October Julep Bombshell Box - Cleopatra

I haven't ordered a Julep box since May because I just haven't been interested at all. None of the colors nor cosmetics that they offered really piqued my interest until this month.

I went with the Bombshell box which contained Cleopatra, described as a black latex creme, Valerie, a teal with an iridescent microglitter, and their new Kajal eye glider. I haven't had a chance to try the eyeliner nor Valerie yet but I thought I'd bring you my thoughts on Cleopatra.

Ok.
I wanted to love this polish.
I REALLLLY wanted to love this polish.

But I just don't. 

OPI Partners with Gwen Stefani!

OPI Partners with Music and Fashion Icon Gwen Stefani to Launch Limited Edition Nail Lacquers, Featuring Breakthrough Finishes

OPI joins celebrity partner Gwen Stefani in announcing seven new limited edition nail lacquers for 2014, featuring standout color in breakthrough finishes. Highlights from the collection include a bold red lacquer that pays homage to Gwen’s signature lipstick, a new semi-matte satin finish in shades of gold and black, and a mirrored chrome paired with a special base coat.

Inspired by the 2013 Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Gala that featured the theme “Punk: Chaos to Couture,” OPI Executive VP and Artistic Director Suzi Weiss-Fischmann decided to create a collection of lacquer celebrating the role of music as a major influence in fashion. “With her expertise as a singer, songwriter and designer, who better to collaborate with than Gwen Stefani?” asks Weiss-Fischmann. “Known for her trademark red lips, bold eye makeup and nail art, Gwen uses beauty to accessorize her style.”

Gwen’s signature red OPI hue – Over & Over A-Gwen – is available in a boxed set, which includes Swarovski black crystals and silver, gold and pewter studs in bar, square, diamond and circle shapes for creating unique nail designs, as well as nail glue for easy application. Love.Angel.Music.Baby. and 4 in the Morning feature a new, semi-matte satin finish designed to be worn without top coat. Push and Shove, a bold chrome hue, is also worn without top coat but requires a special complimentary base coat – Lay Down that Base. One thin coat of Lay Down that Base topped with two thin coats of Push and Shove yields an intense, mirrored finish. The collection is rounded out with two glossy crème lacquers and one sparkly glitter shade: Hey Baby, I Sing in Color, and In True Stefani Fashion.

Laura Geller Balance-n-Brighten Foundation

I'll be honest.

My face is a jerk. A completely confused dry/greasy/moody jerk.
I'm never quite sure if the foundation/concealer I've purchased will do a good job, if it will make me super cakey, if I'll look like a mime..basically, I play foundation roulette. Don't we all though? No? Just me? ...Alright then.

I went into Ulta the other day in search of one thing and ended up with a bunch of other stuff I had no intention of buying. One of them was Laura Geller's Balance-N-Brighten Foundation. I was browsing the aisle and one of the Ulta employees asked if I wanted to try one of their deals of the day. Being who I am, it's hard for me to say no when people want to put things on my face in stores, I just kinda go with it and then decide later if it's for me or not. 

Laura Geller's website describes it as:

Balance-n-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation is a unique Baked powder that can be used on its own or combined with your favorite base for a flawless finish. This newly formulated foundation is mineral oil and paraben free. It is also loaded with the age-fighting, anti-oxidant protection of Centella Asiatica and White Tea. Designed with swirls of soft tan and cream, its luxuriously smooth and silky texture helps offset ruddiness, brightens sallow tones, and balances most complexions.

Disney Villain Lookbooks by Elf!

Pick your poison. Who is your favorite Disney villain? ELF has the new Villain collection now in Walgreens stores. It's a collection complete with look books, lashes, nail polish, bags, everything! I haven't been able to find anything beyond the look books and polishes but I'm happy with my haul! I missed out on this collection last year, thinking I didn't need them but I realized this year that I couldn't let them pass me by again.

I picked up all 4 look books and passed on the polish (surprising, I know. I may regret it.) Each look book contains an eye shadow palette, liquid eyeliner, pencil eyeliner, eyelid primer, lip color (gloss, doe foot applicator), mascara, and an ELF eye shadow brush. All, except for the Ursula, have black liquid liner and a black mascara. Ursula has a navy blue liquid liner.

Ready for more? Do youuu want it?!

Give me all of it: The Urban Decay Edition.

Makeup has always been one of my vices, not just any makeup, but mostly Urban Decay. The minute I see new products, I feel like the seagulls in Finding Nemo. MINE MINE MINE MINE.

My sister was here visiting recently and sat begging for one of my (barely) used Ammo palettes...and as much as I love her. NOPE, not happening. Sorry, pal.

The reason for this babble is because.. HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEW URBAN DECAY PRODUCTS? Ughhh, I want. I NEED them all.

Included in the new releases are Ocho Loco 2 & Black Market, which are both 24/7 eye pencil sets, Heavy Metal which is a set of glitter eyeliners, and 2 palettes, Vice 2 and the Shattered Face Case.

 Check out the pictures and increase your need for them also!

Are those space pants?

It seems everything has a galaxy print on it these days, underwear, swimsuits, pajamas, socks, shoes, EVERYTHING. I know the galaxy manis have been going around for quite some time but for some reason I could never do them. I tried over and over and over again and nope, nothing. They ended up looking like some fingerpainting mess that dried on my tips.

UNTIL LAST NIGHT. Well...for the most part. It was 50% successful?! Tadaaaah! Suck on that, universe.

I was so incredibly happy that it came out looking somewhat similar to what I had envisioned  I felt like the little engine that could. I THINK I CAN I THINK I CAN. 

The reason that it was only 50% successful...

21 days of impulse shopping.

21 Days of Ulta is back for the fall! Since yesterday was the kick off of Ulta's 21 days, I'm sure the next 19 will be spent trying to figure out if I have enough time before work to stop by and buy things that I ultimately don't need.

Have you looked at the list of sales? Are there any that you just have to have? For me, I think I've talked myself out of everything except for 3 days.

My must-haves:

• Friday, Day 6: Smashbox Full Exposure mascara for $10. It usually goes for about $20, so half off and it's a good mascara that I don't think I'll be passing up. 
• Saturday, Day 7: Butter London Nail Lacquer for $10. Retails for $15 so it's not as much of a discount but it's Butter London and you know you want some more.
• Sunday, Day 8: Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara by Tarte for $10. Retails for $19 and I love love love this mascara. I picked up 2 of them the last 21 days and they are definitely in my regular arsenal of mascara that I use daily. Do I need another? I THINK SO.
• Thursday, Day 19: Cargo Vintage Escape Fall palette for $20. This sells for $39 on Cargo's site so nearly a 50% discounted price. I think it's a really pretty palette with nice smokey and neutral colors that can be worn year round.
• Friday, Day 20: Stila Stay All Day 10 in 1 HD Beauty Balm for $20. Retails for $39 so again nearly half off. I love the full light coverage this BB provides without feelings too heavy or making me look greasy like I've experienced with other BB creams. 

Soooo... that ended up being more than 3 days, haha. And 5 days was cutting it short and denying the temptation of all the pretty new things! If I purchased everything on my hypothetical list, I'd be spending $70 and that's one hell of a deal vs the retail total of $135.

Let me know what you pick up? Any other recommendations for me?

Come out, come out and play.

I have more Mentality polish to show you today. I know I know, I've been raving about them since I started this blog but whenever I'm out of inspiration to do my nails, I always end up with another one of their polishes in my hands! I can't help it!

Recently they were kind enough to send me another bottle of my favorite black, Rascal, and I even though I had already swatched it, I wanted to do something else with it. I mean, what do you do when you have a beautiful blank canvas and no idea what to put on them...WELL. YOU PUT DOTS ON THOSE FINGERS. (I just made up an entire song to Beyonce's Single Ladies pertaining to putting dots on it..)

I loved how they came out! They were fun to look at, and my little didn't even tell me they were my angry nails because they looked so fun and cute. How great does Rascal look as a canvas to create art on? I wish I could gift this to everyone!

Check out below the cut for more swatches of another Mentality polish and shots of 2 of the new Hard Candy polishes that have hit Walmart's racks

One for me, one for you. GIVEAWAY TIME!

Is having a giveaway to celebrate a new blog a form of bribery?! POSSIBLY!



But I have things for you to thank you for checking out my new blog and in hopes that you'll stick around and join in the nonsense! This is my first giveaway ever so sadly, this is only for people in the US. I'm working on getting together a special giveaway for the international readers very soon!

I'll get to the real reason you're here! Prizes! Weeee! I have 2 different prizes, both I hope you will enjoy.



Prize 1: 4 pack of Color Club minis, 2 POP polishes, Mentality Polish in Sailor, Illamasqua duo set, 2 solar Funky Fingers polishes, my favourite ELF cleanup brush, assorted nail art glitters, and a surprise gift.

Prize 2: The entire Leather Luxe collection from Sinful Colors and a surprise gift.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pretty pretty princess.

Just a quick post tonight in the midst of a busy holiday weekend! I saw this manicure on Marta of ChitChatNails and fell in love.

It was so cute! And girly! and just squee! It also gave me a chance to try out my new Picture Polish, which I immediately fell in love with. Coral Reef was a beautiful smooth coral cream that I just could not get enough of. Seriously, I went around asking people if I could paint their nails.

This is 3 coats of Coral Reef, it was a little thin so I wanted 3 coats to just to be safe. I have Bunny by Julep on my ring finger and The Golden Age by OPI for Sephora (my favorite gold glitter) on my middle finger. This is actually a mani that I'd leave on for more than 2 days...but it won't happen!

I hope you are all having a safe and wonderful Labor Day!