I loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove nail polish. Why? I don’t know. One day soon I’ll divulge my entire nail polish hoarding problem collection.
For the longest I have been wanting a matte top coat. Yet, seeing that the average bottle of Essie’s matte top coat is about $8 I had been going back and forth about whether or not to get it. I had purchased all of Revlon’s limited amount of matte nail polishes and were not particularly fond of the colors. I just wanted a top coat and I didn’t want to pay $8 for it.
Well the heavens opened up and dropped this down…for $1.76 at my local Walmart.
I love the NYC brand. It’s is not only affordable, it dries fast and the brush is great for helping you stay in the lines. I think it is very comparable to some of the more expensive brands on the market.
Here is the before: Color is NYC High Line Green
After Matte Me Crazy:
…and just because I can’t leave well enough alone. No shade on the smudge. Okay?
Overall for the price…Run out and get some. FYI it does show all kinds of streaking so make sure you have good coverage
Nope. I wasn’t compensated for this post. I just love nailpolish.
Do you paint your nails, or experiment with nail art?
As I mentioned in previous posts I am slightly obsessed with my skin as I delve farther into my thirties. In the Face Time post I asked you for your recommendations regarding facial products and you offered up some good products. Based on some of your favorites I have finally nailed down a daily skin regimen.
I have been doing some research and it looks like in addition to what I am already doing regarding cleansing and moisturizing with an SPF product, I need to drink more water, take some vitamins, and include some type of microdermabrasion procedure into my schedule. Not only do I not have the time as evidenced by the post where I purchased a facial that I have yet to go and redeem, but operating on one income I don’t really have the discretionary income to get a facial once a month as recommended.
Microdermabrasion basically removes your outermost layer of skin, reducing the size of your pores and revealing your baby soft and radiant skin underneath. I need all of that to be done. The ashen look is not what’s up. No matter how much I moisturize my skin still looks ashy. *cries*
With so many products on the market and the high prices in some of the bigger beauty box stores I have yet to invest in a product. Luckily, there are online retailers like ShopNBC that carry well known, reasonably priced options for microdermabrasion at home kits. Some are priced nearly $20 below prices I’ve seen in some other outlets.
I am going to order this. At only $25 this is priced just right. I’ll review it once I get it and use it to let you know how it works.
Has stepping into your thirties made you more aware of your skin needs…is it just me? Have you ever had microdermabrasion done? Would you take a risk and do it yourself at home or would you leave it to the professionals?
*This is a partnered post. All opinions are my own*
So by now you should not be surprised about my love for nail polish. I have tons of it. I hear a lot of women, especially moms say they don’t have time or choose not to paint their nails because their manicures never last. I normally paint my nails at least twice a week. I rarely get them professionally done, because I don’t have the money to waste. But something as simple as taking the time to paint my nails makes me feel good.
Through trial and error I have discovered some tried and true tricks for making your manicure last longer. As the holidays approach, do something to pep yourself up. Something just as simple as a shiny red nail will do just that. You’ll be surprised at how soothing it is to look at shiny nails typing on a keyboard. It’s just me? Oh…..
1.) Get your supplies. Nail file, clipper, cuticle stick and cuticle softener. Most of my supplies I get from Dollar Tree and every now and then you can find good brands of polish in there for a $1. I use the nail file that has the different surfaces for filing and sanding off the rough edges. For my raggedy cuticles I use E.L.F. cuticle pen. It’s a $1 and works miracles. You can even stick it in your purse. You can find it at Target, or online.
2.)Get yourself a good base coat. I love Orly bonder. It smells like rubber cement and it is a little pricey at $10. But a bottle will last you a looooooooong time. You can find this at Sally’s, Ulta etc.
3.) No matter what people say, I have found that the cheap cost effective nail polish brands work just as well if you take your time. I have a mash up of brands. However, one of my favorites is the NYC In a New York Color Minute brand. They sell it at Walmart at around $1.79 a bottle. It dries fast (great for moms) and comes in a ton of shades.
4.) It is very important to put on 1 to 2 very thin layers to prevent cracking and chipping. Here is a tutorial I found on Pinterest that I used to learn to polish my nails neatly.
Source: pink-bones.tumblr.com via Corie on Pinterest
5. You need a good top coat. All of the polish blogs I read swear by Seche Vite. I have never tried it. It’s expensive. I use Sally Hansen Clear Acrylic Top Coat. It sells at all your drugstores. Do 1 thin layer, let dry. Then do another thin layer just on your nail tip and then another thin layer that runs the entire length of the nail ( hope that made sense). Basically you will do 2 1/2 layers…got it? Please make sure its thin, otherwise you will find little bubbles.
6.) Smudged? No problem. I learned this trick from one of the besties Kelli. Lick your finger, and gently rub it over the smudged area until it blends in. Once dry, add a very thin layer of topcoat.
7.) If possible sit still for 30 min. to allow everything to dry well. If you are in a hurry after 5 minutes dip fingers in a bowl of cold water to set…but still be a little careful.
8.) Get you a good pair of rubber gloves for cleaning and doing dishes, and reapply a thin topcoat every other day or so.
9.) Have fun. Try different combinations. Paint nails different colors. Express yourself!
*NO, I was not compensated for this post. Since I have to post everyday and I was painting my nails I thought this would be some good info to pass along…Now go forth and paint your nails*
Do you paint your nails often. Have any additional tips you want to add? What is your favorite nail color right now?