NOTD: Polka Dot Bomb

I'm on a roll with these nail posts, aren't I?  I have three whole days off from work this week.  Three days in a row!  That means I have to put nail polish on.  That small mountain I have acquired over the past two years isn't just going to use itself up, after all.

I tried my hand at nail art.  I opted for a simple polka dot pattern at first but I love glitz and glamour so I threw bling in.

I grabbed Essie's Coat Azure as my main base color and Zoya's Christinna as my accent nail color.  I didn't particularly like how Christinna turned out as it was super duper sheer and not as bright as I wanted.  I used Essie's Blanc instead to dot over Coat Azure since it was a more solid white and thus made a sharper contrast against the blue.  Just for fun, I dotted Zara and Tangy over the white dots.  Both are sheer, duo chrome colors, and are also by Zoya.  They acted more as accents so even though there are a lot of details on my nails, they're not necessarily over powering each other.

Top L-R: Essie Coat Azure, Zoya Christinna, OPI Save Me
Bottom L-R: Zoya Zara, Zoya Tangy, Essie Blanc

I get to keep my nail polish for 3 days. Woohoo!!!!!

Anybody do anything fun with their nails lately? Please share =D

NOTD: Electrifying Big Spender

It's a miracle!  Two nail posts in a row.  Even if they are a couple weeks apart.  And I do apologize for my lack of posts lately, as I'm living a Korean drama right now and it's taking up a lot of my energy and motivation.  But I did have the day off from work today so I did my nails.

I started out with a couple coats of Essie's "Big Spender" but I really don't like the look of pinks and reds on my nails so I jazzed it up with a little bit of China Glaze's "Electrify" (from the Hunger Games Collection) as an accent.  I wanted to bling out all my nails but glitter is slightly difficult to remove so I settled for one finger on each hand.  I finished with a top coat by Seche Vite.

I did realized that I colored outside the lines....nails are definitely not my forte.

On a side note, did anybody notice the difference in picture quality?  Anyone at all?  I may or may not have acquired a new camera.....

NOTD: Vermillionaire

It's a rare thing for me to be wearing nail polish.  As I've mentioned before, I work in food service and nail polish is a no no.  Sadly, it does not stop me from buying nail polish.  Sense this does not make.

I picked up this wonderfully, obnoxiously, bright nail polish by Essie at a local professional nail supply shop.  As always, Essie delivered opaque, fantastic quality nail polish.  Here, I am wearing two coats without a base coat or top coat.

I found that taking pictures over the bathroom sink gives me the clean white background I need.  Sort of.

Anybody else in love with Essie polishes?

February 2011 Favorites

Not too many  products this month mainly because I never seem to have time for it!  I don't know how those super busy mamas do it but maaannnn I guess I tend to value my sleep more.  I have finals next month so I will probably only have a handful or products that month too.  Oh poop.  School is never going to end =(  Especially since I'm going to be a teacher. HAHAHAHAHA....I'm so tired.

On to the products!

1. Essie nail polish in Coat Azure.  Love how smooth and strong this formula is.  I love the color even more because it's just so happy and bright without blinding your eyeballs out and turning them into mush.  I wanted to wear it again after it started chipping and I removed the polish but I forced myself to experience the other lonely nail polishes in my collection.

2. MAC Viva Glam V Lipstick.  The ultimate swipe-on-them-lips-run-out-the-door-looking-like-a-hot-mama lipstick.  Sheer enough so your lips don't look like they changed to a different color yet dark enough to add color into your life.  Goes well with pretty much any look.

3. Sigma F05 Small Contour Brush.  Now I know why my contouring always looked like crap.  Because I didn't have the proper brush.  This baby is small, dense, and gets that bronzer on exactly where you want it.

4. INGLOT Volume & Waterproof mascara.  Looks like a boring long stick but this stuff lengthens and hold my curls like no other.  Not TERRIBLY voluminizing but not bad at all.  For $10 USD a pop, I  would totally repurchase this bad boy.

Save me from these papers T_____________T

FOTD: Coat Azure

This is Coat Azure, one of the Essie polishes that I picked up at CVS last week.  This is my first experience with Essie polishes and it certainly does not disappoint.  Love how opaque and true the formula is.  It started chipping at around the third day, but I don't use a base or top coat.  So far, this brand seems to be the most resilient to chipping (out of the ones that I have tried).  If you don't know already, Essie is now being sold at Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS for $8 a pop.  Walmart exploits people so I encourage you pick your poison at either Walgreens or CVS.

Have a great day!

Mini Essie Haul and ChitChat!

Why hello there sexy people~

This will be a short post, but I just wanted to share a mini haul, first impression, and an observation regarding how Essie nail polishes are popping all over the place like daisies.

Last Friday I popped into CVS where I had no business being because I'm supposed to be on a makeup buying ban.  That got kind of forgotten as I spotted an Essie nail polish display in the beauty section.  There was simply no way I could walk out of the store without grabbing some polishes, seeing as I have heard so many good things about the brand but never tried it.  I settled on Coat Azure, Buy Me a Cameo, and Big Spender.  

I've kind of avoided Essie polishes at first because what colors I have seen looked pretty boring.  Boy was I wrong.  I hesitated on buying Coat Azure at first because it looked similar to my Zoya polish in Jo.  Coat Azure is a lot brighter though with less of a shimmery finish.  I have it on right now and I freaking love it.  I'll do pictures of swatches another day because eczema is attacking my hands with a vengeance right now and it's not terribly pretty.  I am VERY impressed by the formula because most polishes chip on me within 2 days.  I've had Coat Azure on my nails for 2 days now and it's still going strong.  While I have not experimented with too many nail polish brands, I think I have found my favorite.

Essie is becoming more accessible now, it seems.  In the past month I've seen a lot of bloggers talking about how it is appearing at Walmart, and now I have seen it at both CVS and Walgreens.  While the color selection is limited, there are still some beautiful shades to choose from.

Essie--you have not seen the last of me.

Meanwhile, do you guys have an suggestions for me?  Either in terms of what Essie nail polishes to get in the future or nail polishes brands you love.  I'd love to hear from you :)

Take care now!