Pink Wednesday: OPI Liquid Sand in The Impossible

It's Wednesday and on Wednesdays we wear pink! Today's pink is a fun one. It's another of the Liquid Sand colors from OPI. This one is called The Impossible and it's a matte, textured, hot pink with holo sparkle and some stars!

I love the star shaped glitter in this one but unfortunately it's almost impossible (no pun intended) to get the star glitter out of the bottle and onto the nail. I was so disappointed in that! It just all sinks to the bottom and it's extremely difficult to get it onto the brush and apply it. What a bummer! You can see I was only able to apply one star, to my pinkie finger.

I used two coats for the opacity shown and had no issues with application  This dries nice and fast to that matte finish but it does take some more time to dry since you don't use a top coat. That's okay though, I am just spoiled by using Seche Vite. You can use Seche Vite on this if you want,  but you will lose the matte texture which is what makes the Liquid Sand polishes unique and beautiful, so I do not recommend that. 

Overall I love the idea of this one, with the beautiful stars but find it's aptly named The Impossible because it's impossible to fish them out and apply them to the nails. What a drag! 

Disclosure: This product was provided by PR for review purposes. All reviews are 100% honest and done at my discretion. For more information please see my Disclosure Policy. 

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Dr. Dobb's Peppermint Tingle Lip Balm

Hi everyone! Today I am putting down the nail polish to talk to you a little more in depth about an essential in my beauty routine. I know I have mentioned this product before but I thought I would give you all some more information on it because it's my all time favorite lip balm ever and pretty much no one I know has heard of it. 

When I was in law school I was shopping at my school's co-op (bookstore basically) and noticed this little beauty out of the corner of my eye. I needed some lip balm, and I love peppermint, so I purchased a stick and the rest is history.  

On the first try, I was hooked. This is BY FAR the best lip balm I have ever used.  I used to use Burt's Bees and this honestly blows Burt's Bees out of the water in every way. This is the smoothest balm ever. It glides onto your lips and never feels waxy. The peppermint scent and taste is strong, so you have to love it to appreciate this balm. I adore peppermint so to me this is a win! As the name indicates, it does tingle, but not in the way a lip plumper does, but rather it has a cooling, soothing effect on the lips. I just love how cool it feels.

Dr. Dobb's is all natural, here's what's inside:

Coconut Oil: A rich skin moisturizer with healing properties 

Beeswax: Natural base used instead of petroleum or lanolin products

Sweet Almond Oil: Helps relieve pain, softens skins and promotes good complexion Tocopheryl Acetate & Tocopheryl (Vitamin E): Heals burns and skin abrasions 

Peppermint Oil: Cooling tonic with stimulating action 

Lanolin: An emollient that helps penetrate the skin with moisturizing properties

Rosemary Extract: Skin softening agent that helps prevent infection

See all of those great things this contains? 

The only downfall of this product is that it can be hard to find. Here's a list of locations that  carry it, I hope you have a place in your area because this stuff is really worth it! Dr. Dobb's also has a variety of other great products that I have tried, including different flavored balms, bath oil, cuticle butter, and soap. Great stuff!

Have you tried anything by Dr. Dobb's? What do you think of their products? What is your favorite lip balm ever?

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OPI Liquid Sand: Get Your Number

Welcome to Monday! I know you're tired. Hang in there! Get through work and go home and paint your nails! 

Today I have another polish from the OPI Mariah Carey collection called Get Your Number. Get Your Number is one of the new Liquid Sand polishes that debuted with Mariah's collection. These are matte, textured polishes with holographic shimmer embedded in the polish.  This is a really nice finish that we haven't seen yet on the market. Zoya is putting out something similar (identical?) with their Pixie Dust line (available February 1, 2013, can't wait!) I am really liking this formula, it's new and pretty! 

I am sure you're wondering how difficult these are to remove, considering traditional polishes are a huge pain in the butt. Well guess what? I had no issues at all removing this. I used regular 100% acetone on a cotton pad and these removed with no trouble at all. I didn't soak them or anything. I am pretty shocked at that!

The one I am showing you today, Get Your Number is a medium blue with tons of holographic shimmer. It's super pretty!  These feel textured and matte once dry. You will feel the grit.  I used two coats for opacity and that was sufficient. 

  

I am intrigued by this new formula and like what I see. Have any of you tried the Liquid Sands polishes yet? What do you think of them?

Random thoughts:

• Is winter over yet? Sheesh, I can't stand this cold.
• My cat is afraid of the new dryer. He can't seem to get over it. It's been here for a while but he just stares at it, and sometimes jumps when he looks at it. Weirdo! He's scared of everything.

Disclosure: This product was provided by PR for review purposes. All reviews are 100% honest and done at my discretion. For more information please see my Disclosure Policy. 

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OPI: Sprung

Hi everyone! I hope you're all having a great weekend. I haven't been feeling well since Thursday! That stinks! It's been bone achingly cold here as well so that is not helping one bit! I cannot wait for summer!

Today I want to show you one of the Mariah Carey colors from OPI. This one is called Sprung and it's an absolutely gorgeous shimmering copper. It's super complex and unique. The copper is almost a mauve-y copper. It's strange, but in a good way!  I don't have anything like this one at all in my collection. I love the way it looks when the light hits it, which I think you can see pretty well in the photos. It's stunning.

Now this came out recently so it's really considered a spring nail polish. I beg to differ. This is really a fall/winter color in my book. Now I don't always play by the rules there so it's no big deal but it's absolutely more suited for fall/winter than spring if you ask me.

I used two coats for the opacity shown below but I think you should do three if you really want it to be completely opaque. It's a wee bit sheer with just two coats so take your time and do the three, you'll get a nicer result. This one does not show brush strokes at all though so there's no need to worry about those. 

Beautiful, no? I love it! I am not a fan, at all, of Mariah, but this sure is one pretty polish! What do you think?

Disclosure: This product was provided by PR for review purposes. All reviews are 100% honest and done at my discretion. For more information please see my Disclosure Policy. 

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Pink Wednesday: Nicole by OPI: Selena

Hello my loves! I hope you're all doing well today! It's Wednesday and on Wednesdays we wear pink so today I have a really pretty one to share with you.

This is Selena and it's part of the Selena Gomez Collection that Nicole by OPI recently released. It's a gorgeous soft peachy pink with extremely subtle, almost undetectable, micro-shimmer.  This is a really flattering shade. With my skin tone I really cannot pull off a try peach color but this has just enough pink that it really works for me. 

The formula on this one was nice. I had no issues with application and it was fully opaque in just two coats. No streaking, no balding, no clumping. A solid formula. 

Isn't this such a great pink? Do you have it? Do you want it? What do you think of it?I am a fan, this one will go in my regular rotation for sure, and most pinks don't make it so that's a huge compliment. 

Random Thoughts:

• Remember the new washer and dryer I was so excited about? Well, they came in on Thursday. When I got home from work I was so excited I immediately put an entire load of bath towels into the washer. Washer works like a dream. They finish washing, I got to put them in the dryer... turn the dryer on... select desired setting... hit start... and... NOTHING! The dryer didn't work! Can you believe that!? Brand new dryer, didn't work at all! Needless to say I was LIVID! My mother in law was the one who took delivery and the machine powered on, no one thought to make sure it actually worked beyond powering on. I don't blame her, I wouldn't have, I mean if it powered up and the digital display came to life I'd have assumed it worked. I had wet towels hanging all over my house that night to dry!  To make a long story short I got a new one but it didn't come until yesterday... and yes, I tried it, it works! What a week!!
• Saturday is my husband's birthday! I ordered a cake from a really nice bakery in my area, but I can't tell you what kind in case he reads this! It's going to be yummy though! 
• Yesterday I made Chinese food at home using a recipe for baked sweet and sour chicken I'd seen over and over again on Pinterest. It was fantastic and you MUST try it! I have my own way of making fried rice so I didn't use hers. The chicken turned out wonderfully.  I was impressed with myself, haha. I made a HUGE mess cooking though! 

That's all for now! Thanks for reading and have a beautiful day! I hope it's warmer where you are than it is here in Connecticut! We're in the single digits! 

Disclosure: This product was provided by PR for review purposes. All reviews are 100% honest and done at my discretion. For more information please see my Disclosure Policy. 

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Gelish Mini Basix Kit (Press Release)

At-home gel polish kits are popping up everywhere you turn, from Sephora to CVS. And it’s no wonder why – saving you both time AND money, they’re a no brainer! Gelish® MINI’s at-home gel polish system provides the long-lasting color you crave, and at just $90 total, it’s a fraction of the cost of most other at-home gel polish kit’s on the market.

The Gelish® MINI formulation lasts up to 3 weeks, does not damage the natural nail bed and comes in a wide array of eye-popping colors. Gelish® MINI is available at SallyBeauty.com. 

________________________________________

Who's tried Gelish? I haven't yet but plan to soon! I'd love to hear about your favorite Gelish colors and your thoughts on the products. Sound off in the comments below!

Disclosure: Information and photos provided by company PR.

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Zoya: Blu

Hi everyone!!! Today I have another Spring 2013 color from Zoya's Lovely Collection to share with you! This is Blu. I say this every time I review a Zoya polish but these names! They say  they name their polish after women's names but Blu? I mean I guess Beyonce and Jay-Z did name their baby Blue Ivy, LOL but come on, until there is a Gina I am going to keep complaining about these names. hahaha!

Blu is a pale baby blue creme. It's okay but it's a little too based in white for me. These color are just not flattering for me.  It's got a nice shine to it so it's not chalky per se, but it doesn't look right on my skin tone. There's nothing inherently wrong with this one it just doesn't work for me. It happens...

I used two coats for the opacity shown but you need three on this one for sure. Take a look at the balding on the pointer finger.

What do you think of this one? Is it something you're going to pick up? It's not my favorite from the Lovely Collection but it's ok, I'll live. 

Random Thoughts:

• Today is the day the new washer and dryer come. Is it lame to say I am excited to do laundry tonight. 
• Crock Pot meal I told you about the other day was successful. I am going to make stuffed peppers tonight with the left overs.
• Still cold here, but at least the sun is out.
• Happy Face Off on SyFy is back! I love that show! Who else watches?!

Disclosure: This product was provided by PR for review purposes. Share the Love affiliate link used. All reviews are 100% honest and done at my discretion. For more information please see my Disclosure Policy. 

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Sparkles by Julie: Graffiti

It's hump day, we're one step closer to the weekend kids. Who has fun weekend plans?  

Today I want to show you a super fun glitter polish from SparklesbyJulie on Etsy. This is Graffiti which is  described as "nail polish is packed with shredded glitters in red, yellow and blue! With black hexes, and bars, creating a graffiti like finish to any manicure!" This is one of the most unique and gorgeous polishes I have seen in a long time. This is what makes indie brands so amazing, this level of creativity just hasn't made it to the mainstream market yet in my opinion. 

The glitter in this polish is suspended in a clear base so it can be used over any color. I did swatch it mostly on bare nails so you can see it on its own but it looks awesome over black. Julie has it swatched over a nude on her store listing and I think I am going to do that next. 

This is available on Julie's Etsy store and it's $8.00 for a full sized bottle. Julie is from Hawaii but her shipping so fast! On days like this, where it's snowing in Connecticut, I am super jealous of Julie living in paradise.  Check out her shop, it's fun to support small business and when an indie brand delivers with something this unique it's hard to pass it up! 

Today's Random Thoughts:

• Seriously, if I never see snow again it will be too soon. I hate the snow!
• New washer and dryer are being delivered tomorrow, I can't wait. Although I am sure the delivery men will devastate my home wit their snowy shoes. 
• I love to read but I have been stuck on Insurgent by Veronica Roth for MONTHS now. I need to finish this so I can move on. I am enjoying it so IDK what my problem is! 

Disclosure: This product was provided by PR for review purposes. All reviews are 100% honest and done at my discretion. For more information please see my Disclosure Policy. 

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Zoya: Julie

Good morning beautiful readers. I hope you're all doing well!

Today I have a polish from Zoya's Lovely Collection, this one is called Julie (finally, a normal name!). This is a soft wisteria purple metallic. It's actually pretty unique in my collection in terms of color.  I think what makes it so different from the 1000 other purples I own is that metallic element. It's quite pretty, almost icy looking. In bright sunlight that metallic sheen is barely visible but in interior lighting it's more prominent. 

I used two coats for the opacity shown but I think this one needs three. I think you'll be able to see from the photos that two just doesn't cut it. There's a bit of VNL with two and some balding. Go with three and I think you'll do just fine with this one.

So what do you think of Julie? 

Random thoughts for the day: 

• It's soooo cold out in Connecticut I can't take it. 
• I am excited for dinner tonight as I have Picadillo from Skinny Taste simmering in the crock pot. Have you checked out Skinny Taste? That blog is amazing. Everything I have made has been just wonderful.
• Speaking of food blogs, a friend of mine, Kristen, just started one. Check it out at www.smashed-garlic.com she's really talented at both cooking and writing. You won't be disappointed. 

Disclosure: This product was provided by PR for review purposes. Share the Love affiliate link used. All reviews are 100% honest and done at my discretion. For more information please see my Disclosure Policy. 

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