Essie - For the Twill of It

I'm not one for duo-chrome or shimmery nails, but HOT DAMN I love this polish!

[ essie - for the twill of it ]

NEW IN: Makeup and Skin Care

Lookin' cute ain't cheap!

Watch the video here.

Essie - First Timer

You try resisting the urge to buy this polish. 

End of Story.

[ essie - first timer ]

What I Wore: 3.9.13

Pretty much what I tend to wear on an everyday basis: booties, tight jeans, and an oversized top.

Top: Topshop "Burnout Drop Shoulder" Top

Jeans: Car Mar Jeggings from LF

Boots: Dolce Vita "Jax" in Cognac

(my blog post on them and an Acne Pistol Comparison post)

Necklace: Garnett Jewelry "Media Luna"

Stacked Rings: SecretCharm on Etsy

Coin Pouch: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Nails: Essie "Maximillian Strasse Her"

Essie - Steel-ing The Scene

Essie's "Steel-ing the Scene." Seriously, need I say more?!

GORGEOUS.

Essie - Sand Tropez

Essie Sand Tropez is the nude I thought I could never wear but am pleased to learn I can... and I love it.

Essie - Over the Edge

Essie's "Over the Edge" is a rich gunmetal polish, with a subtle shimmer. It's not my favorite, but it's nice. Another nice guy polish -- not a polish I run to put on, but it's harmless enough that I'll keep it around to wear if an outfit calls for it. Besides saying that its lasting power was on par with all my other well performing Essie polishes, I really have nothing more to say about it colorwise.

How boring!

A bland review for a bland..ish polish.

Lest I leave you with that sad excuse for a review, just check out how long my nails are! Peace out, short nails! When I look back on old photos of my nail polish now, I cringe at my stubby little nails. Geck! Thankfully, they are currently long and strong thanks to a better diet and various health supplements I'd been taking. Although, I am suspicious the biotin in my woman's daily and hair/skin/nails supplement may have been one of the culprits behind my perpetual chin acne (in addition to the other speculated culprits: hormones, toxin cleansing, and not drinking enough water), so hopefully my nails will stay strong now that I've stopped taking anything with biotin in it.

You know what else I'm going to stop doing now? Typing. Because this post is going nowhere, fast!

Essie - Sole Mate

And the award for longest lasting, non-gel manicure ever in the history of the world is.... drum roll please.... Sole Mate by Essie! I'm not one to get profesh manicures, but I got this one done with my mom on a family vacation in the hotel spa. Luxury, baby. And here's the kicker: it lasted over 2 weeks before chipping. Boi-oi-oi-oing!

It might have been the OPI Nail Envy she used as my base coat or perhaps the Seche Vite top coat, but this polish was on lock. I was incredibly impressed by this trifeca, perhaps enough to splurge on Nail Envy someday... but I feel like I've read stuff about Seche Vite having super harsh chemicals in it (well, worse than other normal nail products), and so I'll probably steer clear of that one. Feel free to inform me if that is not the case, as it's late at night as I write this and I am so not in the mood to google. Besides for the lasting power of the manicure, I liked the deep maroon color and it put me in the fall mood (mind you I was in sunny Half Moon Bay, CA exploring super pretty and super un-fall like beaches -- you can see how I needed the reminder that it was, in fact, fall.). All in all, A++ for lastability, A-/B+ for color likeablity, and a big fat F for my category naming.

So, love it or hate it? Perhap this polish is your... sole mate...? ;)

Essie - Good as Gold

Essie recently released a metallic range of polishes and naturally, I made a bit of an impulse splurge at the drug store... and then promptly walked out feeling guilty and mad at myself for paying full price (imagine a Gollum vs. Sméagol moment in the parking lot of RiteAid. My precious!). Just buy your polish on Amazon, damnit, it's much cheaper!

Good as Gold is a pretty gold (duh) metallic, but I'm not sure it's right for my coloring. Despite some difficulties in achieving an even application, it wore well.. as per usual with Essie polishes. Unfortunately, I just never liked how it looked against my cool toned skin. I honestly wish there was some sort of invention or dial on our bodies where we could change our skin colors each day (and before you say it, I don't mean tanning beds!) because I'd honestly like to change up my skin color as much as I change my polish and my lipstick. Having said that, I think this would look BALLER on really dark or super tanned skin -- you win this time, ladies! Until I get a skin machine that will let me look like Grace Jones, I think I'm just going to keep this around as a tip color for more colored tip looks. In truth, I don't think I'll ever wear this alone on my nails again, so join me in remembrance of my $8. RIP $8. I should have listened to Sméagol.

[ in direct sunlight ]

Monthly Beauty Favorites: November 2012

Another month, another favorites video...

Products Mentioned:

• Bobbi Brown Long Wear Even Finish Foundation SPF 15 in 00 - Alabaster
• Essie "Master Plan" Nail Polish
• Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Fair
• Clinique Airbrush Concealer in 01 - Fair
• YSL Rouge Volupte Lipsticks in 1 and 2
• MAC Lip Pencil in Brick
• NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella
• Ilamasqua Lipstick in Eurydice
• Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow All Over Radiance Creme in Iced Gold and Rose Gold
• NARS Cream Blush in Enchanted
• Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Powder in Medium
• Honorable Mention: MAC Lipstick in Innocence Beware! (Limited Edition)

Essie - Power Clutch

Essie's Power Clutch was a neglected polish -- purchased months ago and sadly collecting dust in the mess that I call my nail polish drawer. Essentially, it's a nice guy polish... one you always overlook until you realize your mistake. So here is where I apologize for always calling this polish to talk about how awful the other polishes were to me and always going for the brightest football playing polish with great hair and muscle tone... or something like that... yeah.... bygones. With the weather chilling, I am slowly shifting towards wearing dark and dreary colors and I find myself being unsatisfied with any outfit that isn't at least 75% black. The same stands for my nails and the last thing I want right now are bright, poppy nails. Gimme deep purples, bloody reds, and neutral tones please!

I really fell in love with this polish in the week (yup, no chips for a week!) that I wore it. The lasting power was impressive and the color, as well -- it adapted to any outfit I wore. Gotta love a chameleon polish. I especially loved how it changed colors depending on the lighting -- a deep, army/cement green in bright light and almost black in a low light. I recommend it, Chelsea approved!

Have you tried this polish?

Monthly Beauty Favorites: June 2012

Another month, another favorites video. Do you like to watch empties videos too?

Products Mentioned:

• Make Up For Ever HD Foundation in 110 / Pink Porcelain
• Alba Aloe and Green Tea Oil-Free Moisturizer 
• Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
• Paco Rabanne Lady Million Perfume
• MAC Eye Shadow in Et Tu, Bouquet?
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Shadow Pencils in JuJu and Rehab
• Ardell #301 Accent Lashes
• Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheet
• Tarte Mineral Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess
• NARS Blush in Luster 
• Tarte Amazonian Clay Tinted Moisturizer in Agent 00
• Essie "Master Plan"
• YSL Rouge Volupté in 1 and 2
• MAC Lipstick in Reel Sexy
• Murad Complete Reform with Glyco Firming Complex
• Crystal Essence Lavender and White Tea Mineral Deodorant

Colored Tips with Essie - Master Plan and Zoya - Bevin

I've posted about Essie's Master Plan and Zoya's Bevin in the past, but never together! I love the look of colored tips (both bright and dark) at the end of neutral nails. Exhibit A. My favorite way to top off a chipping polish -- or one you are just bored of looking at -- is to add a simple tip on the end... so quick and easy. Now, isn't that a great tip ;) get it.. get it..? God damn, I love puns. I don't tape off my nails; though it's probably best to. Instead, I just place the brush on one side of my nail, hold it steady, and roll my finger. It works pretty well and only takes a few minutes, but you always run the risk of applying too large (or too small) of a tip. Just the tip, guys... just the tip. Next, I want to try out a clear base with a neon color. Which tip combos are your tried and true favorites?

Essie - School of Hard Rocks

The latest polish to grace my nails is Essie School of Hard Rocks, a dusty blue/green (according to my limited adjectives and poor explaining capabilities) or a "midnight malachite" (according to Essie's website) for those of you who might know what the hell that means. Duh, Malachite is a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral, with the formula Cu2CO3(OH
)2. Thanks Wikipedia. I wore this gorgeous shade for almost 2 weeks (and it wasn't pretty by the end of it all; but I was busy, sue me!!) It lasted very well in the beginning stages (up to the 5 days - 1 week marker) and I really loved the color and easy application.

This is definitely a shade I will continue to wear multiple times throughout the coming months as it was a nice statement color that also blended well into other outfits on the days when I didn't feel like having such bold, attention grabbing nails (I can't count the number of times my nails have been painted some awesome color for one particular outfit but then have clashed horribly with any other normal, plain outfit I wanted to wear. Talk about a nailmare. Am I right, guys?!). Two very prettily polished thumbs up for School of Hard Rocks!

Monthly Beauty Favorites: April 2012

Another month, another favorites video... (and another empties video too!)

Products Mentioned:

• Carol's Daughter Monoi Shampoo and Conditioner
•  bumble & bumble tonic lotion + brilliantine 
• No. 7 Hot Cloth Cleanser 
• The Body Shop Almond Hand and Nail Cream 
• I Coloniali Deep Massage Body Cream with Myrrh 
• Urban Decay De Slick Setting Spray  
• NARS Makeup Primer w/SPF 20 PA++ 
• Chanel Vitalumiére Aqua in BR12 
• Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer - Porcelain 
• MAC Blush - Immortal Flower + Modern Mandarin 
• Make Up For Ever HD Blush - #6  
• MAC Lipsticks - Rebel, Innocence Beware!, + Hue 
• Essie - Sew Psyched + Vermillionaire 
• butter LONDON - La Moss

What I Wore: 4.5.12

Jeans: BDG from Urban Outfitters

Sleeveless Top: Urban Outfitters

Bag: Vintage Coach

Boots: Doc Marten's

Bracelet: H&M

Rings: Gift and Hester Street Fair (in NYC)

Necklace: Gift from Grandma

Lips: MAC "Morange"

Nails: Essie "Sew Psyched"

Essie - Glamour Purse

Glamour Purse, by Essie, is a nice light brown, but buildable, shade from their winter collection (or as Essie calls it "an alluring almond taupe") that I wore ages ago and forgot about the pictures -- definitely not a color fit for the first week of spring! I didn't love the color completely, but it was nice. Like most all Essie polishes, it was a great quality and consistency and a total breeze to apply. But really, I can be bothered to talk about brown right now because Spring has sprung I can't WAIT to apply my two favorite polishes in the world -- Essie's Tart Deco and Turquoise and Caicos.

Essie - Lilacism

In honor of the impending Spring season and the mild, mild winter on the East Coast this year, I give you Essie's Lilacism. This gorgeous, purple pastel was a dream to apply and lasted for days (though not a whole week) before chipping at all. Looks quite nice with pale skin, thankfully -- and from pictures online I can see it looks great with tan skin too. Can't wait to wear this later in the season!

For reference, here is what the milky purple color looks like in the sun.

Essie - Master Plan

Master Plan, by Essie, is a nice, simple grey. There is nothing special about it. No sparkles. No shimmer. No fuss. I feel as though I have become very simple and muted with my style recently and I want my nails to blend in with the rest of my neutral or black wardrobe -- winter does that to me. This polish lasted on my nails for days and days and days (about seven or eight days passed before I even saw one chip). I loved the color, it was easy to apply with just two coats, and the homemade manicure lasted for over a week. What more could you ask for?

 (with the flash)

A Year in Review: My Favorite Beauty Products of 2011

A yearly favorites video can be somewhat repetitive, given that I present my favorites at the end of each month; but, I still thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite make up items, brushes, perfumes, and nail polishes. Maybe I should do one for clothes and shoes??? Enjoy!

Favorite Products:

-Make Up For Ever Primer
-Make Up For Ever HD Foundation in 110
-Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 310
-Tarte Amazonian Clay Tinted Moisturizer in Agent 00
-MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation in NW15
-MAC Brushes: 187, 217, 266
-NARS Blush in Luster
-MAC Blush in Notable
-e.l.f. Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Luminance
-MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Spiked
-Stila Smudge Sticks
-Smashbox Eye Beam Double Ended Brightener
-Urban Decay Naked Palette
-MAC Mega Metal Eye Shadow in Prance
-MAC Prep + Prime Eyelid Primer
-Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara
-MAC Lipstick in Dubonnet, Rebel, Vegas Volt, and Girl About Town
-NARS Lipstick in Afghan Red, Barbarella, and Heatwave
-Essie Nail Polish in Sew Psyched, Chinchilly, Lady Like, Merino Cool, Tart Deco, and Turquoise and Caicos
-Butter LONDON Nail Polish in Wallis
-Vanille Insensee by Atelier Cologne
-Stella by Stella McCartney
-Bioderma
-Stella in Two Peony by Stella McCartney