Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts

Monday, October 21, 2013

Manicure Monday: Gelish Inner Vixen

I haven't been splurging on manicures in a while. Partially because I thought getting a few too many no chip Shellac manicures in a row was going to deprive my nails of oxygen. I also have a terrible habit at picking off my manicures once they start to chip. This is something you should not do with Shellac! Alas, I picked off a few too many and decided to give my nails a break and let them heal and grow out. I probably went about three to four months without stopping in a salon, but last week after a particular hard day at work teaching elementary music classes, I decided to treat myself.

I stopped into a salon in my hometown. I have never been there before and stopped in because I read good reviews on Yelp. I felt a bit rushed and that they didn't do the best salon job (ie. no cuticle oil or lotion massage... that's my favorite part of the manicure!) but the manicure looked nice. I picked the shade from Gelish called "Inner Vixen" found here. I thought it looked very appropriate for fall!


It is a dark brown with a reddish sparkle to it in just the right light. I usually do not go for sparkle or shine in nail polishes, but I thought this looked very vampy! I loved the color. What I didn't love was that this manicure from this particular salon chipped and started to lift up within a week. I felt like it was just a regular manicure for more than twice the price! I think this was because the salon technician was rushing me out. However, I liked the color and would definitely choose that again. I might take a bit more of a manicure break at salons because I happened to pick off this polish too... I have to work on that habit!

What is your favorite nail color for fall? Leave us a comment below!

Love, Erica

Monday, September 30, 2013

Manicure Monday: New Nail Polish "In Stitches"


I recently went to Walgreens and picked up a pretty new Essie shade: In Stitches. I think this color is perfect for fall. It is a light raspberry with some brown undertones. To me, it is not quite red or pink. I think this color is nice color for fall that complements my pale skin tone. I usually dislike wearing bright red nail polishes, but this is subtle enough that it almost acts as a neutral. I can't wait to pair it with different and cozy fall outfits!

Love, Erica

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Review: Japonesque Makeup Brush Cleanser


I hate dirty things. For anyone who knows me, they can attest to this fact. You wash your hair and face every day; why shouldn't you wash your makeup brushes? Not many people realize this, but makeup brushes are harboring bacteria that can make your face break out. Plus over time, product build up in the brushes can lead to discoloration of your makeup and uneven streaks when you apply.

I decided to try out Japonesque Makeup Brush Cleanser because I have heard about Parian Spirit brush cleanser in the beauty world. This spray is made up of anti-bacterial disinfectant and cleansing compounds. This is a quicker alternative to cleaning your brushes with soap and water; all you need to do is spray the product on your brush, rub the brush on a piece of paper towel or wash cloth to remove any old makeup, and let it dry for a minute or two. You literally see the pigment coming off of your brush and onto the towel. The first time I used this product, I was shocked at how much makeup and grime was living in my makeup brushes. The brushes were almost completely dry after I swirled them around on the towel and were able to be used almost immediately for fresh makeup application.

Japoonesque Makeup Brush Cleanser, spray bottle, and various brushes.
At first I was skeptical that this product would really get the job done. It looked too good to be true. I tested and swirled a few of my freshly cleansed brushes on a new piece of paper towel and no pigment came out of them. They felt brand new to the touch and had a light citrus scent. My makeup application went on much smoother after cleaning my brushes, and I am convinced that by cleaning my brushes regularly it has helped keep my skin clear.

As seen in the picture above, I bought the 16oz professional refill amount of Japonesque Makeup Brush Cleanser. This was the only amount they had at Ulta when I was shopping and I had to try it out. I bought a small spray bottle for about $2.00 and poured some of the cleanser in there for an easier way to spray and clean my brushes. I liked that I could use this spray bottle as a travel cleanser as well. I also found that by using a spray bottle you are less likely to get bristles falling out. This is a common problem that happens when you dip brushes into liquid and the liquid absorbs into the base of the brush and weakens the glue bond  and the bristles. I found that spraying my brushes helped with their longevity while still getting them clean.

Overall, I really loved this brush cleanser. It makes my brushes clean and it is a quick cleanser between shampoos. I would definitely buy this product again as this is an effective way to clean your makeup brushes.



Love, Erica