ProductWhores

Ombre Nails

I know the ombre trend is a little over-exposed at the moment, but I have to confess, I still kinda love it.  (Which makes sense, because my long hair is still ombre after like, two years).  But I also have to confess, I never really thought of doing it on my nails.  (I'm not normally one for nail art. Probably because I can barely polish my own nails without it looking like I let a five year-old take a crack at it, so I think we can pretty much know that if I tried any sort of nail art, it would all go horribly wrong).  But how fun does the Infinite Ombre - Nail Design Set look?  It seems really easy too from the description and aren't the color choices pretty?  I kind of really want to try this!  (I mean, worst case scenario, I've acquired five more nail polishes and how could that ever be bad?)  How cool are the examples on the box?  I want to try them all!  (And wouldn't they look great as a pedicure?)  Love this idea!

Sweet Strawberry

 

It's almost summer which means that it's time for bright nails again!  (Technically, it could always be time for them in Los Angeles, but I like to at least pretend to observe the seasons here).  Pixi's new Sweet Strawberry nail color is the PERFECT summer shade.  It's a semi-matte red - bold and bright - perfect for a pedicure, but it also looks great on my fingers when they're shorter.  (I don't love super long bright red nails, but of course, your mileage may vary).  I find that Pixi shades last about a week or so on me without chipping (longer on my toes - my fingers tend to chip quickly because I type so much). Plus, I love that Pixi is available at Target because it gives me a great excuse to go there.  (Not like I need one, but you know...)  I also love that their bottles are only $8 - you can buy more that way!  It's amazing how no matter how many nail polish colors I have, I can always find more to fall in love with. Join me!  

Note:  A sample of the above item was sent to me by a PR representative working with Pixi

So Knackered Out

So ULTA had their one day sale on Butter London nail polishes (half price!) and even though I need more nail polish less than anything, I was unable to resist the lure of $9 Butter London shades and found myself drawn there almost against my will.  (Seriously, there should be a twelve step program for beauty addicts).  But in the end, I'm glad I did because I'd somehow missed the shade Knackered in all my previous Butter London shopping and oh my God, I am OBSESSED.  It's so, so pretty.  It's described as "a sheer, twinkling oyster shade flecked with micro glitter particles" and that pretty much sums it up.  It's this gorgeous blue with sparkles, but it's also a duochrome, so the finish on it is so different and unique.  I definitely don't have any shades that are at all similar, which in a stash of my size is something of a miracle.  I've had it on all week and I've seriously lost track of the amount of people who've asked me about it.  Everyone wants to buy it!  I should seriously get a PR fee for my work on their behalf this week.  If anyone at Butter London's reading this, feel free to hook me up! 

Comfy In Cashmere

I'm super into neutral (or neutral-ish) polishes right now.  I guess because it's so hot here in L.A., it feels slightly weird to wear dark shades, but I'm just not ready to go back to brights yet.  So when I saw someone post a photo of Essie's new Comfy in Cashmere online, I instantly fell in love and knew I'd be making a trip to ULTA that night.  (Which turned out to be a good call because I got the very last bottle.  It's like the nail polish gods were looking out for me!)  It's so, so pretty on.  It's described as a mauve with deep velvet undertones, which is pretty spot on, but it makes a great neutral.  It dries to a matte finish, but I'm not really a fan of matte, so I just put a glossy top coat over it and changed the finish and I like it even more now.  All in all, just a really great shade that isn't your typical neutral, but still looks amazing.  If you see one, snatch it up because I have a feeling this is one color that's going to be sold out (if it isn't already).  You won't regret it!   

Brio!

I know trimming nails may not be the most exciting topic on the planet, but when you've discovered a super-sharp, sturdy pair of nail clippers you just have to post about it.  I was was recently introduced to Brio nail clippers which are stainless steel (super sturdy) and come in a two-pack (one for fingers and one for toes) on Amazon.  At first I was kind of laughing to myself - "How different can nail clippers be exactly?!" - but after testing these out, I am fully-convinced, a great pair of clippers makes all the difference!  For years I was using cheap ones which don't always cut the first time (tugging at nails, creating hangnails) and almost-always leave jagged edges.  The Brio nail clippers are amazing - super sharp - so they cut clean each and every time.  I even had my husband take the clippers to his nasty, gross toenails (sorry, but his feet are disgusting) and these badboys cut effortlessly through his beast-like talons.  Really impressed and a definite fan of the Brio clippers.  I can't imagine using another brand ever again!  Glad these came my way - well worth the 14 bucks on Amazon.

Collect Some Sea Glass

I'm definitely much more of a dark nail polish person on my fingers, but even I could not resist the lure of this shade when I walked by it in the display at Sephora.  Starfish is part of Formula X's The Sea Glass Collection (there are five shades total) - it's the only one that I would consider a "light" shade so it's weird that it's the one I like the most, but here we are.  It's described as "a soft pink microglitter" and that's pretty accurate.  What's interesting is its finish - it's got some texture to it, but not a ton, so it's a really interesting look - almost a matte glitter.  It's very cool.  It's both shimmery AND glittery!  The other colors in the collection are really great too - there's a charcoal brushed microglitter called Deep End that might also have to come home with me.  (And I'm not a big blue polish person, but there's a shade called Tide that's a gorgeous blue-violet brushed microglitter that I'm also oddly coveting.  Glitter does strange things to me!)  I just put it on two days ago so I'm not sure about wear time yet, but I love it on, so as long as it doesn't chip tonight, I think I'm fine with it.  (I'm very easy to please when I love a shade this much).  Check out the entire collection at Sephora now.

Fifty Shades Of Fabulous

You guys, "Fifty Shades of Grey" was a terrible book.  I know I'm not in the minority for thinking that here, but seriously - terrible.  At the end of my life, I'm really going to want the time I spend reading that damn trilogy back.  (Yeah, I know.  I read all three.  Even though they were awful.  But I had downloaded all of them at the same time because people SWORE they were amazing, so I kind of felt the need to get my money's worth).  So yeah, needless to say, I will NOT be seeing the movie, unless I go with a group of friends as a joke, which actually sounds kinda fun (as long as there are margaritas first!)  That being said, the terrible books have resulted in some fantastic makeup releases, which makes the entire thing worth it.  (Even the fact that Christian Grey uses the word "Laters."  LATERS!  Terrifying).  My current favorite is L'Oreal's new Dark Sides of Grey nail collection - eight shades of different varieties of grey, each of them better than the last.  It's a great mix of glitters, shimmers and creme finishes as well, so there's a ton of variety - something for everyone!  My favorites are (of course!) the glitters.  Caution Please is a sort of chrome, silver glitter - so, so pretty!  Totally d'Accord is a black base with dark glitter in it - it's sort of a goth neutral (if such a thing existed).  And for someone who loves a good dark creme, Grey Corset is gorgeous - it's the perfect dark grey (almost black).  I'll be bringing that one to the salon many, many times, I can already tell.  The best part?  Each shade is only $5.99 and they're available at drugstores, so you won't even have to go to much effort to seek them out.  But I have a feeling these are going to FLY off the shelves, so when you spot them, I'd grab every shade you want because they probably won't be there the next time you visit.  Just a hunch...      

Note:  Samples of the above items were sent to me by a PR representative working with L'Oreal Paris

Attend A Sparkling Soiree

Holiday nail collections are the best because they almost always have some glittery shades in them and L'Oreal's new Sparkling Soiree set more than fulfills my glitter quota.  It's made up of eight shades, four of which are a full on glitter explosion, and should be at your local drugstore for you to pick up now.  Here's what you'll find in the collection:

• Hit the Slopes - A milky white
• Almost Midnight - A deep eggplant
• Tuxedo Noir - A silvery black shimmer
• Bring the Rubies - A metallic red
• Pink Party Dress - A pink glitter in a clear base
• Midnight Fireworks - A multi-colored glitter in a clear base
• 24-carat - A gold glitter in a clear base
• Snow ball - A silver glitter in a clear base

My favorites are Bring the Rubies and Tuxedo Noir, both of which are perfect for the holiday party season (for fingers or toes).  And at somewhere around $6 apiece (depending on where you buy them), it's a cheap and easy splurge to make you happy.  Buy them all!

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with L'Oreal

Let's Take A Magic Carpet Ride

I mean... Look at that nail polish!  I love it so much that when I saw it on the display, I immediately grabbed a bottle to carry around with me even though there were at least five bottles there, just in case five people at Sephora fell in love with it while I was wandering the store and snatched up the entire supply before I could buy one.  (These are desperate times, people.  Desperate times!)  I love that it's called Magic Carpet Ride and is part of Deborah Lippman's Fantastical holiday collection (I covet every single shade in it).  At $18, it wasn't cheap, but it's a limited-edition shade and I know I would kick myself if I missed it, so I just bit the bullet and handed over my debit card.  Also, it's described as an "eccentric ebony explosion" and who can pass something with that description up?  Not this girl!  I haven't tried it on yet (that'll come this weekend at my next mani/pedi) so I can't talk about what the formula's like yet, but I'm optimistic that it'll live up to my expectations.  Glitter everywhere!  I can't wait to wear it!  

Mini Manor

Even though I am in no way ready for the holiday season yet (it's barely October!  Can we stop with the Christmas decorations already?!) I am loving all the holiday gift sets that are already in stores.  It's hard not to want to buy them all for myself, honestly.  I literally have to stop myself from ordering the set above, Ciate's Mini Mani Manor every single day because nail polishes are the only thing I need less than lipstick at the moment.  But how can you not want to own this?  It's SO cute!  For $60, you get 24 different shades and textures (17 nail colors and various glitters and Texture Pots).  I love Ciate because they have tons of unique shades and the mini bottles are the best because they're easy to store and travel with.  (Plus, how cute is that packaging?  Adorable!)  You could even buy the set and divide it up and give a few as presents and keep some for yourself (you know, if there's a few specific shades you're really coveting...)  The description says you can create over 145 different nail looks with the set - that's a ton of combos to play around with.  I guess if I can get access to sets this fabulous, I can put up with the mall Santa being out before the trick or treaters...