Born Pretty Review: Metal Nail Deco, Moonstone, and Native Patterns

Hello, lovelies! I've been so busy lately with my school work. It has been a busy semester and dissertation has got my head spinning! Needless to say, I was so excited to receive my review package from Born Pretty Store. Check out the products that were included: festive seasonal metal nail decoration charms (item #22962, $3.66), faux moonstone nail studs (item #20582, $3.73), and Native American patterned water decals (item #21536, $3.23).

Let's start with the metal deco charms. What I love most about this charm wheel is the fact that it comes with a variety of seasonal shapes. There is something here for every occasion: Christmas, Halloween, birthdays, weddings, spring, summer, fall, winter... And the shapes are made with different metallic shades as you can see here:

Here is a wintery design I created using some of the charms. When working with certain ones (especially something wider, such as the large snowflakes), I found it helpful to work with a dry base color so that I could press down on the charm. Since they are thin metal, they are easily bent and manipulated to form to the curve of your nail. In this manicure, I used Salon Perfect "Baby Blues" for a base with a combination of My Kinda Color "Glitterlicious" and Regal Ween Lacquer "Winter is Coming" for some snowy glitter on top. For my moose accent nail, I sponged OPI "Angel with a Lead Foot" on the tip of my nail.

Next up are these simply beautiful iridescent moonstone-like rhinestones! It's okay to drool on your keyboard. I wish that pictures could capture the way they sparkle. I did my best but you'll have to take my word that they're even prettier in person. Just admire the vibrant pastel shades that do show up in photos...

Here are a couple manis in which I used the rhinestones. With all the unique shapes in this wheel, you could come up with thousands of designs. The first one was created using Born Pretty stamping plate BP24 (item #17203, $2.99). The light purple polish is Sally Hansen "Lacey Lilac" and the dark holo glitter purple is ZR's Polish "Sparkling Geranium" (which I named, yeah!). I used both of them as base colors and stamping polish. The rhinestones add a whole new level to the stamping design.

For my base in the second one, I used a black creme polish whose name I can't remember. I topped it with KleanColor "Holo Chrome". The photo is a little unfocused because I was trying to provide a different look at  the shine of the rhinestones compared to the first picture, as well as show off the holo of my polish a little better!

Ever since I first went away to college, I have loved everything Native American! My alma mater is Florida State and the Seminole tribe is an important part of that university. Anyway, I love the way these water decals were designed. The patterns are colorful, trendy, and still hold to that true tribal feeling. Again, I'm seriously impressed with the quality of Born Pretty's water decals. Look at the dark shade that I used for my base color, and still got bold, solid colors from the decals. They were so easy to use: just cut out the piece you want to use, peel off the plastic film, soak the decal and paper backing in lukewarm water, slide the decal off the paper, and place it on your nail! To make sure it stays put, you can fire a blow dryer at your nails for a few seconds and then seal it in with a top coat. The polish I used for my base color in this one is Sinful Colors 2-Step Manicure in "Mystique".

Wow, I just realized how much blue and purple I've been using recently! I guess it's obvious they're among my top favorite colors, heh. Regardless, you can tell that I had tremendous fun playing with my new toys. :) I would definitely recommend these items if you're interested in fun designs like the ones I shared with you today. Remember, if you choose to pick up these items or any others at Born Pretty Store, feel free to use the code FEPX31 to receive 10% off your purchase as well as free shipping worldwide!

Disclaimer: I received these products free of charge from Born Pretty for honest testing and review purposes. The opinions stated in this post are my own. All nails, designs, and photos are mine unless otherwise stated.

Born Pretty Review: Bling, Nail Foils, and A New Way to Marble

Hello, lovelies! I hope this blog post finds you well. I received a wonderfully intriguing package from Born Pretty Store that I am pleased to share with you. Here are the goodies inside: crown nail ring (item #21304, $3.36), holographic nail foils (item #21590, $2.94), and marbling nail art comb (item #20690, $6.99).

Here are my reviews of each item, starting with this uber-glam princessey crown ring! This item comes in silver tone (just like mine) and gold tone. From images on their website, the gold version looks just as fabulous. The ring is made of metal and features sparkling rhinestones. The backside of the ring is adjustable to fit fingers of various girths. You can see that my fingers are on the slender to average side of the spectrum and I did not adjust the ring from the medium setting. There is room to make it smaller or larger. I think this little ring can add a truly glamorous look to any nail design!

Now this was my first time trying out nail foils. I did not use specific nail foil glue, but it seemed to work well enough just using nail polish once it’s somewhat dry but still tacky (at the point where you could make a fingerprint on your nail by pressing your fingertip on the nail). If you have never used foils before, make sure you are touching the matte side to your nail rather than the shiny side in order to transfer it from the backing to your nail! I do not recommend finishing with a topcoat since it can dull the holo. If you have a stick tool with a rubber hoof on the tip like the one I used in the picture below, that makes pressing the foils onto the nail quite easy. As you can see in my photo below, the foils can be applied to the entire nail by using a dabbing motion. They can also be cut into shapes and applied to the nail in that way. However you do it, I think this foil has an awesome holographic effect!

This next item, a marbling comb, requires a little bit of explanation. I have never seen a product like this before, so I was particularly excited to try it out and see what it can do. This tool features a plastic handle with uniformly spaced metal prongs. I’ll now provide you with some ideas for how to use the comb. This may look like a lot of steps but it’s really easier than it looks!

1. First, set up your workspace. You’ll need: a plastic zip-top baggie (i.e. Ziploc), clear nail polish (I recommend a fast-drying topcoat), nail polish colors of your choice (thin crème polish seems to work well), creativity, time, and your swanky marbling comb.
2. Paint a section of your baggie with clear polish. We will be making decals with this, so paint an area that’s slightly larger than what you’ll want to place on your nails.
3. Once this layer is completely dry, paint some stripes of your desired polish colors. Lay it on thick! Instead of painting stripes, you can try other designs as well: blobs, target-shapes, blocks.
4. When these stripes are still wet, gently drag the prongs of your comb through the polish. You can drag more than once if you wish, drag in a straight line or use a side-to-side motion… whatever your creative mind decides.
5. Once you’re satisfied with the look of your design, wait for it to completely dry. Depending on your design, you might want to give it a couple hours. After it’s dried, add a thin layer of topcoat.
6. Your decal is complete! Once the whole thing is dry, gently peel (starting at the edges) and lift your decal from the baggie. If it is not completely dry, you will notice as you begin to lift the central portion. If you notice the polish is somewhat gooey or resistant to peeling up, just lay it flat again and give it some more time to dry. If you’re struggling, you may want to try peeling the baggie away from the decal rather than peeling the decal off of the bag.
7. Carefully cut out pieces of the decal that you would like on each nail. For full-nail coverage, I recommend cutting a piece that is slightly larger than your actual nail. You can always trim more away, but if it’s too small then you’re stuck.
8. Get your nails cleaned up and ready to decorate. Painting them with a white base color can help your decal’s colors to seriously pop. When your base is slightly wet still, gently press your decal onto your nail. Do your best to prevent wrinkles from forming by using your fingertips to smooth it out.
9. Trim and file away the excess, then seal in your nail design with a final layer of topcoat. Beautiful!

Please let me know if you buy one of these marbling combs. I would love to see the ideas you come up with! Check out these fun designs:

I really think that these three items were unique and so much fun for nail artists at any level. The creative possibilities are endless! The marbling comb makes things so easy. You can come up with so many designs and execute them so easily this way. In my opinion, it was much easier than traditional water marbling. The cleanup was also much neater. I will admit that the nail foils take a bit of practice but they're worth the effort if you keep at it. Remember, if you choose to pick up these items or any others at Born Pretty Store, feel free to use the code FEPX31 to receive 10% off your purchase as well as free shipping worldwide!

Disclaimer: I received these products free of charge from Born Pretty for honest testing and review purposes. The opinions stated in this post are my own.

Born Pretty Review: White Roses and Happy Stickers

Hello, lovelies! I received another package of items from Born Pretty Store to review for you! Here are the items they sent: rose charms (item #17224, $3.07), 3D typography nail stickers (item #17458, $6.20), and Alice-themed water decals (item #17412, $3.89). I happily received the items just as they were pictured on the website. The rose charms came with five pieces, all of which were in perfect condition. The 3D stickers and water decals had become a little bent during shipping, but I tested using some of the stickers and decals that were along the bent portion and they worked just fine. It seems the only affected part was the paper backing portion which you don't use on your nails anyway!

Now, let me share some of the designs I created using these items since I'm having so much fun with them! First, here is a mani that reminds me of ballet... I used the water marbling technique with Color Mates "Sarasota Sand" and Wet 'n Wild Wild Shine "Tickled Pink" for the base of this mani. I decorated it with one of the white rose charms and a few other deco items I have in my stash.

Here is another shot to help you see how the charms look from various angles. I also showed them with a US penny to show a size comparison. Not to mention the special discount code just for my readers!

Next, I made an inspirational design featuring some of the 3D stickers with cutesy words: love, peace, believe, dream. Since there are so many different stickers on this sheet, you can really do such unique designs. There are stickers with solitary letters, stickers with words and phrases, and stickers with simple designs such as hearts and stars. For my base on this mani, I used Dainty Digits Polish "Eris" which has such a fun holo.

Finally, I created a Fathers' Day design using some letters from the 3D sticker sheet, as well as a cute little tie from the water decal sheet. This sheet includes some Alice in Wonderland images (i.e., rabbits, crowns, keys) as well as poker/card game designs, and ladies' and gentlemen's clothing (i.e., glasses, scarves, hats). My base color is My Kinda Color "It's a Green".

Overall, I am very satisfied with all three of the items in this package. The roses are small and cute for an elegant feminine look. However, if taller charms bother you when they stick out, you may want to purchase a more subtle charm. The 3D stickers were simple to use (just peel it off the backing and stick it to your nail then apply top coat) and had a clean finish, even if they didn't appear very 3D on the nail. The water decals were also easy to use, just don't forget to remove the plastic before dipping them in water! If you choose to pick up these items or any others at Born Pretty Store, feel free to use the code FEPX31 to receive 10% off your purchase as well as free shipping worldwide!

Disclaimer: I received these products free of charge from Born Pretty for honest testing and review purposes. The opinions stated in this post are my own.

Sassy Cheetah Nails

Hello, lovelies! I received my new stamping plate in the mail from Born Pretty Store and started testing it out right away. The plate I chose is item #19364 on their website ($5.99, for those of you who are interested). It has some geometric patterns on it as well as other fun designs; the circuit board design was the selling point for me.

Above, you can see that the plate is mailed to you well-protected. There is a plastic backing to help prevent the metal from bending during transport, and a blue film covering on the surface to safeguard the plate from scratches. It is important to remove this film! If you don't remove it before using your stamping plate, it won't work for you. Sometimes, these film coverings are clear. Make sure to scratch at a corner of your plate to see if something will begin peeling up.

In this sassy cheetah design, I used a base of "Rohan" from Regal Ween Lacquer and dark purple polish for stamping "Miami at Night" by Color Mates as well as metallic studs from Born Pretty Store (item #7277, $6.99). I really enjoy the way this one turned out.

I made a few other designs using this plate as well. I really had fun with it! Below, you can see two manis I made using Fairytale Finish polish. In the first mani, I simply used black polish to stamp the circuit board design over mint green polish, with a sparkly gray accent nail. In the second mani, I applied a glitterbomb over a gradient, then used the reverse stamping technique for my accent nail. I used purple polish with the stamping plate, picked up the image on my stamper, then colored between the lines with pink and blue polish. I waited for it to dry on the stamper then painted a top coat over the whole thing. After that dried, I peeled the polish off of the stamper and applied it to a wet layer of polish on my nail. I may post a sort of tutorial for this technique later but there are plenty of videos you can find online that describe it in detail.

Overall, I think this stamping plate is a pretty good deal. There is a good variety of images and they work well (of course, matching the right polish and the right stamper to the right plate is always important). One thing I really enjoyed about this plate is that the full-nail images are actually large enough to cover longer nails. I typically have a problem with full-nail images not being long enough to completely cover my nails. The images on this plate would be able to cover my nails even if I grew them out a bit longer! So that's great news for medium or long nail ladies/gents. I noticed that there is another plate they offer with XL sized designs and I can't imagine needing ones that long! My point is, if you think your nails are too long for effective stamping, this may be a good option for you.

See you next time! Feel free to leave a comment if there's something you'd like to see in future blog posts. :) Remember to use discount code FEPX31 if you shop Born Pretty to get 10% off on top of free worldwide shipping!

Born Pretty Review: Beach Sunset Nails

Hello, lovelies! I am really excited to announce that Born Pretty Store has invited me to review items for them. They allowed me to select three items to review: iridescent rhinestones (item #16674, $3.41), tropical water decals (item #17000, $2.25), and combination cleanup brush/dotting tools (item #18200, $7.52). I received the products fairly quickly considering the amount of travel they must to before they reach my home, and they arrived as pictured and described on the website. The rhinestones are black but shine gold/green/blue/purple when the light hits them; they are very lightweight and come in four different sizes. The decals actually surprised me a little, as there are also some white hibiscus flowers and palm trees that I didn't notice online. They are your typical water slide decals: cut out the piece you want to use, soak it in water, then press it on your nail. The instructions are printed on the back in humorously broken English. The brush pack came with five brushes in three sizes (notice the width of the bristles below; the dotting tool end appears to be the same size on each brush).

Now let me share my new mani with you! I wanted to use these items to create something that felt like a vacation on my nails. I started off with a solid white base, then sponged a gradient of purple (Sinful Colors "Go Go Boots"), pink (Wet 'n Wild Wild Shine "Lavender Crème"), and orange (Sinful Colors "Sunburnt") on top.

Of course, sponging on a gradient leaves a mess around your nails so I had to clean up a bit. I used my new cleanup brushes dipped in acetone. This works best if you start around the outer edges of the mess then move on to clean the cuticles. Once I had cleaned up around my nails, I chose my decal and rhinestone placement. The decals work best using lukewarm water, and they really cling to the nail if you fire a blow-dryer at them for a few seconds after they are on your nails. For my rhinestones, I found it easy to use the dotting tool end of my cleanup brush and place dots of clear nail polish, then gently set the rhinestones down on the dots.

Overall, I am very satisfied with these three items. The rhinestones are dark yet have a flash of color and depth. The decals are extremely easy to use and have a nice, clear appearance on the nail. The brushes make cleanup of excess polish around the nail much easier, and have bonus dotting tools for creating designs. As you can see, my messy gradient work cleaned up neatly.

I hope you enjoyed this product review! If you are interested in any of the items I used, feel free to use the code FEPX31 to receive 10% off your order at Born Pretty, as well as free worldwide shipping!

Disclaimer: I received these products free of charge from Born Pretty for honest testing and review purposes. The opinions stated in this post are my own.

Influenster Review: Yves Saint Laurent Effet Faux Cils Mascara

Hello, lovelies! Today I am going to review the Yves Saint Laurent Effet Faux Cils ("false eyelash effect," named for the dramatic impact it has on your lashes) mascara. You may know YSL by their line of luxury cosmetics. They recently unveiled a new formula for a classic product.

This mascara contains pro-vitamins B5 which prevent your lashes from getting that brittle, crusty feeling. YSL also incorporated some oils including sweet almond oil, safflower seed oil, and castor seed oil which not only make it smell wonderful, but also nourish lashes. Wearing this mascara, my eyelashes still felt soft and supple at the end of the day.

YSL has released this mascara in a variety of colors. The color I received is called High Density Black. It creates a bold look that really helps my eyes pop. I like to switch between wearing eyeglasses and contact lenses depending on the day, and I find that my eyes lack energy when I don't have my glasses on. In order to help you see my transformation with this mascara, I've included photos to show before and after mascara shots of how my eyes look with and without glasses.

As you can see, it really boosted the length and volume of my lashes! One thing I like about this product is how it doesn't get clumpy or dried out in the tube. And, of course, who could not love the ultra-chic look of the tube? You can get this mascara for $32 at Sephora and high-end department stores such as Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. The price is a little higher than what my typical mascara costs (They're Real! by Benefit, $24) but if you have a sensitive nose like me, the smell alone may be worth the extra money. Add soft and nourished lashes to the mix and you may want to give YSL Faux Cils a try.

Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge from Influenster for honest testing and review purposes. The opinions stated in this post are my own. If you would like to sign up to become a product tester/reviewer, you are welcome to use my referral link: www.influenster.com/r/888740

Parallax Polish April Box Review

Hello, lovelies! I am excited to have the honor of reviewing a special new product for you! Parallax Polish http://parallaxpolish.storenvy.com/ sent me a complementary April subscription box. Included in this package were the following: "April Pink" holo polish, "April Almond" cuticle oil, and a prototype of one of the scientist trading cards with cool facts (I got Grace Hopper). My overall impression is positive. The pricing is very reasonable ($14, plus $3 shipping), and you are able to see this month's items before you purchase the box. Another interesting characteristic of Parallax Polish's sub box is that you can customize it! If you don't care for holo in your polish, you can knock the price down. Just want the cuticle oil and not the polish? There's an option for that too. Furthermore, there is no automatic billing, so you never end up paying for something you do not want.

Okay, now on to the product testing! First up, enjoy my swatch of this hot pink holo baby. Application was smooth, and dry time was relatively quick. You can get full coverage easily in 2-3 coats. The finish is a little matte, but I wore glossy topcoat in this photo. Cleanup was neat - no staining of the nails, although it was a little stubborn around my cuticles so I just used an extra cotton ball. I love the bright color and will be wearing it again soon!

Pardon my stained nails, but I wanted you to get the most accurate impression of this oil that I can offer. As you can see, my cuticles look wonderfully moisturized! What you can't see is how great they smell. This nourishing cuticle oil has a subtle almond aroma which is just fantastic. It isn't an overwhelming scent but it's definitely nice-smelling. The consistency is also nice; it is not runny or goopy. I applied a small amount around each nail (a little bit goes a long way), gently massaged it in, then finished with my regular lotion. My hands are feeling so soft.

There you have it! I recommend you check out Parallax Polish if you like the sound of this type of subscription box. I've been enjoying mine! I think that with the flexibility in the ordering process, you can make sure to get exactly what you want.

Disclaimer: I received these products free of charge from Parallax Polish for honest testing and review purposes. The opinions stated in this post are my own.

Estë

Hello, lovelies! I have now learned how to watermark my photos, so my images should look more official. Today I'm going to talk about my Estë-inspired manicure. Estë is one of the Valar from Tolkien's works (e.g., Lord of the Rings). In Middle-earth, she is seen as having the power to heal and restore the hurt and weary. She is often depicted in pink, blue, or green raiment and accompanied by birds or flowers. I wanted to go for a springy and tranquil look. I hope you like the results!

For the base of this manicure, I painted my nails with Wet n Wild Wild Shine in "Tickled Pink," with an accent nail of Finger Paints "Underwater Enchantress". I then sponged a little Wet n Wild Wild Shine "Rain Check" on the tips. Now for the fun part: I received two mystery stamping plates from Born Pretty Store (BPS) and they have perfect images for the look I want. I used plates M64 and M73. I also used a double-ended stamper from BPS which works great for me. The polish I used for stamping is Color Mates "Wanna Punta Cana," which is a creamy soft green with good opacity. Check out my stamping materials below:

The plates worked great for me, and I love that they have a good variety of floral images to choose from. Some of the images seemed to be etched deeper than others, and some had more detail but I think their effectiveness would depend on what kind of polish you use. With this polish, the simpler images looked better in the end as you can see below. Overall, I'm pleased with the results!

Welcome

Hello, all! I have been toying with the idea of creating a blog for a few months... Now I've finally decided to give it a shot! The focus of this blog will be on my nail journey: nail art, swatches, reviews, etc. My goal is that, with my novitiate, I might inspire other amateurs to stretch out of their comfort zones a little. I am by no means a professional nail artist, but I endeavor to create fresh and interesting work. I find it relaxing to just take the time to myself and shift my focus away from my studies for a while. I'll try to keep that lighthearted nature in mind and not become too serious about any of this. While self-care is important for preventing burnout, I have to keep my priorities straight! That being said, I'd like to kick off my blog with a collage of some of my first works. Enjoy!