30 Manis Marathon - w/ The Charming Cheshire and You!

Hello! 

Cookie from The Charming Cheshire and I have decided to take on a nail polish challenge, and we invite you to follow along with us! Instead of the 30 day nail polish/nail art challenge that has been circulating for quite some time, we tweaked it a bit. We decided to do the same challenges, but make it a 30 Manicure Marathon instead, completing a new manicure from the above list (in order) every 3 or 4 days instead of one every day. 

We would love to have you and other polish lovers you know participate right along with us! Feel free to post the picture above and the marathon details on your blog, twitter, instagram, and Facebook with the hashtag 

#30manis2013

We will be starting the marathon this Sunday, September 1st, so let your friends and followers know before then so everyone will be ready! Cookie and I will be creating a new blog/facebook/instagram post for each of our manicures, but you can lay your posts out however you like.

The time line for posting the manicures to social media is below:

Manicure 1 - Red Nails: Sunday Sept 1^st – Wednesday Sept 4^th

Manicure 2 - Orange Nails: Wednesday Sept 4^th – Saturday Sept 7^th

Manicure 3 - Yellow Nails: Saturday Sept 7^th – Tuesday Sept 10^th

Manicure 4 - Green Nails: Tuesday Sept 10^th – Friday Sept 13^th

Manicure 5 - Blue Nails: Friday Sept 13^th – Monday Sept 16^th

Manicure 6 - Violet Nails: Monday Sept 16^th – Thursday Sept 19^th

Manicure 7 - Black & White Nails: Thursday Sept 19^th – Sunday Sept 22^nd

Manicure 8 - Metallic Nails: Sunday Sept 22^nd – Wednesday Sept 25^th

Manicure 9 - Rainbow Nails: Wednesday Sept 25^th – Saturday Sept 28^th

Manicure 10 - Gradient Nails: Saturday Sept 28^th – Tuesday Oct 1^st

Manicure 11 - Polka Dots: Tuesday Oct 1^st – Friday Oct 4^th

Manicure 12 - Stripes: Friday Oct 4^th – Monday Oct 7^th

Manicure 13 - Animal Print: Monday Oct 7^th – Thursday Oct 10^th

Manicure 14 - Flowers: Thursday Oct 10^th – Sunday Oct 13^th

Manicure 15 - Delicate Print: Sunday Oct 13^th – Wednesday Oct 16^th

Manicure 16 - Tribal Print: Wednesday Oct 16^th – Saturday Oct 19^th

Manicure 17 - Glitter: Saturday Oct 19^th – Tuesday Oct 22^nd

Manicure 18 - Half Moons: Tuesday Oct 22^nd – Friday Oct 25^th

Manicure 19 - Galaxies: Friday Oct 25^th – Monday Oct 28^th

Manicure 20 - Water Marble: Monday Oct 28^th – Friday Nov 1^st

Manicure 21 - Inspired by a color: Friday Nov 1^st – Monday Nov 4^th

Manicure 22 - Inspired by a song: Monday Nov 4^th – Thursday Nov 7^th

Manicure 23 - Inspired by a movie: Thursday Nov 7^th – Sunday Nov 10^th

Manicure 24 - Inspired by a book: Sunday Nov 10^th – Wednesday Nov 13^th

Manicure 25 - Inspired by fashion: Wednesday Nov 13^th – Saturday Nov 16^th

Manicure 26 - Inspired by a pattern: Saturday Nov 16^th – Tuesday Nov 19^th

Manicure 27 - Inspired by artwork: Tuesday Nov 19^th – Friday Nov 22^nd

Manicure 28 - Inspired by a flag: Friday Nov 22^nd – Monday Nov 25^th

Manicure 29 - Inspired by the supernatural: Monday Nov 25^th – Thursday Nov 28^th

Manicure 30 - Inspired by a tutorial: Thursday Nov 28^th – Sunday Dec 1st

Have fun, and I look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with!

~Scooby

Rainbows n' Glitter

Today's manicure is an alternating rainbow gradient design using Bondi New York polishes. 

The colors used are Horny Mistress, Chasing the Sun, Brick Road, Teal Magnolia, NYPD, and Uptown Girl.

I began with a base coat, and one coat of Zoya Purity (white). After letting that dry completely, I put small amounts of red, orange, and yellow polish side by side on the back of a metal stamping plate. Then I dipped a small piece of cosmetic wedge sponge into all 3 colors at once, and carefully dabbed that over the white polish on my pinky, middle, and thumbnails. I repeated this step until I reached desired opacity and gradient effect, then I did the same with the teal, blue, and purple polishes on the remaining nails. 

After giving the gradient time to dry, I topped it with 1 or 2 coats of China Glaze Snow Globe glitter polish, and a coat of Zoya Armor top coat.

Products Used:

One coat Zoya Anchor Base Coat

One coat Zoya Purity

Gradients of Bondi New York Horny Mistress, Chasing the Sun, Brick Road, Teal Magnolia, NYPD, Uptown Girl

1-2 coats China Glaze Snow Globe

One coat Zoya Armor Top Coat

The Limelight Can't Be Tamed

Today's manicure began with two coats of Bondi New York The Limelight. I then painted small amounts of Orly Can't Be Tamed onto a piece of cosmetic wedge sponge, and carefully dabbed that to the tips of my nails to create the glitter gradient. I added two coats of Gelous gel top coat to smooth out the glitter and let that dry overnight. The next day, I sealed the manicure with a coat of Seche Vite top coat.

Products Used 

One coat Dreams Nail Lacquer 2-in-1 Base and Top Coat

Two coats Bondi New York The Limelight

Glitter Tips of Orly Can't Be Tamed

Two coats Gelous Advanced Gel Top Coat

One coat Seche Vite Top Coat

Bondi Color Block Jigsaw

For this design, I began by painting a color block design on each nail in a rainbow pattern, using all Bondi new York polishes. Each nail has two colors, I painted each nail with the lighter of the two colors, and then used scotch tape to section off half of the nail to paint a coat of the darker color on half. Then I added a layer of top coat.

Then for fun, I used Konad black stamping polish and Bundle Monster stamping plate BM-319 to add a jigsaw puzzle stamp to the color blocks. I sealed the manicure with another layer of top coat.

Products Used:

One coat Dreams Nail Lacquer Top Coat/Base Coat

Color Blocking with Bondi New York Fuschia-istic, Horny Mistress, Chasing the Sun, Brick Road, The Limelight, NYPD, Uptown Girl

One coat Dreams Nail Laquer Top Coat/Base Coat

Konad Black Special Stamping Polish

Bundle Monster Stamping Plate BM-319

One coat Dreams Nail Lacquer Top Coat/Base Coat

Ipsy - August 2013

August 2013 - Ipsy

Theme & bag

This month's theme is 'Glamour Academy', and the bag is royal purple with gold detailing and 'Ipsy' and 'Glamour Academy' wording.

Mica Beauty Shimmer Powder/Mineral Eye Shadow in Bronze

Size Received: Full Size

Value: $14.95

"MicaBeauty® Mineral Eye Shadows’ glamorous shimmers will give you the look you always wanted. MicaBeauty® Mineral Makeup is extremely gentle, free of preservatives, chemicals, dyes, talc, oils, and other fillers. With this unique formula, your Eye Shadows will look ultra smooth and stay put for hours without creasing or pulling the delicate eye area."

Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Scrub

Size Received: 1 fl oz

Value: $5.29

"Unique facial scrub formulated with Jojoba Wax Beads and Activated Charcoal to effectively remove dead skin, impurities and toxins. Jojoba Wax Beads provide gentle exfoliation without leaving microlacerations on delicate skin. Highly absorbent Activated Charcoal penetrates deeply into pores to draw out impurities and toxins. Refines texture and encourages skin renewal, leaving skin smooth and refreshed."

Pixi Lash Booster Mascara in Blackest Black

Size Received: 0.105 oz

Value: $7.14

"This unique mascara truly boosts your lashes, giving them a "push-up" effect that lasts all day. The dense, rich formula ensures that lashes are coated with maximum pigment, for long-lasting full colour. The cone-shaped brush coats each lash evenly for the ultimate smudge-free, waterproof lash & eye definition. Available in intense eye-opening shades, including the revolutionary "blackest blue" that awakens the eyes and makes the whites of the eyes appear whiter."

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Anarchy

Size Received: 0.03 oz

Value: $7.33

"Get the color you crave. Addictive to apply (and even more addictive to wear), this creamy formula glides on without dragging or skipping, hugs every curve and gives you a BIG laydown of color. And with shades that 

range from gorgeous nudes to bold brights, there’s something for everyone."

Chella Eyebrow Color Pencil in Dazzling Dark Brown

Size Received: Full Size

Value: $18.00

"The fine tip on this sleek European-designed mechanical pencil has a creamy consistency that glides into place and can also be lightly smudged for a more natural look."

Bag Cost: $10.00

Bag Value: $52.71

Birchbox - August 2013

Birchbox 1 of 2

Show Stoppers Designer Fashion Tape in Nude

Size Received: 2 strips

Value: $0.83

"Keep peekaboo bra straps and rebellious hems in check with these double-sided fashion tape strips. A secret tool in every celeb stylist’s arsenal, they stop the big reveal before it happens. We keep a pack of these strips in our desk drawer at all times. Think of them as your wardrobe’s little helpers."

Jasmine Seven Wipes in Fresh Feet

Size received: 2 wipes

Value: $0.66

"Schlepping around the city, or anywhere for that matter, can leave our feet a little…dirty. So when we discovered these purse-friendly wipes, we went a little wipe-crazy. In one quick swipe, they quickly freshen up our feet (or hands or yoga mat) faster than you can say “mani-pedi.”

Dreams Nail Lacquer 2-in-1 Base and Top Coat

Size Received: 7ml

Value: $5.25

"Our nail polish inventories are already perilously overstocked (can someone say “lack of storage space?”), which is why we love this two-in-one nail enamel from Dreams. The fast-drying formula serves as both a sheer base coat and top coat, saving us precious space for past and future polish-hoarding."

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso

Size Received: 0.03 fl oz

Value: $6.60

"We’re not exaggerating when we say this is the most long-lasting lipstick we’ve ever tried. We put it to the test and we’re happy to report that it didn’t stray or run even after our second cup of coffee and a messy Mexican lunch. The creamy formula glides on like a gloss yet has the staying power of a stain—all without drying out your lips. Take care when you apply because once it sets, it’s not budging!"

Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturizer

Size Received: 0.5 oz

Value: $7.00

"Nine times out of ten, moisturizers list water as one of their main ingredients. Juice Beauty’s oil-free hydrator is a standout exception to the rule. Their active-packed formula is made with a powerful base of organic juices so that every single drop feeds your skin. Full of antioxidants, it’s great for those with oily or blemish-prone skin since the lightweight formula won’t clog pores."

Box Cost: $10.00

Box Value: $20.34

Birchbox 2 of 2

Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect

Size Received: Not Labeled

Estimated Value: $4.50

"As self-confessed blow dryer addicts, we put our hair through a lot of stress. To keep our strands from a styling-induced meltdown, we’ve been using this extra hydrating leave-in conditioning mist. It doesn’t just protect hair from heat damage; it also doubles as a color protector and UV shield. The sulfate-free formula sinks in quickly and has a pretty floral scent thanks to white freesia, amber, and musk."

Jasmine Seven Wipes in Fresh Feet

Size received: 2 wipes

Value: $0.66

"Schlepping around the city, or anywhere for that matter, can leave our feet a little…dirty. So when we discovered these purse-friendly wipes, we went a little wipe-crazy. In one quick swipe, they quickly freshen up our feet (or hands or yoga mat) faster than you can say “mani-pedi.”

ModelCo Party Proof Lipstick in Disco Fever

Size Received: 1 of a Trio

Value: $8.00

"One thing is for certain: Parties are for practicing your best electric slide or teaching fellow revelers how to Dougie—not worrying about smudged lipstick. Gladly, this hydrating, semi-matte lip color lives up to its cheeky moniker. Whether you’re heading to a backyard BBQ or a black tie gala, it’s guaranteed to stay put through plates of baby back ribs, champagne toasts, and beyond."

Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45+

Size Received: 0.17 fl oz

Value: $4.42

"We’re always skeptical when products promise the sun and the moon, but Dr. Jart’s Premium Beauty Balm truly delivers. A four-in-one primer, moisturizer, sunscreen, and treatment serum, the formula helps you cut down on the beauty cabinet clutter. Plus, this BB cream has advanced brightening properties and anti-aging benefits. Even Martha Stewart can’t boast multitasking skills quite like this."

Tan Towel Classic Formula Self-Tan Towelettes Half Body

Size Received: 1 Wipe

Value: $2.40

"If your skin has an Edward Cullen-like pallor, it’s time to consider a sunless tanner. But be careful, eager beaver: Not all self-tanners are created equal (we don’t know about you, but we’d rather be pale than orange). We’re particularly smitten with these easy-to-use, travel-friendly towelettes, which give you a natural-looking faux glow—no sun exposure required."

Box Cost: $10.00

Box Value: $19.98

Strawberry Patch

Today's manicure began with base coat, two coats of Bondi New York Strawberry Fields, and a top coat.

(Strawberry Fields, Limelight, Brick Road)

Then I added strawberry stamps using Konad special white stamping polish, and Shany stamping plate SH19.

Next, I used a dotting tool to add Bondi New York Limelight to the tops of the berries, and Bondi New York Brick Road to the seeds in the middle.

When the green and yellow polish was dry, I added a top coat to seal and protect the manicure.

Products Used

One coat Beauty Secrets Moisturizing Base Coat

Two coats Bondi New York Strawberry Fields

One coat Diamond Dry Top Coat Brilliance

Shany Stamping Plate SH19

Konad White Special Stamping Polish

Small Dotting Tool, Bondi New York Limelight, Bondi New York Brick Road

One coat Diamond Dry Top Coat Brilliance

Taffy Sandwich

Today's manicure uses the jelly sandwich technique, sandwiching glitter polish between layers of jelly polish.

After beginning with a base coat, I added 3 or 4 layers of China Glaze Heat Index, a neon pink jelly polish. To that, I applied two coats of Hard Candy Pink Taffy, a silver/pink/black glitter polish in a pink base. 

Then I applied one layer of Heat Index over the glitter, and finished with one coat of Seche Vite top coat.

Products Used:

One coat Beauty Secrets Moisturizing Base Coat

Four coats China Glaze Heat Index

Two coats Hard Candy Pink Taffy

One coat China Glaze Heat Index

One coat Seche Vite Top Coat