Monday, April 30, 2018

Ellagee Polish for the May Polish Pickup: Regina Phalange

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Happy Monday, dear readers! I'm not normally an anti-Monday person in general, but I am exceptionally excited to see the start of a new week today. I head off to New York City later this week! I'll be there covering The Makeup Show, so that's something fun to look forward to on the blog. Until then, let's jump in on something else I find exciting: the May Polish Pickup! Not familiar with the Polish Pickup? Let me briefly fill you in!

Each month, indie nail polish fans are invited to suggest themes indie makers can use to inspire their goods. Fans are encouraged to vote of their favorite themes, and a winner is named every month. The indie makers, in turn, select something specific that is inspired by the monthly theme and creates a nail polish or related item that can then be purchased. Rather than having a themed monthly box, which is at one set price and purchasers have to take the full box, Polish Pickup is different in that fans can purchase the specific items they actually want. It is not a subscription service so you don't have to pick up anything if you opt not to, and there is no worrying about "skipping". Not that I filled you in, let's jump on in!


The winning theme for the month of May is the 1990's, and indie makers have gone all out to select their inspirations! Laura, the indie maker behind the brand Ellagee Polish, pulled her inspiration fro the television sitcom, Friends, specifically the character Phoebe's alter ego, Regina Phalange. Let's get a closer look at what Ellagee has in store for Polish Pickup shoppers this Friday!


Regina Phalange is a brilliantly sparkly orange scattered holographic polish with shimmer that shifts from hot pink to orange to gold.


While it is described as being orange, it definitely is has a strong coral lean to it. Even though I love my oranges and would have been thrilled with a true orange shade, I think Laura went a great direction with this polish. It will eventually be summer around here, although some days the weather makes me think otherwise, and corals seem to be a much more popular colour than orange.


Regina Phalange is densely pigmented, and as a result, the formula is a little on the thicker side. I personally did not find it to be too difficult to apply, although those that like thinner formulas may want to add a few drops of nail polish thinner. Due to the pigmentation, it could potentially be a one coater, particularly on shorter nails. The thickness did make application a little uneven so I went with two thinner coats, as seen with a layer of top coat for these photos.


I LOVE this colour, and it is definitely going to be a go-to shade for on my toes this summer! Even though it applied pretty decently, I'm going to add a little bit of nail polish thinner to mine as it is currently slightly too thick for my taste.


Regina Phalange will be available for purchase on the Polish Pickup website this Friday, May 4th through Monday, May 7th only. It will retail for $11, and there is no limit on the number of bottles that can be purchased. Please note that purchases are made as a "pre-order" through the Polish Pickup, and it may take up to three weeks for items to ship to customers.

Have you started getting your wishlists ready for the May Polish Pickup? What are you planning to buy? I'd love to hear your top choices!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!


Helpful Links
Facebook Group (Polish Pickup Pack): www.facebook.com/groups/polishpickuppack
Instagram: www.instagram.com/PolishPickup

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Sunday, April 29, 2018

This Week's Beauty Spotlight!

Are puffy eyes a problem for you? Beauty Info Zone may just have found the answer to that problems with John Masters Organics Firming Eye Gel. See for yourself if this meets your eye's needs. 

Just in time for the spring and summer no-makeup makeup looks, Too Faced It Just Comes Naturally Collection. See which pieces are worth your hard earned cash from Prime Beauty

The Boxwalla April Beauty Box:The Chronicles of a Plant Lab, which features two full-size products from Twelve Beauty, is an extraordinary green beauty box and an incredible value. If you are seeking healthy luminous skin, then Lola's Secret Beauty Blog highly recommends getting this box before it sells out! 

15 Minute Beauty had the longest lasting manicure ever. Head over to see how she got a 2 week manicure! 

Have a love of all things sweet? Why limit it to just your tastebuds? Jen from The Jedi Wife loves the Milk+Sass Macaron for Hair as a means of smoothing hair and ease of portability. The cuteness factor certainly doesn’t hurt either! 

Pammy Blogs Beauty explores Pevonia Skincare. She loves this luxury skincare and body care and has even found a new favorite tinted SPF cream! 

We see tools and devices throughout the beauty realm but have you seen on guaranteed to work or your money back? Polarbelle is just two weeks into a trial period with the Trophy Skin RevuvaliteMD and she's already seeing results! 

Shipra of Taneja's Bride shares how to enter La La Land with Kathleen Lights x ColourPop Dream St Collection. 

Did you know that May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness month? See what Stacie from Makeup Obsessed Mom is doing to help find a cure. 

Lacquered shine, a long wearing stain, and plumping hydration all in one lip product? That is exactly what Dior is offering with their new Dior Addict Lacquer Plump. Christa from Realizing Beauty shares her review and swatches of the innovative new lip product.

Friday, April 27, 2018

KBShimmer for the May Polish Pickup: un-Staple

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Happy Friday, dear readers! I don't know about you, but I have found this week testing my patience more days than not. I'm glad to have the weekend with no specific time commitments and activities for myself or the kids, although the hubby will be leaving town for work so I do have some solo parenting ahead of me. Here's hoping my littles take it easy on me next week!

The month of April is rapidly coming to an end, and that means another Polish Pickup opening is upon us! If you aren't familiar with Polish Pickup, let me fill you in! Each month, themes are suggested and voted on by nail polish enthusiasts. Once a winning theme is named for the designated month ahead, indie polish makes pick their own specific inspiration based off the theme and work there magic. At each Polish Pickup opening the first Friday through Monday of the month, shoppers can purchase products to their hearts' desire from the brands, and in roughly three weeks, receive a single package containing all their goodies. It is not a subscription service, and it is not a themed box where you have to pay one price and receive everything. Polish Pickup is about purchasing on the months you want and only buying the products YOU want. It's a fantastic idea, especially since you don't end up having to try to resell a nail polish you didn't want to begin with. Even without the commitments, if you are new to the shop, I have to warn you that it may not be easy on the wallet. There are several makers that participate each month, and they have released some seriously stunning beauties! In anticipation of the shop opening next Friday, I have the pleasure of kicking off with revealing a few beauties I have had the pleasure of testing out. Let's do this!


The theme for the May Polish Pickup is the 1990's, and indie maker Christy Rose of KBShimmer picked one of my all time favorite movies as her inspiration: Office Space! I quote this movie more than I care to admit, and it always makes me laugh when I see a red stapler. Poor Milton was treated horribly by his boss at Initech, even taking his beloved red Swingline stapler away from him. In the end, Milton had the last laugh against the company, and I am sure he did end up with his stapler, although we never actually see it in the end. If you haven't seen it, I recommend checking it out! Obviously, Christy is a fan of this movie as well and pulled her inspiration from Milton and his Swingline. Presenting the KBShimmer shade for the May Polish Pickup: un-Staple!


un-Staple is a stunning blue-grey jelly based polish filled with micro holographic flakes and a beautiful coppery red shimmer. As expected as a jelly, the formula is a little on the sheer side, although I did manage to get away with using just two carefully placed coats to reach full opacity on my shorties. Had my nails been any longer, I undoubtably would have needed to add a third, but this beauty is well worth it! Alternately, if you want to make your bottle last longer, you can layer it over a base shade.

My photos are shown with two coats plus KBShimmer's Clearly on Top top coat.


un-Staple will be available for purchase at www.PolishPickup.com from Friday, May 4th through Monday, May 7th ONLY. This is a short window, and this is the EXCLUSIVE to the Polish Pickup; be sure to mark the days on your calendars so you don't miss out!

It will retail for $10 per bottle, and there is no limit to how many bottles will be made!


Are you looking forward to the opening of the May Polish Pickup? Will un-Staple be on your shopping list? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day and enjoy the weekend!
XO!


Helpful Links
Facebook Group (Polish Pickup Pack): www.facebook.com/groups/polishpickuppack
Instagram: www.instagram.com/PolishPickup

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Thursday, April 26, 2018

LynB Designs Brings The Avengers to Your Nails With the Infinity War Trio

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Jenna of LynB Designs has been very busy! In addition to her Let's Be Frank, Part 2 Collection launching this Friday, she is also releasing her Infinity War Trio inspired by the upcoming Avengers movie. I had the pleasure of swatching them and sharing them with you today. Let's check them out!

To Infinity
A deep plum to dark grey thermal with a rainbow of flakies, scattered holo shimmer, and shifting iridescent glitters

I really love this type of moody purple, although I am kicking myself for not realizing it was a thermal polish until after swatching and removing it. It was definitely cold in my house when I was swatching, and I thought I maybe saw a hint of grey with the first coat, but I was rushed and didn't give it a second thought. Oops! I did like this colour and will have to wear it again soon; this time I'll have to play with the thermal abilities! As for the formula, it applies really nicely to the nails and I had no issues with the flakies or glitters clumping or making the polish difficult to apply.

Photos are shown with two coats plus top coat

Retail: $12

Perfectly Balanced
A pale green base with purple shimmer and green to cyan to sapphire to blue UCC flakes

Perfectly Balanced was the main reason I was quick to swatch To Infinity: this polish is just so pretty and I couldn't wait to wear it and enjoy it! Not only is the colour fabulous, the formula is divine! Even with all the UCC flakes, the formula is still beautifully creamy and applies like a dream!

Photos are shown with three coats plus top coat

Retail: $12

Assemble
A red based multichrome that shifts from red to copper to gold to violet, a scattering of gold glass fleck, and micro holographic shreds

I haven't been wearing red polishes a lot recently, other than the occasional swatch, but I did have to wear and enjoy Assemble for awhile! I particularly love the flashes of gold from the glass flecks against the red; it's such a great combination! The formula was easy to work with and I didn't find it to be too thin or thick for my liking.

Photos are shown with two coats plus top coat

Retail: $12


The Infinity War Trio will be launching on the LynB Designs website this Friday at 12 noon Eastern Time. The trio can be purchased for $36 or you can purchase individual polishes if you would prefer it that way. For the first week after the launch, you can save 50% off of these and any other shades ordered with the discount code FRANK.

Are you planning to see the latest Avengers film in the theater? Which shade from the trio is your favorite? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!

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Tuesday, April 24, 2018

CPNA Beauty: Milk + Sass Macaron for Hair

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I have a sweet tooth. Writing it here for this blog post, I'm not quite sure if I'm stating it as just another fun fact about me or if it is more of a confession about a dirty secret. I am slightly particular about what sweet products I consume, but it still doesn't change the fact that I have a weakness for delicious chocolates, baked goods, and a sugary drink from Starbucks. Thankfully, Milk + Sass has found a way to deliver "Candy for your hair", and that is something I DON'T have to feel guilty about!


Stashed away in my recently discovered box of goodies from last summer's Cosmoprof North America was this adorable macaron-inspired hair brush. This little gem is about the size of my palm, and on one portion are radially placed plastic bristles while the other half contains a handy little mirror. The bristles are two different heights and spaced in such a manner to optimally detangle your hair without breakage.


I really like the size of this brush! It fits comfortably in my hand and had no awkward handles when I use it to brush my hair. I've never been a fan of carrying a hairbrush in my purse as the handles always made them either difficult to get out with everything else surrounding it, or the handles would cause me to inadvertently pull out some purse contents in the process. I am certainly not ashamed of being a woman and having a period, but I would prefer to not advertise it to the world! The Macaron for Hair snaps closed and it an adorable addition to my handbag.

As for the brushing aspect itself, I generally don't have issues with tangling so I cannot personally attest to how quickly it detangles hair. I can say, however, that this brush does nicely smooth out my hair and leaves me with a frizz-free finish. The only drawback to this brush, and what keeps me from turning it into a high-use product instead of the occasional use from my handbag, is the bristles are a little short for my hair. While the strands of my hair are actually relatively thin, the crown of my hair is very thick and full of hair. I cannot just stroke the brush down this area of my head and have the shorter bristles fully reach the depth of my hair. I'm able to make it work by partitioning my hair into sections although I do wish the bristles were longer in general.


The Milk + Sass Macaron for Hair can be purchased at the Milk + Sass website located here. It is available in assorted colours, not just the raspberry here, and retails for $12.99. If you want to splurge a little, they have a shiny gold option available for purchase for $15. You can also get free shipping with orders over $25 with the code SASSYHAIR; why not pick up an extra for your bestie or pick up some of their Sugar Twists, their fantastic spiral shaped plastic hair ties!

Do you keep a brush in your purse or gym bag, and is it as cute as the Macaron for Hair? Do you have friends that would love one of these? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!



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Monday, April 23, 2018

LynB Designs: Let's Be Frank Collection, Part 2

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Greetings, dear readers, and happy Monday! I hope you enjoyed your weekend and the new week is off to a great start!

LynB Designs released a Lisa Frank-inspired collection earlier this month, and today's post features Part 2, launching later this week!


The second part of the Let's Be Frank Collection consists of five bright shades that are sure to get you in the mood for summer! Let's get a closer look at each of these polishes!

Peekaboo I See You
A bright spring green with holo shimmer and gold to green to blue shifting shimmer.

While I may not like the flavor of celery, I do like the colour, and this certainly reminds me of it! Between the gorgeous shimmery hue and an impeccable formula that practically applies itself, this is sure to be a go-to polish this season!

Photos are shown with 2 coats plus top coat.

Retail: $10

Don't Go Bear
A bright red/coral base with purple to blue shift, green shimmer, and white glass flecks.

I absolutely adore the colour of this polish! It pulls a vibrant watermelon shade on me, and it is a colour I gravitate towards a lot over the hot summer months. I would avoid painting ultra thin coats of Don't Go Bear as I found the glass flecks would dig into the previous layer when I did that. It's certainly no problem, and I found it to still be easy to apply overall.

Photos are shown with 3 coats plus top coat.

Retail: $10

Dashly Handsome
A bright blue base with pink to purple shift, holo shreds, and a scattering of green glass flecks.

While I was expecting Don't Go Bear to be my favorite shade from this set, it was Dashly Handsome that stole my heart. The combination of the shift, shreds, and glass flecks is glorious! Because it is packed with so much goodness, the formula has a slightly thick almost chunky nature. In spite of it, it applied pretty easily for me to a relatively smooth finish although I did have to add a layer of top coat for a final smoothing step.

Photos are shown with 2 coats plus top coat.

Retail: $10

Re-Markie-ble
A pastel purple with tons of rainbow glass flecks, a rainbow of iridescent microglitter, and holo shimmer.

I used to not pay much attention to pastel purples as they really aren't quite my thing, but Re-Markie-ble is undoubtably remarkable! This polish is beautifully feminine and delicate with the glass flecks and microglitters, and it is certainly a contender for top polish in this collection. The formula is on the sheer side so it could be a magnificent topper if you opt to go that route. While I managed to get away with three coats, those with longer nails may find they need to use four coats for opacity.

Photos are shown with 3 coats plus top coat.

Retail: $10

What's the Buzz
A warm toned yellow base with pink to green shimmer with hint of purple flakes and holo micro shreds.

Yellow colours aren't my top choice, but What's the Buzz has the perfect touch of orange that makes it perfect for me! This is another polish that you can't apply too thinly as this may have the flakes digging into the previous coat and leaving an uneven finish.  It's not a deal-breaker for me, but it is something to keep in mind, particularly if you normally do use ultra thin coat in your nail polish application.

Photos are shown with 3 coats plus top coat.

Retail: $10


The second part of the Let's Be Frank Collection will be launching this Friday, April 27th at 12 noon EST on the LynB Designs website located here. Each of the shades will retail for $10, but you can save half off these or any other orders during the first week of the launch with discount code FRANK.

Do you have a favorite shade from this collection? Are you eager to get some bright colours on your nails this season? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!

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