Couple ol' manis

More from the random hidden files on my computer  ;)

This mani was inspired in a campaign to raise awareness about animal abuse

What I used:

Bettina Purple

China Glaze Tinsel Town

Color Club Snow flakes

KleanColor Metallic Purple

no name lavender polish

white acrylic paint

dotting tool

 Birthday Mani

I wasn't feeling great, so I went very simple on my nails

What I used:

China Glaze Fast Track, Running in Circles, Atlantis

Sally Hansen ColorQuick pen in Green Chrome

Bundle Monster bm-209

Sally Hansen: Salon Complete Manicure in All Fired Up

All Fired Up is the perfect cherry tomato shade.  Red (or any variant of it) is timeless, a classic and this shade particularly would be perfect for summer - both hands & toes -

It has a great formula; opaque in two coats and a shinny & smooth finish.

I imagine it would look gorgeous with some golden studs or a copper/bronze stamping over it.

daylight, with flash

daylight, no flash

Vacation Mani: Sally Hansen Peachy Keen + Spoiled Jewel Heist

Its a scary thing being away from my nail stuff for 10 days.  While on vacation had to decide for something quick [that would dry on my way to the airport] and glittery [of course!], yet simple but cute.

I took these pictures with my phone about 3 days later.  It wasn't that cold but as you can see, my hands took quite a beating. No mater how much hand cream I piled up, they where dry, specially around the nails.  

Don't know if the fact that I was sick & taking antibiotics had something to do with it?

Still, the polish hold up very well.  I took it out on my last day, but just out of boredom.

what kind of manicure do you choose when on vacation?

Red, Silver, Gold & stamp with BM-212

Glitter have always been close to my heart, but stamping is taking my nails by storm! Now, even if its just an accent nail, I have to do some stamping.  I love this manicure not only because of the stamping, but the glitter which looked very beautiful!

The first pictures where taken with my phone because I'm using the old camera and the camera phone seemed to make better justice to the beauty of the glitter.

What I used:

• Wet n Wild MegaLast in I Red a Good Book (base)
• China Glaze Love Marilyn
• Sally Hansen ColorQuick Fast-Dry pen in gold (for stamping)
• Silver hexagonal glitters
• Plate BM 212

Birthday Gifts / Haul Recap *pic heavy*

As the tittle warns, this post includes lots of pictures.  I tried to sum them up as much as I could and while doing so, notice that this month I went overboard with nail stuff.  I think is safe to admit that nail polish/art is not taking over; it have already caught me on its web!
Well, here we go:

Finally the Bundle Monster plates! Thanks to one of my aunts

CVS & Kmart:  

Now I have a CVS location near me [does happy dance] and the day after my bday they where having the inauguration.  I went with mom, sis-in-law and niece; had a great time wondering around. At Kmart I also found a super sweet deal!

CVS: they had the Wet n Wild Spoiled display and I picked two:  Shuffle the Deck & Jewelry Heist

To add up to my recent stamping plate stash, the Salon Express kit that sadly came with a duplicate plate.  Also got the CVS brand Apricot Scrub.

At Kmart I got the Sally Hansen Color Quick pens on clearance for only $.80!  I read that chrome ones where great for stamping, so I got all the colors they had in the clearance bin.

And the rest!

From random accessories store $1 each

Walgreens is selling Wet n Wild makeup and nail product bundles

 From Secrets by Me:

 $1.99

Round & Bar glitters $1.99 each

Nail Polishes:

• Wet n Wild Megalast in Candy-licious, Through the Grapevine, Disturbia, I Red a Good Book
• Jordana Glitters in Bronze Blaze 
• China Glaze Love Marilyn
• Finger Paints Military Green

Also:

• L'Bel Délice hand cream
• Esika makeup remover

Lastly, from an impromptu trip to Walmart

Newbies in my stash

This are the most recent nail polishes I've got:

 KleanColor:

Moon Dance, Midnight Seduction, Holo Chrome, Chunky Holo Purple, Chunky Holo Poppy,

inverse order

Talking of Kleancolor, don't forget to participate in my First Giveaway!

 Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Flirt & Revlon Matte Suede in Emerald City

This two I got at CVS.  At last! the opportunity to wonder around CVS without judging eyes & cruel voices telling me "Don't you dare to go to the cosmetics department" LoL
I thought my visit was going to be more productive, but I only left with this two.  The SH one was $.79 and the Revlon one was $1.25 I believe.

Swatches of  Chunky Holo Poppy, Midnight Seduction & Emerald City coming soon!

I'm back; with a mini haul

Hi lovelies! 
I'm back on blogging world! To everyone that expressed their condolences; me and my family appreciate it a lot, thank you.
Now, back to the blogging thing, here is my last haul. This will be literally my last haul for a long time, because I haven't found a job yet.  Good news: I might be going back to school next month.
Another reason to be more cheerful: I'm only 3 followers away to reach my 1st milestone and have a giveaway - can you woop woop with me? hehehe
Ok, Ok... to the haul!!!!!

Everything was purchased at Walgreens

- Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat polish in Antiqued Gold - I desperately need tips on how to deal with this one!!!
- Sinful Colors nail polish in Timbleberry
- Taking advantage of Walgreens [always n forever] bogo on Revlon, got my ColorStay foundation and the pressed powder. I'm working on a review on the pressed powder.

An that was my very small haul! In case you are wondering, that cute background is my laptop cover. I used our new camera to take this picture and I'm very impressed at how better my pictures look. I'm still getting to understand its settings, but so far I love it. Hope you all had a great 4th of July and that you have a wonderful summer!

first franken + bonus mess

I read a post from Amanda Panda that lead me to Rebeca likes nails blog on instructions how to create a franken to dupe Deborah Lippmann's Glitter is in the air polish. I love the original polish but right now is way out of my $$$ league, so custom dupe sounded great and a lot of fun. I read the instructions several times, checked what I needed and it looked very daring to dupe Glitter is in the air, but not impossible. I did it and while it didn't turned out as pretty as Amanda and Rebeca's version, I was quite pleased to be my first time making frankens :)

Didn't exactly measured anything, just added - shacked - tested and kept tweaking it until I got something of my liking. I need to add more clear polish or thinner because I went crazy with the glitter and its too thick, but like I said, its OK to be my first and super fun! :)

what I used:
Wet n Wild party of five glitter
Sallys mini glitter polish - no name
Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in white out
Bettina: clear (not shown), pink and purple polish

the result:


 


I didn't applied it neatly because I was just trying it out, but you can appreciate the results






 now the bonus! while emptying polish bottles to use them on this project...something went horribly wrong...


almost cried...almost...but I screamed & cursed like crazy LoL

collective haul: Sallys, Forever21, Icing, Kmart

I had a Sallys Beauty discount coupon and I needed a base coat... as always I got more than what I went looking for :) Then at Kmart I went looking for a sport bra but couldn't find one in my size, so I wandered around the cosmetics isle and got something too.

- Beauty Secrets base coat
- 2 China Glaze polishes: For Audrey and the crackle in Crushed Candy (because it was mistakenly marked down)
- Palladio Herbal eye primer *check my review on it*
- mini Sallys nail polish for a franken.
- Jordana nail polish in Purple Glam
- Elf eyeshadow brush ( I always get the last brush available!)

The week before I finally! got the dress for my aunts wedding at Forever21. I'll let the dress for a outd by now. I've wanted some cupcake accessories, just for fun! + a ballerina necklace because it reminds me of my niece :)  they where only $1.50 each

That same day we went to Icing because I wanted to get more polishes. They had an area where you could get 5 items for $10, so I got 2 nail polishes, a baked eyeshadow and 2 palettes.The silver one is a crackle.

Also, there was a clipless curler on sale for $10 but with another sale they where having I got it for $5. I already tried it and works great.

Sally Hansen's Natural Nail Growth Activator

More than 3 months ago I removed my acrylics after almost 3 years with them. I've have them for more than 3 years; back in high school & college.  This time removed theme because needed to cut spends. touch-up every 2 weeks or less because my nails where growing so fast would be $12-$18 depending if they retouched the pink acrylic or both the pink & the white one + $5 extra if a coat of gel was added for more shine [they looked great with it] + tax = aprox more than $50 a month. I payed them happily because my hands looked very delicate with them; but without a job I needed to do more sacrifices.  I'm a nail bitter, knew that my nails won't be safe without my acrylic; but surprisingly I didn't bite them.  But they started to break and chip no matter what.  Recently decided to try the SH Natural Nail Growth Activator Marine Extract Treatment

Price: $ 6.99 at Walgreens

website description:

The Secret to Beautiful Nails in 5 Days!

• Marine actives help boost growth!
• Instantly hydrates weak, fragile, nails.
• Restores minerals and balances moisture levels to strengthen and grow healthy nails.
• Instantly infuses nails with Sea Minerals, Natural Botanicals and Vitamins.
• Salon Tested - Dermatologist Tested.

Special Ingredients:
Marine Active Complex, Natural Botanicals including Eucalyptus, Sunflower Seed Extract, Alfalfa and Wheat Germ Extract for growth; Vitamins and Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein to renew moisture, strength, smoothness and radiance.

Application Techniques

Apply over natural nails and under nail tip. Allow to dry. Use morning and night for best results to grow naturally healthy, beautiful nails.

I'll use it for a month and will let you know how it worked. So far I like the formula because its not an oil that would take a while to be absorbed, it feels like water. After it dries there is no smell on your nails and didn't sense any even when applying it.

Have you tried this product? Do you have any other suggestions? Let me know :D