Comparison time! A few minty pastel blue/green colors:
China Glaze - For Audrey
Essie - Mint Candy Apple
Elf - Blue Mist
Revlon - Minted Illamasqa - Nomad
Clearly Illamasqua is the sore thumb. I had to give him extra hugs because he felt so out of place.
I finally bought this baby!!
China Glaze - For Audrey
Sunlight
If only this purchase from China Glaze actually came with something from Tiffany's. *sigh*
Shade
Comparison
Index: China Glaze - For Audrey
Middle: Elf - Blue Mist
Ring: Essie - Mint Candy Apple
Pinky: China Glaze - For Audrey
In terms of color, Elf and Essie seem close, but are different. I guess it depends on how strict you want to be. Elf is muted, Essie is a brighter more true pastel.
The formulas on all of these varied dramatically.
Middle: Elf - Blue Mist
sheer and creamy (4 coats)
Ring: Essie - Mint Candy Apple
opaque and chalky (2 or 3 coats)
There are many things I love about my Mom. First, the fact she hates being called "mother" so I reserve it for times I want to get under her skin (or for shits and giggles).
I also love that she's the type of mom that as a surprise makes my favorite food even when I tell her I *may* be coming over, not am, may.
But most of all (okay not most of all, but most entertaining) I love how she mispronounces words. Maybe this will only be funny to Russian/Eastern European offspring, but I thought I would share. I'll put these words into context and let you decide for yourself.
1. Many people are not fans of sour cabbage, but when my mom says she's making "sourkraft" I get giddy inside. (sauerkraut)
2. When you get new bedding the set usually comes with sheets, pillow cases, etc. If you get the deluxe set, they come with "sharms".(Shams)
3. My family has done their fair share of DIY. They have installed wooden floors, built a sauna, and finished a basement or two. Till this day, I will never forget my mom asking me to "come hold the shitrock", so they could finish building the sealing. (sheet rock)
4. I still get all "kids, ear muffs!" when these words leave her mouth... "put your bathing suits on guys, we are going to the bitch." (beach)
5. And finally one of my favs that I've mentioned previously in my Hangnail post. The typical convo goes like this...
Nippers
Mom: "Have you seen the neeeepers?"
Me: "The what mom?"
Mom: "Neeeeepers!"
Me: "Wait, what?"
Mom: "NEEEEPERS!"
To honor my mother on this day, I make fun of her. I'm a terrible child I know. Actually, I love you Mom; your happiness makes me happy! Hopefully this didn't make you cry. That would be terrible of me indeed.
I never understood why the directions on some nail treatments called for an extra coat everyday or every other day. Are you suggesting your miracle juice is able to penetrate through the layer (or four) I put on in the previous few days?! That would be fantastic! However, I'm a beauty skeptic, remember? Once the product is dry, can more product absorb through and penetrate the nail?
The following is my brain daydreaming...
I imagine after a polish has dried (or cured) it can have small pores (or cracks). That, I can accept. Whether it actually happens is another question. However, I do remember seeing the following video explaining how soak off gels work, which supports the mere possibility in regular polish.
In this situation, a chemical solvent (or perhaps the word molecule may be more appropriate) seeps through these engineered cracks or pores and is able to reach the dissolvable portion of the product. Is this possible for regular polish or treatments?
Let's assume the mere possibility:
My mind can imagine such a process for treatment products. Perhaps after the first layer has dried/cured enough cracks or pores exist and the treatment molecules are small enough to fit through and make it to the nail nail surface. However, how likely would it be that companies actually engineer their treatment products like this? I have no idea.
Now let's assume this does NOT occur with regular polish and treatments:
There are two main reasons I can think of for these directions to exist, both are purely based on my gut and experience. My guess is they have you reapply the product merely as a coat of physical protection, which in reality any decent base coat or topcoat can provide (it's likely more cost effective too).
The other thought I had was, these directions are a marketing/selling tool. They make the consumer feel like they are doing something everyday to help their nail situation. Meanwhile, more of the product is used up, forcing the consumer to buy more to sustain their results. In the end the consumer feels like they have really contributed to their nail health (yay accomplishment!), while the company is ecstatic over their bottom line (they probably get a party with fancy champagne and hors d'œuvres *jealous*).
I like to beat the system. Ya know, stick it to the man! Treatments that come as a lacquer, I generally only apply to the actual nail surface. All other subsequent coats would either be a base coat or topcoat, depending on whether I already applied colored polish.
Summary:
This is all just me thinking aloud. I have no proof of anything. I wish I could be more concrete, but until I learn something new, I say don't waste your expensive treatment products as extra layers.
As a reward for making it all the way to the bottom of this post I'll show you meat and a franken:
Because who doesn't like meat in their mouth, duh!
Prosciutto.
The franken!
Really easy to make!
I used Revlon - Tropical Temptation and NYC - Starry Silver Glitter.
I've swatched Revlon - Tropical Temptation here. It somewhat resembles Revlon - Make Mine Mango here.
I have a Nail Treatment/Hardener Series, click here.
There seems to be an influx in cosmetic monthly subscription services. One such type of service not yet available in the US, until now, is Glossybox. This one seems to be more geared toward higher end products, but only time will tell. There are many YouTube videos of non US ladies showing their boxes. I still haven't made up my mind on Glossybox, or in general these types of subscription services. That will be a future post, along with a proper review. Until then, take a look at the products (and swatches) for the month of April 2012 ... EDIT!: and read Pink Sith's blog post
I've been playing around with Illamasqua's Human Fundamentalism
Collection (what a mouth full). Since my last post and video,
I have created a few more eye looks.
Here are a few pictures, old and new. If you prefer to see me blab
about them I have included a video talking about the products while I flash
pictures ... of my balls ... eyeballs.
Click the pictures to enlarge.
The "way too excited to use liquid white eyeliner, so I didn't read the package warning" inspired eye look.
The
package clearly states not to put Scribe on your waterline. BUMMER! So,
ignore the rule breaking; I need to learn to read first, apply war paint
second.
Nails:
Color Club - Mrs. Robinson (click here for another pic)
