NOTD: Nailene Pearl White French Tip Pen & Bedazzle Superstar Nail Art

Yesterday I mentioned that I was working on a very girlie-girl nail look, which I'm probably a bit too "mature" to be wearing, but I LOVE it so I don't care! :)

I started the look by using one of a several Nailene products that I received recently for review. By far, the standout product of all the goodies I received is the Nailene Pearl White French Tip Pen (retail: around $6) which is available at most drugstores.

After using this product, I will never go back to using a traditional white nail polish when I went to give myself a French manicure. Honestly, this little pen works like a charm! It glides across your tips while depositing just enough polish. Also, the finish is so smooth (no streaks!) and it dries very quickly.

The other thing I love about this pen is that for me, the color doesn't chip AT ALL. I think this is because the formula is a pearl, instead of a cream, white. I'm telling you, I'm the kind of girl who can only wear a French manicure for about a day before I start to see wear and chips. But not with Nailene Pearl White French Tip Pen. I was able to wear a regular French manicure using this pen that lasted FIVE days without chipping. That is truly unheard of for me.


I also used Nailene French Polish Guides (retail: around $3). If you're klutzy like me, these little stickers can come in so handy. Love 'em.

If you've never used polish guides before, all you have to do is peel them off the paper and position them exactly where you want the line to be on your nails:

Then you apply two coats of the pen to your tips, wait a few minutes, peel the guides off and violà! Perfectly painted French manicure tips:

So after I had these beautiful pearlescent white tips, I decided that I wanted to use the Out the Door Northern Lights Holographic Top Coat that I talked about yesterday instead of the usual cream or clear top coat that you apply for a traditional French mani. But of course I didn't want to stop there!

Nailene also sent me some fun nail art to try. I received Nailene Bedazzle Superstar Collection (retail: around $3) and this packet just so happened to include little tiny star clusters (I have a thing for stars!).

So between the pearly white tips, the holographic top coat and the star decals, my nails are currently in cute overload:

Alright, so I know this look isn't for all of you, but I just think it is so fun, so playful and so extremely girlie-girl! I am in love with it (and so is my 2-yr-old niece!).

Also, I'm going on over 24 hours and I haven't experienced any chipping on my tips or lifting from the decals. Yay!

So...what do you think? Have you tried the Nailene French Manicure Pen (or the nail guides or nail art)? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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Very exciting news about that Chanel Jade nail polish dupe!!

Ladies! If you read my post a few weeks back about how I discovered a dupe of Chanel Jade in my own polish stash, then you know that this shade of green is hot, hot, hot.

If after reading my post, you tried to order a bottle of L.A. Colors Green Satin for yourself but were bummed because it was sold out on the site I mentioned in my original post, don't you worry because I've got exciting news!

Toma at The Makeup Mix Shop has restocked her inventory of L.A. Colors Green Satin and this gorgeous color will be available for purchase beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, November 10th! And the best part? The price is just $1.75 per bottle, and The Makeup Mix Shop ships internationally! But let me warn you that supplies are limited, so if you want this shade, I recommend you place your order as soon as you can tomorrow because I have a feeling it might sell out quickly.

I'm so excited that you can have your Chanel Jade (retail: $25) fix for just $1.75 with L.A. Colors Green Satin. And don't forget that Toma also carries the infamous e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer that so many of you raved about in response to my Wednesday Question last week, as well as those fantastic Coastal Scents Gel Liners that I reviewed a while back as well.

Happy hauling!

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Another way to save more on high-end beauty products...

I talk all the time on this blog about the wonderful websites out there that offer high-end beauty products at reduced prices. Heck, if it weren't for websites like BeautyTicket.com, I would never get my high-end beauty fix. Seriously, I mean that. I simply cannot afford to pay full retail price for any high-end beauty products these days, and I'm sure a lot of you are in the same boat. So what does a girl do when she wants to buy herself something extra nice (or give a very nice gift to a family member or friend)? Well if I can't find what I'm looking for at BeautyTicket.com, or my other "secret spot" for high end clearance goodies, I've got another neat site I like to hit up, and I'd love to share it with you since we're nearing the holidays. It's always great to give a gift that is absolutely beautiful and impressive-looking, especially if you didn't pay a lot to get it!

BeautyHabit.com is a wonderful website that offers high-end beauty products at very fair retail prices, but they also have an outlet section that is chock full of high-end goodies at discounted prices. The best thing about BeautyHabit's outlet section is that it often features products from lines that NEVER go on sale. It's a lot of fun to see what kinds of goodies you can find, and just today I was able to locate the following amazing steals (as with all online clearance sections, inventory changes rapidly so if you see something you want, get it while you can):

(The following products were all in stock as of 7PM Pacific, November 8th)

L'Aromarine Pomme (Sweet Apple) Perfume Extract (retail price: $9.50), sale price: $7.60

(Note: L'Aromarine is one of my favorite French fragrance brands and their products are already insanely inexpensive, so to see them discounted even further is just plain crazy!)

L'Aromarine Passion Perfume Extract (retail price: $9.50), sale price: $7.60

Paul & Joe Dual Crayon Duo Marine (retail price: $18), sale price: $14.50

Paul & Joe Limited Edition Face Color Powder Atelier (retail price: $20), sale price: $16

Rescue Beauty Lounge Spiced Floral Exfoliating Body Wash (retail: $20), sale price: $10

Sage Coral edt (retail: $68), sale price: $34

Tocca Limited Edition Candela Mimosa (Champagne) Candle (retail: $46), sale price: $23

And if you're really in the mood, and have the money to indulge:

Z Bigatti Rescue Intensive Facial Treatment (retail price: $135.00), sale price: $67.50

Happy shopping!

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Review: Out the Door Northern Lights Holographic Top Coat

I am probably waaaay late to the game here, but I was at a local beauty supply store here in San Diego the other day and for the first time ever I saw Out the Door Northern Lights Holographic Top Coat (retail: around $5):

(This is the silver one but it also comes in gold)

Now, at first glance, I didn't think much about this. In the pic above, it looks like a clear top coat with a few holographic particles suspended in it, right?

But when you follow the directions on the bottle and "shake it up", um...WOW!

 

 So what does this look like on?

 

Top: Sally Hansen HD Hi-Definition Nail Polish in Opulent Cloud
Bottom: Opulent Cloud layered with Out the Door Holographic Top Coat

 

 

 

 OK, so here's what I like it about it: to the naked eye, it's subtle. I think that the darker the base color, the more intense and sparkly the holographic effect will look. On a medium shade like Opulent Cloud, it's a fun and very quick way to give your existing nail color some punch.  I also like that it's just like the regular Out the Door top coat in that it dries in seconds. Literally, seconds!

What I don't like: When it dries, the finish is grainy/bumpy. You can feel the holographic particles.  BUT, If you use a good top coat over Out the Door Holographic Top Coat, it takes away the grainy feel.  To some it might seem silly to use a top coat over a top coat, but I am really loving this holographic effect so I'll be doing it, no questions asked.

Have you used Out the Door products? Do you like 'em? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Also, please stay tuned because I'm working on THE most girlie-girl nail look (incorporating Out the Door Holographic Top Coat) that I have EVER rocked on my nails. I mean seriously, this is a very young, very girlie look that I probably have no business wearing, but I love it and I can't wait to show you. I will post those pics tomorrow. :)

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The 2009 Limited Edition Suave Seasonals Body Washes are here! (well, sort of)

I have no pictures and I have no review. So what the heck is the point, right? lol.

I just wanted to let you know that a reader emailed me to tell me she spotted the new Suave Limited Edition Seasonals Body Washes at her local Walmart yesterday. Do you want to know what this year's scents are? (Past years' collections have included such cult classics as Buttercream Swirl and Whipped Cocoa.)

Drum roll please:

Toasted Vanilla Sugar

Candied Apple

Holiday Pear

Peppermint Bliss

I don't know about you, but I am SOOO excited to get my hands on Peppermint Bliss. If it's anything like Bath & Body Works Twisted Peppermint, but for $1.50 a bottle, I'm buying a carton, thankyouverymuch.

So...if any of you lovelies spot these at your local Walmart, Target, or elsewhere, please let me know! I am pulling out the stops and talking to my contacts as we speak and I will not stop until I get these. And when I do, you know I'll review 'em!

PS: If you go to your local Walmart this weekend looking for these, don't look for them in the shower gel aisle. My contact told me that she found hers in a cardboard holiday display near the cosmetics department. :)

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Sally Hansen Opulent Cloud: Hard Candy Mr. Wrong's older, more sophisticated sister

By now you've probably heard about the Limited Edition Sally Hansen HD Hi-Definition Nail Colors making their way through drugstores across the country. In fact, I posted a pic of the display the first time I saw it and immediately I knew that I had to have the stand-out color of the collection, Opulent Cloud.  Of course that was the one color that was already sold out when I spotted the display, so I've been on the hunt for it ever since.

It took me several trips to various Rite-Aids until I finally stumbled across a fully-stocked display that had just been put on the shelf.  Finally! This little chameleon minx was mine.  But I never anticipated in a million years to discover this: Opulent Cloud is Hard Candy Mr. Wrong's older, more sophisticated sister.

Allow me to explain.  Both of these shades have that same chameleon quality. Is it silver? Is it purple? Is it gold? It's all of 'em, depending on your lighting.  But here's the key: If you take the gold micro-glitter in Mr. Wrong and grind it down into an ultra-fine shimmer, you get Opulent Cloud.  Seriously, these polishes have the same base, but Opulent Cloud's gold shimmer makes it the more mature, sophisticated sister to Mr. Wrong.  So if you love the look of Mr. Wrong but you're not down with the micro-glitter, you have got to find yourself some Opulent Cloud, asap.

Limited Edition Sally Hansen HD Hi-Definition Nail Color in Opulent Cloud:

 

 Now check this out:

 

 

In my opinion, Mr. Wrong is the wild-child party girl, while Opulent Cloud is the sophisticated and elegant older sister (who still has an edgy side). The name really fits this polish--it truly is an opulent cloud.

Do you own Mr. Wrong or Opulent Cloud (or both?). I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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Are you a sucker for candy and drink-inspired lip balms?

Lip balms that are based on popular candies and drinks have been around for decades now, and they never cease to amaze me. The idea of getting the flavor of your favorite sweet treat, but without the calories or carbs, is just plain fun (and super inexpensive as well).

I don't think that anyone can argue that Bonne Bell Lip Smackers are the go-to for candy/drink flavored lip balms. At around a dollar a tube, how can you resist a lip treat that smells and tastes like Dr. Pepper, Skittles, M&Ms, Starburst or Kool-Aid?

In fact, I was at Rite-Aid the other day and spotted this new collection from Bonne Bell, which seems a little more adult-oriented but just as fun:

Vitamin Water lip balms in Fruit Punch, Dragon Fruit and Lemonade.

I've got to say that I was mesmerized by the fact that each of these balms is the exact color of the actual drink! And also, these balms have SPF 20 and contain vitamin E. If Bonne Bell is trying to appeal to adults with this new line, it's definitely working for me.

And let's not forget that there are other companies who have licensed their brands to lip balm manufacturers lately. The makers of Cinnabon have their own lip balm:

And from the makers of Bubble Yum bubble gum:

And who can forget Dairy Queen:

On the higher-end of the scale, there is the company On10, which offers fun, retro-looking tins of vintage sweets-inspired balms:

There are also some hard-to-find sweets-inspired balms, such as the Ben & Jerry's lip balm, which is nearly impossible to find in the US anymore:

And of course you don't even have to be a sweets manufacturer to get into the lip balm game anymore. You can make a product that just smells good!

And I can attest to the fact that the Yankee Candle lip balm is one fantastic lip balm, even though it's based on a product that is not even edible.

So....what's your favorite sweet-inspired lip balm? I know that I'm not the only one here who's got a mild obsession with these little goodies!

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And the winner is...

The winner of my Tabu & English Leather giveaway sponsored by Dana Classics is....

Hotsnotty2!

Hotsnotty2, I will be sending you an email within the hour, so please respond within 24 hours with your shipping address. Congratulations!!

Thanks to everyone who entered this giveaway--the turnout was amazing! And if you didn't win, never fear, because I've got some incredible, beauty-filled holiday giveaways that I'm working on right now, including one that you definitely do not want to miss. Please check back soon. :)

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Forever 21 makeup: Yay or Nay?

Ladies! Is the new Forever 21 makeup collection, "love & beauty", making you say "Oooh!" or "meh"?

Share your thoughts, please!

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Attn: CVS shoppers! Get $40 worth of Revlon products for $9.99 this week!

Holy crap! I was at CVS today and I cannot believe the deal I spotted. This week CVS is running a BOGO free deal on all Revlon products. That's great as it is, but get this: there are some promotional 2-for-1 packs that I spotted in the regular display! 

I bought the following products, which all retail for $9.99 separately, for a TOTAL of $9.99!

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that I looove ColorStay eyeliners. They are one of two drugstore liners that don't run or smear on me (Styli-Style is the other) and the shades I bought in this purchase are staples (Teal and Cocoa).

Regarding the mascaras, I am already loving 3D Extreme (I'll be reviewing it very soon) and I decided to purchase Fabulash because it's a Revlon mascara I've never tried before and it's been around forever so I figured what the heck!

So if you're a Revlon girl, you might want to run down to your local CVS asap and see if they have any other promo packs in the regular display before the BOGO free expires.

I am still stunned that I was able to get $40 worth of product for just $9.99!

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