Incoco Nail Polish Appliques-

I've tried the Sally Hansen Nail Polish Appliques and they are a bit more stiffer than these Incoco ones. They're made out of real nail-polish rather than plastic like other nail sticker Appliques but, these are the same price. They're utterly fool proof-literally! I got these in my Sept. Birch Box. These are called All That Glitters (glitter) they last really long 4 days without peeling up (I wash my hands ALOT too) & you remove with regular nail-polish remover.CLICK HERE

Olay Pro X VS. Clairsonic PLUS *pic heavy*

I've been eyeing the Clairsonic for about a yr. and finally broke down and bought it recently on QVC because they were having a great deal on it-i'll explain that later. I have been using the Olay Pro X for about 4/5 months after bloggers were raving over it. Both hand held manual exfoliation devices are in essence similar but do it totally different with one being better than the other. Let me quickly explain the need for exfoliation. It is so important to get rid of all the dead flaky skin so that your moisturizer & any other treatment products you use can get through to the Epidermis of the skin (top layer) and your makeup will last ALOT longer because it's not laying on dead flaky skin. Retinoids and skin scrubs are great at chemically getting rid of dry skin, but you should also do a manual exfoliation too. When people use to tell me that they were having issues with their foundation not lasting-this was usually the problem. Nothing bought in the store can penetrate to the Dermis of the skin which is beyond the 4/5 layers of the Epidermis-so don't be fooled with "miracle creams or tools" that say that they can. Ok, with all that said let's review =)

There are a few different models of the Clairsonic, but they all do the same thing. Some just have more speed control than others. The Mia is a pretty popular one, but that one only has 2 speeds and I wanted more choices. The Clairsonic PLUS has 3 speeds and it's the only one that allows for a bigger body brush to attach to it too. The Clairsonic PRO is sold usually in salons and its the most expensive one because it has 4 speed control. I was torn between the two, but QVC didn't offer that one so I choose the PLUS.

The Olay Pro X only has 1 model and only comes with 1 head choice. It has 2 speeds but, the fastest speed is not super fast. You can buy replacement heads for the Olay too.

Price wise between the PRO X and the Clairsonic is a huge difference. The Olay Pro X is around $30 and comes with 1 skin cleanser. The Clairsonic is $199-250. See why I was hesitant.lol OK, so why I decided to buy it now is because QVC is offering all their Clairsonics on a 3 payment plan deal and you get the Clairsonic now and it automatically comes out of your checking acct. every month for 3 months. My payment is $75 a month and in the months I'm on the plan I can return no questions asked! Couldn't pass that up! =) Plus it comes with a ton of skincare products-none really that I'll use because I already found THE BEST cleanser that totally changed my skin LHA SkinCeuticals -clickHERE for the review I did on it.

The Olay Pro X brush head moves in a circular motion around which is fine at  removing debris and makeup but the Clairsonic is so special because the it uses a sonic oscillating system, Olay's is a rotating one so this feels completely different on your face. The Clarisonic's oscillation is a patented system that allows for 300 movements per second! It feels a lot different than a rotating brush-

1. The Clarisonic models come with a charging dock that is magnetically charged so no batteries needed! The Olay Pro X needs AA batteries.
2. The Clarisonic is waterproof. Olay Pro X is not even though I left it in my shower, but not under direct water, it was fine.
3. The Clarisonic has an automatic timer and beeps to remind you to move the brush all over your face so you don't overwork one part of your face. It beeps at 10 seconds, then you move on to the next spot-
4. The Clairsonic comes with caps for the brush head which is nice the Olay did not.
5. The size of the Olay is a bit nicer because it's smaller than the Clairsonic which makes it easier in the shower to use.

*I'm happy I bought the Clairsonic because it's an investment in my skin for a long time. With all the makeup and skin care products that I buy this will really help with keeping my face fresh. Overall it's just a better product than the Olay Pro X BUT if you can only afford the Olay get that one because it's better than not having a good way to manually exfoliate*



size difference











 

Home Manicure Necessities!

Whenever I give myself a home mani I always use these 2 products-they make my manicure last so much longer!
I use the Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover to get off all the icky cuticle that make polishing a pain. This stuff is AMAZING! You put it on for 15 seconds then use a cuticle stick or orange wood stick to gently push back old cuticle. You can see from my picture that it really gets off the old stuff! You can buy it at any drugstore for a few dollars-well worth it!
The next item I'm never without is Hoofer's Choice Top Coat. I discovered this when I got a manicure at a nail shop and my polish dried so fast and left a super shiny top coat! I bought it at Sally's for around $5.00. I really like the long brush applicator it has too. This top coat is better than Out The Door or Poshe' in my opinion-ck. it out!

Basketball Wives inspired earrings

Im LOVING these earrings I got today! They were inspired by the reality show Basketball Wives-they wear these big hoop earrings with charms and disco-like balls on them-they're so cute! The hoops come in all sizes-these are 3 inches I think, which is big enough! I got these from an Etsy.com seller at www.bodyaccents.etsy.com. They were only $24 & only took 2 days to ship! I'll probably order another pair!

I was awarded the Top 10 Blog Award by MissBrittanyBoo! Thank you so much!

This is my 1st blog award and I'm SO Excited =)

Rules of the Top 10 Award
1.) Thank the person who tagged you and link to their blog.
2.) Put the Top 10 Award logo on your blog.
3.) List your Top 10 cosmetics.
4.) Choose 10 bloggers to tag, link to their blogs, and let them know.

Here they are- my top 10 cosmetics, in no particular order...

1. Benefit Cosmetics-Erase Paste Brightening Concealer-
I'm obsessed with finding the right consistency in concealers, it can't be too dry or powdery and they can't be too runny or liquidy because then you really don't get much coverage. This concealer is creamy and really does cover without being too dry in texture. I also like that a little goes a long way. The packaging is cute and it comes with a spatula which really isn't necessary, but whatever-lol

2. Revlon ColorStay Foundation with Soft Flex for oily-combo skin-
 Let me just say that I have SUPER oily skin with large pores and I also live in New Orleans-it's so hot & humid down here! The last thing I want to do in 100 degree weather is wear liquid foundation-I'm more of a powder foundation girl, but I read reviews on Makeupalley about this liquid a few months ago and I tired it-- it's AMAZING! It's not a full coverage liquid-it's a medium coverage. Don't get me wrong, I'm still oily when wearing it but, it's a lot less oily and not as "slick" looking. It also makes my skin look glowy not mask like-ya know =)

3. Anastasia Brow Gel in clear-
I discovered this product a few years ago and it's been my go to everyday product ever since. I know that they make less expensive brow gels, but this one really does get them in control! After wearing other brow gels mid-day you could feel the stiffness of the gel dissapear-but with Anastasia's it last literally ALL DAY and you can run it over a penciled brow or powder and it won't smudge

4. NARS Blush in Taj Mahal-
It's such a gorgeous coral oraney blush that really brightens up dull olive/dark toned skin. A little goes a long way because it's Super pigmented! I tried Orgasm & it's too light for me so this was such a awesome alternative.

5. Chanel's Rouge Allure Lip Gloss'-
OMG talk about decadent! These tubes are heavy black and gold trimmed tubes! The lipgloss it self is so smooth and not sticky but with massive pigment! It's a must for any lipgloss fanatic :)

6. MAC Paint Pot in Painterly-
OK, so what I'm about to say is going to upset some people-lol but, Urban Decay eyeshadow primer IS NOT the best primer-Painterly paint pot is! Ha It's so smooth and the color is a nude/pink that can be worn alone or under shadow too. It really "grabs" the color of any shadow & makes the color more vibrant! They come in other colors too, check out Indianwood-it's a beautiful goldish brown similar to MAC's woodwink shadow.

7. Loreal's Extra Volume Collagen Mascara in Blk.-
Such a great mascara for the price. The brush is so big & full! Makes your lashes POP!

8. e.l.f High Definition Powder Clear-
This really is a nice powder to soak up extra shine or set your liquid with. This is a dupe for Make Up For Ever's high def. powder for only 5 bucks!

9. Eyeko 3 in 1 Cream-
It's a Highlighter, Moisturizer, and eye cream. I order this online from London. It's not expensive at all $20 maybe-it has a pretty pearly hue that's not disco- ballish at all. You can even blend it with your fav. moisturizer or liquid foundation. www.Eyeko.com

10. MAC eyeshadow in Patina-
I use this as an everyday eyeshadow that I can just easily brush on & it looks great on all skintones! Its hard to describe the color but it's sorda grey/brn./tan looks much better in person & awesome when paired up with Vex eyeshadow from MAC as well. When I worked as a makeup artist at MAC people never picked this up until I put it on them & they loved it!

I'd like to award these Awesome inspiring bloggers that I read daily

nattyngeorge.blogspot.com/ (my #1 read!)

http://www.buynowbloglater.com/ (she inspired me to blog)

http://www.mouldyfruit.com (awesome beauty/accesory blog)

http://xarabianeyesx.blogspot.com/ (she's beautiful)

www.cupcakesandcherries.com

www.scrangie.com (my go to polish expert!)

2beautyetc.blogspot.com

www.themilkandtea.com

www.cynfulnails.com

domesticsweetheart.blogspot.com

Blue nails inspired by Real Housewives of NJ

For the last few episodes of Real Housewives of New Jersey I've been obsessed with Ashley Laurita-Jacqueline's bratty, spoiled daughters' blue polish during her interviews on the show. I can't stand her, but love the blue nail polish! It looks so fresh so not the norm.
I used Blue Collar from Orly Nail Lacquer. It's at Sally's Beauty Supply for $5. It's different and with just 2 coats, gives off a real jelly-like finish!

Pink Sprinkled Donut Nails!

I was inspired by Miss Natty's beauty Diary blog http://nattyngeorge.blogspot.com/ to do these cute pink nails that look like sprinkled donuts! I used Essie Mod Squad (2 coats) as the hot pink color, then I used Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Bubblegum Pink about 3/4 of the way down to look like the pink glaze on the donut, and to make the "sprinkles" I used Milan Jewel Fix in Gems. It's so cute-perfect for summer!

Things I'm obsessed with right now

I have a few pieces of animal rings at the moment but I'm lovin' these! too friggin  cute!

This manicure was done my Sophy Robson, she's a kick ass manicurist who's refreshingly FUN and non predictable! Check her out on YouTube or her blog at http://sophyrobson.com/

I don't really wear big chunky jewelry but, these are fabulous! Melody Ehsani makes these & much more. You must go check out her blog and store online! She is really popular right now and makes a lot of pieces for celebs! Her stuff is super affordable too =)http://melodyehsani.com/blogtest/category/earrings

This is Chanel's summer nail polish in Mimosa, it's really bright and yellow, perfect for the beach! I'm gonna go check out Sally's to see if China Glaze has a dupe for this color! I don't wanna spend $20+ on a "fun" color that's not wearable through the year. I can appreciate the trend though!

For the peeps that know me, know that I have a sick  obsession with Hello Kitty, but this is Tokidoki-yes, another Japenese cousin to Hello Kitty, but much more raunchier-and less kiddie.Reminds me of Fafi I saw this makeup bag in Sephora the other day but, didn't buy it-now i'm kicking myself for not getting it. Love the bright colors and playfulness of the bag!

My last but not least summer obsession is the VJAZZLE! Yes, ladies-it's Swarkovski crystal tatoos aka stickers that you can put on your freshly brazilian waxed lady part =) LOL http://www.crystalbodytattoos.com/vajazzling_your_vajayjay.cfm

4th of July nails!

This is my daughters nails I did for her today! We call it "Fireworks at Night" 
First I used NARS Ecume, then once it was really dry (the only way crackle nail polish will 'crack') I put Sally Hansens Crackle Overcoat in Distressed Denim on top of the NARS white. Lastly, to make it firework like I used Milan Jewel Fix in Gems. It's soo cute, I think I'm gonna polish my nails just like it for the 4th too!

New nails 

I was at home experimenting & I tried this combo out-I used my Liquid Palisade by Kiesque to do the half moon shape, Opi Teenage Dream & Milani La Vie En Rose I got from CVS.

Summer bag 

I got this cute purse with Coral/Vintage green & navy and white stripes! It's really mismatch, but in a good way, and the strap is long to wear messenger style 
It was only $32 from Francesca's collection in Lakeside Mall.

Sam Edelman 

I will totally kick ur ass in these shoes! Ha! LoL
These are my new Sam Edelman Exie shoes I just got. They come in blk., nude, and white. Sooo cute for Summer!

Cool Reverse French from Liquid Palisade

I'm soo excited to FINALLY get in my Liquid Palisade by Kiesque!! Sooo what it is, is a purply liquid that u apply to the your nail cuticles if u don't want to get any nail polish on them while polishing & it peels off like elmer's glue OR you can do a Reverse French Manicure like I did here or cute nail art!
It was 20$ and I ordered it from http://liquidpalisade.com I did a quickie reverse French here to experiment with

PHAT lips! 

I'm a sucker for lip gloss, all kinds, prices & colors! It's sick-really.
I ran across Sally Hansen Lip Inflation X at the drugstore. It was 9$, which was super affordable for lip gloss. I was actually lovin' the gold shiney tube it came in, I use it has a mirror. I got clear, but it comes in pink, & nude. Its supposed to plump your lips to Angelina Jolie status, but I think it misses the mark on that, lol. It def. has a spicy-cinnamon flavor to it that does plump minimally. It may be nice for some peps that can't handle full on major plumpness like 'Lip Venom' from Sephora, it's like training wheels for lip venom, lol. I'm actually impressed with this one & will buy again  you can see in the pic that my lips are reddened, but rosy. It gets the blood to them fast & plumps them up for a few min. It's not sticky at all either.

Decoden, what's that??

Nail art is soo popular right now, it's actually called Decoden which is the art of decorating with gems, glitter, and hard pieces, which originated in Japan. Decorating nails with decoden pieces is popular as well as decorating cell phones, compact mirrors, handheld game consoles, mp3 players, etc - the list goes on and on! Its starting to catch on here in New Orleans, but it's super popular in Houston,TX. Here are some cute pictures of my favorite nails!

cute mirror! looks like my iphone case!

These are sooo cute! I love fun girly nail decos I got from Sally's
I did this really quick in the car, it came out super cute & it's really easy to apply! They come in all kinds of colors & even large ones for your toes too! They were only $3.99

I have a few of these, but these are fun & have strawberries & hearts in the pack! This pack was $5.99 & you need to use a good sticky base coat underneath it too, they sell one for these specifically. I blogged about it in past blogs, ck it out!

*sorry the pictures are blurry/small, idk what the deal is with the blog right now? it's being weird*

My go to lippie at the moment :)

Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine, is soo creamy & smooth. It's not too thick & the packaging is slim enough to fit in my pocket for work! The color I got is 'Boy' it's the most popular color choice in the collection, obviously because it's a pretty sheer pink that looks good on most skin tones-

Summery Starfish Bobby Pin!

Love my new starfish Bobby pin! So ready for Summah'!
I got it from the Etsy store http://www.etsy.com/people/sandnsurfcreations
Really Super FAST shipping too!

Hard Candy Mascara

I  colored mascara, it really can give your eyes a real pop of unexpected color. The way I use colored mascara is that I brush on my regular blk. mascara that I'm using at the moment (Chanel- 's it) & "tip" my bottom & top lashes with the colored one. The key to not looking like you stepped out of a 1980's Madonna video is to not use alot of eyeshawdow & let the focus be on the lashes.
Since I've been having such success with the Hard Candy line at Walmart, I thought I'd try their colored mascaras. They have a HUGE selection of colors & diff. types of mascaras. The one here in the picture is 1000 Lashes Fiberized Mascara in Mermaid Teal. I was sooo dissapointed  the color is beautiful, but the mascara itself was sucky. The brush hardly picked up any color from the tube & it's was clumpy. It's a shame bc Hard Candy has such awesome colors, oh well-