MANICure Monday — Truffle Shuffle

Hello! I've been on a hiatus for a couple weeks now (finals took over most aspects of my life, including this here blog) but I am back! This week I'm talking about a new polish I recently purchased, and it has quickly become one of my favorite neutrals.

The shade is Truffle Shuffle by Sally Hansen and yes, it is another Miracle Gel polish. I seriously can't get enough of this stuff. I love really love this shade. I don't have any rich camel colors in my collection, and this is the perfect one.

I could also see this being a great holiday manicure color if you add on some reindeer nail art. Should I do that? I don't typically show nail art on here, but I could always give it a shot.

Would you like to see some holiday themed nail art these next couple of weeks? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,
Caitlin.

My Skincare Routine — Nighttime Edition

Hello everyone! I've got the second half of my skincare routine for you, so let's jump right into it!

First, I remove all of my makeup, I just use the generic Wal-mart brand oil free eye makeup remover and baby wipes to remove as much as I can.

Then I wash my face in lukewarm water with the Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover and my Dew Puff. I really like this cleanser. It leaves my skin feeling very fresh and clean and is safe for use on the eye area (I wear waterproof mascara, so I always have to wash around my eyes). While it's not as 'natural' as some brands, it is still very gentle and does a good job at getting my makeup off.

 After I rinse and dry my face (I leave it a bit damp) I put some of the Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner on a cotton pad and wipe it all over my face. The purpose of a toner is to rebalance your skin after washing and to help remove any residue that may be left behind (traces of makeup or face wash). This toner also contains witch hazel, which is a powerhouse for your skin. It refines your pores, removes and controls oil, soothes irritation, and locks in moisture. After I let the toner dry I apply my Yes To Blueberries Face Oil (I talked about that in my daytime skincare post).

 Once the face oil absorbs I use the Yes To Carrots Fragrance Free Intense Hydration Night Cream all over my face and neck. Night creams are much thicker and richer than regular moisturizers. The carrots in this cream are rich in Beta-Carotene. Beta-Carotene is an antioxidant that helps protect skin from free radicals. It also contains vitamin E, which heals and hydrates the skin.

After the night cream I apply the Yes To Blueberries Eye Treatment (again, last skincare post), some Vaseline to my lips, and hit the sack.



What are your favorite nighttime skincare products? Let me know in the comments!

xx,
Caitlin.

Magical Face Sponges — The Dew Puff

Hello everyone! Remember in my first skincare post the mysterious Dew Puff I briefly mentioned? Well now I'll tell you all about it!

Essentially, the Dew Puff is a sponge you use on your face. You can use it alone or with a cleanser (I use a cleanser) and it's supposed to do wonderful things for your skin. The Dew Puff is made from 100% plant matter, specifically the konjac root. Konjac root is known to break down dirt and increase circulation, and has been used in Asian beauty routines for hundreds of years. The sponges gently exfoliate without over drying, balance the pH of your skin, and brighten and even your skin tone.

I bought the Original Dew Puff (since it was my first time trying it) and there are two more types, an Asian clay infused sponge and a charcoal infused sponge.

As you can see, the sponge looks really rough. And it is. At least until you put water on it. Once you get it wet it gets very soft, pliable, and translucent. The layer of water also helps the sponge to hydroplane over your skin while cleaning it. It is incredibly gentle, and they even say you can use it on babies (babies need to be clean too, I guess).

They recommend to get the sponge really wet, squeeze out the water (don't twist the sponge), apply a cleanser (if you'd like, which I do), and wash your face. I prefer to apply the cleanser directly to my face and work it in a bit before I go in with the sponge. After you've washed your face, rinse out the sponge thoroughly, squeeze out the water, hang it up somewhere (there's a nifty string attached, I keep mine in the shower on my shower caddy), and let it dry until your next use. It dries back to its hard state, which is great because it cuts down on any bacteria living in there.

You can use this sponge twice a day for three months before you need to replace it, which I think is a great deal, seeing as how it's only $7. I intend to try the the other types of sponges once this one's three months is up. Overall, I LOVE this sponge. It exfoliates just enough but doesn't dry my skin out, my complexion has improved tremendously (I'm sure this is also in part to the other new products I've been using), and it makes my face feel really clean. I highly recommend this sponge, and I'm sure you'll love it too!

xx,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Sweet Tooth

Hello everyone! I've got a quick MANICure Monday post for you. I wanted something really quick and easy this week, so I used Sally Hansen Sugar Coat in Cherry Drop.

As you can see it's a bright orange red with some texture to it. This is a perfect polish for when you're in a hurry and don't have the time to sit still while waiting on your polish to dry. Even if you nudge it a little bit, it's textured already so it blends right in.

What are your favorite quick polishes?

xx,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Like, Totally Radical

Hello everyone! I know I've been MIA for these past couple Mondays, but now I'm back! This week I've got a nail look that accidentally reminded me of the 80s. Like, a lot. Maybe I'm crazy, but I was definitely feeling some 80s vibes after painting them.

Do you see it? Am I crazy? Anyways, I used Sinful Colors in Aubergine and Maybelline Color Show Street Art in Nighttime Noise. I had no idea what an aubergine was, but apparently it's an eggplant. This shade isn't quite a deep enough purple to be named after eggplant, at least for me. But hey, I'm not the nail polish naming police.

I've had this Maybelline polish for a LONG time (since this summer) and have never used it. I wasn't sure what polish to pair it with, and I finally just decided to go for it. I really, really like the results. I think it gives a graffiti-ish effect (hence the name Street Art, I suppose). I can see myself getting a lot of use out of this polish now that I've actually given it a try.

Did I convince you this looks like the 80s? Let me know in the comments!

xx,
Caitlin.

My Skincare Routine — Daytime Edition

Hello everyone! I've got an updated skincare routine to tell you about.

I recently purchased a TON of new products from Yes To. I have completely switched gears from my last skincare post and introduced a lot of new different kinds of products. So, in order to keep this from being incredibly long, I'm splitting it up into daytime and nighttime. Today, you get daytime.

In my old skincare routine, I was using products containing a LOT of chemicals, which I didn't really enjoy too much. My skin just wasn't looking how I wanted it to, so I decided to make a change. Yes To is a natural skincare and beauty brand that uses different fruits and vegetables in their products, and tries to keep any chemicals down as low as they can. I've always seen their products in stores, but never made a purchase. That is, until now. I ordered all of these products online, and shipping was fairly quick. I believe I ordered and received everything within a week, I'll link all the products so you can see prices. Now let's get started on the products!

When I wake up in the morning, I use the Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Acne Control Gel Cleanser to wash my face (I also use a fancy face sponge called a Dew Puff – but that will be a separate post!). Tomatoes are great for your skin. They contain Lycopene, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties that helps protect skin from environmental agents that can clog your pores, leading to breakouts. The acids in tomatoes also help control sebum (the oil in your skin) so you don't overproduce and have super oily skin. This cleanser also contains salicylic acid, to give a boost to the acne fighting properties.

I don't have a ton of trouble with acne, though I do get the occasional breakout. I get very oily in my t-zone, so I thought this could help. So far, I do think it's helping. My face feels fresh after I use it, yet it doesn't feel dry, like most oil controlling cleansers tend to make my skin feel.

After my face is clean, I apply the Yes To Blueberries Age Refresh Face & Neck Oil. You may be wondering why I'm applying oil all over my face if my t-zone gets oily, and the answer is simple: even if you have oily skin, you still need to moisturize it (and no, not just moisturizer). Think of it as hydrating your skin as opposed to simply moisturizing it.

This oil acts as an anti-aging treatment (it's all about prevention, if you stop the aging before it occurs, you won't be taking steps backwards). I apply three drops to my fingers and work it around my entire face. It has really hydrated my skin and I like this product A LOT. It doesn't leave a greasy residue whatsoever.

 After the oil has absorbed into my skin, I apply a small amount of the Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Daily Repair Treatment. I only use this if I'm having some problem areas on my skin. It helps to control acne and clear blemishes as well as diminish redness.

It's not as potent as a spot treatment, but for minor issues it works pretty well.

 After the treatment, I apply the Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Daily Balancing Moisturizer. What may surprise you is that moisturizer doesn't moisturize (wait, what?). Moisturizer acts as a sealant, helping to keep the moisture that is already in your skin actually in your skin (this is why you need something to hydrate your skin, like the oil). This moisturizer gives you all the benefits of the tomato again, including acne and oil control. It's pretty heavy on the scent, which I'm not a huge fan of. But I've gotten used to it.

It doesn't make my skin feel greasy, and it's a pretty light formula. I like this A LOT more than the Simple moisturizer.

The final step is applying an eye treatment. I'm using the Yes To Blueberries Age Refresh Eye Firming Treatment. I suffer from fine lines under my eyes, and have been trying to diminish them so my under eye concealer doesn't crease so badly.

This treatment is very hydrating, and I do think I've seen some progress. Wrinkle treatment is a gradual process, so I won't see huge results for awhile, if it does in fact give me results.








Well, that's it. I guess I should make a note that if it's a Sunday I use the St. Ives apricot scrub as a deep exfoliant. I'm sure for a lot of people this will be way too many products, but I like this system. The key to makeup that looks good is good skin, and that's what I'm trying to achieve. I'll get the nighttime routine up here soon (there are some repeat products, but only two new ones) and also the review of the Dew Puff.

If you made it this far, high five!

xx,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Game of Chromes

Hello everyone! I've got a new MANICure Monday post for you. This week I employed a technique called dry brushing, which gives the nails a textured, almost marble-like appearance. I'm totally diggin' it.

The base color is Calypso by Sinful Colors. It's a very deep forest green, and I really like it. Over top I used Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Game of Chromes (I love that name) for the marbling effect.

So how did I achieve this awesome marbled look, you ask? It's ridiculously simple. All you need to do is wipe almost all of the color off of the brush (I just scrape it along the sides of the top of the bottle, that way I don't waste any polish) and swipe it softly across your nails. You want to avoid large globs of polish, because then you won't get the feathery effect.

Super simple, right?

xx,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Showtime

Hello! I've got a new MANICure Monday post for you. This week is all about the glitter.

I've had this silver glitter polish in my collection for some time, and I really like it. It's Showtime by Sally Hansen, and it's a very pigmented glitter polish. By that I mean it fully covers your nail with glitter (it's not the chunky kind). I wanted to add a little something extra to the glitter look, so I opted for a black french manicure. I used NYC in Black Lace Creme. It's a a standard black polish and super affordable.

What are your favorite glitter polishes? Let me know in the comments!

xx,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Twiggy

Hello! I've got another fall MANICure for you this week.

Yes, Sally Hansen Miracle Gel. Again. I really love this stuff. I used the shade Twiggy this week, which is a really nice neutral that has a unique yellow undertone (it reminds me of coffee ice cream, which is probably why I like it so much).

I wanted to add in some edge, so I lined some black studs around my nail bed. It's not my favorite look I've ever created with studs, but hey. I took the time to do it so I kept it for the week. The studs are Kiss (I bought a kit with gold, black, and diamond shades).

I've gotten some questions on how I apply the studs, so here's my process:

• paint the nail whatever base color you want and let it dry
• paint your nail with a top coat
• while it's still wet, dip the tip of a manicure stick in your topcoat (to allow for easy pickup of the stud)
• pick up a stud and place it in the desired area
• once your studs are set in place and given a few minutes to dry, add another layer of topcoat to seal them in

Voila! You've got some fancy nails.

xx,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Autumn Glitter

Hello everyone! I've got an incredibly Fall inspired look for you this week.

I used a deep burgundy color (Wine Stock from Sally Hansen Miracle Gel) and a golden glitter accent (Golden Rust from Sally Hansen) with some gold stud accents (Kiss, I believe).

To apply the studs I used a manicure stick that was included in the stud kit (it also came with crystal and black studs). After applying two coats of Wine Stock and letting it dry, I applied the gel top coat. While the top coat was still tacky, I dabbed the manicure stick on some top coat and picked up each stud, placing it on my nail. Once they were all secure I added a second coat of a regular top coat to seal them in.

What are you favorite nail accessories? Let me know in the comments!

xx,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Fall Nudes

No. Not those kind of nudes.

I wanted a nice neutral look, and I recently bought a new Wet 'n' Wild polish in the shade Wet Cement (not the greatest name, hence why I didn't put it in the title).

It's a really nice neutral brown with some really lovely purple undertones. I'm super into this color for this season (it's also on my toes) and see this being a repeat player this fall.

What are your fall staple colors? Let me know in the comments!

xx,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Matte Plum

Hello everyone! It's MANICure Monday and I've got a matte purple nail for you this week.

I used Covergirl's XL Nail Gel in Plumped-Up Plum and a matte top coat (Revlon I think). I've used this polish once on here before, but used it as the directions said — without any type of top coat. This time I decided I wanted a little more interesting look, so I used the matte coat. I really liked it.

I think it started chipping a little sooner than it did without the top coat, but even without it's not incredibly long wearing. Also, depending on the lighting, this purple sometimes reads more blue and other times more red.

What's your favorite color to mattify? Let me know in the comments!

xx,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Blue Away

Hello everyone, today is MANICure Monday! This week I tried out a polish I've had for quite some time but never used, and paired it with one of my favorites.

I used Sally Hansen Insta-Dri polish in Blue away. I wanted a bit more interesting look so I added a light coat of Maybelline Color Show in Gilded Rose. I think it gave it a robin's egg type of effect (I may be crazy).

What color combos are you loving right now? Let me know in the comments!

xx,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Sterling Silver

Hello everyone and happy Labor Day! I've got a unique look for you this week.

 

I used Sally Hansen's Color Foil in Sterling Silver for a bold and reflective look. I really love how high shine and how metallic this polish is. I typically only use it for an accent finger, but I figured hey, go hard or go home.

With this polish it recommends to not use a base or top coat, which I don't. This polish isn't long wearing, but it also doesn't chip. It wears away, if that makes sense. I love it for the color and shine, but not so much the longevity.

xx,
Caitlin.

Olay Age Defying Eye Gel

Hello! I have a skincare product to review for you today. More specifically an eye care product.

For the past month and a half I have been using the Olay Age Defying Eye Gel on my under eye area. I purchased it from Walmart for about $10 and it comes with .5 oz of product (it's actually quite a bit).

As you can see, it's just a clear gel. I apply it twice a day, morning and night, after I have cleansed and moisturized my face. I just dip my finger in and get a bit of product and apply it on my under eye. I focus it primarily on the area closest to my tear duct, and any remaining product I'll work into the outer corners and lid. Some of you might be saying, 'but Caitlin, you're in your early 20s, why are you using an age defying eye product?' and here's why: the earlier you start treating for aging, the more successful you'll be in that aspect. If you start treating aging before it happens, you'll delay the process and in the end, HAVE LESS AGING.

Anyways, here's what Olay says about this product:

• This Fragrance-free, color-free gel cools on contact and delivers immediate hydration leaving the eye area - where the first signs of aging are likely to show - moisturized and refreshed. 

Here's what Caitlin says about this product:

• it is indeed fragrance-free
• also color free
• it has a bit of a cooling sensation, but it's nothing super noticable
• it does moisturize the eye area, although I would prefer a little more intense hydration

Overall, I'd give this product 7 wine bottles out of 10 (new rating system, maybe?). It does add moisture, but I'd really like a more intense moisturized feeling. When I bought this product I had the hopes that it would help diminish some of the fine lines that my under eye concealer tends to settle into throughout the day, but it doesn't seem to have done much in that aspect (granted, it's not marketed as a fine line corrector). I plan on finishing out the product, but probably trying another one once I'm out that might aid in diminishing those lines a bit.

Do you use any age defying products in your skincare routine? Let me know in the comments!

xx,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Fearless

Hello! MANICure Monday is back on track this week!

I took the past few weeks off because I've been incredibly busy, and doing my nails was one of the last things I had time for, even though I've been buying quite a few new polishes recently. This week's color choice is Fearless by Revlon. I recently picked this up after it caught my eye at the store.

I really love how vibrant and unique this color is. I don't own any polishes quite like this. It reads as a cross between a hot pink and a red orange depending on the lighting. I think it's a perfect farewell summer color before I start introducing darks and nudes for fall.

Speaking of fall, have you seen any new nail trends you're wanting to try? Let me know in the comments!


xx,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Matte Black

Hello everyone! I've got a MANICure Monday post for you!

This week's look is a simple one, but a classic in my book. To me, there's nothing I love more than a matte black nail, so that's what I've done this week!

That's it, just a plain black color (I think I used an NYC one) and a matte top coat. Simple, easy, and chic.

What's your favorite nail look? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Miracle Gel

Hello everyone! I've got a MANICure Monday post/new product review for you! I recently tried out the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polish when I saw a display for it at Walgreens. You could buy the polishes individually (about $10) or get a starter kit (about $15). The starter kit was the cheapest way to do it, so I purchased the one in Street Flair (I've seen that the polishes and kits are much cheaper at Walmart).

The lighting in the right photo skews the color a bit. This purple is definitely on the grayer side.

According to the package here's what you have to do:

• Apply two coats of the gel color (do not use any type of basecoat)
• After the gel color has dried apply one coat of the gel top coat

That's it. There is no UV or LED light needed, the natural light does all of the curing for you, and it's supposed to last for up to 14 days.

So now for the review:

I applied two coats of the color just like the directions said, and after it appeared dry I put on the top coat. Some of the color did bleed into the top coat brush a bit, but I was able to wipe it away with a tissue before putting it back into the bottle. Next time I'll probably let it dry a little while longer and see what happens.

As far as wear time, it did not last two weeks. But it did last one week before I decided to remove it. I think this formula has the potential to last greater than a week, but I was doing a lot of rough work with my hands (tough on your nails, doing art projects with children). After a week it was practically chip free, I did have a few minimal chips at the tips of my nails in some areas, but nothing that made them look unsightly or anything like that. If I would have worn this during a week that I didn't have to pry open paint bottles and numerous other things multiple times a day, I believe it would have lasted a bit longer.

Removal was incredibly easy. It comes off just like any other polish (I use 100% acetone remover). It is definitely much easier to get off than the Fuse Gelnamel and doesn't damage your nails at all.

Overall, this product is worth the bit of money it costs. It seems to (mostly) do what it says it does, despite a little overestimation of the wear time. The starter kit also came with a coupon for either $2 or $2.50 off your next Miracle Gel color, which I definitely intend to use. I won't say no to free money.


xoxo,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Faux Gel and Foil

Hello everyone! I've got a MANICure Monday post for you!

This week I tried out two new polish formulas in one go, because I was anxious to try both and I thought they went well together. I used the new Instaglam XL Nail Gel by Covergirl in the shade Plump-Up Plum with Color Foil by Sally Hansen in Sterling Silver.

I really love the colors of both, and particularly the formulation of the Color Foil. I was a little skeptical of the polish being that reflective, but it definitely is (as you can see in the photo). The instructions advised to use two coats of the polish without a base or top coat and to reapply as needed. The polish is definitely not long lasting, but it hold up to its name with its foil-like appearance. There's a rose gold shade that I'm dying to try.

 The XL Nail Gel claims to give you 'a gel-like look without the salon hassle with XL Nail Gel's thick, plump polish formula. No UV light required, one coat gives you all of the reflective shine and intense color you crave for up to 7 days.' The plumping aspect seems to be true, but the longevity of the polish is definitely not 7 days. It chipped just as soon as a regular nail polish, on about the second or third day. It seems to dry rather quickly though, at least in my opinion. When I normally do my nails it seems to take hours for them to be completely dry.

Have you tried any other gel formulated polishes that had a little more success? Or polishes with interesting effects? Let me know in the comments!


xoxo,
Caitlin.

MANICure Wednesday? — Red, White, & BOOM

Hello everyone! I've got a nail look for you. I know it's a little early, but it's for the 4th of July so I thought it was better to post beforehand so anyone wanting to do this to their nails had the chance.

 

I've been seeing a lot of 4th inspired nails recently, but the trouble was they all seemed super complicated and time consuming. I decided to go with something just as interesting, but way easier. I color blocked my nails with red, white, and blue (I chose this particular pattern, you could apply the colors on whichever fingers you wanted) and added an accent of gold glitter on the white for a boom effect. It's the 4th of July, there's always some type of booming going on. You could easily swap out the gold for silver, I just so happened to have gold, and didn't feel like going out to pick up silver glitter for this particular look.

What are your plans this 4th of July? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,
Caitlin.

Maybelline Super Stay 24 Hour Color

Hello everyone! I've got a lip product review for you over the Maybelline Super Stay 24 Hour Color. Say that ten times fast. I bought this after hearing raving reviews about it, and I figured if it really was as long wearing as it said it was, it was definitely worth a shot.

They retail for about $8 each, and I started out purchasing just one shade, in Continuous Coral, and ended up purchasing two more in the shades Keep Up The Flame and Constantly Cabernet.

It is a two step lip color, starting with the application of a liquid lipstick, allowing it to dry completely (this is important) and then applying a balm over top. Now just a warning, the first lipstick step is very, very sticky while it's drying. Once the balm goes on it's all smooth sailing from there.

When they say long lasting, they mean long lasting. You can eat, drink, kiss, whatever it is you want to do with your lips, and this stuff does not budge. The balm wears off just like any other lip balm, but the color absolutely stays put. The stickiness also goes away after the first balm application, so even when the balm wears off it still feels fine.

The directions say to remove it with makeup remover. I figured I'd be able to get it off with just a baby wipe, and boy was I wrong.

This is what it looked like after scrubbing for 30 seconds with a baby wipe. As you can see, the color remained primarily untouched and only the balm was removed. It's also a little difficult to get off with makeup remover, but hey. It's worth the extra time taking it off if it means I don't have to reapply constantly and worry about smudging.

My only qualm with this product is that since it adheres to your lips so intensely it does settle into the lines of your lips. I think if you exfoliate and moisturize your lips enough it will help to remedy this a bit, but if you had a lot of fine lines in your lips you might want to opt for the darker shades to help mask their appearance a bit.

Have you had any success with other long wearing lip colors? Let me know in the comments!


xoxo,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Easy Going

Hello everyone! I've got a MANICure Monday post for you!

I know I missed last week, but I was busy getting home on Monday and didn't have time to do my nails until the middle of the week. But I'm back this week!

I've noticed a lot of pale pinks and whites seem to be in this season, so I went with a pale pink shade.

This is the shade Easy Going by Sinful Colors. I don't typically opt for pale colors, since I'm quite fair skinned, but I thought hey. 'Tis the season (apparently). I think this color would look great on darker complexions or for those of you that get a nice tan during the summer (I was blessed with skin that burns, not tans). However I think it still looks pretty good against my lighter skin.

Do you have a favorite pale summer shade? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,
Caitlin.

Wet Hair Don't Care — Tangle Teezer

Hello everyone! I've got another hair care post for you. Today it's all about the Tangle Teezer.

In case you don't know what a Tangle Teezer is, it's a hairbrush specifically designed for use on wet hair. Well why do you need a special hairbrush for wet hair? Let me tell you. Your hair is in its most fragile state when it's wet and is more prone to breakage. What do most of us do when we get out of the shower? Rip through our tangly hair with a regular hairbrush causing all kinds of damage.

Supposedly, the Tangle Teezer is constructed in a way to minimize damage on your hair while you brush it. It's also supposed to cut down on pain when brushing out tangles. It has an ergonomic design that is supposed to fit in your hand to make brushing easier (because apparently it's hard to brush your hair). The bristles vary in lengths, some being short and others longer, which is supposed to help detangle the hair from root to tip. Now that you know all that Tangle Teezer claims to be, I'll give you my opinion on it.

I purchased mine from Target (I made a trip specifically to get one, and cereal) for about $10. Now if you ask me, $10 for a hairbrush is a little excessive. I've always used the cheap Conair hairbrushes (with the jelly handles) and never really had a problem, but I figured if it really is as special as it claims, then it might be a good investment to keep my hair looking healthy.

All Target had was pink. I'm not much of a pink person. But it'll do.

After using it for a couple weeks, it does indeed detangle your hair. I wouldn't say it's necessarily painless though. Coming from someone who is not tender headed, I did experience a little pain while brushing. It didn't hurt every time, but there definitely was still a little bit of scalp tugging. My hair seems to brush out a little quicker, meaning I don't have to go through as many passes through it to get it all brushed out, which is great because I'm lazy and I don't want to spend ten minutes brushing through my hair.

I can't quite tell if it's reducing damage or not. That may mean it's working because I'm not noticing any new damage since my last hair trim. I really wanted to get it to use while I blow dried my hair, because it gets really tangly then, but it says specifically not to use with heat, which was a bummer.

I've read a few reviews that claim it works wonders for their hair type, and also some that say it caused mats to form in their hair. The mats formed in 4 a/b hair (from most of the reviews I've read) so if you have this hair type (you would know if you do) I would recommend skipping this tool and using something else. Other than that, it works pretty well for me, so I'm happy with my purchase.

Have any of you tried the Tangle Teezer or any other similar products? Let me know in the comments!


xoxo,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — All Nighter

Hello everyone, I've got a super quick MANICure Monday post for you. I know it's going up a little later than normal, but it's been an incredibly long day and this is my first opportunity to sit down and actually get anything done. So let's get to it!

 

I had a bit of a late night last night, so I wanted to do something simple and without any frills. I used Pure ICE in the shade All Nighter (it feels like I pulled one today). It's a really nice burgundy shade, and it's incredibly reflective. The color registers a bit more on the purpley side in real life, and I like it a lot. I plan on using it as a toe color here soon as well.

I said it would be quick, and I kept my promise. What do you think of this polish color? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,

Caitlin.

Organix Shampoo & Conditioner

Hello everyone! I've finally got a post that's not about nails! It's about hair. Primarily how I clean my hair, but I'll get to that in a minute.

I recently went in for a hair cut (just a trim, nothing drastic) and after getting all of my damage removed I wanted to try to take some extra precautions to keep my hair looking like it had just gotten trimmed (for a long, long time. I'm a busy girl, I do not have time for monthly hair appointments.). I figured for starters I would switch up my shampoo and conditioner, I'm not too big into treatments or masks yet. That day will come. I've used Herbal Essences for a few years and was pretty satisfied because it always smelled great, but looking back on it I don't think it really did much to benefit my hair at all (way to let me down, shampoo). So I started doing a little bit of research.

Now I'm a fan of hanging out in the hair care aisle. Judge me. There are a ton of products of all price ranges that do a ton of different things (I'm the type of person that reads everything on any given product, and if there's one thing hair products do, it's write a lot of stuff on their packaging). Typically I walk past the section of over priced shampoos and treatments that claim to have the most precious oils and unicorn tears and eye of newt and whatever to make you believe their stuff is the best. But there has always been a product that I've wanted to try, and I finally decided to give it a go.

The bottles I have look like the one on the left. I didn't photograph mine because they were wet, and I'm lazy.

Before I go into my review of it let me tell you some of the things about this brand that I liked:

• no lauryl or laureth sulfates in any of their products
• paraben free
• safe for color treated hair (not that I color mine, but if I ever decide to I know I can use this product still)
• no animal testing (fantastic, A+ in my book)
• most of the products are gluten free (the ones above that I purchased are)

It might seem a little excessive that I went into this much detail about my shampoo, but I had my reasons. Sulfates can damage your hair, making it dry, brittle, and causing the ends to split. If I want to keep my ends looking like they just got snipped, I obviously want to opt out of the sulfate party. Parabens (according to my research) are unnecessary in all products. They mimic estrogen in your body, and apparently are just all around bad. So my goal was to keep my shampoo and conditioner as natural as possible without breaking the bank.

This is what led me to the brand OGX (Organix). I purchased these two products at Wal-mart, and they clocked it at just under $6 each. Now you might say, 'look at that tiny bottle, what a rip off', BUT. I got a deal. I had grabbed two normal sized bottles from the hair care aisle and then stumbled upon an end cap with bottles double the size for the same price (I would photograph my bottles but I just took a shower and they're wet and that's too much of a process). Obviously I snatched up the larger bottles and went on my marry way.

As far as the results of the products go, I like it a lot. As you could see in the picture, I got the Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco shampoo and conditioner. I wasn't sure which one I was going to get, but after reading the front of every type they had (there's that reading thing again) this one sounded the best for my hair type. It doesn't say it on the front of the bottle, but after getting it back home and reading up some more it actually helps protect from heat and UV damage (score).

I've used it for about a week and a half now (I try to wash every other day alternating between this and a clarifying dandruff shampoo) and I'm really liking the results. It smells really nice, and my hair feels very, very soft after a shower and drying my hair (if I have the time I let it air dry). It's only been a few washes but I can tell that it looks shinier already. I'm super impressed with these products and I'm definitely going to look into the brand some more.

Make sure if you want to try it you look for the larger bottles. There's nothing better than extra product (and a good one at that) for free!

xoxo,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Sparkling Rain

Hello everyone! I've got a new MANICure Monday post for you!

I bought a couple new polishes the other day (I was at Target. I never leave Target without nail polish) and I thought I would use one for this week's look. The day I bought them it was pouring buckets outside and one of them just so happened to be called Rain Storm by Sinful Colors (total accident. I didn't see the name until I was back home). I ended up painting my toes with it that night, and I absolutely loved the shade, so I decided to do it on my fingernails as well.

This gold polish is a pain to photograph. It's incredibly reflective. Great in real life, not in photos.

As you can see it's a really pretty shade of navy blue, and I love it because I've never seen another polish quite like this one. I wanted to add some sparkle, so I opted to do an ombre (kind of) effect with Gilded Rose by Maybelline. I think it sort of gives off a nautical effect, which is fine by me.

What do you think of this week's look? Would you try pairing Rain Storm with any other polishes? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Pastels

Hello everyone! I've FINALLY got another MANICure Monday post for you! I've been out of town these past couple Mondays, and it was a little difficult to do my nails let alone write up a blog post about them. Excuses aside, these weekly posts are back!

This week I wanted to do something a little different with accent nails. I chose two Essie polishes I really like, Sand Tropez and Lilacism, and paired them a little differently than I normally do.

Left polish: Sand Tropez            Right Polish: Lilacism

While I love these two polishes on their own and side by side in the bottles, it's not my favorite color combination on my nails. So why post about it? I thought maybe someone would enjoy it, or at least like one of the colors. After all, I took the time to paint them this way, I might as well show them.

What are some Essie color combos you're loving this summer (wow it's summer)? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Vamp

Hello everyone! I've got a new MANICure Monday post for you today, and it's using Fuse Gelnamel (if you're not familiar with this product, check out my review here).

I'm going on a mini vacation later this week (whoo!) and I didn't want to worry about chipped nails while I was gone, so I opted for this gelnamel manicure.

I used the shade Vamp and added an accent in the shade Lights, Camera, Flashes! I wanted something a bit more fun than just one shade, since I typically do just one color. I don't think this gelnamel is the best for layering though, because it didn't turn out quite as crisp as I thought it would. I recommend sticking to regular old nail enamel if you plan on trying to create a layering effect, but I'm still satisfied.

What do you think? What's your favorite layering trends this spring? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Lavender Soap

Hello everyone! It's MANICure Monday again and I've got a very spring-y look for you today.

It's been so rainy and dreary that I wanted to do something light and fun for my nails this week. I typically opt for darker shades, but I switched it up and went with a pale lavender. Have you ever used the Revlon Parfumerie polishes? I thought the idea of scented nail polish was a little excessive, but I finally bought a bottle and used it this week.

It was a little difficult to decide on a shade since they're based off scents. This scent seemed to be the most friendly (I definitely stayed away from leather) and I also liked the color. It's the shade Lavender Soap and it definitely smells like lavender.

The scent it VERY strong on your nails. I applied it late yesterday afternoon and I can still smell it this afternoon. I can only smell it if I put my hands up to my face, but I definitely prefer a scentless polish. It just strikes me as odd that my fingernails have a scent.

I applied the Revlon Matte Top Coat to soften the look a bit more and add to the pastel color. On the nails it reads as a bit more of a pinkish pearlescent color versus a true lavender, but it's still really pretty.

What are your thoughts on scented polishes? Let me know in the comments!


xoxo,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Outta This World

Hello everyone! It's MANICure Monday again and I've got an exciting manicure for you! Remember those nail strips I told you about last week? Well I'm finally able to show them to you!

While it's perfectly possible to do a galaxy manicure yourself, sometimes you'd just rather have a pre-made one, or at least I would. These galactic nail strips are by Kiss in Sugar Rush. Now why it's called Sugar Rush is beyond me, but all the same, I really like the pattern. Some of the strips have more of the purple-y burst that gives it more of an outer space effect, as you can see on my ring finger. I wish all of them had the burst on them, but I still like them.

This set came with strips for your full nail and for a french tip, and the french tip strips look much more galactic, which I'm excited to use. Typically, I really like Kiss polish strips, but for some reason this particular set creased and bubbled a lot more than usual, which was a big bummer. Overall, I'm still happy with how they turned out, and the best part is no dry time.

Do you like nail polish strips? What is your favorite brand?


xoxo,
Caitlin.

Getting Cheeky — Maybelline Master Hi-Light Blush

Hello everyone! I've got a blush review for you today. I've been seeing the new Maybelline Master Hi-Light blushes on shelves everywhere, and I finally bought one. I was intrigued by the highlighting aspect, but really I just wanted one because they looked really cool (good job, Maybelline).

I purchased the one in nude, since I'm pretty pale and I like to underplay my blushes so I don't look like I'm having a splotchy pink skin attack. It was about $7 or $8, I can't quite remember which. I was able to rationalize this because blushes last a really, really long time. At least for me since I use them so sparingly.

Sorry it's kinda dirty. I've used it a few times already ;]

As you can see, it's a gorgeous combination of colors, and totally spring and summertime appropriate. When I got it at first, I wasn't sure if I should use it as a highlighter or as a blush, and when I swatched it I still wasn't sure how I wanted to use it. At first, I applied a very, very small amount and it added a bit of sheen to my cheeks. It was pretty, but not quite the result I was looking for. I added a bit more and I liked it a lot more.

Sorry about my face. It's finals time and I'm valuing sleep a bit more than my appearance. Haha.

It swatches really lightly and comes off more gold than pink, which I like, surprisingly. I'm hoping you can see it in the photo, I took so many pictures it's kind of ridiculous. It comes off pretty natural, but adds a nice sheen in the light. I think I'll end up layering this blush over another color to add a nice, healthy glow to my cheeks.

Overall, I like this product. I'm not sure if I'll purchase any other shades (they have bronzer too). I feel as though the gold tones in all of them will overpower the pinks, even though they do get darker as the shades increase. I MIGHT try a bronzer. If it's as shimmery as the blushes though, I'm not sure I'll like it. I prefer a slightly matte finish with my bronzers. If I try it out I'll make sure to post about it!

Have any of you tried the other shades? If so, let me know in the comments!


xoxo,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Sugar Coat

Hi everyone! It's MANICure Monday again and I've got a quick post for you all.

I went home this weekend and was too busy/lazy to do anything with my nails while I was there, so when I came back to Columbus last night I had naked nails and not a lot of time to do anything with them.

I bought some SUPER awesome nail polish strips yesterday, but I didn't want to use them quite yet (I want to save them for something special, you'll see next week) so I opted for a polish I've had for a while. I was in a bit of a time crunch, and this polish dries very quickly so it was my go to choice.

I went with Sugar Coat by Sally Hansen in the shade Lick-o-Rich. I'm not sure if this line is still available, I purchased it this summer along with the red shade in Cherry Drop. I think it adds an interesting effect to plain black nails, and the shine dulls down a bit the next day. You can get away with just one coat, but I apply two because I like to build up the texture. It does feel a little strange on the nails, but you get used to it.

If you get tired of plain old nails like me, you should check this stuff out!

xoxo,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Gilded Rose

I've got another MANICure Monday post for you guys!

You'll have to thank my sister for this one. She visited me for the weekend and her nails were insanely glittery gold. I'm not typically into gold, but I really liked this polish for some reason so I went and bought it (it's less that $3, which is awesome).

It's Maybelline Color Show in Gilded Rose. As I'm sure you can see, it's super glittery. When it's in the sunlight it's kind of ridiculous. It's a pretty opaque gold glitter base with rose gold confetti glitter scattered throughout. I had to use two coats, but that's pretty standard, and it doesn't apply blotchy like most glitter polishes. You could use it as an accent polish over another color with just one coat if you wanted to, but I'm liking it on it's own right now.

I love the color, but I think I'm almost too pale to pull it off, which is why I normally go for silver. What do you guys think?


xoxo,
Caitlin.

MANICure Monday — Nude-ittude

Hello everyone and welcome to my new weekly series MANICure Monday! I'll be posting weekly manicure updates (on Mondays, obviously) and possibly a tutorial every now and then. We'll see on that one.

I typically do my nails once a week unless I use the Fuse Gelnamel polish, which I keep on for about two weeks. I've had on Fuse since I wrote my first blog post about it, and I felt like changing it up with some regular polish. I embraced the current trend for spring, nudes. I've been seeing nude collections popping up everywhere, lipsticks, nail polishes, eye shadows, and practically everything else, so I decided to hop on the bandwagon.

Nude nails featuring an incredibly awkward fist.

I used Sinful Colors nail polish in Vacation Time (I wish) and topped it off with a Revlon topcoat in Matte. I haven't used my matte topcoat in a while and thought now was as good a time as ever. I typically wear darker colors on my nails, so I wanted to spice up this more toned down look and mattify it. It gives a much more chic finish.

I own quite a few Sinful Colors polishes and am pretty pleased with them. They are affordable and offer a wide variety of colors, which are all pretty opaque. I could have gotten away with one coat of this color, but I typically do two in case of some more transparent areas on my nails. I sealed it with Pure Ice topcoat in Clear and then added the matte coat. I've noticed the matte coat doesn't offer much in the way of shatter/chip resistance like a regular topcoat, so I'm experimenting with a regular topcoat underneath, we'll see how that goes!

xoxo,
Caitlin.

My First Mac Products!

Hello everyone! I've just completed my first week back from break and I'm already procrastinating, so why not make a new post?

Typically I stick to drugstore products because I like to stretch a buck and trick myself into believing I'm frugal by purchasing 3 lipsticks for $15 rather than one for the same price (you feelin' me?). Well, I've always heard about the great quality of MAC from various YouTubers and the like, and I figured now was the time to treat myself (tax refund money, for the win).

I thought I would test the waters and get a few products in various categories, and I settled on purchasing a powder blush, eye shadow, and lipstick. I knew I definitely wanted to try a higher quality blush because I always seem to struggle with blushes. There is either no color payoff or gross glittery bits everywhere, but that's the price you pay when the actual price you pay is low.

My new babies.

 I purchased a powder blush in Dame (satin finish, $21), an eyeshadow in Cranberry (frost finish, $15), and a lipstick in Hang Up (cremesheen, $16). I ordered all of these products online and received them rather quickly, within four days I believe. I also got free shipping, because I spent a ridiculous amount (or at least I think so).

I really like the blush. It's very wearable and appears quite natural, even on my scarily pale skin. Even though it is a beautiful color, I was still just a teensy bit let down on the color payoff. I find I have to dip my brush in a couple of times to really build up much color, and for $21 dollars the pigment should jump out of it's packaging and straight onto my cheeks. But I guess that's what you get when

From left to right: Dame, Cranberry, and Hang Up.

you're not easy to please. It's still a good product though, pickiness aside.

The eyeshadow is a confusing one. It appears to be a much lighter mauve online than in person. In the pan it looks nice, not an everyday color, but certainly one to have in your collection whenever the need for that shade arises. However, when I swatched it on my wrist (as you can see to the left) it comes off as a very rusty brown, but when I wear it on my eyes it stays more true to the actual color. I wasn't even wearing eye primer and it still registered differently. While it's pretty on the eyes, I'm certain I could have found a drugstore dupe and saved myself that $15. Lessons learned.

I love lip products. Stains, balms, sticks, glosses, what have you — I love them. I find you can't go wrong with the Revlon Balm Stains or Matte Balms, but again, I wanted to give MAC a try. I'm partial to deep berries and darker lip colors, so naturally I gravitated towards Hang Up. Again, the color appeared a bit different than the actual product, but if I build it up enough it is still a lovely color. I wish it had a bit more staying power, because I'm terrible about reapplying (that's why balm stains are the bomb), but I can learn to deal with it. I don't think I'll be purchasing strictly MAC lipsticks from here on out. They're nice, but I'll probably save those special purchases for special colors (I've been wanting a lilac lipstick really, really badly—thoughts on that?).

Overall, I'm fairly pleased with these MAC products. I think I'll start branching out into some more higher end products (when funds allow) and see how they compare. I've also recently purchased from two brands I've never tried before, both drugstore, so stay tuned for that!

xoxo,
Caitlin.

Update & Mini Review

Hello everyone!

I'm currently on spring break and have been insanely busy, but I wanted to put up a quick post about a new product (of many) I've recently purchased.

The product in question is Maybelline's Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser. I saw it while in the beauty section at Wal-mart and snatched it before I could even look to see how much it was. I love most of Maybelline's products, including Baby Lips, so I had to try it. I didn't realize that I never actually looked to see how much it was (whoops) but I checked online and it was $5.94 (Wal-mart's price).

Nails: Fuse Gelnamel V-amp and Lights, Camera, Re-action

I've been looking for a pore minimizer because my foundation has been settling into my pores between the apples of my cheeks and my nose. I wanted an affordable and readily available product, and Baby Skin was both, so I decided to give it a try.

It was one of the first out of my new products that I tried (I've been on a very minimal makeup kick this week) and I was not disappointed. I apply it on my cheek/nose area and occasionally my t-zone. This stuff WORKS. You only need a very small amount to blur your pores and the truth is in the name; your skin feels so soft afterwards it's insane.

I absolutely, 10/10, 5 stars, 100% plan to repurchase this product. I'll probably buy another once I see it again (I bought it at a Wal-mart I don't normally go to). If you have any pore problems, I recommend adding this to your makeup routine.

Be ready for an onslaught of product reviews, first impressions, and possibly some fashion posts here soon. I've done some bank account damage recently and I've got a lot to show for it (including my first MAC purchases!).

xoxo,

Caitlin.

Fuse Gelnamel by Sensationail

Hello everyone! I've got a nail review for you today.

This past week I purchased the new Fuse Gelnamel starter kit by Sensationail after watching a YouTuber talk about it in a video. This new 'fusion' of regular nail enamel and gel enamel really intrigued me, as it claims to not be as damaging to your natural nails. I've never worn fake nails or gel nails due to the damage it can cause, so I thought this would be a good product in this realm to try.

This product claims to last longer than regular nail enamel, although it doesn't give an exact time range, and doesn't chip or crack or require a base or top coat. It cures each nail in 30 seconds when using the LED light that is included in the kit, and each kit contains everything you need for a gelnamel manicure.

This is the exact kit I purchased, and it contains the LED lamp, a gelnamel polish (I got the color sonic blue-m), cleanser, a double sided buffing stick, a cuticle stick, and cotton sheets for applying the cleanser to your nails. I purchased this kit at Wal-Mart for about $25, which is about $5 cheaper than buying directly from the Sensationail site. I also purchased a second nail color, because I wanted a more wearable color, even though I like the blue. I got watt's your color, which was about $7 compared to $10 at the Sensationail site.

Watt's Your Color

The LED lamp works off of a USB, so it can be charged at your computer (or at a wall, it comes with an adapter) and once it's charged it can be used wirelessly, which I find very convenient. The instruction sheet says to push back your cuticle, buff your nail (it was very clear that each nail be entirely completed before moving on to the next), wipe it with the cleanser, apply one thin coat of the gelnamel, remove any excess that might have gotten onto your finger (I used the cuticle stick), place your finger into the lamp resting on the groove, and press the button. The lamp turns off automatically after 30 seconds. After the light turns off, wipe your polished nail with the cleanser and boom, you're done. Sounds really simple right? Well, kind of.

After reading the instructions and following them to a T, I found that the polish didn't seem to be completely set after 30 seconds, and when you wiped it with the cleanser some of the polish came off onto the cloth, causing the color to be faded at the tips and making the overall color very dull. I was not happy AT ALL. After doing a couple nails and being disappointed in the results, I went back to the instructions and saw there was a 'troubleshooting' (if you will) type of guide in the little booklet. It said that it was okay to do one more coat of polish just as long as each coat was cured separately, and that after wiping the finished nail with the cleanser the shine would be diminished, but would return over time.

After applying two coats and cleansing each nail, the color was more vibrant and the shine did return (it became almost wet looking when I woke up the next morning). I was fairly satisfied with the results, although it was much more time consuming than the product claims. If you do the math, it was 30 seconds per coat, per nail. With two coats and ten nails, that was one minute per finger, so ten minutes just sitting with my finger in the lamp, not to mention carefully cleaning the excess from each nail and buffing. I think the whole process took me about 30 minutes. It was worth it, I suppose, because I was able to go right to sleep afterwards since they were dry, and YES, they passed the sheet test. No annoying wrinkles in my enamel after sleeping that night.

I did this on Wednesday night, and today being Friday, they still look really fresh. I've done lots of dishes, cleaning, and banging my nails off of stuff (accidentally, of course) these past couple of days and they still look good. I'll be curious to see how well they fair throughout the next week, because I usually get a shattering effect in my nail polish after the first few days (not cute). I'll be sure to post an update later next week.

Here they are today.

The instructions for removal say to use 100% acetone or the Sensationail Gel Remover Kit. I'm not sure which I'll end up using, but I'll be sure to update you on that as well. They only offer 12 colors in this formula, which is kind of a bummer, but hopefully they'll release more if it gains enough popularity (hint hint, go buy some).

The colors they have currently.

Overall I'm fairly happy with this purchase. It didn't break the bank and it seems to be holding up fairly well. If it keeps up this way I'll definitely be purchasing some more colors (I'm eyeballing the silver glitter one in lights, camera, re-action!). I think this will be a good product for my toes, which I don't paint very often, since it lasts so long. Did I mention the light swivels around so you can use it for your toes? Awesome, right?

xoxo,
Caitlin.

UPDATE

It is now Monday, and I've had this enamel on for almost a week. At this point, with typical nail polish, I'd have multiple chips and 'shattering' (cracking without actually breaking off). I have had one nail that has chipped, my index finger on my left hand. I smacked it off of my desk on Friday, and as a result a portion came off. Luckily, my nail didn't break, just a part of the polish. I was able to reapply the enamel to that portion of the nail and cure it under the LED lamp and boom, fixed. There doesn't seem to be any wear to the edges, and overall it looks about the same as the first day I applied it. I am very pleased, and will most likely use this gelnamel when I want a longer lasting manicure, which is pretty much all the time.

xoxo,

Caitlin