Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Blending ... not just for makeup.

I don't know what it is about round/oval nails on my hands that just seems off.  They seem to look elegant at some angles, while other times I'm just like, "what is going on here?"  I am constantly doing double takes perhaps because my brain is so accustomed to the squoval.  As a result, I filed my nails back into a more mentally acceptable shape for me, squoval.  I made a short video in the process.

How to file your nails into a Squoval from Round/Oval:



All you have to do is create a flat top and rounded edges.  Then, blend the two together to your desired level of squovalness.












The rest of the filing series can be found below:
X-Files Post and Video
Nail Shape and Balance Post
Taking Down Nail Length Post
Shaping the Free Edge - Square and Video
Shaping the Free Edge - Oval and Video
Shaping the Free Edge - Squoval and Video
Sealing the Nail Plate
Buffing out a peel

The polish in the video was ...

 China Glaze - Sugar High

At the end ...
China Glaze - High Maintenance


Do you have a mental inability to accept certain nail shapes? What nail shape does your brain favor?

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Why Revlon Why?!

Things happen.  I understand.  I will let this one slide ...

I've bought Revlon Royal several times.  Simply put, it is amazing <--- the most overused word out there I know, but my vocabulary is small, so ... it's AMAZING ... capitalization give it more pizazz right?

Revlon - Royal
2 coats ... no topcoat


















The HORROR ...

What in the Sam Hill?!  All of the goodness sank to the bottom. 

The good bottle is on the bottom.


Oh, but I couldn't just leave it at that.  I had to explore.











Oh hi there pigment.  You got lost from the suspension.  Let me reintroduce you.

Shaking did not work, so I had to poke it, then mix it up.  Unfortunately, after a while it begins to settle again.  I have since seen another bottle like this in the store.  This must be an "off" lot that is lacking in the ingredient needed to keep the pigment in suspension.  On the bright side, my forearms are guaranteed a workout with each use.









The final mani ended up being ...

Revlon - Royal (2 coats) topped with Revlon - Radiant.

Revlon - Radiant also goes by the name of Mosaic.











Revlon - Radiant/Mosaic is pretty nice.

Basically, anything over Royal turns to magic ... and I like magic.

Are you a fan of Revlon - Royal?  Have you had issues with your bottle?

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Round Round Baby ...

You spin me right, round baby, right round.  Video time!  How to shape your nails into a round/oval from a square/squoval.

A few links first in case you missed the series:

X-Files Post and Video
Nail Shape and Balance Post
Taking Down Nail Length Post
Shaping the Free Edge - Square and Video
Shaping the Free Edge - Oval and Video
Shaping the Free Edge - Squoval and Video
Sealing the Nail Plate
Buffing out a peel


How to shape your nails into Round/Oval:




Before and After:
China Glaze - Ahoy!

Square Shape
Round Shape
I would say these are more round than oval.  Oval is more tapered at the tip.  To achieve a more oval shape continue to remove the corners. 

Thursday, February 16, 2012

My fav way to swatch lipstick

Cats are useful.

Can we say this is a tramp stamp? Or is that reserved for something else?










How convenient, a nail and lip swatch AND my "oops, I'm sorry cat" face.

Dermelect - Makeover, 3 coats
More (better) swatches can be found here.

Revlon (Colorburst) - Fuchsia (030)







No, actually I don't use the cat ... she just got in the line of fire.  But seriously, she makes such a great canvas.

Instead, I make my mirror dirty.

How cute is this, I mean really?!

*I need better lighting*













In case anyone was wondering, they are arranged same as above.  The Neutragena lippies are so saturated.  Color payoff is unparalleled.

I readily find these at Big Lots for under $2.  So, I have many ... MANY!











One day I will decorate one of my helmers in this manner. Yes ... YES.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Ooo colored nail treatments

The 4th hour of the today show the can be really ridiculous entertaining.


Morning boozing ... yes Hoda and Kathie Lee have the market cornered.










The other day I happen to be watching and caught a segment that stated Dermelect was launching a color line.  Very interesting.  I Googled furiously and came across ...

Dermelect

More fishing and I discovered they are taking color requests for their Spring collection on their facebook.  Heck yes!

Dermelect Facebook Page

Voice your opinion.  I requested duochromes.



I do hope they take these requests seriously and this is not just a ploy.  :-/



In any case, they have one color already out there called "Makeover":


Peptide Infused Concealer and Treatment.  Anti-aging Ridge Filler.

You can use it either on its own or as a base coat.

I am testing out the wear, but in the mean time let's look at the color.



 



This takes me back straight to high school.  I wore a color similar to this ... all the time.







Actually, it was a Wet 'n' Wild ... just like this.  Like my beloved sheer whites, I went through bottles upon bottles. 












Dermelect Makeover Ridge Filler
1 coat

Obviously sheer and my nails are yellow, eh *note to self - take care of that poo poo* 



2 coats ... still sheer and I can guarantee it will stay that way.










2 coats vs. 3 coats (left to right)

My nails look less yellow no? Perhaps the blue shimmer counteracts this uglyness.















Fluorescent light:
3 coats
sheer blue shimmer

I am reminded how I love this look.  Clean, crisp, simple.



Daylight
3 coats.  In real life the blue shimmer is more visible.

First impressions:
As far as color is concerned ... nothing special.  It is easily dupe-able, for a much lower price.  However, the color is infused with good ingredients, so that does bump up its status slightly.  The jury is still out on the rest ... to be continued.

What would you recommend Dermelect include in their new spring line?








*This product was sent for review*

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Remember that time I had yellow nails forever?

I love to laugh ... especially at myself.  I would like to share the giggles.

A while back I had yellow nails for what seemed like forever.  I was dancing around that topic here and here.

Finally, I buffed so that I could do a video *see below* and not look like I had jaundiced smokers fingers.  I am not so sure it really translated on film ... this is your first giggle.

Second, and perhaps this will result in a more hardy laugh ... just look at my face.  Snooki was on set and I borrowed her face powder.  My face usually always matches the rest of my body ... LOLOLOL.  Anyway, enjoy ...




You guys know I love and have used DermaNail for many many years.  I have a written review here, as well as a my original video on the topic here.

I will do a full review of the Cutemol at some point because although stinky, it has great ingredients I would like to emphasis.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

If your Walmart is jacked up

Sometimes it's hard to find special polishes when the stores in your neck of the woods are polluted ... ehm ... Walmart.

Take Pure Ice - Heart Breaker ...
Here pictured over Maybelline - Grey-T Glamour


Blue shimmer.







Green shimmer



Oh my!















If you have a tough time finding it, may I suggest an alternative?


NYC - Empire State Blue

Here over Revlon - Modern Grace









It also has the blue green shimmer!









The base, however is more opaque blue.






NYC - Empire State Blue over Revlon - Modern Grace







Considering NYC is easily obtainable in CVS, Rite Aid and alike ~ $1-2... it's time to hoard.