Try Great Products!

I LOVE makeup and trying different beauty products. I found a way to try things I may never even consider testing out (much less buying) and wanted to share this with my fellow makeup addicts. Ipsy sends me everything from hair products to nail polish to skin care to makeup. Often times, the products are full size too. For only $10 per month I get to experiment with some items I've never even heard of and many name brands too. All of the products are packaged together in an adorable makeup bag. 

This is what I got this month...

October 2015

So far, I've used the hand lotion, and it's fantastic! The lipstick is on trend and wears well. I'm looking forward to testing out the rest. 

Want to give it a try? All you do is click the link below. It will take you to the Ipsy website. One you're there you will be asked to complete a survey. Your responses will determine what types of products you'll receive in your Ispy bag. 

Click here to get started: http://www.ipsy.com/r/34se?sid=ipsypoints&cid=general

Then, after you receive your monthly swag, Ipsy sends you an email with a link to your Glam Room. That's where you review the products you received. There are plenty of discounts on the products you like. It's a win-win! If you're not happy with the types of items you're receiving, you may retake their quiz at any time. You also earn points for each product you review. Once those points get to 1000, you get free stuff. 

What do you think?

MYTH: You Get What You Pay For (Nail Polish Edition)

Hi! Just wanted to share this with you. It's nice to share products that live up to their claims, but sometimes I feel it necessary to let you know about some that don't & aren't worth the money. I don't always agree with the saying "You get what you pay for".  Some things are inexpensive while others at a low price are just cheap...there is a difference. This is so true when it comes to nail polish. 

I received a free bottle of Ulta's nail polish with their reward points program.  Although I received it for free, it's regularly sold for $6.

Here's what I have to say about it:

I used the same base & top coats I always do too. Sinful Colors usually lasts me a week. For $6 I can get three bottles of Sinful Colors + tax!

On a side note, I really hear my NY accent in this video! LOL

Sale Info: e.l.f. is on sale on Haute Look starting today! Their brushes are great! Get you some!!

MOTW - 6/25/13 More Fun with Tape

I am having so much fun with scotch tape nail art! It's so easy which is why I love it! The hardest part is deciding on a design.

Here's what I used this week:

From left to right: Snow Me White, Starfish, Kaleidoscope,
Orly Bonder & Seche Vite

I started painting my nails like this. Usually I do only one accent nail, but I went with two this week.

Before the tape. Do 2 coats of polish on each nail & apply a quick drying top coat.
Wait 15-20 minutes & apply tape to form your design. 

This is the end result! 

My Left Hand

My Right Hand

To see another scotch tape nail art post, please click here. That previous post has more specific information if you need it.

What's on your nails this week? Don't forget to vote in my nail polish poll to the right!!

Random thought of the day: I walked two miles in the Texas heat today! Get your fitness on!!! You'll be happy you did!!

How To Remove Glitter Nail Polish

Glitter polish is fun to wear until you have to remove it. If you'd like to know an easy, fool-proof way to take it off, read on.

All you need are:

1. Cotton balls
2. Aluminum foil (2 inches x 2 inches each)
3. Polish remover that contains acetone
4. Cuticle oil or something to return moisture to your nails and cuticles (I use argan oil)

Step 1: 

I use the large cotton balls, so I unroll them and split them in half. Then, fold up one half and saturate it with polish remover. Place the saturated cotton ball on your nail.

Step 2:

Take one piece of aluminum foil, and wrap your nail to keep the cotton ball in place. Do the same for all nails that have glitter polish on them. Relax for 5-10 minutes. The amount of time depends on how much glitter you have on your nails. 

Step 3:

Remove the aluminum foil and the cotton ball. The polish should be completely gone. If some remains, use the cotton ball the remove whatever is there. Acetone tends to be a little drying.  To combat this, gently rub some cuticle oil on each nail and your cuticles. 

Helpful Tips:

• If you plan to give yourself a new manicure, wash your hands well after the cuticle oil is absorbed. This will help your new polish adhere to your nails properly. If you don't, you run the risk of your nail polish chipping and/or peeling.
• This is not recommended for young children. The acetone in the remover can be absorbed through the skin. (How can you tell? You will smell it on your breath.) 

What's your favorite drugstore nail polish brand? Please take the poll.

Questions or comments? Please leave them below by clicking on Post a Comment.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

MOTW - 6/2/2013 Nail Art Using Tape Tutorial

I tried a new technique for nail art. Well, it's new to me. I used scotch tape to get the look below. It's really easy, and all you need in addition to polish is the tape and some time.

Here's what you'll need:

• Base Coat (I used Orly Bonder)
• Base Color (I used Sinful Colors in Sunburnt - a gorgeous burnt orange)
• Accent Color (I used Sinful Colors in All About You - a gold glitter)
• Fast drying top coat (I used Seche's Seche Vite)
• Scotch Tape

How to do a tape manicure: 

1. Get your tape ready by breaking off pieces larger than your nails and applying them to your palm 3-4 times. This will get rid of a lot of the stickiness to avoid lifting your base color. Then, stick the tape on the end of your table or counter until you're ready to use it. For triangle shapes, use two pieces.
2. Apply your base coat.
3. Apply your base color and let dry for 10-15 minutes.
4. Apply fast drying top coat and let dry for 20 minutes.
5. Once your nails are dry, apply the tape to create the shape(s) you want to make using the accent color. Make sure to press the edges down for clean lines. Do one nail at a time.
6. Apply your accent color and make sure to go over the tape to ensure coverage.
7. Carefully and slowly remove the tape.
8. Let dry for 10-15 minutes, so you don't smudge your design.
9. Apply another layer of fast drying top coat, and you're done! Easy, right?

Here's my finished product:

Please show me how you recreate this if you're on Instagram by tagging me @lisaalonso23. Can't wait to see the designs you come up with!

What's on your nails this week? Please leave questions and/or comments below. Have a great week!

2/25/2013 Mani of the Week

Fun with polka dots! This is one of my favorite colors from OPI called Give Me Moor! It looks nice alone, but I couldn't resist playing with some nail art.

If you would like the details regarding what I used to get this look, please leave a comment below.

What's on your nails this week?

2/3/2013 Mani of the Week

A quick mani for this week. A pretty dark green, but this pic doesn't do it justice.  

It looks so much nicer in person.

I'm trying to change it up a bit by using colors I haven't worn before.

What's on your nails this week? 

If you'd like to know the name & brand of this polish, please leave a comment below.

1/27/2013 Mani of the Week

This week I chose a gorgeous gray polish with holographic glitter. I'm so in love with this color!!

In person, the glitter is very subtle.  Please leave a comment below if you would like to know which polishes I used to get this look.  You should try it!! You'll love it!!

What's on your nails this week?

1/21/2013 Mani of the Week

I'm loving this purple! It's slightly metallic, so I did my ring fingers in a light silver with 

silver glitter over it.

If you'd like to know the exact colors I used, please post a comment below.

What's on your nails this week?

1/13/2013 Mani of the Week

For this week's mani I used nails inc. polish that my husband got me for the holidays. He got me two sets of minis...the Neon & Nude Collection and the Autumn Winter Collection. I can't wait to try them all!!

nails inc. in Jermyn St

I love doing an accent nail, so this week I did both ring fingers. To get this design, I used craft paint in two colors, different sized dotting tools and topped it with Luxe & Lush by China Glaze. The colors used were inspired by one of my sweaters.

What's on your nails this week? Please comment below.

1/4/2013 Mani of the Week

I've been so excited to use this pretty blue polish! The main color is Cinderella. I then used two glitter polishes, Queen of Beauty and Frenzy, on my ring fingers. Cinderella is an icy, light blue with a subtle shimmer. Queen of Beauty is silver glitter, and Frenzy is a pretty combination of purple and light 

blue glitter.

Pastels are going to be hot this Spring, so this icy blue will still be on trend. Here's a pic of all three Sinful Colors polishes.

From Right to Left: Cinderella, Queen of Beauty, Frenzy

What's on your nails this week?

Mani - Week of 11/24/12

This past week I tried a new polish (well, new to me) and LOVE it! It's by Spoiled, a Wet n Wild line. Had to share, because this mani lasted an entire week without chipping! The first chip appeared on day 8!! Unheard of!! Here's a pic...

Toad-ally Amazing by Spoiled with a no name glitter polish.

This polish was sitting in my collection for a few months before I tried it. The color is so pretty and wearable all year long. The best thing about it (other than that it wears beautifully) is that it's only $1.99!! 

What's your favorite nail polish brand? Please comment below.

My Mani Disappointment

Recently, I gave myself a mani/pedi with Wet n Wild's new fast dry polish. The color is a gorgeous deep wine that I fell in love with. The polish has a larger brush that took some getting used to, but it was ok. I also used a pretty holographic glitter polish by China Glaze on an accent nail.

At first, the polish looked ok. After it had time to set it looked uneven and streaky which was surprising after doing two coats of color. One of my thumb nails has a little dip in it, and the color pooled there. It looked horrible! Aside from the uneven color, it started to chip the day after application. I had to take it off. The China Glaze polish actually chipped off the same day. The polish on the entire nail came off completely in one big piece! Major disappointment. 

I guess you can't judge a polish by its price tag. What's your favorite polish? Which has been the worst you've used?