Xmas Nail Fail
It’s been a while since I had a good ‘nail fail’. My ego wants to say it’s because I’ve achieved mad skillz in the nail game…but we know what it really is. Since I’ve gotten into Polish Pickup, I’ve simply been enjoying swatching my nails with exciting polishes, as opposed to experimenting with drugstore polishes. It’s fine, it’s whatever – I cannot be a nail polish thrill seeker forever?
In any case, right before Xmas, I decided to pull out the nail decals…and these 6+ year old Julep Gold Rose Nail Decals seemed like a good idea…at the time. I started with Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Top Coat, then two coats of Revlon “Valentine”. I only placed decals on my index and ring fingers, then topped with Glisten & Glow Glitter Grabber and Glisten & Glow Top Coat. All seemed fine…until we lost the TV remote.
Now…I don’t know if this sucker popped off by itself, or if it was lost as I was digging in the sofa (a few hours after applying – nails were DRY). I chalked it up to the decals being old, so they went in the trash…but then I did a little research. These fucking nail decals lifted off back then, too! I even mentioned that they reminded me of a wax seal, which is exactly what I took a picture of…
Let’s Rejoicify
OPI x Wicked “Let’s Rejoicify” surprised me! I wasn’t expecting such a stunning and dynamic polish from OPI – it’s more like one of my indie polishes.
This purple shimmer jelly base is filled with red and gold microglitter. Julep “Bri” is similar, but darker.
This is two coats of “Let’s Rejoicify” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“.
Last Ulta Haul of 2024!
I didn’t intentionally wait until the last day of the year to post my last haul of the year…or did I? Seeing as how I placed this order the first week of December…it definitely wasn’t intentional – I was just doing holiday stuff…eating, disassociating, crocheting, losing track of what day it is…THAT’S what the holidays are really about!
This last haul was mostly gifts and stocking stuffers, but since I had a 20% off code, I threw a few things in the bag for myself…like Sol de Janeiro Samba Foot Fetish Cream and Smoothing Board ($27). If you think Bum Bum Cream is good, wait until you try this stuff! It leaves my feet feeling pedicure smooth for DAYS after using it.
Tell me why the r.e.m. beauty Practically Permanent Lip Stain Marker in “booked and busy” that I paid $17 for is like using a felt-tip marker that is running out of ink, but the $11.99 CoverGirl Outlast Lip Stain in “All Star” is like a damn sharpie?
That’s it for personal “gifts”…I admit that I kept the 23 piece beauty bag with $85 purchase for myself…it was a pretty red plaid bag with Garnier Fructis Hair Filler Shampoo & Conditioner packettes; TONYMOLY I’m Aloe Mask Sheet; tarte Shape Tape Corrector Card Sample; Versace Eros; Dime Biome Body Butter; Mugler Alien Goddess; Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb; Givenchy Gentleman Society; OUAI Fine to Medium Hair Treatment Masque; Valentino Uomo Born in Roma Green Stravaganza (huh?); Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium; Valentino Donna Born in Roma Intense; Good Molecules Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel; Tom Ford Ombre Leather; Azzaro The Most Wanted; Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male (I think this is what my father-in-law wears?); Givenchy L’Interdit; NYX Lip Pencil in “Ever” (do I sense a hint of “Lolita”?); CHI Infra Silk Infusion; Smashbox Photo Finish Illiminate Glow Primer; Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir; and Kate Somerville ExfoliKate. So the bag was mostly fragrance from brands I don’t like…but I got a Xmas-y bag to put Barbie sweaters in, so I’m not even mad!
Here’s to a more beautiful 2025!
Dead to the World
My first Lemming Lacquer! I chose Lemming Lacquer “Dead to the World” from August 2024’s “Book Covers” Polish Pickup. It’s inspired by one of the best (IMHO) books in Charlaine Harris’s Southern Vampire Mysteries Series, AKA the True Blood books. It’s the one where Sookie is dealing with the nekkid, memory-wiped Eric the Vampire.
“Dead to the World” is a deep blue/black jelly based polish, filled with shifting shimmer. It is somewhat similar to Zoya “Lilith”, which only shifts to pink.
This is two coats of “Dead to the World” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“.
December 2024 Ipsy Bag – Unwrap Joy
The gift wrap detail on this month’s bag is adorable – too delicate to throw in my purse, but too pretty to not use…maybe Barbie will get it?
I tried out this month’s product choice yesterday – Pur~lisse Beauty Sheer Glow Strawberry Vitamin C Tinted Moisturizer in “Fair”. This is NOT a moisturizer – if it’s thicker than a BB or CC Cream, dowsn’t that mean it’s a foundation? That being said, I got decent medium coverage. I did have to buff it out with a kabuki brush, but it lasted well in humid weather and it only oxidized on my chin.
The only other product that I’ve tried in this month’s bag is the Catherine Malandrino Mystere Fragrance. It’s a very holiday-forward scent, with notes of orange and cranberry. I’ve been wearing it a lot this past week!
Also in this month’s “Unwrap Joy” bag: Nena Skincare Glacial Body Lotion; Pixi Beauty LipGlow in “Fleur“; and Half Caked Double Dipper Highlighter. Unsure as to whether I’ll use these…
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Oz-mazing
I feel like I have a lot of gold shimmer nail polishes…but as I was searching through my site to find examples, and I couldn’t find anything like this. I found mostly glitters and lots of chromes – but no gold sheer shimmer? How about that…
I suppose it is possible that OPI x Wicked “Oz-mazing” is my first sheer gold shimmer…or should I go back in time – over thousands of posts – and add color tags to every post? Ugh, I’m sure I am too lazy for that…
This is two coats of “Oz-mazing” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“.
Lizard Grabber
It should surprise exactly no one that I chose DRK Nails “Lizard Grabber” as the first polish to try from November’s “Nostalgic Toys” Polish Pickup. I love a good green nail polish and I REALLY LOVE a good color-shifting multichrome polish.
“Lizard Grabber” is inspired by those sticky, lizard shaped toys that you find at dollar stores or gumball machines – you fling it and it sticks to whatever it touches and flings it back to you – IF it’s light enough.
This is my first time trying DRK Nails and I am really impressed. The color is so vibrant and it DID NOT stain my nails. I was expecting stains and got none. I loved it so much that I brought it to the nail salon for a pedicure. It’s a perfect holiday polish!
This is two coats of “Lizard Grabber” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“.
Ga-Linda
I admit, I am not very wowed by OPI x Wicked “Ga-Linda”. It’s a very sheer, light pink shimmer polish, which I feel like I have a dozen of. Sinful Colors “Glass Pink” is a possible dupe?
I’m running out of Witchy Madame Alexander Happy Meal toys to hold!
This is two coats of “Ga-Linda” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“.
Polish Pickup November 2024 – Nostalgic Toys
Oops, I went overboard on Polish Pickup again. Sorry, not sorry.
November’s theme was “Nostalgic Toys” – I wanted them ALL – Barbie, Jem, Furbies…but I tried to control myself…
DRK Nails “Lizard Grabber” ($13) is inspired by those slimy lizard grabber toys from gumball machines.
Kathleen & Co “Glow So Bright” ($13.50) is inspired by Lite Brite.
Bee’s Knees Lacquer “Ghost or Furby” ($13) is inspired by a haunted Furby.
Crystal Knockout “Dressin’ Up” ($12.50) is inspired by the 1987 Barbie & the Rockers movie, which I have NOT seen! This one is a thermal.
Garden Path Lacquers “Truly Truly” ($13.50) is inspired by the TRULY OUTRAGEOUS Jem & the Holograms.
These will be a LOT of fun! I missed December’s Polish Pickup – it was a week earlier than normal – so I hope these get me through until 2025!
Live Laugh Lava
Painted Polish “Live Laugh Lava” is from October’s “Natural Phenomenon” Polish Pickup. Doesn’t it look just like video game lava?
The polish appears black, but it’s really a dark, dark, DARK burgundy filled with gold flakies. This is my first Painted Polish – I like it!
This is two coats of “Live Laugh Lava” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“.