Friday, July 30, 2010

My solution to sharp BM plate edges

If you've read a review of or own the Bundle Monster (BM) plates you've probably heard about the really sharp edges that some people have even got sliced on them. While I haven't gotten cut on them myself, they are definitely really thin and sharp. The issue I have is they've actually nicked the edges of my nails! Yikes :( So, I had the idea to add contact paper to the backs of them to add a little more thickness to each plate and make the sides a little duller. It take about 1-2 minutes for each plate.

Here's what you need:
Contact paper (I found mine with the shelf lining stuff)
Scissors
Razorblade

Step 1: Cut off a square of contact paper a little bigger than your plate.
Step 2: Pull off the backing of the contact paper and stick the back of your plate to the sticky side.

Step 3: Use a razorblade to cut around your plate, doesn't need to be perfect.

And you're done! I hope this helps some of you out :)
Wednesday, July 28, 2010

How to remove polish stains

We've all been there, pretty blue polish that is so darn eye catching...and then you remove it and you're left with poor blue stained nails. You try everything to get rid of it but nothing seems to work besides buffing them down and that kills your nails so...what to do? In my case (and quite possibly yours if your an addict) I also have some nasty yellowing on mine that this trick also helps with.

I've tried the hydrogen peroxide trick, didn't work. They sell fizzing nail whitener treatments but they are pricey. Denture tablets are okay but for what they cost you can pick up a huge box of baking soda (BS) and jug of apple cider vinegar (ACV) that do the same exact thing (in my opinion even better) and can be used for many other beauty treatments and things around the house.

So here is how I handle bad nail staining:


My yicky stained nails! Blech.

In a nail dish (or anything you want to use) put some water, enough to submerge your nails in. To that add a couple tablespoons of ACV. Now for the next step there are two choices: put your nails in first and then sprinkle the BS over, into the water or add the BS and then stick your hand in quick.
Bubble action on the nails!

The ACV mixed with the BS causes a bubbly and foamy reaction. I let my nails soak for a minute and then take a nail brush and scrub for a second, then let them soak a couple more minutes. In the end I come out with...

Much better! Almost no blue stains left! If you make this part of your routine it can help with the yellowing, although nothing seems to really really budge it (including months of using nail whitener).

So readers, do you have any nail whitening tricks or tips? If you try this let me know how you make out!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
I am so exhausted I can't even think about updating tonight. I will try to make a nice big post for y'all tomorrow night. My husband is on vacation so we have been out and about enjoying it, and today is his birthday :) I'm going to go to bed early- night everyone!
Friday, July 23, 2010

Maybelline Purplink + Milani Disco Lights

Excuse my messy nails, I did these by lamp light and was previously wearing China Glaze Polka Dot Bikini and it apparently was hidden around my cuticles during removal...not the first time I've had that problem with this color lol. Anyways, Purplink is an older Express Finish color and it needed 3 coats to be anywhere near streak-free and I couldn't be bothered with a 4th. It is a very very white pink, I was for once in the mood for a muted color and haha, I own so few!

Once applied I went to use one of my dozen bottles of Seche (I stocked up during a good sale) and of course the one time it really would show the brush had little bits of blue glitter left in it to scar my mani. Grr.
Purplink- 3 coats

So after that I decided to layer Disco Lights by Milani over it (I keep wanting to call this polish Doll House or Baby Doll for some reason- Disco Lights doesn't really fit it in my opinion). DL is a mauve pink glitter coat that I wouldn't even try wearing by itself. I thought it went pretty well with Purplink. It did need another coat of Seche but this wore perfect for 3 days! I was pretty impressed.
Maybelline Purplink- 3 coats + Milani Disco Lights- 1 coat + Seche Vite

So tell me, what is your favorite muted polishes? I'm looking to add some to my collection and I prefer them not to be sheer. Let me know if you have any suggestions, lovelies!
Thursday, July 22, 2010

Maybelline Color Sensational The Pearls Collection lipstick swatches

Today I have some swatches for you of the new Maybelline Color Sensational The Pearls collection. This collection consists of 10 lipsticks, of which I have 5 swatched here for you. To check out the other shades, they are here on ulta. I also just realized that the color Bronze Beam is in this collection, which I have (someone gave it to me) and I can't pull off brown or bronze anything. Bronze Beam is the darkest color in the collection and kind of the odd one out in my opinion. There are also some coordinating glosses in this collection but I'm not sure how many shades.

These colors are mostly very light, pearly colors that are probably overly frosty for most people. I really like them to layer gloss over personally or for a little color that lasts longer than a gloss. I really like the texture on the Color Sensationals, they are nice and smooth and a little moisturizing. They sell for around $7 each and I've found them at almost any drug store.

Other than that the swatches kind of speak for themselves. However, I do have a little something to say about Coral Gleam. When I picked this up I had already had the matching lipgloss, which is a creamy soft coral. Combined with the color of that and the color of Coral Gleam in tube I thought that would be a soft coral pearl...pfft, no. This came out way too "spicy" for my liking. It's more of a terracotta color than coral in my opinion. Anyways, on to the swatches!





And here is a photo to show these aren't overwhelmingly frosty. I'm wearing Pearly Pink topped with a dab of clear gloss. I think these are the perfect counterbalance to a dark or dramatic eye.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Petites Color Fever Part 3

Last and final part of my Petites Color Fever polishes (for now at least ;). If you'd like here is part 1 and part 2.

These last two are both slightly holographic and once again, gorgeous.


Fairy Pink, 3 coats


Black Diamond, 2 coats
Monday, July 19, 2010

L'Oreal Infallible 6HR Never Fail Lipgloss review

I've had these waiting for a review for awhile and am just finally getting to them! L'Oreal Infallible 6 hour Never Fail Lipgloss has been out a little while but I only recently decided to give it a try. I picked up 3 shades: Plumped Pink, Posy and Rebel Red.

Now the first thing I have to point out is that to me the thought of a 6 hour lip gloss is a little absurd. Gloss is known for wearing off and needing reapplied and I'm not gonna lie, I don't mind.

Now when I pull the wand out of the tube this is what I'm greeted with:
Maybe I'm pervy or it really does resemble...nope...gonna keep my mouth shut lol! (but my husband just came up behind me and agreed without me saying anything!) This applicator is kinda large and clumsy. Not such a big deal for the pale shades for the for the red? What a pain. These also have two formulas supposedly, the normal one (Posy and Rebel Red) and a red cap one (Plumped Pink) which is supposedly a plumping formula but I can tell no difference in anything but the packaging. Also, the caps are supposed to have a "mirror" at the top but it's just a shiny cap and too small to really see in anyways.

The texture of these is disgusting. When first applied it isn't so bad, just sticky. Not like a MAC lipglass (which I also dislike but is standable) but just...sticky. The shine is pretty good, nothing grand but for everyday wear it is perfect. Once it "sets" though it is worse, sticky and "gummy" My lips stick together and the shine dulls down very quickly. I feel like when you blow a bubble in your gum and it pops and sticks to your lips. Ugh, gross.

As for 6 hour wear...what a bunch of bull. This is gross and gummy within 5 minutes, the longest it lasts is about an hour if I can stand it. If you try to wipe these off after application with something like a tissue be prepared for it to stick horribly to your lips. Also, with Rebel Red the shade you see in the swatch is when it is first applied, if it only looked that good after 5 minutes. The shade doesn't just sheer down it becomes uneven and blotchy (and don't forget the shine disappears!). Blech, big disappointment.

Here are my swatches, these are all freshly applied. Don't let their looks deceive you: stay away from these! They sell for around $10 in drugstores and for that price you can find wayyyy better drug store glosses or for a couple dollars go for a high end gloss. I never use these because I feel like I have to reapply more than usual to keep from the gummy texture and they just aren't worth the trouble.

Plumped Pink
Posy
Rebel Red

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Petites Color Fever Part 2

Now that I'm back on my old dinosaur desktop...I tried to calibrate my screen and now my photo viewer is running slow as a turtle. And with photo editing slow and steady does NOT win the race, ugh. Not to mention this shift key keeps sticking, PITA!

Once again (and I'm just copying and pasting here) "I love these little Petites, they are fabulous! I got mine at Rite Aid for $3.99 each. The brush is decent, no complains and the formula is pretty darn good. I haven't had any issues with application at all. The wear is pretty average but that is alright with me."

Actually I retract that last part. I applied creme blue last night and got my party on and what usually ruins a manicure totally (I have a habit of breaking nails even) didn't put a single tiny chip in this manicure!

Creme Blue, robins egg blue cream, 2 coats to perfect blue. Surprisingly I don't have a similar shade. In my swatch I smudged my ring finger, totally not the polishes fault. I reapplied this and have been wearing it the last couple of days.
Periwinkle. When I think of periwinkle I think of a lighter color than this. I would call this a slate blue I suppose, it's a grayed out and unique color. I totally dig it. Once again, 2 coats for this beauty. And you see that shine? No top coat, no filter, these creams are perfect on their own.
Vintage Gray, I love this tone of gray. Dove gray, 2 coats and nice and shiny again.
Empress. I don't know why I picked this up, I hate gold tones on me. This is pretty just not my thing. Very foily, 2 coats.
Candy Green. Alright, first off, what exactly is a candy green? This photographed a little darker than it is, it's a unique in between of kelly and lime green. A little bit frosty but not that bad. 2 coats.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010

CQ Gem Green + EOTD + 300+ followers

I just want to say thank you to all my followers. I have reached over 300 now and I couldn't be happier! Thank you to everyone who reads my blog, even if it's only once. And thanks to all of you that comment, it makes my day :)

This is CQ Gem Green, my first CQ polish. I picked it up at Rite Aid when I got the petites (which, part 2 and I think there may be a 3 are coming in the next couple days) and I couldn't pass it up. I love sea green, its been my favorite color since kindergarden. I remember searching that big ol' crayon box for the sea green crayon all the time... and this is leaning towards being a holo so what could be better! It was a little sheer, this is 4 coats, but it was gorgeous! Now if CQ came out with more colors like this I would be buying more, but this is the only one in the line that interests me.


And here is my EOTD for visiting my in-laws. Done entirely with my Manly 120 palette. The pink liner is Hard Candy (I have a review coming soon :P) and the mascara is Maybelline Falsies (I'm loving this stuff!)
Hope everyone is having a good day!
Monday, July 12, 2010

Petites Color Fever Part 1

This was going to be a big post but I decided to split it into two so I have more posts for you while on my "no buy". Truthfully, right now there doesn't seem to be very much going on in the polish world. The only collection I've really been lemming is the new China Glaze Vintage Vixens. Is that just me or do things seem kinda slow? Anyways, I love these little Petites, they are fabulous! I got mine at Rite Aid for $3.99 each. The brush is decent, no complains and the formula is pretty darn good. I haven't had any issues with application at all. The wear is pretty average but that is alright with me.
Figi 2 coats. Gorgeous glimmering teal blue.
Electric Indigo 3 coats. Powder blue but bright at the same time.
Wild Plum 2 coats. Slightly holographic dark purple.
Peach Blush 3 coats. NARS Orgasm in nail polish form (I know they make one but it's so expensive). I think this is gorgeous! Yummy peach and gold.
Raspberry Ice 2 coats. Almost metallic hot magenta.
Saturday, July 10, 2010

My new free pair of Keds :D

Just a quick post tonight. I've had a really bad day. A very toxic ex-friend slashed my tire today and I'm now in fear that it won't be a one time happening- not a fun time. But I did get my free pair of Keds in the mail today. They are orange creme and adorable and I love them.


If you like free stuff then I'd like to invite you to join Lockerz, it's a free site where you watch videos to earn points that you can spend in a shop with boutiques like Keds, Steve Madden, video games, music and I've even gotten free nail polish! :D If you want to join please use this link, I get points if you do :) And trust me, it isn't a scam or I wouldn't be posting about it! Click here for a referral!
Friday, July 9, 2010

Manly 120 color eyeshadow palette review

After realizing that my collection of basic colors was a little weak and needed a lot of filling in I went in search of the 88 palette (like the one from Coastal Scents) and while searching for those I stumbled upon this one, which for me seemed like a better deal. If you don't know the 88 palettes come in neutrals, mattes and shimmers so trying to choose was a pain. With this one I get a little of everything. I picked up this palette on eBay for around $20 shipped and it included a pretty decent 6 piece brush set. I will eventually pick up the 88's but for now...and the shipping was pretty fast from (I think) China, it took less than a week from ordering.
The colors in the palette aren't anything overly exciting- there are no strange colors like purple that flashes blue- but if you are looking to build your basic color collection this is fantastic. The color payoff is great especially in the shimmers and the mattes (which I find seem to usually be chalky and difficult to blend) which are nice and silky. The pots are each a dime sized dome but I've had some palettes with similar sized pots for years so I'm not worried about the size.
These come in two seperate palettes, each of 60 colors. They sit one on top of each other and one of them has a ribbon on the side (and there is a little spot in the side it hangs out) to make it easy to lift up. The second palette fits in the lid so while in use they both sit next to each other for easy use. In the reviews I read the fact there are 2 trays was the big downside. I prefer this to ones that fold into each other and the colors get all over each other.
They of course come with basic white and black, a shimmer and matte of each. The silvers are fantastic for smoky eyes. This palette has a LOT of blue, which I don't mind. They are a good variety of pretty shades. It also has a couple harder to find colors like hot neon pink and true red. My big hole in my collection was browns and I like these because they don't have any strange colored shimmer- just good basic browns and golds.
The yellows and oranges in here were instant favorites for me, I've tried MAC and MUFE, even my beloved Fyrinnae and these just have better color payoff and variety. There are a few colors which seem pretty darn close to one another but there are so many colors that I don't mind.

I really recommend picking this palette up, I've been using it every day since I bought it and have yet to be disappointed. I do use these with a base (as with any shadow) and I do recommend that (either MAC's Painterly paint pot or Urban Decay primer potion). For the money you can't really beat it- without the brush roll you can get it for less than $20. The only downside is picking what colors to use! ;)
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
It seems that my laptop officially pooped the bed, so it will be a couple days before I have an update for you because I need my files off the damned thing. I am not pleased! lol Not to mention the last 3 manicures have chipped before I snapped photos, it's been in the triple digits weather wise here and spending so much time in the water is taking a toll on my mani's:)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Go Green Giveaway!

This contest is CLOSED!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

One of my passions other than all things polish is trying to go green. While polish isn't exactly a very environment friendly hobby there are tons of easy ways- small ways that make a big difference! I'm not going to nag about them, this blog is about fun:) Everything in this giveaway will be new accept for some of the polishes, which have been swatched or used a single time. If you have a problem with this please do not enter. The reason for the theme of Green is because I am recycling what I cannot use and I am also giving away organic and earth friendly products.

I have 3 seperate giveaway packages:
Green Package #1:

This package includes:
  • Burt's Bees Beeswax & Banana Hand Creme
  • Burt's Bees Thoroughly Therapeutic Honey & Bilberry Foot Creme
  • Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm tin
  • Alba Botanica Coconut Cream Lip Balm
  • Physicians Formula Bamboo Wear Bamboo compact
  • Strawberry reusable bag (this opens up to a full size bag, perfect for throwing in your purse)
  • 16 Fimo sticks in multiple designs
  • 1 Rhinestone wheel
  • 1 dotting tool
  • Essie nail polish in Glitzy Guilders
  • Orly nail polish in Matte Vinyl
  • Orly nail polish in Basket Case
  • Orly nail polish in Prisma Gloss Gold
  • Orly nail polish in Beverly Hills White Tips
  • Orly nail polish in Beverly Hills Plum
  • China Glaze nail polish in Dreamsicle
  • China Glaze nail polish in Liquid Leather
  • Sally Hansen HD nail polish in Laser
  • Sally Hansen HD nail polish in DVD
  • Sally Hansen HD nail polish in Byte
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure nail polish in Plum's The Word
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure nail polish in Pedal To The Metal
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure nail polish in Commander in Chic
  • Petites Color Fever nail polish in Black Diamond (black holo goodness!)
Green Package #2:
This package includes:

  • Ecotools Earth-Friendly Beauty Intensive Hand Cream
  • Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
  • Avon Nailwear Pro nail polish in Nocturnal
  • Avon Nailwear Pro nail polish in Coral Bikini
  • Revlon scented nail polish in Beach
  • Revlon nail polish in Violet Light
  • Revlon nail polish in Iced Mocha
  • Revlon nail polish in Nordic Nude
  • Orly nail polish in French Manicure Sweet Blush
  • Orly nail polish in French Manicure Bare Rose
  • Maybelline Express Finish nail polish in Summer Sunset
  • Maybelline Express Finish nail polish in Cocoa Motion
  • Maybelline Express Finish nail polish in Golden Plum
Green Package #3:
This package includes:
  • Alba Botanica Coconut Cream lip balm
  • Sinful Colors nail polish in Purple Diamond
  • Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Celeb City
  • Milani nail polish in Starry Pink
  • Claire's nail polish in Yellow Brick Road
  • Claire's nail polish in Chunky Purple
  • Claire's nail polish in Love Struck
  • Claire's Mood nail polish Peaceful/Confident
  • NYC nail polish in Lincoln Center
  • Sally Hansen Insta- Dri in Pink Breeze
To enter:
Please fill out the form below! If it doesn't show up or you can't get it to work for you just leave a comment and I will take care of it! This giveaway is open worldwide :)

Ways to enter-
1. You must be a follower and give an email address. New followers are always welcome. 1 entry.

2. Make a post on your blog about this giveaway, feel free to use any content from this post you would like. Link me to it in your comment. 2 entries

The giveaway will be running for a full month, ending at 6pm EST on August 6th 2010. The winners will be announced that night or the next day.


Monday, July 5, 2010

Sally Hansen HD: Byte, Laser & DVD

This is going to be a quick post, the laptop I usually post from is just not cooperating still. It randomly shuts down and is just not working for me today. I want to post my next giveaway tonight but that will happen depending on this darn computer.

Anyways, these are 3 colors I picked up from the Sally Hansen HD collection. These things are once again absurdly priced at $6.50 and up depending on where you go. The colors are very pretty and sparkly but they all had the same issues:
  • Sheer- these swatches are 4 coats. Most people don't really care for sheers so please SH, get that through your head.
  • Water consistency- Flash flood warning for my cuticles! I repeat flash flood!
  • Uneven application- which might go hand and hand with the thin watery consistency but if you look closely you can see what I mean. It kind of collects at the tips.
  • Pretty in bottles, not so great on nails- these all have interesting shimmery qualities in the bottles but once on nails I would like to know WTF happened to it?
These are gorgeous but I just don't have patience for them. I'm ready to swear off SH polishes other than Insta-Dri and the $2 Xtreme Wears. Maybe I'm just being a polish diva but I'm just not loving these.
Laser- this I thought would have some purple shimmer in it because in the bottle it does. Disappointing for me but still a gorgeous shimmery dark blue.
Byte- I thought this would have some blue flash but once again, nope.
DVD- in the bottle this is blue and purple with silver shimmer and I guess it kind of shows but not quite how I would have liked. I'm not too big on the silver look so I think this one is just a meh for me.
Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend, I know mine was very very busy!

About Me

My Photo
Dainty Darling Digits
Upstate, NY, United States
View my complete profile
Powered by Blogger.

Subscribe via email

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Followers

Labels

3d nail art (1) apollo (4) Avon (1) bbw (1) beads (1) black (11) blog sale (1) blue (43) blush (1) bm16 (1) bm19 (1) bm20 (1) borghese (1) brown (8) bundle monster (4) Chameleon (2) china glaze (32) claire's (5) claires (3) color club (6) color fever (1) comparisions (2) comparisons (4) confetti (1) contest (1) copper (1) coral (5) coral lipstick (8) cosmetology (1) cover girl (6) CQ (2) crackle (6) disaster (1) dollar tree (1) duochrome (2) dupes (4) essence of beauty (1) Essie (13) Eyeko (3) eyelash curlers (1) eyeliner (5) eyeshadow (20) fake nails (1) favorites (1) fimo (3) fingerpaints (1) foil (1) for audrey (1) FOTD (36) fotd: brown (1) fotd: classic (1) fotd: gold (7) fotd: green (6) fotd: neutral (5) fotd: orange (1) fotd: pink (4) FOTD: Purple (11) fotd: red (1) FOTD: smoky (8) FOTD: Yellow (5) fotd:black (2) FOTD:blue (10) fotd:pink (3) foundation (2) franken (4) french (5) funky fingers (2) Fyrinnae (18) gel polish (1) giveaway (8) glitter (42) gold (14) gray (4) green (30) greige (1) grey (1) hair (4) halloween (9) hard candy (7) haul (5) high voltage (1) holo (4) incoco (2) jelly (3) jesse's girl (3) kiss (1) konad (13) L'Oreal (4) LA colors (1) la girl (1) Lancome (1) lime crime (1) lipgloss (8) lipstain (2) lipstick (24) lockerz (2) lotion (3) m59 (1) m79 (1) MAC (30) makeup (30) manly 120 (17) mascara (2) matte (5) Maybelline (17) metallic (4) Milani (18) mufe (3) N.Y.C. (2) nail art (13) nail fraud (1) nail stickers (1) naked nails (1) naked palette (1) neon (3) neutral (2) neutrogena (1) nicole by opi (7) nivea (1) nude lipstick (5) nutra nail (1) nyc (6) nyx (3) occ (2) OPI (24) opi. blue (1) orange (27) orange lipstick (3) orly (17) peach (4) pearls (1) perfume (1) petites (5) pink (41) pink lipstick (12) plate m56 (1) powder (1) prestige (3) primer (1) Pure Ice (2) purple (25) purple lipstick (4) random (1) recreation (1) red (24) red lipstick (17) reviews (23) revlon (13) rhinestones (1) rimmel (1) Sally Girl (2) Sally Hansen (40) scotch tape (1) sephora (1) sheer (5) shimmer (2) shimmer lipstick (1) shine of the times (1) shiro (2) shoes (1) shopping (1) silver (5) sinful (17) skincare (1) skrinkle (1) soap (1) sparkly nails (1) staining (1) storage (1) sugarpill (1) sula (1) swatches (3) tattoos (1) teal (1) top speed (1) travel (1) urban decay (6) vampy lipstick (2) vampy polish (2) Venomous Villians (2) Wet n wild (15) whats in my bag (1) white (3) yellow (11) zoya (7)

My Blog List

Follow Dainty Darling Digits