Just a Litte Off Topic

     I know it has been a month of Sundays (as my grandmother use to say) since I have posted anything. Life has really gotten in the way of my blogging. I have been a car service shuttling my child from school basketball games, track and field events, AAU basketball games, basketball tournaments up to one hour away, and finally college campus tours (still two years left in high school). It also did not help that the blogger app was not working from my phone. Even though I have not been blogging I have been polishing just check my instagram account Polish_Therapy.

     So why am I calling this post a off topic. Well, I recently signed up for some subscriptions, two to be exact. The first subscription is Birchbox. This company sends samples of beauty, health and grooming products once a month for $10. The second subscription is Nailed Kit.  Nailed Kit sends water decals out once a month as well. My post today is about Birchbox.

     May was my first month getting a Birchbox and while I was not disappointed I was not super excited when I opened it. The product selection was great. They really listened to the questionnaire that I filled out and sent items that I definitely could use. However, I felt that some of the sample sizes were just too small to provide an adequate testing of the product for me to say how it worked and for me to consider buy it. I can seriously say I thought about cancelling right then but I am so GLAD that I didn't.

     I received my June box a week ago and let me tell you it had me bouncing up and down on my tippy toes. It was if Birchbox had invaded my thoughts and sent me quite a few items that I wanted to test since I am in the process of changing my skin and hair care regimen for the summer.  The picture below shows how the samples this month were more conducive for me to test and see if the item worked or not.

     My favorite item right now is the COOLA Tinted Matte SPF30 Natural BB Cream. This tinted moisturizer had me scared at first because it was lighter then my skin but I knew I was going to try it because I had just the week before thought how I wanted to test out a BB cream to see how it worked on my skin. I walk outside at least one hour everyday and the last thing I want is for my face to start looking 60 while I am in my thirties. I put the cream on (used about a dime size) and noticed that as I rubbed it in the cream turned white and then disappeared. My face did not have a ashen look about it as well as I didn't have that normal shiny spot in my t-zone. It has left my skin looking even toned even at the mid day point after 30 minutes of walking at a 20 min mile pace. I will definitely be buying this COOLA product.

     The next item from the box is Gilchrist & Soames London Collection Body Lotion. The description states that it smooth and softens while being rich in antioxidants. The ingredients are coconut oil, grapeseed oil, and sunflower seed oil just to name a few. The lotion goes on smooth without a greasy feel or shine. I have only used this for one day. I like the how it has my skin still feeling soft and clean. The clean scent of cucumber isn't over powering and leaves just the slightest scent on your skin which is great for the summer.

   These last items I have not used as of yet but I will start before the end of the week.

Number 4 Hair Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner
           These products are sulfate, paraben, sodium chloride free.

Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator
           This facial product uses papaya enzymes to brighten skin along with micro crystals to mimic a microdermabrasion. Also contains aloe vera, coconut and panthenol.

     Thank you Birchbox for this wonderful box. I cannot wait until the July box.

Pasha Love

  I decided to wear some of the Zoya colors I have never worn because I really liked how the last manicure turned out.

     Today's color is Pasha. I have had this color for almost a year and thought after I got it this is not going to look good on me. I mean you don't see a lot of these companies showing their colors on women of color so it just sat in my polish stash.

     I love how Zoya colors go on. They not only are smooth but also no streaks (on the creams) even if only one coat. I only had to apply two coats to make this opaque. Pasha is a medium taupe with a hint of pink and very fine silver glitter to give it a shimmer in the light. I love how this color is so very work appropriate and yet sexy enough for a night out on the town.

     Most neutrals I don't like to wear when my nails are short because I feel it makes them shorter because of how it can blend in with my skin tone. However, that is not the case with Pasha it compliments my skin tone.

     Well until next time ladies keep on polishing.

 

 







 

 

 

With Flash

 

 

No Flash 

Ivanka I Love Zoya's Frida!!!

   My child loves blue and the school colors are green and gold so you can see how I chose this two colors.

     Frida is my first jelly from Zoya but it will certainly not be my last. The color in the bottle does not do it justice once it is on the nails. This polish offers so many looks. One and two coats offer a hint of color to place glitter on top of. Three coats offer the ability to have not have it be so dark with a great shine. I actually put on four coats just because I do not like being able to see any hint of my nail. I have included shots of all coat levels below.

     I really had on plans on doing anything other than a simple single paint manicure however as I was putting away my supplies I noticed Ivanka and thought how good it would look on an accent nail. We know that it was not hard for me to pick which nail was to be painted. While the nail made the mani pop (my childs favorite expression) it did so without over shadowing Frida.

I am signing off until next time and remember keep on polishing.







http://www.zoya.com/content/category/something_big_is_coming.html

 

 

 



Nail Polish Deals for the Week Ending January 4

     Okay so I am going to start of 2014 with my resolution to post at least once a week. My first post will be to let you know where you can find polish on sale at.


Rite Aid

BOGO 50%      Covergirl, SinfulColors, NYC, Julie G, Revlon, and Rimmel


Walgreens

.69                     Wet n Wild
BOGO 50%       Rimmel


Cult Nails

40-60% off         Select colors. Sale ends 12/31/2013     www.cultnails.com



Colores de Carol

25% off $20 or more    Code to use is BYE2013. Sale ends 12/31/2013     www.coloresdecarol.com



Ulta

BOGO Free              Ulta nail laquer


Sally Beauty Supply

50% off Clearance       Code 555169
10% off                        Code 555176


Julep.com

Up to 75% 0ff         Warehouse Sale ends 12/31/2013


    Polish post coming later this week. Have a great week and a Happy New Year!

Black Butterfly

     I have never been good at drawing yet I really wanted to get a butterfly mani done so I sucked up my no art having nerves and decided to try it on my nails.

     I first purchased some art brushes from my local art supply store. I first painted my nails two tone using Sally Hansen Blizzard Blue and Zoya Faith.

     I then took Wet n Wild Black Crème (424a) and painted the nail at a angle first. I took the 1/10 brush and then drew a arch from left to right mimicking a half moon or crescent moon. I then drew lines from the angle to the arch (generally about three to four lines only). You will have to go over the lines and the arch twice to make it as dark as the slant at the top of the nail. I made the dots using my dotting tools and Wet n Wild French White (449c).

     I think not to bad for my first try. Practice always makes perfect so I can not wait to do this one again.

As you know Keep On Polishing.

How Sweet It Is!

This is my first attempt at a Spun Sugar manicure. I think it came out wonderful for my first time. My only complaint would be that the lines are a little thick. I think that I let the polish dots air dry for too long. The colors used were Zoya Purity for the base and as the spun sugar on the accent nail. Wet N Wild Listening to Blue Reed as the base on the accent nail. The spun sugar colors are Wet N Wild Teal Slowly and See, Stand the Test of Lime and Who is Ultra Violet. This was the pop art collection from Wet N Wild. I am normally not a bright color type of person but I really love the way these colors look on my hand.

Well until next time Keep on Polishing.

Memorial Day Honors

     So this post is a day late but not a dollar short. While it is not my prettiest (in my opinion) one it is my most important one. I did a tribute to the armed forces. I did realize after carefully planning each finger that I forgot the National Guard. I will come up with something for them and display it in the near future.

     The order of the forces from thumb to pinkie finger are Marines, Coast Guard, Navy, Army and the Air Force.

     The marine nail is a cross between a braid or fishtail and a chevron pattern.  The colors used can be found in the Marine dress blues (hopefully the correct term).

Hot Hot Heat (red) - SinfulColors
All About You (gold) - SinfulColors
All Mighty (blue) - SinfulColors

     The coast guard nail was something new I tried with a toothpick. I started with the nail being covered in white. I then dipped the toothpick in the polish and while swirling the toothpick on the nail I turned it around to get the color to deposit.

Tokyo Pearl (white) - Sinful Colors
Courtney Orange - Sinful Colors
All Mighty (blue) - SinfulColors

     The navy nail was a free hand half and half nail that was pretty straight but one small curve in each had me go from a plan of stripes to dots.

Hot Hot Heat (red) - SinfulColors
Caribbean Cocktail (blue) - Sephora by OPI
449C (white) - Wet n Wild Wild Shine

     The army nail is my favorite. The base is white and then I sponged on the other colors using the tooth pick to make the black lines.

Tokyo Pearl (white) - SinfulColors
Mystery (brown) - Contrary Polish
Baker (khaki) - Cult Nails
Tempest (green) - SinfulColors

     The air force nail is not the true air force blue but more the color of the sky since that is where you can find them flying.

Toyko Pearl (white) - SinfulColors
Gorgeous (blue/green) - SinfulColors

 

Until next time keep on polishing.