Shellac Attack

A few months ago my mum and I decided to give Shellac a try. We headed to Luxe in Yorkville for the most expensive and stellar manicure of my life. 

And now I am unfortunately hooked.

The manicure itself at Luxe is fantastic. They boast a waterless treatment that saves the nails from the damage of soaking in water. Using Love Fresh products that smell and feel wonderful, I experienced none of the complaints that I've had with Love Fresh in the past (greasy and colour staining) which makes me think that I've just come across bad batches of the stuff. My manicurist was truly gentle and made my cuticles and skin look great for weeks. Normally I find manicurist's can get carried away with the cuticle trim and then two days later my hands are red and peeling. Not so cute. Not to mention how quiet Luxe is. Lets be honest; I spend all day talking to clients. When I am one, it's my time to just keep quiet and turn my brain off. I appreciate when someone allows me to do that. 

Here's the DL on Shellac. It's a UV cured nail polish. Applied only in salons. And the big deal - it lasts two weeks. As in, it stays on your nails. Your nails don't become weak. And it doesn't chip, nick or scratch off. Oh yeah... and as soon as it's cured (which takes like... thirty seconds!) it's dry. Like super hard dry. Like stick your hand in purse to get your wallet dry. Like do the dishes that night dry. Not that I would know about that last one....

The downside, and the reason I consider myself unfortunately hooked, is the cost. I'm not a regular manicure type of girl. I do way more mani's at home and I do a decent job. But Shellac is only available in salon which makes it cost more. 

The second time I had shellac on my nails was a week ago (and it's still just as glossy and beautiful as it is in the pictures) was at a salon in Scarborough and only cost $35. The didn't even charge me for the reverse french mani! Woot woot Scarborough!!!

So go do it? K?

xoxo

That time I wore fake nails...

...and they never really looked that great.
And my nails are still recovering over a month later. Why oh why don't I learn?
Leave it to the professionals.

Review - Body Shop Nail Polish

It's always easy to tell when I REALLY love a nail polish. I wear it on it's own. As in, only one shade on my nails at a time. Take a look at my past nail photos - I obviously have colour-commitment issues.

Just before Christmas, following drinks and too much laughing, B's friend Adrianna pushed a bag full o' Body Shop products into my hand as I was walking out her door. She is way too sweet and is to thank for an upcoming giveaway (which, sidenote, I'm totes excited about! Check back the third week of January for my first giveaway!!!!). In that bag were two nail polishes; a light sparkle pink and a sparkle black. 

I opted to try the black first. Starry Night, here I come.

First thing I noticed, as this is my first nail polish by the Body Shop, it has a great consistency. I like nail polishes just a touch thicker. One of the reasons I can't get on board with China Glaze nail polish is that it's far too runny. The Body Shop polish on the other hand has good stick. It dries super fast and before the top coat was even on, I was in the kitchen chopping and preparing dinner. Right after the top coat was dry I was back in the kitchen cleaning up. So far, no dents and no smudges. I'm impressed. I may paint my nails a ton but I'm relentlessly impatient. This stuff is great for quick dry (which typically dents hours after it should be long dry).

Their website promises four days chip free which frankly, I think is silly. Lifestyle contributes more to a perfect manicure than great polish. I'm open to being proved wrong, but doing hair and makeup, washing my hands the way I do, I never time frame my mani's. Let it dry and hope for the best is the way I roll.

Anyways, check out the photos below. I used an actual camera today! No photobooth!

Oh gosh. I'm cringing looking at pictures of my hands.

Excuse the rough shape my hands and nails are in.

The cold weather and constant washing have taken their toll. 

It's time for mittens and hand lotion. Stat.

Nails... and Tonka.

What I've been up to.

Merry Christmas friends. I hope you're all enjoying the season.

xoxo

Christmas nails!

Friends, this week has been rough.

So I did what I always do when I'm bummed and I painted my nails.

I used Mettalic Top Speed from Revlon. It stays nicely, dries quickly and barely chips. The gems... well, I was just feeling a little tacky. 

I also found this picture in my photobooth and I have absolutely no recollection of painting my nails this white. I love white nail polish but only when it's super shiny and glossy. This is Sally Hansen Insta Dri in white. It looks great as soon as it's on and then gets dull and looks like white out. Ick.

Any recommendations?

I'm off this afternoon to a Christmas party of sorts. Holiday gatherings. 

I'm actually really excited. I love Christmas.

xoxo

Where have I been?!

At home.

Hunched over a table preparing for a beauty shoot 

with a focus on nails.

I'm excited. And tired.

Makeup Movie Monday - Christina Aguilera

With Burlesque having come out on Friday I thought it would be appropriate to showcase one of my guiltiest of pleasures, Christina Aguilera. (Side note: still haven't seen it. Heather and I are planning a most special 

A lot of her videos and appearances often have her showing off some questionable (at best) makeup choices. I'll be honest, I don't love her makeup most of the time. But I love that I know what to expect from her and that it's always done perfectly. Her eyeliner, lipstick and skin: gaudy - yet flawless. It's not my style but it's hers and that's all that matters.

Her video, Not Myself Tonight, was like a 2010 'Dirrty.' I can't get enough of it. A bit of Madonna and Gaga and a ton of Chrissy A. 

Speaking of Burlesque, I broke my OPI buying ban and picked up a bottle of their super sparkles from the collection for the movie. The shine and texture is amazing but it is otherwise just another bottle of OPI and chips at every opportunity. But it looks so good on that I've been religiously retouching for three days. 

xoxo

a.

Nail of the Day

I picked up some American Apparel nail polishes this weekend after reading so many fantastic reviews.

I bought butter, mouse and peacock. That evening I put butter on before bed and before noon the next day it was chipped. I was so bummed. 

Sunday night I gave it another shot with a base coat and a top coat and I'm still proudly wearing mouse with a peacock stripe. The nail polish has a wicked consistency and is totally opaque in two coats (light shades like butter took three). It holds up well and looks great. Woot woot.

Willow Smith is kind of my hero...

I don't know where to begin. 

The super kawaii nails? The silver lashes? THE SPLATTER PAINT HAIR FLIPPIN'!!!!

I don't care if she enunciates like a dog with peanut butter on the roof of it's mouth, this video is uh-maz-ing (though in all fairness... the speakers are bad and 10 year olds generally don't make great music so I was barely listening).

Enjoy.

I want to be this kids friend. Or her baby sitter. Or her makeup artist. It's hard to say where I fit in her life....