Month: January 2025
Dressin’ Up
Yes, it’s another one from November’s Polish Pickup – Nostalgic Toys!
Crystal Knockout “Dressin’ Up” is inspired by Barbie & the Rockers and their song…Dressin’ Up (not to be confused with Dress You Up by Madonna). You can take a listen HERE. I listened to the song…and it did not ring a bell at all. I must have had the cassette, because I saved my money to buy Dee Dee – she had the leopard print leggings, so obviously she was the best.
“Dressin’ Up” was really thick and difficult to apply evenly. I don’t think the issue was with the polish itself – the brush was fucked up. The tip was uneven and slit in two, almost cloven like a goat’s hoof. The flakies also had a lot of texture – next time I need to add a layer of Glitter Grabber. It was not at all like the other Crystal Knockout polishes I’ve tried…so it’s probably just a fluke.
Oh, and did I mention that it is a THERMAL polish? The sample pics online look more dramatic than mine, but it was cold as balls outside when I took the picture, so it wasn’t a dramatic color change.
This is two coats of “Dressin’ Up” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“.
First Ulta Haul of 2025
…and I was ready to shop…because I placed this order on January 2nd!
Select skincare was BOGO 40% off, so I decided to try Thayers Soak It Up 80HR Liquid Moisturizer for Normal to Dry Skin ($14.99) when I got my Thayers Witch Hazel ($6.57 after discount). I also got a free Travel Size Thayers Witch Hazel. I had been wanting to try megababe The Smoothie Deo Fruit Enzyme Daily Deodorant ($9.80 after discount) and was happy to see it was also 30% off.
Ulta came out with their own marker lip stain – Ulta Magic Marker Lip Stain ($10) – so I picked up “Purple Fizz” at 30% off. It goes on like a magic marker, too! It lasts decently through food – highly recommend, although this color was REALLY dark on my pasty skin…I might have looked a bit like the joker. On the other hand, I do NOT recommend Revolution Beauty Pout Tint ($4, down from $8). It’s just lip gloss that gets all over anything – it doesn’t tint or stain at all!
It was a rather small order – around $33 after using a $10 off $40 code and benefiting from free shipping on all orders placed on an Ulta Credit Card. Just $1,119 to Diamond in 2026 (my son and his girlfriend have been using my phone number at Ulta – score).
I got a Semi…
…Annual Sale Haul. What did you think I meant?
So, even though I purchased 3 times, I visited the sale and different stores another half dozen times. I was looking for one SPECIFIC thing…I wanted one of those Wallflower Projectors from Halloween. I saw them in a few different stores, but always on the 50% table. Those things were $39.95 – $42.95 originally, and even $20 was too much…I finally broke down and went to the outlet in Katy Mills Mall and HALLELUJAH, they had about 20 of the Skeleton Hearses at 75% and it was finally mine. They didn’t have any of the Tentacle Houses, which was disappointing…
I spent the most on my first visit, the day after Xmas. Wallflowers AND Hand Soaps were $2.99, so I stocked the fuck up. I added a few backup Shower Gels, but now knew scents have entered my shower…I am waiting for a good sale + coupon to add “Perfect in Pink” to my shower.
Oh, and since my daughter binged Bridgerton over the holidays, I grabbed a “Diamond of the Season” Fine Fragrance Mist for her…and another “Vampire Blood” for me!
I added up my receipts and I spent $119.47…but (supposedly) saved $208.23. That averages out to ~64% off…not too shabby!
I’m the Wonderfullest
Even The Wizard gets his very own polish…but why is it blue instead of green?
This is OPI x Wicked “I’m the Wonderfullest” and it’s a shimmery and sheer smurf blue polish. I was surprised at how sheer it is – look at the nail line!
This is two coats of “I’m the Wonderfullest” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“.
Ghost or Furby?
Bee’s Knees Lacquer “Ghost or Furby” was released for November’s “Nostalgic Toys” Polish Pickup. The polish is inspired by the maker’s childhood furby, that may have been haunted. This is one of THREE haunted/possessed furby polishes in the collection, so obviously a common occurrence…
…I had a haunted furby once. It was the special “Gizmo” themed Furby and it made Mogwai noises. It was similarly haunted. So haunted, in fact, that my husband disappeared it. It’s been missing over 20 years…AND TO THIS DAY, he won’t tell me what happened to it. Did he just stick it in the attic and it was lost in a move? Or did he smash it with a hammer? Maybe he buried it in the back yard? To this day, this is the longest standing conflict in our marriage. He won’t admit to shit – he just says, “I forgot what I did with it. Let it go.”
I am not Elsa. I will never let it go.
I’ll be there at his deathbed, waiting for a confession.
This is two coats of “Ghost or Furby” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“.
Glinda the Good
OPI x Wicked “Glinda the Good” is an intense hot pink polish with a shiny satin finish. Where “Ga-Linda” is a sheer pink polish, “Glinda the Good” is intense and pigmented, representing Glinda at her narcissistic best.
I’d have to watch the film again – and I’m sure I will – but I feel like Glinda’s wardrobe gets more intensely pink as the film goes on. I’m reminded of how Voldemort’s wardrobe becomes grey and washed out as the horcruxes are destroyed. Feel free to tell me that I’m full of shit.
This is two coats of “Glinda the Good” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” (I finally used up “Melt Down”!) and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“.
Just 2 more Wicked polishes left!
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“.