GRADUATION~!!

I just recently graduated from University which means I can start updating my blogs.  I might not upload past things I've used because they passed so long ago I have no idea what I want to say about them anymore, but we'll see.  As for today, I got a ton of graduation goodies to share.

Let's start with the outfit: 

Dress: "LC Lauren Conrad Floral Ruffle Chiffon Dress" from Kohls

Shoes: "Madden Girl Getta Pump - Nude" from DSW

Thoughts - I really love this dress.  I saw it online before I saw it in stores.  While I had a different dress in mind that I saw from the site and had hoped I would see in stores, I couldnt find them.  I tried on this dress and I ended up falling in love with it.  It's really flattering and fits just right.  The color is just how it's seen on the site, pinks and nudes.  And I really like the sheer shoulder straps as well.  There's a waist tie as well, but I tied it to the front instead of the back just so the back can be kept simple since the front has all the ruffles.  It landed about 2 or 3 inches above my knees, so it's longer than a mini skirt, but shorter than knee length (I'm 5'4" btw).  The only problem I had with it is the zipper which a lot of people have had problems as stated from the reviews on the site.  It would get stuck where the waist tie is and I assume it's because that's where the thickest amount of fabric is.

The shoes are really comfy.  They're about 3" heels, so they aren't too high.  I did a fair amount of walking and standing in these heels with no problem.  I had to get a half size smaller because the sizes run larger, but I was glad I got to try these on in store instead of ordering online.  Even though they are a perfect fit, I still had a problem with my heel slipping out of the shoe, but that's for any pair of pumps I own.  Me and my deformed heels haha.  Heel grips dont help either, or it just means I need to try a different brand of heel grips.  But nevertheless, these heels are a great addition to my slowly growing collection of shoes that I will never wear often :D

Makeup:

(Some of these are pictures that I've posted before, but now I can finally give a review.)

Eyeshadow: "Too Faced - Naked Eye Soft & Sexy Eye Shadow Collection" from Ulta ($20 promo)

Mascara: "Fairydrops - Volume Burst Mascara Waterproof" from Sasa

Cheeks: "Tarte - Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush - Wonder" from Ulta

*Not shown*

Eyelid primer: "Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Eden" by Urban Decay

Face primer: "Fix & Perfect Foundation Primer - 001" by Rimmel London

Foundation: "Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation - 200 and 201" by Rimmel London

Concealer: "Match Perfect Skin Tone Adapting Concealer" by Rimmel London

Powder: "Stay Matte Pressed Powder - Transparent 001" by Rimmel London

Lips: "tokidoki Prisma Lip Gloss - Donutella (nude)" from Sephora 

Thoughts - As you can see I love Rimmel London.  For me, it's the best drugstore brand that my skin can take.  Doesn't break me out, does a great job in coverage and the colors... closesly match my skin tone.  I've been experimenting with the foundation.  I currently mix two colors to get my skin tone.  And I see they have expanded their powder selection so I might be going for a colored powdered again as well. 

I really love this Too Faced palette.  I stopped using my tokidoki palette and started using this one as a my "go-to" eye makeup.  It's just as the name says.  It's soft in color, very subtle, yet it still has this sensual, "sexy" feel to it.  This particular palette did not come with the applicator drawer, but I like it this way since it's smaller and easier to travel with if I need to.

I'm not sure if I reviewed the Fairydrops mascara yet, but i'm half and half with this one.  I like that it maintains the curls as people have reviewed before with the ORIGINAL Japanese Fairydrops mascara.  What I dont like is that you can totally see the fibers on your eyelashes.  They don't separate the lashes too much so they get kind of spidery.  I use a mascara comb to comb out what I can, but this mascara dries quick which makes it hard to fan out the lashes.

Nails:

- Milani Nail Art (with precision brush) in Art of Silver

- Nailene French Manicure Kit (base color polish and white polish)

- E.L.F.  Clear glitter polish

- China Glaze Lush & Luxe (from the Hunger Games collection)

- Daiso mini nail beads 

- Seche Vite top coat

I know it's bad to keep old nail polishes, but I used them anyways since I still had them.  The white was pretty much thickening up, so currently I'm in search of a new white polish.

I had the intention of doing an asymmetric french tip, but I they didn't turn out the way I wanted it to, so I just did them on my thumb and ring fingers. I added the beads to the lining and for the other nails I did a standard french tip and lined it with the silver polish.  The whites of the nail had originally been painted with Lush & Luxe but I realized that it didn't look right to me, so I added the Elf glitter polish over it instead and on my other hand it was just the Elf glitter polish.

They turned out pretty well and they lasted for more than a week before the beads started to fall off (I love Seche Vite top coat >_<).

-----

Well that's it for the graduation post!  Hopefully I can do some more NOTW when I start doing my nails again, or reviews or OOTD.  But I'm not so trendy, so we'll see what comes out next. Check out my travel blog when I update it with my next trips!

NOTW: 2011-05-18

Nail of the Week
May 18, 2011
(I know the dates aren't showing up literally weekly, but I use the date when I either do them or when I upload the pictures from my camera)

Was a little bored, and tried to use a different technique this time.

What I used:

- OPI - Navy Blue (not sure about color#/name)
- Wet n Wild - 469 Hallucinate (clear with silver glitter)
- OPI - Rapid dry top coat
- Sponge, cut from a foundation sponge

 I'm going to write this quick since I'm getting sleepy.
I used the sponge and dabbed it on my nail tips to get a bit of a gradient look.  They also go above the smile line.  To make the blue a little darker, I applied a bit more polish at the tips using the brush which really did help in the gradient effect.  When the color dried, I applied the glitter polish over it, just one coat and then applied a top coat after it dried.

These nails lasted for about 2 weeks before the chipping of the polish got really bad. 
As much as I like the Rapid dry top coat that OPI has, I find that it works more like a clear layer of polish rather than protecting it.  Polish tends to peel off when I use that top coat. and when I mean peel, i mean PEEL. like, I can peel off the entire nail color without it chipping or ripping.

I really liked these nails, and I'm glad they lasted as long as they did.  I just wish that the top coat wasn't as bad as it is.



*Currently, my nails have been naked since this last look.  My nails are very brittle right now, not sure why since I havent had a problem before.  They've been peeling, usually it'd only be one of my nails, but a few of them have been peeling.  So not only are my nails naked, they are also short.  I don't usually like doing one color polishes (which I've said before), but since I got those new eLF polishes, I might as well try it out.

e.l.f. - Nourishing Cuticle Pen Review

I bought this about 3 weeks ago (notice the nails from April 3), but have started using this for a week now.
Whenever I shop at Target, I always head to the beauty section first just to get my "wants" out of the way first before "needs" just so I can stop myself from buying something unnecessary since I'm heading to the store with the intention to buy what's on my list.  Though that doesn't stop me all the time from buying something, especially if it's inexpensive ;)

I've never bought anything from e.l.f. before, though I always frequent the site to see what I would like to pick up someday (but not everything on the site ends up in stores =X).  So going through a quick search of the section, I immediately pulled the cuticle pen off the display hook and placed it into my basket without even looking at the information and I only did that because I've been needing something for my dry cuticles and thought why not since it's only $1.

When I first opened it I was surprised to see that the tip wasn't a brush, but actually a felt-like tip.  Pretty much like a marker.  I was a bit disappointed when I first took a look at it and thought that because the tip was hard, that it had dried up or something.  Turns out I was completely wrong.  Although It doesn't look like it, it's actually moist and really does moisturize dry cuticles and your nails as well.

The formula for the cuticle pen have many nourishing components that are healthy for you such as avocado and almond oils.  There's also a ton of different vitamins mixed in with aloe as well.
It's also not messy.  It really is just like a marker, you won't have the moisturizer leak out or anything (no squeezing necessary)

The pen is REALLY lightweight and small enough to drop in a makeup case or in your purse for on the go, so you can use it whenever you need it.  For what it's worth, it's definitely something I'm glad I've purchased.
[btw, they're also great use for gross, dry feet ;)]

 

LABEL:

Nourishing Cuticle Pen

- Relieves dry nails and flakey cuticles.  The unique pen delivery system moisturizes cuticles effectively and the quick dry formula allows for a no mess application.

- Fortified with vitamins E, A, C, Pro-Vitamin B5 and Aloe, this fast-acting complex deeply hydrates, nourishes and seals in moisture.  The result is softer, easy to manage cuticles and healthy hydrated nails.

NOTW: 2011-02-12

Nail of the Week
February 12, 2011
(I know the dates aren't showing up literally weekly, but I use the date when I either do them or when I upload the pictures from my camera)

What I used:

- Milani Nail Art (with precision brush) in Black Sketch

- Nailene French Manicure (base color polish and acrylic strong top coat)

- N.Y.C 105A Starry Silver Glitter


Took the mani from January 11, 2011, and instead just the tips I did diagonal tips (I should really think of a name to call these kind of tips).

 

I really need to buy a black polish with a regular nail brush haha, but for now this will do.  I really like these nails, but not sure if I'll be doing black nails anytime soon since it's spring, but hey.. nothings wrong with having dark nails even during spring and summer, so we'll see :)

NOTW: 2011-01-29

Nail of the Week
January 29, 2011
(I know the dates aren't showing up literally weekly, but I use the date when I either do them or when I upload the pictures from my camera)


I wanted to try out one of the new polishes I bought and decided to use the re-fresh mint color first.  It really stood out to me from the beginning, so I couldn't wait to try it!

What I used:

- China Glaze 867 Re-fresh Mint

- Milani Nail Art (with precision brush) in Black Sketch

- Nailene French Manicure (base color polish and acrylic strong top coat)

- Nailene Nail Guides

- Nailene Bedazzle Nail Art

Like always, base coat then base color.  I used 2 coats of the base color this time and after allowing it to dry i used the Nailene nail guides to design an asymmetrical tip nail.  I Painted the tips accordingly with two coats of the China Glaze polish  and allowed to dry.

 

Peeling off the guides became a problem.  The base coat started peeling off 4 of my nails as I removed the guides, but luckily I was able to touch it up without starting all over.  After the touch-up, i added a black outline and added some nail decals to the middle nail and the thumb.  Also added 2 coats of the Nailene top coat. 

Originally, I intended to keep the nail as is with just the green and that's it which is why I used the guides for a clean tip, but I thought the color was a little faint to just keep it as is and added the black line.

  

(picture right after it was done, not touched up yet)

 

 (Left: without cleaning up the side of nails, Right: After cleaning up*)

*sorry about the light, i used the backlight function instead of flash.

I really liked the color when it was on my nails.  It actually looks like the color straight out of the bottle, which doesn't happen all the time.  I also like how this particular color doesn't have a shimmer to it, so it gives a nice smoothness to it.  What also wasn't intentional was that the color of the polish actually matched my hoodie when I was doing my nails.  it didn't hit me until I started taking pictures and caught my sleeve on camera.

These lasted for the week and I could tell could have lasted longer. 

Upon removing the polish, I had no problems until it came to removing the decals, which I have stated before that they are hard to remove.  I used the foil and cotton ball method to removing it, they dissolved enough to "peel" off the decal, but that also meant I still had to clean up the polish underneath as well.

Coming Up!

Sorry for the lack of reviews, but school started and I've been way too busy with classes to do anything related.  It's really hard for me to actually do anything nail related since I have a lab class this semester.  Though we don't have any restrictions, it's kind of hard to do all the stuff I do in micro lab with nice, done-up, nails without them getting ruined in a day.  So lately my nails have been naked and haven't been touched with polish since the last post (and my hands drier than ever ><).

I just wanted to update to mention what will be coming up next.
I'll actually be doing a TUTORIAL next using artificial nails.  In fact, I'll be using the burgundy colored Nailene Nail Studio nails and actually touching them up with a bit of my imagination. 
My sister will be getting married next month and lucky for me that these nails fit the color scheme.  I've also just bought a decorating nail stand for artificial nails which I can't wait to try out.  So I'll be working on them as soon as I find some free time (and get the right colors =X).   Until then!

Review: Nailene Bedazzle Nail Art

I LOVE Nail decals.  When you're in a hurry and don't have the time to free-hand nail art to your nails, decals/stickers add that special touch for you.  Effortless, easy-to-use and add fun or even elegance to your nails.  I was extremely excited to see the Bedazzle Nail Art pack to my prize bag because I was needing some new ones.  The nail stickers that I usually get are ridiculously expensive just for ONE set of decals (that's what you get for buying imports from Japan!).  In this pack you get FOUR sets of decals and what was lucky for me was that the designs included are totally me (im a huge sucker for stars!).

What I loved about these decals is that they were easy to peel off the backing, yet were strong enough to stick to my nails without sliding around or ripping off.  Previous stickers I'd use would actually slide off my nails without me knowing, so when I'd look at them I'd see the outline of where they were or have lint stick to where it used to be haha.

What I didn't like was when you're removing your polish, the decals don't come off with it.  Now when I said these were strong enough to stick to my nails without falling off, i mean it.  These suckers held on for dear life.

 As you can see, I have NO polish on what-so-ever, yet these things stuck on without even a scratch on them.  I mean, it was cool that I was able to keep them on just for a bit longer even after my polish chipped, but I was ready to get them off, and they just wouldn't come off.

They eventually started coming off a week later, but I'm not sure if it fell off because of the amphyl I used during biology lab or if they fell off on their own.  Either way, they fell off basically and you can definitely tell where they were on my nails because of the left over polish behind it.

I really liked these decals/stickers because they were strong enough to stay on my nails and have these great designs.  I just wish they were soluble in acetone.

Review: Nailene French Manicure kit

The first Nailene (http://www.nailene.com) product that I used from the prizes that I won was the Nailene French Manicure kit.  I was so excited to use this product first because I'm a huge fan of french manicure style nails.  This is typically the only way I do my nails so getting this was like a dream (haha).

Starting off with clean, groomed nails, I added the nail guides provided in the kit.  Typically I don't use the nail guides and just free-hand the tips because of past experiences using the guides from the Sally Hansen French Manicure kits, which I hated.

Unlike the Sally Hansen guides, which never gave me a clean line even after minutes of drying (it always bled through the guide), the Nailene guides gave me a SUPER clean nail tip which I couldn't believe.  It seriously looked like my tips were fake.

For the polish, I wasn't a big fan of the brush in the white polish.  I'm not sure if it was just me painting it on really badly, or the brush itself.  But I found myself struggling to use it or to keep dipping it back into the polish.

What I did like was the base color that came with the kit.  I was a bit scared to use it since the bottle looked really pink, but when I brushed it on, it came out with a nice opaque color that did not over power on my nails.

The acrylic top coat that came in the kit was the best part.  None of the top coats I've used had a lasting effect on my nails.  They'd either start chipping off the polish in HUGE chunks within a day or two.  With this top coat, It actually made the polish last at least a week with little or no wear.
Even with the constant rustling through my purse and luggage during vacation, I was still able to maintain this look without any great damage.

Adding a touch of the nail art stickers (which I will review next), I've created a look that I was very satisfied and happy with.  I'd definitely recommend the Nailene French Manicure kit to anyone who's looking for a quick and easy (and inexpensive) French manicure that you can do in the privacy of your own house.

Nailene Haul

My first entry in this review blog was for Nailene's (http://www.nailene.com) first giveaway. I was fortunate enough to win a prize for my review and got a great selection of prizes from Nailene.

You have no idea how excited I was to see the package sitting on my computer table when I got home that night.  I immediately opened up the package to see the nailene bag neatly prepped inside.

Found in my swag bag was:
* Nailene French Manicure w/ Top Coat
* Nailene Perfect Toes
* Nailene Acrylic Fill Kit
* Nailene Perfect Tips & Toes
* Nailene Nail Studio Nails (burgundy color)
* Nailene Bedazzle Nail Art
* Nailene Nail Art Stickers (4th of July and Rhinestone stickers)

I'll definitely get around to making tutorials and reviews when I get a chance to use them.
I've already tried out the French Manicure kit which I'll be putting up a review later on this week.

Nailene

I've tried Nailene (http://www.nailene.com) a couple times and I must say, their products are amazing!  My favorite product that i've tried so far are the Nailene So Real full cover nails.  I had just gotten done with science labs for the semester so my nails were short.  I wanted to start doing nail art again, but not on my short nails, so I got the Nailene So Real nails because I've heard great reviews.  They weren't wrong.
These nails were so light that it really didn't feel like they weren't my own, not to mention how they actually contured to my nail bed naturally.

Now here's why I love them so much, they lasted for a good amount of time and usually that never happens.  Without any breaks or chipping, they lasted about 3-4 weeks long.  Now here's the best part, I've actually gone bowling with these things on my nails and not once did they break or chip!  Anytime i've gone bowling, I always end up chipping my natural nails, but these definitely held up.

 

For the look that I have in this picture, I just added on some glitter polish just to change it up after the 2nd week.

I recommend the full coverage nails for those who want that nail salon manicure look without spending an arm and a leg for, and it only takes a couple minutes to do yourself.  Check out what Nailene has to offer, you won't regret it!