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Thursday, March 22, 2012

Review: Amazing Shine Nails

Hello, my Pretties!

About a month ago, I saw that Amazing Shine Nails was asking for bloggers to review their products over on Twitter.  I have never been approached by a company before so when this opportunity came up, I volunteered myself in a hot minute!

The actual product arrived at my home in a week.  I took about another week to actually try out the product.  And then another 3 weeks to actually do this post!  I'm so sorry, Amazing Shine Nails, for the this slow process.

So, enough waiting around.  Here is my Sparkling Glitter Kit from Amazing Shine Nails.

Sparkling Glitter Kit #632

This Amazing Shine Nails Sparkling Glitter Kit is offered in two styles:
#632 Cotton Candy/Juicy Lemonade/Aqua (Pink, Yellow, Aqua Blue)
#633 Disco Nite/Gold Rush/Blue Moon (Purple, Gold, Blue)

Each kit retails for $8.49.

Can be purchased HERE.

Kit contents.

Each kit includes:
3 Sparkling Glitters (3 grams)
1 Non Yellowing Top Coat (7.5 mL/0.25 oz)
3.5" Emery Board
2 Wooden Manicure Sticks
Bonus Design Stickers
and Full Instruction Manual

Cotton Candy-Juicy Lemonade-Aqua

The glitter shades I received in my kit are wonderfully beautiful!  I love how they are the perfect color choices for spring--especially for Easter!

Bonus Design Stickers

I love nail art stickers.  If you are like me and are not very good at doing nail art, nail art stickers are perfect!  They are easy to use and apply and look fantastic without trying so hard.

First, I started with clean nails. No base coat.

I added two coats of Avon Nailwear Pro Nail Enamel
in Loving Lavender.

This was my first time trying out this type of nail art.  I have tried using nail polish to paint on designs but I have never used loose glitter before.  That was the reason why I chose to volunteer myself for doing this review.  I wanted to see if someone who was so inexperienced in this media of nail art could still benefit from it.  Or, do you have to be a nail art pro?

The step by step instructions (included in the kit and also printed on the back of the box) are very easy to understand and follow.

1. File and buff nails, use a manicure stick to push back cuticles.
2. Apply Top Coat on nail tip or full nail.
3. Dip nail tip into glitter jar.
4. Use a manicure stick to clean edges of the French line.
5. Apply Top Coat to seal the glitter.
6. Apply desired sticker using a manicure stick.
7. Apply a second layer of Top Coat to protect the design.

Left hand.

As you can see, you don't have to paint your nails a base color first but I wanted to just to make my nails look more Easter-y.  I guess I should have done it without the nail polish base just so that I could have followed the directions to a T.

I decided to just dip my nail tips into the glitter.  The same part of the nail that you would paint white in a French manicure.  The middle finger's nail was broken and did not have enough nail to do a glitter tip so I covered the entire nail in glitter.  I added the bonus nail sticker to my ring finger as my accent nail.

Right hand.

Same process went into doing my right hand.  Only difference is that my pointer finger nail was broken and so that one was the one that I coated completely in glitter.

3 days later.

This is my left hand 3 days later.  As you can see, the part with the glitter is where it started to chip first.  I think that was because I did a thick layer of glitter.  I honestly think that if I had done a lighter coat of glitter, the glitter would have held on much longer.  You can see that where the glitter was less sparse, that held on!

The non-yellowing top coat works wonders.  I could not take the flower sticker off even with nail polish remover.  As for the glitter, that was not too hard to remove with nail polish remover.  I think glitter nail polish is always tough to remove.

Let's discuss the pros:
The glitter colors are beautiful!  I loved them.  They are very sparkly and eye catching.
The kit includes everything you need to do a complete glitter mani.
The instructions are very clear and easy to follow.
The Top Coat works very well.

And now the cons:
The glitter is very messy but I assume it is like that will all loose glitter. (I actually did my manicure on a paper towel so that it would be much easier to clean up.  All the glitter would fall onto the paper towel and I would neatly fold it up and toss it all in the trash.)
The glitter is chunky.  The texture is rough.  Not smooth at all.
The glitter applies thick if you dip your finger into the jar as per the directions.  If you sprinkled it on, I think the outcome would be much better.

Over all, my biggest turn off was that it was messy.  By the time I was done with my mani, there was glitter everywhere.  But, like I said, I think anytime you use loose glitter, you are going to have glitter all over the place by the end of the day.

I think it started to chip on me the first day.  But honestly, I think it's because my glitter application was too thick.  It was hard to thin it out once it was on my nail already.

I did get compliments on my nails, though.  They sure did sparkle!  Mine look messy because it was my first time using it and I think you need to take your time with it.  I did mine live on video to post on YouTube so I didn't want to take forever to finish the mani.  My YouTube video is up so make sure to check it out!

CLICK HERE TO SEE MY AMAZING SHINE NAILS YOUTUBE VIDEO!

I know that if I keep practicing, I will eventually be able to rock a glitter mani!  It is a tough product for beginners but if you like glitter, you will love this!  Be prepared to take your time with it and be prepared for the mess.  But also be prepared for the compliments!

And before I go, I'd like to thank Tania of Amazing Shine Nails for sending me this product free of charge for review purposes.  Thank you so much for allowing me to try Amazing Shine Nails.  I look forward to trying out some more of what this company has to offer!

Follow Amazing Shine Nails on:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Amazing_Shine
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amazingshinenails

Luv & Luk,
--L.

♥♥ Amazing Shine Nails Sparkling Glitter Kit was sent to me free of charge for review purposes.  Avon Nailwear Pro Nail Enamel was purchased by me with my own money.  These are my own thoughts and honest opinions. ♥♥



Friday, March 9, 2012

Beauty Army: February 2012

Hello, my Pretties!

Obviously, I don't have to mention to you that I am late on sharing my February Beauty Army kit with you.  Man, where are the days going?  Time is going too, too fast and I am fighting everyday just to keep up.  And I think I'm failing at that...I'm always so far behind, actually!

www.beautyarmy.com

Hello, Beautiful!


6 little gifts for me.

February 2012 Beauty Army Kit.

Indie Lee the Body Scrub
Coconut Citrus
Sample Size: 1.6 oz


"Delivers a dose of pampered, sexy skin.  The essential oils create a calming, light, lemon scent to start or end your day."


Oh-my-gosh!  This stuff smells so good!  So, so very good!

LaRocca Skincare 24K Exfoliating Cream Facial Cleanser
Sample size: 1 oz.


"A silky cream with a gentle exfoliant that dissolves makeup quickly while it moisturizes and stimulates collagen growth."


Sounds good to me!

Joico K-Pak Revitaluxe
Sample size: 1.7 oz

"A luxury hair treatment clinically proven to instantly correct years of damage.  Hair becomes automatically stronger, softer, and more moisturized."


I am totally interested in this product.  My naturally curly hair is so long right now.  It's only a couple of inches above my waist!  I've never had it this long and I haven't cut in forever and a day so it is terribly damaged.  I hope this helps.

Weleda Iris Hydrating Facial Lotion
Sample size: 0.17 oz

"This all natural face cream is a light, fast-absorbing cream that regulates your natural moisture balance and provides long-lasting protecting against drying out."


I think I have combination skin.  Some spots are oily some spots are dry.  But if I'd have to chose one or the other, my skin is way more dry than oily.  Especially during the winter time, my face tends to dry out.  I hope this will heal my skin and get it back to my "youthful" looking self!

Sun FX Body Shimmer
Sample size: 2.2 oz

"Add a little sparkle to your night out with this hydrating and illuminating body shimmer.  This easy-to-use cream keeps your skin nourished and glowing all night long."

Honestly, I chose this product because #1 I didn't know what else to pick and #2 it's a full size product.  I don't tend to go out and party and want shimmery skin but what the heck.

Myface Cosmetics Blingtone Eyeshadow
Crystalline Green
Sample size: FULL SIZE

Fingertip swatch.

Swatch.

"Create a wicked wash of colour and dramatic wet-looking shine.  Blingtone eyeshadows glide on smoothly and won't drop or flake."

I love this color.  So pretty.  Very mermaid-y.  I love the amount of shimmer that it has.  NOTE TO SELF: Don't use Blingtone Eyeshadow with Sun FX Body Shimmer or may cause shimmer overkill!

My apologizes for posting so late.  I received my kit on February 18th and just did the blog post today.  Bad, bad beauty blogger.  I have also done a YouTube video showing my Beauty Army kit for the first time but I just haven't posted it yet.  Bad, bad beauty vlogger.

I'm sorry that I have let my everyday life issues get in the way of my blogging.  I will do my best to keep up next time!

Luv & Luk,
--L.

SIDE NOTE: All words in Italics were taken straight from the Beauty Army website.

P.S. My March Beauty Army kit is probably waiting at the post office for me so stay tuned for that one.  I will do my best to post it before April!

♥♥ I paid for this Beauty Army kit with my own money.  Beauty Army is a monthly beauty subscription service where you can pick your beauty samples, up to 6, for a flat rate of $12 a month. ♥♥



FOTD: Alluring Touch

Hello, my Pretties!

After I had posted my Kleancolor Buy & Blog, which you can see HERE, I intended on posting this FOTD right after.  But I didn't.  Sorry it's late but here it is.

Face ingredients.

FACE:
E.L.F. All Over Cover Stick in Honey
Avon Smooth Minerals Liquid Foundation in Medium Beige
Milani Minerals Compact Makeup in True Beige
Kleancolor Multi-Color Blush in Brazilian Rose

EYES:
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
Kleancolor Loveville Matte Shimmer Duo in Alluring Touch
Love Me 365 Gel Eyeliner in Violet Purple
Maybelline Falsies Flared Volum' Express Mascara in Black

LIPS:
Avon Lip Stain Marker in Heart




I don't think the pigmentation was bad at all for only having paid a dollar for the eyeshadow palette.  It's quite nice.

I did yellow on the inner corner of my lid and orange on the rest.  Purple was added into my crease and blue to my lower lash line.

This is by far my best work but I don't think it's bad for the amount of money I spent on my Kleancolor products.  They were very cheap and work very well.

I think I will like to try more Kleancolor makeup.

Luv & Luk,
--L.

♥♥ All items mentioned in this post were purchased with my own money. ♥♥