30 Mani Marathon - Manicure 10: Gradient

The 10th task in the 30 Mani Marathon is Gradient Nails.

To represent Gradient Nails, I began with a base coat and one coat of Zoya Purity (white). After the white had dried, I chose two holographic polishes, Literary Lacquers Laters Baby (grey) and Hits Ares (red), and dropped some of each color side by side onto a metal stamping plate. I then took a piece of cosmetic wedge sponge and dipped it into both colors at once, and dabbed that to my nails where I wanted the gradient to be. I repeated this process, giving the layers time to dry in between dabbings, about 4 or 5 times until I had the desired gradient effect. I sealed the manicure with a layer of top coat, and used q-tips dipped in polish remover to clean up around the cuticles.

30 Mani Marathon - Manicure 9: Rainbow Nails

The 9th task in the 30 Mani Marathon is Rainbow Nails.

To represent Rainbow Nails, I began with two coats of China Glaze Kalahari Kiss to create a neutral base. Then, I painted rainbow colors (Bondi Horny Mistress, Chasing the Sun, Brick Road, The Limelight, NYPD, and Uptown Girl) onto dental floss picks, and painted the lines one by one across the nails in a rainbow pattern.

After applying two stripes of each color, I placed a corresponding colored rhinestone onto each stripe in a diagonal pattern. I sealed the manicure with a generous coat of Seche Vite top coat.

30 Mani Marathon - Manicure 8: Metallic Nails

The 8th task in the 30 Mani Marathon is Metallic Nails.

To represent Metallic Nails, I began with one coat of Bondi Botanical Beauty. Over that, I used Kleancolor Metallic Purple, Metallic Jungle, and Mash stamping plate 38 to create the camouflage design. I chose to stamp the design in purple, then blue, then purple again to create the overlapping stripes. Lastly, I sealed the design with a coat of Diamond Dry top coat.

30 Mani Marathon - Manicure 7: Black & White

The 7th task in the 30 Mani Marathon is Black & White.

To represent Black & White, I began with two coats of Orly Au Champagne, and added stripes of Bondi City Slicker and Zoya Raven. To that, I added white hexagonal glitter pieces from China Glaze Whirled Away, and sealed the manicure with a coat of Seche Vite top coat.

30 Mani Marathon - Manicure 6: Violet Nails

The 6th task in the 30 Mani Marathon is Violet Nails.

To represent Violet Nails I have layered one coat of Kleancolor Holo Chrome over two coats of Zoya Pinta.

This one could not be accurately captured with a photo, so please check out the Instagram video here for the full effect!

Ipsy - September 2013

Ipsy - September 2013

Theme & Bag

This month's theme is 'Clasic Beauty' and the bag is blue with black print.

NYX Single Eye Shadow in Morocco

Size Received: Full Size Single Pan

Value: $4.50

"Punch it up. Thanks to our high-fashion, high-intensity pigments, our signature pressed shadows pack a punch of color, yet are incredibly easy to blend. Go edgy or understated effortlessly, and enjoy the luscious, long-wearing color from sunrise to sunset...and beyond. Collect and create with 50 shades in shimmer, sheer, glitter, frosty, metallic and matte formulations!"

John Frieda Full Repair Full Body Shampoo & Conditioner

Size Received: 1.5 fl oz each

Value: $1.17 each, $2.34 for both

"Bodifying formula, with Inca Inchi Oil rich in omega-3, repairs the look and feel of overworked hair as it weightlessly restores bounce for full, flowing styles. Detangles strands, reducing the risk of breaking and snagging when combing or brushing."

Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Volumizing Mascara

Size Received: 0.14 fl oz

Value: $8.00

"A unique formula that lengthens and curls your lashes without smudging! Maintains mega volume for the whole day, and is easily removed."

Starlooks Obsidian Kohl Eye Pencil

Size Received: Full Size

Value: $12.00

"Dramatically emphasize your eyes with Starlooks' intensely-pigmented Kohl Eye pencils! These ultra-soft liners glide across delicate lids without pulling. Try a smokey effect by blending outwards with a fluffy brush! Each extremely creamy Kohl Liner can also be used as a base on the entire lid. Impossible to choose between 10 stunning and super saturated shades!"

Bonus - em by Michelle Phan 'The Life Palette' sampler

Size Received: 1 blush & 3 eye colors on a card

Value: ?

"Inspired by the needs to dress for success and always look polished and perfect."

Bag Cost: $10.00

Bag value: $26.84

Click here to subscribe! (personal referral link)

30 Mani Marathon - Manicure 5: Blue Nails

The 5th task in the 30 Mani Marathon is Blue Nails.

To represent Blue Nails, I began with two coats of Orly Snowcone. Next, I painted small amounts of  Wet n Wild At the After Party on a piece of cosmetic wedge sponge, and dabbed that to the tips of my nails. I sealed the manicure with a coat of Seche Vite top coat.

Click here for all the 30 Mani Marathon details, list of tasks, and timeline.

30 Mani Marathon - Manicure 4: Green Nails

The 4th task in the 30 Mani Marathon is Green Nails.

To represent Green Nails, I chose to create Melty Chocolate Mint Chip Waffle Cones! I began with a base coat, two coats of a chocolate brown Color Club that isn't labeled, and a coat of Dreams Nail Lacquer top coat. I used China Glaze Below Deck, and Bundle Monster plate BM-315 to create the waffle cone design. I topped that with a layer of Hard Candy Matte top coat to give the 'cones' a dull look that would contrast with the 'ice cream' drips.

Next, I used a large size dotting tool and China Glaze Re-fresh Mint to create the mint green drips, and added a thin layer of Dreams top coat to the mint green only. Then, I used a flat nail art brush to dab small amounts of Lush Lacquer Salt n Peppa over the green to create the 'chips' or 'sprinkles'. Finally, I added a layer of Gelous Advanced Gel top coat to the green drips only.

Click here for all the 30 Mani Marathon details, list of tasks, and timeline.

Fortune Cookie Soap Box - Fall 2013

OCD Hand Sanitizer in Indian Summer

"AKA two more months of sweaty backs and cracks. With notes of blueberry, woods, and musk"

Fortune Cookie Soap in Autumn Daze

"Dueces Summer!" Till we meet again. With notes of apple, cardamom, and pecan."

Whipped Cream in "I Yam what I Yam" Said the Marshmallow

"Can't you just see an adorable little marshmallow proudly saying this? Cuz in our world, marshmallows can talk, and unicorns fart glitter and rainbows."

Personal Space Odor Neutralizer/Air freshener in Pick of the Patch

"They say size doesn't matter, but when it comes to pumpkins - the bigger the better, baby!"

Bath Oil in <insert cookie cutter name here>

"Cookie cutter, shmookie cutter!! We kinda pride ourselves on not being cookie cutter around here. Our new fall cookie fragrance is anything BUT your average cookie scent, filled with luscious goodness and baked vanilla."

Wax Tart in Cranberry + Apple = FTW

"Of course we're talking about our favorite libation, the Washington Apple, (AKA the panty dropper). Oh! You mean the fragrance? Yeah, that's good too."

Milk Bath in You're Insecure, Donut What For...

"YOU KNOW YOU SANG THAT WHEN YOU READ IT! This yummy cinnamon sugar donut scent will light up your world like nothing else."

Bath Fizzy in Leeeaaf Piiiile!!

"Let's face it, jumping into a big ol' pile of leaves sounds like more fun than it actually is. With notes of apples and acorns."

Box Cost: $19.99

4 boxes per year, quarterly. Click here to order!

Birchbox - September 2013

Birchbox 1 of 2

BCBGMAXAZRIA Bon Genre Perfume

Size Received: 0.05 fl oz

Value: $1.62

"With opening notes of lychee and red berries, this scent is ultrafeminine for sure. But things get more complicated (in the best possible way) when middle notes of tiger lily and jasmine noir enter the picture. A seductive swirl of Australian sandalwood and golden amber only serve to make things more alluring. And who doesn’t love a little mystery?"

Coastal Scents Eye Shadow Quad 31 - Queen of Hearts

Size Received: 4 Full Size Pans

Value: $7.80

"Four Complimentary shades that can easily (and beautifully) take you from day to night."

Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream

Size Received: 1 fl oz

Value: $6.00

"Caudalie has distilled the best natural ingredients into this ultra-concentrated cream. Made with antioxidant-rich grapeseed oil, sweet orange pulp, and avocado, it reduces the look of fine lines on your hands. Pure shea butter and plant-derived glycerin soften skin."

Ruffian Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund

Size Received: Full Size

Value: $10.00

" Hedge Fund is a sophisticated olive foil with gold shimmer that catches the light just so."

Sarahpotempa The Half-Up

Size Received: Full Size

Value: $9.00

"Made of strong and cushy foam, The HALF UP™ secures your updo sans bobby pins and comes in three hair color-matching options: Black, Brunette, and Blonde."

Box Cost: $10.00

Box Value: $34.42

Birchbox 2 of 2

Beauty Protector Protect & Shampoo/Condition

Size Received: (not listed) Estimated 1oz

Value: Estimated $2.74 each, $5.49 for both

"In addition to honey pearl powder, Protect & Shampoo is packed with rich vitamins and a gentle mix of sulfate-free cleaning agents. This powerhouse lineup cleanses and nourishes your strands.

In addition to honey pearl powder, Protect & Condition is formulated with natural ingredients like shea butter and apple, lemon, and orange extracts. Together, they hydrate and nourish hair with vitamins and minerals."

GlamNatural Cream Blush in Sun Kissed, Ashley Ashley, and You Make me Blush

Size Received: 3 small packets, no size listed

Value: Estimated $1.00 each, $3.00 total

"Star ingredient shea butter deeply nourishes skin. Like all GlamNatural™ products, this blush is BodySafe™, which means it’s hypo-allergenic, vegan, gluten free, cruelty free, formaldehyde free, synthetic fragrance free—to name a few. It’s available in five rich shades: Barely There (a natural hue for very fair complexions), Sun Kissed (a peachy hue for fair to medium, olive/tan skin tones), Ashley, Ashley (a pink hue for fair to medium, peach-based skin tones), You Make Me Blush (a berry shade for medium to dark skin tones), and After Hours
(a deep rose hue for darker skin tones)."

Ruffian Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund

Size Received: Full Size

Value: $10.00

" Hedge Fund is a sophisticated olive foil with gold shimmer that catches the light just so."

Mereadesso All-In-One Moisturizer

Size received: 0.4 fl oz

Value: $28.24

"This aloe-based gel contains 16 botanical extracts, 8 enzymes and minerals, and over 20 antioxidants chosen for their purity and effectiveness—adding up to one powerful product. A combination of caffeine and apple and cucumber extracts contributes to the all-in-one moisturizer’s refreshing cooling and tightening sensation."

Box Cost: $10.00

Box Value: $46.73