Nude and Silver Nails

I tried to do something arty with my nails.  It's not particularly arty, but I think it's a little more interesting than my standard "one color of polish on my nails" nails.

I though the combination of a cream nude with a tiny bit of sparkly silver on the tip would look cool. I obviously didn't do a perfect job, and I could have made the silver tip even thinner, but I like the results.

I used JINsoon Nail Lacquer in Nostalgia all over my nails, and Orly Shine on just the tips.

I love JINsoon Nostalgia.  It is a perfect nude.  I actually love it for fall as an alternative to all the deep and dark polish shades we usually see trending in the autumn.

What's on your nails today?

Totally unrelated:  I suddenly have "Phantom of the Opera" music going through my head.  What is that about?

10 of My Favorite Makeup Items From 2013

I thought I'd share a few of my favorites makeup items of the year.  I didn't include skincare or haircare because I've done favorites and empties posts for them, and they don't really change for me.

Some of these were introduced this year, and some were new to me.  All of these became favorites of mine.

In no particular order:

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser -- This has a nice lightweight formula that doesn't settle into the lines around my eyes.  It covers decently, and I think it is quite fun to use because of the little puff applicator.

Maybelline Color Elixir lipgloss (review) -- I think these have a lovely formula.  They were introduced late in the year, but they quickly became a favorite of the year.  They are some of the nicest lipglosses on the market, in my opinion.  They feel plush and hydrating on the lips.

Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Sticks (review) -- These smell wonderful (if you like fruity scents), are very hydrating, and make the lips feel softer, even after they wear off.

Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush in Candy Glow-- I like that this has 3 colors of blush that you can either swirl together, or use just the coral color or the pink color (although you need a smaller brush to pick up just one color or the other).  I do consider this a highlighting blush due to the shimmer, but it doesn't look glittery on the skin.

Josie Maran Coconut Water Cheek Gelee in Poppy Paradise (swatch) -- This blush is great for giving a natural flush to the cheeks.  It's very easy to apply (I always use my fingers for this one) and feels sort of cooling, which is especially nice in the summer.

Too Faced Pretty Rebel Palette -- I didn't get this palette until November, but it is one of the best palettes I own.  The shadows are very pigmented and soft, and there is an excellent mix of neutrals, brights, metallics, and darks.

Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy -- This was one of the great discoveries of the year for me.  It is amazing how different shimmery and glittery shadows and pigments look over this.

Benefit They're Real Mascara -- I really only wear this when I want dramatic lashes.  It separates, volumizes, and lengthens all at once.  It is more difficult to remove than most non-waterproof mascaras which is why I don't wear it everyday.

JinSoon Nail Laquer in Nostalgia (review) -- This is my favorite nude nail color.  The formula is long-wearing and shiny, even without a top coat.

Sally Hansen Lustre Shine Nail Color in Firefly  (swatches)-- I wore this almost non-stop in the fall.  It's a complex color that changes from pinky copper to gold with some green depending on how the light hits it.

Obviously, this is not a complete list of favorites (that could get very long), but just a few that stood out to me.

What are some of your favorites from 2013?

Opera Nails

Here's what I wore on my nails during my recent trip to Chicago where we went to see the opera Parsifal.

The cream nude base is JinSoon Nostalgia (review here), and the flaky (flakie?) on top is Sally Hansen Triple Shine in Pearly Whites.  The Sally Hansen Triple Shine is a new formula, but it is permanent to the line line, I believe.

I wanted to wear Nostalgia since it is elegant and neutral (so it matches everything I wore), but I thought it could use a little extra something.  I didn't want sparkle or glitter, so the iridescent flakies in the Sally Hansen polish seemed just right.  I used two coats of Sally Hansen Pearly Whites to get the number of flakies I wanted on each nail.

The flakes in the polish lie quite flat to the nail, but a top coat to seal them still seems like a good idea.

Have a gorgeous day!

Fall Favorites: Nail Polishes

Here are five nail colors I have pulled out of my stash to wear this autumn.

Sally Hansen Lustre Shine Nail Color in Firefly---duochrome pink copper with slight green shift (that I couldn't capture in the photos!)

Sephora by OPI Nail Color in Once a Cheetah, Always a Cheetah---slightly sheer orange with fine gold glitter (this one reminds me of pumpkins... if they were sparkly, that is)

Sephora by OPI Nail Color in S-age is Just a Number---duochrome bronzy-green with gold shimmer

butter LONDON Nail Lacquer in The Old Bill---rich bronze with silver shimmer

JINsoon Nail Lacquer in Nostalgia---creamy nude pink beige (perfect for giving me mannequin hands, which always seem on trend, regardless of the season)

Here are a couple more photos of the more complex colors.  (They are hard to capture!)

From left:  (index finger)  Sally Hansen Lustre Shine in Firefly
                 (middle finger)  Sephora by OPI Once a Cheetah, Always a Cheetah
                 (ring finger)  Sephora S-age is Just a Number
                 (pinkie)  butter LONDON The Old Bill
               

natural light

flash

Since I haven't really ventured into the world of nail art, I tend to just wear one color on my nails at a time, so I try to choose colors that look interesting on their own.  I would like to try some of the geometric nail designs I've seen in magazines and on the runways, as well as an ombre manicure.

What do you like to wear on your nails this time of year?  

JinSoon Nostalgia

Celebrity manicurist Jin Soon Choi recently created a line of nail lacquers.  They come in 12 colors, ranging from light pink and nude to red, purple, and teal.  Since I don't have any true nudes in my nail polish collection, I decided to try Nostalgia, which is described as a pink beige.

Sephora says:  "A high-gloss, long-lasting nail lacquer with a chip-proof finish and a rapid drying time."

I have to agree with this description.  This nail polish is so glossy you don't even need a top coat.  Nostalgia gives opaque coverage in three coats, and dries quickly (three coats dries completely in about 15 minutes).  It comes in a square bottle with a pull-off top that reveals the screw-off top underneath.  The brush is wide and flat on one side, which makes it easy to get coverage on the whole nail with about three strokes.

You can see the brush is flat on one side

On me, it is a nude with a little pink to keep it from looking grey or overly beige.  I had a little difficulty capturing the color because there was no direct sunlight for the photos.  This is a cream finish with no shimmer.
I love this nail polish.  It elongates the look of my fingers and is a very elegant color.  Brights may be the trend for spring, but there is something to be said for wearing an understated nude every now and then.

Without flash

With flash

JinSoon nail lacquers are a "five-free" formula, meaning they are formaldehyde, toluene, DPB, and camphor free.  They are $18 and can be found at Sephora.