Mani of the Day: WnW How I Met Your Magenta

Before I open up into a tiny rant, let me say this is one of the most creative polishes from the Wet n Wild Television line. Pink jelly? Creamy semi-matte finish? Subtle golden sheen? Fluorescent pink? Definitely not a repeat in my collection. My issue? The name is SO off that I thought someone had mixed up the labels between How I Met Your Magenta and another shade! Just one of my tiny pet peeves. in fact, I'm working on putting together a list of mismatched beauty product names haha. 

Enough about that, check out these swatches! Gorg right? So different! 

No top coat, base coat is Gelous Advanced Nail Gel Coat. I haven't been using my base coats the base few days, and my nails informed me of that today.... For that they are getting a Vaseline Cocoa Butter Treatment again this morning! Nice nails...

Seen here with 3 coats as I could still see through a bit after 2. I'm very happy with the outcome! The girls at my preschool are going to love this! They refer to my nails as Barbie Nails when I wear my pinkest pinks!

Do you have this polish and love it? Something similar?

Etsy Spotlight: Workshop760 Nail Polish Pendants

Mixing stunning jewelry designs with eye-catching nail polish,  Workshop760 on Etsy is an original in the jewelry field. With over 20 years of jewelry making experience, Cara crafts each piece with extreme care and a detailed eye. 

My pendant contains a background of Color Club Alias and Nfu-Oh Nail Art Flakes. Both famous colors, they look infinitely more beautiful in natural lighting.

"Each one is polished by hand to high shine and captures the beauty of the nail polish permanently" writes Cara on her shop information, and I definitely have to agree! Absolutely a new way to display nail polish without worrying about chipping. Currently available in her shop is everything from ovals to hearts to crosses in an obscene amount of shades. Constantly changing, you need to favorite the shop to make sure you keep up with the inventory. Each pendant comes with a handmade necklace of beads to wear it with, however you can also choose to put it on your own chain. 

Some people have recently been using nail polish to create art, but not all pieces are created equal. "This is nail polish encased inside a polished resin gem, not just painted on the back of glass or acrylic, they are permanent and water resistant" provides Cara. This means unlike other forms (which can peel and flake) you can rock these pieces without worrying about damage and enjoying the 100% original design since no 2 will ever be the same. 

Check out the shaping above, round and smooth. Super shiny, but also extremely light in weight. These are also goo examples of how when viewed at a different angle, colors can look vastly different.

When asked what type I would like, I instantly knew. I have been working on putting together my Villainettes Series (still a work in progress, but soon!) and knew I had to go with something inspired by Maleficent, the evil queen from Sleeping Beauty. Look for this necklace in a future post along with a devious makeup look! Didn't it come out perfect?

Here are a few other designs created for Workshop760 by Cara:

Jewelry lovers and nail polish enthusiasts alike need to check into Cara's Etsy shop Workshop760. For questions about her work, feel free to e-mail Cara here: workshop760@yahoo.com


I've started Etsy Spotlight to support individuals with original and skilled crafts. If you would like to be featured or have any questions, please contact me by e-mail at Stephanie-Louise@live.com

Hard Candy Baked Duo in Pick Up Line Look

 I have been waiting to play with this! Using the products below, I created a kind of "fairy" inspired look. I had a few people tell me I looked ethereal. I did use the darker shade in this duo wet! Remember, baked eyeshadows are always 2 colors: one wet and one dry! I think it turned out really pretty! What do you guys think?

Natural Lighting: 

 Flash:

Hard Candy Baked Eyeshadow Duo in Pick Up Line:

Overall in this look, I am wearing: 

Face:

ELF Mist & Set

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

Maybelline Mineral Power Foundation

Revlon Photoready Concealer Stick

ELF Studio Blush in Tickled Pink

Hard Candy Baked Bronzer in Hula Hula

Eyes:

ELF Eyelash Curler

Hard Candy Take Me Out Eyeliner in Soy

ULTA Lash Blow Out Mascara in Jet Black

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Gel Eyeliner , Black shade in the Brown Eyes Collection

Wet n Wild Color Icon Brow/Eye Liner in Taupe

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden

Inner Corners- NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk

Lid/Crease- Hard Candy Baked Eyeshadow Duo in Pick Up Line

Highlight-MAC Eyeshadow in Patina

Lips:

ELF Studio Matte Lip Color in Tea Rose

Please excuse my CRAZY allergy eyes! lol

So what do you guys think of this look? I know I haven't been able to post many lately with the move, but get ready to see more again! I love this duo, I think its going to be really pretty for winter too!

You can pick these up at Walmart, tons more colors!

*Item(s) sent to me for review are featured in this post. This in no way guarantees coverage. All of my reviews and reactions are honest, I would never recommend something that didn’t deserve it. For more information, please see my disclosure policy in the top bar.*

DIY: Green Tea Mask for Problem Skin!

 How often have you seen/heard/read about the benefits of green tea? I think (like most "health" items) green tea can be exaggerated, but sometimes the hype is totally relevant. I've heard everything from curing dandruff to SPF protection, but that isn't what I use it for. Since I was around 14, I've been using the power of green tea to fight problem skin. I don't know if it fights sun damage, but I DO know it helps after a sunburn. And acne? Yep, that too. Thus, the title!

Ready to rock naked skin?

Homemade Green Tea Face Mask for ACNE
2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Green Tea Bags
3 Tablespoons Oats
1 Aspirin Capsul


Mix all ingredients together and apply to affected areas. The apple cider vinegar helps absorb oil, the green tea will help rev your skin to heal, the oats soothe, & the aspirin is an old acne trick. I use it as a spot treatment.



Homemade Green Tea Face Mask for SUNBURNS
1 Green Tea Bag
1/2 a Banana, more if you were sunburned other than your face
2 Tablespoons Oats 

The green tea will rev up healing, banana moisturizes, and the oats soothe damaged skin. Not a banana person? You can also swap out banana for avocado for a luxe feel. Should be like a soft paste and can be used on face, neck, body, but not tested on burns originating from anything other than sunlight. 

As always, do a test patch to help avoid allergic reactions! 

I hope you guys like these masks as much as my DIY Pumpkin Foot Scrub you all fell in love with!

Mani of the Day: Wnw Blue Moon + Sally Hansen Crackle in Antiqued Gold

So here is my creation today! I used Wet n Wild in Blue Moon, a color new to my collection. I think I passed it up for so long because in the stores, it looked black. I held it up to the light and fell for it. So dark and mystical looking! 

So here it is looking navy/black....

Then with the light shining at the right angle!

I love it, really I do. Gorgeous and different, very mysterious.

Next, I'll be showing you what Wet n Wild's Blue Moon looks like with Sally Hansen's Crackle in Antiqued Gold. I think this is definitely one of the most controversial crackles of any brand because most of us had issues. No, it doesn't crack like I'd like, but I do think its still pretty. I didn't return it, so I'm still using it right? What do you guys think?

So are you guys feeling the end result? Do you still try to mess with Antiqued Gold if you have it?

Hair Reviews: Pssssst! Dry Shampoo from Freeman Beauty + Special Deal

Product Info: The original dry shampoo to refresh and rejuvenate hair by soaking up excess oil, removing product build-up and boosting volume. Hair looks, feels and smells freshly shampooed.  Cleans, deodorizes and conditions hair-without water!

Directions: Shake can well. Hold can 6” to 8” from hair.  Lift sections of hair and lightly spray scalp and roots of each section. Wait a few minutes, then brush hair well. Style hair as desired. 

My take: Dry shampoo is a staple for me, it makes my hair happy. Because my hair has a very delicate balance (oily-dry) its important for me to get rid of product buildup and oil, without completely STRIPPING my hair to make it dry. Pssssst! Dry Shampoo is great at making my hair healthy and shiny, removing the bad while keeping the good. A lot of my dry shampoos have a strong scent, especially my more expensive ones. This simply smells clean, which I definitely prefer.

Right now, they have a deal witht the full-size bottles where you get a super cute shower cap and a $1 off coupon on your next bottle. Cool right? They also have travel sized bottles and a version for curly/wavy hair which I think is pretty cool. I had issues with my Tresemme for straight hair dry shampoo (more on that later...trust me...) but I found I loved having a version for when my hair is wavy and such. Loving the variety of sizes from Freeman Beauty though, definitely a huge plus with the plan travel regulations and such.

Special Shout-out to Girls with Colored Hair: Using Dry Shampoo will help extend your coloring, including highlights! When I had purple streaks in my hair (oh the good ol days), dry shampoo was a life savior. Get the cleaning, volume boost, and color saving technology you need with dry shampoo, seriously.

Compare to: Both high-end and drugstore versions of dry shampoo.

Where to get it: CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and other similar stores. Also available at Freeman Beauty's website. The free shower cap and coupon are for a limited time, released during early September 2011. You can pick up the full size for $6.99 and the travel size for only $2.99! 


Full review coming soon comparing my dry shampoos from Tresemme, Origins, Oscar Blandi, Freeman Beauty, and maybe a few more!

*Item(s) sent to me for review are featured in this post. This in no way guarantees coverage. All of my reviews and reactions are honest, I would never recommend something that didn’t deserve it. For more information, please see my disclosure policy in the top bar.*

Wet n Wild: Natural Blend Lip Shimmer Review + Swatches

Wet n Wild Natural Blend Lip Shimmer in Spice.

Wet n Wild Natural Blend Lip Shimmer in Spice just applied with flash and without.

What it is: Adds brilliant shimmer and beautiful luminescent color to lips. Approved by the Natural Products Association, these lip shimmers are made of a natural formula infused with calming ingredients of vitamins and natural oils to keep lips moisturized and nourished.

Quick notes: Super moisturizing, non-waxy, shiny, applies like a lipstick, feels like a balm,  good lasting power for a balm, great pigmentation.

After 3+ hours.

My take: Very possibly my new favorite tinted lip balm! I don't know how I had managed to pass this up in the stores, but I did. I think I wasn't quite sure what it was? But Walgreens is holding a great deal (Instead of $1.99, those products are only $1.00!) so I snagged one to try. I'll be getting more! Super moisturizing, they remind me of what I expected the Crest for Covergirl to smell/feel like. Refreshing, minty, and intense color! I only picked up "Spice" which I thought was going to be more orangey/red, but I love the pinky/coral color I have. I actually made sure to photograph my 3+ hours later coloring too, because I am in love with it as well. Its like 2 lip colors in one. Some people hate thicker tinted balms, but I love them because of their rich coloring and lasting ability. If you blotted it, the 3+ hour pictures would be close to what you get. A moisture rich lipstick and tinted lip balm in one, what a bargain.

 

Compare to: Bobbi Brown Tinted Lip Balm Gloss, Burt's Bee's Lip Tints, Palladio Tinted Balms,LipFusion Tinted Lip Balm, & MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner Stick.

Where to get it: Anywhere Wet n Wild is sold, but I took part in the Walgreens special right now. Instead of being $1.99, they are only $1.00 each.

Note: These pictures have not been edited other than cropping, all colors are accurate!

Mani of the Day: Pure Ice in Risk Taker

 Pure Ice in Risk Taker. Both of these with flash. I'd love to show you without, but its terribly dreary out! Without flash, it is much more matte and wearable.

I love this shade! A mix of gray and silver, it is less murky than my grays but also not as glaring as my metallic silvers. Unique and high shine in the light, I almost wish I had saved this for my Halloween special coming up in October... In fact, I bet you'll be seeing it in a design next month! What do you guys think> Do you ever rock grays or do you pass on those altogether? Will you be sporting anything like this for fall or even winter?

Fragrance Frenzy: Ulta On-the-Go Fragrance Sprays Review

So pre-move, I knew I needed to snap up some travel-style fragrances. Most of my fragrances are in gorgeous but seriously inconvenient to pack bottles, think Marc Jacobs "Lola" or Betsey Johnson's perfume.So I saw on ULTA's website they were doing their "buy 2 get 2" deal on ULTA brand items and I figured it was a good deal. Originally $7 each, I snagged 4 for $14 which I think is a great deal. As always, I advice you guys to wait for a bargain! ULTA gets some pretty decent ones!

ULTA On-the-Go Fragrance Spray Product Info- Use the travel size fragrance by ULTA with an enhanced volume of high quality fragrance oil for an immediate sensory experience at home, or on the go.

The scents available are: Blackberry Creme, Fresh Lila, Freshwater Mist, Lavender Woods, Pink Petal, Passionberry Vanilla, Vanilla Sugar, and Water Blossom.

Here are the 4 I picked up and their descriptions:

Blackberry Creme- a juicy blend of blackberries, sparkling bergamot and rich vanilla cream.

Freshwater Mist- a crisp blend of fresh mountain air, cucumber and watery melon.

Lavender Woods- a calming blend of fresh-picked lavender, vanilla and white woods.

Pink Petals- a playful blend of pink orchids, crushed raspberries and blonde woods.

Packaging: The bottles are glass and feel sturdy enough. My issue is with the lids, they're plastic pull-off tops. I wish it was a metal twist off top, then I'd feel more comfortable about keeping it in my purse. LOVE that the tubing on the inside is super long, I won't feel like I'm wasting fragrance. I like that the sprayer unscrews, making the bottle reuseable!

Scent: I really love all 4 of them, which came as a surprise to me. I can be a tad picky, especially when it comes to florals. All of them smell as described, which doesn't always happen. A mix of unique and traditional, I think they have enough variety for everyone. I would really love to see a citrus/energetic scent mixed in there though, and perhaps an apple/pear variation. The scents aren't super strong (like some cheap perfumes) which I prefer. Doesn't hold as well as some, but easy to reapply and lasted at least 6 hours, maybe more.

Here is my personal breakdown of each: 

Blackberry Creme- A fall/winter scent, smells warm and comforting. The blackberry is intense, gorgeously rich like blackberry wine. Probably my favorite, smells expensive! Had TWO strangers come up and ask what scent I was wearing!

Freshwater Mist- A year round scent, but I would mainly wear it in the summertime for the cooling effect. Smells fresh and clean, a perfume version of Cucumber Melon from Bath and Body Works.

Lavender Woods- Strong, you only need a bit then rub it in. Super calming, like lavender should be. I've been loving to put on a bit before bedtime or when lounging around the house.

Pink Petals- Girly, sweet, and lightly floral. Light enough for daily use and wore off naturally. This was my riskiest choice and it is my favorite after Blackberry Creme. Definitely worth a try.

Product Info: Regularly priced at $7 per bottle, you get .4 ounces each. Rollerballs (VS Love Rocks or Sula Blackberry Blush for instance) are normally .33 ounces so I think this helps to balance out the rollerball vs. spray comparison. ULTA and ULTA online. 

Has anyone else tried these? What did you think?

Mani of the Day: Sinful Colors in Feeling Great + WnW Party of Five Glitters

Loveee SC Feeling Great, but I felt like it was time to add a bit of bling. I work with kids and they go NUTS over glitter! Party of Five Glitters was in my new Wet n Wild Minis Set so I rediscovered my love for it. I do thing this is one of my favorite chunky glitters, even though it isn't one of the densest coats. This is 2 coats of Feeling Great and 2 coats of Party of Five Glitters. The reason I love this glitter coat so much is because I've still never had it snag on me. Normally chunky glitter (no matter the shape) ends up snagging on everything from my hair to my clothes but this one almost seems like it has a silicone type base surrounding the glitter. Something softer, but with great lasting power.

Mani of the Day: Sinful Colors in Feeling Great

 

Sinful Colors in Feeling Great. No top coat or base.

 Say hello to one of my favorite HOT pinks. When I think of a vixen pink, this is what I see. You could get away with wearing one coat, but I applied 2 to ensure opacity. Gorgeous application and HIGH shine, no top coat here! Don't forget, Walgreens has these polishes for only 99 cents right now, as opposed to $1.99. Definitely pick this one up if you like what you see here, its even better in person. 

Plus...C'mon how awesome is that name? "Feeling Great" was so meant for a Sunday morning!