Drugstore Products to get rid of Red Hair Color

Alright, the red is now almost 100% gone. As you know from my previous post on Copper hair, I used the Revlon Frost & Glow to lighten some of the red out and got a nice tolerable copper. Then someone commented on my "orange" hair and I was over it. I'm fickle like that. So I did some online research and found a couple of things to try to lift as much of the red out as I could. Started here:

I've been red on the underneath before so I know there's really no getting rid of red. You can alter it by bleaching or cover it but it's basically there until you grow it out. I didn't want to keep bleaching it because I don't really want to be blonde again. At least not around my face, I wouldn't mind blonder ends but I definitely want a more balayage look with darker roots.

So...I went to Target, grabbed a box of Color Oops, a box of L'Oreal Superior Preference 9 1/2A (Lightest Ash Blonde) and 6A (Light Ash Brown). I know to counteract the red, you need an ash. My hair pulls ash really easily so I was nervous, but it was also a deep level 6 red and had been dyed a good solid 6 months with that color.

I kept seeing people using Color Oops. Over and over I saw good results, less damage and you could dye over it the same day. But the complaints of the smell, oh goodness. I mistakenly thought these girls must be super sensitive. I've smelled all kinds of chemical hair products, I used to work in a salon for cripessakes. How bad could it be?

Oh, good lord. It's the worst thing I've ever smelled. It's literally like a foul perm, rotten eggs and cow manure mixed together with a dash of pure sulfur on top. No exaggeration. It's god awful. And it also didn't feel like it was doing anything. You basically apply it, put a plastic cap on, stay away from drafts or cold air and let it marinate. Then you rinse, and rinse and rinse and rinse. The instructions say what it does is basically shrink the color molecules and then you rinse the color away. So the longer you rinse, the more color you remove. It suggested to rinse, wash and then rinse for 20 minutes, wash and then rinse for another 10 minutes. Talk about a sore neck.

But it did work. A lot. It did remove the red but not as much as I'd hoped for. So I dried it and applied the L'Oreal 9 1/2A. I know you can't lift color with color, but I hoped that the ash would tone down the warmer bits without adding any more color to my hair. I didn't want to go dark brown to get rid of this red. Followed the directions, rinsed, dried and was left with this. Not ideal, but workable. Totally wrong for my coloring though.

So I left it alone for a few days and then went over it again with the L'Oreal 6A. The box said light ash brown so I was expecting darker hair. I've used L'Oreal before and always liked the results but it tends to go about a level darker than the box says on me. So I was prepared for that but pleasantly surprised with the results. A legitimate level 6 ashy dark blonde/really light brown with some warmer lowlights from the red remnants and some lighter pieces from the previously highlighted bits.

Overall I'm very pleased. The base color is honestly almost identical to my natural color. For now, I'd like to let my roots grow a good 2-3 inches and then go for something like this:

image courtesy of pinterest.com, hair by misteranhcotran.com

Little Amazing Finds

I have been obsessing over these 2 products lately and had to share.

 

The first one is the Garnier BB Cream Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector for Combo/Oily skin. I know...a drugstore BB cream? Bear with me. It's amazing. I've tried a ton of other BB Creams and was less than impressed. I didn't even like the original Garnier BB Cream. No coverage, they smelled like sunscreen and felt greasy on my face. Not a fan. I went camping recently and needed something I could apply in the morning and give me a little coverage and protect my face. Like a good blogger, I read some reviews and it seemed like this little treasure was different.

I gave it a go and am so glad I did. This is NOT a tinted moisturizer. It's got really great coverage, dries to a semi matte finish and feels really nice on the skin. It has SPF of 20 but doesn't smell or feel like sunscreen.

I will tell you a little secret though. I like this best when applied with a sponge (wedge, beauty blender...whatever you like) not a brush and not your fingers. I find I get the best coverage and finish when applied that way. It lasts all day without breaking up in the oily places and doesn't oxidize or turn orange. They don't have a great color selection (I think only 4). I wear the Light/Medium. I highly recommend. $12.99 at Fred Meyer.

This is just the BB cream, under eye concealer (no concealer anywhere else), bronzer and blush on my face, not counting eye makeup. Seriously good coverage.

The other little prize I'm coveting is the Maybelline Define-A-Brow. My Revlon Brow pencil got too short to sharpen anymore and I did not like the brow gel that was on the other end of it at all. It made my brows look flaky. Ew. So I'd been on the hunt for something that was very taupe for my eyebrows with not even a sneaky hint of warmth. Nothing I loathe more than an orange brow on a blonde. Not cute.

I saw this little tiny tube and it instantly reminded me of the Anastasia Brow Wiz. Same slender tube, except this one is lime green. I picked it up in the Dark Blonde color and it's fantastic. The color is perfect. Don't wind too much up, I only wind up a small amount at a time so it won't break off and haven't had any issues. It's waterproof so you don't have to worry about your eyebrows disappearing in the heat/pool. For a fraction of the price of the Anastasia, this is a gem! $7.99 at Walgreens.

Jordana Cosmetics Crushes

Lately I have been seriously in love with Jordana products. I started with the mascara but a few other things got my attention and at less than $3 a pop, I figured why not. The standouts for me have been Best Lash Extreme Mascara (basic black), 12 Hour Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner Pencil (I have and love the black and brown)  and the Twist and Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain (I have Sweet Pink and Rock N Rouge).

The mascara is bomb dot com. It's super dark. I like this best layered over another mascara, it just gives an extra OOMPH that lasts all day. It's also a GREAT bottom lash mascara, it doesn't smudge or flake at all.

The eyeliners have basically replaced all other eyeliners in my book. Super dark, sets and lasts. It can be smudged out for a smoky look if you work quickly but once it sets, it stays.

And finally...The Balm Stains. These are what all other balm stains should aspire to be like and they are only $2.99!!!! There is a good color selection, they feel comfortable on your lips and they last like no other. The Rock N Rouge is the perfect, EASY red lip that lasts. Sweet Pink looks like a soft nudey pink in the tube but comes off brighter on my lips and it lasts all day. I can seriously, easily get 6 hours of wear out of both even with eating and drinking. The shine might fade, but the color doesn't and they don't feel drying. You could basically buy all 8 shades available and spend less than if you bought one in a higher end brand.

jordanacosmetics.com

 

Rock N Rouge

 

Sweet Pink

 

Shhhh...Drugstore Proactiv Dupe??

I am so excited to share this with you guys! I finally found a legitimate drugstore dupe for Proactiv that is crazy affordable and ACTUALLY WORKS!!!!

I have used Proactiv for about 10 years. I used the original formula for several years with great results. About 5 years ago they reformulated it and it never worked the same for me. The Proactiv+ that is being sold now is not even the same type of 3 piece kit. So I've had luck with other products but nothing made my skin as glowy and calm as the original Proactiv. Until now.

Target is now selling (or has been, although I've only seen it recently) Up&Up brand version of the Proactiv Kit. It's a 3 piece kit, same 4oz and 2 oz sizes, same color and same scent as the original Proactiv. Get this...It's $11.99 for all 3!!

target.com

I have almost gone through an entire kit and feel like I can honestly tell you that it works just as great for me as the original Proactiv ever did. You get the Renewing Cleanser, the Rejuvenating Toner and the Repairing Treatment all in one kit. So far, all 3 have worked really well on my skin. No new break outs, overall skin tone is vastly improved and no major drying.

I can't tell you how happy this has made me and I hope it's helpful for you guys as well! Drugstore Proactiv is pretty much the best discovery I've made in a long time!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Things I'm Loving Lately-Drugstore

I love posts like this because I think it gives someone a good idea of what you actually use rather than just a straight forward review, but I never like showing pictures in these posts. Like...who wants to see my gunky half used tube of lipgloss and foundation? So...I will post pictures and links to help you find these things if you think you'd like to try them. Deal?

CoverGirl 3-in-1 Foundation. I've used almost an entire bottle of this and will definitely be purchasing it again. It's great coverage, awesome finish and hasn't effected my skin at all. It lasts all day without breaking down and doesn't leave my face greasy or too matte. It's literally the perfect drugstore foundation for me. As much as I love Colorstay my skin does not. But with the CoverGirl, it's everything I want in a foundation AND my skin likes it. WINNER. I wear shade 810 or 825.

covergirl.com



Revlon Brow Fantasy. Seriously love this. I have blonde eyebrows that are pretty ashy. It's hard to find a pencil that doesn't get too warm or dark. I've been using powder from my Naked Basics palette and an angled brush for a long time but that takes time. You have to have a steady hand and some patience. With this product you get a pencil and a gel and it's the PERFECT shade of dark blonde. Just enhances my brows without making them look like sharpie brows. You know...not a good look.

revlon.com

 

L'Oreal Infallible 24 Hr Eye Shadows. I've been using Amber Rush for a long time but without a tan it can be a tinge too pink for my every day eyes. I generally like something with a gold reflect to it. I've been wearing Iced Latte and Bronzed Taupe together and they are just so gorgeous. I can use the Barely Branded or Bad to the Bronze from Maybelline as a base for either and they last ALL DAY. They don't budge or flake or fade or crease. The colors are buildable and stunning.

 

loreal.com

 

 

Maybelline Baby Lips Electro "Strike a Rose".  I'm a sucker for anything Rose. This is kind of scary neon in the tube but goes on super flattering and feels really nice on. It's super sheer so it kind of leaves that popcicle stained effect on your lips, just pinched pink.

 

maybelline.com

 

Here's my mug with all of these products on...the lip balm has kind of faded but you can see the color that remains.

 

L'Oreal The Matte Velvet Magic Topcoat

This is another one I found in the bottom of a bin at the store, not sure why. It wasn't on sale (I paid $5.99) so I'm assuming the store was just moving merch around but they only had one bottle of this.

I applied it over one of my all time favorites, L'Oreal Greyt Expectations and did gold on the ring fingers.

I actually really like The Matte Velvet. I prefer a matte topcoat over a matte nail polish because I think it gives you a lot more options. Practically doubles your nail possibilities.

It goes on easily and matte's as it dries. Very minimal brush marks. The only thing I'd say about this one is that I'd do 2 coats of the topcoat. One coat resulted in shinier tips for me after a few days, almost like the polish wore off or was worn shiny again in places where my nails get friction (from typing at work). Overall, this is a really nice velvety matte polish and does exactly what it says it will do.

Daily Makeup-Mostly Drugstore!

It's been a while since I did a little "Daily Makeup" post. I think the last time it was during the spring and A LOT has changed since then.

Obviously these all change if I'm doing anything special, this is just my daily "head to work" face. I can get it done in about 5 minutes and don't have to touch up other than lips at all during the day. These together really work well for me and I am super impressed with the Covergirl foundation. Full review on that coming soon. This is a very quick and easy look for me but one that looks polished and pretty.

CoverGirl 3-in-1 Foundation (Creamy Natural)
Rimmel Stay Matte powder (Creamy Natural)
Maybelline Age Rewind Under Eye Concealer (Fair)
Maybelline Bad to the Bronze Cream Shadow
Urban Decay Naked Basics for browbone and eyebrows (Venus and Naked 2)
Maybelline The Falsies mascara
Rimmel ScandalEyes Liner in Nude on the waterline
NYX Dusty Rose Blush
Milani Luminoso for Highlighter
Vaseline Rosy Lips (Coveted on Pinterest, finally found it and bought a ton. Adorable and amazing little pot of pink goodness!)

L'Oreal "Sexy in Sequins"-Gold Dust Textured Polish Collection

Ugh.

I was not paying attention to the display when I bought this. I just totally fell in love with the color in the bottle. It's stunning. All kinds of plummy, moody, glittery goodness.

As soon as I opened the bottle at home I knew I had one of the Gold Dust textured polishes on my hands and was instantly annoyed. I've tried the Sally Hansen ones before and while I think they are fun for a once in a while, I don't think they are pretty. They are lumpy and there is no shine which defeats the purpose of a sparkly textured polish entirely. This color in particular looks like acid is eating your polish leaving a gritty, pocky finish that totally diminishes the sparkle in the bottle. Apart from the larger glitter that is completely dulled, it has a definite golden reflect in the bottle that doesn't really transfer to the nail either.

I applied it over one coat of Essie "Damsel in a Dress" because while there is a ton of sparkle, the actual base color of "Sexy in Sequins" is a milky plum/grey. I thought a plum base would help the prettier color shine through. This brush also felt wider than the regular L'Oreal brushes and kind of made the polish go on goopier than I'd like.

I did 2 coats of "Sexy in Sequins" and definitely got the sandy/gritty finish.While these textured polishes do stay for a long time on your nails that also makes them a nightmare to remove.

Overall...not a fan of this one. It looks gorgeous in the bottle and if you are into the sandy finish polishes, this line is one of the better ones I've tried but overall, this was an "ugh" for me.

What are your thoughts on the sandy polish trend?

My Daily Skincare Routine

I thought since January is all about fresh starts I'd take a minute to show you guys my daily skincare routine and talk a little about some newer products that I'm loving.

One of the newer items is the Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover cream. This stuff is a revelation. It's not greasy at all. None of that gooey, grease feel you normally get from eye makeup remover, and it works on waterproof mascara. BONUS. Quickly and easily removes eye makeup without feeling harsh or greasy and leaves my eyes and eyelashes happy. Really good find.

Next is the Clean and Clear Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub. Do you know how hard it is to find just a basic scrub that isn't geared toward anything but exfoliation. HARD my friends. I like this because it's got a lot of scrubbies without feeling harsh and also has a cool tingle which just makes your face feel super clean.

That teeny itsy bitsy bottle is the Philosophy Clear Days Ahead cleanser and can I just say one of the best cleansers I've ever used. My skin freaked out over the holidays...I think the stress of the rebuild, the holidays and the super cold temperatures did a number on my problem areas (my cheeks). This is one of the first salicylic acid products I've used and liked. I will definitely be purchasing the larger bottle when this baby one runs out.

Neutrogena Acne Stress Control toner. HOLY GRAIL STATUS. This reminds me so much of the original Proactiv toner that I loved. This one has a slight cucumber scent to it but it's not a burny-painful toner. It definitely works and has helped clear my cheeks up in record time. I can't say enough good stuff about this toner. I know the Acne Stress line can be hard to find (not sure if they are discontinuing??) but this toner is great and if you see one, I'd highly recommend snatching it up and trying it out.

Amena Bean Glycolic Moisture Cream. I've done a full review on this before, it's still the bees knees in my book and one I use every night with great results!

Origins Make a Difference cream. I use this in the morning and it helps keep my skin supple and hydrated without getting greasy or over moisturized. It has a slight satiny quality to it and I just love this stuff.

Clinique All About Eyes eye cream. I only use this at night and a little goes a long way. I use this more preventatively than anything else, just to keep the wrinkles away not to really treat anything yet. It's lightweight and effective and does not irritate my eyes.

Wet n Wild Coloricon Eyeshadow Palette "The Naked Truth"

I was so excited when I saw this in the store. It's totally the neutral colors I love and I've always been impressed with the other Coloricon palettes. Walking on Eggshells has been a long time favorite of mine and Comfort Zone is awesome but it's a tad cumbersome to keep in my makeup bag. This has 5 colors but is the same shape as the 3 color palettes which are easy grab and go's.

The Naked Truth has a shimmery ivory browbone color, a light peachy matte base shade, a warm chocolate brown definer shade, an icy taupe eyelid shade and a coppery gold flecked crease shade.

I never use these how they recommend, I just use them however I like the look of. Sadly, these are not as great of quality as the other Wet n Wild palettes I love. Some of the shades are the normal buttery consistency of WnW eyeshadows and give decent payoff (the browbone and base shade) but others are chalky and produce a ton of fallout (the definer and crease shade).

Overall, I'd say this is an average drugstore palette but has a good selection of colors and would be one I'd grab for a weekend out of town or an overnight trip to have in my makeup bag. Average quality and convenient packaging, also great price point. I think I got this for less than $3 at Walgreens.

Have you tried any of the other new 5 shade Coloricon palettes? Any you'd recommend?



Cheers!!

 

Happy New Year!! So glad to have had a wonderful holiday season with our family but very ready to get back on track and back into the swing of the things I love. Starting with this blog!!

 

We spent New Years with some of our very best friends and all of our kids this year, which was lovely. I didn't get too dolled up but did want something fun for my nails. Do you ever know in your head exactly what polish you want to find but have no idea if it exists or not? Yeah, that.

 

I knew I wanted silver with black and silver glittery topcoat. I searched 3 stores and finally found 1 bottle of this fun stuff in the bottom of a bin at Walmart. Not sure why, I think these are fairly new?

 

 

It's the L'Oreal Magic Topcoat in The Sparklicious. I used it over a holographic silver from Nicole by OPI and then used black on my ring fingers. I did use 2 coats of this because it's a lot of clear with sparse glitters but the effect was really fun and perfect for New Years. It has silver and black chunky glitter with holo bars in there too. Sparkle city!

 

I also got the L'Oreal matte top coat and am anxious to try that one out as well.

 

Any other new fun polishes you'd like to see reviewed? Let me know! 

Milani Luminoso Blush

This is a much raved about product, it's been reviewed a million times by a million other bloggers. But...this is the first time I've seen it. Milani products were not sold anywhere near me until very recently. I had to grab this blush as soon as I saw the Milani section. I've just only ever heard how amazing it is.

And guess what? It lives up to the hype.

I honestly thought it was way too light when I saw it in the package. I thought it looked like a peachy highlighter. But I resisted the urge to think I knew better and bought it anyway. So glad I did.

This blush is unlike any other blush I own, it's a unique shade of peachy goodness. It has a gorgeous glowy sheen built in that totally eliminates the need to add highlighter. I really like how this makes your face pop, brightens it up and pulls your whole look together.

I can see this working on multiple skin tones and lasting a very long time, as it is a baked product. I swatched Luminoso next to my 3 other favorite blushes for comparison. You can see how different of a color it is but it ends up being so flattering! Definitely a natural, kicked up flush result.

CoverGirl Soft Mink, NYX Pinched, Milani Luminoso, NYX Dusty Rose

 

It looks the most similar to my beloved Soft Mink, but Soft Mink has a more silvery shimmer which makes it a cooler toned blush and Luminoso is definitely more golden and warm. 

I don't much care for the packaging. It feels bulky and fragile at the same time. Other than that, this is a happy addition to my blush collection and I get why everyone obsesses over it.

Thanks for reading!

August Favorites

I'm doing favorites a little bit early this month, because I don't plan on blogging at least for a week with the holiday! I really can't believe that summer is almost over, but I will say...come Monday morning my house will be ALL decked out for autumn. It is definitely our favorite season, so we are very happy to see it come!

This past month I have been loving a few things, so much so that I haven't really dabbled in much else. Not really a rut, just a hard core obsession lately!

First on our list is the L'Oreal Total Repair 5 System. I have the Shampoo, the Conditioner and the Damage Erasing Balm. These are totally unlike any drugstore hair system I've used before. First of all, they actually work. I know that you can't "undo" split ends, but you can sure as heck add moisture and shine and get the appearance and feel of healthier hair. One use of the conditioner and my hair was totally transformed. It made it smell amazing, feel amazing and actually looked a lot healthier. I use the conditioner daily and the balm about 3 times a week. It's amazing. I like to apply after I shampoo and condition and then wrap my hair up on top of my head and leave it at least 45 minutes before I rinse. This is a nighttime product for me. The balm is so thick and the jar is massive. Definitely worth it.

This system is to repair the 5 main signs of damage, split ends, weak, rough, dull dehydrated hair, and it really does repair the appearance of damaged hair for me. Moreso than most other products I have ever tried. These 3 products just makes my hair so happy and feels so dramatically better. I am definitely going to be trying other products in their line, they have a dry oil that looks pretty tempting!

For foundation, I have been trying to use up some of my collection before buying anything new. I never really loved the Revlon ColorStay Whipped Foundation as much as the formula for normal/dry skin. It's alright but was too matte for my liking and I just don't love the finish of it on it's own. So there she sat, until I decided I needed to force myself to use it.

I have been using a little scoop of the ColorStay Whipped on the back of my hand and adding 1 pump of the L'Oreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer. I apply with the Real Techniques Expert Face brush and have just been so impressed. It's glowy, but it lasts ALL DAY and doesn't transfer. You get the longevity of ColorStay but it's so glowy and pretty and looks so fresh. I have managed to use almost 3/4 of my jar of ColorStay this way and will definitely be repurchasing that as my next foundation! (Please excuse my rained on hair)

 

L'Oreal leGloss lipglosses. L'Oreal appears to be my favorite contender this past month. I have really been enjoying their products and definitely haven't been disappointed by L'Oreal yet. Hands down my favorite drugstore brand at the moment.

I've already done a full review of the leGlosses but they are definitely top notch in my book. Color payoff, scent and texture are all perfect. The packaging is classy and exactly what I want in a lipgloss.

So that's it for my current favorites! Hope you all have a great Labor Day weekend and we will see you in September!

L'Oreal Colour Riche leGloss

Man, L'Oreal is sure making a run for my favorite drugstore brand. I've never tried their lip glosses before but I saw an endcap at Walgreens the other day that had several shades of the leGloss lipglosses on sale for $1.98 (!!!!). Total steal since these normally retail for around $8.

 

I grabbed 2 at that price and really love them both. I chose Florid Pink which is a perfect daytime creamy medium pink and Raspberry Flush which is a lovely bright pink.  I will definitely be on the hunt for more of these. I am a total gloss girl and these check all the boxes for me.

Super pigmented. Wonderful feel on the lips. Amazing smell. Cute packaging. Great color selection. Check, check, check and CHECK.

These stay on the lips about the same as an average lipgloss, the main difference is these are not sheer glosses. They are very pigmented, but in a workable way. Compared to say, the Rimmel Apocolips, The leGloss is much more wearable and easy to apply.

These smell wonderful. Slightly cupcakey but not sickly sweet or too immature, it's a more grown up vanilla-ish scent which I really love.

So for me, these have quickly become my all time favorite glosses. Any colors you would recommend??

Essence Effect Nails 3D Nail Pearls

I am kind of having a little love affair with Essence beauty products. I tried a few things on my trip to Ulta and now keep finding fun little Essence products at Fred Meyer's.

I have been eyeing these little nail pearls in "Candy Buffet" for a while but wasn't sure if I would like the texture on my nails. I totally pick at anything that feels out of place, which is why I never do fake or gel nails. I just peel them right off the second they start lifting.

At less than $3 I thought these would be an affordable way to try this funky trend and not be disappointed if it totally sucked. Well, it doesn't. The colors in these pearls are so fun and pretty and would go with a million different polish colors. With this perfectly girlie pink, it reminds me of cake sprinkles, teeny tiny ones.

I applied these to my ring fingers over L'Oreal Taste of Romance. I applied 2 coats of the pink and then poured the pearls over my ring finger. I lightly pressed to insure they stuck. The directions said you could apply a light top coat to seal them and I wish I wouldn't have. It slightly faded the pearls. I would skip that step to keep the pearls the bright colors.

 

Suprisingly, these don't feel wierd on. The pearls are so small that they don't make your nails look huge and wierd. They lay nicely and cover the nail really well. I wouldn't say this is a long lasting look, but definitely fun for a few days!

What do you guys think? Have you tried any other nail pearls? Any tricks to making them last?

L'Oreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer

Today I'm reviewing the L'Oreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer. This is my first real dip into the "primer" pool. I have just always been hesitant to use them, afraid it would give me cake face or break me out. I decided to try this one because I've never had a reaction to L'Oreal face products and you know I love the Lumi Foundation.

I wouldn't really use it as a primer. I mean, you definitely could if you wanted an all over dewy look but it is not going to matte you out at all. She's a glowy girl, this one. I typically use this by mixing it in with any of my foundations or applying it with a stippling brush to my cheekbones.

One thing I will note is that it comes out runny, even if I shake it up, so use caution when you pump it out. I love the bottle, the rose gold lid is so cute and the pump is perfect for this kind of a product. A little goes a long way.

It gives my skin a perfect glow without looking greasy or shiny. It is a very pretty effect. I really enjoy it mixed in my foundations and am having fun turning some of my more matte foundations into pretty summer foundations (I'm looking at you ColorStay).

Have you used this product? Any fun ways you've found to utilize it? Let me know in the comments!

Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Anti Chip Top Coat

photo courtesy of sallyhansen.com

 

I have used Seche Vite pretty religiously for the past 2 or 3 years. I like it because it dries my nail polish so quickly and leaves them super glossy and professional looking. The downside that I have been majorly overlooking is the polish shrinkage that I've only ever seen with Seche Vite. Even if I wrap the polish around the tips of my nails, it shrinks it from the cuticles.

 

I have been able to deal with it because of the other great qualities but lately it's just annoying me too much. I feel like it ruins the nail art I work so hard on if they already look like they are grown out or have tip wear from polish shrinkage.

 

So I have been trying several different "quick dry" top coats. The trick is to find one that specifically says it dries other polishes, not just a fast drying top coat. I saw this one from Sally Hansen on sale at Walgreens for $2.80 and snatched it right up. Seche Vite is usually $10 a bottle and you can only ever get 1/2 way through a bottle before it turns to sludge.

 

The instructions say to let your polish dry for 2 minutes and then apply this top coat. I totally agree with that. You will see color transfer to the brush if you rush any quicker than that. However, if you wait the 2 minutes, apply a light coat of Insta-Dry and allow it to dry for 30 seconds, it's completely dry to the touch with no shrinkage at all. So....WIN?!

 

I tested this out on a few different manicures with all different kinds of polishes. I get AT LEAST 5 days with no chipping. I would say this gives a 5-7 day manicure on me. Which is very impressive for an at home manicure. No tip wear and my nails stay super glossy with a gel like finish.

 

I can't say enough good things about this little red bottle. It has completely replaced Seche Vite in my mani ritual. 

4th of July Nail Ideas

I was going through nail art on Pinterest last night (as usual) and remembered I had done a couple of cute patriotic nail looks last year. I did a little sparkly nautical mani last night and wanted to throw it out there too. It's not my favorite because I'm testing a new top coat and it streaked the colors a teeny bit. Enough to annoy me. Probably only me, but that's ok.

These looks are all very easy, all using drugstore polishes and toothpicks for the stars and hearts. Super easy, beginner type nail art but if I'm only wearing something for a day or two I'm not going to make it too difficult. Plus it was 96 degrees last night, too...hot...to...create.

We are going to a rodeo and firework show tonight and spending tomorrow on the river and BBQing with the family. Just like our forefathers intended.

Happy 4th of July!

 



 

For this look I just painted all the nails with 2 coats of JulieG "Cabana Boy". I used a very sparkly polish from Nicole by OPI on my index and ring fingers for the firework sparkle look. I used a white nail polish with a thin nail art brush to make the 5 white stripes on each side. I could have used tape for perfect lines but I didn't really want perfect here. When that was dry I used Target Red by L'Oreal and made 2 dots on my middle finger with a toothpick and then connected them to make the heart. Pretty easy. Allowed it to dry and topped with Sally Hansen Insta Dry Anti Chip polish (the one in the red bottle).

 

I found a couple of other mani ideas on Pinterest if you want to put a little more effort in than I did. I thought these looked simple and classy but still festive and super adorable. Like I said, these were all found on Pinterest. It is a great resource for creative ideas to make your own!