Gold and Matte Green Ruffian

The gold polish is Rimmel Gold Silk and the matte green is Revlon Emerald City.  I really liked the contrast between the matte green and the shiny gold.  I need to stop trying to do ruffian manicures, because I'm just not good at them.  I need to just do half moon manicures with circular page protectors instead.

Halloween Manicure

I did most of this manicure with dotting tools. I did the spider web with nail art brushes.  I just don't have any luck with nail art brushes.  I used Revlon Cherry Berry, Wet 'n Wild Black Creme, Wet 'n Wild French White Creme, and an old silver polish. 

More St. Patrick's Day Manicures

Above is the 2nd of my green St. Patrick's day Manicures.  I used Finger Paints Go Van Gogh stamped with Sally Hansen Whirlwind White.  I was hoping the addition of white would make Go Van Gogh very spring-y.  Meh, it is O.K.  I abused my nails and this chipped in one day.

This is Zoya Poppy with Finger Paints Go Van Gogh, stamped with the Salon Express kit.  I attempted this manicure with several pastels as the base and using Rimmel Rags to Riches.  Rags to Riches didn't stamp.  So I tried stamping with Go Van Go and liked it best over Zoya Poppy.  I was wrong, those colors are terrible together.  I was trying to find a way to use the very small "full nail" stamps with the Salon Express kit, but this wasn't it.  Fail all around.

This is a repeat from last year.  Revlon Emerald City with a Sinful Colors Green Ocean funky french tip.  I like this, but I'm ready to move on to pastel and bright manicures for spring. 

Christmas Candy Nails

So, I'm behind on posting and this is my Christmas manicure.  I started out on the pointer finger using striping tape to mask off the polish.  It turns out that striping tape is hard to put on with one hand.  I'll have to figure out how to use it.  I finished the other nails with a dotting tool.  I used Wet n Wild French White Creme, Revlon Emerald City, OPI Big Apple Red and a very old pink polish. 

You're the Taupe, You're the Mona Lisa

Nail art so subtle (Shhhhhhh), only your manicurist knows for sure.  The nail art shows up in the picture, but not in real life.  I didn't mean to get taupes so close in color, but it was hot and my dog was in the car (car running with air conditioner on), and I had to be quick and China Glaze Foie Gras was 50% off clearance at Sally Beauty Supply.  The best way to make straight lines while using the nail polish brush is to hold the brush as still as possible and rotate the nail.  I'm still working on perfecting this this technique so don't look too closely at the picture.  The polishes used from light to dark are:  Revlon Colorstay Stormy Night, Wet 'n Wild Spoiled Pumping Gas, and China Glaze Foie Gras (the bottle shown in the picture).

Watermelon Nails

I did these a few weeks ago when it was still summer.  Every person who does nail art eventually has to do watermelon nails.  It's the law.  I started out with Wet 'n Wild French White Creme.  I applied French manicure guides to the fingers.  Then I sponged Wet 'n Wild Megalast Garden Hose (limited edition color) onto the thumb and tips of the nails with a make-up sponge. The next step was to use a dotting tool to make squiggly lines with Revlon Emerald City on the tips and thumb. I added a coat of Rimmel Speed Dating (very old red polish) to the bottom of the nails.  Then removed the French tip guides.  

Use a  dotting tool and Wet and Wild Black Creme to make the seeds.  Add a top coat to protect your nail art.  When I do this again, I will probably remove the french tip guided and then sponge the green on the tips so the top line is more diffused and less harsh.  Also, the lines on the thumbs should curve slightly inward at the tips and base of the nail to make more of a Watermelon shape.

Blue Ombre Nails

This is a blue ombre manicure.  From light to dark:  Wet n Wild Megalast Bird Bath, L'Oreal Now You Sea Me, Sinful Colors Aquamarine, Revlon Colorstay Midnight, and Orly Star of Bombay.  I really liked this manicure.

Gray Dot Manicure

The base for this manicure is Revlon Colorstay Stormy Night.  Then I used a dotting tool to add dots.  The dots are Wet n Wild Gray's Anatomy, Zoya Laney, Zoya Harley, Milani Mrs. Milani, and a random black polish.  When I do this again, I won't use Gray's Anatomy.  I didn't like the way  the purple cast it gives mixes with the other gray polishes.  I liked this manicure and this pattern.  I'll definitely do this again. 

St. Patrick's Day Manicure/Wet n Wild Megalast Garden Hose

Happy St Patrick's Day (in a few days).  This is Wet n Wild Megalast Garden Hose with Emerald City clovers.  I used a tooth pic to paint the clovers.  I made the dots with a tooth pic.  Making dots can dull the end of the tooth pic.  Make sure to use a sharp end to paint on the stems.  Most of the clovers are three leaf clovers, but there are a few four leaf clovers in there.  Below is a picture of my right hand, painted by my non dominant hand.

Wet n Wild Megalast Garden Hose was limited edition from the 2010 spring collection.  Wet n Wild has changed the formula and bottles since then.  I've read the new formula is similar but better then the old formula.  I haven't tried the new formula, but I'm completely in love with the old formula.  It wears like iron for me.  My newspaper manicure where I used this polish lasted about 13 days with only minor chips.  I could have worn it even longer, but the bottom that was growing out from the cuticles was driving me nuts.  I normally get about 6-7 days wear with this polish.  Not only is the new formula reportedly better then the old formula, it is also in bigger bottles for the same price, 2$.  They also added a big brush, and I love big brushes.  The old formula is one of my top two favorite nail polish formulas, the other being Zoya.

Revlon Emerald City

Revlon Emerald City has a matte suede finish.  The finish is matte, but not as matte as you will get with a matte top coat. The first picture (big one) is without a top coat.  The second picture is with Essie Good to Go as a top coat, which gives this polish a shiny finish.  Without a top coat, this polish will begin to chip the first day for me.  If you wear a regular top coat, the finish of the polish will be shiny, like a regular nail polish.  Matte top coats do nothing to extend the wear of a manicure.  So what is the solution if you want the matte suede finish?  Lets say you are planning to use 3 coats of this polish (2 work fine, like in the first two pictures, but three wouldn't hurt).  Put on your base coat, two coats of Emerald City, one coat of top coat, and finish with one coat of Emerald City. This way you get the extended wear of a top coat and the matte suede look. 

In the third picture I did a funky french tip with Sinful Colors Green Ocean.  Pic four is Revlon Emerald City topped completely with Green Ocean in the shade, and pic five is in sunlight.  Green Ocean is a flakie polish.  The mica like glitter flakes in this sheer polish flash from blue to green to purple.  Green Ocean is part of Sinful Colors St. Patric's Day collection.  So if you want it for about 2$, you should pic it up soon.  I got mine at Walgreens.  This polish was also part of the 2011 St. Patric's Day Collection, so it may show up again next year.  The formula for Green Ocean is thick and gloppy.  Unlike Essie Shine of the Times, you need to add a top coat for a smooth finish.  Also, if you don't have a top coat, the flake glitter will pull away from the nail.  If the flakes pull away, they look like white bits of lint instead of cute color changing glitter.  This is my first time wearing Green Ocean, so I haven't fully formed an opinion yet.  You may want Green Ocean just to stare at the pretty bottle.  It glows in sunlight (see picture five). 

To do the funky french manicure I used a DIY nail art brush to paint a straight line.  Then, I used the brush that comes with the polish to fill in above the line.  If you have more skills, you could just use the polish brush to make a french tip.

The last step in this evolving manicure was to add a coat of Hard Candy Matte-ly in Love, a matte top coat (picture six).  The versions of this manicure I liked are the Green Ocean funky French and the matte suede finish.

Failed Search for Dupes

A dupe (short for duplicate) is a color that is the same as a more expensive formula but costs the same or less.  I never get to search for dupes, because I don't buy colors that are similar if I can help it.  When my Aunt gave me some polishes, I had some similar colors.

Revlon Blackberry is close to OPI Bogotta Blackberry, but the OPI color is much more of a berry color.  Wet n Wild Through the Grapevine is darker and more purple then OPI My Auntie Drinks Chianti.  But, if you just want a color that is close, either of these cheaper versions could work.  As you can see, I just slopped nail polish on for the comparison.

If you have an expensive product (nail polish, eye shadow, lipstick, etc.) and would like a similar drugstore dupe, here is what I would recommend.  Do a Google search with the name of the product and you are interested in and the word dupe.  This should pull up some links with product recommendations (assuming the product actually has a dupe)

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation Review

When you read the reviews of pale skinned people for Revlon Photo Ready on Make Up Alley, you hear the same word over and over:  Cullen.  What is a Cullen?  Cullen is the family name of the vampires in the Twilight books/movies.  The vampires in that series are pale and sparkle in the sunlight.  I planned only to wear this in the winter when I’m mostly indoors and there is a lot of cloud cover..  My plan did not work out.  Despite not being in direct sunlight, I’m still a Cullen with this foundation.  

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation
My Skin Type:  My skin type is normal to slightly dry in the winter.  But, my skin doesn’t seem to like a lot of lotion-y/moisturizing products.  Those products will make my skin act more like oily skin.   
My experience with this type of product. I’ve tried lots of different foundations and different styles of foundations.  I’ve only tried drugstore foundations.
     
What I am looking for in a foundation:  Number one, I’m looking for a foundation that matches my very pale, warm toned skin (NC 10).  There aren’t many drugstore options, and I really want to stay with inexpensive foundations.  I want a medium to full coverage.  I hate light coverage foundations.  I put them on and I can’t tell that I did anything at all.  What’s the point?  I tend to prefer cream to powder formulas in winter.

My rating:

   
What I like about it.  This is the exact right color for me!!!  And it looks nice when I first apply it (although too sparkly).  I love that this is in a pump bottle.  It is easier to use and more hygienic that way.  I plan to keep the bottle when I finish the foundation to pour another foundation into. .

What I hate about it.  Obviously I’m not a fan of the sparkling.  The sparkles and foundation eventually settle in my wrinkles and pores.  After a few hours, this will often start to look slimy on my skin.  This is probably a better foundation formula for dryer and darker skin types then mine. (almost everyone is a darker skin type then me:)) This formula is not terrible, it just isn’t for me.

Would you buy this again?  No.  I have winter foundation options that I like better.

Revlon New Complexion Foundation Review

Product Name Revlon New Complexion One Step Compact SPF 15
My skin type Normal
My experience with this type of product. I'm a bit of a project junkie when it comes to foundation. I'm always looking for the new latest and greatest. Even if I find a foundation I like, I buy the "shiny new one" the next time. I mean, what if it is better? I've tried several of the cream to powder style foundations. I like using cream to powder foundations from fall to spring. When worn over sun block in the summer, my skin seems too oily for this type of foundation.
What I look for in this product. I want a nice color and a medium coverage.
Who should use cream to powder foundation? These are best for slightly oily to slightly dry skin. If your skin is dry, it will highlight it's dryness. If your skin is oily, it will make it look oilier.
My rating: 5 sit and spins







What I like about it. I love how this style of foundation tends to give you a dewy look. I like that you don't have to apply powder right away. You can add powder as you need it for touch ups. This color is really nice. Mine is 01, ivory beige. It errs on the yellow side, which is good. Being slightly too peach or slightly too pink is not flattering for most people's skin tones. The color my mother uses is also nice. Good packaging and applicator. This foundation has a proper sun screen, 4% titanium dioxide SPF 15. Titanium Dioxide is one of the 4 sunscreen ingredients that give you good UVA/UVB protection. This has a good medium coverage.
What I hate about it. There is not a very pale option if you are pale. This color is good for me, but slightly lighter might be better for my "pale of February" skin.
Would you buy this again?I actually think I will stick with this foundation.........ya know, unless I spy a shiny new kind.
Click here for more cream to powder foundation reviews.