Ombrè Manicure

The Line-Up: (L-R) Essie "Marshmallow," Essie "Fiji," Essie "Mod Podge," Sephora by OPI "It's Somewhere in the Purse," Essie "Wicked."

Sally Hansen Insta Gel Strips Review

Recently I picked up these Sally Hansen Insta Gel Strips in Pretty 'N Poppy from CVS (for a hefty $15!) they are about $5 cheaper at Target, but I was unaware at the time. Basically what it boils down to is these strips are pretty easy as far as gel goes, and have cute designs but they just don't fit exactly right and are quite expensive. If you're looking for a fun manicure for a night or two, these might be a good option but I don't think they are worth it for solid polish colors. There are so many better gel options at the drugstore like the SensatioNail brand.

Pros:

-Easiest gel manicure (the fewest steps)
-The polish comes in strips that adhere to your nail so you only have to paint on a clear top coat.
-Adorable designs you can't get from typical polish
-Lasts about a week with no chips–not as long as normal gel but better than regular polish.
-Super shiny (as with all gels)

Cons:

-Not cost effective at all, you have to buy the LED lamp (unless you already have one like I did) The top coat and nail strips for one manicure are $15, if you don't have an LED lamp you will have to buy the starter kit also which is pricey.
- My biggest issue with these strips was the fit. As you can see from the pictures below, the strips are too round at the nail bed for my nails–resulting in weird gaps by the base of my nail. Also, I found that almost all of the nail strips were too wide for my nails and I don't have particularly small nails.

The pictures below are after a week. There is a little chipping on the tips but mostly at the nail bed, I think it's because they didn't fit all that well to start with. The photo on the left is a little blurry (sorry!) but it shows how the strips really didn't fit my nails that well.

CVS Nail & Skincare Haul

Hi Lovelies!

Yesterday I had a few coupons and extra bucks to CVS and decided it was time to (finally) pick up some much needed eye cream and to try the Sally Hansen Insta Gel Strips in Pretty 'N Poppy. I used the Insta Gel Strips yesterday and so far they're cute but a little frustrating to use, I will post a full review later this week. I was on the hunt for a drugstore eye cream to help with the dreaded dark circles since I had run out of my Michael Todd True Organics one and couldn't justify the $40. This Yes to Grapefruits Dark Circle Correcting Eye Cream had pretty good reviews and I have loved everything I've tried from the Yes to lines. I've only used it twice so far but it's nice, smells like grapefruit and is fairly moisturizing. If you would like a full review in a couple of weeks (once I've really put it to the test) let me know in the comments below!

PS Today is going to be a double post day, so check back for tonight's post around 8 pm PST. :)

Best Nail Polishes For the Holiday Season

Today I posted a new video on my YouTube channel featuring my picks of the best nail polishes for the holidays!! Check it out: http://youtu.be/h0szkHBJtR0

What are your favorite polishes right now?

Tis' The Season to Sparkle

Looking to add a little sparkle to your holiday season? Look no further than this dazzling polish that will brighten up any winter blues. OPI's "My Favorite Ornament" is packed with fine gold and silver sparkles that create an opaque splash of glitter on your nails. I particularly like this color because it's more of a champagne gold making it not too gold and not too silver. This pretty polish will get you through the holiday season, as it is perfect for Christmas and also New Years!