NOTD: Essie Resort Collection Part 1

Another nail of the day for you guys!  I saw the Essie Resort Collection of polishes in my copy of InStyle Magazine and knew I HAD to have them.  I thought they were going to be like others that I had, but they are in fact nothing like anything in my collection!  I picked them up at Trade Secret ($12.50 for the kit) in my local mall this weekend.  I was pumped to see that they had the collection in mini's since I prefer to buy sets in the small bottles because it is doubtful that I will make it to the end of a bottle before the stuff dries up and is replaced by a much more beloved color I get!  This way, I get to try all the shades for the price of one or two full sized bottles.

The first swatch out of the new Essie kit (above, it's pretty messy but I wanted a shot before I totally screwed up the color while working in the yard) is the color "Lapis of Luxury".  It is a creamy sky blue (which the photo makes it look a bit brighter than it really is, I'm sorry!).  The first day I wore it out, I got multiple comments from women saying, "Now, that is a blue I could wear!".  I personally think it would look great on toes as well!  As for the formula, I have always felt that Essie polishes are a bit thin for my liking.  I like to be able to slap on one coat and be able to go out if I have to before applying the second coat and you just can't do that with most of this brands polishes.  I like them, don't get me wrong, but most of the time, I have to apply 2 or more coats to get a nice, opaque coverage like I prefer.  The above swatch is one coat of China Glaze Base Coat, 2 coats Essie "Lapis of Luxury", and 2 coats Seche Vite Quick Dry Top Coat. There are 3 other colors in the kit and I will be doing NOTD on them soon!  Which color would you like to see next??!!

Great Markdowns @ CVS

Saturday afternoon, my daughter and I went into CVS to pick up some sodas that were on special this week.  I hadn't PLANNED on going NEAR the beauty wall, but a bright neon sign caught my attention so, of course, I HAD to go over and check it out!  The store had marked down some of their most phenomenal (and expensive, I might add) beauty products from every brand.  I believe they do this at the end of every spring season, but I was taken aback at some of the items I found.  Of course, I didn't purchase everything I wanted to, but since I am currently unemployed from what my family deems a "normal job", impulse shopping in high dollar amounts is pretty much out for me.  However, I knew that I could get away with a few things since the markdowns were for 50% & 75% off! 

Every brand had SOMETHING on clearance including Rimmel, Wet N Wild, Revlon, Sally Hansen, Loreal...you name it!  There were mascaras, eye shadow palettes, nail polish, I mean it was endless the bargains laid out before me.  This was very difficult for me, if you know me, since I am the queen of sale shopping!  I passed over H.I.P. shadow sticks and pigments, kohl pencils, summer polishes, and shadows I had been wanting to try for ages and only took home two items.  I know, I know, I was a good girl, I should be proud and hold my head up high! 

I generally begin in most places at the polishes and CVS carries Seche Vite, which I needed more top coat anyway so that was a necessary buy.  They had marked every Seche Vite product down to 50% off which made base coats $3.50 and the quick dry top coat that I needed $4.50.  This price is cheaper than I would have been able to get it at Sally's with my Beauty Club Card.  I should've got TWO!

I also picked up a Loreal Infallable Lipstick...one of those items I have been wanting to try for ages, but the $12 price tag kept me from doing so.  I'm sorry, I just don't spend that kind of cash on drugstore products and NEVER WILL.  More power to those of you that do, but if I know I can spend $2 on a MAC l/s, than I am going that route.  But, I got this one for 75% off which made it about $3!  Yeah, I can live with that.  AND it turns out it is GREAT!  The color really lasts and the conditioning top coat doesn't give you glassy lips which I really  prefer with my no makeup makeup looks on the weekends.  I picked this l/s up in the color Walnut, number 87, which I swatched for you below!  (I know its not the greatest pic, but of course the color swatch is on the right and the coditioning top coat is on the left.  The top coat looks super shiney in the pic but it really isn't.  It does have a little shimmer, but not too much so any age group will look great wearing it and be comfortable!)  I am in love with this color and the formula is great, in my opinion.  I also like the packaging in that you have  a built in mirror for on the go touch ups and both tubes each have a cozy spot together...no chance to lose either in the black hole of your bag!  LOL!  But, I still won't pay $12 for it (sorry Loreal, that's just a little rich for my blood considering this is a DRUGSTORE).  I WILL pick up more if I see them on clearance or on BOGO though.

My suggestion to you guys if you dig the drugstore makeup selection, is to check out your local CVS and see if they have the same markdowns going on right now!  The prices are only good while the products last, which won't be long!  They are also running some buy one, get on 1/2 off sales this week so make sure to check out their weekly ad online and let us know what YOU come home with in the comments below!

NOTD: Nail of the Day - Forrest Green Shimmer

HOT OR NOT

Love it or Leave it?  It won't hurt my feelings either way you vote!  I found this Nicole by OPI polish at TJMaxx for $1!!  Yep, one buckaroo.  I had never tried these polishes up until this point.  I really didn't want to spend $7 at Target on a polish that may or may not work.  I figured I would give it a whirl since it was such a steal!  (OH, TJMaxx also had Essie polish for $1-$4 each.  If you have one of these stores locally, make sure to go check it out!)

First impression, on the first coat of this polish was that it was going to be crap.  I mean, it went on super thin and almost looked like motor oil with glitter in it.  See, I generally start off with one relatively thin first coat of color, so it doesn't take as long to dry.  But, by the time I got the second coat on, the color was completely opaque and looked rather nice.  The dry time was about normal.  I let each coat dry for about 30 minutes before moving to the next.  It doesn't have the high shine finish I love so, as usual, I added 2 coats of my Seche Vite Quick Dry Top Coat (6.99) that I got at Sally's. 

I have had this polish on now for about 16 hours.  Generally, if I use the Seche Vite Top Coat, I will not have any tip wear or chipping until about the 2nd or 3rd day when I am working.  I am pretty hard on my mani's at work, considering the manual labor I do some days and all the typing that goes on.  I am pretty disappointed that I already have tip wear and that the edge of one of my nails has already chipped.    I have just never had this issue this quickly since I started with the SV.  I am wondering if it is the formula of the polish?  I haven't done anything strenuous to my nails yet today...just type a couple of emails and this blog!

<<--And please don't mind the messy mani.  I had not gone back to clean up mistakes before I made the picture.  Plus, my nails are short again from breaking.  I have the most wussy nails on the face of the planet!  Anyone know of a great strengthener/anti break treatment that works?  I will pay upwards of $15 for something that will acutally do me some good!  :)  Leave suggestions in the comments below.

I would rate this particular polish a 3 out of 5.  I realy love the color, but the consistancy is sort of lame.  I like a polish that if I apply one layer and I need to run out for something then it isn't this huge issue and you can't tell I have one layer on.  One star was taken away once I noticed the quick tip wear and chip.  I really dislike the brush, which is why this brand has lost the other star from me.  (This is the only factor of packaging I really take into effect.  Most polishes are packed about the same besides that.)  It is too narrow and not full enough for my liking.  You might even be able to do some designing with this brush.  I LOVE the brushes in the Sally Hansen Qwik Dry Polishes.  They fit my nail perfectly and go on in one to two strokes.  The color is great.  I am really diggin this green.  However, I feel that I do have a color that is similar, just thinner than this one!  Needless to say, I never wear that other polish! 

Let me know what your favorite colors are from Nicole by OPI.  I would like to pick up a few more to try out since the formula wasn't just dreadful!  LOL!