Rich, aromatic conditioner formulated with nourishing borage seed oil. Sample Value: $1.41

'Beauty Extra' Davines Oi/Oil Absolute Beautifying Potion - An antioxidant-packed potion to instantly tame frizz and strengthen hair over time. Sample Value: $0.63

Box Cost: $10.00

Box Value: $23.60

Join Birchbox: My Referral Link

June 2013 Birchbox (2 of 2)

Davines Love Smoothing Shampoo - A Gentle Shampoo packed with moisturizing Indian fig extract and olive oil. Sample Value: $7.50

Birchbox + Color Club Wanderlust Collection in Reign In Spain - Exclusive neon pastel shades inspired by four of our favorite cities. Sample Value: $4.00

Oscar De La Renta Live In Love Foaming Body Scrub - Lathering exfoliator that smooths skin and leaves behind an ethereal floral scent. Sample Value: $0.86

Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Hi-Definition Hydrating Mineral Perfecting Powder - A shine-zapping mineral powder that keeps oil levels in check. Sample Value: $2.29

'Beauty Extra' Davines Love Smoothing Conditioner - Rich, aromatic conditioner formulated with nourishing borage seed oil. Sample Value: $1.41

'Beauty Extra' Davines Oi/Oil Absolute Beautifying Potion - An antioxidant-packed potion to instantly tame frizz and strengthen hair over time. Sample Value: $0.63

Box Cost: $10.00

Box Value: $16.69

Join Birchbox: My Referral Link

June 2013 Ipsy

This month's theme is 'On The Wild Side', and the makeup bag is leopard print with neon green accents.

Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter Pencil - This fresh and pretty neutral pencil will brighten and visibly lift your eyes when lightly applied on the brow bone, dark circles, blemishes and red spots. Full Size Value: $18.00

NYX Powder Blush in Angel - Described as a 'matte, soft pink'. Our pressed powder blush delivers sheer, silky color that glides on, blends beautifully and creates a natural glow. The formula is richly-pigmented and lasts for hours. Full Size Value: $5.00

Starlooks Lip Liner in Tipsy - Matte peachy-pink. This creamy, moisturizing formula glides on softly to smooth lips and ensure lipstick stays in place, while extending its wear. Full Size Value: $12.00

Psssst! Instant Dry Shampoo (travel size) - Lightweight, talk-free formula soaks up oils, sweat, and product build-up, taking hair from dirty, flat and matte to refreshed and revived. Travel Size Value: $2.99

J. Cat Sparkling Cream Palette - Sparkle is everyone’s best friend! Give yourself a healthy dosage of sparkle with the cream palette that comes in a variety of complementing colors. The creamy texture allows the sparkle to be applied easily with an applicator onto your face. Full Size Value: $4.49

Bag Cost: $10.00

Bag Value: $42.48

Join Ipsy: My Referral Link

All A Flutter

Today I decided to do something different and use some nail polish strips. I began using them about 2.5 years ago when I became interested in doing my nails regularly. After I learned how to do my nails properly with polish, I stopped using the strips, but when I came across a bunch of them on sale for a dollar a pack, I couldn't resist! 

The strips I have used today are Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips in 'All A Flutter'. The polish strip package come with two sealed packs that contain 8 strips each in various sizes. I have done this manicure using 5 strips, half a strip on each nail, so only one pack was needed. This method allows me two uses per package of nail strips. I've topped them with a coat of Seche Vite to protect them from gouges, nicks, and scrapes.

Products Used:

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Polish Strips 'All A Flutter'

One coat Seche Vite Top Coat

Shattered

Today's manicure begins with base coat, two coats of Sinful Shine Royal Flush, and one coat of Seche Vite top coat.

To that, I used Bundle Monster stamping plate 208 and Konad special white stamping polish to add the cracked design.

I wanted some sparkle, so I added a coat of China Glaze Fairy Dust, and finished with a coat of Seche Vite top coat.

You'll notice that in the before after pic, it looks like two different polishes...bizarre! The top pic was taken in afternoon sunlight, the bottom pic was taken at sunset. It's interesting how different kinds of sunlight can change the appearance of the polish in pics so drastically. The funniest part, is that neither pic looks exactly like the polish color. Purpley-pinks are so hard to capture accurately. Oh well!

Products Used:

One coat Beauty Secrets Moisturizing Base Coat

Two coats Sinful Shine Royal Flush

One coat Seche Vite Top Coat

Bundle Monster Plate 208

Konad Special White Stamping Polish

One coat China Glaze Fairy Dust

One coat Seche Vite Top Coat

My Nail Care Routine

I've gotten some questions regarding my nail care routine, and what I do to keep my nails healthy. The answer is, not much...I don't do anything special to my cuticles or have an intricate mix of potions to make my nails grow out strong. My routine is very basic, I have outlined it below and added a few pics for reference.

The first step in a fresh manicure is to remove the previous polish. For this, I just use the cheapest remover from whatever store I am at when I remember that I'm out of remover...I use the nourishing formula. The cotton pads I use for removal are Face Secrets Disposable Facial Cloths. These lint free pads can be found at Sally Beauty, and are around $5.99 for 50. I can typically use one pad to remove two manicures, using half of the pad per manicure. For more difficult polish removal I will end up using one pad. I always wash my hands after polish removal, I personally don't like the smell of polish remover.

The next step is to MOISTURIZE! It doesn't matter what you use for this step, as long as you use something to moisturize your nails and cuticles. Above are a few things that I rotate depending on my mood or how my nails feel that day. Pictured are JR Watkins Aloe & Green Tea Hand & Cuticle Salve, LUSH Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter, and Julep Essential Cuticle Oil. Whatever you use, rub the product into your nails, all the skin around your nails, and even into the skin up to your first knuckle. I do this every time I start a new manicure, which is about twice a week.

Step three, shape and clean. After moisturizing, shape your nails however you prefer. Mine are square at the tips, so I use the darker file above to create the squared tip. I put my finger on the desk, use the file to create a T shape with my finger, and use a side to side motion with the file to keep the tips even and straight. The metal file with the rounded tip is great for cleaning under the nails. I purchased the metal file at Walmart, and the darker file at Sally Beauty.

After I moisturize and shape my nails, I wash my hands again to clean away any dust from filing, and any residual oil or product that may still be on the nails. I use this cute little monkey nail brush that my bestie gave me to scrub my nails clean. 

Pick your products! Base coat, polish color, top coat. Today I have used one layer of Beauty Secrets Moisturizing Base Coat, two coats of Sinful Shine Royal Flush, and one coat of Seche Vite Top Coat.

And there you have it! All of my nail care/new manicure steps from beginning to finish :)

Zoya Maya

Today I am wearing a lovely pink/coral jelly, Zoya Maya. I started with Zoya's Anchor base coat, added three layers of Maya, and finished with Zoya's Armor top coat.

Products Used:

One coat Zoya Anchor Base Coat

Three coats Zoya Maya

One coat Zoya Armor Top Coat