Nail of the Day: OPI Pepe's Purple Passion

I'm a firm believer in wearing any color of your choice on your nails year-round, but now that Fall is officially here, I love busting out my richer and darker nail polishes again.  This particular color was actually a gift from the BFF last year and it's one of my favorites!  OPI Pepe's Purple Passion is a medium to dark raisin-mauve cream-based polish with iridescent microglitter that looks amazing when the color catches the light. It was part of OPI's The Muppet Holiday Collection from 2011 and was limited edition, but I've still been able to find it online through Amazon and other various sites.

Natural light, 2 coats

Camera Flash, 2 coats

I love the formula and color payoff of this polish. I think the microglitter gives the color a lil' somethin' extra as well!

Thanks so much for reading!

:)

LUSH: Lip Combo

If you're anything like me, walking into a LUSH Cosmetics Store can be a little overwhelming.  I  love what the store is all about (fresh, handmade cosmetics!) and I've heard that they have some amazing shampoos, conditioners, and fresh face masks. I'll be the first to admit...I have yet to try any of those products, but I definitely plan to. Instead, I thought I'd share my thoughts on the two LUSH products I have tried:  the Mint Julips Lip Scrub and Honey Trap Lip Balm. After using the lip scrub and balm for several months now, using the two together has become one of my favorite lip care combos!

The Mint Julips Lip Scrub is described as being packed full of fresh peppermint and sweet castor sugar.  I love using this scrub in the mornings after I've done my make up as a way to prep my lips before using a lip gloss or lip balm.  I use less than a pea-size amount and since the scrub is made with natural ingredients, I don't feel guilty licking the excess off of my lips after I'm done exfoliating them.  Plus, the peppermint helps freshen your breath and leaves your lips with a refreshing tingly feeling.  Afterwards, the Honey Trap Lip Balm  is my absolute favorite lip product to use after the scrub.  It's described as containing rich honey to moisturize and melted white chocolate as well as sweet orange and cooling peppermint to help soothe dry, chapped lips.

You can find both of these products in LUSH stores and online for under $10 each.  I know it's pretty easy to make your own lip scrub at home, but the sugar in the Mint Julips scrub is just so fine that it doesn't irritate your lips.  You only need the smallest amount to get the job done, which justifies the price for me. And the lip balm feels so comfortable and luxurious on the lips. With each use, I feel like I'm giving myself a mini spa treatment at home.  I look forward to branching out and trying more LUSH products in the future.

Thanks so much for reading!

:)

Nail of the Day + My Manicure Essentials

I love treating myself to a pedicure at the salon every now and then, but I've never actually had a professional manicure. I don't know what it is, but I just prefer taking care of and painting my nails myself.  I find it relaxing and an easy way to pamper myself at home.  I thought I'd share some of my favorite essentials that I love to use consistently in my nail care routine!

To start off, I like removing any polish so I can start with clean nails.  I like softening my cuticles by using the Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover and using a simple orange stick to help push my cuticles down.  While I wait for my cuticles to be softened (I usually wait 15-25 seconds), I lightly file my nails to remove any harsh edges and then I'm ready to remove the cuticle softener and start painting!  For my base coat, I love using Essie's Grow Stronger Base Coat.  It's a great formula and provides a really nice foundation for my nail color.

with camera flash, 2 coats

Today, I chose to go with Sinful Color Sinful Shine with gel-tech in Alfresco, an amazing sky blue cream color.  This is the second color from the Sinful Shine line I've tried, and I'm absolutely in love with the gel-tech formula.  It gives me such a shiny and glossy gel-like finish, that I don't need to use a top coat. In two coats, I get a perfect, opaque color. 

natural light, 2 coats

I'd have to say that this polish is pretty true to color in both natural light and with a camera flash.  I'd definitely recommend it and look forward to trying more nail polishes from this line.  As a finishing touch, I love using Essie's Apricot Cuticle Oil to help keep my cuticles soft. It's also a great way to treat your cuticles to some daily TLC throughout the length of your manicure.

Thanks so much for reading!

:)